Six on Saturday, here we go again. Admittedly it has been a few weeks since I dabbled, but I’m sure I will pick it up again; the subtle nuances, the intricacies. Just like riding a bicycle. Unfortunately, I can only ride a bike in a straight line, as long as there are no cars, or other bikes, or pedestrians to distract me or I will wobble and fall off. Which is not good news for hopping back on the mega-tandem. However, I’ll do my best. I do remember that I have to name-check the illustrious Prop, our mentor with a dubious tulip affliction. Check out his blog and you will be introduced to folk from across the known universe, who have been more loyal to the cause than I have been of late. Shall we proceed?
First, we have a cyclamen which, along with assorted violas and primary coloured primulas, were bought to titivate the planters at the front of the house. I can just imagine them, waiting optimistically in the garden centre, dreaming of who will buy them and where they will make their loving home. Well my dearios, I’m afraid you drew the short straw. You will be living in the teeth of the evil northerly wind, where the sun has retired for the season. I am sure you will do your best.
Next, we have the rough tree fern, Cyathea australis, which has enjoyed the recent damp weather. Since it came to live at Chez Nous earlier in the year, it has outgrown two pots and is still curling out new fronds. Hopefully it will over-winter without too many dramas.
Onto a slack cosmos, both in habit and personality. My favourite annual has not thrived for me this year, with just this one plant flopping about popping out the odd flower as it felt fit. Not that I am complaining. At this time of year, you can forgive most slovenly behaviour.
The teasels have passed through their bee-magnet stage onto the goldfinch-larder stage, and we have already had the joy of watching these beautiful finches feast on the seeds. Again, these are in the front, Frozen North, garden, which wouldn’t seem the ideal place for a snooze. However, it appears that the snails in these parts are well ‘ard, not only cocking a snook at the cold wind but also at the thorny bed it has chosen to rest on.
Now an impatiens. I’m slightly embarrassed to say that until it flowered I wasn’t sure which one. The label just said impatiens, and I can’t blame the label because I wrote the label and I’m pretty certain that it said a lot more than that in the past. Now it is doing its floriferous thing, I am pretty certain that it is Impatiens flanaganae. It is doing very well and is perfectly pretty. I will now complete the label, so we don’t have this uncertainty again. Probably later today, or maybe tomorrow ….
Shall we finish with love? There are just two leaves left on the Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’, and this is one of them. A love heart.
That is your lot. As Woody Guthrie said “take it easy, but take it”. And stay safe and well, my friends.
Off The Edge Gardening 
A potted cyclamen adorns our front doorstep and will do fine in that sheltered spot though it will never get a ray of sunshine there. I’m more fond of the hardy ones which will grow and flower in the open garden.
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Gosh, is that snail very brave or is it impaled on that teasel?Careful the RSPCA don’t see your blog. Lovely cyclamen, have you left any for the rest of us? Hope to see your next week, you can’t possibly have better things to do.
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I don’t think it is impaled, I have just come in and should have checked, I’ll look again later but it is absolutely pouring down out there! Thanks Granny, I’ll do my bestest.
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A lovely selection. If anyone ever suggests teasel seed heads as a snail and slug deterrent I will remember your photo!
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Ha! We know better. And thanks 🙂
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I shall think of all those garden centre plants quivering in their pots and hoping they won’t be chosen. I’m sure some have come to rue the day they came home with me to my lovely wet clayey soil.
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Trying to look all shrivelled and unhealthy! 🙂 I’ve never gardened on clay, it sounds challenging, but it is supposed to hang onto its nutrients well, isn’t it?
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Why I really like your style. Keep Six on Saturday -ing. Look forward to more.
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Thank you Keith 🙂
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Will you overwinter the Cyathea outside? I really like this plant and I would be tempted but I ‘m already busy with my dicksonia to protect it… Courageous snail on this teasel!
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It will get wrapped up at the very least. It is supposed to be one of the hardier ones.
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Ha! Those snails climb anything. I have a sort of chain curtain that hangs over my conservatory door so I can leave it open and the flies can’t come in (well that’s the theory). The other day I found a snail had climbed most of the way up one chain – what on earth was it expecting to find I have to wonder. I do like that heart leaf.
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These west country nails are very adventurous! Did you do a Six today, I haven’t seen it.
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I did, but not my garden. Too little to show and too wet to take photos anyway.
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Hah! Who said that snails won’t crawl over rough surfaces. And as I’ve noted from my own snail collection, height is not a deterrent either. The teasel shot is one to remember.
I’m having to google again – this time, Impatiens flanaganae. It’s stunning.
A couple of years ago I showed two of my grandchildren how to make their own autumn canvas. We used leaves that we collected in the local park, and your lovely Cercis love heart would have been the perfect addition. Have a good week!
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Fascinating, that snail on the thorny teasel. That heart-shaped leaf is the pièce de résistance! Beautiful.
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Thank you 🙂
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That is a beautiful snail, the pattern on the shell is different from any I’ve seen. Are there different kinds of regular garden snails? I need to find out! We studied snails in a homeschool group, and they slime enough to go over edges of knives without harm to themselves. They are fascinating, but my adult daughter still is against them!
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Yes, I think there are many different types, this one was rather beautiful!
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I’ve had snails on the teasels too. I think it just proves why all those snail deterrents (eggshells, prickly stones etc) don’t work. Lovely pictures 🙂
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Not bothered one little bit! And thank you 🙂
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Gill, still giggling with you…I’ll need to find out about Teasel,
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Good, we all need a laugh at the moment. Teasels are great, not sure they would do with you, perhaps!
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Snails here climb up the colourbond (metal) fences. There is absolutely no reward at the top and possibly heatstroke when the sun comes out, so I’m not surprised at any other habitat they choose.
It’s strange reading about your Frozen North. North is the warm side of our garden! ☀️
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Of course, and south the cool side. A parallel universe. Except a bit warmer and a lot drier!
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Lovely cyclamen
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Thank you, a bit out of focus, but I like to think of it as “atmosphere’ 😀
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I’m looking forward to seeing the colour in your planters out front. I’m hoping too that the Cyathea will survive your winters; they are lovely! The snail on the teasel is a lovely photo, as is the Cercis leaf!
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Do you have cyathea? They would be much happier with you, or perhaps it would be a bit dry? My dream is to grow C. medullaris, perhaps one day! 🙂
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Seem to have been a lot of people saying that cosmos have been a bit lacking this year. Lovely cyclamen. I’ve got quite a few returning from last year I thought might be too tender so good to see.
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It has definitely been a funny year all round (understatement!). Some plants are just getting going now. There is always next year ….
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Hafe you amended the label? It’s six days now…
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Um ….. I’ll do it in the morning ☺
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Feel free to update here when done. I’ll be watching.
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😆
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Ah, Eastern redbud. That is the same as the Oklahoma redbud, which is the state tree of Oklahoma. It is not much of a tree, but it sure is pretty.
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