Six on Saturday – Reverted

Posted byofftheedgegardeningPosted inSix on Saturday, Welsh WalesTags:, , , , , ,

Right from the off, just in case it isn’t clear, this week I have reverted back to “Good Cop with a Hint of Malice”. A role that I am much better suited to. It has been a rather gloomy few days, but I have it on very good authority (OH) that after the weekend all will be sun and glory. And don’t we need it. If you would like to hear about good things happening in the world, then catch up with The SoS Gang who hang out at The Propagator’s; believe me, it will lift your spirits. There may be a little black spot or slug damage, but that is as sad as gets. Shall we shake a leg?

First we have a rose which has been splendid for weeks now. It is quite rampant, and could do with a good dead head, but today I am dwelling on the positives and things that don’t involve work for me.

I went and done it again. Such a beautiful nemesia, reduced from £7 to 99p. Seriously, could you resist? I don’t believe you.

Onto, the third and final hibiscus, Chez Peggy. This is the navy blue bud of Hibiscus syriacus ‘Oiseau Bleu’, also known as Bluebird, blowing us all a kiss. Weird or wonderful? You decide.

Now an unnamed helenium, bought at an open garden along with a couple (coughs) of other waifs and strays. I have planted this one in mum’s garden and it is making itself at home. A bit of a blurry shot, but apparently soft focus is where its at. Obviously, I made that bit up.

I first came across Salvia ‘African Skies’ at Cliffe, when Helen from Little Ash and her inimitable friend Bats came to visit and brought it as a gift. “What a lovely thought” I said, “and what colour is it?” Helen and Bats looked at each other, laughed and cried in unison “Blue!”. Of course, like the sky, I knew that ……. Whenever I look at it I smile in memory, which was reason enough to get another. It is also rather beautiful and I do love a salvia.

Finally …………….. ANOTHER LEAF ON THE ALOE POLYPHYLLA!!!!!!! *blows into paper bag* This is all the more exciting as I thought leaf No. 1, now known as least favourite leaf, was looking a little sickly. I am staggering around in the dark on this one. I have no clue on what to do for the best. I don’t want to under- or over-water, so I have been giving it a teaspoon of warm water every day or so and studying it (some might say obsessively) with Peggy’s illuminated magnifying glass. This is no tried and tested method discovered on Aloes-R-Us website, just a knee jerk reaction. Time will tell. Any top tips will be gratefully received, although no monies will be available to recompence your wisdom. I will, of course, keep you posted.

All done, hope you all have wonderful weeks wherever you might be. Spread the love.

39 thoughts on “Six on Saturday – Reverted”

  2. I had to look up that hibiscus. It looks SO dark. The open flowers look somewhat familiar though. The perform decently here, but the foliage is always rather mediocre or even pallid. That is the main deterrent. They just do not look as lush as the tropical hibiscus.

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      1. Yes! They used to be prettier when there were still real gardeners to prune them properly. Nowadays, almost all get shorn into nondescript globs of tattered foliage, and deprived of bloom. It is not as if they are difficult to prune properly. I might eventually get a few for my own garden. Incidentally, this is one flower that I prefer to not be white. What’s worse is that I also prefer the big garish sorts to the small simpler flowers. I figure that, like bougainvillea, tropical hibiscus ‘should’ be vibrantly colored and flashy!

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  3. I’m glad you’re back to normal. Last week’s “bad cop” needed more effort as, compared to your usual self, it was more a case of “extremely nice cop”. Which was disconcerting!

    Exciting times are in your future with that Aloe Aloe Aloe (work it out) though it will be some time before it can feature in your interior design plans. And, of course, you will no doubt need to remember (be reminded or remanded) that when you move to your new forever home, you will have to leave Peggy’s garden behind! All of it!

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  4. I can help you with the unnamed helenium. Soft focus is all very well, but if you tuck elbows tight against top of hip, sharp images are a breeze.
    I’m unable to suggest anything for Aloe.
    The salvia is pretty and accompanying memory precious.

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  8. You did well not to resist too long for the nemesia, I would have done the same! It’s always exciting for very, very, very slow growing tiny plants to see a little life coming in.
    I had ‘African skies’ 4 years ago and it didn’t survive the winter…I loved it though

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  9. Just imagine what it is like where this Aloe grows. Since it would not be allowed on a flight home, you had better adopt it and give it what it needs. You cannot expect it to thrive in the weather that makes buttercups think it is spring again! Have a good week Sis, the weather is looking like it is going to be much more suited to the Aloe next week.

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  10. This website – https://surrealsucculents.co.uk/how-to-care-for-aloe-polyphylla/ – says they need a lot of water but a well-drained soil. Watering from above is fine during the growing season, it’s advised to water during the early morning or evening time.During the winter it’s best to water from below to stop water from collecting in the crowns/rosettes of the succulents.

    Another said are a hungry plant and to use a ‘natural’ feed, though didn’t specify what.

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    1. Thank you that is great. It is very well drained soil, so I will keep on as I am going for the time being. I think the winter will be the challenging time. Hopefully our new home will be warmer than our last one, so more chance of success. Will check out the website. Thanks a million.

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  12. I know it is Hibiscus syriacus – however we always call them Shrub Althea? No idea why and I did not know there were cultivars. You’re a good cop with varieties? Do you who Althea is? I need to find out about this nemesia, I love it.

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  13. I was going to give you the surreal succulents link until I saw that Eileen had beaten me to it, but basically their advice:

    They are an incredibly thirsty and hungry plant that benefits from extra feeding and watering during the growing season. They respond by appreciating air to the root system and not drowning in water. This will cause their roots to rot, slowing down growth rates. To achieve a growing medium that will encourage root development, we use standard multipurpose compost at 55% then we add 35% of perlite and a further 10% grit to the mix. We also add a natural feed e.g. chicken muck.

    You can ask for advice on their site too.

    The hibiscus is lovely! I used to see them in Ludlow growing in pots and always wanted one.

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  14. I’m dribbling over the Hibiscus. I haven’t heard of Oiseau Bleu before. A quick search turns up only northern hemisphere sites, so it’s safe to guess it’s not easily available here. A shame. I have two white ones, and they grow well despite frosts.
    I would have bought the nemesia too: it’s very pretty as well as being an impossible to pass up price.

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