Six on Saturday – Spoilt for Choice

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

What a difference six months makes in the world of Six on Saturday. In the depths of winter I was scrabbling around, wondering if a vaguely interestingly shaped stone would suffice. Today, foraging the garden for SoS options, I was spoilt for choice. I snapped away, eventually whittling the options down to ten. This obviously would contravene the SoS Mandate of 1863; both unacceptable and irresponsible. Determined not to incite an international event, I asked OH if he could advise as to which photos I should use. “The poppy is nice” he said . “That is the flower of a mangetout pea” I replied. On reflection, I should have insisted that he put his glasses on before helping. He is forgiven, his help has been exemplary this week. More of that to come. I love a cliff hanger. Still, decisions have been made, and others will remain for another day/week/year. A man who seldom falters when it comes to decision making is our very own Propulator, king of the road and champion of all things prop. Shall we shake a leg?

First we have Osteospermum ‘Purple Sun’, a plant purchased last year when we were staying at Peggy’s, which is showing no hard feeling after a rather brutal, “it is for your own good”, cut back early in the season. Admittedly, this is its good side, the other is less eager to impress. Such is the joy of selective photography.

Another import from gardens not forgotten is Iris ensata ‘Moonlight Waves’, elegantly photobombed by Rosa ‘Gertrude Jekyll’. I am not surprised that Gertie has turned out to be an attention seeker.

Now a crazy fasciated tomato flower. This is Tomato ‘Red Brandywine’, which I have in the past found to be a little eccentric in its growth. It also has trouble with errant leaders. I can sympathise with that.

This really is a poppy and is a little late to flower, most likely due to it being planted out late. I can’t remember what its name is. In bud it is more orange than I thought it would be. It probably is called ‘Orange Delight’ or something like that, although I doubt if I would have bought it if it was, I do like a traditional true red poppy.

Next is Erodium manescavii, if you haven’t got one, stop reading this immediately and go and find one. Or maybe three. I love it.

Finally, we have a pond. Earlier in the week, when I was out living it up and misbehaving with Lady Mantle, OH was digging a gurt big hole for our mini-pond. I was very happy. I am still very happy. The plan is for a pygmy waterlily. Then I will extend the border to meet it. Happy days.

That is your lot! Have a great week everyone. See you in the gloaming.

54 thoughts on “Six on Saturday – Spoilt for Choice”

  1. By the time you’ve finished, that pond’ll have about 27 plants in it so make sure it’s a VERY pigmy water lily. That orange pea flower look rather like a poppy so I can understand OH’s confusion.

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  2. Your Rodgersia in the background looks really happy! I’ve got one that’s been put back into a pot because it wasn’t happy where I’d planted. Is it damp where you have yours?

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    1. It is one that Heather Booker gave me, and it had been in a pot for years, struggling on. It is clay here, Iwhich perhaps makes a difference. I noticed yesterday that it was beginning to brown a little around the leaf edges so gave it a big can of water.

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  3. Thank you for the reminder about ‘fasciated’. I’ve been trying to remember what happened to the flowers on my Echeveria a couple of years ago. You’re right about the Erodium, every garden should have one! It’s charming.

    SoS does indeed, get difficult in the winter. I found myself today looking at an empty snail shell wondering if it would do.

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  4. Pingback: 😎Flaming June Has Arrived In My Hampshire Garden. #SixOnSaturday #GardeningTwitter #Gardens | Rosie Amber

  5. I have something similar to your Erodium manescavii, maybe the same, not sure, mine is very much like an everlasting Geranium (well that’s my description of it). Love the pond, mine is still in the planning stage. Positioning will reply on how much the new neighbours cut back their tress which currently drop heaps of leaves into our garden.

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    1. It is in the same family as the geraniums, a relative. Yes, leaves might be a problem here too as it is quite close to the pear tree, mind you, the garden is so small everything is close to the pear tree!

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  6. The garden is filling out nicely, and when that pygmy waterlily grows too big, there is always the opportunity to add a second larger pond to the garden, maybe convenient for you to dip your feet in and cool down.

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    1. It is a very tasty variety, not sure how well it will do outside though. I might be able to transfer it to the greenhouse when it arrives in July. The ponds is about 30cm deep, I am rubbish at lengths though, I would say quite deep.

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  8. Iris ensata ‘Moonlight Waves’ is a great name and a lovely Iris. I have that Erodium (thanks to some seeds from Jim a few years ago). I risked splitting my one plant into two this spring and hopefully it will flower… and when they start they don’t seem to stop! Love the pond.

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  10. I need that osteospurmum in my life! Lovely pics, thanks for sharing. I’ve got that orangey-red poppy too and mine is behaving very strangely this year – it’s flowered prolifically, for longer and later than usual, and the buds keep balling and rotting before opening. I assume it’s weather related!

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  12. It’s always exciting to put a pond in and I look forward to seeing yours develop. Pretty pebbles around it! Just been swotting up on fascination, very strange, I wonder if you will get a fruit out of it, a mutant tomato.

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  14. Happy days! Your garden is progressing nicely and I love those Osteospermum ‘Purple Sun’ – did you leave them outdoors over winter? I know some are hardy, others less so. And a mini pond. I keep talking about creating a pond, but so far I haven’t done anything about it. Having a handy OH helps. Mine is DIY allergic. 😩

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  15. Erodium manescavii is one that I am unfamiliar with. Only Erodium texanum is native near here. It was a fad when I was in school, but it is not so impressive. It was likely the impetus for the introduction of other species.

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  16. I love your round pond, and you plan to extend the border to meet it. I can imagine it all hugged by plants with its lovely water lily.
    That 1863 mandate can be a bit of a bore, but you can get round it by having ‘bright colours’ or ‘new purchases’ as a heading and including several photos in each one. Or invoke your ‘wild card’ which can be played on an exceptionally photographic week. Your readers love gardens and will probably not even notice a few extras finding their way in.

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  18. First there was just grass, then a border around the edge, then a pond out in the middle, then the border extended around it. Couple more bites and it’s not worth getting the mower out for it. Though I suppose you need the lawn for garden parties and the like. Hard to believe that tomato flower could produce a fruit. That I want to see.

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  22. My Brandywine tomato, which I had as a gift from a lovely lady I know, also had the same sort of flower, unfortunately, it shriveled up and fell off, but more flowers on it now!

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