Six on Saturday – Guest Cloggie

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

There has been much excitement on Planet Heavens. The Cloggies have been in town. I am privileged to have a family that forego soap opera dramas and instead tend to embrace love and laughter. We genuinely enjoy each others’ company. Strange but true. All of this is unfortunate as some of us live in The Netherlands, or conversely, some of us live in Wales. Whichever, we are apart and we have been reunited, hence the excitement. The Cloggies have arrived. Or should I say “De Nederlanders zijn gearriveerd”. Three cheers for Google Translate! But let us not forget this is all about Six on Saturday and really there is a link. My younger brother is a talented photographer. “When you visit you can take photos for my Six on Saturday and I can show everyone how wonderful you are” says I. “Good plan” says he. Time passes. When he and his lovely family arrive at chez nous I greet him “Come in, dear brother, eat food, drink tea and be merry”. “I forgot my camera” he says. I suddenly remember how annoying a younger brother he is, I sigh, I sigh again. “I’ll take pictures on my phone” he says, obviously, and quite sensibly, scared of his elder, champion of the dead-leg, sister. And here they are. Six of them. If you don’t count the header, which makes seven. Someone told me, I’m not telling you who but I hope they are blushing, that this is a good way to get an extra picture in. Pop over to Jim’s and you might be able to work out who the rebel is. Shall we get on and not mention the Lamium ‘Silver Beacon’ in the header?

First we have the rear view of a seed-grown dark-leaved dahlia. This is the one that didn’t get transported to the greenhouse ark last autumn and survived to spite us all. I am very pleased.

In the past I have dismissed the flowers of Hydrangea aspera ‘Hot Chocolate’ as wishy-washy at best. I have been proved wrong.

I am flora-centric, which I am not necessarily proud of. This shot of Dahlia merckii reminded me of how narrow minded I can be. Mind you, I am quite proud that I recognised which foliage it is. Half a point?

Pelargonium x lawrencenum is one of the replacements I bought after my abysmal over-wintering strategy. I am going to try my hardest not to repeat the process.

Last year was the first year I grew zinnia. Seriously, what was I waiting for? A life wasted.

Finally, gazania, in your face, subtle as a brick, wonderful.

I am trying not to be miffed that my brother’s phone photos are better than the pictures I take on my posh camera. I am trying very hard. Perhaps it is his job to irritate his big sister. I think it must be that. Still, I thank him for these lovely shots and I miss him always.

38 thoughts on “Six on Saturday – Guest Cloggie”

  2. Would I be stretching the friendship if I say those photos are fabulous? Especially the hydrangea one. And welcome to the zinnia club! 🌸

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  3. So annoying; we gardeners do everything we can to take a picture that conveys as much about our plant subject as possible, a photographer just composes a picture, irrespective of the subject, and conveys more about it as a plant in the process. If you get my meaning.

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  6. Mmm… having read Jim’s comment I am wondering whether I am a photographer first and a gardener second. I do like to take interesting views of plants. Your brother has a good eye for framing a plant to its advantage. As for Pelargonium x lawrencenum, good luck. That’s one that didn’t survive long for me. A beautiful colour too.

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  7. I empathise with your brother! I find having a younger sister irritating enough. An older one would be insufferable!!!!!!!

    And knowing you, coupled with your propensity to wave your hori hori in my general direction, I’ll refrain from discussion of comparative photography skills. I’ll just say these are six (seven) very good photos of seven (six) very nice plants.

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  11. If they’re pics taken on his phone, just think what he would have done with his “proper” camera. They’re stunning, but you can take credit for growing the stunning plants he took the photos of!

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  13. I love the way the pinks glow on the screen. Of course, that’s all to do with the varieties you’ve planted and the care you’ve given them. I say this as an older sister and, as you know, we’re always right.

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  14. The Gazania wins, but given the quality of the pictures, each one is special. My younger sisters ought to acknowledge that I am always right, but I wouldn’t lay a sovereign on them ever acknowledging that. Enjoy your time together.

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  18. Love the shot of the hydrangea, and also the way you described the spiteful dahlia! 😀 I might just try overwintering some of my seed-grown ones both inside and with a pile of mulch to see how they do this year.

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  19. The photographer has done very well but I note the quality of the subjects and recall that you have produced many fine photos over the years I have been following your blogs. I must confess that I am going to try and work out how to get such brilliant focusing using a phone, the effects are stunning.

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