After a self-awarded sabbatical, I returned to work this week with a squelch. Still, it could have been an awful lot worse, it could have rained on Wednesday as well. This positive thinking is 100% due to having had a month off. I am refreshed. Ask me my thoughts again in a couple of weeks. Only joking, my mindset has swerved from “we’re all doomed” in late December to “anything is possible” in early February. There is no place for medians. If you wish to find out more about Six on Saturday and revel in other SoSers’ gardens then pop over to Jim’s at Garden Ruminations and all will be revealed. Now, star jumps everyone, it’s nearly spring!
First we have Apple Mint, putting on some new growth after a mild but wet few weeks. I’ve got a few different mints; ginger, chocolate and pineapple but never use them for anything other than decoration. Ideas anyone?
I was surprised that this yellow flowered Eccremocarpus scaber has cocked-a-snook at the freezing conditions earlier in the winter. The temperature fell to -4.8C in the greenhouse, so I would imagine it was much colder out in the wilds. It was grown from seed and in turn produced lots of its own seed last summer. I have redistributed some of this wealth, hoping others might enjoy this exotic and apparently tough specimen. I’m going to sow some myself and will be interested to see what colour they turn out to be. Yellow was a bit of a surprise.
Photinia ‘Pink Marble’ was bought specifically for winter interest in the garden, which was definitely lacking last year. It is looking a little rough around the edges, possibly frost damage, and it hasn’t grown as much as I had hoped it would. Still, where there is life there is hope, and a nice feed and some kind words and I’m sure it will try much harder.
Hands up, who forgot to put the sempervivum under cover? Hands up, who, even though they specifically meant to put it under cover after the photo was taken, forgot once more? Mañana
Another plant bought for both its winter interest ie evergreen foliage and general loveliness, is Lomatia ferruginea. Again, I was hoping for a little more growth, but it was in competition with the usual thugs that I like to hang out with, bidens, dahlia, salvia and other ne’er-do-wells. I will pay it more mind this year.
Finally, Galanthus ‘S. Arnott’, the epitome of snowdropicity. The late winter blooms have taken a severe battering recently, fallen crocus and Iris reticulata are sad sights to bloom-starved eyes. This tough snowdrop has held its own against the elements and is all the more precious for the fact.
All done, Six on Saturday complete for another week. Have a good one!
Off The Edge Gardening 
The weather acclimatised you gently, it seems. Hence you will be well prepared for the coming week. ☔🌧️
i hope your plant preservation skills have improved following your Sempervivum experience, given that you are to be entrusted with the welfare of what may well be the last survivor of a particular plant variety.
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I know, more rain! 😦
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Superb photinia foliage: I love it! I was just going to start sowing Eccremocarpus and some dahlias today so I will keep you posted 😉
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My dahlia are up, perhaps a bit too eager to sow 🙂
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Rain flattened crocuses and Irises are not a good look. And my few snowdrops and winter aconites seem to be breakfast, lunch and dinner for someone. I grow different mints too, but only really use the classic mint and Moroccan mint in cooking.
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For the first time I’ve found slug/snail eggs in the soil. It seems they have found me. Dahlias might be more of a challenge this year, it couldn’t last!
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Oh dear 😯
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The honeymoon period of a new garden is over then, now recriminations against slugs and snails, maybe even a night time hunt as Jim as suggested.
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Is is raining now? Could you don wellies and a hat to rescue the poor sempervivium?
To get yourself moving on the job, reflect on “Anything is possible”.
Have a great week, a chara. Up Wales! 🏉
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I’ve just come in from the garden and it has been beautifully sunny. It was short-lived, the clouds have arrived now, but I managed to do a little including moving the sempervivum to a more sensible location. Up Ireland, they were fabulous last week!
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How about Mint Berries and Cream which has green & purplish leaves and lilac flowers, or, another I have my eye on is Mint Orange that apparently smells of oranges. I think I’ve lost my Apple Mint and ordinary mint this winter so need replacements. I grow them just because I love the minty smell.
Try here for ideas: https://www.pepperpotherbplants.co.uk/mint-herb-plants
The foliage of the Lomatia ferruginea is gorgeous. It’s not a plant I’m familiar with, but I’m sure it’ll grow well for you.
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I’m drooling! All so tempting.
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Oh, go on, be tempted. 😁 I am – my sister too!
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I had no idea you could get mint in such flavours! I would love some of them. Tea, soup, salads?
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Yes, they are so tempting and then I don’t use them to their full potential. Good ideas, thank you.
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I’m impressed by how many new things keep popping up in your sixes. Can’t help thinking that bemoaning a lack of growth from the Photinia and Lomatia could come back to haunt you.
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I have a problem, Jim, just one more plant is my mantra and I’ve a plot the size of a postage stamp without the bar code. I’m hoping the lomatia will go upwards, the photina can be pruned hard, perhaps? Watch this space……..
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Apple mint is my favourite mint – possibly because it’s the variety my mum always grew in her old garden. Galanthus ‘S. Arnott’ looks very pretty indeed – definitely the epitome of snowdropicity!
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Love the Photinia, very pretty! Glad to see you have Samuel Arnott, its a good one, should increase nicely.
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I was thinking about dividing Mr A and putting some in the garden and some back in the pot. Belt and braces. 😊
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Mint in drinks like a homemade lemon blitzed cordial: one lemon chopped up, and blitzed with icecubes and water and some sugar, strained then mint floated on top. Salad: mixed cubed cooked beetroot and raw cubbed apple, mayo and chopped mint etc. You sound completely refreshed by your holiday.
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Wow! All sounds really yummy. And yes, I am. 😁
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You gave me a new word snowdropicity. I will try it.
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Love the new mindset, I’m feeling the same! Your garden is looking positively spring-like.
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Glad to hear it. Every day it’s getting a little further on. I’m worried about a cold snap though!
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The snowdrop thing continues to boggle my mind. Mint and lemon in iced tea (is this an American thing?) is the only thing I would do with mint. Love that photinia, I hope it feels happier soon.
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Iced tea is becoming more of a thing here. I might give tea a go, sounds delicious.
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It’s good
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Definitely at the ‘anything is possible’ stage’. Lovely to see what’s growing in your garden
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❤️
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Splendid ‘Pink Marble’ Photinia! I just pulled up some stumps of common Photinia on Friday, and discarded them. I felt badly about it, but they were literally old stumps that might not have recovered if I had buried them somewhere else. Besides, I am none too keen on common Photinia. I know that I would appreciate it if I actually grew a bit of it, and I can always grow it from cuttings if I really want to. Anyway, your Photinia makes the common sort a bit more . . . tolerable.
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