Six on Saturday – Vigilance

It is a time to be vigilant. As is the order of things, plants are beginning to shoot, monsters are primed to eat them. Who can blame the munchers? Lovely fresh foliage, plumptious and delicious; after a winter snuggled in a cosy corner it is just what the doctor ordered. Such is the way of the world. I don’t begrudge these hungry souls, I am happy to share, but share only. Unfortunately some have their sights set on more than I am willing to forfeit. Which makes it a battle. Which is awkward for a proto-pacifist. Life is indeed a puzzle. If you would like to join in, or are just Six on Saturday curious, which is equally acceptable, other SoSers and their stories can be found on Jim at Garden Ruminations site.

The dahlias have returned, this is Labyrinth, and I am jubilant. I was concerned that the extremely wet winter would have rotted the tubers, and I have been sowing seed to supplement this loss, but each and every one is now shooting strongly. Delicious said the slug. Whoa cowboy said the gardener.

The dreaded lily beetles have also returned, seen here on Lilium ‘Claude Shride’. Yesterday I did a bit of work in my neighbour Percy Porsche’s garden. I noticed a couple of LB’s on his lily and duly dealt with them. I then messaged PP to tell him to look out for them and take action. Considering his horticultural prowess and indeed interest, I then sent a picture of a lily plant so he knew where to look. And I then sent a picture of a lily beetle so he knew what he was looking for. All angles covered.

Welsh John gave me Pelargonium ‘Lord Bute’ last autumn. I have grown it before but previously struggled. This one has already more flowers on it than I previously managed. I am very attracted to dark blooms and this one is no exception.

I’m pretty sure this is Geum ‘Mai Tai’. I’m not sure what has happened to the labels in this garden, many seem to have disappeared into the ether this year. A little pixie, no doubt.

As the stupendous Pointer Sisters sang “I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it”. My will it/won’t it Meconopsis ‘Lingholm’ has a flower bud. It is important to document this mini miracle here as the proverb “pride comes before a fall” could have been written just for me.

Another Welsh John donation is Cestrum elegans. It over wintered in the greenhouse, but has been out in the relative wild for a while. Love it.

That is your Six on Saturday, next week May already. To quote S&G, I just wish it would “slow down, you move too fast”. We are off to a local plant fair this morning. It could get messy.