Six on Saturday – Frazzled

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

It has another challenging week. I am very bored with the relentless heat and lack of rain. I am even more bored with the weather people telling us that it is going to cool down. Which quite frankly is fibbing. My garden is frazzled. I am frazzled. Still, there have been good things going on. Peggy had her birthday. It can be no coincidence that it falls on the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille. Ninety eight and still giving me gip, still happy to do a little storming. Our SoS shepherd Jim at Garden Ruminations is guardian of the Six on Saturday community, pop over to his site to find contributors from across the universe. Shall we proceed, there is watering to be done.

The first sunflower of the year is standing up well to the stresses of our current clime. Although much has drooped in the borders, and I am loathe to water them, the garden is full of insects at the moment. With gritted teeth I must confess that the teasels are the main attraction at the moment.

I really struggled with my photos today. I went out twice, both sets were rubbish, quite frankly my dear I didn’t give a damn. See what this weather is doing to me! Rosa ‘Grace’ is having a second flush. I couldn’t get too close because I had a teasel in an inappropriate place. It give me a chance to practice my most flowery language, most of it directed at the Teasel King.

This canna was a gift from Welsh John. I have forgotten its name and I was too battle scarred to face the spikey ones again to find the label.

On safer ground once more, Salvia microphylla ‘Trelissick’ is fairing well. After the winter it was looking very ropey so I took some cuttings with the plan to replace the mother plant. Cuttings – fried, Mother – thriving.

I do love a gazania, my annual of choice, along with cosmos and marigolds. Even they are struggling and they get an ocassional dribble of water to keep them going. I have begun to daydream about Ice Cold in Alex.

Whilst all else struggles, a pile of garden compost, exposed to sun and wind, has germinated a sunflower. You have to respect the effort.

The seventh and most important picture this week, although illicit, is of the most magnificent Maggie. The dearest and most beautiful lass, and an integral part of my nephew, his lovely wife and little girls’ household. Tragically and heartbreakingly she died this week. Her soul was pure and flowed with love and fun and mischief, and this magic rippled through our family in the most joyful way. There will be some people who don’t understand the delight and the agony of sharing your life with a four legged friend. It is undoubtedly worth it, but at times like this it seems otherwise. The cost of loving sometimes seems too harsh. I hope you are in a better place, Maggie Moo, eating roast potatoes and gravy. We will miss you, lovely girl.

17 thoughts on “Six on Saturday – Frazzled”

  3. I regret not sowing any sunflower seeds; it would have been a perfect year for them, given the weather we’ve had. The photo of Maggie is stunning. The black and white, the contrasts, and the look in that dog’s eyes… My thoughts go out to you all.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. Frazzled is very appropriate. I too regret not growing sunflowers. Your photo of Maggie is fabulous, what a tail she had. Pets do become part of the family and leave us heartbroken when they die.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. From one who has lost a furry canine friend, my commiserations to all those who loved the doggie and walks. Happy Birthday to Peggy, what a great time of year to have a birthday celebration. With all the sun to keep the Gazania open this year they must be outperforming other plants. Sadly I didn’t get any this year.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. We’re all pretty frazzled at the moment. For first time in my life I have been hiding away inside the house on the hottest days. I used to sneer at people who did that. I wish I could bring all my precious plants inside with me and give them plenty of nice cool illicit water.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. I’m trailing Peggy by 24 years and a day and I’m not sure I want to be around to be giving anybody gip in 2050. It’s nice to have a really good picture of a loved one as you would wish to remember them and that one of Maggie is a cracker.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.