Six on Saturday – All The Fun of the Fair

February 20, 2021offtheedgegardening 50 Comments

Outside the wind is shrieking like the waltzers and I’m fed up of spinning now. It has been a week of sadness and some pain. A dear friend died, leaving another dear friend broken hearted. And I have hurt my back. It is obvious which is the most important. I wonder if I will ever learn that somethings can’t be fixed by force, but only by time. I suspect I will keep trying.

An addiction to Six on Saturday is a sometime blessing and occasional curse, but for your delectation I struggled outside into the demon fairground to take some shots. For those of you unacquainted with SoS, and question what could inspire such noble devotion, nip over and introduce yourself to the legend that is The Propagator. You will not only uncover the intricacies of this cult but also those of his many sycophants. Chop, chop, let’s shake a leg!

First, we have a hellebore that was so desperate to be photographed it held its head uncharacteristically high, meaning no bending was necessary for the photograph. After all that effort, it would be contrary to resist. My aching back thanks its thoughtfulness.

Next, stripy crocus, shaming the under-performing violas they co-habit with. I am not surprised about the violas’ frankly disappointing show, the exact same happens every year and every year I despair. And then, just before I am poised to replace them, my trowel in vengeance mode, they go on hyper-drive and become irresistible. Each year I am fooled. There is nothing to suggest that this will not be repeated ad infinitum.

Less of the seasonal, onto the misguided. Here we have Lavandula pinnata, which has been popping out the odd flower since autumn. Respect.

Now we have a grumpy lion, a bench-end valiantly holding together a rickety seat. I am a Leo and sometimes a grumpy lion. It is all about empathy. A bench is good place to start.

Earlier in the week I started the rose pruning, perhaps a little late as they have already sprung into action. When I say “start” it is not because I am the proud owner of acreage of floribunda, but because there is a climbing rose that needs some serious reformative pruning. The green bin is now full, and my hands pin cushions, despite protective gloves. It was time for a break. This is Rosa ‘Peace’, as identified by SoSers, and is rather further forward than the others. This little shoot had a reprieve, to keep up the good work.

Whilst pruning, during several diversions, I investigated whether Molly the Witch had begun her journey. I ripped away the surrounding mass of damp crocosmia foliage, like some horti archaeologist, and low and behold there she was, Paeonia mlokosewkitschii (not an anagram). Perhaps a flower this year?

All done, six in the bag. Hope all is well on your planets. ‘Til next time.

Six on Saturday – You can’t keep a good fern down

February 6, 2021offtheedgegardening 25 Comments

February has arrived; which is officially the last month of winter. That is if like me you prefer to adhere to the meteorological interpretation of events, at this end of the year anyway. And it’s a shortie so should fly by. Then, baby, the only way is up! My Six on Saturday this week has no particular theme, which is remiss as I do love a theme. It is however led by endeavour and finished with love. Any newbies to the SoS phenomena should pop on over to The Prop’s site and all will become perfectly clear, or perhaps not so. If in doubt treat it as a Dadaist interpretive inter-planetary art project.

Let us start with a sight that made me grin when I saw it, a coyly unfurling frond of Cyathea australis beneath its veil of fleece. You can’t keep a good fern down.

Next, we have the front garden hellebore, which has done very well this year and seems to have multiplied admirably. Unfortunately, I failed to undertake the promised move, so to admire its mottled flower face requires the flexibility of Simone Biles. I will move it for the new owner.

Onto cyclamen seed pods, which have corkscrewed down and are now poised to push into the soil. Self-sowing; nature is a wonderful thing, and we are part of this amazing world. How this indisputable fact is continually over-looked is a complete mystery.

Question: What could possibly be better than a bud? Answer: A furry bud! The Phlomis fruticosa in the frozen north is gearing up for an early display.

Now we have a defiant osteospermum, its blue boss hinting of its hardiness. The petals are curled in defence of the weather, slimming its profile, looking quite different to its summer appearance. Two for the price of one!

Lastly, we have a heart-shaped leaf of Pelargonium cordifolium var. rubrocinctum, having absorbed its chlorophyll ready to drop. On reflection I should have saved this picture for Valentine Day, but you can’t go wrong with a symbol of love, there is more than enough to go around.

That is your lot, you lovely people. Hope all is good in your worlds. Stay safe and well.

Six on Saturday – Resilience

February 15, 2020offtheedgegardening 24 Comments

It has been an eventful couple of weeks for the world; fire and flood, plague, false prophets, the whole shebang! In my own small and insignificant world we have soldiered on, protected from all but a smidgeon of the evil portents, although not always with our smiley faces on. There have casualties and but many more survivors. This weekend is set to bring more challenges, which we have no option but to endure. But there is nothing like nature to demonstrate resilience, the urge to survive is paramount. To see how the rest of the Six on Saturday world is faring, check out what is going on over at The Prop’s where I am sure positivity will abound. Let us get on.

First we have a hellebore which, with a little help from its lovely assistant, is showing its hidden beauty. With its head hung low it has escaped the worst of winds. Each year I promise to move it to a more accessible position. Each year I forget/lose my bottle.

The bully boy in yellow pants, Narcissus ‘Tête-à-Tête’, was ravaged by our recent weather. These flowering spikes were ripped from their planter several feet away and dumped unceremoniously on the ground. I have no doubt they will return next year, despite their rough treatment. I am very pleased to see the Aquilegia canadensis showing a leg in the background.

Next the glossy bronzed leaves of Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Tom Thumb’ which is snuggled between a hydrangea and buddleia. No sign of trauma here. God bless hardy evergreens.

One of the branches of a large and very woody rosemary toppled during the reign of Ms Ciara. I have decided to leave it be until the weather moderates. A snail is very pleased that I have chosen a non-interventionist approach.

The Solanum rantonnetii is looking a little worse for wear. Fried to a crisp and, bearing in mind the toxicity of the plant, not as tasty. The plant is vigorous and I have every faith it will come back fighting in the spring.

Lastly an osteospermum providing breakfast, lunch and dinner for a small green caterpillar. I wondered if it was an inch worm of some sort. Perhaps. It has had a good munch, which even the most hard hearted could not deny.

Stay safe, keep your chins up and dream of happy days.

Back To It

February 3, 2020offtheedgegardening 12 Comments

After a month long sabbatical, today I returned to work. I call it a sabbatical because it sounds grown up and important and as if I am doing something worthy with my time. Researching the lesser spotted snoddlegrass perhaps or volunteering in the Home for Grumpy Old Men or maybe knitting hats for bald eagles. None of these are the case. It mainly involved good intent and excessive inertia. Oh, and chocolate.

After a dreary December I was ready for a break and the thought of sog and mud free days was enticing. For the last couple of weeks I have been restless to return. Batteries recharged. My clothes a little tighter. Ready for action.

It rained, of course, but not until just before lunch. And it was lovely to be part of the Westwell Hall pack again. My cleaned and sharpened tools are dirty, my coat mud-encrusted, twigs are in my hair, order has been restored and all is well in the world.

Six on Saturday – Time Travel

May 18, 2019offtheedgegardening 29 Comments

This week I have had to enlist the assistance of the time machine again, on loan from our very own Six on Saturday Time Lord, Dr Prop. At this very moment in time I am not only here with you I am also up to high jinx on another planet, possibly indulging in age inappropriate dance moves and eating too many vol au vents. Something like that anyway.

First we have an argyranthemum. A new purchase and a lovely one too. It is very likely that I have said this before, but I will tell you again just in case you have forgotten. A few years ago, when I asked his esteened opinion, a very knowledgeable, finger on the pulse, RHS type of person said that argyranthemums were the way forward. I quite agree.

On to the demon hybrid bluebell. They are here. They look very pretty. We cannot blame them for that.

Next we have a hellebore stuck in Groundhog Day. I don’t mind in the slightest, although I do hope it doesn’t exhaust itself. I don’t want to be hearing excuses next year.

Next another new purchase, an osteospermum. It wasn’t in flower when I bought it, but I took a chance. I am a wild child. Perhaps more accurately a wild woman a little past the first flush of youth. No matter. You know what they say, “faint heart never won fair Whirlygig” (possibly).

Last weekend we had some visitors from the Big City. As the planters at the front of the house were very “Winter into Spring shabby and not in the slightest bit chic” I decided to install “Summer into Autumn fresh and unsullied by neither time nor mollusc”. I think they were fooled into thinking I keep a tidy garden. One of the newbies is this Bidens ferulifolia. This lovely is everything a bedding plant should be, bright, floriferous with the possibility of surviving the winter to give us more joy next year.

And bringing up the rear is a mini cheat. This tulip is not in my garden, nor was it ever. However over the last few weeks I have greatly enjoyed the glorious rise and fall of the blooms. Slowly transforming from tender young buds to silken brazen hussies. Just wonderful.

There we have it, another six. And don’t forget, if you need to borrow the time machine, just contact Dr Prop and he will put you on the waiting list. It comes in extremely useful sometimes.

Six on Saturday – Conform to Type

February 16, 2019offtheedgegardening 35 Comments

For this Six on Saturday I have resolved to conform to type. I will be featuring stereotypically seasonal issues only. Possibly. We shall see how that goes. “What is this Six on Saturday?” I hear you ask. “Have you just returned from trekking in the Amazon rainforest where you set up home with an indigenous tribe and lived isolated from western society for the past five years until you ran out of teabags and had to pop home to get some more?” I enquire. No matter, I will explain. It is quite simple: six, on Saturday. For more details check out our very own tribal chief, The Propamaster, and he will get you up to speed on the fine print.

First we have a primula, primrose, first rose. You might have noticed that it is blue, which is not totally traditional, but let us not get bogged down with the minutae. I have a penchant for blue flowers so I was very happy to find this little lovely in the front garden. I pointed it out to OH earlier and we agreed that neither of us had planted it there. Or perhaps more accurately, “remembered” that we had planted it.

Next the quintessential spring flower, all hail the daff! No one can complain about any poetic licence with this choice, a classic yellow narcissus. I was in Welsh Wales last weekend and was rather surprised to see they had seemingly shot up and budded in my absence. Perhaps I was away longer than I imagined.

Now a crocus, bang on! I imagine this little beauty was shifted out-of-place whilst I was rooting around removing summer bedding and planting out the violas. A small joy, hugging the edge of the butler’s sink.

Come on folks, I am surpassing myself here, now we have a hellebore! This possibly has a name but I can’t be bothered to go out and look at the label. Let us call it Purple Blotch.

Not so welcome, but definitely a feature of the season, are the emerging slugs and snails. This blatant destroyer was feasting on a pot of purple alstromeria that I am planning to pass on to Max. Again, it definitely has a name. Please see above for excuses.

And here is the exception to prove my rule. This Salvia corrugata has been flowering since time begun, and possibly a little before. Unprotected, except by my love, it has weathered storms and a few degrees of frost. Not classic winter/spring fare, but definitely worth a mention.

Now just a moment, we wouldn’t want a repeat of last week’s rather embarrassing faux pas …………… yep, we are definitely up to six, I checked twice. That is it, another SoS completed. Until the next time. I will keep practicing my counting.

Odd

February 23, 2018offtheedgegardening 11 Comments

I did something very odd in my garden today. No, not gardening, although that is a little unusual, I sat on the bench, in the sunshine and I drank a cup of coffee. I have never been one to sit in the garden. It makes me twitchy, remembering things that need to be checked or jobs I should be doing. Whilst I sat I looked through my seed box, making decisions, decisions, decisions. It was rather nice, I might well try it again.

This full-face is the hellebore that was in bud last week. Please note the intentional hazy tone to this photograph. Hours of picture manipulation have produced the resultant air of romance and one too many gins.

Six on Saturday – Optimism

February 17, 2018June 25, 2018offtheedgegardening 25 Comments

It is that time of the week again, the time for excuses and diversions. But wait a moment! This week, all is legitimate and legal, photos and text both created today. Unlike some I could mention, however I do not like to tell tales, do I Mr K ?

Six on Saturday time again hip hip horray! For those of you still unsure of what this entails, pop over to The Propagator’s site and find not only how it works but contributions from others in his control. Once you have signed your name on the dotted line in blood, you will never escape his evil grip. But don’t let that put you off, come on, join in, the more the merrier!

To begin we have a self seeded aquilegia. Last year they got a bit above their station and I promised to cull them before they trampled everything else. They are tricky to get out, with their fleshy taproots and indomitable will, but I will persist.

Next we have a lone Iris reticulata, leaning at a rather jaunty angle. I am especially fond of these irises, although I don’t often manage to keep them going for more than one year. This is, I believe, due to the fact that they should be in full sun and sandy soil, neither of which they are afforded here. This chap might be the only survivor, jostled by Narcissus ‘Tête á Tête’, crocus and violas. I am very proud of him. However, there is plenty of time for the others to wriggle through.

Now onto the obligatory “emerging shoots” photo of the day. This is Paeonia mlokosewitschii which, unless you are Polish is best called Molly the Witch. It was a gift from my extremely talented, virtual friend Sue and has yet to flower yet. As always, I am hopeful for this year.

This hellebore is the tricky dicky that I tried to photograph a couple of weeks ago. It is in completely the wrong place and slightly irritates me every time I see it. Which is a shame because it is good one. I will move it after it has flowered and hopefully it won’t sulk too much.

A small parcel arrived this morning, with no return address. I opened it and found a pot containing some plant material. No note. Very curious. Then the two pound coin dropped. The mystery plants were winter aconites, a gift from an extremely generous blogging friend, Chloris, who has an amazing garden in Suffolk. I had been bemoaning (yes I know hard to believe) that I have never been able to grow Eranthis hyemalis in our soil (a workman blames his tools) and she generously offered to send me some of hers. They are now safely potted up and I am positive they will thrive in their new home.

For the finale I have chosen vermiculite. Not a looker, but very useful. On Tuesday I received a message from my friend Pat the Field asking if I had found the bag that she had left outside my front door the previous Friday. “No”, I told her,”perhaps it has blown away”. “I don’t think so” she said “it is quite big”. So I asked my neighbour on one side, not a sign. Then yesterday I saw my other non gardening, non going outside very much at all, neighbour on the other side “have you seen a bag of, um, light brownish stuff?”, “oh I wondered what that was”. Luckily she had not thrown it away and popped it around later but asked no questions. An animal feed bag full of vermiculite, what on earth did she think it was? The mind boggles.

So there we have it, another week crossed off, soon I will be up before the parole board. Until then, I will be under the control, for at least one day each week, of the magnificent Mr P.

Another View

March 7, 2017offtheedgegardening 6 Comments

Hellebore seed factory.

GPAP – Frosty the Hellebore

January 22, 2016January 22, 2016offtheedgegardening 4 Comments

This photo was taken last January in Spotty Dotty’s garden. The emerging hellebore has been caught by frost, its back crystalline with cold. But these are tough customers and it shrugged it off in the lukewarm winter sunshine. In the weeks that followed we enjoyed a plethora of double white flowers, which later freely seeded under its petticoats. Another lovely memory.