Six on Saturday – Hello

October 9, 2021November 26, 2021offtheedgegardening 31 Comments

I just popped by to say “hello there”. To say “cooooeeeeee, I’m still hanging on to Planet Earth”. Perhaps even “did you miss me, did you notice I’ve been gone?” Too needy? Almost definitely. More importantly, I am here to share my last Six from Peggy’s house. Or rather, my last Six if the Big Moving Gods in The Sky are feeling benevolent and the ceremonial sacrifice of six jammy dodgers and a kitkat was considered adequate. I will say no more, I do not wish to jinx things. If you have a little time on your hands, it might be worth seeing what the other SoSers are up to. Pop over to The Prop’s site and all will be revealed. Shall we shake a leg?

First we have Diascia personata, the name of which I have a terrible time remembering. After an initial flowering, several pot ons, a severe chop back and a major sulk (on its part) it is now flowering again in a very civilised manor. Refined and understated, as befits the season. Fair play to you fine, *checks notes*, diascia!

“It is not dead” I kept telling everyone/myself, and I was right. This time anyway. The Tibouchina urvilleana is just forming flower buds, having pulled itself from the vortex of doom. I am very pleased because it was a gift from Mr and Mrs Fish and not only do I love it, I feel a certain responsibility of care.

Well along the road to snoozeland, the hostas are shutting down, withdrawing chlorophyll from their leaves and giving us a fine lemon drizzle display of colour. I rarely consider hostas as plants with autumn merit. I may well have to rethink that opinion. Remind me next year.

Onto Hedychium ‘Pradhanii’, which has sporadically produced some rather contorted, disturbed flowers for several weeks. The recent rains have suited it and now the blooms are as exotic and wonderful as they ever have been. Hip, hip, horrah!

Begonia grandis ‘Claret Jug’, is another beauty just coming into its own. Burgundy backed leaves and stems, fresh pink flowers held on Barbie branches, this is quite glorious.

Finally, Nerine bowdenii ‘Bicolor’ has thrown up two flower spikes this year and this is the first to shine. And shine it does. Now we just have to wait to see if its delicate relative, N. undulata is going to turn up to the party.

That is your lot. Hope you are all staying well and happy. ‘Til next time.

Six on Saturday – Arrival

January 30, 2021January 30, 2021offtheedgegardening 39 Comments

It cannot be denied that I have been a little distracted of late. In fact it has been previously noted. I wish I could say there were noble intentions afoot, that I’ve been performing the complete works of Gilbert and Sullivan at the home for delinquent seniors or knitting ponchos for orphan lambs, but no. Selfish to a fault. It cannot be denied, m’lord, I have been navel gazing. Do not lose hope; we may be at a turning point in my self-obsession. Yesterday, eventually, after much wailing and head bashing, our house sale was completed. Feel free to set a taper to the firework display you have been saving for this very ocassion. If necessary, a sparkler will suffice. Someone who will undoubtedly not care a jot about my personal life is maestro Prop, whose consciousness is busy with all kind of important bulb and seed issues, with perhaps a little judicious seasonal pruning. And of course SoSing. Check him and our gang out, it will definitely be educational and you might well find some sunshine. This week’s six are neither colourful nor in focus, but it seems I am on a slightly off kilter road at the moment. Let’s shake a leg, or there will be complaints from the management.

First we have Phyllostachys aurea, the golden bamboo, in a particularly notable blue sky. I believe this is called pathetic fallacy to those who enjoy wordy definitions. Whatever it is, it was very welcome.

Next a frazzled leaf of Geranium maderanse ‘Guernsey White’. Serves you right for poking your paw out from under the fleece. Don’t worry, the rest of the plant is quite plump and healthy ready to crack into action later in the year.

Now the raddled trunk of our rosemary, under which was the lounging place of choice for our dear departed Charlie Cat. A soft heart has saved this whale of a herb. There is nothing wrong with a bit of sentimentality.

Onto the remaining stamen from the still flowering Tibouchina urvilleana, which is yet to be protected from the elements. I am slightly shamed by this lack of care, slightly proud of the shrub’s resilience. As we know pride comes before a fall. I, and possibly the tibouchina, are bound for a plummet. It is also a particularly poor photograph. Lose, lose.

Next, a phormium, grown from seed by a client/friend in Bristol. To my shame I rarely acknowledge it except in winter. After 14 years I think I should acknowledge this as a trend.

Now Helichrysum bracteatum, which it seems, is truly everlasting. Whilst much of the plant is frost-induced sog, it is making an admirable effort to flower again. There is possibly a lesson for us in this; I will leave you to ponder it.

That is it, another week passed in our seemingly unrelenting crawl towards spring. Stay well and safe, my friends.

Six on Saturday – Between Storms

February 22, 2020February 22, 2020offtheedgegardening 29 Comments

Are we still hanging on? Hope so. Welcome to another Six on Saturday. If you need to know more or you would like to see what the others are up to, and quite frankly you would be daft not to, pop over to The Maestro Prop’s site and all will be revealed. A tricky week, but it has passed. Shall we proceed.

We’ll kick off with Paeonia mlokosewitschii, conveniently known as Molly the Witch. Every year she puts in an appearance, but she is yet to flower. This year, or perhaps next, might be her inaugural season. It doesn’t really matter; it is always good to have a witch in close proximity.

On to Lachenalia quadricolor, which by some kind of Disney miracle I have managed to keep alive. So far anyway. I bought it last March at the HPS Lecture Day. This flower is far from the ideal, but still it makes me happy. It reminds me of a giraffe and that can only be a good thing. My mum loves giraffes.

Next is horticultural fleece on the washing line. The storms unceremoniously peeled it from the plant it was supposed to be protecting. It had become a pathetic wet mess, only kept from blowing away by the amount of rainwater it was holding within its fibres. I hung it on the line to dry, along with its similarly inept colleagues, during our short respite.

On to a crocus. Fabulous! Just look at the delicate purple veins on the blue-white of the embracing petals, their deep violet bases leaching upwards. Doesn’t it make your heart beat a little faster? I don’t want this flower to do anything else; no opening, no ripening. I want it to hold tight onto this moment, it is perfect as it is.

The Exochorda x macrantha has decided to have a little bit of a bloom. I don’t mind. Although not my favourite, it is rather nice in its virginal simplicity. Just nice though, no quickening of the pulse.

Lastly, an ever-faithful stalwart of my SoS, Tibouchina urvilleana, which is tucked in under a tree. For extra protection, it was supposed to be swaddled by one of the previous fleecy offenders. Seems she shrugged off her constraints, like the diva that she is, and have a tentative attempt at flowering. Again, all to my benefit. Make the most of it gal, you may well have to be rewrapped very soon.

All done.

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu
Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu.

Six on Saturday – Anarchy

August 17, 2019offtheedgegardening 31 Comments

I’m not very happy with my garden at the moment, and I’m sure the garden would say exactly the same about me. I have once again slipped into a cycle of neglect – no dead heading, no slug watch, no bother. And it shows. Anarchy has ensued. My Six on Saturday this week is a reflection on that state, some have overcome, some have suffered. If you still haven’t caught on about the cause for world peace that is SoS, then check out The Propagator’s blog and he will tell you all about it and you can also indulge in stories from across the world.

First we have a success, Tibouchina urvilleana, which hasn’t turned a hair through assault by wind, rain and scorch. The downy buds are almost as beautiful as the deep purple flowers, yet to come.

Next we have Dahlia ‘Candy Eyes’, another plant ear-marked for a client which never managed to escape my clutches. Situated just outside the back door, it has still been victim of the dreaded molluscs and is fit to bust out of its pot. Still I think we can look past a few nibbles and appreciate your pretty pink face, no need to hang your head. I’ll repot you soon, promise.

In the world of mollusc gastronomy, gazanias appear to be the latest trend, the sought out delicacy. All the cool snails in town are raving about it. Not just any old part of the plant however, the petals are the most sought after, leaving unattractive stumps in their wake. No wonder these two new blooms are staying firm shut, too dangerous to go out there!

This is part of the bronze fennel forest that is engulfing the back of one of my borders, squishing and squashing as it expands. Strange, as the year before last I dug up every last piece.

Now for a plant that gets ten out of ten for fortitude. This Dahlia coccinea was sheared off at the ground earlier in the year, before rising like a phoenix out of the ashes. Just coming into bloom, a agapanthus fell on its head. Some years are like that.

Lastly a fuchsia. This lives in the front garden and has been subject to the most rigorous of storms over the last few weeks. Who would have guessed it?

All done, until next time!

Six on Saturday – Dark Weeks

January 26, 2019January 26, 2019offtheedgegardening 22 Comments

Back so soon? Taking part in Six on Saturday is a splendid way to mark the passage of the darkest weeks, which I am making a concerted effort not to wish away. This wild beast is overseen by our very own lion tamer The Prop. It works like this, he point an upturned chair at us, cracks a whip and we occasionally try to eat him. Something like that anyway. If you would like this confirmed, pop over to his blog and check out what is going on.

First we have a heart, suspended on our bijou cherry. I would like to say that it was a gift from Tom Hardy, but that would be at best misleading. In fact I bought this tiny terracotta tile for myself along with two other similars. They hang on the cherry tree, which was grown from a pip and therefore unlikely to doing anything of much merit, to add ornament where there is none.

Next we have Geranium bohemicum which I grew from seed last year. A few SoS’s ago I featured a geranium given to me by my college friend called ‘Blue Orchid’ . I have since discovered that it is actually called ‘Orchid Blue’ and is a cultivar of this very plant. Both are flowering now, they look the same, you would have thought I could have worked it out before.

Now onto Galanthus ‘Magnet’ a strong and upright chap, purchased last year when visiting Helen’s wonderful open garden at Little Ash. Later I transferred it into a terracotta pot, so it wouldn’t get lost in the fray. It has particularly long pedicel, the bit that attaches the flower to the rest of the plant, and therefore is noted for its fine bobbing. In fact, as I write I can see it, bobbing away in the breeze. Later there are gales forecast, I hope it doesn’t over-bob and lose its head.

Then some mummified apples and associated damage, is it canker? Perhaps. This is one of two apple trees in our garden, and they have outgrown the space. The jackdaws scoff the fruit before we can get to them and they aren’t all that special when we do. I have attempted to keep them pruned to size but it is a case of wrong plant, wrong place. Or is that a double negative and mean it is the right place? Whatever, my saw twitches when I am close by.

Another hit for Teacher’s Pet Tibouchina urvilleana. Although it keeps shrugging off the overcoat I so lovingly draped around its shoulders, it is still looking quite happy. One leaf has turned. And very beautifully too.

“Did you put a pottery horses head in one of the pots” I asked OH. “Yes” he replied. “Thank goodness, I thought the ceramics mafioso had been calling”.

That is it, all done for another week. Another day, another dollar!

Six on Saturday – Firsts

January 5, 2019offtheedgegardening 28 Comments

You cannot get away from “Firsts” at this time of year. Wipe the slate clean and start all over. There is a lot to be said for that. A good approach to life. As the year tootles along these firsts will become fewer and far between, but not yet. And today was full of them, perhaps ad nauseam. It was my first time scrabbling about in the garden thinking “what on earth am I am going to take photos of and isn’t it about time the gardener sorted out this chaos” whilst trying to avoid the gaze of the curtain twitching neighbours who are nodding to each other in a knowing manner. It was my first proper gardening session. My first time driving since the leap of faith that was unfounded. And they are all good firsts. OH has a man cold so I offered to go to the supermarket. As I got in the car, turned on my music and shot off up the road I felt liberated. Torrington Tina told me that the worse thing about her injury was that she couldn’t drive and until earlier I hadn’t realised quite how much I had missed it. Later pootling about in the garden, getting reaquainted, I felt positive and inspired. So it is in this frame of mind that I present to you my first Six on Saturday of the year along with my first mention of our leader The Propadoodle.

My first picture, is of Fat Ol. He has been mentioned before and is my No. 1 favourite cat that doesn’t live in my house. I love him because he is big and ginger and has an extremely high-pitched meow. In human terms, he looks like a docker but speaks like the John Inman. And I love even though he poos in my pots. He accompanied me on my rummage before retiring to more important pursuits such as sleeping and snoozing.

Next we have my Tibouchina urvilleana, although you may not recognise it as such. The threat of imminent frosts meant a quick wrap around with horticultural fleece, not enough but I didn’t have much and there are plenty of other needies. It is still flowering beneath, which is a little bit sad. Shopping list for Monday includes more fleece.

Now we have a very persistent pelargonium. Situated in a pot at the front of the house, the land of perpetual winter gloom. This morning I picked off mouldy leaves and spent blooms. It won’t have any protection, there is neither room nor inclination and there are several around the gardens. It is every pellie for themselves. Who knows what the rest of the winter will bring, it might make it through!

Now for some pomegranate seed ….. not really, this is the burst seed pod of Sauromatum venosum. I sowed my first seed of the year today. A very restrained two. Big Orange Tomato and some mixed species plectranthus. Not these yet. I’m planning to do a little research as to the best way to sow these ruby nuggets. This may or may not happen. I may just bung them in a pot full of compost tomorrow and hope for the best.

Next we have proof that the nasturtium is not wholly indestructible. Today I pulled up reams of sog, finding all kinds of exciting things beneath, some I recognised, some not. Hopefully tomorrow I will have space enough to plant the alliums that are begging to be in the ground. Mind you, there are a few corners that the nasturtium still reigns supreme.

Lastly we have the husk of a flower. It took me a while to work it out, but I think it might be the remains of a sunflower. Whatever, I thought it looked pretty good lolling about in the rosemary. I’ve let it stay. For the moment.

There we have it, another first done and dusted. Have a look at what the other SoSer have been up to over at SoS Headquarters, you still have time to join in the fun!

Six on Saturday – Festive Frolics

December 22, 2018December 22, 2018offtheedgegardening 32 Comments

Today I tentatively ventured up the slippery steps in order to inspect the top garden and take a few photos. And why, you may well ask, would I put myself at such risk? All for you Mr Prop, all for you. Also for all the other Six on Saturdayers and their followers. And for my followers and those that just happen upon me and wonder what the bloomin’ Nora is going on here. And of course for Father Christmas and all his little helpers. Which brings me nicely back to The Prop again. Yes, in case you hadn’t noticed, it is that time of year again. The gardens are not awash with brightness, but who cares, our Christmas jumpers make up for any colour deficit. Without further ado, here are my festive Six on Saturday. Before I start I should make something clear, they are “festive” because it is that time of the year, not because they have anything with Christmas, unless I can find a tenuous link. Or I might not bother. Let’s see how it goes.

Let us begin with Vinca difformis ‘Jenny Pym’, with its pretty blushing flower. This has been in the front garden for a couple of years and is bulking up beautifully. As is my wont, I had forgotten about its presence until it caught my eye as I hobbled up the path yesterday. I think I love it more each year. And then I forget about it for nine months.

Next is my new greenhouse, complete with intact door and free from holes in places that there should not be holes. The odds on my cuttings and seedlings making it through the winter have grown. When a cold snap threatens I will wrap some horticultural fleece around and about. They should be snug enough. OH is vindicated.

We have had some dreadful weather in the last couple of weeks, driving rain coupled with persistent gales. During this time I have been worrying about the plants “up the steps”, many of which need winter protection. I need not have worried as they seem to have coped quite well without my rapt attention. Much to my amazement/joy thisTibouchina urvilleana is in full flower, as are Salvia corrugata, Salvia leucantha and Lavandula pinnata.

I had been warned, and the description was accurate. The builders had indeed macheted a trail through the Bed of Anarchy. It is what it is. We can fix it.

Teasels are a tradition in our garden. They pop up wherever and whenever and hopefully always will. Earlier this week I was called to the window, the goldfinches had found their winter snackbar. It all makes sense when you see these glamorous birds swaying in the wind on the barbed heads. You will have to imagine them, or not, they look quite good alone in their spiky splendour.

The late, great, Freddie Mercury once sang “don’t stop me now, I’m having such a good time” and many have since echoed his plea, including this nasturtium. Many of its fellows have been frosted to mush or stomped into the ground, but this one, clambering through the rosemary bush, is determined to see Christmas.

So there we have it, six things that are happening today in the garden, where I was, the first time for a month. I enjoyed my mini-sojourn and it has fuelled my will to get back to full health as soon as possible. And even better!

Thank you to everyone who reads my blog, both those who make witty, kind, entertaining and, sometimes, challenging comments and those also who linger in the shadows (not in a scary way). I really do appreciate it. I wish you all a wonderful festive period, I hope it bring you everything you need and a little bit more.

ps Not one tenuous link, I must be losing my touch!

Thelma and Aunty Louise

November 5, 2018offtheedgegardening 20 Comments

One of the many benefits of my job is that, whether I’m looking for them or not, I acquire new friends along the horticultural way. As a matter of course my employer ends up becoming my buddy as well as my client. Perhaps I should warn people of the risks involved before they take me on.

Tomorrow I am going on a road trip with Nancy Nightingale. We are going all the way to Cardiff to what I believe is called a “gig” in modern parlance, after which will be staying at an, almost inevitably, dodgy hotel. The band is a Swedish sisterly duo called First Aid Kit and one of their songs is on my “imagined” greatest hits album. This is in partnership with my esteemed singing teacher who sings over my mistakes. My Mum, with tongue firmly ensconced in cheek, said “if they need a break you could always take over”. It will be risky to rely on them to need the toilet on demand, we may need to plan a stage invasion. I just have to work out how to get a step-ladder through security.

It should be a fun couple of days, involving music and plants and laughing, some of my favourite occupations. However, I am a little nervous. NN is a fully paid up, card holding, Rock Chick. I am, a rather scruffy, definitely uncool gardener. This presents one almost insurmountable problem. Seriously folks, WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR?!!!

This Tibouchina urvilleana, gifted to me by one of my clients turned friend, the lovely Penny (Mrs Fish). She headed south for the summer and hasn’t returned. And I miss her and her gang.

Blame

October 1, 2018offtheedgegardening 27 Comments

Some plants are very late coming into bloom in our garden. As we live in a blame-blame culture I am going to point the finger at a hard winter, a late spring, followed by a sweltering summer. It could be one, the other, a combination of any, whatever, they are tardy. This reluctance to flower may have been exacerbated by inadequate cold protection and lack of watering during the great drought of ’18. Unlikely though, it couldn’t possibly be anything to do with my poor husbandry or lack of enthusiasm after tending to other peoples’ little darlings all day. Crazy talk.

Dahlias, fuchsias, salvias, are all dawdling along as if they had all the time in the world. Well let me tell you something my lovelies, you laid-back-to-vertical slovens, the winter is fast approaching and do I need to remind you what happened last year! Get a move on, flower, shut down and prepare for the worst!

A beauty that is often late on parade is Tibouchina urvilleana, the Brazilian Glory Bush. A gift from Mrs Fish before she headed south for the summer, the buds are almost as glorious as the flowers. Not quite. But almost. Won’t be long.

Six on Saturday – The Nearlys

September 16, 2017June 26, 2018offtheedgegardening 11 Comments

Saturday again and here is my contribution to The Honourable Mr P‘s Six on Saturday. There is a thread running through this post, all my featured plants have something in common. They are all Nearlys. Not quite flowering. Bearing in mind the recent weather, I can quite understand their reticence. In the hope that by next week at least some of them may be in bloom, I will keep my words sparse. It might help build the drama.

Our first plant is Salvia corrugata which is a little way off blooming, but with a sun-filled week it might be performing by next time. So it is likely to be the week after.

Catananche caerulea ‘Alba’

Next we have a white cupid’s dart, Catananche caerulea ‘Alba’. It was grown from seed so we will see if it comes true. Soon.

Tibouchina urvilleana

On to the delightfully diddy, dwarf Tibouchina urvilleana. I will try and find out its cultivar name for next time. Looking hopeful for an imminent flowering.

Salvia atrocyanea

Now for a salvia, Salvia atrocyanea, which is not only looking like flowering for the first time this year but for the first time ever. Maybe a couple of weeks, fingers crossed.

Bulbinella frutescens

What next, oh yes, Bulbinella frutescens, grown from seed this year. Just beginning to show off its starry yellow blooms. Perhaps by next week it will look a little more impressive.

Hedychium greenii

And finally Hedychium greenii, perhaps my favourite ginger lily. That I have met so far. You never know what is around the corner waiting to tempt you. Also a little way off flowering, you may have to wait a few weeks to see this little beauty.

Which makes six (I did check). Thanks Mr P. Same time, same place?