Six-on-Saturday 19-06-2021

We were away for a couple of days last weekend in the beautiful, summer sunshine. When I arrived home, I was quite amazed at the growth in the garden as you will now see……

1)

The poppies in the front garden were hardly showing any buds, let alone flowers. There is a very happy bee disappearing into the furthest right bloom.

2)

Also in the front garden, the Salvia Hot Lips is flowering profusely but purely red. Last year it was a mixture of red and white petals on each flower head.

3)

The delphinium is looking good this year. Nicely accompanied by the Special Child rose, Fred’s Sweet peas and, of course, the rhubarb.

4)

A couple of days ago the petals were not curled at the ends. I’m not sure why it has done this. I expect perfect flowers for £1.80. Plenty of buds yet to open.

5)

The Aldi fuchsias are about to burst into flower. They are all looking very healthy. I bought them to replace the “winter” pansies, but, as we all realise, these “winter” pansies really get going in the spring!

6)

You may remember me moaning (never!) last week that, apart from Mr Propagator’s two climbing varieties, none of my roses were flowering. Well, when we returned from our short break, all of them were in flower and the second picture shows that some were even needing to be deadheaded. 🤔

That’s it for this week. We had two of our very tall, very handsome grandsons staying with us for a few days. They are good fun and eat a lot of 🍞🥯🧀🍖🍔🥓🍕🍳 🍩🍭🍰 but not as much 🍇🍉🍌🍎🍅🥦🌶.

Tomorrow we are visiting Mr and Mrs Propagator and their delightful family, so I am anticipating a guided tour around the estate…..I shall report back next week.

Have a good weekend yourselves in your garden. 🦋🌷👩‍🌾

,

Six-on-Saturday 12-06-2021

A bit late again, playing that silly game again and getting a bit sunburnt. So,without further ado, here are my Six-on-Saturday for this week.

1)

Well, could you have just run the mower over them like the rest of the lawn? No, nor could I.

2)

Yes!! Fred’s Sweet peas are flowering like mad.

3)

Fred’s amaranthus hasn’t been planted out yet due to the very hot forecast. However, you can see the tiny plant beginning to flower. It will be put out into the flowerbeds next week.

4)

I took a close look at one of the alliums. At first I thought these were ladybirds but they are buds, I think.

5)

My kind sister brought me some rooted offshoots of a hydrangea she has in her garden. I had complained that the couple she brought me last year were doing nothing this year although they had picked up in the autumn after I had planted them in the flowerbeds. Needless to say, the day before she visited, I noticed plenty of shoots coming from the bases of last year’s. We’ll see how these ones progress

6)

Last year’s zonal pelargoniums (!) from the hanging baskets were planted in the tomato bed in the greenhouse over winter and pretty much neglected. They look fine in these pots outside now.

That’s it for another week. Have a good weekend in your garden and don’t get too hot! 👩‍🌾🦋🌷

Six-on-Saturday 05-06-2021

I woke rather early this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep so decided to get started on my Six-on-Saturday. I took most of the photos yesterday and was going to venture outside to take more in the beautiful morning light but it’s freezing out there! Maybe later.

1)

The evening light on the alliums looked lovely. Mine are mostly the bright purple ones, but there are a few of the silvery ones and some quite different pale pink ones.

2)

The Salvia “Hot lips” was a few pathetic twigs last week, but is now flowering and competing for space in the front garden with the giant, pink poppy.

3)

Here’s that giant, pink poppy looking good against the neighbour’s grey gravel. It is very dramatic for several weeks but would take over given the chance.

4)

Also in the front garden, I thought these were stray wild garlic but they aren’t…….obviously. 🙄🤔 I’m not sure what they are but I like them.

5)

A bit of yellow. The irises are coming to their best now. I don’t have any others colours but maybe I’ll buy some purple ones for next year. The Welsh poppies look after themselves, as does the bindweed if I let it. (I’ve noticed a couple of other weeds lurking behind the hollyhock. I’d better sort those out before my sister visits this week.)

6)

Guess which rose has been the first to flower in my garden. Yes!! Mr Propagator’s red, climbing rose, closely followed by Mr Propagator’s pink, climbing rose. Very exciting……well, I’m excited. 😁🤸‍♀️🎉🎈🎊. I had another happy hour with more of last year’s lilac branches, brass screws and my drill. I felt the Alibaba rose deserved a trellis to match the obelisk for the red rose. 🙄

The weather looks very warm for the next few days although I understand the match was completely rained off at Lord’s Cricket 🏏 ground yesterday. It was pleasant sunshine here and not too hot to stop me weeding, although the soil is too dry to allow the roots to come up easily.

Anyway, have a good weekend in your garden, weeding or just enjoying sitting in the sunshine. 🌞 🌷🦋👩‍🌾

Six-on-Saturday 29-05-2021

Rather late due to playing golf this morning……silly game. 🙄😬

Anyway, straight on to this week’s Six-on-Saturday, even shorter than usual.

1)

The alliums are stunning now. They were new last year and were a little underwhelming, but I am pleased with them now.

2)

The rhubarb is coming on thick and fast……..well not really very thick but plenty of them. That pot of violas has been flowering constantly for over 2 months now. I deadhead them regularly but haven’t done so for a few days so there will be lots of heads to remove.

3)

The gooseberries have suddenly appeared. I picked them too soon last year. I will give them time to ripen properly this year.

4)

Fred’s Sweet peas doing really well. Some have little flowerbuds showing.

5)

The runner beans are planted out now. I have put a sweet pea at the base of alternate poles so that they mingle in with the beans.

6)

That tamarisk is so pretty now. This time last year, it was completely in full bloom.

As I said before, so much is about to burst into colour. I have several plants and vegetables to go out but I need to do a bit of rearranging and cutting back to make space.

Have a good weekend in your garden. 🍅🦋🌼😺👩‍🌾

Six-on-Saturday 22-05-2021

I think Tuesday is due to be the first day without any rain forecast, last time I looked. The garden is looking very lush and very green with the peonies in full colour but rather bashed by the rain, as follows.

1)

At last, plenty of blooms.

2)

I thought this fuchsia had had it when I looked last week. Meanwhile, in the background are Fred’s sunflowers with their woollen collar on.

3)

If you look carefully, you can see several turnip seedlings mingling with the shreddings. I don’t know what the brighter green little ones either side are. 🤔

4)

Further along in the raised bed are kale 🌱 and spinach 🌱. As with most of the seeds this year, they have taken longer to germinate than usual. The large, intruding leaves are the garlic doing well.

5)

The delphiniums are showing buds already. I hope they reach the support soon, I have pushed it into the ground as far as it will go.

6)

That red, climbing 🌹 that Mr Propagator gave me has at least 4 buds and is growing steadily. I’m getting quite excited. 🎉 😁🙄

Finally…

Fred’s snapdragons, sunflowers and sweet peas. Something has been nibbling at the sunflower leaves but I would have thought slugs couldn’t climb that high up without breaking the stems. They were covered by large cloches but whatever it is got at them somehow.

That’s it again. I must admit I am thinking of Jon doing all that running today. He is probably about halfway round by now. What a daunting challenge! Good for him.

Have a good weekend doing some gentle gardening. 🌷🍅🌧👩‍🌾

Six-on-Saturday 15-05-2021

Yes, I know we have been asking for rain, but that’s enough now for a while, thank you. At least the weeds are coming up more easily, albeit with huge clumps of wet clay attached.

On to this week’s Six-on-Saturday.

1)

The persicaria is peeping out again checking that it’s not going to be knocked back by yet another frost. Those seed heads of the pretty pink/purple plant will look good for the rest of the summer.

2)

Yesterday, the rain looked very pretty on the soon-to-flower spirea(?). I cut it back dramatically a couple of years ago and it had no flowers last season but looked fine. I will trim any branches that try to overwhelm the neighbouring plants just to keep it in check.

3)

Leucanthemum Superbum, the seeds of which Mr Propagator gave me about 18 months ago, is looking very healthy. There is another one in the opposite flowerbed so I am looking forward to seeing them bloom this year.

4)

The first aquilegia flowers. They go quite well with the euonymous, perennial geranium and the forget-me-nots.

5)

The several rhubarb plants are looking really good. The only problem is that the stalks are mostly only about 10cm long.

6)

The alliums are nearly there (plus speedwell bittercress). I will not comment on the peony. I think it was 4 weeks ago I assumed flowering was imminent….silly me.

I bet you were wondering where all the forget-me-nots had gone in the first two pictures. I did a minor cull of them earlier in the week but you can still find them in all the other ones.

That’s it for another week. I’m hoping to do some weeding today, but that’s if the rain keeps away. Maybe I will just stay inside making oatcakes and tonight’s curry. 😋🍪🥘👩‍🌾🌧

Six-on-Saturday 08-05-2021

I think I will stay indoors today and read all the Sixes-on-Saturday.

1)

I have found my seeds slow to germinate this year, but I think this is due to the very cold April nights and days compared to last year.

The first picture shows marigolds which I intend to plant near the Brussels and broccoli to deter the pests, I hope.

The second shows Fred’s amaranthus and some very small tomato plants – rather pathetic but they should be all right eventually.

The third are the nasturtiums 🎉🎊🤸‍♀️ yippee! Some haven’t germinated so I will add spares today.

2)

That clematis on Tuesday then Friday. It doesn’t need any more comments.

3)

The front crabapple tree and the tidied up back apple tree – much better now.

4)

Well, the garden peas are planted out against a couple of fences to which I have attached some wire mesh.

The beige woolen strips are to stop the slugs and snails;

the twigs of last year’s blackberries to stop the slugs, snails and mice;

the cuttings of mint and rosemary to deter the mice

and the mesh strips and lids to stop the pigeons.

So, unless we get a plague of locusts of biblical proportions, I think everything is covered. 🤔🙄🤭🤪

5)

The Solomon’s Seal is looking lovely now, plus forget-me-nots.

6)

I know I’ve shown this before but it’s a beautiful clematis “Purple Rain”, I think.

For those of you who may be interested 🥱,

…the peony is still being a tease. 🤬👹

That’s it again for another week. I think it should be better weather tomorrow although this rain is very welcome.

Have a good weekend in your garden. 👩‍🌾🍅🌼🌷

Six-on-Saturday 01-05-2021

May 1st, so, apparently, all young maids should bathe in the early morning dew according to ancient customs. Unfortunately, they would get very cold trying to bathe in it here – we had quite a heavy frost! The bay trees have survived although I didn’t cover them last night. A friend came round this morning for a quick coffee at 10o’clock, then left at nearly quarter to 2!

Anyway,  on to this week’s Six-on-Saturday.

1)

The tulips are appearing gradually.

2)

The Sherbert Lemons have been joined by the Sherbert Raspberries, the Sherbert oranges and the Sherbert peaches.

3)

Here’s the pittosporum in full flower.

4)

I’m not sure whether I should trim all those tall branches at the top, I think I will.

5)

The two clematis which cost about £3.50 in total…looking promising.

6)

Lots and lots of buds. That peony is still teasing, I thought it would have opened by now, whereas the Montana looks as though it will be covered in flowers soon.

That’s it, rather late and rather brief but I’m recovering from the “quick” coffee and the even quicker early morning 5k. So much happening and another brief, but very welcome, shower earlier. Have a good weekend.

Six-on-Saturday 24-04-2021

Plenty happening in the garden. The sun umbrella is now up, the chairs and table scrubbed……..I think we are due some considerably colder weather now. 🙄 We visited Mr and Mrs Propagator and most of their family last Sunday. We sat out on the Tulip Patio, very pretty it is too, in the warm sunshine.

On to this week’s Six-on-Saturday. I’m not sure what it will look like now that I can’t use Classic Editor.

1)

I have had this camellia for several years with plenty of buds but they all fell off before flowering. This year all but 3 fell off…….I think it was worth waiting for.

2)

The one on the left is the new weeding fork. The one on the right fell apart recently, the head became detached from the handle. How is it that it lasted GGHI’s Dad 60 years and I broke it after only 10 years?

3)

Mr Propagator kindly gave me this Alibaba climbing 🌹 last weekend. The red one at the other side of the garden is still growing well. This one needs its own obelisk although I could just have it growing up a trellis since this fence belongs to us.

4)

The frost caught some of the top leaves of the bay trees even though they were covered by large polythene bags.

After a trim I think it is fine.

5)

The perennial geranium is now flowering beside the forget-me-nots and primulas.

6)

I have put out Fred’s Sweet peas since they were getting a bit leggy in the greenhouse. I felt that they still needed some protection from the frost, so used some old floor padding (normally put under tiles) that has been in the garage for nearly 20 years. Round the base I put some pieces of old, woolen fabric to see whether this would deter the slugs.

That’s it again for this week. Perhaps not…….

….it always amuses me that our cat will walk carefully along the slabs rather than the lawn. (His predecessor was the same.)

That’s it for this week. I need to play around with this new format since some letters are different sizes from others and some of the font is centrally aligned. Have a good weekend.

Six-on-Saturday 17-04-2021

I’m so pleased that we could sit outside with friends/family on Monday the 12th.

Hmmmmm, I’ll say no more.

On to a brighter, but still cold, Six-on-Saturday.

1)

After my moaning last week, we have Sherbert Lemons and Sherbert Raspberries now. 🤔

2)

Before….

…..and after. It’s been an “edges” week. I need to reset most of the path slabs due to them sinking slightly but that’s a task for next week.

3)

Peonies looking very promising for the next Six-on-Saturday. There are several more dotted around the garden.

4)

Last week I was quite disappointed that the courgette and the Jumbo Pink Banana Squash seeds hadn’t appeared. Look what I found on Saturday afternoon. The 3 on the left are the Jumbo ones and the 4 on the right are the courgettes. They look very similar but the seeds looked quite different. We shall see when the next sets of leaves appear.

5)

The bean poles are ready and the seeds are planted in the greenhouse. The garlic is doing well and, to the right of the raised bed, the radishes are progressing slowly.

6)

This clematis has lovely purple flowers and has grown very well…..I forgot to prune it last year. Perhaps I should forget more often.

That’s it for this week. Plenty going on in the garden but no rain forecast for several days yet, I’ll have to get the watering can into action.

Have a good weekend in your garden. 👩‍🌾