Oh fickle weather. It has been raining on and off for over a week. You know when you’re a gardener when your first thought is “ooh, that’ll be good for the garden”, but one can have too much of a good thing! The water is good, of course, and I’m lucky to have a fairly free draining plot, but what with the cool overnight temperatures, we could do with some sunshine to balance it all out. Some things that one might think would have romped away by now have been checked. My ricinus are all under a foot tall, the canna likewise, and the dahlias too. Hopefully that will change soon.
Time for Six on Saturday then. Six things, in the garden, on a Saturday. Could be anything – a flower, an interesting plant, a pest, a project, a job to do, a harvest, anything at all. Join in!
Here are my Six this week…
1 – Lychnis coronaria. I have always had some of this in the garden, always either magenta or white. They flower for ages, the foliage is quite blameless and in general a reliable garden performer. It does seed about the place if you don’t dead-head but the seedlings are easy to spot and transplant well if stocks are needed. I had heard tell of a pretty cross between the magenta and the white, but have never had any myself. Until this year!
2 – Lupin. I’ve grown several from seed this year thanks to Fred, I doubt they will flower this year. I have also bought a few. This one has been out for a couple of weeks, there are 6 or 7 flower stems on the plant, but it isn’t very tall. Bright colours though. I have thus far managed to keep our slimy friends at bay.
3 – Geranium of some sort. I grew this from seed last year. It was listed in the seed list as “red leaved”. So far the leaves are very green, but perhaps they’ll go red later in the year. This particular plant has grown quite tall as it is fighting for space and light. The flowers are splotchy in a washed out sort of way. Not my favourite geranium, but all the seed-grown plants get a chance.
4 – Senecio ‘angel wings’. I gather it will flower at some point but these are grown primarily for the foliage. The leaves are quite thick, leathery one might say, but very silvery. I have seen these plants get very big in the border, mine is constrained in a large pot on the patio.
5 – Campanula persicifolia. I bought a big plant half price last autumn and divided it into 3 or 4. I can only find one, I think the others are a little swamped by the army of really quite large poppy “seedlings” which have propagated themselves through my wisteria border. There are a lot of flowers on it, hopefully it will get established and do even better next year.
6 – Geranium ‘Rosanne’. One of several of this variety that I bought cheap last year, they have taken a while to get going but the rain has given them a boost, they are now beginning to flower quite profusely. I’ll let them establish for another year then I think I’ll be dividing them. Whenever I see the label marked ‘rosanne’ I am moved to start singing the Police song (titular lyric adjusted accordingly). I’m never sure if I am doing an impression of Sting, or of Eddie Murphy doing an impression of Sting. Closer to the latter, I suspect. Either way, she does not have to put out the red light. Just the purple one.
Those are my Six, what are yours? if you’d like to join in, just publish your post and pop a link to it in the comments below. If you also mention my blog in yours that would be fab. For more details you can read the brief participant guide.
I hope you get some quality time in the garden this weekend, don’t forget to check back in later on as more links get added during the day.
I’ll be back next weekend with another #SixOnSaturday
Heres mine from a soggy Malvern https://patientgardener.wordpress.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-15th-june-2019/
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Yup, pretty soggy here too.
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Nice to see some geraniums get a mention that aren’t ‘Totally Tangerine’! We have a wild one in our latest Six on Saturday here: https://socialeready.com/the-plot-continues/
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Isn’t totally tangerine a geum? Different beast.
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You’re right – yesterday was a bit of a rush and I’ve got to get back out there again as there’s loads to do before we leave here again. Planting dahlias mainly but also some begonias and ripper beans before it rains AGAIN!
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I can’t find a comments button, your unknown weed/wildflower is hedge woundwort, a nuisance but far from the worst.
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Thank you. You’re right it isn’t a great nuisance but we do get a lot of it and I always dislike the smell. Technically our “The Plot Continues” is a page so there is no option to comment on it but since you’re the second person to mention it we’re going to switch the comment feature over on to it.
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Here’s my Six today!
https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/2019/06/six-on-saturday-june-15-2019.html
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Thanks as ever for hosting – I love the colour of that linaria cross. My six this month are all edible – https://ofsowingandgrowing.blogspot.com/2019/06/six-on-saturday-15th-june-2019.html
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or that should be lychnis coronaria!!
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Yes it is lovely. Better than the parents even…
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I just looked up Senecio ‘Angel Wings’ and was looking at the full range of stuff that the agents for its breeders rights have on their books. Like going to a great nursery and not being allowed to buy anything. https://conceptplants.com/varieties/
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Nice post, Mr. P. I am also growing lychnis coronaria — for the first time this year, and will have it ever after, I assume. My Six include a clematis I need help identifying, please. Here’s the link: https://gardensatcoppertop.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-june-15/.
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Yes it does spread itself around. Not a terrible thing…
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Oh, those Angel Wings!!!!!!!! Aren’t they lovely! I have just finished up the first of several posts on the Oakland Cemetery……Wouldn’t Angel Wings be appropriate and beautiful there! I will have to see if I can find them here! Here is my SOS for today! https://thecadyluckleedy.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-the-garden-is-lookin-good/
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Very apt, yes.
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The Geranium looks like G.pratense striatum often marketed as splish splash cmes true from seed with varying levels of white and blue due unstable gene mutation.
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That sounds like a good way of marketing a slightly mucky looking flower!
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Plenty of colour in your garden this week. I love the angels wings. I’m waiting for it to come down in price. I’d love one though. So pretty. Here’s my sos https://bramblegarden.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-a-walk-around-my-garden-15-june-2019/
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I bought mine at wisley where gardening pounds are like monopoly money. It doesn’t count. Or so I tell myself.
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I’m going to wisley in the autumn. Will take plenty of cash 🙂
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We are having the opposite problem. Mr P. We’ve not had enough rain and the countryside is parched. I hope the weather changes soon in the UK soon.
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Yes, I have one of those odd white geraniums which just popped up one day, and Rozanne is flowering with me as well! Nice! https://enthusiasticgardener.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-in-the-city-garden/
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Very reliable, your hardy geranium.
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Seems to be Lupin time everywhere! Here’s a few more:
https://countygardening.wordpress.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-15-06-2019-colour-my-world/
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Excellent, look forward to seeing yours.
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Lychnis Coronaria looks amazing. Got white campanula rather than blue ones. Forget my Lupins, didn’t survive the water pump. However, I still got a few growing. Sharing you my best wildflowers this weekend. #SixonSaturday
https://magdarae.worpress.com
Enjoy your weekend
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You too, thanks!
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Hmm that link doesn’t work I’m afraid.
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I love the fact that I am six hours behind those of you in the UK. By the time I get to the Propagator’s post, there are some great comments and links to follow. Here is a like from Alabama: https://aftereden.blog/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-15-june-2019/.
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oops. Make that a link from Alabama.
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Yes plenty to read through now!
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Oh rain rain go away (come again another day!) I’ve had enough of it! I’m just about to go out before it’s due to start again to get rid of some weeds which are loving it! Here’s my six https://greengirlgardener.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-15th-june/
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Yes that’s the trouble, the weeds love it too
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Your post answered a question in my post about the campanula I pictured. Here’s my six. https://doesthisfontmakemelookfat.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-quick-pics-june-15-2019/
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Oh good. Did that without even trying.
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I’ll take your ‘Roxanne’ geranium, and offer you ‘Lily the Pink’ in exchange. 🙂
https://doingtheplan.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-serpent-garlic-ballerina-rose-and-spaceflowers/
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Saviour of the human raaaaace. 🎶
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Love the Lychnis, but have not come across it before so will be researching to see if I can get a plant /seed, and also whether it will grow in hot humid climates! The Senecio is very striking! We have had lovely weather this past week here on the Sunshine Coast, but it seems that wee can expect some rain tomorrow! This should hopefully fill up our rain water tanks again.
Here is the link to my Six on Saturday: https://hairbellsandmaples.wordpress.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-2019-06-15/
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Wonder if you can buy seed of the lychnis cross, and if you can whether it comes true from seed. Not sure.
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I will investigate!
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The colouring on your Lychnis seedling is beautiful. I don’t know why but I’ve not grown Lychnis. Another for the to do list. I’ve actually put my Ricinus and Coleus plants back in the glasshouse to give them some respite and to try and grow them on a bit.
https://thequiltinggardener.wordpress.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-15-06-19/
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Hmm perhaps I should put my ricinus back in the GH. Hopefully it will be a bit warmer and sunnier soon.
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Lovely flowers again, all your seed sowing and propagating is producing impressive results. I am sure you are a good influence on me – I have three cuttings coming along nicely. Small steps! Here’s my six https://wp.me/p97pee-oI
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Yay, well done on your cuttings.
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I have that same Campanula persicifolia, I planted in the newly cleared Cornish hedge and it has withstood not only the rain but also the wind! I also planted three other low-growing Campanula – two are doing fine, but not yet in flower (in the same place) but a white one I planted elsewhere has been badly chewed! Slug pellets have been scattered! We really do need some warmth: all my tomatoes are growing lanky with very few flowers!
Hope it is a drier weekend for you (and us) Prop!
https://wp.me/p79zFr-1ZK
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The tomatoes are not doing too badly in the greenhouse but yes we could do with a bit of sun now to get things moving.
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To get your cross giving an attractive Lychnis coronaria is quite a triumph. My new lychnis all a dark pink are finally opening, but I planted too many and too close…garden and learn! Choices and dilemmas this week are in my SOS: https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2019/06/six-on-saturday-15-june-2019.html
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They are forgiving of being moved, if you want, just need water and a feed.
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Love the campanula…is it the tall one? My shivery six are here:
http://Www.balmerino.info/geeky garden
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Not too tall, 2 or 3 feet.
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That link is broken, btw.
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Happy Saturday! I’ve made a note of the senecio, looks like a plant the slugs and snails won’t make a meal of. Wishing now I hadn’t done so many rain dances, enough water now don’t you think.
Here is my Six:
https://hurtledto60.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-15-06-2019/
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Yes, enough! Quite happy not to be watering the garden, mind.
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My senecio was constantly eaten by snails, it looked so awful that today I did a Chelsea chop on it. Will see if it regrow from the base.
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Nothing from me this week. It was -3.8 this morning but I was out gardening in my shirtsleeves this afternoon. I love your lupin ( I have a soft spot for them) and photo number 4 is amazing…looks like a black and white photo. Envying your Roseanne as mine died in last summer’s torrid heat despite my putting it under shade cloth. Have a good week. I hope the weather picks up.
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Hello Jane, wow that’s quite a temperature swing! Funny to think of a geranium dying, they’re renowned here for being bullet proof. I guess everything has its limits…
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Same weather up here but on the whole I think that both the plants and I prefer a bit too much rain to having not quite enough – as long as the sun comes out from time to time. Here are my six…
https://schoolhousegarden.wordpress.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-15-06-19/
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Yes, on balance I’m happy the garden hasn’t needed watering for a couple of weeks.
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Here’s my post:
https://oldhouseintheshires.com/2019/06/15/more-june-rain-six-on-saturday/
I’ll be back later to read all your lovely posts.
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Mixed fortunes seems to be a common feature of this wet spell, which translates to slugged or not slugged for me. I’m kind of glad I didn’t give lupins another try this year, I know they would have been destroyed, Lychnis I suspect are immune, though I haven’t tried them, and geraniums don’t get touched. Some Campanulas do, some don’t, even trickier. Nice flowery six, here are mine: https://wp.me/p6bCCa-1RU
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One of my three bought lupins has been stripped completely, you win some, you lose some…
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Oh and forgot to post my link…from a wet Wellington https://basia329.wordpress.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-15-06-19/
It wasn’t possible to get outside today for more than 5 minutes, and there are things to be done.
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Agree with everyone else about the lychnis. Really pretty. Oh and lupins….love them but not sure they would grow in our yard.
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Hello, why not? too shady?
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I have Angel Wings…..so don’t know how with my previous lifestyles. Roseanne is a great Geranium as well. Her is my six https://sedumsdahliasandhayfever.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-15th-june-2019/
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Hi, there’s a story or two in there somewhere.
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Yup….I once ran through a field of wheat….
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I love your crossing colors of lychnis. Mine have always remained purple (obviously I don’t have whites for crossing …). I’m glad my lupin seeds have worked for you. (I have others with other colors when you want – almost those of your photo)
My most ahead cannas are more than 1m high, but on the other hand, ricinus are slow. I have one potted in the greenhouse and another in the garden. As you say, it’s still not warm enough. Here is my link : https://fredgardenerblog.wordpress.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-15-06/
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I can send you seeds from white lychnis if you like some, I will have thousands soon!
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Why not!
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Good morning. I’ll try again – someone stole my comment! I like the lychnis but where are the 🌹? It’s like Paul (if I may call him that) without Sedums! Anyway, when I started this, the sun and the washing were out, now it’s just the washing getting an extra rinse. Here are my Six-on-Saturday, but give me a couple of minutes to publish it, I don’t want to lose this comment, again.
https://grannysgarden229242407.wordpress.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-15-06-2019
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It was bright here first thing but it has clouded over now. Still dry for now. I have other roses to come, never fear.
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That Lychnis coronaria is rather nice. Might add it to the list. Nice to out a name to the campanula (one features in my SoS this week). The final one of my lupins raised from seed a few years ago has just started flowering. I was hoping it might be pink or yellow but no, looks like it’s another purple one! https://onemanandhisgardentrowel.wordpress.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-beware-the-clumsy-gardener-15-june-2019/
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Yes purple seems to be the default colour for most lupins.
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https://tonytomeo.com/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-gophers-and-weeds/
Here are mine. They always make sense to me when I post them, but they are not as interesting or as colorful as yours or the others. sorry.
Lupines seem to be popular. We have several native species, but lupines are not very popular in home gardens. I would like to add some Texas bluebonnet.
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No need to apologise! I’m a recent convert to lupins. There are many colourful cvs, although the slugs do love them.
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Slugs? I suppose so. I so not thin of that just because the native lupines are not often in irrigated gardens where slugs live. I remember that Russel hybrid lupines have a problem with slugs, but I do not work with them directly, so do not think of it.
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I’ve never seen a magenta & white lychnis nor have I ever seen senecio that didn’t have a more lacy foliage, so you’ve broadened my experience today. Really do love that lychnis, too. Also find Roseanne’s scarlet stamens (?) quite fetching. How long ago did you plant/germinate your ricinus & canna? My canna are just about 12″ tall, the ricinus slightly shorter & I thought they were doing well for having my usual April start at things. O woe, to think my babies are underachievers! https://lorahughes.blogspot.com/2019/06/rain-raids.html
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I think I sowed them March time. Don’t recall. It’s just not warm enough (yet) for them to grow on.
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Ooh that Lychnis is unusual. We have lots of the magenta in these parts (though not in our garden) but haven’t seen this cross before.
Here are my six. Sadly the tagetes have been decimated by our mollusc friends (frenemies):
https://carrotsandcalendula.co.uk/2019/06/15/six-on-saturday-after-the-rain-3/
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Yes i quite like it. Sorry about your tagetes! Mine remain unmunched, although I have been using organic pellets.
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My lychnis is just coming out this year. Just the standard magneta. I let lots self seed last year so should have a mass display.
Some solid reliable geraniums. A lot of mine need a trim now. Many gone over but will get another burst for a chop. Lupins are doing really well this year. Mine in the second year looking nice and filled out.
This week’s six features seagulls, more alliums, new Japanese tools, hostas and the view from above giving the overview on progress https://wp.me/p7AXpE-2nx
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Yes that reminds me, I have a couple of gers that need a haircut.
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