More rain this week, and heavy too. Fortunately I have reasonably free-draining soil so never have standing water, and while the lawn is a bit soft underfoot in places, it is still possible to get out and plant. Last weekend I finally got around to planting primroses, ferns, a bergenia and 25 allium ‘summer drummer’ which were beginning to get unruly in the greenhouse. They were over a foot tall and bursting out of their pots. I planted half among the old clump of helenium, half among the tall asters. They get to 5 or 6 feet tall, not flowering till August, by which time they should be in good company. Anyhow, that’s months away, for now it is time for Six on Saturday. Six things, in the garden, on a Saturday. Could be anything – a flower, seeds, a tool, plans, a disaster, a triumph, anything at all. Join in!
Here are my Six…
1 – Tulip ‘Trick’. Yes yes, I know, we had the questing tips of tulips last week. But these are different, you see. These are last year’s tulips and therefore something of a surprise. I’ll be even more surprised if they flower well. I did plant them nice and deep, much deeper than it says on the packet, perhaps 30cm down. Most of last year’s tulips went in pots, same as this years, but I planted several batches in the garden with low expectations of a repeat performance.
2 – Eryngium ‘Graham Thomas’ Selection’. New growth abounds at this time of year, this chap is no exception. I have half a dozen of these, grown from seed last year, still in their 1L pots. They are in the queue for planting space.
3 – Viburnum bodnatense ‘Dawn’. I bought this shrub a couple of years ago, pruning it on sight as I didn’t like the shape of it. I later read that they don’t much like being pruned. Ah. I planted it towards the back of the border, expecting it to grow on quickly to become a winter centrepiece. It sulked horribly and is still small, getting swamped in the summer stampede. It has a bit of space at this time of year, just as well as this is when it struts its stuff.
4 – Seeds, Malope trifida ‘Vulcan’. A new one to me, I’ve never grown these. Seemingly they grow to about 90cm, with bright magenta-pink mallowish flowers with a vivid green star-shaped centre. Allegedly they flower for ages, we shall see.
5 – Clematis ‘Beauty of Worcester’. I bought this one with several others on a unrestrained orgy of senseless plant buying at Wisley last year. Beauty here is planted in the front garden, against the fence. She flowered a little last year but was past her best at purchase. We expect better things from her this year. She has made a promising start.
6 – Seeds, molucella laevis, or Bells of Ireland. Another one new to me, I would describe this as a sort of green foxglove with shades of hollyhock. The titular bells are not actually the flowers, merely the outer guardians for a small white flower within. I have it on great authority that it makes an excellent foil for other plants, especially in the vase. I also have it on great authority that it can be a reluctant germinator. I gather they need a spell in the fridge, or even freezer, before surface-sowing.
Those are my Six, what are yours? If you’d like to partake, 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 spiffing. For more details you can read the brief participant guide.
Not sure what the weather has in store for you, but here it will be sunny and dry, but cold. I plan to get some pottering done, maybe some rose pruning/training, maybe even some gratuitous seed sowing. Don’t forget to check back in as more links get added during the day.
I’ll be back next weekend for another #SixOnSaturday.
A little late this week, but here’s my six! http://pottedup.home.blog/2020/01/19/six-on-saturday-18-01-2020-on-sunday/
The colour of that Viburnum is beautiful. So delicate! Thanks for sharing.
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I love the viburnum, but have also had problems pruning mine – wonderful scent though. You’re lucky with the free draining soil, we’re on clay – it is really wet and muddy at the moment! Here’s my six this Saturday (just)
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These are the other six more horticultrually oriented pictures that I promised earlier. I am sorry for the delay.
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Glorious day up here too. So much so that I am a lot later than usual in getting my post together – it was just too nice not to be out enjoying the garden. Seeing how busy everyone else is too makes me think how odd it is that gardening tv programmes all stop in the winter when there there is still so much going on out there. My v. bodnatense ‘dawn’ has been slow to establish too. I have another (Charles Lamont) that seems happier, but they are both still young things in the life of a shrub.
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You may be pleased to know that I lop offending branches off my ‘Dawn’ with no apparent ill-effect. I grew Summer Drummer last year but found it just TOO tall and rather uninspiring in the flowering department, so I shan’t be adding any more – perhaps amongst other tall things it would look better so I look forward to seeing yours in August! I have 6 paths today: https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2020/01/18/six-cheers-for-the-golfer-on-saturday/ Thanks for hosting
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I’m thinking the alliums might do better service in the winter as a skeleton. We’ll see.
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Yes, the flowers make a nice tight ball – I did keep some but can’t remember where I put them!
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A late entry from me. I hope you can smell the scent from here
https://digwithdorris.wordpress.com
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Interesting to read on the viburnum, I was lucky to inherit a mature one in my garden (was one of only 2 mature shrubs). As a mature specimen it has the spindly unkempt growth, but 2 ‘tidier’ basal shoots making their way up. Maybe one day I’ll prune out the unkempt growth, maybe! Interesting post as always 👍🏻
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I’d love to grow some Moluccella laevis – it’s been on my wanted list for a few years. I look forward to seeing how yours turn out this year.
My latest Six on Saturday can be found here: http://www.kevinwgelder.com/six-on-saturday-18-january-2020/
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Exciting new beginnings in your garden. Like the sounds of your seeds and the shape of your Eryngium seedling. I have totally cheated this week so I apologise:
https://carrotsandcalendula.co.uk/2020/01/18/six-on-saturday-garden-survey/
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Some nice ones here today Prop. I have just had a quick squizz around my very wet garden to see if I have anything to offer, surprised to find lots of dwarf irises happily showing off and I did spy one tiny snowdrop in bud (too tiny to photograph). Amongst all the bittercress there are signs of life: https://wp.me/p79zFr-2BJ
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I like that I fit right as I have also been on a “unrestrained orgy of senseless plant buying!” Ha Ha! It’s a good thing they don’t sell plants on Amazon, or do they? I will have to check! Anyway, enjoy your blog so much and seeing everyone’s garden goings-on! There is a big patch of Bells of Ireland that bloom here in a deserted field. I’ll try to get over there and get a photo. here is my SOS for today! https://thecadyluckleedy.com/2020/01/18/six-on-saturday-in-porvoo-finland/
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Don’t look!
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Definitely time to look through my (vast) collection of seeds. Nice to read everyone’s “six”. Looks like we are all seeking the first signs of Spring.
Here is the link to my six: https://thirdageblogger.blogspot.com/2020/01/six-on-saturday.html
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Your Viburnum bodnatense ‘Dawn’ is gorgeous and I’m sure when it has finished sulking it will quickly grow into a magnificent plant.
I’ve just posted to Six on Saturday for the first time, though didn’t realise that you had founded it and that this blog was here. Now that I know…thank you. 🙂
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On Twitter? Brill.
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Yes. Though I’m working on a little blog at the moment and hoping to have it ready soon.
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Excellent, look forward to seeing it.
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You have been busy. I may try that trick of planting tulips deep – will be interested to hear how they flower. Growth happening here too but everything sodden so impossible to do any gardening really. Here are my six – https://murtaghsmeadow.wordpress.com/2020/01/18/six-on-saturday-january-18th/
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I’ve tried growing eryngium and echinops from seed without success. What’s the trick?Here’s my link https://pruneplantsow.wordpress.com/2020/01/18/sixonsaturday-january-18th-fake-spring/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
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Yes I’ve found both to be temperamental in the past. Not sure what I did different this time.
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Problems with WordPress again. Grannysgardenhimindoors says my reblog has worked. 😱😬👹
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Good afternoon. Just come back from a trip to town so abit later than usual. The sun is shining, the birds are singing so it must be spring? Anyway, here are my Six-on-Saturday for this week.
https://grannysgarden229242407.wordpress.com/2020/01/18/six-on-saturday-18-01-2020
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Bloomin chilly for spring!
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Morning all. Hope your day has started as sunny as it is here. Perhaps a little on the cold side for prolonged gardening though.
Great seed choices Propagator. Glad you decided to boldly go for the Malope.
Here’s my six for this week.
https://www.hortusbaileyana.co.uk/2020/01/mid-january-in-garden.html
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Oh and here’s my link https://wp.me/p97pee-v0
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I have half a packet of moluccella in the freezer from a couple of years ago! It should be well and truly ready for sowing again this year. The first half didn’t come to much – perhaps not a sunny enough spot and I did direct sow them. Maybe I’ll try again this year.. No sign of growth on my clematis yet but tulips and other bulbs are storming ahead. It is lovely to see all the new growth, I’m in an over-excited state today! Vb Dawn is a good doer for this time of year, I borrow the view of my neighbour’s which is lovely.
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Nice picks this week! My tulips always return, in both pots and in the ground. I’ve never dug them out, once they are in, I figure it’s worth a chance of them returning!
I have two small Irish Bells in a border but don’t think it’s the same as your Bells of Ireland. They are kind of evergreen, smallish in height, straight stems which firm a little bush with tubular white bells at the tips. They fill a space but are a little straggly!
We may have dull, wet days and long, dark nights but when the sun occasionally breaks through, isn’t it just fabulous? My #sixonsaturday pictures this week could have been taken in high Summer but it was just a flash of fleeting, bright sunshine. Have a great week!
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Your tulip tips look eerie, popping up en masse like that. Zombie fingers. You should have a good cluster of blooms there. I’ve grown malope vulcan (which we refer to as trollops). I don’t remember them having lots of flowers, but they’re a flower I couldn’t walk past, always had to stop & stare at. Such striking flowers in a sort of art deco way. If you can smell your daphne, it’s done its job & should be allowed to stand back for the rest of the summer. Beautiful colour to it. Here’s my post-storm happenings. https://lorahughes.blogspot.com/2020/01/stormy-weather.html
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My word, I read Dawn as daphne, but to be honest, I often confuse the 2 (& many other things in my life).
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Malope ‘Vulcan’ is a fabulous plant, don’t forget to save seed, as if you need reminding! Has anyone made any Spock jokes yet? Leave it to me. It is quite logical. Here are mine, hope you enjoy them https://offtheedgegardening.com/2020/01/18/six-on-saturday-return-of-the-sun/
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I hope it lives long and prospers.
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That’s my boy 🙂
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I came across a packet of Bells of Ireland seed at a local nursery and I’m hanging onto those for planting mid-year. I have not grown them before, but have seen pictures of them. Lovely photos of the new growth. Both Eryngium and Malope are new to me.
Here is my Six:
https://hairbellsandmaples.wordpress.com/2020/01/06/six-on-saturday-w3-2020-january-harvest/
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I’ve never heard of finger lime. Do you have the botanical name?
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It’s Citrus australasica. It is native to Australia, and more information on it can be found at https://www.sgaonline.org.au/finger-limes/
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Thank you I will look that up
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Always nice to see new growth on Clematis
And Eryngiums. That Eryngium is a new one on me. I have also never heard of Bells or Ireland. Here is my 6 https://sedumsdahliasandhayfever.com/2020/01/18/six-on-saturday-18th-january-2020/
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I have grown Vulcan for a couple of years and it’s easy and good, and sets lots of seed.
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I do like this new leaf of eryngium, beautiful photo.
Otherwise I went out to look at 2 of my clematis and still no buds on those I had cut down ( to 50cm).
Here is my Six this weekend : https://fredgardenerblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/18/six-on-saturday-18-01-20/
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I’m going to look up Malope ‘Vulcan’ later. Sounds interesting. The park in town has Viburnum bodnatense ‘Dawn’ and it always looks great at this time of year. My viburnums seem to be slow growers, probably not helped by moving them every so often https://onemanandhisgardentrowel.wordpress.com/2020/01/18/six-on-saturday-18-january-2020/
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Nice to see your viburnum flowering even if she is sulking. I didn’t prune mine at all (neglect not design) and she has a good structure but not as many flowers as others you see around. She needs a sunnier spot but it’s too late to move her.
I’ll be interested to see how your Bells of Ireland work out. I’ve thought about trying these as they’re good for flower arranging and the acid green is a useful foil for other colours in a bouquet.
Here are my six – including an attempt to grow Christmas leftovers of dates and pineapples, a greenhouse tidy-up and some snowdrops.
https://www.teabreakgardener.co.uk/winter-gardening-snowdrops-pineapples-and-dates-six-on-saturday/
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Unrestrained orgy of buying….I’ve tried various clinics for this, and it does not work! Best spend our money on plants. After another wet week woke up to one of the wonders of the world. Looking forward to seeing Trick in flower. https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2020/01/six-on-saturday-18-january-2020.html
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Nice forward looking looking, optimistic six there Prop, all seeds and new shoots. I have so many seeds I’m avoiding thinking about them, That’s not going to work, is it. https://wp.me/p6bCCa-28F
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It really isn’t!
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I’ve scratched that seed sowing itch now with my first seeds of the year. Molucella laevis sound good, a combination of two plants I like.
This weeks six sees my Burgon & Ball winnings, seed sowing and Big Garden Birdwatch prep. https://30daysofwildparenting.wordpress.com/2020/01/18/six-on-saturday-18-1-19/
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There’s a hard frost here which isn’t great after all of yesterdays rain. Give the Viburnum time, it’s worth it.
Off to work now so I’ll catch up with everyone later (it’s usually about Tuesday by then!).
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Morning Mr. P 🙂
I like the sound of the Bells of Ireland it will be interesting to follow their progress.
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“More rain this week, and heavy too.”? How does it compare to my six from sunny California? These six are just about the weather, rather than about horticulture. Actually, they are about one storm. Well, you will see. I will add another six at noon because it would be inaccurate to post them next Saturday as blooming next week (when they will be more than a week and a half old. Besides, I really should post something more horticulturally oriented.
My objection to tulips is that they are not as perennial as they are supposed to be. I had always believed that they did not get enough chill in winter here. I now realize that they do not naturalize very will in other regions either, including regions where they should get plenty of chill. They must grow somewhere, because the bulbs are available in nurseries in season.
Bells of Ireland is an odd one. It reminds me of some of the spurges. To me, it looks nothing like flowers that it is related to, especially in pictures.
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Oh looks like I am first this week! https://basia329.wordpress.com/2020/01/18/six-on-saturday-18-01-20/
The viburnum looks like it is going to be lovely.
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