This strange limbo existence continues. Mrs P and I are both fortunate that our jobs are a) safe and b) possible to do remotely from home. I am very grateful to have to garden and greenhouse to escape into, I can’t imagine being cooped in a small flat with no outside space. My garden is getting lots of attention so if it is not in tip-top condition by the summer you could be forgiven for asking “what have you been up to!?” In the meantime, let’s do Six on Saturday. Six things, in the garden, on a Saturday. Could be anything. A tulip, a tulip, more tulips, a display of tulips, or just tulips. I mean, you decide. Join in!
Here are my Six…
1 – Narcissus ‘Thalia’. A pure white one, and popular for that reason. New to me this year, I think it is rather elegant.
2 – Cosmos ‘Apricot Lemonade’. These are almost ready to move on. I think I will plant them straight into 9cm pots, skipping my usual 7cm stage. I did this last year and they seemed to appreciate not being mucked about with so much. I have another pot or two like this of other cosmos varieties. I would not be without them.
3 – Malope ‘Vulcan’. Complete with cat paw-print. I think they like the warmth of the heated bench. They would normally tip-toe around obstructions like this, but perhaps I disturbed it. Despite the feline clodhoppers, the seedlings seem fine, I’ll certainly have plenty. I’ve not grown these before. The flowers are bright magenta-pink with an unusual green 5-pointed start at the centre. I gather they get to 90cm so mid to back of the border for this lot, where they should flower through the summer.
4 – Rose ‘The Pilgrim’, a cutting. I took this as a soft-wood cutting last year. It rooted happily and grew a bit. I parked it in the cold-frame over the winter and potted it on to a 3L pot just a week or two ago. It has begun to grow on fairly rapidly. While it continues to grow, I need to find a home for it. I have a couple of cheap and very inferior roses along the front fence that might be for the high jump, taking one for the team. I’d be trading up for a younger, prettier model, as it very much were.
5 – Wisteria buds. Not long now! The increasingly robust wisteria has responded with aplomb to its winter prune. There are lots of buds, so I hope the frost is kind to us.
6 – Tulip ‘Trick’. These were planted in the ground in autumn 2018 but did not show up last year for some reason, just leaves. I had low expectations but here they are, flowering away, quite the thing. I do love a tulip.
Those are my Six for this week, what are yours? If you’d like to join in, and why wouldn’t you, surely you haven’t anything better to do, 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 lovely. For more details you can read the brief participant guide.
The weather here looks set very fair for the weekend so I expect I’ll be out in the garden, there’s a long list of things to get done. Don’t forget to check back later in the day as more links get added.
Stay safe, I’ll be back next weekend for another #SixOnSaturday.
Evening all
Here’s my six again, continuing on from last week.
After two solid weeks of it, I’m getting a little tired of building stuff – it seems to be never-ending – and so I’m looking forward to actually getting around to some real gardening, i.e. with seeds and plants !
https://eaglesfeartoperch.blogspot.com/2020/04/building-new-greenhouse-part-2-six-on.html#more
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My heart skipped a beat when I saw your header today because I knew exactly what it was – but fortunately there was no need for envy as I spotted a couple of similar buds on my own wisteria today. When is yours in full bloom? It is normally mid to end of May for mine. Thanks for hosting – my six are at https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-322-plug-plants-and-some-sweet-peas/
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Hi Cathy. I think it is out by end of april normally, peaking mid may ish.
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I agree with you about narcissus ‘Thalia’, it’s very elegant – I’ve planted some out this afternoon, they’re not flowering yet. Your tulips are gorgeous!
https://blogoftwogardens.com/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-a-good-digging-workout/
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I am puzzling over a few things – you use tulips as annuals, same here with a lot of work and Zinnias are not doing well but Cosmos are – exact opposite here. I can’t get a Cosmo to sprout, your potting mix looks really light, is that the trick? Thank you for hosting, here is my six http://theshrubqueen.com/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-coming-along-nicely/
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Lovely red tulips! I am happy to be back again! https://enthusiasticgardener.com/2020/04/04/the-fortnight-garden-at-the-beginning-of-april/
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The Tulips certainly worth waiting for. I’ve my Cosmos to transplant too. Great looking garden. Finally got my Six on Saturday https://wp.me/paZ8Ih-u4
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That’s a lovely tulip. I have lots of seedlings at the vulnerable age right now causing me endless worry as they are constantly in danger of either damping off or growing too long and spindly as they try to reach the light. Good luck with yours.
I am singing the blues this week https://wp.me/p3dx4o-3E9
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Lovely tulips! Nearly all of mine were munched by underground beasties. No flowers to show this week, just a lot of work. https://stoneyknob.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/sos-what-did-you-do-in-quarantine/
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Tulips are lovely, ours are still short buds at the moment. I’m a bit late with my 6 this week – excuse is, I’ve been out in the garden! Here they are:
https://theoptimisticgardener.wordpress.com/category/6-on-saturday/
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Thalia is my absolute fave. My six are very ugly today. Sorry about that. https://digwithdorris.wordpress.com
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if you can get hold of it, I might add more organic matter to your new planting area. or plant things which can handle poor soil. good luck, always fun to start a new planting area.
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Yes the soil is ghastly and this area I have uncovered is particularly bad. Blue clay and builders sand. So far manure and tree/shrub compost has gone in and I know I will add mountains of leaf mould in autumn. It is going to be very challenging for any plant. The seeds I have sown this weekend should cope with the poor soil. I’m hoping !
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And in addition to my own Alice has been busy taking photos https://30daysofwildparenting.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-alice-edition/
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couldn’t see the pics on my laptop for some reason, will have a look on my phone later.
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We have made some stunning large milk churn flower arrangements with Malope over the years. Excellent plants when they grow at their best.
Here are my six for this week:
https://honeypotflowers.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-april-shrubs-and-small-trees/
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The Narcissus ‘Thalia’ is wonderful; “elegant” is a good description. I look forward to seeing the bright colors of the cosmos and malope later on. My offering for this week is here, https://aftereden.blog/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-4-april-2020/
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‘The Pilgrim’ is my sweetheart’s favourite rose. He loves the colour.
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Such an exciting time of year in the garden/glasshouse. Your seedlings look great, I sowed a lot of HHA seed this week and start each day with that feeling of anticipation – is anything up yet? First Cosmos ‘Antiquity’ peeping through today.
https://thequiltinggardener.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-04-04-20/
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It never gets old.
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I thank goodness for having a garden during this lockdown period. Pity we can’t get to a nursery. A bit like clothes shopping, I prefer to see first hand rather than buy online.
Malope was a new one on me, but I looked it up and it looks quite stunning.
Here are my six for this week.
https://thirdageblogger.blogspot.com/2020/04/six-on-saturday.html
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Yes indeed, very grateful.
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Very envious of your seed progress. Is that the benefit of a heated propagator? My early sowings are not showing. Maybe this weekend will nudge them along. And your rose cutting is zooming along. Feeling more envy! But I can cope. I’m with you on the tulips. It will be so lovely to see SOS over the coming weeks. Here’s my link https://wp.me/p97pee-xl
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The heated bench helps speed things up but that’s all really. Yours will be up soon with the sunshine.
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I am glad you like tulips as I have been a little overindulgent this week. Hard to know what to leave out of a post! I also grew Thalia this year for the first time – she is very lovely, I can see why she is so popular. Glad to know you are doing fine. It is certainly difficult times.
https://wp.me/p79zFr-2MU
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Slight problem again this week, one of the photos isn’t showing properly and the link isn’t working properly either. I will have to try what Hey-Jude suggested recently. https://grannysgarden229242407.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-04-04-2020
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I’ve not heard of Malope before, so looked it up: “Malope was recommended in 1935 by garden maven Louise Beebe” – so, if Ms Beebe recommends it… look forward to seeing your blossoms; looks like they’ll be the same shade as your tulips?
https://countygardening.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-04-04-2002-the-bees-have-awoken/
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Yes, similar shade I think.
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Morning! Nice six – particularly impressed by the rose cutting! So glad the sun’s back this weekend; have a good one! https://mysecretgarden61808037.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/sixonsaturday-bring-me-sunshine/
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Morning!
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I love ‘Thalia’ – and grew it for the first time at home this year as well, so snap! Your seedlings are exciting (even if some people think that’s that’s a bit dorky, I can’t help it!) The cosmos sounds delicious l – I must try again with them, but next year. Have a good week and hoping the crisis continues to be relatively kind to you.
Here are my six: https://gardendreamingatchatillon.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-4-april-2020/
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Not dorky at all!
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Those tulips are beautiful. Your border patrol showed several in bloom…very pretty. Have a good weekend.
https://grannysgarden229242407.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/six/on/saturday-04-04-2020
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Morning, yes they are lovely. Stay safe.
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I know many gardeners rave about ‘Thalia’ but I just can’t warm to it. I much prefer ‘Mount Hood’ with just a hint of cream
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I’ll look out for that one.
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All my seedlings go into 9 cm pots – I don’t have anything smaller anyway. 😀 The cosmos always come on fine in them. Love your beautiful Thalia – there’s absolutely no sign of mine flowering, the heads are still tiny. That’s a good healthy-looking rose cutting you have there. The tulips are lovely – a pleasant surprise for you.
Here’s mine for this week. https://notesfrommygarden.co.uk/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-2020-04-04/
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Morning Catherine. I have zillions of 7cm pots but a limited supply of 9cm pots. I must use them sparingly.
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If you’re ever passing I have thousands of 9’s. Need washing mind.
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Ooh. Might well do! Post apocalypse.
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Just found 200 used 9cm pot on Ebay for 10 quid including p&p. Done. Now I have plenty too.
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Some people (non-gardeners) may think photos of seedlings are rather dull, bu I like looking at them. Maybe I should get out more? Oh wait – I can’t. So I’m going to join in instead. As well as seedlings, there are daffodils, tulips and the grand reveal of my Christmas present.
https://www.hortusbaileyana.co.uk/2020/04/the-start-of-april-in-garden.html
I’m impressed with the rose you grew from a cutting, and what a surprise about the tulips showing up in year 2.
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Dull!? As if!
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Malope ‘Vulcan’, so that’s what it is. I purloined some seed from a thing growing on my neighbour’s plot at the allotments, sowed them a bit back and pricked some off a few days ago. Now I think I know what they are, thank you. I’m going to be admiring lots of other people’s tulips this year with no great pull to grow them myself. I’ve had them for the last couple of years, they’re great but they don’t keep going, I’m over them. Yours are very nice though! Here’s my offering: https://wp.me/p6bCCa-2cV
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I think you should have a lie down. Over tulips indeed. Pah.
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Ooh Cosmos yes. Time to sow. Thanks for the reminder. I should think all our gardens will be looking tip top this summer. Aren’t we lucky to have them? I keep thinking of all the people stuck in flats and feeling very grateful. Here’s my six:
https://carrotsandcalendula.co.uk/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-counting-blessings/
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Very lucky.
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Have you discovered a biennial tulip? Those are fabulous strong flowers anyway. I’ve yet to see a tulip in flower here but they’re on their way. Here’s my six. This week the greenhouse got a full on body scrub so I’m taking you inside to see some of the cheerful treasures there, including lots of pelargonium cuttings.
https://www.teabreakgardener.co.uk/peek-inside-the-greenhouse-six-on-saturday/
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Don’t. Greenhouse, all shiny. Weak at the knees.
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Your Thalia are lovely and well done on bringing on the rose. Your tulips are making a wonderful splash in your garden. Here are my six: https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2020/04/six-on-saturday-4-april-2020.html
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Thanks, I am pleased with the rose.
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I was shocked to read that mallope grows 90cm. They are indeed beautiful & stunning flowers, but mine never got above 15″ – would that be about 40cm? My soil must not’ve been right. Knowing this now, I wonder should I try some? O, you are such a bad influence, Jon. That rose has done well. Is there a poor house where its undeserving relations’ll be sent? The compost bin, perhaps? Your tulips are lovely as always. And are we nearing wisteria time? O, how wonderful! https://lorahughes.blogspot.com/2020/04/5-delights-1-doodle-remedy.html
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I might relegate the inferior roses to the veg plot. Or possibly to big pots with a cane wig wam to grow up. I’ll find a spot for them.
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My rose rejects are still cluttering up the veg plot. Be stronger than me. Get rid of them.
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I should.
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Beautiful tulips and that Narcissus is very elegant. My cosmos seedlings have been doing well. Zinnia on the other hand have been very patchy coming up. I’ll do a second sowing of the latter today. Roses are wary of me. Three died last year and over the past few weeks I’ve dropped a stake, garden bench and swing seat canopy on three others. I’m lucky I have’t been reported to the plant authorities https://onemanandhisgardentrowel.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-4-april-2020/
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My zinnia have been poor germinators too. Will have another crack myself, I think.
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Loving these six (and no I’m not being a creep I really do). Cosmos are my all time favourite annuals, these sound interesting, lovely name. Wisteria is a no brainer, I have history with that rose (good history) and the tulips are fab. Here are mine, hope you enjoy them. https://offtheedgegardening.com/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-are-we-there-yet/
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Morning! Thanks, I think the wisteri will be out in a couple of weeks, we’ve lots of sun forecast the next fortnight.
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https://tonytomeo.com/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-more-recycling/
My six show a bit of propagation too, although mostly not very refined.
How odd for tulips, particularly that the entire group did it. The main reason I do not grow them is that they do not get enough chill to bloom again here, unless dug and chilled in a refrigerator. They bloom well in the first spring, and then put out only foliage in the second spring. To put out foliage in one spring and then bloom the next is weird.
Wisteria is rad. I already miss our bloom. There is still a bit out there, but I want it to last longer. Some types have not yet bloomed, and may not be much farther along than yours.
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I mostly treat tulips as annuals, just grow them for the patio then bin them. I have experimented with planting them deep in the ground, mixed results.
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I am afraid that is how I would grow them if I bothered to grow them.
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Lovely Tulips. One of my goals this year is to take a soft wood cutting of a rose. Here is my 6 https://sedumsdahliasandhayfever.com/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-4th-april-2020/
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Give it a go. Nothing to lose.
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I grew my cosmos in seed trays last year and then cut into blocks that went straight into the beds. Grew nice and thick. I think they did better for the lack of disturbance.
This week’s six. https://30daysofwildparenting.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-4-4-20-spring-is-here/
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Sounds like a plan.
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What a great idea!
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I may see the first wisteria flowers before you, my buds are more elongated than yours but as you said, the morning frost may have burned them (this morning too but it seems to be the last before long time). Your Pilgrim looks healthy and this Malope is full of promises (like a lavatera right?): My link a little later …
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Now it’s ready https://fredgardenerblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-04-04-20/
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Yes we have a couple of weeks of 🌞
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Strange behaviour from those beautiful tulips, but well worth waiting for!
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Very much so.
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Gorgeous tulips! Here are my six…before I go off and do a virtual pub quiz with friends! https://basia329.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/six-on-saturday-04-04-20/
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Good luck!
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