In the new normal I work from home. This is largely a splendid thing. This last few days though, it has been a hot and sweaty business, my office getting blasted with the hot sun in the afternoon furnace we’ve had. Not fun. I miss air conditioning, but not enough to make me hanker for office working any time soon. Six on Saturday then. Six things, in the garden, on a Saturday. Could be anything – a flower, a tool, a pest, a job to do, a success, a failure, anything at all. Join in!
Here are my Six for this week.
1 – Astrantia x ‘buckland’. Those astrantia buds I was so pleased with a few weeks ago have become flowers. It seems I only have one plant in this state, a pretty poor return on my strenuous seed nurturing efforts, but I suppose I’ll take it. Less pink than the named variety, differences befitting its mongrel, open pollinated genetics.
2 – Cosmos ‘Apricot Lemonade’. Like the garden magpie I am, I oohed and aahed at the pictures in the seed catalog and simply had to have some. Now I have them in the garden, I’m not sure I like them that much. A short variety, the flowers are quite anonymous unless one is right on top of them.
3 – Rose ‘Generous Gardener’. I bought this rose with a specific location in mind, planted out early Spring this year once I’d built the container. It is sitting out on the drive, against the front of the house near the door. The front of the house gets the sun all afternoon and into the evening and judging by the growth, it is very happy. A bareroot when I planted it, just sticks, it has put on about 3′ of new growth, lots of lush leaves and most pleasingly 30 or 40 buds which are just starting to flower. Fast forward a couple of years and I envisage this rose covering a good chunk of the front of the house, surrounding the doorway with colour and fragrance. So far so good…
4 – Patio planter. I built five of these earlier in the year, all made from reclaimed wood, mostly dismantled pallet. I deliberately made them larger than others I’ve had in the past, mainly (obviously!) to facilitate larger amounts of plants. For the spring I plan to stuff these with tulips and other bulbs but for now they have summer flowering plants. At the back are a handful of morning glory plants, grown from seed this year. They are busy growing up the trellis attached to the back of the planter and are already spitting out the occasional flower. The rest of the plants were bought in a slightly frenzied first post-lockdown trip to the garden centre some weeks back. The petunias are holding up their end of the bargain, but the osteospermum behind them are not really playing ball. Or perhaps I need to deadhead them more frequently. To borrow a phrasing, a bad gardener always blames his plants.
5 – Dahlia ‘Art Deco’. I bought the tuber for last summer, but before I could plant it out it was shredded back to a bare skeleton by our slimy friends. It never recovered and out of laziness and perhaps a little mourning, I let it languish outdoors in the same pot over the winter. I was pleasantly surprised to find new growth emerging in early Spring this year. I moved it to the greenhouse to coddle it a bit more, then planted it out in one of the zillion pots I now have on the patio. A smaller variety, it should get to no more than a couple of feet tall and judging by the evidence so far, will produce many blooms. All’s well that ends well.
6 – Clematis ‘Blue Angel’. More by luck than judgement, most of my clematis are deep red or purple. I bought this one in a deliberate attempt to lighten things up a tad. Last year it did little, just one or two stems with flowers. This year it is much more enthusiastic, flowering in numbers and combining nicely with the neighbouring c. ‘Mme Julia Correvon’. Next year I plan to train them so that they intertwine much more, I like the colour combo.
Those are my Six, what are yours? If you’d like to have a go, 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 triffic. For more details you can read the guide here.
I trust you will enjoy your gardening weekend. The weather promises to be a bit more standard British Summer here than the last few days which have felt positively tropical. Don’t forget to check back later in the day as more links are added.
Stay safe, I’ll be back next weekend with another #SixOnSaturday.
Nice to see another clematis lover. Here are my six for this week
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Late today! We managed to get a visit to Batemans in Sussex, a joy to be able to wander around a garden: https://peerlessgardening.wordpress.com/2020/06/27/six-on-saturday-27-06-2020/
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R Generous Gardener is gorgeous in colour, shape, form and scent. Cosmos I have come to the conclusion need to be white. The coloured ones seem to be less vigorous and less cosmos like somehow. If you know what I mean.
Here are my six https://digwithdorris.wordpress.com
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I’ve done OK with some pink ones before, and rubenza is nice.
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Well, I am over Cosmos, they hate my garden. The Rose is so gorgeous I want to move to England. And Astrantias are new to me. Just lovely. Another thing to try although I saw someone say they didn’t like dry – not a good idea. Here is my latest tropicalness Thank you for hosting. http://theshrubqueen.com/2020/06/27/six-on-saturday-tropical-summer/
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Yes, damp semi-shade spot for the astrantia I’m afraid.
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LOL none of that here!
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I was going to ooh and ahh over ‘Apricot Lemonade!” I can see what you mean, it wouldn’t really stand out in a bed. Dahlia ‘Art Deco’ is certainly pretty. I’ve never grown dahlias.
Here are my six.
https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/2020/06/six-on-saturday-june-27-2020.html
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Its not that bad, I just think.my expectations of it it were rather too high.
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Those roses are stunning! I had planned to show several flowers, but in my garden things never go according to plan. It’s been a wild week: https://wp.me/p4Y6ke-2zU
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Oh dear, that doesn’t sound good!
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Oooh, that Clematis is lovely. I have Mme Julia as well, but mine is lilac… go figure.
Here’s my contribution for this week: Six roses for Six on Saturday
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Yes it’s a good one.
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Sorry to hear of the lacklustre performance from your Cosmos ‘Apricot Lemonade’. It did look so promising in the catalogues. On the other hand D. ‘Art Deco’ looks wonderful. Just the colours I could use, if only I didn’t have a slug problem.
Here are my six: https://wp.me/pM8Y1-7R1
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I am bored with slugs now. This might well be my only dahlia.
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Hi there my favourite from your blog is definitely Cosmos and lovely blue angel Clematis.
Here’s my blog https://wp.me/paZ8Ih-Ab
By the way the featured image was incorrectly attributed on the original upload. It’s now been corrected.
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Cheers Keith.
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What a beautiful rose and very aptly named. Your dahlias are way ahead of mine. I keep getting photos pop up on my FB memories of dahlias in my garden in full bloom, but I have something to look forward to. This week my SoS is a test your wildflower knowledge challenge! https://hurtledto60.com/2020/06/27/six-on-saturday-27-06-2020/
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The rose is a keeper, definitely.
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Ah, dahlias! Totally absent this year. Last year’s didn’t perform so I ordered new tubers this year. They failed to arrive. Replacements were (reportedly) sent. Then a refund arrived without prompting so I guess “reportedly” wasn’t “actually”. Such is life. Still, I happened to have an unexpected abundance of Begonias to fill the gaps. I don’t bother with annual Osteos these days as they’re too unreliable for me. So you may be right to blame your plants in this instance. Meanwhile, I’ve made an effort at https://rivendellgarden.blog/?p=4520.
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Hiya. No dahlias! Eek. Mind you I am starting to wonder if they are worth the battles.
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Oh dear, I put my 6 on an old blog of Mr Prop’s. Clearly suffering from lockdown brain. Thank you for noticing Mr Prop. and here is todays 6, in the right place at the wrong time. By the way, I love an astrantia. new garden is too dry for them, they just crisp up…
https://theoptimisticgardener.wordpress.com/category/6-on-saturday/
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Yes it has taken a while for me to find a good spot for them. Damp, partial shade.
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Generous gardener is an absolute winner. What a lucky house you have to have that climbing all over it! And I am also in favour of your cosmos. It’s not a colour I have in the garden but after the glare of the last week it looks soothing and gentle. I could be persuaded. Here’s my link https://wp.me/p97pee-BS No talk of downhill to winter there!
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GG will be sharing the house covering honours with Mad Alfie. Between them I expecting big things.
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I love the colour of your cosmos. All, bar one of my cosmos failed to germinate. The seed was from last year. Gorgeous rose too. More six here.
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I go hit and miss with cosmos. Last two years have been not bad germination wise.
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The rose Generous Gardener, is definitely aptly named if it is growing so well. I love the colour and fullness of the blooms, and if it is fragranced, then a gardener could not ask for more! I agree with you that the colour combinations of Clematis should look good! I am also impressed with your planting boxes, and the petunias are ablaze with colour. Glad you are enjoying the working from home. Just hope the heat eases for you in the meantime.
Here is my Six for the week: https://hairbellsandmaples.com/2020/06/27/six-on-saturday-w26-tawny-surprise/
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Cool, grey and rainy today….
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A bit of a reprieve from that heat! Phew!
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What a wonderful rose and so aptly named. I know what you mean about the new smaller cosmos. I grew Xanthos this year and find the flowers very easy to ignore. Here’s my link. https://pruneplantsow.wordpress.com/2020/06/27/sixonsaturday-june-27th-singing-the-blues/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
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Yes it looks to be a good one. A keeper for sure.
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That’s a lovely Clematis, and the rose! I’m so impressed it will grow so much the first year. Anything new I plant generally takes forever to get going. Then again – I’m generally planting in heavy rocky clay…
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This one is in a good size planter 90cmx50cm×60cm, fresh compost and what have you. Plus it is in a super sunny spot. I am also a zealous convert to a foliar feed which gets sprayed on every two weeks. Roses have never been better since using last and this year.
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Morning! I love an apparently dead plant that ‘suddenly’ resurrects itself; I’ve had that experience with a clematis ‘Prince George’ this year 🙂
I’m back in my garden for #Six… this week: https://mysecretgarden61808037.wordpress.com/2020/06/27/sixonsaturday-come-rain-or-come-shine/
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Yes, resurrection always welcome.
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Here are my quick 6 determined to get them on.
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Well done!
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Deadheading – necessary but oh so boring! https://enthusiasticgardener.com/2020/06/27/the-end-of-june-in-the-fortnight-garden/
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Yes, I try to do it weekly.
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That’s a fabulous opening photo of the rose. The clematis is very pretty too. Your comment made me realise I too have been favouring the reds and purples and unfairly neglecting this shade.
Here’s my Six for this week. After a week of lurking in the shade it looks like rain might be keeping me indoors today.
https://www.hortusbaileyana.co.uk/2020/06/some-more-favourite-roses.html
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Yes i think I need to mix it up a bit more with the clematis.
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This weeks Rose is a stunner in a very soft and beautiful way. May she continue to be Generous. I too have a Clematis and a Dahlia this week. Have a good weekend.
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Thanks. You too!
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Hi mate hope all is well. Running late today. Will read your blog later. Hope all is well on the world.
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All good here in our bubble.
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That Dahlia is on my recently deceased list, might even still be alive underground. It never did much. I saw a very good deep pink seed raised Astrantia last weekend, so it can be done, but it seems the odds are against it. Every year I see lots of pictures of Clematis and want more. It’ll take a construction project to provide support; now where can I put that…. https://wp.me/p6bCCa-2kT
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I’m sure you’ll find somewhere. Always room for one more plant.
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Sorry, forgot to do this last week! Thanks for the inspiration.https://davidsgardendiary.wordpress.com/2020/06/20/six-on-saturday/
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Hiya, fab. Thanks.
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Good morning. I do like that Generous Gardener rose. Although not a strong colour, it looks good against it’s dark foliage and, I am sure, against the house bricks. My dahlias are probably a month behind yours but not completely demolished by those S & S creatures. Hope all are well and have a good weekend.
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Hiya. Yes i think GG will be a winner. Nice fragrance too. Soft like the colour. All well here.
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Love the Generous Gardener rose! Need one!
Also envying your lovely pale blue clematis and that stunning dahlia – I had an Art Deco once but I killed it off.
Here’s my six:
https://carrotsandcalendula.co.uk/2020/06/27/six-on-saturday-4/
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They are all too easy to kill, dahlias, i have found. All too easy.
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A week of tough work in the garden here with hot humid weather but it did the dahlias a world of good. https://anirishgardener.wordpress.com/2020/06/27/six-on-saturday-27th-june-2020/
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Just got to guard against the slimy varmints.
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For some reason they are not a bother for us. We don’t use anything against them and damage is negligible.
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Maybe St Patrick sorted the slugs as well as the snakes?
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He put manners on them alright!
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It always feels like a letdown when the actual product doesn’t look like the one in the catalogue, and that’s probably how you feel about Cosmos ‘Apricot Lemonade’. Given time, it might grow on you – perhaps it needs to be displayed amongst different planting to bring out its beauty?
Rosa ‘Generous Gardener’ is stunning – I hope it performs just as you imagine it will, it will be a sight to behold surrounding your doorway.
I’m waiting for my Dahlia ‘Art Deco’ (new this year) to bloom – probably another couple of weeks yet, and hope it does as well as yours.
Here’s my six for this week.
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Fingers crossed for your dahlia!
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There is one U.K. supplier that my wife curses regularly. Seeds, described as one colour germinate and grow to be another.
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I rather like your cosmos. How about picking some putting them in a Vase and joining in on Monday? Love the Generous Gardener, what a wonderful rose to grow on the front on your home. Here are my six prickly, smelly and tasty amongst them: https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2020/06/six-on-saturday-27-june-2020.html
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One meme a week is plenty!
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Nice six! Love the dahlia, I am a sucker for a sob story. And the rose is splendid, when they are happy they are worth all the heartache. Have a good week, here are mine https://offtheedgegardening.com/2020/06/27/six-on-saturday-hot-not-bothered/
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And they do seem very happy this year.
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The dahlias done well there. I’ve been surprised how many of mine I left in the ground have returned. Though there not looking as good as my pot grown ones so maybe better to remove still.
This week irises, passionflower, black cornflowers, early potatoes, container ponds and lilies.
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Mine survive the winter then get ravaged, unless I spot them first. A circle of branble stems seems to give them a chance to grow.
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The ones that have returned have largely been in the thick of other plants possiblt helping.
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I was also left feeling “meh” about my apricot lemonade cosmos! Somehow they are both a dreary-looking color and too short. Such a letdown after high hopes. Jon, your first dahlia is lovely and far ahead of any of mine. I went for full-on color this week: https://gardensatcoppertop.com/2020/06/27/six-on-saturday-june-27/
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Yes. A disappointment on both fronts. Shan’t be growing again. Probably.
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Well done you for making the patio planters, and a further advantage of making them so large will be easier watering with less chance of them going dry. I’ve only made two, so in football terms it’s a 5-2 home win.
https://growwriterepeat.com/2020/06/27/six-on-saturday-plants-struggle-too/
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If we’re keeping score, there’s another 5 down the side I made a year or two ago, and another 3 older ones that are semi-retired, held in reserve.
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Walkover offered…
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I am sorry that mine are such a dud this week. I almost opted out, but thought that would be impolite.
Nice petunias. We will do without this year. There is no point in putting out warm season annuals if no guest can be here to see them.
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Shame…
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Liking your dahlia and your rose much, very pretty. The cosmos need a plant like your dahlia art deco to enhance its beauty of perhaps loads of bright yellows. You can not have petunias in summer.yours looks lovely.
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Yes they are easy plants, petunias. Even deadhead themselves.
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I grew Cosmos Lemonade a few years ago and was underwhelmed. However, I like the apricot contrast on your Apricot Lemonade. Beautiful dahlia. A lot of mine are getting stripped and, like last year, I’m wondering why I bothered. If they survive and flower I will of course forget my woe-is-me-dahlia-mutterings and get more https://onemanandhisgardentrowel.wordpress.com/2020/06/27/six-on-saturday-27-june-2020/
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Plain old lemonade must’ve been a drab plant!
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Finally I have my first dahlia, not as flowery as yours but it’s a good start.
Pretty petunia planter in full sun. My post this weekend ; https://fredgardenerblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/27/six-on-saturday-27-06-20/
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Morning Fred, most of my dahlias have been eaten, i am on the verge of giving up.
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None this week, Jon, but I do love the astrantia, it’s very delicate and I’m impressed with that soft Rose Generous Gardener. It looks like all the northern gardens are coming into full-flush. Thank you!
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Yes, but downhill to winter now!
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Cracking blog squire !
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Morning! Thanks.
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Oh the roses are quite gorgeous! Very different weather here….well, it is winter I keep telling myself! https://basia329.wordpress.com/2020/06/27/six-on-saturday-27-06-20/\
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Raining now….
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