I half imagine Jack Frost, channelling the White Rabbit, running around in a tizz, muttering “I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date!’ About three weeks late here, compared to typical first frost dates. I’m happy to have plenty of flowers in the garden still, but I do have clearing up I’d like to get on with, plus a pile of bulbs I still have to get in the ground/pots. I did have a very light frost here mid week but nothing to speak of, certainly not enough to put a dent in the plant life. As with certain other events in the world, we shall all just have to be patient, remain calm and await the inevitable. One thing we don’t have to wait for is Six on Saturday. Six things, in the garden, on a Saturday. Could be anything – a flower, a pest, a statue, a job to do, an epic failure, anything at all. Join in!
Here are my Six for this week…
1 – Cosmos, probably ‘dazzler’. Not something I expect to have in flower part way into November. In fact, it’s not a plant I even expect to have in the garden at this time of year. Normally they are dug up and shredded for the heap by now.
2 – Helenium ‘Short n sassy’. In flower since July or maybe even June, these are still doing well, with several flowers open and more on the way. Ordinarily more orange, the colouring has tended more to the plain yellow as the season has waned, but I’ll take it.
3 – Fatsia japonica flowers. I don’t always get to see the space-age flowers on this shrub, usually the frost takes them before they fully develop. With Jack Frost seemingly taking an extended summer holiday, I still have them.
4 – Weigela ‘Bristol Ruby’. Continuing the trend of unexpected flowers, this little shrub is putting out a 3rd flush of flowers this year. It doesn’t know if it’s coming or going.
5 – Wisteria, autumn colour. It won’t be long before they drop entirely but in the meantime I’ll enjoy the changing tone of these leaves.
6 – Clematis ‘Nellie Moser’. Another plant that doesn’t know it’s nearly winter. Nellie here has been putting out sporadic flowers the last month or two.
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 splendid. For more details you can read the brief participant guide.
I have a backlog of stuff to get done in the garden so I’m hoping the weather will be kind. I hope you have a productive gardening weekend, don’t forget to check back in later as more links are added during the day.
Stay safe, I’ll be back next weekend with another #SixOnSaturday.
It’s an odd start to November. The frost came and went followed by balmy sunshine. Still enjoying all the colour in your garden. Mine too https://davidsgardendiary.wordpress.com/2020/11/08/six-on-saturday-15/
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yes and no sign of frost here the next two weeks either. strange times.
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You do still have a lot of colour. I am quite jealous. Some more very late six here
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i’m itching to get clearing. no frost in the forecast though…
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Dazzling cosmos and some amazing blooms this week – especially for so late in the year! And late in the day, here are my six this saturday. https://doingtheplan.com/2020/11/07/six-on-a-hopeful-saturday/
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yes everything is very late this year, not a terrible problem to have.
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I shall be rushing out first thing tomorrow to look for fatsia flowers – I tend to miss them here because they will be about two feet or more above eye level!! Thanks for hosting, Jon – my six are here https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2020/11/07/six-on-saturday-always-something-to-do/
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time to get your step ladder out!
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As I read your comment ts morning I looked out of the kitchen windo and could see their flowers above the roof of the sitooterie (so about 7+ feet above the ground!) so didn’ need the ladder!!
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First frosts here were bang on time (about bonfire night, lol). Fatsia flowers are so dramatic, like ivy on steroids! Hard to know where I’d put one in our garden though. ‘Short n sassy’ Helenium is a real winner with such an extensive flowering period.
My Six are here: https://frogenddweller.wordpress.com/2020/11/07/six-on-saturday-the-just-in-time-jit-concept/
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if the forecast is anything to go by, no sign of frost the next 2 weeks, a very mild end to autumn it seems.
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Wow, amazing array still in bloom. Do you feel Jack Frost is stalking you? It is odd I never see Fatsia here – the flowers are fabulous! https://theshrubqueen.com/2020/11/07/six-on-saturday-fruit-veg-and-flower/
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No sign of him in the forecast now for 2 weeks.
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Like you, I’ve got lots of repeat flowerers, here they struggled with hot dry periods in the summer, and are now loving some moisture and reasonably good daytime temperatures. Love the Fatsia flowers. Here are mine: http://kasmaty.blogspot.com/2020/11/sixonsaturday-cheery-flowers-for.html
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yes it’s nice to have flowers at what is normally quite a “brown” time of year. still, i’d like to get on an clear and get bulbs in the ground.
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Love your SOS. Things just keep on flowering! My rose The Pilgrim too. But for me, the trees have been the true beauties this week. https://thenostalgicgardener.com/2020/11/07/six-on-saturday-7-november-2020/
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A very strange time of year, I also had a stray Nelly Moser flower and several buds which came to nought recently. Not so many alien flowers on the Fatsia this year as I cut it right back during the summer. It grows so fast here. I’d probably have a huge tree if I didn’t keep cutting it down. No six from me for a while, what there is in the garden has been seen before and it is all looking a bit soggy. Still a couple of raised beds to clear of rampant nasturtiums though and chuck the rest of my home-made compost on. When the sun shines! Stay healthy!
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my fatsia grows very slowly. perhaps i should give it a haircut, give it some encouragement.
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I love the shape of the Fatsia japonica. Here are mine, definitely autumnal: https://dameeleanorhull.wordpress.com/2020/11/07/six-on-saturday-st-martins-summer/
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autumnal must be nice!
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We have the late cosmos in common. I have one stubborn plant going strong, even though all the others went a few weeks ago. My wisteria is just starting to color up. I have bulbs to plant too, but now it’s raining, which I’ve been wanting to happen, so I shouldn’t complain.
https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/2020/11/six-on-saturday-november-7-2020.html
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My bulbs are sitting in the shed, oppressing me.
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Oh such colour you have still. well, I am hoping for next year to be so much better, plans are happening and there’s many more to come.
Your Cosmos and Helenium are superb, so colourful for this time of year. Thanks.
My Six on Saturday https://gardeningmyway.home.blog/2020/11/07/six-on-saturday-7th-nov-2020/
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I think we all hope next year will be better!
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We had a quick hard frost on the south side of the garden Hydrangeas are black on one side and green on the other. Not a good look! I do like those fatsia flowers. Here’s my six. https://pruneplantsow.wordpress.com/2020/11/07/sixonsaturday-november-7th-change-is-gonna-come/
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I had a tree like that. Half wind scorched half not.
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Hello! Lovely images. I am joining from my garden https://digwithdorris.wordpress.com
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I can’t see the “Comment” space on you blog so… that aster is outstanding. We grow A. lateriflorus, the straight species, but that cultivar seems very attractive indeed – and they come into flower so very late in the season.
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Hi
The aster is always a great late show which is a good addition to the garden, I’m glad you like it. Thanks for commenting
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I’m glad I’m not the only one who notices that some flowers change colour a bit, or lose colour, as it gets cooler. My Gaillardia did the same, a few weeks ago, as your Helenium. Warm here as well, after a single hard frost. It’ll be 15 or 17 today thru Wednesday! Happy weekend!!
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My gaillardia are still flowering away in full technicolour.
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Morning, I got bored of the cosmos and pulled them up this week! But I can also report clematis and weigela in flower. I went for the roses that still have a flower or two to share. A light frost here on wed thurs and very slightly fri morning. Greenhouse temperatures down to 2 degrees. But next week it’s summer again! Here’s my link https://n20gardener.wordpress.com/2020/11/07/six-on-saturday-november-shines-its-way-in/
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Seeds! Must send seeds….
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Morning! My #Six… and blog post are almost a carbon copy of yours today; I’m head-scratch over cosmos and clematis too! Trying to remember just to enjoy things and not ask too many questions! Have a great weekend! https://mysecretgarden61808037.wordpress.com/2020/11/07/sixonsaturday-pulling-out-all-the-stops/
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It’s a good policy.
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It is lovely that you still have such lovely colour in your garden. The autumn leaves of the wisteria added a further dimension of colour. I do not recall having seen Fatsia flowers before, and you are right – they do look like space age flowers! The Clematis is lovely!
Here is my contribution to this week’s Six on Saturday:
https://hairbellsandmaples.com/2020/11/07/six-on-saturday-w45-2020-battered-vegetables-flowers-and-a-new-project/
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Tbh I wish it would all hurry up and die so I can get on!
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You’ve still got some good flowers there. Your Nelly Moser isn’t alone in flowering now, mine is also having a go. It got a bit dry and hot for it in the Summer (think brown and crispy leaves) so perhaps it’s happier now.
I’ve got a question I hope someone might be able to help me with. I’ve just had power put into my greenhouse so I can plug in some sort of heated mat to sit underneath the seed trays in the Spring and keep the seedlings warm and growing away merrily. I’ve no idea what to buy though. Any suggestions?
Here’s my Six this week
https://www.hortusbaileyana.co.uk/2020/11/november-bonfires.html
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Yes a few of mine suffered a bit in the summer until I hooked up the irrigation.
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Nice helenium and what a good one. Here are my six: https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2020/11/six-on-saturday-7-november-2020.html
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It was much better in the summer.
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Just back from dinner at friends…..luckily got the post written earlier today https://basia329.wordpress.com/2020/11/07/six-on-saturday-07-11-20/
I guess I discovered fatsia after I moved here. Love the ‘space age’ flowers too.
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Ah yes. Dinner with friends. I remember that. Vaguely.
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I’m still finding some colour too, a bit of cheer in troubled times. That Helenium looks to be a good’n, I must look out for one. https://wp.me/p6bCCa-2AB
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Worth a look certainly. I can send you a division or three in the spring if u like.
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You still have plenty blooming – doesn’t look like the frosts have hit too hard yet. My cosmos has gone all floppy now. No flowers on my Fatsia yet either. Still got some roses tho. Good luck with getting those bulbs in, that’s on my to do list this weekend too.
https://carrotsandcalendula.co.uk/2020/11/07/six-on-saturday-november-roses/
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No not yet, and no sign in the next 2 weeks either.
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Morning all – distinctly chilly here this week. We had a sudden rush to get plants under cover. There’s been some beautiful frosty views though, and certainly worth getting up and about. https://peerlessgardening.wordpress.com/2020/11/05/six-on-saturday-7-11-2020/
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Mild forecast the next 2 weeks here so unlikely to have frost…
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Morning. I pulled the last of my Cosmos out last week and I’ve just checked ‘Short and Sassy’ but no flowers. Like you, I’ve noticed quite a few unseasonal flowers though. Another strange year in the garden, keeps us on our toes. Hope you get to tick lots off of your to-do list.
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I have been lacking enthusiasm the last few weeks, garden-wise anyway. I have been out today beginning a bit of a border tidy up.
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Good morning. I do like Nelly Moser clematis. It was the first one I ever bought and it climbed up the washing line post in our previous garden. Still plenty of colour in your garden. Look after yourselves.
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Morning, all well here, you too!
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This is the THIRD time I have done this, long story involving internet. Truly about to go off the edge! Precis – nice pictures. Here is mine http://offtheedgegardening.com/2020/11/07/six-on-saturday-pale-and-interesting/
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We appreciate your tenacity!
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I’m liking that helenium very much. We finally had a dahlia zapping frost but the cosmos are like ‘whatever’ and still going strong https://onemanandhisgardentrowel.wordpress.com/2020/11/07/six-on-saturday-7-november-2020/
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A couple of mine have slightly blackened leaves but not so much that you’d start tidying them up…
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Good morning! So many more of us are on lockdown at the moment and I hope everybody is keeping well, safe and healthy.
We also have had our first frosts during this past week; the trees are almost bare; I managed a quick cut of grass/leaf collection yesterday but we have certainly moved to winter gardening at this stage.
Here are my weekly notes from Waterford, south-east Ireland: https://anirishgardener.wordpress.com/2020/11/07/its-saturday-time-to-look-back-on-the-week/
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Day 3 of Lockdown II here, not a huge difference so far…
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We have behaved more or less as though on lockdown since March!!! It’s tedious but not too much bother. Thank goodness for gardening and a good walking route beside us.
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No clematis flowers, no helenium flowers, but I still have cosmos to color the garden, with the last dahlias. I noticed 3 days ago (before the 1st frost …) that my fatsia had a flower spike. Not as developed as yours but still ongoing! Here is my link: https://fredgardenerblog.wordpress.com/2020/11/07/six-on-saturday-07-11-20/
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I pulled up two or three fading cosmos plants today, and I cut down several groups of gladioli. So I’ve made a start!
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Mine are all of the same tree. I did not think of that until now. Well, it is a very important little tree!
Does the bloom of Fatsia japonica generate an objectionable fragrance? I thought they were pollinated by flies, but no one else seems to believe so.
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Not so i have noticed, no!
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That is probably a good thing. I thought that they smelled odd, but the fragrance was not strong enough to be objectionable.
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Similar light frost here midweek, Jon. But overall, great gardening weather recently.
I do not like Wegelia. Can’t really figure out why. It’s not just yours!
Here’s my Six, including a strawberry & certain trans-Atlantic events:
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I’ve done nothing in the garden for weeks. Partly weather, partly decorating. Partly lack of enthusiasm. Turned the big heap today so maybe I’m back on it now…
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I’m still waiting on frost too. Got several dahlias to lift but don’t want to until the last flowers are gone and we’ve had a frost. Until then I can’t get all the spring bulbs sorted.
This week’s six is looking at my new seating area and the big shift around on the patio to accommodate it https://wp.me/p7AXpE-2OR
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Drums fingers impatiently.
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Here we’ve had dear Jack and the White Rabbit joined by Paddy Leprechaun… caught them throwing a reel down under the fuchsia bushes last night… stay safe everyone… it’s wild out there!
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I’m rather taken with the Helenium. Does the name mean it’s quite a short one? If so that would be a very useful plant. I’ve started winter prep, this week and am celebrating my first snowdrop…
https://www.teabreakgardener.co.uk/hunkering-down-for-winter-six-on-saturday/
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Yes it is both short and, er, sassy. 18″ maybe. Good front of border plant, needs deadheading. Easy to divide, one small clump begetting 20ish plants.
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Gorgeous gallery
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