Today, in a sunny spell, I found myself in the garden feeling excited for spring. I ooh-ed and aah-ed at things showing buds, or new growth, tutted about pruning that needs doing and generally thought I might want to do some gardening this weekend. It has been a while. The wintry weather forecast might scupper this tentative feeling, but it was good.
In the meantime, let’s do Six on Saturday. Six things, in the garden, on a Saturday. Could be anything, you decide. Join in!
Here are my Six for this week.
1 – Helenium clump. The helenium autumnale in the front garden did extremely well last year. A little too well to be honest. I have two or three clumps like this one. I think I am going to dig it all up, divide it and give them all away. I don’t know what I’ll plant instead, but it will be less tall, less floppy and less relentlessly yellow.
2 – Tropaeolum tuberosum ‘Ken Aslet’. These have bulked up nicely since I planted out some individual tubers last spring. This one is growing against the side fence in the front garden. In theory they should be lifted and overwintered but I gambled that they would be OK in my reasonably well drained soil. It has been pretty wet so far this winter, but they seem to be managing. This should quickly romp away up the fence once spring gets going.
3 – Hellebore ‘Pink Lady’. Bought at extravagant expense (OK OK, three for the price of two) last year this clump is flowering away. I almost didn’t notice, so demur is she, but I spotted her as I almost slipped on the wet grass in a surprise crocus avoidance manoeuvre.
4 – Surprise crocuses, they of the above mentioned slippage. I have looked from time to time for the emerging leaves of this group of crocuses, they live at the base of our tres chic washing line, but nothing doing. I had begun to imagine they had rotted or otherwise succumbed. But no, here they are, sneaking up on me unsuspected. Rude.
5 – Viburnum tinus ‘Lisarose’. I bought this and a couple of other shrubs last April. This one has suddenly got quite tall and is beginning to fill its intended space in the shady border. It will soon flower, I think, provided an early meal for the local buzzy ones.
6 – Dwarf lilac buds. This could probably do with a little prune for shape. Covered in buds, it will be briefly totally fabulous in May, then mainly a bit dull till next year. Still, can’t have everything.
Those are my Six, what are yours? If you’d like to join in, just publish your post and pop a link into 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.
Whether you are braving or avoiding the elements, enjoy your weekend! Don’t forget to pop back later as more links get added during the day. Stay safe.
I’ll be back next weekend with another #SixOnSaturday.
Hello! What a lovely colour those hellebores are! Here are mine, just to make you shiver:
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More six here – https://murtaghsmeadow.wordpress.com/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-5th-february-2021/
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https://www.theherbalistscottage.com/blog/2021/2/6/six-on-saturday I’ve done my six on medicinal native plants this week.
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Those dwarf buds are adorable! I’m amazed you’re getting so many flowers during wintertime.
Looking forward to next week!
http://mindfulfoliage.com/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-6-feb-2021/
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Well, what can I say, the Hellebore is stupendous. Good you able to get out in the garden.
My later than usual offering of Six on Saturday https://gardeningmyway.home.blog/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-6th-feb-21/
Cheers. Keith.
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Crocuses have a habit of creeping up on you, don’t they? Which is quite nice in a way, I suppose! 😉 And a gorgeous hellebore too – are yours flowering at their usual time? Mine are definitely later than some years. My six snowdrops are here: https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-fair-maids/
Thanks for hosting
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Impressed by your successes. The spreading Helenium, the bulking out bulbs. How long have you been developing this particular garden? When (if ever) can I look forward to such bounty? Envious mulings aside, here are mine for the week: roguegarden.wordpress.com.
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Wonderful Hellebore and happy to hear you can feel spring in the air…we had the big chill this week. I wish I could have the Helenium! Happy Saturday https://theshrubqueen.com/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-winter-fun/
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Oh, I am glad the weather is picking up for you! We look like we are going to get SNOW, something we NEVER get! Isn’t it so nice that gardeners share their plants with others? Some of my nicest and OLDEST plants came from others’ gardens….and then when you pass them along it makes room for something new! I give many of big plants (when I trim them back or divide them) to one of my daughters. She plants them in her garden, so I feel like a piece of me is always with her! Her’s mine for today! https://thecadyluckleedy.com/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-one-elm-cottage/
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It’s been warmer here this week, so possible to get more done in the garden. Glad you’ve got your gardening mojo back. The heleniums look as thought they are really thriving, but you can have too much of a good thing. It’s rudbeckias here, they have choked everything nearby. I have concentrated on snowdrops this week for my #SOS, probably made some dodgey identifications though: http://kasmaty.blogspot.com/2021/02/sixonsaturday-recreating-galanthophile.html
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Wonderful to see your Crocus popping up and the Viburnum tinus in bud. Spring is definitely in the air. We even have butterflies popping up in unexpected places in Virginia, though mostly indoors, still. I share a bit about a friend’s swallowtail in my Six on Saturday post today.https://woodlandgnome.wordpress.com/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-camellias-for-a-winter-butterfly/
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I hope to be joining today but I’ve reached my max image storage on wordpress free plan and so far my deletes are having no effect. Joining with everyone in praise of the hellebore and return of the mojo! Bear with me – as they say.
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Happened to me a couple of years back. I ended up paying up. I also now use an image shrinking app on my phone which reduces the size by 95%, reducing storage required considerably.
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Yes looks like I will have to pay up. Image shrinking app sounds like a must have. I’ll keep deleting and wait for the next sale!
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The free one I use is called “Photo and Picture Resizer”. Does what it says on the tin.
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Many thanks 👍
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Is it your photo size? I always reduce the size considerably and it has made a big difference. Also less likely for photos to be “borrowed” without your permission.
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Yes I think it is photo size. When do you reduce the size? I must get techy on this one!
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I find that tall relentlessly yellow flowers are very beneficial to the compost pile! No need to bother with dividing and potting….here is my Six.
https://pruneplantsow.wordpress.com/2021/02/06/sixonsaturday-february-6th-new-growth/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
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I felt tentatively spring-like as I walked to the shop last night in the just-about-light still after work, but it’s cold again now so the feeling’s gone again! Here’s my Six for this week https://greengirlgardener.com/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-6th-february/
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Very glad to hear that the crocus are coming through. Spring is in the air here too, even though it’s below freezing in Frome. This winter I’ve been keeping busy and clinging on with very little time or inclination for gardening. That’s starting to change though 🙂 http://doingtheplan.com/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-frosted-daffs-a-blackbird-and-marcescence-or-the-art-of-hanging-on/
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Oh lovely hellebores
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I love seeing crocus coming up through the grass and ‘Tres Chic’ is a very pretty variety. I’ve made a note of ‘Pink Lady’, that is a beautiful hellebore and one to add to the collection. After a week of rain, we actually have a beautiful sunny morning here and everything is full of the surpise/joy of spring. Here is my Six for today. https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-06-02-2021/
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There’s nothing like emerging bulbs and new shoots to get the gardening mojo back. I also have a ‘too much of a good thing’ plant this week. It’s funny how we expectantly wait for things to bulk up then suddenly there’s too much of it.
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Morning! I’m glad spring is springing in your garden. Mine seems to have gone into reverse a bit; thanks, February! So it’s houseplants from me this week…
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Ooooh, those sunny spells are good, aren’t they? They’ve got me feeling optimistic (just as long as I don’t look at next week’s weather forecast). Btw are you not going to eat your nasturtium tubers? That’s why I bought some this year, to harvest in the autumn, yum yum, very tasty.
Here are my six: https://thenostalgicgardener.com/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-06-feb-2021-optimism/
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Good morning. Lovely sunshine just now, but I don’t know whether I will do much in the garden. Maybe I will go out after a coffee or two. That helibore is a pretty shade of pink. Hope all, are well. How long is tomorrow’s run? Have a good weekend.
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It’s lovely to see the first signs of spring emerging in your garden, and it is great that it has got your gardening interest going again! The Hellebore is really very pretty. Only one flowering plant featured in this weeks Six from me! The other five? Well, you will have to take a look at:
https://hairbellsandmaples.com/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-w6-2021-no-slaying-of-dragons-here/
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Love the mention of a’ crocus avoidancere’ and its success. Tropaeolum tuberosum ‘Ken Aslet’ would get knocking at your gate too. I would have come of course, with swaps for something else. Distance and time precludes this of course. Here are my six: https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2021/02/six-on-saturday-6-february-2021.html
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Beautiful bright sunny morning here in the Cotswolds but very cold! Also want to get out there but it might have to be some early hardy annual seed sowing in the greenhouse with the heater and the radio on! Here are my six https://davidsgardendiary.com/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-26/
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It is the best time of year, except spring proper that is the best, but now is pretty good. Glad the crocus turned up, love them in the grass. Really nice hellebore too, I was getting worried when you said “great expense” then …. Here are my six, hope you enjoy them https://offtheedgegardening.com/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-you-cant-keep-a-good-fern-down/
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It seems I have eelworm in my Heleniums, which is a serious pain; I won’t be digging them up to give away. I passed on crocuses this week in favour of seedier subjects, hopefully they’ll last a bit longer. Might have to get a Ken Aslet, I love my T. tricolor but am not confident it would grow outdoors. Here’s mine: https://wp.me/p6bCCa-2If
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Morning all – getting ready for snow here. Off for a morning walk and look forward to reading when I get back.
I’ve gone with hellebores too – well you’ve got to! https://peerlessgardening.wordpress.com/2021/02/06/hellebores-part-1-six-on-saturday-6-2-2021/
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I LOVE helenium (although not so much the yellow ones) – so I wish I lived closer to you, would be banging on the garden gate. They don’t do well for me (too dry and hot in summer I think), although I’ve now moved them to a different part of the garden and have fingers crossed. Those crocus would cause any one to slip! For their size, it seems to me that they bring a disproportionate amount of joy! A lovely, happy six. Thank you! Here are mine … https://gardendreamingatchatillon.wordpress.com/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-6th-feb-2021/
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There’s definitely a hint of spring in the air. That hellabore is smashing and I’m slightly envious of your crocus – most of those I planted in the lawn have been stood on. I must work on my surprise crocus avoidance manoeuvre technique https://onemanandhisgardentrowel.wordpress.com/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-6-february-2021/
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Lovely hellebore. I’ve wanted a few more but the ones on choice haven’t been that exciting. Mainly just niger which I have several of already and they get slug attacked lots. Still not seeing much sign of my lawn crocus but got some comng up in the front garden border. Not the 100 planted so I think some have rotted. But the snowdrops are happy with the damp conditions so may add to the snowdrops instead.
This weeks six following on from last weeks birdwatch with the results.
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Good Morning to All! Yes, our activities are restricted by the weather. It has been cold, if mainly dry, these last few days here in Waterford, south-east Ireland, and is forecast to continue in that manner. It is unpleasant working in a cutting breeze and we have done little gardening this past week. Mary tidied a bed to the side of the drive, a pick of weeds, a gathering of birch twigs and a freshening up and it looks all the better for it. I power-washed the drive and lifted and separated two snowdrop varieties which had become intermingled – my only gardening of the week. But, I did enjoy the garden this past week with regular walk-arounds and lots of photographs for the snowdrops are in full swing.
I hope everybody is keeping well, in the best of health, not over-downed by the oppressive atmosphere of this pandemic. Vaccination is on the way so let’s look forward to more pleasant days.
Best wishes! Paddy
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How wonderful that your crocuses have come up. I got the same springlike surge of enthusiasm this week but more cold to come this weekend. How can you give away heleniums – one of my favourites!
Here’s my six featuring our new pup!
https://carrotsandcalendula.co.uk/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-a-puppy-in-the-garden/
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I just have so many of them! I may replace them with a more interesting helenium variety.
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Would definitely recommend Sahin’s Early Flowerer
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Yes i have a few smaller clumps, I’m going to divide then again. I have some moerheim beauty too. Plenty of alternatives.
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Hellebore Pink Lady… Douze points. Glad you have all the H&S stuff in place.
Hope everyone has a great week. Here’s my Irish spring update… https://wp.me/pc3DgX-WF
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Hi ! That’s it, this week I wrote an article on gardening with the moon … Some wanted to know more.. ” et voilà ! ” : https://fredgardenerblog.wordpress.com/2021/02/06/six-on- saturday-06-02-21 /
Your pretty crocuses are more numerous than mine which for some were crushed by the gardeners who cut down trees this week… Here, they have been open for a few days because it’s milder but beware of the coming cold snap…
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A surprise crocus avoidance manoeuvre – love it and love them. They’re a great colour. Here are my six – a few bulbs yet to flower, an unscented shrub and a new wormery. Enjoy!
https://www.teabreakgardener.co.uk/the-garden-is-ticking-over/
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Apologies; my Six lack a picture of Rhody this week. Nor is there anything flowery.
Is your Tropaeolum tuberosum ‘Ken Aslet’ the variety that was grown as a vegetable last year? I still have not grown them, and will not likely grow them this year yet. Goodness, there is just too much going on this year to try anything new.
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Morning! I’m living the dream: watching the cricket and looking at photos of plants. Glad to hear you’re enthused about the onset of spring, it’s certainly feeling a bit more like it at the moment. A beautiful hellebore photo by the way!
Here’s my six:
https://kindheartsandcorydalis.co.uk/six-on-saturday-6th-feb/
Thanks as always.
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I get so excited when things pop up unawares – like your crocuses. And of course, I can’t go past the hellebore. I’m glad your garden mojo is returning as my garden mojo in the midst of an awful summer here, is vanishing fast. Here’s mine: https://pruebatten.com/2021/02/06/sos-5221/
Cheers.
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Beautiful hellebore, and I’m glad you managed to avoid the crocus in the lawn. They should look great when they open in the sunshine. Looks like we will be waiting a while for that though, looking at the weather forecast this week. Brrr.
https://www.hortusbaileyana.co.uk/2021/02/cyclamen-and-primrose.html
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Good evening! Those hellebores are gorgeous, and what fun to see the crocus coming up too. It really is spring. Here are my six for this week https://basia329.wordpress.com/2021/02/06/six-on-saturday-06-02-21/
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