The top shelf will fill up between now and Paddy’s Day.
Wednesday
Category: Six-On-Saturday
Six-on-Saturday: February 2024 Week 4
Featuring: alyssum, apple shoots, a lone crabapple, lettuce, moss, and powerwashing.
I am retired but my weeks are busy. Increasingly during February I’m busy in the garden for short daily bursts. I’m busy too with meetings, book readings and creative opportunities. This week has been exceptionally busy. There were some added chores including car repair, book emails, handwritten letters, and further failed efforts to reorganise my website.
Now it’s time to focus on SIX. This week’s offering excites me. I do hope you enjoy it. Ar aghaidh linn… Off we go…
Powerwashed Patio
Changed utterly. A terrible beautiful patio is reborn. The powerwashing is finished. Moving all pots and planters amounted to more lifting than I’ve had in the gym since Christmas and still they lie higgeldy piggeldy waiting for my energy reserves to be replenished. The blue bin and the Budda are not normally side by side and the path to the shed is gridlocked. Next week I’ll show the end result. My plan is for a radical shake up.
Moss
A rolling stone gathers no moss, and inversely the moss on this stone is there for a reason. Nature ingeniously fills the void.
Crabapple
Up close with a decaying Crabapple. There were several flies in and around this but I seem to have scared them off.
Lettuces
My best guess it I’ll be having homegrown lettuce for lunch in about three weeks. In case you’re wondering, I’ve put a few obstacles to deter the curious blackbird. She loves to scatter soil looking for delicious food beneath.
Apple Buds
My intention was to get a decent shot of the emerging apple shoots. I did but both shoots are slightly blurred. So, as a means of turning my disappointment to a positive, I changed focus to the lichen growing on the bough. Delighted with myself!
Technically, the shoots are not blurred, merely the shot. Operator error once more. I’m considering self-flagellation.
Nesting Material
Here lie the mortal remains of last summer’s white Alyssum. Although I’m tempted to tidy it away I’ll leave it for the birds. Nest construction has commenced so I’ll keep a watchful eye for activity. Many of the wild grasses have been trimmed back and the clippings are strewn about in as higgeldy piggeldy a fashion as the pots.
Summary
Páraig
Primrose Lore
(republished from another of my defunct blogs, written in 2019).
Garden centres are gearing up for the mad rush and gardeners are gearing up for visits to garden centre. Its a win-win situation.
Before the mad rush, I visited my local Country Life yesterday and came away with nineteen plants for a tenner. A single Aubretia Kitte Blue, a container of twelve cauliflowers and six beautiful promroses. The variety is unknown. While primroses are generally known to be yellow, it’s not always the case: there are so many varieties and colours available now.
I chose the stunningly vibrant lilac/pink ones standing erect on tall stems. The petals are so precisely formed, and right in the centre is a contrasting yellow. Within an hour, I had planted them into larger pots and they look great among the other spring plants.
Later, during the course of several gun battles on television, I elected to open up my Irish Wild Plants book. Primroses are given a chapter to themselves. Here are some items of information relating to them:
- Long ago in Ireland, people used to hang a string of primroses over the door at the start of May. It was said that the primroses would protect the house as the fairies were not able to pass.
- In many places primroses given as a gift should be a very full bunch or else misfortune would ensue, and a single primrose brought into a house was an omen of death.
- In herbal medicine primroses were considered useful to treat jaundice, insomnia, tuberculosis, toothache and anxiety.
- Coughs in horses were cured using crushed primrose roots strained in breast milk and put into the horses’ nose frequently!
- In Irish it’s name is sabhaircín (pronounced sour-keen)
- Finally, the Druids often carried primroses during their Celtic rituals as a protection from evil. Fragrant primrose oils were used to purify and anoint during these ancient rites.
P.
Hellebores
It’s a wet and windy Thursday but the Hellebores continue regardless.
Six-on-Saturday: February Week 1
Daffodils, Verbascum, Aucuba, Agapanthus, rhubarb and Pieris.
It’s the 5th week of the year and we are into February. Already there’s a noticeable cock’s step. In Irish, we call it ‘léim an choiligh’ , or in slang ‘The Grand Oul Stretch’. Since the Solstice we’ve got about 20 minutes extra daylight in the morning and 50 before sunset. That’s not to be sneezed at. Plants are responding well too.
Can someone answer me this?
Why are extra morning and evening minutes not evenly distributed?
Here are six that are among the said responders:
1. Aucuba
This is Spotted Laurel, officially Aucuba japonica. The variety is ‘Rozannie‘. This may be a misprint of Rozanne which would sound better. It’s doing well in the front garden, laden with large red berries.
Most of the berries are hidden within the shrub. For sure, I’ll propagate it at the right time. Must go check when that is.
2. Agapanthus
One hundred and forty two skeletonised Agapanthus stems. Yes, I counted as I gently pulled them away. Some are damaged or very weak, so I’ll filter them out. I may have enough left for two bouquets.
3. Rhubarb
In a sheltered corner, the rhubarb is thriving. I did cover it with a bucket during the very cold weather last month. I am debating keeping a lid on it to force it for earlier dessert with custard.
4. Pieris
I love variegated evergreens. Pieris japonica ‘Little Frosty’.
5. Verbascum
Successful germination of Verbascum. Crikey, it’s as if I’m taking credit for what happens naturally, but I did all the right things to help. Heated propagator at 20°C, pressed the seeds on the compost without covering them. This, as you can see, is Verbascum phoeniceum ‘Violetta’. All going well, I’ll be sure to feature it in June. Verbascum is commonly known as Mullein. Here’s a shot of Verbascum ‘Snowy Spires’ from last year, grown from seed in 2022.
6. Any Day Now
It’s their time! I’m guessing other northern Six-on-Saturday bloggers will feature a daffodil or two today. I’m not a betting man, yet I’m offering odds of 1:3.
Summary
Pop over to Jim’s Site to discover more Six-on-Saturday updates. Until next time, I hope you get to enjoy some time in the garden.
Six-on-Saturday: January Week 4
Snowdrops, Fatsia, heathers, lettuce, new seeds and grow lights. Thats my six this week.
It was a stormy week. Storm Isha brought a ton load of rain and severe winds. Status Orange warning here and red for the west and north-west of Ireland. Jocelyn arrived two days later. The last time Ireland experienced named storms as far as ‘I’ was in 2016. Interestingly, there were only 2 last year (Sept 2022 – Aug 2023).
Monday, Wednesday and Friday were fine, dry and calm. There was time and opportunity for garden preparation.
1. Seed Sowing
Some organic seeds arrived from West Cork and Germany. The propagator was cleaned and turned on. Seeds were sown, despite my intention to wait until the end of February. I’m losing the run of myself.
2. Lettuces
For the past few years, I’ve had a constant supply of lettuces ready to harvest for my lunch plate. I missed out on sowing since last Autumn, but the conveyor belt has started again. These will be ready early March. In the meantime, I’ll continue sowing every third week.
3. Grow Light
Recently I purchased six small grow lights. Seeds will either love or hate them. I’ll want to learn how best to use this to best effect. One light worked a treat to germinate lettuces faster. More importantly, I’ll learn to use this gadget to accelerate post-germination growth.
4. ‘Plúiríní Sneachta’: Snowdrops
I thought the Snowdrops had died, smothered by the Ajuga. That’s what it does. To my surprise, the Plúiríní Sneachta have risen and flowered. Not easy to see them amid the undergrowth, but they’re delightful when inspected at close quarters.
5. Rising Temperatures
Average January daytime temperatures in these parts is about 5-10°C. Yesterday at 2pm in the glasshouse it reached 31+. Admittedly the thermometer is in direct sunlight but imagine what it would get to if I’d keep the glass cleaned properly! The lettuces are shooting up.
6. Fatsia
This is Fatsia japonica ‘Spider’s Web’. At present, it’s sitting in a garden centre just waiting for me to purchase. It’s on my wishlist and I’m sticking to my plan to get just one plant each month. February is just around the corner. Am I serious, you ask? Yes I am. February’s planned purchase (Choisya ternata ‘Irene Patterson’) has been pushed back to March.
Summary
Pop over to Jim’s Site to discover more Six-on-Saturday updates. Until next time, I hope you get to enjoy some time in the garden.
Storm Isha
The storm is on the way. Not since 2016 has Ireland reached ‘I’ on the named storm alphabet.
We have an Orange Warning locally and Red along the west and north-west of the country. The recommendation from Met Éireann is to avoid unnecessary travel. For certain, I’ll not go west or north west. The garden shed is far enough. I’ll potter about, enjoy the sound of rain lashing on the roof and pop a few updates to social media & the blog.
Six-on-Saturday: January Week 3
This week you’ll find ferns, sedum (again) and emerging daffodils. Also, heather, agapanthus and a new pseudowintera.
The cold Arctic air dominated every day, and the colder Arctic air dominated every night this week. That is until late Friday afternoon. A sudden shift in wind direction returned us to more usual damp, wet conditions. I prefer the cold Arctic air. It brought blue skies and it didn’t bring wind.
I took time to work in the shed during the week. Everything is ready to rock ‘n roll.
1. Pseudowintera
I was recently tempted by Gill. She featured Pseudowintera and I didn’t resist. Could I if I’d wanted to? Absolutely, but I didn’t want to. I said that already.
2. Moving Time
The emerging daffodils will be moved shortly, and they’ll bloom shortly after that. I cannot wait but I must.
3. Agapanthus
Once the flowers of Agapanthus have skeletonised, I make a bouquet. I’ve done this every year since 2019. There’s one bunch there that’s not Agapanthus. Not sure exactly what it is, I simply know it as ‘not-Agapanthus’.
4. Hiding In Plain Sight
Having three bins just outside the conservatory door is not ideal, so I’ve attempted to surround them with plants. Pleased with myself. Brown is cooked food waste, blue is recycling and green is everything else, except for what goes in the white one. Anyone like to guess what goes in the white one? Clue: it could possibly go in the brown one but I choose not to go there.
5. Heather & fern
Heather and fern: very wintery looking. Plenty Alchemilla on the dry stone wall. This corner will be transformed by middle of May.
6. Sedum (H…)
The Sedum was shown here recently. I’m keen to leave it as is until March. During the week, heavy frost added beauty not regularly seen here.
That’s my lot for this week. Thank you for reading.
Summary
Pop over to Jim’s Site to discover more Six-on-Saturday updates. Until next time, I hope you get to enjoy some time in the garden.
In Other News
I love everything about Gary Larson’s ‘The Far Side’. This one has a vague garden connection.
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Spectacularly Cold
I’ve placed a towel over the delicate Cyclamen for the past few nights. Yes, it comes off as soon as sunlight hits the spot, and back on again mid-afternoon. I’m doing an experiment. One other Cyclamen remains uncovered. In fairness, it looked drab even before this cold snap.
A neighbour’s outside tap burst. This towel may help mine. Either it will or it won’t, as the fella says.
After breakfast the glasshouse was barely above freezing. During the night it dipped below. There are pots of Lysmachia that are still frozen. My work may have been in vain. No actually, work isn’t in vain when I learn from it. 🤔
Six-on-Saturday: Brrrrr
This week I’ve got camellias and kalanchoe; also nandina and rose hips. It’s been an ideally cold week to warm up outside.
It all kicked off last Sunday. Been waiting for a long time, I had. Months, in fact.
The weeks of dreary rain ended and thus began a very cold week. To be sure, the wait was worth enduring, and extra clothing layers were duly donned for daily walks, good gardening and some cycling. Purely on health & safety grounds one cycling trip was abandoned. As I was already in my cycling longs and thermal tops, it seemed the perfect gardening attire while I spent time pottering in the potting shed.
In conclusion, it was a cold beginning to the week and midweek was colder. Well worth waiting for, I said to myself.
Looking around the cold garden, there are some items of interest. Here are just six…
1. Kalanchoe
I’ll begin with Kalanchoe, my Christmas indoor kitchen window gift. It came in a tiny pot as part of a snowman scene, so I got it to the potting shed for an upgrade. It’s now back inside, the best place to be this week.
2. Rose Hip
Out in the extreme cold, the blossom on the rose has moved on to old-age reality.
It was a beautiful rose. Still beautiful, in a different way. Old age and death is part of the cycle.
Instagram
3. Nandina Again
Featured several times over the years, this time it’s got something ugly in front of it. A dead something-or-other. No matter.
4. Another Nandina
This one is Nandina domestica. I guess you can deduct I like them in pots. No doubt they’d do better in the ground. No matter, they’re OK as they are. What do I like about them? It’s the mixed leaf colour. This cold weather will bring on the redness.
5. Camellia Again
Buds appearing on the Camellia Spring Festival. Two years ago I wondered if this plant was ever going to do its thing.
6. Lysmachia
I loved the light-green trailing habit of Lysmachia from last July onwards. I have it on my seed order wish list. To my surprise, it rooted profusely in the patio cracks. It is not hardy, so I’ve got dozens of offspring sitting snug in the glasshouse. That’s saved me a tenner next summer. More importantly, I’ve a sense of satisfaction that I can’t put a price on.
Summary
Lysmachia, rose hip, camellia, Kalanchoe and Nandina x2
In Other News
Not exactly the best time to display the ice cream signs. I cycled 70km during the week. Cold but exhilarating. Ice cream: cold but I wasn’t tempted.
Pop over to Jim’s Site to discover more Six-on-Saturday updates. Until next time, I hope you get to enjoy some time in the garden.
P.
