Six on Saturday - 21 January 2023

Even when the weather effectively closes down opportunities for gardening, it does give more time for reading, and sharing in on zoom meetings from various gardening groups, and planning for new plants later in the year.  I love reading the other posts of SOSs available thanks to their dedication and to Jim who opens up with his post.  Knowledge and advice and even book recommendations are to be had.  I managed to source The Biography of Charles Darwin recommended a few weeks ago from our Library, and many thanks for that.  But I cannot remember who that was, so hopefully someone can let me know so that I can thank them.  

1. Thanks to encouragement from friends met on In A Vase on Monday, and Six on Saturday, I am enjoying snowdrops more and more.  Easily tucked in some pockets between other plants, snowdrops are an excellent 'collector's' plant even for a small garden.  Today I shall resist from showing any as they are quite frozen.

I came across an excellent talk on Youtube called Snowdrops for Beginners by Michael Myers.  Even if you are not a member of the AGS, these talks are free, and therefore do please share the link with your other gardening friends. I shared it on my Gardening Group Facebook page.

2. First thing in the morning it is still very cold, with frosting highlighting the pattern on the table. The top layer of the soil is heaved up making it look as if plants are semi buried.  

3. Earlier in the week, I started to clear a patch in the side border alongside the house.  I am having to dig a much deeper hole, as the Fuchsia had far deeper roots than I had expected, and those of the Mahonia intertwining with it have a great yellow colour similar to its stems.  I'm sure there will be suckering in the area, in the coming years.  Sadly since I started the job, it has been just too cold when I had some spare time.  Hopefully it will be cleared before next SOS!

4. A couple of weeks ago I was walking past a shop in Wells, and spied something familiar but different.  Many of you have probably read about the lovely Saxifraga stolonifera which I brought from my previous garden.  It has done amazingly well in the current garden along the narrow shady border.  The pot I spied in the shop had no name, but I have found it is  currently a popular houseplant called Saxifraga stolonifera 'Tricolor'.  

I was wondering whether it was hardy, and hopefully when it has some little ones, I was planning on try it in the garden.  Then by searching I found that it is, well if it is for Bob Brown of Cotswold Garden Flowers, then I shall certainly to planting it outside. Until the weather is much warmer it can reasonably remain as a house plant.

5. My cyclamen seed from the Cyclamen Society still have not germinated.  Good job I am the 'boss' of the kitchen and utility, which means I can leave these on the counter top. I open the bag every few days to check whether germination has taken place.

I explained nicely that they are my 'preciouses' and will germinate if kept at around 17 C in the dark, which explains the compost bag. Mr S is the tidy person in the house, but was convinced and he is being nice to me. Rather than bring in all the plants from the shed to that area, I felt they would be happier slightly cooler and moved them....

6. Other things have sneaked into the conservatory.  Can you imagine the tears if these were lost?

We keep the frost stat on in the conservatory, as with its good light, it is the ideal position for the succulents.

It may be just an ordinary species aeonium,  but the Aeonium balsamiferum is in its stride now, having had its summer rest.  The scent from the leaves is delightful.

Off to join in with Jim, and enjoy a read of Six things from him and other gardeners.