Six on Saturday - 16 December 2023

It is Saturday again, and nearly Christmas.  The weather has been dank and dreary but no frosts. Looking round the garden and assessing where the garden is now, I believe I am entering  the 'Because I like it, and it is a good grower' phase of my gardening, I may have forgotten the names, and need to search through my notes, or past posts, which in itself is quite fun, but sometimes this is tricky.  Anyway I love to read Jim's posts and also those of the rest of us that post about our gardens then link in under the weekly Six on Saturday theme.

1. This little wild thing is struggling against the gnawers in the garden. Ignoring the  fact that it is at least a couple of months early. It isn't a primrose but a hybrid found growing wild, and brought back to the garden, its flowers grown from a a stem

 

2. These two dainty snowdrops are nameless at present.  My labels have disappeared, or maybe they were misplaced during the upheaval caused by the reformation of the circular seating area.  I do remember two bulbs being found and then placed quickly in the ground.  Also I planted some bought bulbs last year and forgot to make a note of them.  Maybe I am changing from a 'collector' to just a lover of plants in my old age, 

3. These little fruiting bodies appeared in a pot in which I was growing on some cuttings, and having posted it on the Facebook site of British Mycological Society have learnt a little more even though the picture may be poor and I need to take some better pictures of part of its structure when they may be final decision for now the consensus is that it is Pholiotina rugosa.

4. I do like plants that are good in the winter, such as this one in the shady border:  Arum Italicum'

In poor light the lighter plants and shrubs are a bonus as far as I am concerned, even though for the most part I view them from our conservatory.  When we had it built,  the builder was surprised that I did not want a wall at the base, however I wanted to be able to see the whole garden. 

5. A top favourtie little shrub is this Lophomyrtus x ralphii 'Little Star', what a great little shrub for a small garden.  I bought this in 2014, and when we moved here I planted it into the shady border.

Lophomyrtus x ralphii 'Little Star'.

6. A couple of months ago, I picked up this little Cyclamen coum from a local nursery that I frequent regularly on account of their being a very good open vegetable stall twice a week. 

Cyclamen coum selected leaf form

Although it is unnamed, its leaf form does shine out on the darker days and is of course in view from the conservatory. Even when one grows cyclamen from seed collected from a particular plant interbreeding means one does end up with a mishmash in any case.  It takes two or three years for the true leaf shape and markings to emerge, and maybe another year or two before the flowers, and it is then the case of comparing them against the named forms. 

Up at Rocky Mountain Nursery the temperature is always cooler, it is windier up at the top of the Mendips but always worth a little drive out to see what is available. I'll need a warm hat and coat as I head up there this morning.