Six on Saturday - 20 December 2025

1. Let us start with some Christmassy things.  I was beginning to think that the Mistletoe which I had smeared onto the Amelanchiers a few years ago were males, however this proves otherwise for one of two plants that took.

Horrah!  One of the three berries on the Mistletoe.

2. Galanthus plicatus 'Three Ships' has increased a little since last year...and each time I look at it I have the Christmas carol 'I saw Three Ships Come Sailing By'  on my mind. They are definitely earlier than last year by at least three weeks.  I took this picture a couple of weeks ago, and already some of the sails are 'furling' themselves.  Something new for next year: I am going to start to grow snowdrops from seed harvested from the garden.

Galanthus Three Ships

3. In the nearby town of Shepton Mallet, there is a monthly market on the last Sunday of the month.  I thought it would be nice to saunter down there at the end of November, in particular to see what my friend Kris has brought for his pop up 'Gardenalia' stall called 'Thomas D'Arcy Garden House'. Kris and Kevin have a great eye for the unusual and quality plants.  As you may or may not know I rather like nice pots,  and I was delighted that there were several lovely pots from a pottery not too far away called Willow Pottery. I particularly like this pot with the 'basket pattern'. I looked up the pottery and may well visit there if I am in that area, meanwhile I am completely happy to buy the occasional one as well as pretty plants from Kris. It wasn't till last week that I planted it up just with things that I had been bringing along and seedlings or divisions from the garden.

Willow Pottery Basket Weave Pot planted up

4. A few weeks ago  the Allium senescens ssp. montanum var. glaucum needed dividing.  Now I need to keep looking after all the sections I potted.  Because I have neither glasshouse, frame or other space away from all the rain, a portable dome needs to work, but it needs to come off when there is no rain to allow air to flow.

I'm so pleased that I decided to put the whole tray in the shed earlier in the week, as we really have had more rain than this compost can cope with.  On the whole I have been completely disappointed by the composts I have bought. (Note to Santa: no I do NOT want a garden frame etc)

5. I wonder whether this rosebud will open if I cut it and bring it indoors?  Rose Munstead Wood with friend still in its bright green habit: should it not have turned into a chrysalis by now? The caterpillar was moved to another plant and I don't mind at all if it snapped up by the robin or blackbird.

6. As the garden is already crowded out with bulbs, had I planted these when they arrived I may well have planted bulbs on top of bulbs had they gone straight into the garden.  I haven't seen Tilipa Sulvestris growing with my own eyes, and I find photographs can be deceptive as to form and size, so when they grow and come into bud I shall a fair idea of these things and know where to plant them.

Tulip Sylvestris

So that is my 'flight' of six from the last three weeks...and a 

Bonus canape to follow the flight of Six on Saturday...seeds received from Cathy with a reminder that there are some lovely squirrels around unlike the scurry of fat grey ones that now claim the garden as theirs. Mr S spent a couple of hours looking for a powerful battery operated water gun, only for me to come to the conclusion that since I do not like guns real or toy, or want a contraption that was mostly plastic, I would simply have to learn to live with the squirrels. 

Wishing all my gardening and other friends a Very Merry Christmas.  I am linking this post in with Jim's and should you have a few moments then there are several worthy posts linking in there to amuse you over this festive period.  It is goodbye from me until next year.