Six on Saturday - 4 November 2023

We seem to have had several bouts of high winds and far too much rain.  Storm Ciarán may have come over what I know is that water is running off fields, over roads and finding the fastest downslope passage. Thankfully all the rain that fell has been absorbed in the garden.  I am already using any slight lull to go out and cut things back. We shall no doubt have a weather roundup as we join Jim who leads this weekly get together, and also hear from our friends abroad.

1. Wednesday saw some lovely sunshine, and I just had to get out into the garden.  The storm was expected to arrive later in the day, so I decided to do some gentle pruning of the roses to help prevent too much wind rock.  Although most of the new 'hardy chrysanthemum' shown previously have finished flowering, have been trimmed, and lifted for the winter,  Chrysanthemum Hillside Apricot is only just coming to its crescendo. Half of it remains here. But it is such a good one and went through last winter, than I am leaving this one in the ground.

Chrysanthemum Hillside Apricot

On Thursday 'in the eye of the storm', I picked flowers from this Chrysanthemum that is already 'half cut back' to enable the work on the seating circle.  I had four bunches, one to a neighbour and three others to friends at book club luncheon. 

2.  There were lots of different flying insects on the blooms, and I wonder whether this is the last sip of nectar for this Red Admiral. This one was photographed on 1st November 2023. I still have many insects buzzing, which means that shrubs such as the large Salvia Amistad haven't yet been trimmed back.  The big bumble bees go for these Chrysanthemums and the small ones go on to the Salvias.

3. Yes, the seating circle is now complete. I've been moving soil back around and wonder whether the snowdrops will have survived, hopefully they were safe several inches below the surface.  The furniture is now put back and there are no hazards with chair legs sinking into the gravel.

4. The green bin eventually got emptied six days late, but being a fortnightly collection, I was pleased to have the bin for a good week, before it was due to go back out this Wednesday, and already it is half full  Down the narrow side alley, where I stand the bin, out of sight of any of our house windows, grows some ivy, various pots and some bricks are also stacked there.  Look what was hiding in the holes!  Once despatched, the bricks were returned and they will be inspected regularly from now on. Why do I keep these assortments of bricks?  

5. Its a long story, maybe for another day, but I happen to end up with two Ginkgo biloba 'Mariken'.  This one not ordered is growing in the garden, and is turning a beautiful shade of yellow.  I decided to use a silver marker which I already had on this slate label, and will keep an eye to see how long it lasts.

6. There is no need for an outside thermometer to tell me whether or not there has been an overnight frost. I just look over to the far side of the gravel garden where a nasturtium came up from seed left from the previous years' plants.

You may also like to visit my post 'Tree Appreciation Tuesday' post, and by all means do join in whether regularly or merely from time to time. 

First Runner Beans of the Season

 A meagre picking but will be much appreciated.  This year the beans I sowed direct into the ground failed totally.  Maybe it was old seed, perhaps it was the weather, or it could have been mice.  I saw a little creature with large ears passing across the garden, so sweet!

These came from the perennial runner beans, one several years old and the others which were planted last year. I probably shan't have sufficient to make our runner bean chutney. These were white flowered beans, but I shall probably buy the self fertile red runner bean for next year.  Where the runner bean seed failed, I bought a tray of climbing french beans as by then it had got hot and dry, and french beans cope much better than runner beans with the heat.

Six on Saturday - 16 January 2021

This morning I joined a Zoom talk given under the auspices of the local branch of the Hardy Plant Society.  I've taken a few ideas, and made some notes too.  I mentioned the meeting to Anna who contributes here and also to In a Vase on Monday.  These talks are open to non members for a fee, and if anyone is interested, next month's talk is on Euphorbias given by Timothy Walker.

I'll just pop over and link in with Jon and anyone else who is posting this Saturday.  

 1. Its toes leaves are turning blue pink with the cold: some succulents let you know when they are stressed. It is kept very dry and it will have to enjoy the minimums of about 6c at night! I usually split and repot them before they become this congested.  If anyone is a knowledgeable succulent grower they probably think this is cruelty. By the way the standard colour is that aqua blue right through all the leaves.  It will be interesting to observe what happens to those pink leaves as the season progresses.  Some younger plants in larger pots have not 'turned'.

2. Our gardening club is a member of the Gold Scheme at Castle Gardens Group, and each year they offer composts delivered to your door at competitive prices.  It is the first time I've put in an order.  Ordered before Christmas, the bags arrived this week.  The very nice delivery man from Castle Gardens had several orders from our club members, but he still had the time to move them all to my potting area right round the other side of the house.  Thanks John!  I thought to move just one bag to the shed and now it smells divine in there.  Am I alone in liking the smell of a good compost or manure? The grit, sand, and other composts are outside.

3. I read Jim's post about the history of his garden where he mentioned that he probably had not taken sufficient pictures of the garden layout.  Of course I would not deem to compare my garden with his, but I did lean out of the study window and took a picture of what my garden  looks like now, at the bleakest time of the year.  I'm not happy with the winter look, but boy,  there are a lot of plants out there, just waiting their moment of glory.  It is mainly the plants which I am interested in! But I shall have this picture to look back later in the year, and also in years to come.

4. Mr S came and had a look to see why I had opened the window and was letting all the warm air out, with the cold air flooding in.  He happened to look down and noticed my row of cyclamen hederifolium.  He was taken by the similarity of the colours: dark grey green leaves with what looked like aqua, ie silver markings of different kinds, and also how the leaf shapes were quite different. For a 'non-gardener' I was impressed by his observations. However he does have great powers of observation, and enjoys detail.

5. Being encouraged to grow from seed.  Apart from veggies, I am fairly new to growing shrubs, and other plants from seed.  I am delighted by how easy it has been to grow hardy geraniums, and this little pot has been in front of me each day, in good light in the conservatory. It may be Geranium Harveyi.  Whatever it is I have enjoyed watching it.  It will probably need potting up singly soon.  When it flowers I'll be posting it to the HPS Hardy Geranium group to see which they think it is. Thanks again to Jim for great quality seed.

6. Reading and books. I had another SOS contributor: Off the Edge gardening recommend  this book.  I managed to get it from the local library before the current lock-down.

The Garden Jungle or Gardening to Save the Planet by Dave Goulson: Earth worms, hover flies, bees, etc. Which are the best plants to grow for wildlife such as the specific lavender etc.  

Six on Saturday - 20 June 2020

At last some rain, two days or more of continuous rain this week. Hurrah! The Prop under whose 'umbrella' we gather on Saturdays, has some lovely plants, so do go and have a look.

With a couple of days inside I still managed to get some jobs relative to the garden done: sharpening secateurs, and cleaning all my old labels ready to use again.  There was a time I could remember the names of all my plants, where they were planted and when.  Those days have past, so labels are necessary.  I have also made a plan to write labels for all the plants that I wish to give away.

(1) One of the plans, a few weeks ago, was to rationalise the number of plants I need to take in, in the autumn, as well as the number of plants in pots.  Rather than face that dilemma in October, I decided to repot the majority and offer the plants on our gardening club Facebook page.  I had two succulent enthusiasts call around, and with all social distancing rules adhered to, there were two very happy gardeners.  It was great to meet up with two fellow club members, and to send plants to good homes.  Two really beautiful Aeonium Velours went, and now I have just this one, newly potted.  Many other succulents  also flew the coop and I have just one or maybe two of each cultivar remaining, for myself, but just one of these lovely aeoniums, since I have plenty of material to propagate again should I wish to.

(2) The Penstemons have begun flowering and are doing very well following a severe cut down in March.  This is a pass along from Val my neighbour. It looks a little like King George V.

(3) As soon as the rain eased off yesterday, I just had to get out into the garden.  Some of the lemon verbena: Aloysia citrodora, was harvested, ready to dry for my winter supply of teas.  Not surprisingly, a few cuttings were taken. As he inside was not looking, the bench doubled up as work bench, and when I was finished, everything wiped down and put away. He doesn't mind really, but I am a messy person, doing several things at the same time.  Another thing I ought to work on!

(4) Growing a few veg: Once upon a time,  I spent hours at my allotment.  I still like to have a little corner to pop out to, with herbs and a few other small patches of edibles.  I had sown a few peas to harvest as pea shoots, and after nipping a few ends, the plants ended up in the 'potager', size in opposite relation to the grandness of the title. I have picked a surprising number of peas, which end up playing a prominent role in canapes, risottos, etc. Something I wouldn't do with the very good ones that come frozen.

 Here the first garden peas star on some bruchetta; we had one each. One chicken liver slice and fried in butter, topped with 'verdure' from the potager,  deglazed  with brandy which had been used to soak dried cherries, on a small slice of home made sourdough.  I bought a lovely organic chicken from a local artisan producer at the market on the first day opening after over 12 weeks, and it came with all the innards, just as they used to come years ago. 

Next year, I shall grow some mangetout....

The lemon verbena which grows slap in the middle of the potager, will be moved at the end of the summer, as I hope this way to make a little more room for veggies.  The cuttings are an insurance in case it hates the move, and keels over.

(5) Things can get a little out of hand, or out of proportion.  Is there such a thing as giant fennel, growing to over 2 metres?  It did look cute with delicious feathery leaves which were chopped up for salads only a few weeks ago, but was it the sunshine, or is it trying to have a look over the next door fence, or the other way to the levels?  Next year I'll try Florence fennel, and buy my fennel seeds from the grocers!

(6)  Just how many spots and which way round?  Or stripes? Lots of two spotted and other ladybirds in the garden as well, which is why I am holding off dealing with the black and greenfly for now.

Let me also mention the larger animal with stripes, whose appearance made our wedding anniversary completely memorable.   After never having seen a badger alive, one day this week I saw one run in broad daylight just the other side of the wall, and on the following evening, as we were finishing off our special meal, one came in the garden, drinking from the bird bath on the ground.  I had wondered why and how the freshly filled bowls, were nearly empty and pretty grimy every morning.  I now surmise that it was not from all the early birds having their morning wash, but that the badger had been desperate for water during the dry spell.  I reacted quickly, and did not want to waste time taking a picture,  and shooed it off,.  The bird bath won't be left on the floor overnight again!  A quick sighting is fine, I would rather my garden remain a haven for frogs, slow worms, and grass snakes.  After cutting Mr S's hair yesterday, I scattered the clippings along the boundary, I hope the smell of humans may deter it.

Easy parsley growing

Have in mind where you want your parsley to grow.  It could be in the soil in your herby area, or mixed in with your flower border, in a tub, or window box.  Prepare the soil as best you can. Add a little fertilizer if you have any, remove any weeds.  It does need a little sunshine, four hours a day will do.  Water the soil well.

Choose your pot of parsley from the supermarket.  The better type for splitting would be one that is on the young stage that is not root bound, and not too crowded.  In these times you have to go with what is available.  Water it well the night before.

Take it out of the pot.  Decide how many clumps you want.  This one pot could have made six or eight.  I wanted four.  If you wanted just one in the garden, I would say still divide as you want the maximum of four little plants in each clump.  You can always put some back into pots to put on your windowsill or give away.

 Here I've put the divisions between my garlic.

Water well.  Remove some of the larger leaves carefully with scissors..use in your next meal...lovely on scrambled eggs.

If you have some fleece or old net curtain..use this to offer some shade for the first few days.  Give the little plants a good watering about once a week if they are in the ground, more freqently if in tubs.  Don't over water.

This way you have parsley for at least a year.  After that being a biannual, it will bolt.  Best start again. 

There is lots out there about parsley, this is just a short post to inspire you to grow easy parsley the easy way.


PS I took five of the fattest cloves off a head of garlic which I bought to use in the kitchen last August from Frances,:a local back garden grower of herbs and salady things, who has a small local band she supplies to.

Six on Saturday - 28 December 2019 - The Garden is but A Stage - OH YES IT IS

A special SOS linked to the great PROP agator A'GENT'...who shelters other artists who love to contribute to his weekly reviews of things gardening. Mind you he has a few problems with one of his stars needing her roots seeing to.  Through his billboard you can see what other shows have been put on by other troups for our entertainment this week.

(1) "THE GARDEN IS BUT A STAGE"

Earlier this year John Massey explained this to Stasher known to us under a secret name but I shall use Director just this time.  Over the Christmas period she has been exploring its meaning , as she reviews posts from the past year. If there is a suitable  interval a quick drink in the circle is often called for.




OH YES IT IS!  I hear you all think..."Yes, this garden is  her stage".  We can read her thoughts.  She doesn't really have to talk to us out loud, not even a theatrical'whisper shout' or'shouting whisper' is needed, however the fact that she talks to us (plants) means she cares.  The Director not only moves us around, but has planned a succession of plants popping up according to their season.

(2) PERFORMANCE

We are all put through our paces and depending on her sometimes vicarious attitude to our performance, we may be shifted either to the open ground, or to another position or be moved up to some other pot, for instance few months ago I had the chance to have this great 'vintage' pot.  I dare not mention the worst outcome.....yours to guess: the compost heap, but I do know that since I have now been cherished for a number of years, its the others who have to keep up appearances!

Both Beth the corydallis and Mariesii the Viburnum with her pretty pleated skirts leaves have been moved  to spend the 'Winter Season' gathering their strength for early performances in the Spring.  They have a permanent position with their toes roots freed from the constraint of this fine corset pot.  But darlings, don't take 'permanent' to heart: the Director just moves us around: Absolutely no peace for us, OH NO THERE ISN'T!

(3) MELODRAMA

I have certainly spied this taking place: how she goes on.  Sometimes I just want to turn away whilst she composes herself. You should have seen the tears and  cussing as she chopped at  Bridie..well she was young, the bride that is...the Director is not and should know better.  Poor Bridie hadn't yet got her roots established and she was just stressed, she had the jitters. The weather has been against us all this year, with hot sun, lack of water, and then rain, rain, rain..But really, the Director ought to reign in her feelings....given an hour or two she was full of regrets.  Maybe the Bride will recover, only time will tell.  This is a 'promotion' photograph before she was brutally disfigured.

(4) TABLEAU

Each season a few of us are posed around the garden to form a Tableau, which to us non french speakers translates as 'temporary pictures'.  My native language being Japanese I would love it if she could be persuaded in the coming year to maybe think along the lines of posing plants from similar regions together.  She does often get enchanted by matters oriental, so I think the seed idea may be taking root, and I may yet have another staring role coming my way.


(5) ENTERTAINMENT

For sure the garden has been a great source of entertainment for the Director, it is her play thing, so much so, she devotes a large chunk of her time to it.  Music is supplied in the form of bird song, with occasional  night time solos or duets from some owls. The Director does have a 'Partner'.  Stage whisper: "him with the size 11s and the dangerous proclivity to chop at things when the Director is elsewhere".  We do love him really, after all he helped with the stage design and construction.

Even to the extent of 'publicity photos and write ups on something called Six on Saturday, she never stands still and is always looking to fine tune the Theater...OH YES SHE IS......

(6) SURPRISE

The garden is full of surprises...so much so that the Director herself can emit a little whoop of delight and applaud as actors, from previous seasons, who had been put on garden leave, and were 'resting',  pop out from places she had forgotten about.  We don't always come out on cue, something to do with 'climate change'? The Director has taken to marking the stage floor soil  surface with directions labels. The 'corps de ballet': those beautiful little snowdrops, and other early flowering bulbs,  are waiting in the wings  for their turn to surprise us all during the Spring Ballet Season which is nearly upon us.

Now I am going to surprise you all: 'The Reveal itself being a great theatrical ruse'...

I  Kōyamaki , also known as Scidopitys Verticillata Scidopity which is my Botanical name International Stage Name,  have been 'The voice of this SOS Christmas Pantomime'.  

A few months ago, I was 'potted up' into that fine blue pot featured earlier and for a short time, I hope not for long, have been placed 'front of house', and in my opinion ignominiously decorated.... 

Seriously I thought I was being made to live up to my name of Umbrella Pine.  Just because people think the way my needles are arranged in whorls like the spokes of an umbrella, enough is enough: Will someone please ask the effects people to turn off the rain effects .

I may be a solitary species in my genus and family,  at home in the cloud forests of Japan, but I am not so superior as to be secretly honoured to take part  in  the festive fun, and have enjoyed the Limelight......

Therefore ladies and gentlemen, boys, girls and gardeners, I hope you have enjoyed the Pantomime staged specially this Christmas for you.

Tell your friends about it, and please leave messages of appreciation below, much appreciated I am sure. OH YES IT IS....

Six on Saturday - 30 November 2019

The propagator who planted the seed of this weekly gathering of plant lovers has thankfully a brief post, unlike mine.  This week I have a resume of the development of the back garden with particular reference to the gravel garden over three years....

"Your use of gravel makes everything stand out. Is it hard to work with on that scale?"  Since Lorna asked this question last week, I could use pointers as part of my SOS this week.  

One -Layout end of November 2019

Yes everything seems to stand out well.  With the backdrop of the evergreen oak, we chose pale coloured local  stone to help with light conditions in the garden, and form a contrast to plants.  It also helps with access and drainage.  The rotary washing line fits in a pipe buried under the circular slate stone in the area closer to the house.  

The area 15cm beyond this grey stone is my true gravel garden area where I am planting bulbs and other low growing plants that will thrive in these conditions without watering etc.  Apart from the veggie area which is bordered by chives along one edge of the gravel garden, I aim not to do any watering except for newly planted items  or plants in pots anywhere in the garden.  

All the cardboard has been absorbed, as I found out when I started to plant into the gravel garden this summer.  When planting small plants or bulbs the gravel is moved well aside from the planting hole,  a hole just large enough to accommodate the bulb or plant is made and a little bone-meal in scattered at the bottom and a little soil tumbled in before planting. The soil is leveled and the plant watered in, then the grit is swept back round the plant.   Seeds such as the Eryngium Silver Ghost were just scattered on the surface of the gravel early this year, worked their own way down through the gravel and seedlings emerged within a few weeks.

On a very modest scale as can be seen here, we did it slowly the easy way all by hand and we did it all ourselves.  If you let your mouse hover over the pictures you will get an idea of dates,

Two - There was lawn

This is what the garden looked like in June 2017 when the builders had just finished the conservatory and the grass just starting to recover.  We moved the position of furniture several times, sat in different areas etc. We knew that we didn't wanted any grass/lawn in either front or back gardens.  

Hot Summer 2017 - Conservatory completed

Three - The waiting game as plans are hatched

For the  winter of 2017/2018 having bought the seating area stones, the outer slabs of the seating circle acted as stepping stones through the grass.  The circle was temporarily sited, but eventually moved in the final plan onto a properly prepared level area.   I just had to get some of my plants into the ground, which had been been in the main untouched since the house was built.  More compost than I can imagine went to topdress the soil, and much cardboard was used underneath to smother the weeds.

Four  To dig or not to dig - conserving and moving soil

No soil from digging out the gravel area between the conservatory and from under the new shed left the garden, as it was used to adjust levels towards Gooseberry Corner.  The land sloped down towards the right quite steeply and moving barrowloads left a more gentle slope.

In this picture Mr S is fixing the edges on top of the turf.  I had also been reading up about the no dig gardening system.  Under the paths with the stepping stones we used a plastic weed controlling membrane.  In hindsight I wished we had not used this, cardboard from packing cases would have been quite sufficient.  Of course, being able to call out instructions from an upstairs window is a great advantage.  We often had days without going further, and looking at the layout and adjusting curves and the width of the path and position of the stepping stones.

Five  Gravel Garden Area 

For a person who loves plants the aim is to have as much growing space as possible.  However we thought a gravel area would give that flat area across which to enjoy views of the Acer bed were needed, and be reasonably free of plants to walk across to get to the 'Potager'.  We always have a smile when I say this out loud...it is a tiny patch for growing a few things for the kitchen, but since it is in full view from the conservatory like to keep it looking nice.

We had gravel areas and no lawn in our previous garden but not a specific planned gravel garden for planting into.

For the gravel area which I wanted to plant into, the grass which had been burnt dry, and the ground fried up hard as terre battue, was covered with a good double layer of cardboard.  All of this was saved from  our delivery of  bathroom fittings, kitchen cupboards etc..It was held down with stones waiting for the delivery of finer grade of stone than the one used on the paths.  CRS our local buidlers' merchants sent a lorry with a long arm and the large cubic metre bags were lifted over the back fence...and we moved barrow loads using an already battered wheelbarrow kindly lent to us by neighbours.  The difference in gravel size does add some interest and a good foil for some of my geology specimens.

At least a seating area for us to sit and chat during my sister's visit

Planting areas without gravel were topped with compost, and I started to pray for rain.

Six - Planting in the gravel garden 

2019 has been the year of planting into the gravel garden.  2020 will see a variety of bulbs emerging.

In conclusion this was a very effective way of preparing the garden.  When planting I can see that the ground in the beds and under the gravel is in excellent condition.  We have an army of worms, beetles and other creatures who have taken down the compost, we have had no compaction issues, and the drainage even with the heavy rain has worked well.  As I am the gardener the digging in the conventional way would have meant delay and frustration as on this clay soil it is often too wet or too hard and dry to be able work it.

Six on Saturday - 29 June 2019

I'm going The Propagator again this week....It is very hot here, too hot to go outside, it is 31 C in the shade at 4 p.m.!  When the sun is setting,  I may go and sit out with my feet in a tub of cold water, but then I may retire inside away from the sound of the G Festival.  We are several miles away, I wonder what festival goer's hearing will be like after this weekend? 

Even if you are away for just one week...I bet one of the first things you do is to have a little look at what has happened in the garden.  The short carpeting thyme is out, and producing lots of nectar for the bees.  It is fitting therefore that I offer this picture as my first item for SOS this week.

Round by the circle

Anaphalis margaritacea

For each of us plant lovers there are things that attract us to particular plants or groups of plants.  I love plants with interesting foliage, and shape.  I had grown this in previous gardens, and this year I felt it was time I planted it again.  

Bought this year from Totworth Plants at the Spring Bishop's Palace Rare Plant Fair: Anaphalis margaritacea  caught my eye on our return.  Of course it is yet to flower, however, its lance shaped leaves with silver stems  contrasts well with the various shapes around.  

Back in May, I shared this tub on SOS which held the Clematis Viennetta. And on our return this is what greeted me.....

Clematis Viennetta

The stems are soft and pliable so as the lengthen I bend them back down and round.  At the base to give shade I have some ferns and a white bedding fibrous begonia that is in its third season, which just keeps on going.  

Blocking my path, a few fallen annuals.  I usually love Love in the Mist, but these thugs were poorly placed, and far too tall for their position by the edge of the path.  They were a long time in bud, and only opened in the last week.  They were autumn sown so I think much stronger that the plant from which I had saved seed last year. I think they are Nigella Hispanica African Bride origin.

On the other side of the Circle towards Acer Corner, I am far happier with the shorter plants by the edge. Achillea × lewisii 'King Edward' again planted this year is one that I have grown many times before.  In my opinion this is a really good plant for the front of the border, isn't it looking just right against the tiny Sedum hispanicum glacum and sedum spathulifolium purpureum?

For my sixth SOS I am posting a picture of a little plant I saw growing at Marwood Hill Gardens, in the hope that someone may know its name.  I asked in the nursery, but they were unable to help.  Its leaves are wide and soft and almost like a grass.  There were some paler creamy flowered types further along, as   well.  Mr S was a little gardened out by the end of the holiday....however this garden was more to our taste compared to RHS Rosemoor....

Here is the 'creamy' coloured one...I think maybe more white with a hint of pink.  I've put this up after Jim suggested it was Freesia Laxa,

Six on Saturday - 8 June 2019

Some reasonable rain showers this week meant that herbaceous plants were not floundering, and it felt very pleasant being able to walk out on the gravel paths to work on the borders, crush greenfly and rose sawflies as they land on stems ready to saw into stems and lay their eggs....

The propagator who hosts and leads this meme will be on the look out for slugs and snails, and no doubt most gardeners will be after this rain.....

The first of my SOS is a view from the embryonic gravel garden area towards our central seating area.  Star plant for the month for me has been the red Dianthus chinensis.  Not only does its red add a point of attraction for me, looking out from the kitchen window or conservatory, each of its very numerous flowers is supporting bees and other insects.  I would have liked to get a picture of a visiting Hummingbird Hawkmoth yesterday, but by the time I found my camera...it had moved on. 

For my second SOS a view towards Acer Corner, along the curving path,  showing the growth achieved in area planted up less than a year ago.  There have been mistakes...such as too many Lychnis coronaria.  To give them their due, grown from seed they are wonderful specimens, but are crowding out choice plants.  This coming week, they will be thinned!

I love Phlomis and for my third SOS show Phlomis purpurea Matagallo. Its the plant with the pink flower spike.  I grew this starting March 2018, with seed from Chiltern Seeds.  I am amazed to have grown a small Phlomis shrub from seed that is flowering like this in just one year.  Something is nibbling its leaves!

This is on my driest sunniest most open bed.

The fourth item is a large clump of soft grey Stachys byzantina aka Lamb's ears.  I love it for its silver accent lighting up the border in winter,  and being evergreen here gives a good ground cover all the year round.  However at the moment it is rather floppy as the flowers grow up, and weighed down after heavy rain.  As it one beloved by bees I am waiting a little while before cutting it back, reducing it, etc!

The fifth item this week is a peep at Saxifraga stolonifera, which is going through its flowering stage.

It is growing on the edge of my shady border which does catch the early morning summer sun, and where the breeze makes the petals shimmer like so many small butterflies. It is close to the conservatory and I have a lovely view of this as I have my breakfast in the early morning.

Saxifraga stolonifera before flowering

 I grow Saxifraga stolonifera primarily for its year round attractive rosettes, but the flowers give an added bonus.  After flowering, the rosettes die off, but new plants from the strawberry like runners soon take over.

Number six is the clump of Sweet cicely, Myrrhis odorata, this week in the green seed stage.  

I am rather apt to cut back plants to encourage new growth, and tend to miss out on the seeds.  The fern like leaves grow on a drier part of the garden, partly under the shade of the evergreen oak tree. It flowers very early in the year offering nectar to early fliers.  Just above it on the wall, I've positioned some pieces of wood with holes and several of these are now sealed off by  This coming week, when the plant is cut back,  I shall cut the green seeds, freeze some for later use, and use some in walnut sourdough bread.  They have a wonderful sweet aniseedy flavour.  The sweet cicely came to me as a small plant several years ago from my friend Kay in Kenilworth, and a piece was brought with me, so I am pleased to say that after a couple of years sulking after the move, it is in fine fettle! 

Sweet Cicely is not native to Britain but is in fact a relatively recent introduction (neophyte) and was first recorded from the wild in 1777. Although recent it has become well naturalized and is often common around woodland edges and clearing, grassy banks and road verges particularly in the northern half of England and southern Scotland.

I shall be sure to use the leaves too next year,  when my new rhubarb will have grown strong enough to pick.

I'll be sure to see what other gardeners have contributed...if not now, later in the week.