Six on Saturday - 25 January 2020

The Prop is living up to his reputation this week with lots of seeds sown.  Posts shared on his Six on Saturday certainly inspire us keen gardeners to find things to do. After reading his post this week, I shall be off to buy some fresh compost for sowing some seeds which arrived in the last couple of weeks.


(1) Inspiration 

 At Henton Gardening Club in January we were fortunate to have as speaker Paul Cumbleton.   Now living in Somerton, having retired as Team Leader at the RHS Alpine Section at Wisley Gardens, Paul has spent his efforts creating his own crevice garden.  He introduced us to the concept of Crevice Gardening which can range in size from large beds to a crevice type construct within a broken pot.

I have added 'Create a Small Crevice Garden' to my project list....thanks for the inspiration Paul.

I have always been drawn to rockeries and cannot understand why they fell out of favour.  In the wild in the Mediterranean plants growing in sunny and arid areas amongst rocks always entice me and I am frequently the last to catch up with parties of 'walkers'.  In my mind a walk is just a good excuse to explore the plantlife.

Wild Origanum in Crete at Lato amongst ancient stones

(2) To become beguiled by the beauty of a plant

It is no wonder that I was also beguiled by some of Paul's plants: Origanum 'Emma Stanley' was alluring.  Last week I contacted several of my preferred nurseries who visit local plant fairs to see if they were growing this one. Sadly they were not.  This made me into a 'internet plant hunter' resulting in discovery of  UK grown ones. I am building up a little collection of origanums.  Here is Origanum Bristol Cross, acquired last spring,  in flower during the summer.

(3) Latest receipt of plants

During the week I received a small consignment of plants from Pottertons, after all it would have been rash not to acquire a few other special small plants. In addition to Origanum Emma Stanley, I had to get Origanum dictamnus which I saw growing wild in Crete.  This one will be a challenge as it needs to be kept dry and will need very good drainage.  Other plants are Phlox bifida 'Ralph Haywood', Phlox douglassii 'Ice Mountain', Erodium 'Frans Delight, and Diascia vigilis McB 2903.  I was very much impressed by the quality of packaging and the effort to make sure the plants survived their journey.

(4) Market purchase

Although I had made myself the sort of promise which I thought I might be able to uphold which was to limit myself regarding plant buying, I non the less acquired just one little plant at Wells Market this week:  Eryngium varifolium.

Eryngium varifolium 

(5) Roses sprouting

Nothing quite like a picture to show how not to prune.  Rose Open Arms has not in fact been pruned yet...these were cuts made last summer.  I wonder whether these were some of Mr S's efforts last year to cut back along the path?

(6) Slugs

With the cold snap, several plants joined the relay in which some plants from the garden came into shed and some which had been in the shed moved to the conservatory, and some of the conservatory plants came into the house.  Of course it is much warmer in house.  During the week I found the little trail in the shower room left by one of the slimy gang.  I had to take the bowl containing the plants and examine it, to find the little blighter...

Leopard Slug Limax maximus

Until now, no slug has been knowingly allowed to slither away, but in one way or another been despatched.  Having flitted very quickly through The Garden, Febraury 2020 which arrived this week, I recalled there was a short article about slugs.  Thinking simply that this would be an easy way of identifying the slug, I went on to read the article which explained the sole of some of the slugs we find in the garden.  Limax maximum has been released unharmed into the garden.

Leopard slug (Limax maximus)
"Popular with gardeners due to aggressive behaviour to other slug species. Feeds mostly on fungi, dead plant and animal material". Feb 2020 The Garden

The slug survey was mentioned on Friday morning on Radio 4 news, was it a no news days?  If you wish to take part in the survey, here is the link: https://www.rhs.org.uk/slugssurvey