Six on Saturday - 18 July 2020

Linking in to the Prop's post, this week I have already learnt a tip on growing from Malope from seed, bet I pick up a few more from other posts linking in.

Fern Polystichum setiferum Bevis needed to be moved, so that I could plant Pittospurum garnettii in its place. From time to time several plants have to be moved simply because one plant needs to get out of a pot.  Nearly always the pot ends up getting filled with something else.  This amuses Mr S, since I am constantly promising that I am going to reduce the number of pots.

(1)  First to be dug up was Cephalaria gigantea.  It was quite the wrong scale for this small garden.  Yes it had its season this year, flowered beautifully, and was the favourite night resting place for bumblebees.  It was living up to its name, but sadly with insufficient room, it was crowding out some rather handsome plants.  I had already found it a good home and it is off to grace one of the beds at Mendip Hospital Cemetery.  I am a 'gourmande' when it comes to plants.  However I have decided that it is OK if a plant is unsuitable, or dies, or had to be moved out of the garden.  Life is too short, and the garden too small, if I want to garden and grow new plants, saying goodbye to plants is fine.

(2) The Bevis Fern, which I first bought in 2014, has hopefully found its forever place in Acer Corner.  It had a good soaking, and is in good leafmould rich soil.  I removed the greater quantity of its foliage so that it did not suffer too much from the move.  Yes, it will look a little odd this year, but hopefully in the spring, it will send up its new fronds and regain its former beauty. 

(3) It was finally time to get the Pittospurum garnettii out of its pot.  That was a hard job.  A little cutting of the tight roots was necessary, both to get it out of its pot, and also off the bottom to encourage rooting out into the surrounding soil.  Pruning of the lower branches to lift it a little ought also to help it settle in its new spot.  Again it got a really good soaking of the root ball and the soil.  It looks far more comfortable in the ground.  I did this with a Pittosporum in my last garden, and it soon romped away there.  

(4) Dahlia 'Gallery Art Fair' was in the wrong place on two counts: it couldn't be seen easily, and it was in the middle of the slug or snail motorway.  It overwintered in the ground gallantly, put on good growth, but suffered various unsightly nibbles. It was almost painful to go and see whether the blooms were also being attacked by earwigs.   I think it stands a better chance to be admired and evade the slimy attackers, now that it is in The Pittosporum Pot, placed on the gravel.

(5) Insects:  Last Sunday at about one o'clock we had the phenomenon of flying ants. There was a cloud rising from the Bay tree Pot, and from several places on the ground.  Later as they landed small birds and black birds had a feast.  I failed to capture that but this week, found this cute little green Speckled Bush Cricket.

The name comes from the small speckles on its body.

(6) Clematis Vienetta is trying to keep cool, whilst Pelargonium Pink Capricorn shades the pot with its exuberant growth.