Saturday 14 November 2020

Six on Saturday - 15 November 2020

 Another mildish week, with lots of rain and wind, and some intervals where sun has come out has made popping out into the garden a possibility. Had The Prop who gathers us under his sheltering post each week, talked about planting so many alliums in pots, that may have sown the seed of the idea and I may have planted the tulips in pots. For tips, inspiration, plant admiration and the general camaraderie that is created each week, do go and enjoy Jon's post, and those of other enthusiasts.

(1) I managed to plant all my species tulip bulbs, but a couple of days later had the low sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.  Most gardeners recognise and know that feeling.  The soil looked further loosened and the mulch scattered.  Yesterday as I stood at the study window I saw the culprit: a very plump grey squirrel digging through my neighbours pot.  When I told Mr S how much the bulbs cost, he said that amount could have bought him an engine for his railway layout, and that does not get eaten by the squirrels!  Sadly the species bulbs are now out of stock.  Should I decide to put in a repeat order next year, I will plant them in pots in a very secure manner and only set them in the garden when they are growing well in the spring.

(2) I wonder whether he who dusts had a little mishap with one of my houseplants.  He didn't say and I am not asking.  When I saw a little soil on the windowsill, I decided to take the whole pot outside to investigate.  The problem was that all the roots had in effect died and reasonably healthy looking top has separated.  It could have been that I was a little zealous with the watering, which caused the stem at soil level and the roots to rot off.  The only solution was to rejuvenate it by selecting a few of the good shoots, preparing some fresh well draining medium and repotting the

 


 Crassula perfoliata var. falcata or var.minor, which I last did in February 2018. I shall try the cool and dry winter cultivation advice. The little nibbles on the leaves were collateral damage from having spent the summer in the garden exposed to all the wandering insects.

(3) The weather been just right for shrub moving.  At least I hope so, time only will tell.  I used to have a thing about Myrtles and still have two or three.  I propagated a smaller plant of Luma Apiculata Glanleam Gold to bring to this garden, and it had been planted far too close to the fence and too far away for me to enjoy it without stepping across other plants. It got moved to form a little gathering of evergreen shrubs to lighten up the winter months.



(4) Fuchsia Silver Linings is continuing to grow nicely, and its flowers are still a draw for small bees still out during the warmer calmer spells this week.


(5) Another Shrub just coming flower is the Rosemary and it too is drawing in the late bees.  The older stems  left from the original structure are the first to come into bloom, but all the newer growth have small flowering buds forming.


The  three different forms of Rosemary I have are in great shape as they enter the winter.  This tall upright form was given quite a severe cut back in March, with the expectation of it being removed.  Since it has grown back very nicely and adds structure as well as some height, it is staying, and in the spring, I shall remove the older stems and have a fine rejuvenated shrub.


(6) The wild pollinated cyclamen coum seedlings most probably distributed by the ants are starting to emerge, and there are some lovely variegated leaf patterns emerging, I've checked and compared all the cultivars that I bought last year.  This new one is quite different, I see a dark Christmas Tree, on a silver background with the round leaf edged in green. Shall I name it 'Noelle'.  It needs to be rescued and planted individually to grow on, giving  Galanthus Blewbury Tart room to emerge.


The closest pattern cyclamen coum in the bed is this one, and I also have 'Maurice Dryden' close by.


With a very wet, stormy but warm week, I'll be able to garden in any intervals from the paths, but the ground is already too wet to work on.  Maybe I ought to take advantage and tidy out the shed, and plan what veggies I shall be growing in my very small potager next week.



16 comments:

  1. These rosemary are full of promise! Still no flowers here but it won't be long for the flower buds to appear on my creeping rosemary I guess.

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    1. We will be able to make a comparison Fred. The creeping or prostrate ones are very nice garden plants.

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  2. Sorry to hear about your tulip bulbs. How very annoying. I do wish my rosemary would flower. I think we snip it too often for cooking. They have such nice flowers too.

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    1. This one is snipped a lot as we love Rosemary, I think this one is a good plant and quite vigorous. I have always grown rosemary but strangely I can remember noting the flowering until we moved to Somerset.

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  3. Did you check the crassula compost for vine weevils? Sue has had numerous casualties amongst her succulents this year. I'm sure I admired a grouping of silver leaved plants you showed last year and meant to copy it. So many good intentions. My 'Silver Linings' Fuchsia has been swamped by its neighbours.

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    1. I did a full postmortem...every bit of the soil was sifted through, and no bodies dead or alive found. Whichever way it went, it is now in good clean new compost with added drainage, so let us hope it is will be OK. I read keeping it cool helps it come into flower, which it has yet to do for me in all the years, the ungrateful thing! I've obviously been keeping it too warm, but it did look lovely tumbling down from the living room windowsill. Maybe Sue has tips for getting this one to flower?

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  4. What a pity about your species tulips. My daughter in the states had to give up planting tulips because of the squirrels in her area. Next year I’m sure your visiting squirrels will quickly realise that your bulbs have become a forbidden meal. But it’s a long time for you to have to wait.

    Your rosemary is looking great - mine is beginning to fan outwards - I’ll have to take come cuttings and get some new plants growing. No flowers on mine at the moment either, they’re pretty when they’re in bloom.

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    1. A friend emailed me to say over the years she had spent a 'King's ransome' on tulips which the squirrels have had. She told be about some frames her husband made, and I shall be on the look out for fine chicken wire mesh.

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  5. Naughty squirrel, you need a catapult. Liking the little myrtle, very pretty. We are big rosemary fans in this house, but only have two varieties, must try harder! Have a fun week,Sis.

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    1. I've always wanted a good catapult, I could collect all those fallen acorns as ammunition. I could have them waiting by the open window in the study and start to improve my target practice! Just found an excellent grower with rosemarys: https://downderry-nursery.co.uk/about-rosemary/

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  6. I went to a talk given by a former head gardener at a National Trust property, where she had planted up a new Winter Garden with species tulip. I think it was Humilis. The squirrels ate every single one. Same thing happened to me too.

    The Rosemary looks very good after its pruning.

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    1. That gardener must have planted hundreds. By the way I have eaten squirrel and it is delicious!

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  7. Pesky squirrel - hope you don't get a return visit! What an interesting and mixed Six you have this week- and how exciting to have given birth to a new cyclamen! Is Blewbury Tart one I sent you? Once you have a nice clump of it if you felt able to spare a bulb I would appreciate it greatly as my original clump has disappeared...

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    1. Yes it is the same one Cathy. I'll look after it and feed it well when it comes up, and I shall be sure to let you know. The consensus now it to move them when they have gone dormant and built up all the reserves, do you agree with this?

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    2. I would still choose to lift for dividing or sharing when they are 'in the green' and I have not heard anything different of late - the specialist nurseries certainly send them out this way, sometimes as the flowers are going over, but not always. But please don't consider lifting yours on my behalf unless you have a good clump - it was the second special I ever bought, back in 2003, and I was really disappointed that the whole clump disappeared, but I can be patient...

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  8. I'm glad that I read your post before I planted out my tulip bulbs. I have some chicken wire left from making my fruit cages, so I might try to make a couple of "cages" for my flowerpots. My rosemary hasn't flowered yet. I need to cut it back soon so I will try to leave some of the old growth.

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