Six on Saturday in November is a tricky ask for me, but I am sure that The Prop will have managed some interesting ones, so I shall go there, link up, and get inspired by the other gardeners in the group.
1. First frosts of the season this week leave a pretty pattern on the outside roof of the conservatory, but no damage yet on the plants.
2. My order of bulbs has arrived and now I must decide where the species tulips are to go in the front 'Mediterranean' garden. I've been reminding myself of the height, colour, and the position I first thought of when I was ordering the bulbs. My imagination exceeds the capacity of the garden, and will I remember where all the other bulbs are? These will be planted with labels and ought I to plant them in pots and wait to see where to put them?
3. A small pink flowered 'decorative' strawberry has been doing its thing out of season. I don't know its name. The colour of the flowers isn't quite right for the garden, but I hope the birds have enjoyed the fruit.
4. Hiding amongst the strawberry I am surprised to find cyclamen coum in flower really early.
Cyclamen Tilebarn Elizabeth is showing plenty of leaf, hopefully it will keep its full flush of flowers for early in the new year.
5. Now all the leaves have fallen off the small amalanchier trees in the garden, there is just a little sprouting of green leaves. Please do not share this as I would not want all the 'druids' from Glastonbury trampling over the garden in admiration. I remember smearing some seeds from a wreath I had made up three years ago. Orchards, poplars and many other trees in the are are festooned with mistletoe...
6. Scabiosa caucasica 'Perfecta Alba' has some strangely angled stems. This plant was bought last year, but moved to this position in the summer. I wonder if it is a disease such as a virus or a growth anomaly caused by damage from a biting insect, maybe a nematode? I think I shall cut it down to ground level but not compost the material what do you think?
OK pretty poor pictures, but I did find some superb ones of Scabious taken by Brian Johnston of Canada.
The frost on the glass makes some beautiful patterns. I remember some stunning ones you posted last year (at least I think I do!). Lucky you getting the mistletoe growing in your tree. When they form a hanging ball they look super.
ReplyDeleteYes I did post some pictures of the ice patterns last year. The mistletoe will be something to focus on and follow its growth.
DeleteScabious stems don't seem abnormal to me… I notice the same thing here. You can reduce them a bit to the ground for a part, they will start again!( as I did last winter)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip on cutting back Fred.
DeleteI love species tulips, such little diamonds. M....toe, how exciting!
ReplyDeleteI got five different types, but this morning dug right through one of the large allium bulbs, which has put in me in a mood! Have I got too much in the garden now?
DeleteWash your mouth out, young lady!
DeletePlease Miss, I did not swear...I just felt sad that it was the fault of the trowel which has markings, and it was 10 cm deep, the depth which the tulip bulbs should be planted to. Maybe I could devise a 'stacking system'. Bulbs at different depths but then one would have to plant deep ones first.
DeleteYou've reminded me I'm going to have to look up some of my tulips before planting the bulbs as I can't remember what they look like.
ReplyDeleteThat is was I was doing this morning before writing this post. I also wrote out labels, and now I am pleased to say that they are all planted.
DeleteYour secret is safe with me. My parents lived on Druid Hills Road for years...
ReplyDeleteOh well done for getting the bulbs planted, Noelle! One of the reasons I dislike this job is the difficulty in finding an empty space once I start digging a hole! What lovely clumps of cyclanen you have; I have been moving seedlings from where I have found them to try abd build up colonies next to the new path in the woodland
ReplyDeleteI tried smearing some mistletoe on an apple tree last year. Fingers crossed something will happen. There's lots of it around but it never seems to arrive in my garden unbidden. I can't believe your cyclamen coum is so early. It must want to help us celebrate something!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful frost photo Noelle. We still await the first one of autumn. Your post has reminded me that I had a pink strawberry once upon a time. Will have to remedy that situation soon 😄
ReplyDelete