Six on Saturday - 24 April 2021

Six on Saturday headed up by Jon The Prop  is a great way of noting down on my blog the progress or otherwise of the garden over the previous week.  We often talk about the weather too, and this week we have lunched in the garden, and I have had to move potted plants into the shade.  Fleece has been used as much for frost protection as for shading of new lettuce seedling planted out from the scorching sun and drying winds.  The rain tub is empty and and the hose is out of the shed, rescue watering has now begun.

1. Over five weeks, I have now shown all the newly planted species tulips.  Last week I showed my favourite T. Whittalii Major, and in bloom this week is T. Clusiana Chrysantha,  Mr S's favourite. It is looking quite at its best  this week in our front garden.  Later in the day when they open out you can seen into their rich yellow centres.

Tulip Clusiana Chrysantha

2. Cucumber Poinsett seedlings hold great expectations, and have just moved up a pot size,  but need to be cossetted during this chilly spell.

Cucumber Poinsett seedlings

3. 'Make your own tomato soup' update.  The variety of Tomato is still unknown!

Christmas Present from my Grand daughter

I had planted more than four basil seeds, but before they germinated I had knocked the pot over.  I'll be planting a few more of the seeds very soon, as I just love Basil.

4. First Saturday in flower for Apple D'Arcy Spice,  which is about a week later than last year.  Will the weather be kind enough, and any fruit set this year? I have to tread over too many other plants to get close enough to use any protection.

5. Bleeding Hearts or as I prefer today:  Manypeeplia  upsidedownia but for the serious lot Lamprocapnos spectabilis

Lamprocapnos spectabilis

This year it is the turn of the' Red' to be strong and full of blooming stems, and joy of joy there are little seedlings coming up in the surrounding area, both for this one and Alba too. There were loads of seeds last year, and I gathered the seeds and scattered them around beyond the area of the plants.

Lamprocapnos spectabilis Alba

Alba is a shadow of last year's self, but I just love the bright green and delicate leaves and its heart shaped pendulous blooms 'dripping' off its erect but tender looking stems.  Again seedlings have been moved to a shadier area. My cooler shadier area is really at a premium, and now that I have given away some of my ferns to a friend setting up a collection, I have a little extra of this 'premium' space.

 Edward Lear, who is better known for his nonsensical limericks, was inspired by this plant and went on to publish a drawing of a plant he called  Manypeeplia  upsidedownia in his book : Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany and Alphabets.(1871).

For proper knowledgeable notes on Lamprocapnos I suggest visiting my friend at Kind Hearts and Corydalis. 

6. Yesterday I visited Yeo Organic gardens, with friends.  We moved to our home here on the southern flank of the Mendips just over four years ago, and I have yet to forgive myself for not having visited this garden sooner. It is on the northern side of the hills with marvellous views of the lakes. They have a superb 'potager', and in the true spirit of organic gardening I have just planted a few

Dwarf French Beans Annabelle, spelling on Moreveg where I bought the seeds from, but also spelt Annabel elsewhere,  in our discarded paper coffee cups.  I only grow a few veggies in a tiny patch. By the time they are up sheltered in the conservatory, and hardened off, I calculate and sincerely hope we shall not longer be having such low overnight temperatures.