Saturday 19 June 2021

Six on Saturday - 19 June 2021

 There is nothing quite like the week when the roses are out ,to mark probably the best Summer week in the garden, and it all just about coincided with garden visitors last week.  

1. I was not surprised that the Chiastophyllum oppositifolium also named Umbilicus oppositifolius attracted attention.  One of the visitors had already beeen given some plants a few weeks ago, and now I have several more people wanting pieces.  As in all small gardens, plants need resizing and I like to share, so it is a win win situation.


Chiastophyllum oppositifolium also named Umbilicus oppositifolius

With its shiny fleshy leaves this hardy shade plant was lighting up the shady border. I found there was a variegated form called Jim's Pride. I am however quite satisfied with this one which originally came from Liz's garden in Kenilworth. 

2. Also along the shady border, another carpeting plant was in full flower, though it is also very attractive when it is only showing its rosettes. There were a few takers for this one too.

Saxifraga stolonifera

3. Roses Grace of which I have two plants in the Conservatory Border are bursting into bloom.


and just above the Saxifaga, Rose Ghislaine de Feligonde is full of large bunches of small blooms.  Those are open and much loved by bees...

Rose Ghislaine de Feligonde

Further along, now with many stems of simple open roses is Rosa Open Arms. At least one visitor will be returning in a few weeks time to take some cuttings.

Rose Open Arms
I have greenfly on the rose buds this year, but am leaving off spraying as we also have lots of emerging predators, we shall see if a reasonable balance emerges. There are of course lots of ants farming their little colonies.  

4.  Because the flowers were dripping nectar, this conservatory succulent has been moved to the hot sunny table.  A winter of low, but frost free, temperatures may have encouraged every branch to flower.  This is form of Cotyledon orbiculata has a heavy bloom with gives it a silvery colour. 


The coral coloured flowers are an added early eye catcher this year.  

5. Over in the small veggie patch, the courgettes are settling in nicely, female flowers are forming early this year.  Maybe it is the cultivars I am growing, or maybe the weather conditions.  One of our favourite chutneys is the courgette one I developed some time ago.  I do like to pick them small, so four plants two each of yellow Atena Polka and compact Patio Star, both from Moreveg.


I dug up one of the garlic bulbs, but I felt there was at least a couple more weeks of swelling up requited. The tall white sugarsnap pea growth started to look a little unhappy, so I have made picked all the pods and ditched all the plants.  The little row of dwarf peas were completely unaffected. 

The chive border also is having a revamp.  I've cut down all the growth, and will be replanting smaller sections. I have dwarf french bean and runner bean seeds germinating in pots and ready to take up vacant spaces as they occur.  

6.. The Nasturtiums are out, including some new 'Orange Jacket Pocket' ones.  Some of them may well be from Nasturtium Orchid Flame, but aren't they magnificent and summery. Our salads are going to be very attractive this summer. I pick them early in the morning as a kitchen posy, and add to garnish our lunch time salad.



As usual I am linking in with Jon, along with some others, to share six from our gardens.  He still seems to have a shed load green house full of plants ready to go out into the garden, he'd better get trotting with those.  However since he has been running for miles and miles, I'm not surprised at this. 

14 comments:

  1. I have been digging up garlic as I needed it as last year's supply has finished, begun to sprout and not good for cooking. Like you, it is not quite ready and some varieties are far off being ripe, still in strong green growth.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Here too I'm surprised to see that the courgettes are growing well. The weather must have been favorable to them.
    Very pretty nasturtium flowers… ( I would like to be a mouse and nibble one here now but I'll wait for mine though)

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a lovely six, the roses are incredibly beautiful. It is always nice to share, and I know you are one of the best of the sharers.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such pretty peachy colored roses. Nice big nasturtium flowers, mine are just starting and so far aren't fat and full like yours.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A lovely selection of Roses. You're right about Roses and summer. They've been lovely round here although covered, to varying degrees, with aphids as you mention.

    On another note, you've put a name to a plant for me - Chiastophyllum. There's a lovely spread of it in my Nan's garden, but I've never known what it's called - thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bet your Nan would love it if you asked her for some.

      Delete
  6. I planted Saxifraga stolonifera a couple of years back and it's never got going. I'd move it if I thought I had anywhere more suitable. I have Nasturtiums to plant out too, hope they're as good as yours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That saxifraga really does not do well except in shade or no more than a couple of hours of sun. When I moved it wasn't in the right place, but over on that side of the garden it is very happy.

      Delete
  7. Oh both beautiful roses Noelle. I so nearly went for 'Ghislaine de Feligonde' earlier this year for our new geodesic dome. The flowers look beautiful and the fact that I read that it's nearly thornless held great appeal. What a fine looking lettuce. Which one is it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your very own garden of Eden then under your dome, how lovely. The lettuce seeds were Gilaad from MoreVeg. It is delicious and very delicate, but is yet to fully mature. I have already harvested full heads, but I think I shall just take leaves from this one. I must get on and sow some more lettuce.

      Delete
  8. A lovely selection this week - the unusual shady border plants, the gorgeous roses and the nasturtium flowers too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Interesting to see your cotyledon -- ours has just flowered too, although we are in separate hemispheres. Not quite the same, but clearly cousins.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is interesting to see the various forms of the cotyledons. I love this one in that I bought it from a garden open day a very long time ago, and propagate new plants every two or three years.

      Delete
  10. A great selection of plants. Roses do seem to be doing well this summer. 'Open Arms' is very pretty indeed. Before heading up to Wales I noticed a few nasturtium flowers out - I will have to sample some when I return as I've not grown them before.

    ReplyDelete