Six on Saturday - 22 January 2022

 Its been wintery, no snow, but we have had good frosts and the Fuchsias have been 'kissed' by the frost, well those that we still unclipped.  I know you are meant to leave the structure there, but hey this is a small sheltered garden and I'm taking the risk.  Looking forward to seeing what Jon posts as his anchor this week, and what everyone else has been up to.

Here are Six my Six on Saturday:

1. My first miniature daffodils have been potted up.  I am trying to be patient and in the meantime found a source of articles on miniature daffodils: https://dafflibrary.org/articles-clippings-and-notes/articles-about-miniatures/. Also I came across Ian Young's Bulb Log article about similar types to the ones I now have.

Narcissus bulbocodium v. citrinus, and Narcicus culamineus.

As I have a small garden, and not much space I thought miniatures were the solution...but I read these are tricky and therefore I must pay attention to their needs and make sure they thrive to return next year, and the year after etc.  One pot of each of these has been planted in the conservatory bed, where other spring preciouses are growing.

2. When I was little I made one of those gardens in a dish, now that I am old,  I am making scenes in a Bonsai Dish.  I don't wear purple much! 

With shards of Blackstone Limestone collected during a recent Geologising Trip, giving a little height, I added two rooted cutting of Hebe Silver Dollar,  and Gypsophila tenuifolia, that had proved 'too small' for the patch where it was growing. 

It was too wet, and too cold to safely walk in the garden early in the week, but these two little cuttings were growing away in a corner of another pot, and the Gypsophila close the the path edge. 

This will make a nice shelf show item, and can be moved to the table to admire when the very small Gypsophila is in flower. I shall attempt to 'Bonsai' the Hebes.

3. Removal of top growth on Clematis Bill McKenzie has been postponed for obvious reasons...how glorious they still are against blue cold winter skies.

4. Looking down, close to where other early spring beauties have yet to pierce the surface, the leaves of the Arum Italicum are a delight.

5. The bulb bought last year as Galanthus  Jacquenetta still is not showing the green markings on the outer petals.  If I can see for myself what the real Jacquenetta looks like, I will buy it. 

This new 'imposter' is flourishing and continues with its inner three petals curving out.  I am still perplexed as to whether it is a named variety. It has now been suggested that this is Natalie Garton, though I think the three inner petals are much shorter, and the green marking on the outer of the inner petals longer.  I understand that Galanthus Natalie Garton was be variable, which for me adds interest and I shall be able to monitor this little club each year. Its stability will be observed keenly. I shall change the label and rename this acquisition Natalie Garton. I am still unsure as it is described on Judy's Snowdrops as a later flowering cultivar, but this year in this garden it is flowering early to mid January.

6. Its been strulched!  The vegetable plot with emerging garlic, awaits peas, beans etc. but it is far too early to sow these seeds.  The leeks towards the far end are growing slowly.  I don't think I shall grow these again.....

When I nipped out to take a picture of the Strulch on Friday afternoon, it was so cold, and now really too cold for me to garden outside. My attention moved elsewhere to compiling this SOS.