Six on Saturday - 5 February 2022

I find the weather patterns over this area interesting, and whereas January was deemed the third sunniest since 1919, I don't think that could be said for my neck of the woods.  Yes it was probably quite dry but we did have days of intense gloom with extensive cloud cover, but this morning there was a magnificent sun rise.  I'm linking in as usual with the Prop.

1. My penchant for dividing and multiplying kicked off early this year.  I was looking for a spot to plant a recent snowdrop acquisition, but close to the one I had in mind had an ever expanding clump of Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Little Tabby'.  I am helping out at the HPS Plant Sale this March which will be held at the lovely Yeo Organic Gardens on 26 March.  A few pots are now ready and will be closely nurtured.  This should see enough time to have some good pots to take to the sale for the group table.

Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Little Tabby' divisions

2. As I had some good potting compost mixed, next was Chrysanthemum Picasso's turn.  I am caring for this plant under the HPS Conservation Scheme. I think it was probably caught between a rock and hard place, languishing in its pot over the last couple of years, and it needs to be brought on well this coming season.  Should the weather turn much cooler, the pots will need some protection. I ended with six plants from the one.

3. Not to be outdone Chrysanthemum Hillside Apricot was divided into three.  At this stage Chrysanthemums can look very similar and get mixed up, so I selected different shaped pots. 

4. Cyclamen confusum seeds are geminating, and Cyclamen Maritimum germinated a couple of weeks ago, the first leaves are yet to emerge from Cyclamen purpureascens and Cyclamen intaminatum.

5. Galanthus Wasp is a delight, with its long flowers easy recognisable from a distance.  With a slight breeze the blooms wave around adding to their attractiveness.

6. The Crocuses seem to be coming up on a different schedule compared to last year. Comparing with 2020 we are perhaps two weeks behind. The first and only one crocus currently flowering now is  

Crocus sieberi Firefly: Firefly is easy to spot  with its flash of yellow at its throat.

"The Crocus sieberi 'Firefly', like its name suggests, has a glow of light in its tail, or rather the tubular base of its multi-coloured lilac, orange and white flower. A fairly robust Crocus sieberi, it has been known to survive encounters with frost when its kinsmen have failed. It’s a good naturalizer and will multiply well as the years go by." 

I like this description from Farmer Gracy.  I'll remember its name thinking of the light given off by Fireflies, which I have yet to personally see, though I understand from the Somerset Wildlife whose magazines drop regularly on our mat, that there are local colonies.  

That's it for this week friends.