Six on Saturday - 30 November 2024

It is fairly calm today, and reasonably mild, for which I am delighted after the gales heavy rains and frosts of the last few days,  I don't switch off from the garden, and love to get out there and tiddle around.  As usual I am joining in with Jim over on 'Garden Ruminations'.

1. Having removed the usual tender plants from the alcove by the front door, some pots from the back garden were co-opted to soften that space: one of them being the Nandina that I had bought  earlier in the year at the HPS spring sale at Yeo Valley.  It had perked up pretty well after being moved to  a larger pot.  

Nandina domestica 'Obsessed'

It is just one of those plants I bought on impulse having admired it elsewhere, but without a mind of where to plant it in the garden.  Whilst it is in its pot I shall move it around, until having been potted up maybe a couple of times, it becomes too heavy for me to move, and then it may well end up somewhere in the garden. Mr S's back is 'fragile' and I have been given notice that he is retiring from being the too big and heavy pot mover!

2. On the other side of the front door are three pots: Primula 'Treborth Yellow' which I planted up a couple of weeks ago, Hebe Topiara plants grown from cutting and the piece of lava stone filled with Echeveria Elegans, which is only brought in if the temperature is likely to fall below freezing for several hours. 

3. Why am I thinking about violas this time of the year? I have long been charmed by these small pretty flowers and on and off have grown several violets, violas, pansies etc. Unsurprisingly I was drawn to a delightful small old book on the growing of sweet violets which I bought at an HPS Somerset meeting. It is beautifully written and so full of interesting information about how to grow healthy plants for the market and also for amateur gardeners.  In the middle of winter isn't delving into books and finding a new group of plants to learn about a source of joy for gardeners and plant lovers? 

Here is how 'not to grow' Viola odorata 'Kim'.  A tangled mess of the original plant together with all its runners.  

4. Last weekend we were well and truly under the influence of Storm Bert and we seemed to have the strongest winds from a southerly direction which for a time ravaged the back garden and rocked that lovely tall Pittosporum.  When the winds stopped the plant was still at the same incline as it was at the height of the storm

I used all my weight and strength to try to righten it, but it was no use.   Except on one side by the fence where one of the big roots is exposed,  the rest is still intact, and for now I have cut down the shrub, and will see if it sprouts back.  It had had some damage earlier in the year and it was then tied back to the fence.  This time the thick rope was broken and we were very lucky that happened and that it was not the whole fence that was brought down. 

5. Just how unattractive can a Fatsia Japonica Spider's Web get? 

Not only are the shoots reverting to green, but I suspect that snails have found a favourite exotic flavour.  I may well have to dig this plant right out, cut it back and hope new growth may give a reasonable plant  year.  I'm considering whether to grow it in a pot where defence from from snails will be easier.  I only say this as I have a couple of suitable empty pots, or should I really bother?

6. Over towards Acer Corner, just in front of the other E. fortunei 'Blondy', is Fuchsia Silver Linings with leaves completely caught by the harsh frost.  If you were to look out there today, none of this top growth would be seen.  I have cut  this down for  a number of years now and know that here in the shelter of the wall, covered with a good mulch for the rest of winter, it will come back next year.

That's it for this week but over at Jim's there will be more from gardeners keen to log six things from their gardens.