Six on Saturday - 23 August 2025

I've left my usual weather observations and general feelings about the garden to the end of this post.  For other posts called 'Six on Saturday' and what this is all about head over to our weekly gathering headquarters on Jim's Blog and post. 

1. I very nearly had to arm wrestle my friend for this beautifully coloured Echinacea.  I loved its colour and the angle of the petals. It was in a small pot, and has been put up into a larger pot and the flowers cut off. I am pleased to report that it is 'bulking up' nicely.  Is that the term one uses to describe a plant when it is increasing the number of basal shoots?

2. The pot was moved closer to the house to make it easier to keep my eye on it, and one morning I noticed a bug on it, small and quite pretty that I had not seen before.  It reminded me of a shield bug, but I had seen one this colour, shape and pattern before.  I was on the right tract as it turns out. Looking through the NHBS guide to Shield Bugs, on line.  This is the first Bishop’s Mitre Shieldbug (Aelia acuminata) I have seen, and it is our garden. 

Bishop’s Mitre Shieldbug (Aelia acuminata)

3. The succulents continue to please.  They are all in pots and watering is easy.  From time to time plants do need thinning and repotting such as this one.  I first bought one little plant of . Haworthia venosa var. tessellata back in 2014, and have since replaced a half pan type of pot every few years with divisions. Last time this was done was 2020, and it is getting rather crowded now. I have found that it does poorly in direct sun, and I bring the pot back into the house during hot sunny periods, as it does of course during the winter, when it is quite happy in the conservatory.

Haworthia venosa var. tessellata

4. This year for the first time the foliage on the Acis autumnalis (Leucojum autumnale) died right down, but I am pleased to say that the little flowers have recently appeared.  I had my first little pot four years ago, and divided it to plant around the Gingko. 

5.  With the drought, a few areas are devoid of above ground activity such as this patch where the Scilla peruviana grow.  Usually there are lots of green leaves, again this is the first time that the foliage has died down completely.

Just a few new shoots are emerging, and I would really like to lift and divide them but the ground is just too hard. This is how the looked earlier on in the year. 

6. The two Dahlia 'Karma Sangria' plants are now in the ground and although they did have labels with that name, I think they had the wrong labels as they look a lot pinker than other pictures online. 

Still no rain, and I am holding back the tears, such is the condition of the plants in many areas of the garden.  One minute I despair then my eye catches something that with a little watering is struggling on.  I really do hope that next year will be kinder.  We have visited a number of inspiring gardens over the last ten days, and I have some projects, replanting, moving etc, but these will have to wait till it is cooler and we have had some rain.