Six on Saturday - 17 October

 The best of late summer and  autumn plants are unusually still making a great contribution to the garden. For more Sixes, follow this link to Jim's post to find out what the Maestro and others have for for us all to enjoy and learn about.

1.The succulents are still outside. Small flowers on small succulents Crassula x rupestris f. marnieriana – Jade Necklace only bought a few weeks ago is now in flower, and of course in pride of place on the garden shelf.  Soon it will have to come into the conservatory.

Crassula x rupestris f. marnieriana

2.  Crocus speciosus 'Oxonian' is bringing up new flowers each day.  A real treat is to look into its delicate  goblet shape to see the intricate orange anthers. 

Crocus speciosus 'Oxonian'

3. Salvia microphylla 'Cerro Potosi' is one of those salvias that can form a pretty large woody shrub.  For now its bright magenta flowers are such a show, for just a few days before the Chrysanthemums come to perfection the star of that border, and the humming bird hawkmoth still patrols the flowers.

Salvia microphylla Cerro Potosi

I had a look up on when and how best to prune this and Rosie Hardy has a good explanation of the how and whens. Rosie Hardy on looking after Salvias.

4. Just when one wonders whether late summer is the time for intricate flowers this little Serratula tinctoria var. seoanei, planted at the edge in a couple of places surprises me. 

Serratula tinctoria var. seoanei

 5.  I was cheeky enough to ask , and lucky enough to receive seed of a fabulous form of Cyclamen mirabile 'Tilebarn Nicholas' just over a week ago.  We have lots of cheeky squirrels digging up the garden throughout the day, so when I planted out the seed, covered with a layer of gravel, I had to cover it with an improvised 'keep out of here' upturned mushroom crate as they soak up water from below.

Cyclamen mirabile 'Tilebarn Nicholas' 

Afterwards the seed trays were placed in the dark and hopefully as this is fresh seed, they should start to emerge in a month's time.

6.  Other seeds are ripe for the picking such as this beautiful Ammi majus. I love the form of dried seedheads and hopefully I shall be able to grow more plants from this seed head.  Three young plants were given to me by Ben, son of a good gardening friend.

Ammi majus

Just as I was cheeky enough to ask for seed, I am happy to send seed out, click on the link to see the current seeds available, and now there is this Ammi.  Since I am raising funds for the British Heart Foundation, maybe a small contribution to the BHF, to cover the postage would be lovely, if you are willing.  However even if you just come across this post within October 2026, and would like to support this worthwhile cause, without wanting seed, I would be delighted.  

After two lots of 7 days exercises and 2 rest days, I find it so much easier to move my large pots and sacks of compost, so these exercises are helping me in the garden.