Six on Saturday - 10 October 2026

 Lets get on with it, it is already nearly time for lunch, but I wouldn't let myself take photographs and dawdle around outside or over the wording for today's Six.  For beautifully worded posts the place to head to is over at Jim's.

1. Just by looking at the leaves on this gorgeous Aeonium Medusa, I can tell that the cutting has taken.  Obtained as a cutting from Piccolo Plants.

Aeonium Medusa

It won't be long before all the garden succulents not under the front canopy are moved to the conservatory.

2. Had a communication from my son this week about his Crassula Buddha's Temple.  The long and the short of it, the one I gave him years ago is now too long and has a community of scale insects. He suggested for his Christmas Present he would love a replacement maybe in a nice pot.  It was only when I agreed that he decided to ditch his one, as he likes this succulent too much to be without it.  Outside this pot full when cut down would yield the cuttings, which will be rooted in time for Christmas.

Crassula 'Buddha's Temple'

3. I love autumn and the colours that are emerging this late in the year. 

 

Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Purple Dome'

I divided this last year and all the divisions are doing well.

4. Another plant that I really ought to divide and move is this Chrysanthemum Chatsworth.  It is being rather overwhelmed by Rosa Canary Bird which also needs a little pruning. Going round the garden for SOS is a useful way to take stock of what needs to be done.

Chrysanthemum Chatsworth

5. For me and this garden the pale pink flowered Sedum 'Frosty Morn' is finally coming into its own.  I cut is rather too harshly only just before the heat and the drought. After the rains it bounced back and is looking fab and attracting the bees. The stems are not so big and heavy and there are more smaller stems, which suit me well.

Sedum 'Frosty Morn'

6. Another plant which has bounced back and a month beyond what her name implies is Japanese Anemone 'September Charm', which only recently made a come back, despite earlier scorched leaves that I had cut back.

I'm late because I made myself packet up the seeds for a couple of people who asked and are yet to receive the seeds they asked for. 

Seeds left: Ompholodes Linifolia, Tropaeolum tricolor, Miscanthus nepalensis, Tagetes Cinnabar, Tulipa sprengeri,  Eryngium 'Silver Ghost', Eryngium Planum Tetra Petra. If anyone fancies trying some let me know.  If you haven't already got my email, find me on Facebook and private message me, or if you have Jim's or Gill Heaven's email ask them for mine.  Offer of seeds is limited to SOSers or friends.

Six on Saturday - 29 August 2026

At last we are having some rain:  it is as if the soil is sighing in relief and exhaling this wonderful smell called petrichor. Yesterday even with threatening rain I went out to do a little gardening enjoying for a short time the feel of drops landing on my back, through my thin tee shirt, until it started to get heavier. More than happy I tidied away my tools and went inside.

1. It will soon be the season for moving Aeoniums back to less open situations even if it is to shelter from the rain.  They are in fine form as this Aeonium ‘Schwarzkopf’ shows,

Aeonium ‘Schwarzkopf’

2. At the Taunton Flower festival not long ago,  I very much admired a certain Aeonium on the display, but sadly they had sold out.  I 'cheeked' Tom, suggesting that such large plants could easily spare a cutting, and that I would pay of course. I was invited to the back of the stand and shown some of the pieces that had inevitably been knocked off during the journey, and I selected one of them.  I am pleased to say that I believe that Aeonium Medusa seems to have overcome any trauma, and is settling in well. From what I have read Aeonium Medusa it is a mutation of Aeonium Velour so should have a similar naturally branching form, which I particularly appreciate on my Aeonium Velours.

Aeonium Medusa

3. I went past my friends shop, called  Thomas D'Arcy Garden House and right in my eyeline was a delightful pot of Achillea ‘Paprika’ (Galaxy Series). I had recently watched a gardener's world on iplayer which featured John Cullen and his National Collection of Achillea, it was on  Gardeners' World Episode 19 of the 2026 series. I was only going to say hello to Chris, but came away having spent my 'sweetie' money for the week.  It is now planted out in the garden. The earlier flowers got somewhat bleached by the searing sun.

Achillea ‘Paprika’ (Galaxy Series)

4. One of my little pet enjoyments in the garden is to try and propagate almost anything that grows.  It is a close call and probably goes joint first with cutting things.  A few weeks back I cut back really hard the Helianthemum Golden Queen growing in the gravel garden, and now it has bounced back beautifully and growth will have hardened off well by the winter.

Helianthemum Golden Queen
forming a neat cushion after hard prunning

I thought the same ought to be metered out to the ones growing round the seating circle, so a similar strict back and sides were carried out this week.  More cuttings were taken and here are the two results, with the first round of cuttings nicely growing away in the foreground, and the new ones in the second pot behind.  

5. Bergera koenigii, the leaves of which impart a delicious curry flavour to indian dishes, is giving the gravel area a rather tropical look as the plant grows a good crop of leaves.  Next spring when it starts into active growth, I intend pruning it to maintain a bushier form, rather than it continue to grow skyward.  I read up about the best time to do it, and it wasn't now! 

6. It was a very sad time at the start of the week, as I decided that it was time to remove the apple tree D'arcy Spice.  It has been beset by squirrels for the last three years at all times of the year, and not one single apple has reached anything near maturity.  I am constantly trying to frighten off the squirrels, and after spying five squirrels all in the garden at the same time, I decided I had had enough! Growing fruit has been a disaster in this garden, with pear trees, apples trees and rows of strawberries removed over the last few years.

Getting the roots out was taxing in the dry soil, and several bags of compost have been spread over the area. I am now contemplating what best to plant in that area. The 
Japanese Umbrella Pine Sciadopitys verticillata is a contender to be moved from its pot to somewhere in that area, but I think I shall wait till the soil settles a little, and plant it out in a few weeks time. 

If you have read to the end of this post, you obviously enjoy reading about gardens and gardening, so let me suggest your follow the link to Jim's 'Garden Ruminations', where if like others you would like to join in this sharing of things from our garden, you can read about how to go about it. Jim's Garden Ruminations is where similar posts to this one join in. 

From the garden - Six on Saturday at the start of September

 It feels as if Summer is over, the light levels have plummeted, we have had lots of rain, and very little sun.  Sadly I cut a slow worm  when I was cutting back the thick top growth off the Phuopsis stylosa, which really upset me.  Later I saw another large one disappear down a hole, and today as I started to clear the Kenilworth Ivy from the wall, I was surprised to see a few of them quite a way off the ground.  They probably were enjoying the warmth of the wall.  For now I am leaving this job till much later in the year when they will have gone into hibernation..  The weather forecast for next week is much better, and I look forward to seeing a different phase in the garden.  Meanwhile I am linking this post to Jim's blog, where lots of other keen gardeners congregate.

Here are my six this week: 

1. This allium seems to be later than usual this year, compared to last year it is nearly a month late. 

Allium carinatum  subs pulchellum

In the front drier Mediterranean plantings it hasn't fared so well. I have decided to dig them all up, separate them and replant them with a little enrichment of the soil in slightly different positions.

I continue to cut things back especially as they get bowed down with the rain, but in several cases , I feel that I need to leave the remaining flowers for the last bout of foraging by the bees and other flying insects.

2. It certainly pays to cut back plants at least ones such as these Nemesia Wisley Vanilla from time to time, I did this about five weeks ago and now it is flowering again.  I first acquired small plug plants in 2022, and with heavy pruning around twice a year, these plants bounce back and there is a nice froth of white blooms ready to scent the garden again for a few weeks. After I cut them I apply a compost dressing and give them a feed.

Nemesia Wisley Vanilla in the same pot for two years

3. This Echeveria is spilling out around the pot, and is almost a colour match for the blue table. 

Echeveria elegans

Rather than have the bottom of the half pan sitting in water in the saucer, I turn the saucer upside down.  I could remove the saucer altogether but little bits of soil are apt to fall through and stain the table.

4. This week a friend noticed and admired another succulent.  It is Crassula perforata variegata which I purchased as a small plant when we were staying on Tresco last year.  I cut back the mother plant when it was growing well, and placed the cuttings in a pot of gritty soil.

Crassula perforata variegata

They grew tall over the summer, and only recently I have noticed that new growth is starting from the axils.  I have a 'succession' plant, and some to give away.

I have now cut them right down to these and potted them on individually.  I could of course start again with all the cuttings, but I don't really have enough room especially through the winter when they would need to be under shelter.

5. As well as the alliums, the asters have been a magnet for the bees, and this one has so many flowers.  It has a pleasant lax habit, but I have chosen to prop up some of the stems to add height to this section.

What is great about this plant as well, is that it is definitely mildew free.

6.  I've already picked a few tomatoes, and I am hoping the sunshine next week with ripen those now turning red.

I'm off to the Rare Plant fair at the Bishop's Palace tomorrow morning, just for a look and to see what is on trend.  I shall report next week if I fail to keep to my no more plants promise!  I do have a few plants on my wish list, but I have not yet cleared space for them. 

Aeonium Velour in flower - Six on Saturday

I'm saving the best for last this week, this is not to say that first five of six things aren't SOS worthy.  Areas got flooded again this week, but luckily the only bit of standing water here a mere sliver along the fence that abuts the neighbours path only lasted half an hour or so.  I'm linking in this post as do others, which offers any reader visiting Jim's post, the opportunity to savour lots of multiples of six things from lots of different gardens.  

1. Luck would have it that at my gardening club this week, I won first prize in the raffle, which allowed me to choose, and although there were probably more valuable prizes such as a bag full of maincrop seed potatoes, worth nothing to me of course as I don't have room to grow potatoes, I chose this pretty red Primula titled 'Gold Nugget Mix'.  My primula that I had been nursing through many seasons is just about hanging in there, so I am delighted to have another one. 

2. With a little bit of shelter from the excessive rain, this 'exotic' looking plant catches the eye of visitors.  After hearing that it is a little hardier than I thought, from Avon Bulbs at the HPS talk, the Tropaeolum tricolor is starting into flower outside.  I may just use a few blooms to jazz up tonight's starter.  

  

I read that the bright green lobed leaves are called 'peltate' with the middle of the leaf connected to the leaf stalk, which is also similar to nasturtiums which are in the same family.

3. When it was pouring with rain,  I spent a little while writing out some labels for the new snowdrops, and in a lull when I went to put in G. Heffalump's label, I noticed that the dwarf Forsythia was valiantly starting to flower.

4. I have a little penchant for clay  pots, preferably terracotta and if I can get old and interesting pots so much the better.  I was interested to read about some early pots excavated during an archaeological dig  in Wells to the rear of what is now the Wells Museum.  I am volunteering as a Gallery Steward for 'Smashed in the Cellar' and took some photographs showing parts of the old garden pots.

Panels explained that the earliest garden pots were made at the East Somerset Potteries, and there is a piece of old Dutch Delftware Pot which would have been used for displaying prize bulbs.  When I was in Shepton last week, I spied what looked like an old pot for sale, and would have gone back except that the roads have been flooded.  I went on the bus yesterday and each and every one had been sold! I  have amongst my old pots one imprinted Sankey! 

5. One buys bulbs with the expectation that they increase.  It seems that Daffodils don't do particularly well here in the garden.  This is all is left of the bulbs I bought in 2022.  The foliage is a little on the yellow side and perhaps it is ailing.  Any suggestions?

6. There is just about sufficient headroom for the Aeolium Velour as it stands on its stone topped table, and had we had more sunshine, its leaves would be even more purple and would contrast nicely with the yellow flowers.

And will there be any dry weather soon?  If not I shall still have to go out there, and prepare a few seed pans, hopefully in a couple of weeks time when the seedlings are up we shall have better light, but I ought to check first!

 

Six on Saturday - 2 December 2023 Chilly weather round up.

Its been 'parky' for sure. At  -2 C this morning when I went to look at the garden and take some pictures,  with several layers, hat etc, you can tell I am fairly caught up with continuing to keep up with the weekly SOS.  We haven't had any snow, and the frost have penetrated plants and pots. I am joining in with Jim and others as usual. 

With no green-house most plants have to brave the elements and only time will tell what the survival rate will be.  

1. Some succulents that were in the conservatory have been moved into the house.  An example is this Portulacaria afra 'Variegata', which is now sitting in the only south facing window in my shower room.

2. Plants that were outside looking as if they are suffering from the cold have been moved to the conservatory:

Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web'

It doesn't seem to want to grow the well patterned leaves anymore, perhaps it doesn't like being in a pot!

3. With the frost and freezing fog one of the noticeable things in the garden have been the cobwebs festooned all around, cobwebs of differing types of construction, which explains why wrens and other small birds are seen explored all around.

 Japanese Umbrella Pine Sciadopitys verticillata

 4. The Fuchsia is definitely frozen and has that end of season look.

 Last year I cut this fuchsia as I did others right down to the ground before the frosts and they came back as strong as ever, and therefore I am going to take the chance to do the same when the temperature rise a little later in the week.

5. When I saw the first little snowdrop of the season, I knew it was time to prepare the Conservatory bed ready for its Spring Act, which often starts mid December.  I have been urged by a friend and also the gardening media not to cut back plants,  but if left the bulbs would all be covered by dying and rotting foliage, and for this bed that is not the look to enhance or indeed encourage the emerging vegetation.  It looks sparse now and every emerging shoot can be seen!

6. This year's cyclamen seed order are now planted up but staying in the utility room until the first seeds emerge.  They will then go into the conservatory which is kept at around 7 C, then in the spring they will move to the shady side wall.  Thanks Jim for reminding me last week to get on with the sowing.  Looking at my notes I sowed last year's seeds as soon as they arrived as well.

It is hard to think that even now we can get on with things in the garden, far nicer to read up and browse other SOS bloggers' posts till it get a little warmer.

Six on Saturday - From my garden at the start of July 2022

We have had sun as well as lots of rain, and earlier in the week it was windy, so we have had all sorts of weather in just the one week.  Already I am cutting back long stems of spent growth on the tall Valerian Officinalis and the garden is taking on the mid summer look with the roses about to start their second flush of flowering.  However I've been appreciating things green around the garden and today I am joining with The Propagator and all his blogging cuttings of which I am one, to show six things in our gardens this first Saturday of July. 

1. I've grown Cosmos for the first time using seedlings grown by Eileen and shared around our Wells WI gardening group.  Dead heading hopefully means that the flowers will continue well until the autumn. There is a nice variety of colours and I think the variety is Sea Shells though I only have this one that has 'the form'.  All lovely though.

2. This is Crassula arborescens ssp undulatifolia: a gift from Hilary a few months ago, and it is already at home in the conservatory when it coping with the bright light. For a short time it is taking a stint on a window sill.

3.If I go somewhere lovely and they have a few plants for sale, particularly if they are in such a handsome hand made pot, then I can't resist. 

The only problem is the label which reads Crassula perfoliata when it should be Crassula perforata, its easy to write a new label. Well it could be that someone just got the original labels mixed  up,,  or maybe one of customers moved the labels.

A few weeks previously we had been to the Newt, where of course, I spent quite some time looking over their collection of cacti and succulents and just checking through those pictures I came across this picture a large pot of Crassula perforata. I wonder how long it will take mine to grow this big, but it will need to be potted forward several times.

4. Another viola success grown this year from seed received from the Alpine Garden society, which gave ten good plants.  

One I have reserved for Brenda and the others are now either in pots or around the garden. Viola Bowles Black looks good against the golden yellow green of Taxus baccata 'David'.

Hopefully, as for Viola Tricolor, this beautiful dark velvety purple black viola will self seed around the garden.

5.Campanula pusilla is looking tiptop in the gravel garden....

6. I have 'cheated' and bought some ready grown climbing French bean seedlings.  The runner beans I planted in the ground failed to germinate and the season for sowing from scratch is probably over.  Anyway I love French beans too!

   

So that is is just a few of the plants, and a bonus: Scarlet Tiger Moth in the garden yesterday.

Echeveria Purple Pearl from leaf to flower in four years

 After setting a few leaves of my Echeveria Purple Pearl in some grit in 2017, by February 2018 these some small plants were ready to pot on.

Good light and frost free environment of the conservatorysuit this echeveria; in the summer when temperatures in there are too high, the plants get moved into the garden to form a grouped display with other succulents.  I may also place one of the plants as a houseplant on a window sill.

Now one of the two plants I kept is at its best with two flower spikes.

For the moment the plant is on our breakfast table where I can enjoy the detail of its form and flowers.

I'll be starting a few more leaves this year, ready for a new generation of this attractive house plant. 

Six on Saturday - 6 February 2021

 

Thank goodness for Six on Saturday and being able to read posts from other gardeners.  Jon collects all these, and makes a good job of supporting us all with his master post, and support with comments in return on ours, should he have time.

In a week that seems to have been the soggiest of a very wet winter, interest in matters botanical and a little light activity in the garden has kept me sane.

1. Let matters gardening keep us sane.  Find just one thing, if you can, to focus on and be in the now.  My little Buddha which I have had for yonks catches snatches of the even shortest moments of sunshine.

2. His temple however is not so resilient: it needs rebuilding  rejuvenation, repotting from time to time.  I read somewhere that if it has cooler temperatures during its 'dormant' period it is  more likely, as with many succulents,  to flower.  It last flowered in 2014, about three  regenerations ago.  Crassula Buddha's Temple is looking  sturdy after its previous refurbishment last summer.

3.  It may have rained, snowed and frozen but the 'sacrificial' pot of echeveria elegans, planted out at the end of summer last year,  is hanging on in the front garden.

I have as many as I need sheltering in the conservatory, one of which is at the side of Buddha's Temple above.  This is a super easy succulent and works well as a house plant or, in mixed summer planters with other succulents and as bedding in the garden: all coming from a single original plant given to me whilst I was judging gardens for Kenilworth in Bloom.

4. Each winter I 'suffer' from too many birds visiting the garden.  On one side there are the wonderful moments when flocks of long tailed tits can almost bring a tear of joy, then to counter these the ever breeding wood pigeons lumber around the soil, snapping off irises, and flattening the soil.  Each time I prune or have some spare twigs the worst areas end up protected with a little thicket.  I have added some twisted hazel branches given to me, and can tolerate the eyesore by persuading myself that it is a little piece of art installation.

5. Last week I picked up an order of snowdrops from a local grower, and have been contemplating the different structures, and very careful observation can tease out differences.  Here in the plant labelled as Jaquenetta there are several distinctive curled but longer petals in the middle. I appreciate help and Cathy and Anna have been supporting me with help and advice.

Early this evening I shall be joining a zoom talk on Galanthus by Anne Repnow.  For members and visitors to various gardening group, there are some fabulous lectures via zoom.  On 20th Febraury there is another lecture on a group of interesting plants: Euphorbias:  Timothy Walker – ‘Euphorbias: Probably the Best Plants in the World’

6. This week I received my copy of The Flora of the Silk Road.   As I cannot get out there and enjoy finding and observing plants in the wild, then this is the best thing. With all the knowledge of  authors Basak and Christopher Gardner and the quality of their pictures, this book will bring me hours and hours of interest. Only a few days previously, I joined a zoom meeting via the Somerset branch of the Alpine Garden Society where Christopher Gardner talked about the richness of the flora across a vast stretch from Turkey to China.  He was at home in Turkey. This lock-down has opened up the opportunity have having speakers from around the world.

My mother often used to spurt out to me,: "If Mohamed can't go to the mountain, the mountain must come to him."  Yes she knew she was using it the wrong way round.  This is because I used to try and look for things, then just sit down and sulk, and someone would need to fathom out what it was I wanted, and bring it to me. I think this trait all started when I call only crawl, but having been indulged, it could be said to be a small flaw in my character now. 

Looking up the meaning of the saying, one source gives it as: If things are not going your way, you'll have to adjust to the way they are.  Is that resilience or adaptation?  May blessings come your way.