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. 

In a Vase on Monday - After the Storm Bert

We have had some atrocious weather during the weekend, with gales and heavy rain brought by Storm Bert and our usually sheltered garden was absolutely battered.  The lovely large Pittosporum Garnettii had such a rocking that parts of its roots were torn from the ground, breaking its rope tie to the fence and ending up far from upright.  I tried to straighten  the plant which was about 12 foot high with five stout leaders, but its weight was far too much for the fence post to act as anchor fearing that any more wind would simply bring the fence down too.

I spent the better part of the morning sawing each individual branch down, and salvaged some fine twigs to add to a vase.  It is goodbye to this lovely shrub.  For now we have a much more open view over the stone wall.

The vase is a lovely studio glass vase, a present from my friend Jean a few years ago.  It has had a dried flower arrangement in it which after a couple of years only recently got thrown out.

For more flowers and arrangements, it is over to Cathy's post.

Molten Ebbor Goat's Cheese with Roasted Banana Shallots

 In Jack Sturgess's Bake with Jack Home Baker's Club each month as well as bread recipes and full length classes, he also has each month a 'With Bread Recipe'.  To accompany the Rosemary and raisins rolls, there is a Molten Camembert on Roasted Banana Shallots.

Since we don't eat cow's produce, I decided to try this with an Ebbor goat's cheese from Wookey Farm. 

 

With thyme from the garden and red peppercorns and a sprinkling of the special salted fresh Kampot Pepper, we had a delicious lunch.  I had never eaten a baked cheese, as when we go out it is normally a baked cow's cheese that is on the menu.  Now that I have the technique for baking the cheese, this will most definitely be repeated.  Since I had to open a bottle of wine to help finish off the butter and olive oil in which the shallots were braised, we felt a glass of the Esk Valley Sauvignon Blanc that we had enjoyed and bought at The Grape and The Good's last wine tasting event,  was the perfect match too.

I do remember fondues! 

Six on Saturday - 23 November 2024

 I really thought last week might be last posting of SOS from my garden, but I have managed to scrape through for another Six.  The first frosts hit the garden over a couple of days with water frozen on the bird bath, but we had no snow. Today with Storm Bert which is bringing winds and rain, the plants are swaying around.  I am joining in with others oven on Jim's Blog Garden Ruminations.

1. The Frosts hit the garden this week leaving behind collapsed nasturtium leaves and surprisingly the Persicaria Red Dragon.  It had grown quite extensively over the summer as it did not get its regular cut backs.  It had even covered this Golden Euonymus which was grown from cuttings 'purloined' from an overhanging and totally overgrown plant which was obstructing a country path.  I haven't a clue as to the variety. After a suggestion from Jim, see below in the comments, and looking up pictures I do believe this is Euonymus might be Euonymous fortunei 'Blondy'. 

2. At this time of the year when the flowers are nearly over it is the bigger leaves that catch the eye. Zantedeschia aethiopica from South Africa which I used to call Arum lilies must be in a slightly less frosty part of the back garden.  The leaves add a little drama.

Zantedeschia aethiopica

3. Each year I am in two minds about rooting up this winter flowering Jasmine which is one of the original plants in the garden.  It flowers spasmodically but the little birds love perching in the tangle of branches, and when I catch sight of a beam of sunshine on the frosted flowers, it melts my heart and earns its reprieve,  

Jasminum nudiflorum

4. These Pelargoniums were outside by the front door, and were sneaked into the conservatory just in time to escape the frost.  With such lovely flowers still they can continue to give us a little colour for a few more weeks.

5. Late bloomers and early bloomers appear to collide with each other.  When I cleared the nasturtiums away, this early snowdrop was revealed.  I'm unsure of the variety as its label was not visible, but one of the specials or else a lucky seedling.

First snowdrop of the 2024/2025 Season

6. The Fuchsias have all been hit by the frost, however Aster Monch is holding out for just a little longer. Again this plant could probably do with being better placed as it is a little crowded out and needs a fair bit of space.  Now is not the time to move it, that will best be done in the spring.

We are getting lots of rain this morning, and the light conditions are very poor all brought about by Storm Bert.  Let us hope there will be a little dry weather and sunshine in the coming week.

The First Snowdrop

We had our first frost last night, but today has been bright and clear.  This afternoon I went into the garden to clear the nasturtiums that been nipped by the frost, and look what I found.  The first of the snowdrops.  Name tag missing, but I may look further tomorrow.  Might be Galanthus J Haydn. 

First snowdrop 20 November 2024

 More cutting back over the next few days, and looking forward now to the bulbs coming up.