Category: Six On Saturday

Six on Saturday is a weekly meme originally hosted by The Propagator but now in the tender care of Jim at Garden Ruminations.

Another heatwave on the way, more days of lugging watering cans up and down the garden, more grumbling about rapidly depleting water butts. But enough of that, here are six things in my garden that have cheered me up:

One – Always exciting to spot the first climbing French bean has set. The variety is Cobra. Last year they got attacked by blackfly and eventually gave up the ghost so I had to sow a second lot. This year I’ve already sowed back-ups just in case.

Two – I love hollyhocks. Although they’re described as shortlived perennials this clump has returned year after year. I’ve probably given them the kiss of death saying that so I must remember to save some of the seed.

Three – This Hypericum has grown so fond of the compost bin it’s decided to give it a cuddle. There’s actually a path running between them but that has disappeared for the time being.

Four – Achillea ‘Cerise Queen’ very happy in the sun. You might be able to spot one of nature’s little helpers in the top right hand corner.

Five – Pennisetum orientale. Difficult to photograph when the wind’s blowing and it’s doing its wavy thing.

Six – Luma apiculata ‘Glanleam Gold’ planted last autumn and flowering for the first time, although a bit earlier than expected.

Do check out the posts of other participants by following the links in the comments section of Jim’s post. If you fancy taking part yourself but don’t know where to start, here’s the participant’s guide.

Six on Saturday is a weekly meme originally hosted by The Propagator but now in the tender care of Jim at Garden Ruminations.

I should think we’re all pretty bored by now of talking about the weather so I’m just going to get straight on with my six:

One – Our two buddleia got attacked by something last year. One that had been there for years died completely. This one looked sickly all summer but is currently looking much more like its old self.

Two – Anonymous shrub rose brightening up the area under an apple tree.

Three – I expect the bees will soon be moving on from the lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) pictured last week to this large clump of rose campion (Lychnis coronaria).

Four – If you look carefully you can spot the first evidence the gooseberry sawfly caterpillars have arrived.

Five – Another unwelcome visitor – a lily beetle. It’s the first one I’ve ever spotted. It didn’t live long after the photo was taken.

Six – Alchemilla mollis just coming into flower.

A bonus one… We invested in a makeover of our total mess of a front garden last year. An overgrown, invasive hedge was removed, the scrappy old lawn was dug up, raised beds were built and new turf was laid. Since then I’ve been gradually adding shrubs, perennials and bulbs in the raised beds and borders. It’s still a work in progress – isn’t every garden? – and perhaps I should have labelled the second one ‘Now’ rather than ‘After’ but here’s a record of the changes.

Do check out the posts of other participants by following the links in the comments section of Jim’s post. If you fancy taking part yourself but don’t know where to start, here’s the participant’s guide.