Monthly Archives: October 2022

Six on Saturday 29-10-22

At the end of October, there are flowers and a few veg enjoying the oddly warm weather. And, of course, fabulous autumn colour. It wasn’t hard to find colour and interest for a slightly spooky #SixonSaturday.

First up, I don’t know the fungus variety: this one popped up in the middle of the lawn and is a beautiful mushroom, with various garden leave falling all around.

Second, some wonderful autumn colour. Not to missed, but all too fleeting, Boston ivy leaves are starting to fall, and in the few days before they do, are really glorious.

Here’s a Halloween hopeful. A lovely little squash, looks big in close up, but was smaller than my fist. Must admit, this is from last week, has already been baked and featured in a veg curry.

Is it just me, or do these clematis seed heads look just a bit ghostly?

I guess the vibrant oranges of nasturtium suit the season. In my pots and barrels, they are giving their best, still lots of cheerful flowers.

Last, my firm favourite, again, dahlia, here in a very seasonal colour, is (probably) one of the Bishop’s Children. Perfectly lovely.

I hope you enjoyed my #SixonSaturday as the autumn is now moving at full pelt.. Stay safe, take care out there, and don’t forget to follow the crowd on twitter. For regulars apparently the Propagator is taking a rest, but has handed his trowel over to Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens.

Six on Saturday 22-10-22

I no longer recognise the country I live in, but at least the garden thrives and I find joy and brightness all around it. This week, there’s so much colour for later autumn in my #SixonSaturday. I’ll start with an experiment. Cold weather is on its way, and so many dahlia had buds, so I’ve moved some into the greenhouse to try and stretch the flowering season a bit. This one seems to like it, though glowering at me in a slightly sinister manner.

Also sheltering from the wind and rain is a stunning small, but perfect flowered bright red dahlia. It is so hard to capture the colour when the camera over-saturates.

On the theme of red colour, euphorbia foliage will get knocked about by the wind soon, but while it stands, it glows.

At the other end of the garden, in a very dry spot against a south-facing stone wall, nerine have come into their own. the very dry summer hasn’t stopped them.

And yet, there are still outdoor dahlia performing for me. This one had red-yellow blooms in summer, which are washed to mostly-yellow now, still looking lovely against chocolate foliage.

And surely, this must be the LAST flush of flower for the big blousy all-white dahlia, which is too big to manhandle into the greenhouse? Check in next week to find out.

Another week, another Pm resigns, hay ho…. I hope you enjoyed my #SixonSaturday despite all the fuss. Stay safe, take care out there, get a flu jab if you can afford to (its going to be a tough old winter, again) and don’t forget to follow the crowd on twitter. Apparently the Propagator is taking a rest, but has handed his trowel over to Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/.

Six on Saturday 15-10-22

It feels like a long autumn – in a good way. There’s barely been a frost (just-about one morning), trees are still partly green, and the garden has some colour. To celebrate, I’ve gone for a mishmash of flowers and foliage for this week’s #SixonSaturday

First up, witch hazel foliage is offering a bright yellow patch of colour in a shady corner.

I’ve tried various mixes of nasturtium this year and come up with some lovely colours. In a close-up the flowers details are beautiful.

Although their main offering of lush flowers was many months ago, peony foliage provides some lovely colour just now.

Hardy fuschia love Scotland. These looked absolutely hammered in the heatwave, but with the late summer rains, they have recovered and are at their best now.

Boston ivy on an east-facing wall is doing that colour change thing. I like the way you can see how the chlorophyll slowly drains from each leaf to reveal a vivid red.

Last, but not least, another lovely nasturtium. I hope they keep going for a few more weeks.

That was my attempt to keep chipper with colour, despite world and national chaos. I hope you enjoyed my #SixonSaturday. Stay safe, take care out there, get a flu jab if you can afford to (its going to be a tough old winter, again) and don’t forget to follow the crowd on twitter and via the web from links to the originator of #SixonSaturday, the Propagator himself.

Six on Saturday 8-10-22

No frost, still lots of flowers, I’ll go for warm autumn colours for this week’s #SixonSaturday. Of course, the first must be dahlia. This is a small plant, with perfect little red flowers. Well above the ground, it has managed to avoid critter damage.

Himalayan honey-suckle got hit by the summer heat, slowed down, but now is doing its flowery thing.

Summer bedding in window boxes and pots has geld on. Perhaps this is the last chance to show them off before they head for the greenhouse and an autumn prune.

Autumn raspberries are offering two bowls full per week, still sweet, delicious, although a bit battered by the strong winds.

Autumn colour is coming. Blueberry bushes have long finished their fruit but now putting on a lovely show of foliage.

Last, and of course, never least. Another stunning red dahlia. I’m going to move a few pots into the greenhouse to see if I can extend the flowering season.

That’s my #SixonSaturday for this week. Stay safe, take care out there, get a flu jab if you can afford to (its going to be a tough old winter, again) and don’t forget to follow the crowd on twitter and via the web from links to the originator of #SixonSaturday, the Propagator himself.

Six on Saturday 1-10-22

October? How did that happen? Thankfully there is still lots of colour and a sort of Indian Summer feel going on, at least for 4-5 hours around midday. Cheerful bright whites contribute to this week’s #SixonSaturday.

Having never got around to planting mallow, it is lovely to see it finding a home in the garden by itself. The slight purple fuzzy detail at the centre of each flower is something I did not notice until I took photos.

I’m hoping to get to this year’s local Scotland’s Garden Scheme (@scotgardens) plants sale, on Sunday 2nd at the St. Andrews Botanic Garden. In years past I’ve picked up some excellent bargain, not least this persicarium. Again, look at the detail of the tiny purple anther at the tip of each stamen…wow.

I love geranium, and probably need to try a few more next year. I’ve left it very late to chop this one back hard in early August, but it has responded with a few more flowers. What a hard little worker!

For several years I’ve tried growing ammi from seed. I don’t know if they will overwinter for me, but this warm summer has resulted in some delicate late structural flowers.

Of course, last, but very much not least, I cannot help but show off yet another lovely dahlia. This one is pure white joy.

That’s my #SixonSaturday for this week. Stay safe, take care out there, get a flu jab if you can afford to (its going to be a tough old winter, again) and don’t forget to follow the crowd on twitter and via the web from links to the originator of #SixonSaturday, the Propagator himself.