Very VERY late this year, but I’m finally getting to some fruit and veg. Here are some edibles for my #SixOnSaturday. Starting with raspberries, as they are just coming. A few cheeky blackbirds have helped themselves, but they leave most of these delicious fruit for us. These are supposed to be ‘autumn fruiting’: they tend to go from July-November so are great value.

In the veg beds near the raspberries I always grow some chard. They do very well in the cool of Scotland, and are just coming to the ready-to-eat point now.

Near them, in a supposedly sunny spot, courgette usually do well. This year I have just a few tiny ones so far, fingers crossed the flowering means that the fruit will grow before they rot now.

In the greenhouse, the one plant that is absolutely loving a cool year is cucumber. I’ve made up several jars of pickle from them so far, and it looks like there will be many more.

Chillies are SLOW, yet my huge over-winter Alberto Rocoto is coming good. There are lots of purple flowers now, and the first fruit have set. These will end up bright red and about the size of plum tomatoes.

Last, but very much not least (I hope), the very first tomatoes to ripen will be consumed thsi weekend.

I hope you enjoyed my first fruit and veg special of the season. And thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, its a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

While huge regions of the world swelter in heatwaves, in Scotland we’re sitting well above the jet-stream, with cool northerlies seeming to make every other day around 13 degC. This is one of those days. The unusual weather does make the flowers last longer though. Here are some summer pastels for anyone who might need a cool-down. Starting with one of my favourites, geranium offers lots of ground cover. This little pink one seems to flower for months on end. And what wonderful dark-pink veining.

Hostas have very much enjoyed cool and showery weather. Interestingly, there seem to be fwer slugs and snails munching this year (maybe they like to be warm too). Hostas have delivered wonderful flowers over the last week or so.

Hebe shrubs are native to the south of New Zealand. I suspect they are evolved to be used to lots of rain, look at this display!

Astilbe grow in various spots around the garden, always happiest by the pond. This one has a candy-floss look to it, seeming to glow in the season’s rare sunlight.

I’ve shown these flowers off before, and am sure I will do again. There’s something about the intricate structure of astrantia that keeps darwing me back to them.

Last this week are my snap-dragons. I have a few plants now in pots, given to me by a friend a couple of years ago as tiny seedlings. They seem to winter very well in the greenhouse. These soft pastel pink ones are very calming.

At this time of year, it’s hard to imagine the borders without layers of tall green and beautiful flowers, despite the low temperatures. I hope you enjoyed my midsummer blooms. And thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, its a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

July, daytime highs of 15 degC, northerly winds, cloud and rain. I guess I should feel fortunate. It’s a chilly summer, but the flowers seem to love it and last for ages. Food harvest is slow, I have not harvested even broad beans yet, though the strawberries are fabulous this year. I opted for flowers this week, hoping I’ll be able to show you SOME veg further into July. In liu of sunshine, here are some sunshine yellows for my #SixOnSaturday.

Starting with this week’s one edible, as you can see, it’ll be a while before my greenhouse tomatoes are ready. This year’s slow growth is producing lots of flowers, so fingers crossed for an autumn harvest. I do love the spiky detail on the stems of tomato.

Around the pond, native monkey-flowers loves a damp bottom. The bright orange runway lights for bees make the flower seem complex and exotic.

In the main garden borders, lysmachia spread fast, but do look stunning for a couple of weeks in July.

Another native, ladise mantle provides a fluffy bloom offering colour for weeks. Though these plants are reall thugs, their roots even lift garden path cobbles.

Phlomus is another of my favourite border plants, lots of fascinating form, seems to look a little alien?

Last this week, lots of shades of yellow through to orange and red, hypericum pops up all over my garden. I think this one is the medicinal St. John’s Wort.

At this time of year, it’s hard to imagine the borders without layers of tall green and beautiful flowers. I hope you enjoyed my midsummer blooms. And thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, its a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

As flaming June draws to a close, I’ve noticed that despite the fact we;ve had just about 2 warm days this month, the flowers and tress have LOVED the cool weather. I guess that makes me happier about spending more time here in my own garden, this summer. To celebrate how much my flowers have enjoyed the weather, I’ve found a pink treat for my #SixOnSaturday this week.

First up, BANG, a new variety of cosmos has justed started to flower. This one seems to be cheekily winking at us.

In contrast, it is almost end-of-seaon time for foxglove, which have had a long cold end of spring to really do their thing. Yes, oddly, those are mushrooms in the background!

I love a poeny. Their season is short and they get blown flat as their blooms are so large. But what a gorgeous textured flower. Yummy.

A new venture for me this year (well actually last year as they are sown in early autumn) have been dianthus. I have quite a range, all grown from seed. This was a lovely addition to this year’s garden. This one is such a wonderful colour.

Always wonderful, full of tiny little detail, the blooms of this astrantia are the most delicate of pinks.

Last but not least. I have managed to overwinter a couple of zantedeschia. This one has just decide to flower, the swirly pink will deepen as the flower grows.

I hope you enjoyed my midsummer blooms. And thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, its a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

Amidst the bewlidering colour and growth in my still-chilyl Scottish garden, it is sometimes easy to overlook the value of white. Until the gloaming arrives (and there’s lots of that just 2 days after the summer solstice), when white really pops out. So to celebrate the peak of astronomical summer, my #SixOnSaturday feature white blooms this week (with the odd hint of colour).

The glorious foxglove will start the show, with dots of brown/purple to welcome in the pollinating bees.

A large garage wall, built from local stone, is the structure that a huge climbing geranium grows up. Just now it is a blur of gentle colour and fragance, and the occasional flurry of pigeons and blackbirds diving into the thick foliage to nest.

Wild daisies pop up all over the garden. These are probably from windblown seeds, as to be found in local field boundaries. About 1m high at times, they provide a bright splash of colour, even though they do tend to flop.

Hardy geranium have exploded this year. I do like this one. it forms a big mound, about 50cm x 50cm, and flowers it’s socks off.

Lovely lupins have been battered by recent storms. Some are still glowing. I’ll chop them down when finished, in the hope that they might bloom again.

For my last bloom this week, the water iris have lasted for many weeks this year. Here’s one against its watery backdrop. I love the gentle curves and the hint of purple along each petal.

I hope you enjoyed my pure midsummer blooms. And thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, its a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

12 dec C, mid-June, it has been SO cold. The veggies are suffering, but flowers blast on. This year seems particularly good for roses, perhaps they enjoyed the wet wet wet winter. It’s unusual for me to find six lovely roses in the garden all at once, but I did today, so here they are for #SixOnSaturday.

Many of my roses are very old shrub roses. This is one of them. Plate-sized gorgeous huge pink blooms with a delicious smell.

In contrast, a huge old rambler produces many many flowers, but only for a couple of weeks in June, also smelling fabulous.

I quite fancied a different sort of rose last year, so went for this ‘small climber’, in a dusk orange. It is really enjoying the cool summer so far.

On a very dry, west-facing stone wall, this white rose sits in the teeth of the prevailing weather, but seems to enjoy it.

Another small climber offers a delicate pink and sweet smelling blooms. I think this one is Lady of Shallot. Lots of lovely new buds too.

Last, this one blooms with a rich red, can’t wait to see it fully into flower.

Wow, I didn’t remember I had so many lovely roses until I went to look for them. What a haul. Hope you enjoyed the blooms. And thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, its a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

Now that it’s June, my garden is bursting with colour and I’m fighting to keep on top of deadheading those plants who have done their thing. What to show you for #SixOnSaturday? It was hard to choose, so I’ve gone for a vague colour theme…..pinky-purples it is!

First up, the form of alliums can be almost perfect. This one shows off via a sphere of tiny stars, absolutely gorgeous.

Sometimes a slim splash of colour can really make a flower a joy. In the pond, we host a healthy population of Japanese water iris. This one, almost white, with a flick of purple, draws one in. It’s possible to gaze at this for a good while, somehow gently restful.

In a much drier area, 1m tall phlox offer a sweet smell and a cloud of fluffy pale lilac colour.

I am a huge fan of hardy geranium. This is one of my favourites, splashing it’s brightness around. Only in the warest year (probably not this one) can I get this variety to give a second flush of colour, but I will try later.

Another iris really caught my eye this week. I don’t have many of these, yet they pop right out against the green of the garden. A very different feel from the gentle beauty above, this one is bopping at a party.

Last this week, some of my huge poppies have spread to different parts of the garden. This one has showed as a pale pink bloom. Each flower is the size of my hand. Wow.

Did you like my pinky-purple colourful early summer selection for #SixOnSaturday this week? Hope you enjoyed the blooms. And thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, its a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

Lots going on at the start of June. I’m showing some favourite blooms today for #SixOnSaturday, many of which are edible.

Red-flowered broad beans give a big beautiful early splash of colour to the veg garden, and hopefully we’ll be dining on their beans by the middle of June.

Rather more diminutive, I have to dive into the border to clear around this lovely little geum so that it can bloom surrounded by garden thugs.

It was a cool and very wet spring, so I suspect strawberries will be a little late this year, but here they come nonetheless.

Chives offer wonderful flowers in early June, these have a delicious sharp and spicey taste, great for sprinkling on top of a salad.

Simple, small, but due to bring fruit much later in the summer, the delicate flowers on blueberry bushes are now fully engaged.

Last but not least, and certainly not edible. I love the blast of orange from this bright euphorbia.

I guess this post counts as the first from my colourful early summer garden for #SixOnSaturday this week, hope you enjoyed the blooms. And thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, its a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

New blooms are all around as spring accelerates at the end of May. Here are a few of my favourites for this week’s #SixOnSaturday. I’ll start with a stonking dinner-plate sized flower, filling this corner of the garden as my white clematis blooms.

Much more delicate are the first tiny flowers on a diminutive little hardy geranium, each the size of a 10p piece. Wonderful detail in the darker pink veins on each petal.

A classic May bloom comes from the clematis montana that grace the stone walls of my old house.

Roses grow slowly here. this small flower in the first of the year, on a shrub that will produce a flush of tiny blooms soon (sadly not fragrant).

One of the last trees to blossom, quince is just coming out, and will enjoy the 2 days of endless rain we’ve just experienced (about 2cm per day!). I think this tree like to have damp feet, so here’s hoping for a few more fruit this year.

This year, I tried plonking a few camassia blubs in the very boggy, constantly wet, region next to the pond. They didn’t rot in the mud, they have instead delivered gorgeous flowers. The delicate lilac is set of by the what and yellow of the stamens and pollen. A complex and very beautiful flower.

I hope you enjoyed my colourful spring garden for #SixOnSaturday this week. And thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, its a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

POW….the garden explodes. And as always happens in May, the whole garden seems to be filled with aquilegia (I’m not good at weeding them out). It therefore seems fitting to go for an aquilegia special for this week’s #SixOnSaturday. First up, is the basic purple. This must be close to th wild-type as about 70% of the plants have colour like this one.

Some of the flowers that come are doubles. This one, a double pink tone, has a wonderful form.

In stark contrast, perhaps the most surprising is a coupel of plants that offer an almost chocolate brown, with simple spikey flower shapes.

Pale pink appears often, I like the horns on the back of each petal on this one, each ending in a purple point.

A few plants offer the simplest pure white flowers.

This year, there seem to be a wider range of darker pinks too, perhaps I did manage to weed out some of those purples last year.

Just a small sample of the huge numbers of these glorious flowers that bring such a joy to mid spring. I hope you enjoyed my colourful spring garden for #SixOnSaturday this week. And thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, its a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot