I managed most of Friday in the garden this week. Although the wind was howling, there was lots of sun, a warm greenhouse, and a spring-like feeling, as I stripped out an old strawberry bed and got it ready for growing other stuff. But that’s a story for another day. For my #SixOnSaturday, I’m going to show some of the signs of life that are now appearing all over.

First, I’m so glad that I planted those fiddly little early iris bulbs. First up, a bright new variety, on show for the first time this year, I love them.

Second are more little iris. These are a more traditional colour for me, and they do pop up in tubs that I’d forgotten about, like this one.

I do admire the way that wallflower. slowing unfurl their flowers, one at a time. I can’t work out whether the buds start yellow and the petals turn fibrent red as they unfurl, or if I’m going to get a range of flowers colours. I love the furriness of the new buds too.

I did plant some new crocus too. They have been a bit slow to arrive, I do like the delicate lilac colour.

Higher up, male flowers, the catkins on a twisty hazel, have been going for a while now. Today was the first time I spotted those tiny, bright red, female flowers. There are a couple here, one to the left of the right-most catkin, the other further left, in the sunlight.

Later in the year, I know I will be infuriated, but today, I welcome the bright yellow on my garden’s first dandilion of the year.

I hope you enjoyed my #SixonSaturday. Stay safe, take care out there, and don’t forget to follow the crowd on Mastodon. We are starting to get the sixes going on Mastodon (other instances in the Fediverse are available), but we need a few more folk to toot on the topic: come join us. Al 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/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens. And I’m now mostly on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot.

I have not had a lot of time for contemplation of the garden this week. There is the still-slow progress towards spring, bringing some cheer and Highway Robin has me fully trained now, he’s robbin’ me of all the birdseed. So my #SixOnSaturday is a medley of bits and pieces.

I’ll start with that lovely robin, who not only feeds from my hand, but come and sings by my shoulder if the feeders are not full (“where’s the food, get the food, gimme more”). Its hard not to imagine that this is a stern look, for failing to feed him — I was, in fact, trying to clear some of the flower beds.

Last week, I was excited to note that my favourite hellebore was about to flower. Here it is, I love the rich purple shades.

Greenhouse time is slowly increasing for me, partly as I’ve been a bit below-par and it’s easy garden ‘work’ (anyone else have a seemingly endless mild cough and general fatigue?), partly because it almost feels a bit warmish in there some days. I’ve overwintered my lemon tree successfully. There will be lemons for spring G-n-T’s.

I’m glad I wintered a few little chard plants. Garden ones have been heavily frosted. I’m hoping these will grow away soon, as there’s more daylight hitting the greenhouse, and we’ll have fresh spring greens.

I’ve had a strawberry bed for some years in a corner of my veg patch. The yield was a little disappointing in summer 2022. Perhaps it is time to refresh. Here are some runners that I’m hoping will get a head start, to be planted out in a few weeks time to form a new bed. I might treat myself to a few garden-centre plants as well, to give the season a boost.

The December cold spell must be responsible for a slow snowdrop season here. The weather has been mild for pretty much all of 2023 so far, yet the snowdrops are STILL going strong. These ones have a cute little ‘green bridge’ pattern on the inner petals when fully in flower, the details are a delight. Are we now at peak flowering? Time will tell.

I hope you enjoyed my #SixonSaturday. We are starting to get the sixes going on Mastodon (other instances in the Fediverse are available), but we need a few more folk to toot on the topic: come join us. Al 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/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens. And I’m now mostly on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot.

We’ve just passed the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox (know as Candlemass in the UK, Groundhog Day in the US), the nights are really drawing out, and my mood is gradually improving. Even better, I’ve found six ACTUAL FLOWERS to show you for my #SixOnSaturday this week.

Aconites always come early to greet the light. I don’t have many but their rich yellow makes them stand out proud.

The intense sweet musky smell of sarcococca is something I’ve never been sure of; the delicate little flowers are a winner though.

I grow pulmonaria as ground cover (to try and keep blueberry bushes moist). They make a very useful ‘first lunch’ for any bees around. I did spot a couple of honey bees the other day, I guess from my neighbours hive. Hope they got their lunch.

I was very pleased to have brushed away some moss and leaves while on a garden-tidy this week. A few clumps of crocus appeared. These are a pale, pale yellow that open up to a brighter colour with a hint of orange.

I waited ALL of January for the witch-hazel, finally it is in flower. there is something SO compelling about the tiny raggedy flowers that light up a dark corner of the front garden.

I’ve saved for last one of my favourite flowers of the year. A rich dark hellibore is coming (and being photobombed by a clump of snowdrops).

I hope you enjoyed my #SixonSaturday. Stay safe, take care out there, and don’t forget to follow the crowd on Mastodon. We are starting to get the sixes going on Mastodon (other instances in the Fediverse are available), but we need a few more folk to toot on the topic: come join us. Al 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/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens. And I’m now mostly on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot.