At this time of year, i always wish I’d booked some time off to spend more time in the garden, rather than for going away…doesn’t seem to matter how much time you have in may, it is never enough! As spring surges on, here are some pure white (almost) blooms for this week’s #SixOnSaturday.

A calming bloom from one of my rowan trees will start us off this week. Look lovely, though have an odd, almost ‘too sweet’ perfume.

Insects are abounding now, a bee is enjoying the nectar provided by an elegant swathe of Solomon’s seal.

Along with the pesky Spanish Bluebells come some variants in pure white. It would be nice to have more of these, they glow and glisten in the evening.

Strawberry flowers are a little more interesting when you move close. This one was, as a some sort of hover fly bee mimic was sitting nearby.

Into the veg garden, and broad beans are looking very promising. These do have a really pretty flower.

My last offering this week is the wonderful floatiness of cow parsley. Its grows all over my garden, and right now the drifts it makes a simply a delight.

Stay safe, take care out there, and don’t forget to follow the crowd on various instances of the Fediverse. Join the sixes on Mastodon via #SixOnSaturday, but we need a few more folk to toot on the topic: come join us. 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/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens. And I’m now mostly on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

A warm dry spell. Garden seems to grow a few cm per day. I’m actually having to water the veg beds. In May! And it is becoming hard to try and share the lovely lushness of my favourite month. So glancing around, it seemed time to start on some colour themes for #SixOnSaturday. It had to be blue.

Mostly because the Spanish bluebells are totally rampant. I do need to try and pull some up, but its hard to do so when they offer so much beautiful blue.

Very soon another huge thug will come to dominate. For now, aquilegia are just coming into their own. What lovely shape, form and colour.

A rather sad shrub, seems to be a bit dead and ugly below the 1m top, but on the top…ceanothus is glowing with blueness. Perhaps I will risk a major prune once the flowering is over.

Vinca (periwinkle) creeps around the dry south facing walls of the house, makes it through all weathers and loves a drought.

A local wildflower, green alkanet (is it related to speedwell?) pushes up to 1m with huge furry green stems and delicate little flower. I guess it keeps the uglier weeds down.

Perennial cornflower has come from nowhere these last few weeks and is now lush and full of flower. Another plant that loves a dry spot.

I hope this weeks six brought some joy and didn’t make you feel blue. My garden is certainly a welcome solace for me at the moment. Stay safe, take care out there, and don’t forget to follow the crowd on various instances of the Fediverse. Join the sixes on Mastodon via #SixOnSaturday, but we need a few more folk to toot on the topic: come join us. 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/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens. And I’m now mostly on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

The speed of growing lushness in the garden is something that newly amazes me year after year. The cold of winter drifts away, and WoooooSH, everything grows and grows and grows as the evenings draw out. This week, I’m using colour and shape to celebrate what I guess is now the middle of my favourite spring season for this week’s #SixOnSaturday

The delicacy of apple blossom is my first this week. There is something very special about the gentle drift from white to pink across each petal. Not to mention the delicate scent.

Another spring favourite, moving through the rhododendron collection, a white one is now throwing itself into a hedge full of bloom, Here’s one.

Just a regular garden fern, but WOW, the perfect spiral it displays just before unfurling is a true wonder of nature.

May would not be May without a flush of bluebells. These are the Spanish ones. I do need to get a grip on removing some as they really are taking over the garden. I do love the colour.

And even more wow is the shocking pink of the candelabra primula, now in their second year, they are very happy in the boggy pond margin.

Another blue to end. A recent purchase, I wonder if I can coax this meconopsis to make it through more than 1 season. We shall see. For now, it is glorious.

Stay safe, take care out there, and don’t forget to follow the crowd on various instances of the Fediverse. Join the sixes on Mastodon via #SixOnSaturday, but we need a few more folk to toot on the topic: come join us. 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/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens. And I’m now mostly on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

A dreich week in eastern Scotland, low cloud, mist, chilly easterly breeze. Yet I had to get out and pop the plant supports in: growth is bursting forth. With too many blooms to choose from, I’ve gone off-piste this week to show you how my home-grown veg is coming on for #SixOnSaturday.

I will start in the greenhouse. This year, I’m pleased I’ve left the courgettes in here, as there have been many cold nights. I’ve only got 2 decent plants so far, so busy sowing more seeds. This is waiting for warmer nights to be put into a hopefully-sunny spot.

Lots of tomatoes are now braving the greenhouse. This one is a ‘sprawling bush’ variety, called Urbukany, should be producing fruit in 6 weeks or so. It’s in its final position now, in prime position in the south-west corner of the greenhouse bench.

I tried a new trick this spring. Growing pak choi in a tub that can be moved in and out of the greenhouse as the weather dictates. Has been very successful, with no slug or bird damage at all. And I have baby plants ready to go in for crop 2.

Into the cold of the veg bed. Broad beans were planted out in mid-March. They have shivered their way into growth but are beginning to kick into growth now.

I recently planted out a few broccoli. Despite being thrashed about by a gale, they are looking perky now.

Last, but very much not least, I am in the process of planting a new strawberry bed. Although not all of the plants are in yet, some of them are developing flowers. Lots of promise for the eating season ahead.

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