The season is turning. I noticed light in the sky as I drove home from work the other night. Colour is coming back to the garden, mostly tiny little pops of colour. Here are some of them, I’m going to start this month’s #SixOnSaturday with February Flowers.

This weeks most lovely discovery is the early flowering of tiny winter iris. The windowbox must be warmer than the garden, even though it gets no sun at this time of year. What lushious colour!

I wish I could somehow display the wonderful smell that sarccococus give off. The little flowers are fascinating when viewed close-up, but the smell is rich and almost lily-like.

My favourite hellobore is tricky to see as he nods his little head down. A view from slight below does him justice.

Tiny winter lovliness is now appearing in the woodland borders. Aconites offer such a cheery yellow against the brown of old sticks and leaves.

Pulmonaria have just pushed out their first few flowers too. Not many yet, but perhaps enough to feed the first few hungry bees when they appear (I haven’t seen any yet).

The best blooms of winter, almost at their peak now. Snowdrops of course. This close up shows the beautiful green stripe detail near the outer ends of the shorter petals. And I didn’t notice until looking more closely, there’s a slightly out of focus fly, possibly enjoying the nectar?

I hope you enjoyed my winter blooms for #SixOnSaturday this week. 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

The last weekend in January has come, bringing the light with it. Even when I’m driven in from the garden by cold winds and squally rain, the sun is still up until 4.30pm now……feels better. This week, I’ve managed to go mostly green for my #SixOnSaturday, and include a couple of proper winter flowers. It was fun to collect some garden colour, even though quite a bit of it comes from the greenhouse this week.

I’ll start with the very best of the season, witch hazel is now in full bloom, a strange but lovely shrub.

Now for the greens. As I strode in from the drive towards the greenhouse, some wonderful moss on one of the old apple trees caught my eye, looking almost lurid in the low sunlight.

And then into the greenhouse. A small lemon tree avoiding the frosts does look a little lacking in nutrients, yet the yellow veining is a compelling pattern. Are the tiny white spots just pores? i think so.

Summer geranium usually make it through by spending 3 months in the greenhouse too. This one is enjoying a sunny January morning.

The last greenhouse green is a little experiment. A California poppy did really well for me in a pot (they don’t self-seed well, I fear its too cold and wet over winter), so it has the treat of a greenhouse winter. So far, so good.

Last, but not at all least, back in the borders I’ve managed to clear away last years dead stuff, to find snow drops emerging and bursting into bloom.

I hope you enjoyed my mostly green, hopeful #SixOnSaturday this week. 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

The cold snap has gone, we’re expecting dangerous winds tomorrow. There’s not much incentive to get into the garden. But I struggled out to find six lovely things. here’s my #SixOnSaturday.

The first is a bit of a cheat. Some daffs seemed to be coming up a bit quickly, so I moved the pot into the greenhouse. Here’s a cute little January daffodil.

On a bright, sunny afternoon, the light caught the structure in a twisty hazel tree.

I’ve been pleased to see some signs of spring. Furry magnolia buds are coming.

Sempervivum, I’m never sure what they are for, but on a cold winter windowsill, they do at least look to be thriving, hanging in there waiting for less harsh days.

I have a witch hazel hiding in a shady corner. We really must be approaching the lighter days, it is just about to flower.

Last, but not least, something green. Somehow, parsley seems to be surviving the winter storms.

That’s my #SixOnSaturday for this week. Join the sixes on Mastodon or other instances in the Fediverse via #SixOnSaturday, 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 the former birdsite, for those who must: @JamesLStephens. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

If you squint a bit, and it’s a clear afternoon, it really does feel now like those nights are drawing out, at least a bit. And there are some signs of new growth in the garden and in the greenhouse. Here’s a hopeful #SixOnSaturday, showcasing a great mix of colour and form in my winter garden.

First, take a look at some random bulb growth showing some cheer in the long-light before sunset. These could be daffs, but I suspect they are probably Spanish bluebells.

At the other end of the garden, wallflower are blooming. I like the fact that this variety have both yellow and red buds/flowers.

Buds are starting to bulge now, here are some soft camellia buds against those gorgeous shiny leaves.

I keep myself sane through winter by trying a few things in the greenhouse. This year radicchio are having a go. There’s not much growth since November, but they are alive and their intricate colours are a treat.

Despite the frost and the shady location, sarcococca are flowering, and producing a surprisingly strong, sweet (almost too sweet for me) fragrance. I will bring a few stems into the house for a vase, let’s see if we can cope with their scent indoors.

Last, but not least, my favourite hellebore is now in bud, this is going to be a lovely dark purple flower…looking forward to it.

That’s my #SixOnSaturday for this week. Join the sixes on Mastodon or other instances in the Fediverse via #SixOnSaturday, 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 the former birdsite, for those who must: @JamesLStephens. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

A New Year, with enough rain in the first week to fill January! Luckily, there were a few bright times for a nip out into the garden. I had a good look around to find what’s bringing garden joy as the year begins. Here are my favourites for #SixOnSaturday

My gardening year starts in the first week of January with a ritual sowing of the first chilli seeds. You can see them being sown in the greenhouse, but they will come into a base-heated propagator in the warm house, before graduating to a warm windowsill for many weeks to come.

I would not have bet that the first decent flower I saw this year was a primrose, but here are 3 shivering little blooms in a sheltered corner.

Some of my flower beds will need to be cut back very soon, rather than waiting for their usual spring haircut. Seemed like a good time to enjoy the last of the fennel seed heads.

Over the last few years i have come to love hardy geranium. Even in the gloom of winter the plants are stealing themselves for the year ahead. Bring on spring!

Looking back up towards the sky, hazel catkins are budding.

Last but not least, no flowers yet, despite the mild wet weather, but there is promise in a little clump of snowdrops, they are on their way.

That’s my #SixOnSaturday for this week. Who knows what the climate situation will bring us this year? Whatever it is, I hope you don’t experience too many disruptions to personal circumstances. Join the sixes on Mastodon or other instances in the Fediverse via #SixOnSaturday, 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 the former birdsite, for those who must: @JamesLStephens. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

It’s nearly the end of the year. Before looking forward to the new season, I want to review a few highlights of the year, so here are 6×6 from every other month!

Back in February, the season began to kick off nicely. Some wonderful flowers, including a tree (spot the tiny red flower next to the hazel catkin) and a ‘wildflower’.

Daffodil and their cousins are a flower I always look forward too, though the season is short. Here they were in April.

Hot colours emerged in the early June flower borders.

From August, I always love a veg show, and won prizes for a few of my entries this year. Here are my favourite 6 from show week.

Delightful dahlia are now firmly my late summer love, they did not disappoint in September.

For my last set of highlights, there will still loads of flowers blooming, well into a warmish October. It felt wonderful at the time (though feels a lifetime ago at the very dark end of the year).

That’s it for this week, and for 2023. I hope the new year, when it comes, heralds a refreshing waft of garden scent and a vivid swathe of colour.

Join the sixes on Mastodon or other instances in the Fediverse via #SixOnSaturday, 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 the former birdsite, for those who must: @JamesLStephens. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

Happy solstice all. The darkest day has come and gone and we’re on the haul back towards the light. Wonderful. It felt a lot easier to find my #SixOnSaturday this week.

Despite the deep darkness of winter, there’s been much mildness so far this winter. Here are some winter veg that have weathered the storms so far. First, chard will manage through a mild frost, I’ve weeded carefully in the hope that a bit more light will allow a bit more growth.

Leeks have been standing strong too, making a great winter veg to pop into casseroles and soups. Long may they grow….

To get a bit seasonal now: I plan to add lots of this sage to some shop-bought stuffing, and some extra garlic to make a delicious ‘Italian Xmas Stuffing’.

For the turn of the solar year, I offer some hopeful buds on a soon-to-flower hellebore.

It wouldn’t be mid-winter without holly berries. These are from the last tree, now full of feasting field-fare. i think these must taste less good than those from the rest of the garden. They certainly look luscious.

I will end with a seasonal wreath, with holly, ivy, bay, and other green goodies. This will need a regular top-up, as blackbirds have learned how to land and sample the berries.

Seasons greetings, whether you celebrate the new solar year, or the glory of the consumer Xmas, its great for all to stop and have a wee rest in the deep dark. I’ll be celebrating gently. Join the sixes on Mastodon or other instances in the Fediverse via #SixOnSaturday, 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 the former birdsite, for those who must: @JamesLStephens. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

We’re into those dull dark December days. I was scrapping around doing a bit of garden tidying yesterday, and really struggled to get inspired about showing you six things from my garden. But I have managed to find a few things that cheered me up. I hope my #SixOnSaturday will cheer you up too.

I’ll starts with skimia, a good hardy winter plant, just coming into its own with its strange purple buds and purple-edged leaves.

I was surprised to find a little pot of species tulips bidding for some light as they push up their little shoots. Seems a bit early? Ah well.

There are some good seed heads around. Even on a dull day, teasel offers lots of spiky detail.

I have had some remarkable success this year with pak choi. These went in sometime in autumn, probably late September, and seem to have come through hard frost, and even some snow. Here they are still slowly growing.

Another plant still offering a few tall stems and seeds is herb fennel. The heads look great against a rather bleak sky.

Finally for this week, I have never managed to keep a dhalia flowering into December. I’ve left one going in the greenhouse and it is STILL producing flowers. Lovely.

I hope you enjoyed my dank, dark #SixOnSaturday. By this time next week we’ll be past the solstice and the light will be on its way back….yeyhhhh. Join the sixes on Mastodon or other instances in the Fediverse via #SixOnSaturday, 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 on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

What a struggle it is in December to manage to even enter the garden during daylight hours. A blizzard of snow this week has been rapidly followed by a deluge of snowmelt and rain, it has barely got light. So this week’s #SixOnSaturday are a bit of a mis-mash of frosty snowy times.

First, my garden hosts an ancient sundial, at least a couple of hundred years old. Local experts have suggested it was a weeding gift, with the newly wed’s initials carved into the top surface.

Hard frost really sets off some still-standing seed heads.

Frosted roses are lovely too, these look a lot like they’ve been crystalised in sugar.

Meanwhile, in the greenhouse, a potted cosmos has had one last blast at trying to flower. Heroic for December!

And then came the snow and cold, freezing the pond, making the garden gorgeously white.

But bamboos in the courtyard flopped a little, making the exit from the house into a winter jungle adventure.

I hope you enjoyed my wintry #SixOnSaturday. Join the sixes on Mastodon or other instances in the Fediverse via #SixOnSaturday, 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 on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

Winter started this week, with the onset of December, and here she comes with -4 degC frosts. So where better to look in the garden for material to celebrate my #SixOnSaturday. I’ll start with a simple leaf, the sun bleeding through it’s almost translucent skin while frost provides an edgy highlight.

I’m pretty sure that my hardy winter veg will recover from being deep frozen. For now, frost provides a pretty sprinkle to enhances the curves and bumps of the Cavalo Nero kale.

In the borders there are seed heads galore. Perhaps my favourite comes from the statuesque wildflower teasel.

Although it is fun to also let some veg go to seed. This is the seed head left from a lovely purple leek flower.

And crocosmia can also have a good solid set of seeds to display, at least until winter storms flatten the lot.

Last, but not least, I go back to the last few autumn leaves, holding sharp splinters of frost on what has been a very chilly morning.

Join the sixes on Mastodon or other instances in the Fediverse via #SixOnSaturday, 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 on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot