I’m just back from a wonderful holiday in Alto Adige (northern Italy, also known as Sud Tyrol), there’s so much to do in the garden. I’ve therefore grabbed a few cheerful shots of yellow loveliness and that might have to do for this week’s #SixOnSaturday

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

Meteorological summer came in with a bit of a wimper with cold haar off the coast. Yet the last couple of days have burned it all back to glorious sunshine. Thus, it has to be red for a red-hot summer feeling for this weeks #SixOnSaturday

Almost red, this slightly orange euphorbia is a hot shock in the border and also great as a cut flower.

Huge, hand-sized poppies always signal the start of summer in my garden. This year it is dry and windless, so upwards they push.

In the driest spots, next to the hot south facing house wall, red valerian has found its happy place.

The first of the peony are out and having a go. There has been a long dry spell here, so I’m not sure how long they will last, but each one is a lushous expression of early summer.

My garden must be host to a very early variety of red hot poker. I seem them everywhere, all summer long, but this one is very much an early summer number.

Last this week is the joy of lupin when there has been a calm dry spell. Straight up, no wind rock, no rain damage. Gorgeous.

How did we get to June so fast when the winter seemed to drag on forever? Ah well, here we are. I must remember to spend some time ambling the borders and focus a bit less on the beg bad (more on that at the end of the month).

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

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

From a warm week, to the next with 4 nights of frost and day-time highs of 7 deg C — I’ve been fleecing the sweet peas. I guess a good thing about a cold snap is that spring bulbs last longer. Let’s celebrate that with a tulip-special for #SixOnSaturday.

I’ve gone for a few new ones this year….perhaps the most purple variety I have tried yet, I like the rich colour of these.

As a contrast, nearby there’s a pot of tulips with a sort of spiky flower, in hot pink. Nice.

I managed to get hold of a range of ‘species tulips’ this year, the ones closest to the wild-type that grow in eastern Turkey. These are lovely, each flower about the size of the top-joint of a thumb. Not out yet, but I bet they burst open soon.

Another pretty pink, this variety are enormous, and the centre of the flower holds a rich black portion.

I think I’m going to like these too when they fully flower, a sort of orange-to-pink, they look like they have been painted.

And finally, last year’s tulip display got a bit out of hand, but I managed to keep a load of bulbs and plant into the borders later. So as well as the pots, I now have some in the garden. This low border looks particularly good with an array of red tulips providing some colour before the perennials get going. It was worth the extra effort.

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

It has been a gorgeously sunny week in Scotland. I’ve been away up north, where it was calm, sunny and 18 deg C…..a week of Scottish Highland paradise. meanwhile, the sunshine has brought the garden on tremendously. Here’s another splash of new season colour.

First alamanchia, a great shrub, I love the way that the red-bronze leaves set off the white blossom.

Last winter, I hacked away at a huge set of old clematis montana set against the stone house wall. They’ve looked ropey, but suddenly a few flowers have arrived.

Also against the house wall, I host a very old pear tree, probably 200 years old, and it spreads it branches round one of the windows. It is just COVERED in blossom this year.

Tulips are coming into their own now. I’ve got some nice new ones in pots, and last year’s are doing well in the garden. I think this little pot is a leftover from last year…still doing well.

Pond plants have just started, some lovely ranunculus, flowering away in buttery yellow.

The pond has been giving us a little trouble for a while. A HUGE waterlily, has been floating up to the surface. Yesterday I plucked up the courage to get in, pull the whole thing out (very heavy) , and chop it up. The pond was very cold lower down, but the sunshine kept me warm. We’ll put about 25% back into the pond and removed all the rotting bits.

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

Despite our Scottish weather turning up the ‘wet and wild’, every time I look around there seems to be a new flower blooming. I do love spring. Let’s celebrate #SixOnSaturday with some blooms. First up, finally my large camellia in the shaded north-facing area has got her act together. Well worth the wait.

Magnolia stellata has also just begun to raise a few shy flowerheads.

Does anyone know why old cherry trees send out blossom on tiny branches coming out from their old thick stems? I don’t know, but mine is up to its usual tricks.

At the other end of the garden, my first rhododendron has started flowering while I had my back turned. How did I miss this?

To end, I went mad on potted tulips last year. This year I couldn’t resist a few bright red ones again. On the right are some new purple ‘species tulip’ — I believe this is one of the species that grows wild in western Turkey…subtle, much smaller, yet gorgeous.

Bang! ….for the finale, a new colour for me this year, a really ‘pinky pink’ pot full of tall elegant tulips…hope the rain and wind don’t destroy them.

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.

A long weekend for some, but in Scotland, not all employers offer the holiday, mine included. So just a normal weekend…..but fairly promising weather, including some sunshine to bring on flowers and growth. In which case, it’s high time I showed you my daffs at their best. hard to know where to start, lets go with my new favourite, some delicate white ones.

As a contrast, how about a bright orange centre setting off more standard yellow petals?

I do like the gentle colours, this one is a rather pleasant white with just the palest yellow centre.

This variety has a very similar shape, feels like someone has turned up the yellow button, to deliver yellow petals and a pinky-orange centre.

More frills in the middle, and more colour, but less is more on the petals, and yes, there’s also a free insect (tiny little fly, I don’t know what!).

And to finish, of course some lovely all-butter-yellow daffs. Gotta love how narcissus bring us properly into spring.

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.