I told myself, no matter what, in 2019 every week I would find six things for the weekly meme hosted on The Propagator’s Blog. Despite it feeling quite raw outside today and suffering from a cold (again!) I ventured out as far as my patio. There is a lot of sign of life in the containers which is exciting.
1. Pelargonium
Despite looking very dead around the edges, this pretty pelargonium, without a label so remains unnamed, is still flowering. I’m going to brave the cold this afternoon and tidy the dead leaves and take a cutting, just in case. It is right up against the wall so fairly sheltered and I am hoping if I put a fleece bag over it then it’ll get through any really cold winter snap.
2. Crocus
The crocus in all the pots on the patio are slowly popping through but this pot, filled to the brim with crocus bulbs in November is full of the promise of spring.
3. Tree Peony
My precious tree peony dug up from my last garden and brought here in April in a pot, struggled a little during the summer. I wrapped it up in a fleece bag recently opening the top up during the daytime and remembering to close it at night. It is looking extremely healthy and full of buds. I know they don’t like being moved which is why it was not happy this summer but I had hoped to plant it in the flower garden on my allotment, but it does mean moving it again.
ANY ADVICE PLEASE!
4. Patio Rose
This pretty apricot coloured patio rose is tucked away behind larger pots for winter protection. It is full of shoots, so maybe in its own little micro-climate it thinks spring is around the corner. I’ll keep a watch on the weather forecasts and rush out with some bubble wrap if it looks like snow is on the way, which I hope won’t be.
5. Hellebore
There are a couple of hellebores in one of my containers as I don’t believe you can have winter plant displays without them. When I bought them, late November, they were in flower and a very pretty white. They have now all turned green so the contrast with the Osmanthus which, although variegated, is also mainly green with just a few yellow tips.
6. Salvia – Love and Kisses
I planted a Salvia ‘Love and Kisses’ in my daughter’s garden which really took off and looked fabulous. Although some advice says it is hardy, I didn’t want to chance it so took a few cuttings. Without a greenhouse at the moment, I made a little bubble wrap house for it and left it on my patio. Unfortunately a tiny little slug also decided to take up residence and has been nibbling at the leaves, I’ve brought it inside now with the hope the central heating doesn’t upset it too much (it’s by the patio doors). As soon as I have my mini-greenhouse on the allotment I’ll move it. Maybe it might be wiser to leave it outside during the day and bring it in at night. Gardening is full of having to make decisions.
Made it – managed six! As winter continues I think I’ll have to be a bit more abstract with my Six on Saturday. Peep over the garden fence on The Propagator’s Blog to see what other gardeners have chosen for their Six on Saturday.