We’ve had a bit of a showery week and the temperatures have dropped significantly. Overnight temps have been down as low as 6 degrees. The garden seems to have stalled a little bit but there’s still plenty of things to talk about here in Six On Saturday this week. Thanks as ever to our host Jim, whose blog is here, and the particpant’s guide is here if you wish to join in.
I’m still enjoying the tulips though it’s become clear this week that a lot of the bulbs I planted last year have come up blind. First up is the display I planned last year, based on something we saw in RHS Bridgewater. I think I got a couple of the bags mixed up as there are some taller plants on the outside and I had planned them to all be in the middle and drop in height towards the outside of the bed.
This next tulip is one I have grown several times before but as usual I can’t figure out the variety, as I think it was part of a mixed bag of bulbs. It’s possibly Red Riding Hood.
Next up is a rhodedendron that we bought last year – it is a beautiful pink flower. It was in flower when we bought it so this is my first chance to see how it gets its buds and when it starts to flower. I love the leaves.
I’ve been a lover of hydrangeas for many years, I started off with just one and currently have 8 or 9 plants. Every year I pick one or two of them to severely prune as I know it does them good. This particular plant was purchased three years ago and came completely pruned, to about 2 inches of stalks so I try to do that to each plant every few years. The leaves on this plant have come through beautifully so I know I’m doing the right thing – it’s just scary!
Delphiniums are a plant I absolutely adore but don’t have much luck with them. I had three plants last year, one of which was completely eaten by slugs. These two specimens survived the onslaught though they didn’t flower last year. I’m hoping for a little luck this year – I may move them up onto a wall to keep them out of the most obvious routes through my patio space.
And finally this week another update on my hosta. I love them at all points in their life cycle but probably most of all now, when the leaves are so attractive.
That’s all for this week. Thanks again to Jim for the inspiration. See you next week.
The Garrett Garden 
A perfect hosta! Lovely to see. Good luck with the delphiniums, they are tricky but beautiful. They have caused me much heartache in the past. Fine display of tulip!
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thank you!!
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Well done with the hydrangeas, I’m not great with them yet, but there is room for improvement on my behalf!
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They are very forgiving and do seem to really benefit from the hard pruning. It’s a great way to get them back into a pleasing shape if they’ve gotten a little unruly. I just can’t bring myself to do them all in the same year 🤣
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Your Tulips are beautiful! Mine aren’t blooming yet, but it won’t be long now (if the rabbits don’t eat them…the ones that are caged should be OK). That Hosta is beautiful, too. I love Delphiniums and have grown them many times over the years. I’ve been frustrated, too, when they’ve disappeared. I’ve read several sources saying Delphiniums are short-lived perennials, returning only 2-3 years before disappearing. That has been my experience. I should plant some again, though, because they’re beautiful and they’re great cut flowers.
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Thank you! Tulips are my favourite bulbs. Fingers crossed for the delphiniums. Never had enough flowers to cut them.
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What a lovely collection of tulips you have. I’ve given up with delphiniums, they don’t seem to like my garden conditions, I hope you have more success than me. I love that gorgeous hosta!
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Thank you! This is the first time I’ve grown them in one of my raised beds and I’m really happy with how they turned out.
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