PotsandPlots

After the unseasonal warmth, we’ve had wind and rain for much of the last week, and the garden has loved it. My new pond, which I feared was going to dry out, is almost overflowing, so much rain we have had.

The winds have played havoc in places, most notably on my 8+ foot teasels that are growing at the end of the garden. Having stood as upright as sentries up until now, by Thursday afternoon, they were 45 degrees to the ground.

I’ve had to use some canes to truss them up. To be honest, if they last 49 days, I’ll be happy. I’m not very good at building structures.

Nevertheless, “structure” is the theme for this week.

SixOnSaturday is curated by Jim at Garden Ruminations, and you can find the participation guidelines here.

1. Here are my propped-up teasels. As Woody might say, “Reach for the sky.”

2. Last year, I bought myself a copy of Sarah Raven’s A Year Full of Pots, mainly for bulb inspiration, but within I found Cobaea Scandens or the Cup and Saucer Vine. I sowed some seeds early in January, as recommended. This one was the first to germinate. This photo was taken inside, through my conservatory window. It’s now well over 6 feet tall and heading towards my guttering…

3. I’ve never really grown seeds before, but buoyed by some success last year and a few early germinations this year, I have started to try more and more.

It’s definitely more time-consuming, but also a lot cheaper. Well, assuming they germinate! I’ve not had much luck with Sarah Raven seeds, if I’m honest, but my harvested thunbergia and hollyhocks have come alive, as did some new Alcea rosea ‘Nigra.’ (Black hollyhocks).

I’ve also been growing some Cosmos and Dianthus carthusianorum, which I am going to have lots of, as they have both taken very nicely. In fact, I planted out some Cosmos yesterday. (The first batch I did earlier in the year, but they were mostly eaten, and I may have sown them too early as they were weak and leggy.)

My seed trays were all over the floor, and after flipping one over after treading on it, I needed a better solution. Then I remembered that I had an old trestle table in the garden, which, for now, has been repurposed as a potting bench.

4. Now for some more natural structures. Is there anything more beautiful than a maple key? Especially these young ones, which are a beautiful, rich red colour.

5. When I first got into gardening, I wanted plants for shade, as we have a big eucalyptus. Acanthus were recommended in a catalogue that had come through the door (Sarah Raven, again!). I’ve actually moved them once, as they were overwhelming the original place I had put them.

They’re not without their issues – I’m still digging out plants from the place where I originally planted them, but the spires always look impressive.

The stop-go sign was dumped near our house a few years back. I still haven’t really done very much with it!

6. More pots. I have this lovely coleus and a fennel in the same pot, and the different textures are interesting together, especially with my black banana plant. This hasn’t quite got going yet this year, but it always grows new leaves at an astonishing rate. If you look carefully, you can see another next to the garden office. I bought them a few years ago, and apart from the fact that they take up a large amount of my conservatory for six months of the year, I love them.

That’s it for this week. See you next time, and thanks for looking at my #SixonSaturday