Come for the plants. Stay for the books.

#SixOnSaturday 12/09/2026

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2–4 minutes

I don’t have any pictures to prove it, but I mowed the lawn this week. I can’t remember the last time I did that. This led to an unprecedented bout of weeding. I was in the zone and didn’t want to interrupt this sudden desire to do gardening’s most boring job. As a result, a rushed 6 for me this week.

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

1. I can’t begin to describe how little this clematis looks like this, but I just couldn’t get my phone to pick out the colour properly. In reality, this final flourish of my clematis is a much deeper, almost imperial purple.

2. Some stachys that I added to the garden this year. It didn’t flower, but the silver foliage is adding a nice edge to one of my new flower beds. I only bought 3 plants, but I’ll definitely be adding some more next year, as I’ve been impressed with the effect they’ve created, even if it doesn’t currently stretch very far.

3. This is a classic angle for my garden in the spring. The best view in May and June. With the acer on the turn, there’s still some Autumn interest. After battling slugs earlier in the year, the Salvia Amistad have now grown significantly and are flowering nicely. I’ve taken some cuttings, and I shall cover the plants in the ground with fleece over the winter, so hopefully I can get them to return next year one way or another

4 Last week I showed a picture of my half-removed weigela. It didn’t take very long to remove the rest. I’ve plugged the gap with a pot-bound Cornus Anny’s Winter Orange; hopefully it will thrive now that it’s in the ground.

I’ve added a few low plants at the front edge of garden, and have been tidying up the rest of the bed. It’s still very much a work in progress. I’m waiting for another plant delivery! I removed one set of Rudbeckia to the back garden, and I’ve made some space for the second lot to be transferred too.

If all goes well, I’m also going to remove the hydrangea and transplant the ill-placed silver Teucrium fruticans to form a hedge under the window. I’ve taken some cutting of the Teucrium as I’m not sure it will take to being moved. I also have cuttings of the two hyndrangea, so I can regrow them in a more suitable spot in the back garden.

5 The Rudbeckia have mostly been looking a bit forlorn this year and required a lot of watering. They’re adding a little late summer cheer to the front right now, but I am going to replace them, moving this lot to the back.

6. Another Cobaea watch photo. I managed to get a couple of seeds to germinate and grow. One of them I put out the front. It fared less well than its counterpart at the back, I think because it took a blasting in the initial heatwave we had. It’s now huge, reaching our second storey windows. There have been no flowers yet. A few have withered on the vine, but perhaps I’ll get on or two before the frosts come.

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

12 responses to “#SixOnSaturday 12/09/2026”

  1. fredgardener Avatar
    fredgardener

    The acer at #3 is lovely, and its autumn colours will soon be appearing. As for the Cobaea, I’ve tried germinating it twice—it always worked, but I never got any flowers before winter set in. Every time, I tell myself I need to start the seeds earlier. Fingers crossed that it works out for you. !
    I’m discovering your blog today and really enjoying it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Robin Avatar
      Robin

      Thanks Fred, I discovered yours today too. It’s currently open on my laptop, waiting for some time for a deeper dive! I planted my Cobaea seeds in my conservatory in January. The one at the back of the house has had lots of flowers (you can see some in earlier Sixes) and is still going strong.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. offtheedgegardening Avatar
    offtheedgegardening

    You have been working hard. I feel that “let’s get sorted” urge too. After our crazy summer, when to be honest not much could be done but watering, we are all raring to go! Lovely clematis, beautiful colour, and the acer is wonderful.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Robin Avatar
      Robin

      Yeah, there’s something about the “back to school” feel in the air that makes me want to revolutionise the garden!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. wittysarcasticbookclub Avatar
    wittysarcasticbookclub

    Wow, you accomplished a lot! I’ve never been able to keep as much as a houseplant alive and I loved seeing your photos. Have a great weekend!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Robin Avatar
      Robin

      Thank you! I have been drawn into gardening a little bit more each year. Now it’s a borderline obsession! Have a great weekend, also!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. whatcathyreadnext Avatar
    whatcathyreadnext

    I have stachys in my south facing front garden and they seed themselves everywhere, including in gravel, so if you get any to flower you may not need to purchase more. Also mine bulked up fast and I was able to divide them last autumn.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Robin Avatar
      Robin

      I was wondering if I could divide mine. They’ve bulked out but not flowered. They’re probably not in a prime position, but the foliage is doing good work.

      Like

  5. KathrinS Avatar
    KathrinS

    Wow, the Cobaea looks like it’s doing really well! It would be lovely to get some flowers.

    My stachys also hasn’t flowered yet. I’ve had it for two years, but the first year was in a pot. Maybe in 2027…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Robin Avatar
      Robin

      To be honest if the Stachys never flowers the leaves are so lovely it doesn’t matter.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. One Man And His Garden Trowel Avatar
    One Man And His Garden Trowel

    Snap with the lawn mowing! Stachys is one of those plants I can’t resist touching when I see one.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Beth@PlantPostings.com Avatar
    Beth@PlantPostings.com

    Well, I would say your rushed “six” are impressive. Lots of late-summer interest there! The vining Cobaea is impressive–continuing to climb the wall, even above the trellis. Very nice.

    Liked by 1 person

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