Six on Saturday: 13.4.19

I’ve enjoyed the first week of my holiday. We’ve got out few times as a family and just Alice and myself went to Bugtopia. I’m making good progress clearing the front garden. The purchase of a mattock has made clearing the hebes easier. The garden is really coming to life and it’s starting to become harder to select six. But there were a few stand out jobs and flowers this week.
1. Hydrangea Chop Time

The hydrangea mopheads were left on for the Winter. But as lots of growth has started with the warm weather I figured it was time for their yearly haircut. The mops are gone and Alice enjoyed waving them around as she bounced up and down the builder’s plank.

2. Skimmia Japonica

The Skimmia has been slow to get going. I’ve kept it in a pot to give it the soil conditions it likes. They make for good all year interest. The evergreen leaves stay looking nice, the buds, berries and flowers make for a long season of interest. Though looking back at the photo I spotted all the grass I needed to weed from the pot.

3. Water Bird Feeder

I bought a reduced hanging water feeder a few weeks back. Adding the birdbath brought in a lot of the larger birds last year. This one is designed to attract smaller birds. You have to fill it then turn it to hang. This is a little awkward but if the Summer is like last year I think the birds will appreciate another water source.

4. Aquilegia Winky double

We went to the garden centre last Sunday. I let Alice choose a plant for my mum for mothers day as she went on holiday so we hadn’t seen her. Alice chose this and then wanted one for herself. It’s gone into a shady spot near a self-seeded one coming up.

5. Tulip ‘tres chic’

This was a wedding present last year. It’s a rather elegant narrow tulip. I haven’t really grown any like this previously. I’ve avoided the standard Dutch shape so far and mainly gone for parrots but I like these.

6. Lamprocapnos spectabilis ‘bleeding heart’

Bleeding heart is always a joy when this returns in Spring. Such as a fascinating flower. I have a couple dotted about the garden and they seem to come back reliably each year

I’ve bought a white variety “Alba” to go in the front garden. The building work may not be complete before this finishes flowering but even if I plant it after it should come back fine. I think it’ll look good rising up through some of the planned shorter ferns.

I’m off out to Hull beer festival held in Trinity church so I won’t be around. I will catch up on everyone else’s sixes later or tomorrow. I’m never sure whether a beer festival in a church is sacrilegious but it probably draws in more to the church than any other day of the year. In the meantime check out the participants guide if you fancy taking part. Be sure to check today’s six from the propagator to find other six on Saturday blogs in the comments. Have fun everyone!

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