Well, the last week has been dominated by rain and doesn’t look like we’ll get much time in the garden this weekend. But it’s helping reestablish the lawn again after building work. It’s time to look at my six. If you fancy taking part in six on Saturday check the participant guide.
1. The view from above
It’s a while since I did the view from above. The view shows you my worn lawn. The builders had boards and we had to move some of the patio furniture and pots onto the lawn so I’ve been working repairing it. The ground has been spiked and new grass seed has been put on. I could do with adding a layer of topsoil but I haven’t managed a trip to get some yet. The rain is helping a lot and I can see some shoots in the bare patches.
It also shows lots of the plants flopping over under the weight of the rain. I’ve managed to stake a few but got some more work to do. The foxgloves and chives down at the bottom near the blue bench are very curvy.
2. Allium Schubertii
This allium is rather spectacular. Like a firework mid-explosion. I’ve got three near it’s other. They are under quite a bit of strain with the rain. But still very interesting alliums. However, I found out that these are bulbs at their peak. They sold at the peak and then subsequent years they will diminish. So if I wanted this show each year I would need to replace them each year. One to look for in the bargain bins next year. They are a bit lost in the sea of forget-me-nots. I think they’d probably benefit from being in either a clear space of having something dark leaved around them.
3. Aeonium schwarzkopf
This poor little aeonium has suffered a lot. It was given to us by my brother in law as a tiny cutting. It was left out through the beast from the East and survived with a few leaves. This year I brought it in where it then suffered from lack of light instead. I supplemented the light with grow lights in the evenings but it still looked unhappy. I moved it back outside last time and is looking much happier again. It is actually looking quite good currently.
4. Japeto-Japanese fixed pull saw
I took out a couple of shrubs last month and needed to use my pruning saw. It did the job but it had definitely seen better days. So it seemed like a good time to buy a new one as I have a few more shrubs to come out and the cherry tree could do with a little trim now the blossom has gone. I’ve bought a Japanese fixed pull saw from Japeto. Many regular readers will know I like my Niwaki purchases. Japeto has a very similar range of Japanese tools such as Hori Hori but at a lower price. They even offer a price promise if you can find similar products elsewhere. Time will tell whether it offers the same quality. It comes with a wooden sheath for wearing on the belt. I like the feel of a nice wooden handled traditional tool. I will update how it performs if the Biblical downpour ever stops.
5. Hosta Lakeside little tuft
I had a quick trip to the garden centre but as I was travelling on the bus couldn’t get much. I was hoping for some bluer leaved hostas to add more contrast in the ongoing front garden developments but they only had quite an expensive halcyon. But I did buy this little hosta. I’m planning to use this for a pot display. It only grows about 15cm but combined with a few other plants I think I can make a good combination.
6. Seagull chick
At last, but by no means least, our garden has had a new resident for the last week. This seagull chick fell out of its nest last week and has been wandering back and forth between our front garden and the neighbours. Seagulls are apparently bad nest builders but will still feed their young if they fall out. I talked to the local animal rescue centre. They said to put it back if you can. As we’re not sure which of the many seagull nest it came out of and it’s too high anyway we can’t do this. The other alternative was to put in on a shed or garage roof but we don’t have any at the front so it’s had to stay on the ground. It’s been spending much of the time with the rain sheltering under a stone in my garden with an overhang and under a plastic box I’ve left for it turned over. Alice was quite taken by it but I’ve a suspicious feeling if I let her get attached to it we’ll end up with a house like Gerald Durrell’s childhood.
Well, that’s it for this week. Check out other peoples sixes through the Twitter hashtag #sixonsaturday or through the Props blog. It isn’t looking hopeful for doing much gardening this weekend but I am going to try and fit the overflow pipe to the front garden water butt. With all the rain it has been overflowing. But this is helping give the new plants a good watering. Hope you all enjoy your weekends!
That’s a bit of a disappointment with that allium. It’s a very interesting flower but usually you expect bulbs to go on multiplying, don’t you. That’s the hope, anyway. Poor little seagull…I hope the rain stops soon and it is reunited with its parents, you wouldn’t want a house as mad as Gerald Durrell’s!
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It is a bit disappointing with the allium. I think I’m going to try some more wild varieties that are more likely to naturalise for next year. Might not be as showy but save some money long term.
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There seem to be lots of disappointments in allium this year, w/less return from previous year’s bulbs. Mine have failed but because they were removed late from a pot rather than planted last year (we moved). However, I can remember as recently as 5 yrs ago the allium coming back as strong & vibrant as previous years & not having to think about them. Think I’ll follow your plan & research any new ones I buy. How big is a gull chick at that age?
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The allium itself is lovely but sad to know it’ll need replacing for as good a display. The gull chick is probably about 30 cm.
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This seagull chick is cute. I had seen it in your posts on Twitter and it’s great experience for you and your daughter. Your aeonium looks great ! ( better than mine…but it starts slowly thanks to the weather now)
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Such a difference in the aeonium for getting back outside. Lots happier.
The chick has found its way to the back garden now
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The aeonium looks cute. My aunty and uncle raised a seagull chick a few years ago and apparently it still visits them every so often. It’s nice to see the whole of the garden and how it’s recovering.
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I’m also interested in how the chick is doing. Chives are always ‘curvy’ 🙂
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The chives are shifting from curvy to flat along the lawn now.
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I’m glad my cat isn’t anywhere near your gull chick – I composted two bird corpses which he had brought into the garage at night this week. I do like that allium. Are you going to leave it in and see whether it comes again next year, or are you going by the information given?
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I’m going to leave it and see how the allium comes back. No sense wasting it.
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Hope the cats don’t find that cute chick! How long before it can fly?
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It stays pretty still and quiet when anyone is around so hopefully be alright. It’s about 6-8 weeks to fly so it’s going to be around a while if it survives.
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I don’t think I’d want to go anywhere near a seagull nest as seagulls are quite vicious. I am surprised it was even suggested. Poor little thing must be quite frightened. Hope he does not fall victim to the neighborhood cat 😦
. Aeonium Schwarzkopf looks great! They are such a forgiving aAND giving plant. Fingers crossed you guys get some sun soon otherwise you will be getting webbed feet!
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I’ve seen the cat in the garden at the same time and so far it hasn’t been bothered for the chick. Hopefully leave it alone.
The aeonium is a big turn around from before it went out. Taken a few cuttings as well to increase my numbers.
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Cute chick. Will it be ok in your garden? Glad a cat hasn’t found it! You may end up with a ‘pet’ seagull! Now that’s a new one to tell her teacher when she’s older! Great 6 Josh. Happy gardening.
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I’ve seen the chick in the garden at the same time as the neighbours cat and so far the cat is leaving it alone. Hopefully be alright but looking at a month or two before it can fly. So odds aren’t in its favour. Next door raised one before. It comes and knocks on the window when I haven’t left out food. Makes a hell of a noise.
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I guess the rain will help with the lawns recovery. I was watching a programme from RHS Chatsworth and they said the same about that Allium. It’s a shame isn’t it?
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All the rain seems to have brough the grass seed on. I can see a few tufts coming up.
It is a shame with the allium. I think it needs a decent bit of space round it to shine anyway. Not best suited to my over crowded borders.
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Hosta Lakeside sounds interesting. A couple of my Hostas have been devoured by the S&S over the recent week which has been amplified this week. Well done one the Aeonium Zwartkop.
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A few of the hostas have been untouched. Mainly the ones raised up and in pots. Halycon has been nibbled a lot which is a shame as it’s one of my few blue ones. But should come back fine next year.
I’m very happy the aeonium. It’s suffered a lot through too much cold and not not enough light so happy to see if looking a bit healthier.
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Well done on your aeonium resurrection. I’m supposed to be putting up a gate but too wet here…
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