Six on Saturday: A Ditch in Time

For the first time in many weeks, or so it seems, rain stopped me from getting out in the garden – no, that’s not true, it deterred me for a while but it wasn’t raining heavily so I girded my loins and went for a belated first-thing-in-the-morning ramble, ducking under drooping climbers and lifting my skirts (decorously!) as I passed overhanging borders. Taking my secateurs, I accomplished some deadheading whilst rambling, picked some tomatoes in the greenhouse, planted out some seed-sown Lychnis coronaria on the terraced beds in the rose garden and pondered what I might include in today’s Six on Saturday, the meme hosted by Jim of Garden Ruminations.

Well, I did it: after a few light showers, I took the plunge and moved the roses as planned, breaking all recognised rules about moving and replanting. The existing roses in the rose garden are now planted closely together in groups of 3 of the same variety, to give the impression of larger bushes, together with the new additions making a total of eight varieties in the enlarged bed, leaving the terraced beds either side of the bus shelter empty for some hardy perennials.

Valspar

What has this rambler been brandishing her secateurs over this week, I wonder? Not these sunflowers, certainly, as they are probably over 3 metres or 10ft tall, and I would need a ladder to cut any blooms. I usually grow coppery-coloured ‘Velvet Queen’, but this year have also sown ‘Earth Walker’, another dark variety, neither of which would be expected to grow above a more manageable 2m or so, and I don’t know where the yellow blooms have come from. Perhaps I could manage to reach some blooms for a Monday vase…?

Courtesy of P.F. Candle Co.

Did you know that there’s a whole day dedicated to celebrating the mighty oyster? That’s right, National Oyster Day is on August 5th, and it’s the perfect excuse to dive into some maritime merriment with your loved ones. Here’s how you can make a splash and ensure this day is a pearl of a time for everyone!

Hosta is a gift that keeps on giving. This shade-loving perennial is a great filler plant and is adept at decorating dingy spaces that are otherwise colonized by weeds. However, if not divided at the right time, hostas can quickly overcrowd, weaken, and eventually perish.

Garden mirrors offer a simple way to create interest and light in the garden. They can create the illusion of more space and add focal points that lead you through the garden. And, with so many types of garden mirror to choose from, you can match the design to your hard landscaping and planting to enhance your garden style.

Welcome to another Six on Saturday, the meme kindly hosted by Jim at Garden Ruminations.

IT’S HYDRANGEA SEASON, and in the Northeast in particular this summer, it’s really been a crazy hydrangea season, with billows of blue bloom from bigleaf hydrangeas on view everywhere, it seems—which is not always the case in colder hardiness zones. It seemed like a good time to review what makes hydrangeas happy, and what hydrangeas make me and my old friend, Ken Druse, happy.

Collaborative post

Purchasing your first home or apartment is a daunting process for many, but doing your research ahead of time will ensure that you embark on this journey with as much knowledge as possible. Reading up on homebuying dos and don'ts before getting started will make your experience much more enjoyable.