Good morning and welcome to this weeks SOS.
I have been on holiday this week so popped up to Argyll and Bute for a few days. I went on a bit of a bus men’s holiday and visited 4 gardens when I was up there. All individual in their own ways and all fantastic gardens. I went to Benmore Gardens nr Dunoon, Linn Botanic Gardens nr Helensburgh, Geliston Gardens nr Dumbarton and the exceptional Branklyn Gardens in Perth.
I have managed a whole day in the garden yesterday and had a great day pottering about and hosing down the patio. Indeed this is the third time I have had to get the hose out as we seem to be going through a bit of a drought up here on the NE coast of England. It rained every day when I was on Argyll and I understand there has been a bit of precipitation darn Sarf but up here we have went from on extreme to the other. The 10’day forecast is saying it is going to be dry.
Here is my Six
1. Tulips
At last I have some Tulip action! Top photo is Carnival de Rio (Rio Carnival), middle Ronaldo and Winnipeg on the bottom. I have already pre ordered my Tulips next year and 2019 is going to be a colourful one.
.2. Aubrieta
A garden staple and so easy to overlook, but at this time of the year it gives an abundance of colour this time of the year I quite like this photo as it shows it battling with a Sedum Blue Cushion. These are in my mini gravel garden which is really starting to take shape.
3. Lewisia Cotyledon
Lewisias are one of my favourite plants and when I saw this on sale at a garden centre recently I just had to buy it. Flowers for a long time and does not dissapoint. Succulent leaves and a prolific flowerer I plant it in 60% compost and 40% grit. Hopefully it shout come back next year.
4. Spirea Fire light.
Comes back every year with bright yellow, green, and red leaves. Flowers are a little bit disappointing but it adds a great splash of colour to the garden. It pains me for saying but until recently I did not know what it was called until recently,
5. Potting bench in full use
The potting bench is coming into it’s own and it is an excellent addition to the garden. Makes a perfect place to put some of my tender Sedums. On the middle shelf is Sedum Sandrah Mottran, Sedum Clavatum, Sedum Crocodile and Sedum Furfuraceum (Bonsai Sedum. On the top shelf is aim Lavender plugs and my Orastachys (Dunces cap) is in the pot on the right.
6. Dwarf Rhododendrons
After touring the gardens of Scotland last week I was amazed at the different colours and varieties of Rhododendrons in the garden. They really are a gorgeous tree/shrub and at this time of year a good source of pollen of the pollinators. The 2 varieties shown here are Snipe in the top picture and Patty Bee in the bottom picture. At the moment all my Rhododendrons are grown in pots.
The weather forecast is cold but dry for the rest of the weekend so no doubt I will be back in the garden plotting my shed move. My hanging basket plants should be arriving next week so that should keep me quiet next week.
As always to find out how six on Saturday works please follow the following link The Propagator. The don of six in Saturday.
Thanks for reading.
Sedums, Dahlias and Hayfever 
‘Rio Carnival’ is beautiful!
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It certainly is a dazzler! Schoolboy mistake it is actually lised under Carnival de Rio.
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Ah! … Aubrieta as in my SoS today … but I don’t have this wonderful ‘Rio Carnival’ tulip! … one that I have to plant for next year for sure…
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Um pretty sure I have carnival as well, but I haven’t seen it yet…
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What’s the story with 🌷. If you read some literature they say treat them like annuals as they never come back the same. I suspect this is a marketing thing however….
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Some are more perennial than others. I don’t rely on them coming back. I usually plant out this year’s l
Patio tulips in the border then if some come back fantastic. Planting them deep helps I think.
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Cool will plant them in my Dahlia bed next year and plant the new ones in pots
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Sounds like a plan. Think I found my carnival de rio btw, just not quite flowered yet.
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Colourful next year? It’s not bad this year!
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Spirea varieties which can be grown for their foliage rather than their flowers are useful in the garden. Who needs flowers when you have cheery foliage like that? I like the colour of your Patty Bee.Another contender for my list, I think.
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True. That Spirea Certainly brightens the garden! TBH it has been a slow burner for 10 years but the past couple of years it has been spectacular. Yes Patty Bee seems to be a cracker.
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Aubretia! Another plant that used to live in my garden but made way for a Parahebe. You’re is a lovely colour, I might have to find a spot for it again
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Yes it is….only going to have it on one spot as it does tend to take over…the more varieties of plants the better on my view.
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Hit post too soon. Should have said yours!
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Your site ate my comments about your wonderful colour in the garden & how quickly the bench has become full. I was particularly impressed w/the cuppa sitting in pride of place. Great six.
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Thanks Laura. To say I am happy with the bench is an understatement. Handy for my tender succulents as they get sun all day (hope fully)
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Sorry I should have said Lora. I keep trying to post on your blog but it keeps coming up with an error
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Seems our blogs hate each other’s comments.
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Your rhododendrons are very pretty, but I can’t believe you have already ordered next year’s tulips!
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EVERYONE but me has tulips! It is making me wonder what I am missing.
I find that spirea to be more interesting. They are not at all popular here.
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Lovely 6. I have a spirea in a pot and I love the colours it provides.
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Thank you. Used to have that Spirea in a pot but it was looking tired. Since I planted it in the garden it has thrived.
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Yes, I may have todo that in the Autumn. I have fed it and it looks great but this may be it’s,ast year in a pot.
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