Hello and welcome to this weeks SOS.
Well the weather is bonkers at the moment. I have never known warm temperatures like this on February up here. The garden is paying dividends for this and everything seems to be way ahead compared to last this time last year, especially when you consider that around this time last year it was coming up to the “Beast of the East”. I am in no doubt that there will probably be a sting in the tail at some point.
My succulents are loving the hot weather at the moment and some are taking on different characteristics. Leaf colours are changing on some of my Echeveria’s and the rosettes are closing up and becoming tighter. My Roses and Clematises are sprouting away and if the current growths anything to go by this year is going to be a good year. On side note I was at a cash and carry this week and saw that one of the roses they had on sale was called “Korbin” Iceberg. I just had to buy it so I have given it to just sister with 4 other roses for her garden as I have still not figured out what I am doing with my garden this year.
Sedum wise I have ordered 5 packets of seeds of varieties of Sedums I don’t have and hopefully will receive them this weekend. Amongst them is a Sedum called Postman’s Pride which is a new one named after a Belgium Postman that found this growing in his garden. Lucky him I only usually find empty beer cans and Kebab wrappers!
Here is my SOS.
1. Aeonium Firecracker
As I said last week due to my naivety and coach sure attitude this winter I have lost some of my Aeoniums. Thankfully this was one that survived. A cross between A. Swarzkopf and A. Simsii this variety has wonderful colouring from it’s tawny port coloured outer leaves to if’s lime green centre leaves it is striking. Thank god I did something right last year!
2. Crocus Prins Claus
Added this photo not because of the flower that is about to open but I thought it was an interesting picture of the flower stalk and leaves. It has been a wonderful year for crocuses and snowdrops. Yesterday I was working in Edinburgh and was lucky enough to drove past Leith Links (one of the places where Golf was invented/tweaked) and the display of Crocuses their was awe inspiring. They have a thick row of crocuses all down the side of the Links. It is lovely at this time of year but especially this year.
3. Sedum Palmeri
A Sedum from Mexico this one blooms at this time every year. It has wonderful light green leaves that turn turn red in direct sunlight. It produces masses yellow flowers that trail like chandeliers. I thought this was pretty hardy but it turns out it is not. Luckily kept a cutting in a pot. I have some in the garden but it is suffering.
4. Orostachys Spinosa coming back to life
Noticed this plant coming back to life A native of the Far East Mongolia, China it can with stand temperatures of -30 degrees Celsius but does not like getting wet. Like all other Orostachys this plant is monocarpic so it will produce puppies around the main rosette which will flower and die.
5. Clematis shoots
As I said above all my Clematises are starting to produce shoots. I have fertilised all of them this week.
6. Schlumbergera having a second flush of flowers.
This thanksgiving cactus is having a second wind. It only produced 3 flowers in November but it is now producing loads of flowers. Oh I have just noticed there seems to be an empty bottle of Whiskey beside it how did that get there? 🥃
Well that is my SOS.
During the writing of this post I have had a relapse and orders 7 more Aeoniums dammit!
Looks like it is going to be another cracking weekend for gardening so will spend a few hours in the garden before watching Wales v England in the rugby.
As always to find out how six on Saturday works please follow the following link The Propagator. The don of Six on Saturday.
Thanks for reading.
Sedums, Dahlias and Hayfever 
Love that sedum palmeri. That’s why I like this meme; seeing lots of different plants that I haven’t come across before!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup the Sedum is a cracker. Your right about getting ideas from other blogs on SOS. Great source of ideas.
LikeLike
The Firecracker looks like it lives up to its name. Great colour. I never do very well with clematis. I don’t think I plant them deep enough. Tempted to try again and get a few more this year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup that Aeonium is a beauty.
LikeLike
A fire cracking selection of plants – this weather is extraordinary isn’t it, but I’m not complaining.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes the weather is fantastic if not a bit unnerving.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would have never known that it was a bottle of whiskey, nice bottle. Loving the colours of your aeonium and always good to see things beginning to kick into action.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it is great to see things to start to grow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know the Orostachys, thank you for sharing.
About the Sedum, it’s so beautiful and your picture does a lot : great shot. … I love the edges very finely serrated (hairs?) … Mine didn’t support my holidays, I lost almost all heads but I think it will recover…
LikeLiked by 1 person
No I don’t know about hairs. The Palmeri likes shade so I will move it some where more shady soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Firecracker oooh I want one
Lovely sos
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLike
I got it from a nursery in Cornwall.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bit of a journey from here but I shall look on line
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh sorry I should have posted their website. http://www.surrealsucculents.co.uk
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fab! Thanks v much
LikeLike
The Aeonium Firecracker, is stunning. I love the fleck in the leaves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks yes it is a beauty. Glad I managed to keep this alive over winter.
LikeLike
All of your plants were awesome, but my heart strings go to that aeonium! I must complement you on all of your extremely tidy pots too! Mine look ruff and ancient! Even the new ones!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Aeonium Firecracker is a beauty, I might treat myself to that one. My Zwartkop are looking very bedraggled and one of them looks to have been eaten by something! (I keep them indoors in winter, but in a cold conservatory). I think I will cut off the head once it gets warmer and try to grow a new plant. They do get very tall and straggly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve seen something like that #1 Aeonium ‘Firecracker’! There are too many out there to get to know all the names. It is interesting to see them with names though. (I don’t think that the one I saw really is the same, but it is fun to imagine that it is.) Is Sedum palmeri a common sedum? I know that name from somewhere.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah there is lots of different varieties of Aeoniums and TBH most of them do look the same. I got this one from a reputable seller. The Sedum is also know as a Palmer’s Sedum. It is from Mexico.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I know that name, but I do not remember why. It does not look familiar.
LikeLiked by 1 person