Hello and welcome to this weeks Six on Saturday.
I did not wrote a SOS last week due to work commitments and the fact shorter days.
I have been on holiday this week but I have been under the weather most of the week so gardening opportunities have been limited. Weather wise it has been mostly dry and after a frosty start of the week it has even got a little bit warmer. We have had some rain but not as much as the rain in South Yorkshire and the East Midlands. My thoughts go out to all those poor people in Fishlake and surrounding areas.
Here is my SOS
1. Rose Roald Dahl
I bought this and another shrub rose for my mothers birthday this year. I have planted them in some large terracotta pots. This solitary straggly flower appeared last weekend and looks a little bit lonely. The other rose I bought is called Mayflower. I have placed both of the pots at the bottom of a garden arch and they should add a nice feature for the garden next year.
2. Main Border
I have finally decided that I may have to many plants in this border but instead of taking some out I am going to go down the route of survival of the fittest and this should make the border look more natural.
3. Mini Greenhouse
So far this has been a great success. All the succulents on here are performing well. The shelves are a little bit deeper than usual and the construction of e frame is extremely robust. The deep shelves mean I can put more pots on them and this makes the whole unit heavier and should mean than when there is heavy winds the greenhouse should stay intact and still standing.
4. Spirea pruned
I always give the Spirea in my front garden a stiff back and sides at this time of year and it seems to thrive on it. I use hand shears as I seen to have a phobia about shrubs that have been trimmed by hedge trimmers eapecially in council gardens and by landscape gardeners. All shrubs in my opinion should be roughly cut apart from obviously topiary. Shrubs are there to be shrubby after all!
5. Last of the Aliums planted
I have planted the last of my Aliums this week. As always I have bought to many and as you can see from the first post room is in my borders is limited. I managed to get 2 pots of Schunerti and 1 pot of Ostara. I can’t wait to see how these turn out in the spring.
6. Sempervivum Metamorphosis
I have written about Sempervivum preparing for winter before and the changes they go through are quite dramatic. This one Mr Guiseppie was one of by favourites during the summer. Plump, dry, spiky rosettes have now shrunk by 10 times it’s size to protect itself thought the wet and cold months,. However as you can see perfectly in this photo the stems are very healthy. There was a discussion in my blog a couple of weeks ago if I take the rotten leaves off but it was pointed out by Tony that the rotten leaves probably do protect the stems from the cold. Also worth pointing out that there is no one to take the rotten leaves off Semps in the wild
That is my six for this week. I am off up to Edinburgh to celebrate my works 40th this evening. I do like these celebrations but work has expanded that much over the last 18 years I have worked for them I usually spend most of the evening saying and what do you do?
If you want to write one it is not that difficult. As always to find out how six on Saturday works please follow the following link The Propagator. The don of Six on Saturday.
Until next week goodbye.
Sedums, Dahlias and Hayfever 
Is your mini greenhouse frost-free? In this case, it’s a good deal that I would also need to make room in my attic …
Thank you for reminding me of the spirea pruning. It will be a job for the weekend
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I’m with you on the “regimental” pruning of plants. It’s much quicker but doesn’t achieve the look I want. Do you leave your Alliums in the pots, or do you transplant them into the soil in the spring?
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I’m glad the mini greenhouse is working out for you. I remember you deciding to buy it. The succulents definitely look cosy in there.
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That rose might look lonely but it’s certainly pretty. You’ve done a lot of work despite not feeling well – hopefully you’ll feel up to par just in time to go back to work. Lovely wee greenhouse for your succulents!
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Thanks Lora. Yes looking forward to see Ronald Dahl in all it’s glory. Next year
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They are good those mini greenhouses, especially with the deep shelves. Surprisingly roomy too. I used to tie mine to a fence for extra support as it did occasionally get blown over despite weighing it down with a few bricks.
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Survival of the fittest is great up to the point where you realise you’ve lost that choice little plant you splashed out a tenner for. Be sure there’s nothing in there you really don’t want to lose. Most of your choice succulents are in pots though aren’t they?
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True Jim but I have made an executive decision. He who dares…
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Interesting to read about semps winter prep. That might explain why my box of them is looking a bit crap.
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Not crap mate. They are probably resting..
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I have always like the look of Rosa Roals Dahl. Do you have any tips for pruning Spirea? I have been giving ours a trim but think it may need something more radical this year.
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Yup have a busy week at work. Pick up the shears at the weekend and take your stress out on the Spirea
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I used to have one of the plastic shelters until a windy night took it off down the lane leaving the contents smashed to smithereens. Be sure to tie it onto something.
I find the sempervivums do well outside in winter if the worst of the wet is kept off.
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I am sorry I missed this almost two weeds ago.
I prune my spireas back to the ground while they are dormant later in winter. Someone else had pruned them back part way, but they bacame nasty thickets of old stems. I cut all those old stems back. I might cut them only part way this year like they were before, just to see how they respond. Perhaps they should be pruned to the ground only after several years. I prefer to prune things to the ground, but it might not be good for spirea.
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