If Sue had still been in Australia she would around about now be experiencing the calm in the eye of a cyclone, in that the forecast track of Alfred is right over the top of where she was staying. It puts our weather, about which we complain so much, into perspective.
The transition from winter into spring continues at what seems like a glacial pace. At least it’s definitely happening and there are more and more things popping up, flower and leaf buds breaking. I can put together a Saturday six without bending the rules, which, if you are interested, are here.
In the words of one of our regulars, let’s shake a leg.
One.
Daffodils don’t last long in the ground here, if they ever come up in the first place. I don’t know why but assume there is some malaise in the soil that sees them off. We have had this pot of ‘Tete a tete’ for years and they’re perfectly happy, while others that were planted just a few feet away are total no-shows in year two, having been pathetic in year one. There are other bulbs that are fine, I’m happy to grow them. In fact I ordered some lily bulbs just yesterday.
Two.
I’m planning to get more Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’ later this year. They have been superb this year, coming a week or so later than the other tommasinianus forms we have and lasting better.
Three.
I’ve been working my way round the garden tidying things up. All the Hakonechloas and other grasses have now been cut down, as have several evergreen ferns. All has gone through the shredder then back on the ground. In the process of clearing dead leaves from around the cyclamen I have growing at the foot of Camellia lutchuensis, I spotted this seedling. It looks to me like a camellia, very possibly of C. lutchuensis, but I hadn’t noticed any fruits on the bush last year. I’m excited at the possibilities for what it might have been pollinated by; all I need to do is keep it alive and live long enough to see it flower.
Four.
Pulmonaria ‘Cotton Cool’ is a plant I’ve had for several years but which has never made it into a six. It’s looking pretty just now, if a little underwhelming. A close-up picture flatters it more than a little.
Five.
Some self seeders lay down a bank of seed that means that even if you get a year where the seed crop fails, you’re at no risk of losing it. Welsh poppy is a great example. You could dead head meticulously for years and still have thousands of them. Not so Geranium palmatum. It seems to have short lived seed so a year with a poor seed set will result in very few seedlings for the following year. Pulling them out too soon will have the same effect. We only seem to have half a dozen this year; suddenly they are precious and must be nurtured. We have long relied on them for colour in early summer, losing them would be a bit of a disaster.
Six.
Primula vulgaris subsp. sibthorpii is a plant I raised from seed several years back and like the Pulmonaria above it has never featured in a six, presumably because there have always been more deserving candidates. There probably are now but it’s a nice thing and deserves a mention, even if it had only one almost intact flower. I’ve probably made the mistake in previous years of thinking it would be better later, and it never has been.
That’s yer lot for this week. Off to Rosemoor tomorrow (Saturday) for the Early Camellia show. Have a good week.
garden ruminations 
Ooh good thing she’s back! We spent our Christmas holidays in that same spot too! Poor old Brissey, needs to wear her galoshes! ⛈
I might be growing more of my daffodils in pots too. Yours look magnificent! Putting them in the ground here is hit and miss too! Love that Primula. 🌸
Here are my six-
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Geranium palmatum a self-seeder! In the garden! I have grown both palmatum and maderense and there is zero chance of either coming through the winter here. I have only grown them as biennials, overwintered in a frost-free poly tunnel, and put out to flower in late spring. I’m impressed!
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I wouldn’t expect G. maderense to be hardy here but G. palmatum is no problem. It isn’t killed by frost nor is it popular with slugs but it’s quite hit and miss with the number of seedlings we get.
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I love surprise seedlings! I haven’t seen that Geranium before, looking forward to the flowers. Happy Saturday. I am glad Sue missed the hurricane, they are no fun.
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The hurricane defied all expectations and forecasts and instead of coming inland over the top of them, stayed just offshore for about three days until its spring wound down completely. There was some damage done and some flooding, but a long way south of where Sue stayed.
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I do not believe the weather people have figured out hurricanes yet. It becomes absurd after a few years.
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Your surprise seedling is so precious! I am so glad it’s popped up and gives you hope + something to look forward to! I hope it grows well and strong knowing how deeply we’re rooting for it!
Have a wonderful weekend!
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Seedlings of things like Camellias, that take a few years to flower, are a mixed blessing. If they’re good it’s exhilarating to be rewarded for your patience, if they’re nothing special, like the seedling Camellia saluenensis that opened its first flower yesterday, you’re left wondering what to do with it. It’s hard to chuck out something you’ve nurtured for 4 or 5 years.
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I feel this on so many levels 😉
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It is wonderful to see your lovely photographs of flowers.
I think language is at fault when talking of the transition from winter to spring. Glacial, by definition, would be very cold. We need a spring word that denotes moving forward into warm weather. I can’t think of one.
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I didn’t get to post before the exhibition so am somewhat late today. Narcissus, Crocus and Pulmonaria from me as well (though the Pulmonaria can’t stretch to a variety name). Hope you had a good day at Rosemoor
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Lots of beauties making an appearance there. One thing I’ve noticed over the years of blogging and comparing seasonal changes with folks in other locations: Your part of the world starts spring earlier, but we catch up fast in March and April. The blooms you share aren’t blooming here yet, but they soon will be. Thank you for sharing, because they give me hope. And they are beautiful! Happy Six!
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Even comparing posts from other gardeners in the UK I get a sense of how every location has its own unique set of conditions and while some plants are happy almost anywhere, others are fussy in the extreme.
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After a long time lurking around Six On Saturday, I’m trying to participate again. I feel like I’m replicating a lot of your offerings but I guess it’s that time of year – daffodils, primula and crocus!
My six are here – https://thegarrett.garden/2025/03/08/six-on-saturday-8-march-2025/
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Goodness, your cotton cool plant looks just like a weed we have growing locally. I need to check. I love the flowers.
I see you grow your dafs in a pot buried in the ground.
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I echo the praise others have shown for the daffodils and “tommies”. Daffodils do very well here in our soil.
Here is my offering for the week.
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Seeing more advanced signs of Spring soothe the soul. I know things will be stirring in the garden before long. Supposed to be warm today and the next five days. Not much to show here, but the Schlumbergera is continuing to blossom, which is also cheerful.
https://wisconsingarden.wordpress.com/2025/03/08/march-8-2025-six-on-saturday/
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Your crocuses remind me to plant in more generous patches! My various narcissus tend to take care of that themselves as they multiply well on their own in this soil. My six for today are here: https://aftereden.blog/2025/03/08/six-on-saturday-8-march-2025/
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I bought and planted two varieties of Crocus tommasinianus at the same time. The dark ‘Ruby Giant’ have stayed in tight clumps and look like they should have been spaced more, the other, the name of which I can’t remember, look like they grew from very thinly scattered seed, as random as could be.
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The tete a tete and the crocuses make a lovely welcome splash of colour to the garden. My crocuses are all but done and many seem to have disappeared. I’m not sure I’ll plant more as they don’t last long and are usually flattened by the wind and rain here. The primula is a vey dainty looking flower. I have more garish primulas this week, along with yet more early spring bulbs.
https://cornwallincolours.blog/2025/03/08/six-on-saturday-in-like-a-lamb/
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Very encouraging to see pulmonaria, a sure sign of spring. Here they haven’t quite made it yet. I’m back after a week of dealing with an incalcitrant water butt! Enjoy Rosemoor, here’s my link https://n20gardener.com/2025/03/08/six-on-saturday-gardens-are-getting-going/
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Your primula has a different sort of leaf to the one I am showing this week. Although I do also have one similar to yours. Ruby Giant is looking quite magnificent too.
Here are my six this week
https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2025/03/six-on-saturday-8-march-2025.html
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I’m sure that Sue is glad she is home from Australia right now, but I hope that family & friends are all safe. Daffodils don’t do well in the soil here either, but in my case I believe the problem is that the bulbs get lifted or damaged when other plants are being added/taken out during the year. The little Tete a Tete and Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’ are adding lovely colour.
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Lots of lovely spring colour, it feels as though we’ve turned a corner and even I’ve managed to easily come up with a six this week. It will be interesting to see what the camellia develops into:-)
Here’s my six this week:
https://mysanctuarygarden.wordpress.com/2025/03/08/six-on-saturday-08-03-2025/
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That is odd about the Narcissus. They are the most reliable of spring bulbs here, and do not mind the mild winters. It is all of the other bulbs that are more problematic. Many want more chill than they experience here., . . . I think. Eventually, I would like to try the straight species (not a cultivar) of Crocus tommasinianus. I think that it may have potential as reliably perennial. Pulmonaria of unidentified cultivars may be coming home with me this year from Washington. It will be my first! It looks cool.
These are my six, all of the same genus.
https://tonytomeo.com/2025/03/08/six-on-saturday-eucalyptus-2/
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I asked a very good daffodil nurseryman at the show about my problem with daffs and he didn’t have a ready explanation. Not sure if that made me feel any better or worse.
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Yes, that would compel one to believe that the problem is isolated to the particular garden, or to particular gardening technique.
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Pretty clump of daffodils and crocus ‘Ruby Giant’. Good luck with the geranium palmatum!
I also have some precious seeds of geranium maderense… still waiting for warmer temperatures to sprout. https://fredgardenerblog2.wordpress.com/2025/03/08/six-on-saturday-08-03-25/
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Those Crocus are a show and that’s exciting about the Camellia seeding. Live long and prosper.
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… and may you never forget to post an SoS link https://onemanandhisgardentrowel.wordpress.com/2025/03/08/six-on-saturday-8-march-2025/
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I hope I live long enough to see your camellia seedling flower, although I might not remember which, why and how. Love the primula, you reminded me that we grew that one at Cliffe, I wonder if it still there. Your geranium has given me great hope, mine has been in the greenhouse over winter, perhaps it is hardier than I think. Have fun at Rosemoor, here are my meagre six https://offtheedgegardening.com/2025/03/08/six-on-saturday-meagre/
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