I did a talk for St Breward Garden Club this afternoon (Friday). Time was when garden clubs all had evening meetings but there are a few now holding meetings in the afternoon. Most members are retired, many are getting on a bit and don’t find night driving very easy. It suited me, driving across Bodmin Moor in rain and mist with a serious risk of flooded roads is not something I want to be doing at night either. Gardening up there must be a challenge, granitic bedrock and high rainfall must make it much harder than it is for me. So I return to my own patch with the feeling that for all that the season is throwing at us, I shouldn’t complain too much.
Six on Saturday; a new week but the same brief; find six things in your garden to wax lyrical about, then wax lyrical about them. Oh, include a picture too. It’s all explained here, if I’m making no sense,
One.
The number six triggered a few synapses and I checked my SoS post from 1st February 2020. My first item was a few of the garden from an upstairs window and I was immediately struck by what had changed. We are clearly more likely to rip out and burn our laurels than rest on them. Here are the then and now pictures with a list of the more conspicuous changes. I’m thinking it’s good that it doesn’t stay the same, but ouch! all the same.
1 Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’ Cut down because of disease.
2 Camellia, given away and replaced with another Camellia.
3 Schefflera taiwaniana, died from honey fungus.
4 Berberis ‘GoldenTorch’, died from honey fungus.
5 Camellia ‘Minato-no-akebono’, moved elsewhere, replaced with other shrubs.
6 Muhlenbeckia astonii, died.
7 Libertia, removed.
8 Trachelospermum, removed.
9 Camellia ‘Cleopatra’, died from honey fungus.
10 Camellia cv. given away.
11 Miscanthus cv. moved elsewhere.
The glasshouse hadn’t been extended because the polytunnel was still there too. That at least was a change very much for the better.
Two.
Last year somebody gave me a plant of Salvia ‘Blue Butterflies’ and it really performed well. Smaller flowers than some, but a lovely clear blue and produced from midsummer until late in the autumn. I took cuttings and the small plants are flowering already, so I’m hoping it will flower from now until late autumn, which would really be something.
Three.
The garden is full of promise, new shoots and buds abound; but I fear that in the absence of some sunshine some of it will never come to fruition. One of the Crocus tomasinianus decided to defy the rain and open anyway.
Four.
Call it Orwellian, but I think variegated Aspidistra was probably the first houseplant I grew after moving away from home and I feel obliged to keep on growing it. Back then I regarded it as indestructible, at least until I became acquainted with red spider mite. Now I am growing it in the garden, where it seems to be quite hardy growing in the considerable shade of a big Camellia. It’s no match for Cornish slugs and snails and I’m left wondering why I bother.
Five.
There’s a well established tradition in my winter posts to put in a picture of what seem absurdly precocious shoots on Clematis and accompany them with remarks about how bad I feel when I cut them all off in the annual hard pruning. Clematis viticella ‘Etoile Violette’, tradition upheld.
Six.
The first few flowers are out on several of the Camellias in our garden but I’m trying to hold back until they’re in full bloom. Some are just so unapologetically strident that a single small bloom can be quite arresting and there’s no doubt that ‘Adorable’ is one such. It’s screaming “you don’t have to like me but you sure as hell ain’t gonna ignore me!”
And that, as I’ve said many times before, is yer lot. I hope you (and I) get a few glimpses of the sun in the coming week.
garden ruminations 
I could of sworn I commented but don’t see it so just wanted to say how much I like that salvia, how beautiful the crocus and camellia are looking and isn’t it lovely that colour is returning to your garden.
LikeLike
That’s certainly a Salvia to look out for. I wish I could take a photo of the whole garden – so interesting to see the changes over the years.
LikeLike
I am sure we all feel much better about ourselves and our gardens after reading this post, Jim. although I am really sorry you have suffered so much with honey fungus. We have not had it as wet as you and have had a couple of fairly pleasant days this week, but we are now forecast rain every day for at least a fortnight! Hey ho, we’ll see 😉I pruned all my group 3 clematis in the last couple of weeks and can genuinely say I had no qualms at chopping off those healthy shoots – because, I presume, I have learned that they will grow and flower all the better for it. Thanks for hosting https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2026/01/31/six-on-saturday-in-the-coop/
LikeLike
I was plagued with honey fungus in my previous garden which had been an ancient orchard so I feel your pain. But at least you keep getting a chance to try new plants. That blue salvia is gorgeous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel for you losing plants. I had to dig out a lot of lilies and some fuchsias last year due to blight and gall mites. Hoping to not find out this year that the problem has spread to others.
Honey fungus, which I read about in British gardening books, going back to Beverley Nichols, sounds awful.
My six today: https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/2026/01/31/six-on-saturday-rainy-garden/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Every year seems to see a new pest or disease added to the roster, without any being taken off. I try to see a positive side to it, space to plant something new, an enforced turnover of planting to keep things fresh. It is depressing though.
LikeLike
Gardening is all about change, isn’t it? The seasonal changes, the moving of plants that might be better over there, the loss of plants to disease, age, weather, the new growth of Spring… Love to see a brave crocus, the bright pink Camellia, the lovely blue Salvia.
I came down with a nasty cold last Saturday afternoon, and it has been quite cold. No pictures from me this week, but I want to check in so you know I didn’t get snatched or shot in the face at a protest. The spousal unit was relieved that I was too sick to protest in the icy weather. I may go out today though. We have been instructed at work to contact Legal immediately if any agents show up at work, to not invite them into private areas of the building, to not give them anything they want, but to not interfere if they force their way in anyway. They don’t want us to get shot in the face either.
I will try to be less gloomy and have pictures next week!
LikeLiked by 4 people
I totally get why you would be gloomy. It makes me gloomy and I don’t even live there. I just live in dread of a UK version of Mr T getting elected here, not at all a far fetched prospect.
LikeLike
Seeing how your garden has changed and why is very cleverly show in your opening item. Yes I think you can think of something better to go in the place of the Aspidistra. You will have the memories still of the joy perhaps of growing this in your youth, time to move on I think.
My contribution to the many sixes this week: https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2026/01/six-on-saturday-last-for-january-2026.html
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are of course absolutely right about the Aspidistra, time to move on. But it’s not something you see growing outside very often and it’s better suited to dry deep shade in competition with the Camellia than most things and …. Do you have trouble letting go?
LikeLike
Yes and no! Sometimes I let go then regret it, but if I have something better to take its place, it can act as a salve for a little while. Life is getting shorter, and there are so many different plants to try to grow. If it is a question of disease or insect contamination, I no longer try to fight it, I just get something different. My garden is too small to keep hanging onto things which no longer please me completely. Sometimes a special from the back garden gets relocated to the front! It is rough out there!
LikeLike
Your comment: The garden is full of promise, new shoots and buds abound; but I fear that in the absence of some sunshine some of it will never come to fruition
resonated with me and I am relieved becuase I grow so many plnats in containers I’ve been able to pull them under cover. Thre rest is like yours. I watch wait and pray for sunshine which today was shortlived.
Your Salvia ‘Blue Butterflies is beautiful. A plant I’d not considered before.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear, honey fungus has really been your enemy over the years, hasn’t it? 😟
My six scraps https://wp.me/p88ZiK-cJz
LikeLiked by 2 people
The colour of your Salvia ia amazing, such a fantastic blue! I feel the same as you when it is time to prune the clematis back, all those lovely shoots ending up in the compost heap! Honey Fungus sounds horrendous, hope it never arrives here. My six are here……………..https://www.leadupthegardenpath.com
LikeLiked by 3 people
I definitely think I must acquire some hellebores for my garden
LikeLike
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is surprising when you look back and realise what you’ve either lost or got rid of in in a garden. Honey fungus sounds like a real pain. I love the colour of ‘Blue Butterflies’ https://onemanandhisgardentrowel.wordpress.com/2026/01/31/six-on-saturday-31-january-2026/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Honey fungus is a real pain and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone but the sad truth is I have a short memory and very few of the things that have died were mourned for long. I’m always nervous about replanting but it never seems to be recently planted things that get it. One of the few things I was really pissed off about losing was Camellia ‘Ariel’s Song’ and I have a healthy plant on my allotment which I want to move into the garden but keep putting off for fear of losing it. I have no backups after that one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is Crocus tomasinianus known as Tommy crocus? That is quite a herd of them. Does variegated Aspidistra elatior try to revert to green?
These are my six.
https://tonytomeo.com/2026/01/31/six-on-saturday-more-winter-flowers-again/
LikeLiked by 2 people
Crocus tomasinianus may be known as Tommy crocus, but not by me, not a name I’ve heard. My variegated Aspidistra is very irregularly variegated, with a few leaves all green or all white as well as striped. There have been no breakouts of all green that warranted removal, yet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So, I should not be overly concerned that our variegated Aspidistra is putting out exclusively green leaves for now? (I really was not convinced that it had reverted anyway.)
LikeLike
What a fantastic blue your salvia is, I must look out for that one. We have aspidestra outside and they stumble along, full of holes but alive. I wonder too if they are worth it. We have the parent plant inside and it is beautiful. Lovely clematis shoots, although they will burn bright and die young. Still raining …. Here are mine https://offtheedgegardening.com/2026/01/31/six-on-saturday-respite/
LikeLiked by 2 people
Maybe if I potted a bit of the Aspidistra and grew it well, I could dump the outdoor plant with no qualms. I hate to give up on things.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely worth a try.
LikeLike
What a change between the 2 photos! There have been quite a few losses… This week, I’m really enjoying this very pretty blue salvia: it’s lovely to see some colour in winter.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s so interesting to see the changes in the garden over the years! This is a good reminder to take more ‘big picture’ photos.
My crocuses are lagging behind yours – none of them have opened yet.
LikeLiked by 2 people