Life is more than a little complicated just now so this post was compiled earlier this week and scheduled for this morning, just in case I was indisposed. It’s turned cool and somewhat rainy so it’s a fair bet that things will slow down in the garden and not much will have changed.
One.
I took pictures with my phone, which isn’t the latest and the best camera wise. It automatically “enhances” the pictures, which can make a real mess of flower colours and I know I can change that but am not familiar enough with how for it to be easy. Thus this Camellia ‘Fairy Wand’ is an even more strident shade of pink than it is in the real world.
Two.
Camellia ‘Nightrider’ confused the camera exposure more than the colour. It’s a very dark red for a Camellia and since it is only the flowers on top of the bush that are so far open, it was taken against the sky. I suppose there is a way to do exposure compensation on the phone but I just tweaked the over exposed image on the computer.
Three.
I’m in danger of not putting Primula vulgaris, the common primrose, into a six because there are always six more exotic subjects to fill the roster. They have seeded prolifically around the garden and I have been happy to let them. I lose a lot, to a combination of dryness and vine weevils I should think, but there are always new ones coming on and the numbers are steadily increasing. They all but disappear in summer, happily hidden under the shade of summer performers, to reappear when the Salvias, Dahlias, Penstemons et al have gone into winter hibernation. Undoubtedly one of most garden worthy wild flowers. I am quite impressed by how high a proportion come true, with no sign of contamination from the various hybridised and very mixed colour forms we have. I have one seedling that is almost white which I like very much.
Four.
Aeonium ‘Medusa’ is in Sue’s glasshouse and along with everything else in there, got its first proper watering since autumn last week. I don’t remember what it looked like last week, it didn’t stand out. This week it really grabbed my attention so I assume it was relatively dull a week ago.
Five.
I put Camellia lutchuensis into a six when it had just opened its first flowers on January 3rd. I’m putting it in again because at the back end of March it is still flowering and even has a few buds not yet open. They’ll carry it to April 3rd and round out four months of beautiful scented blooms. I put it in another six on February 28 when it hit its peak. What a plant! Fabulous.
Six.
This Azalea has benefitted from me cutting the big diseased purple Acer right behind it to the ground last year. Not that the maple is dead, far from it. It has produced quite a thicket of whippy shoots, 3 feet long and beginning to break bud; not a sign of disease or dieback to be seen. Quite the comeback kid. Digging the root out was never an option, too big and too entangled with several other plants.
Well, I made it. Don’t be surprised if I don’t reply to your comments this week.
garden ruminations 
I love the dark reds this week! Lovely even if you were dissatisfied with the color reproduction by your phone camera. I had to similarly add contrast to my daffs, they were a bit overexposed. We had a lovely rain the other day and now will have relatively warm weather for a week, then more snow. Three steps forward, two back. Still progress! Here are mine six:
https://wisconsingarden.wordpress.com/2026/03/28/march-28-2026-six-on-saturday/
Have a great week!
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The camellias are beautiful. Gorgeous azalea color despite the vagaries of your phone’s photo processor.https://cornergardenvestavia.blog/2026/03/27/petal-at-the-corner-27-march/
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Your Camellias have me swooning again, because I can’t easily grow them here. Maybe I’ll try growing one in a pot again, to bring in the house during winter, but no success on my first attempt. I understand the issues with the phone photos, and the weirdness with exposure and color seems to be worsening. Thanks, again, for hosting!
https://plantpostings.blogspot.com/2026/03/a-few-starts-in-march.html
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I hope the complications get resolved. Wishing you well. Camellia lutchuensis is a beauty and perfumed too – what’s not to like. Here’s my link https://n20gardener.com/2026/03/28/six-on-saturday-bits-and-pieces/ Lovely to see you on GW – infectious enthusiasm in abundance!
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I hope things are okay.
I love dark red flowers. Your Camellia Nightrider is beautiful.
Your primroses are also looking lovely. We have one or two white ones like that, and a single pink/purple one, among hundreds of yellows. They’re definitely a good filler plant for early spring.
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Primroses certainly deserve a mention, they are so generous the way they seed around everywhere and the lanes are full of them at the moment, looking beautiful. hope you feel better soon.
My six are here………..https://www.leadupthegardenpath.com/
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‘Nightrider’ and ‘Medusa’ are the winners this week. Hope your week goes well Jim.
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Beautiful as ever. I have Aeonium envy for sure! I watched your GW appearance. Such a lovely garden. I was also blown away by Mary Keen’s garden, at the beginning of the episode. So inspirational. I hope life eases up for you soon. https://potsandplots.blog/2026/03/28/sixonsaturday-28-03-2026/
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Aeonium ‘Medusa’ WoW ! 😍
No Six for me this week because I’m off to the Alps… I miss the snow 😂
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Having just come back from a few days on the north coast of Cornwall, I can attest to the lovely primroses, which are really lovely. Sue’s aeonium is a lovely one. I saw a shop with a few similar to this one, but didn’t feel it would survive the journey back on the coach. Love the long flowering Camellia lutchuensis and saw one in the flesh, and much admired its form too.
https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2026/03/six-things-from-my-garden-28th-march.html
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I love the common primrose too. I hope if you are indisposed it doesn’t last too long.
My six https://wp.me/p88ZiK-d0R
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I hope everything is okay. Camellia ‘Nightrider’ is a beauty. Primroses seem to be doing well this year and always add some cheer in borders https://onemanandhisgardentrowel.wordpress.com/2026/03/28/six-on-saturday-28-march-2026/
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I was very tempted by camellia lutchnensis but it wouldn’t survive up here, unfortunately. Sounds like you’re having a difficult time at the moment, hope you’re ok.
My six this week is here: https://mysanctuarygarden.wordpress.com/2026/03/28/six-on-saturday-28-03-2026/
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lutchuensis not lutchnensis
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Azalea time again, horrah! Such big show offs. I love the Camellia lutchuensis too, at the other end of the scale. Fabulous aeonium and primroses are always a winner in our house. Here are my six https://offtheedgegardening.com/2026/03/28/six-on-saturday-top-tips/
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