Another week of doing precious little else but gardening. I don’t feel I’m getting ahead, but maybe I’m holding my own. At least the weather is playing ball, dry but not too hot. I still spend a lot of time watering, the price of growing too much in pots. I’m just looking at one of the pictures I took today for possible inclusion in this six and two things stand out, that I’d almost completely missed the group of Camassia that I’d photographed, taken as the light faded on Friday evening and that I had completely missed the adjacent clump of weeds, nearly as tall as the Camassia. I don’t think I’ll be using that one.
Not that Six on Saturday requires perfection in every shot, If you want to air your dirty washing for all to see, you are welcome to do so. Me, I’m inclined to use the selectivity of a photo to show what I want you to see and hide the rest. There aren’t really rules for six on Saturday but there is a participants guide, which makes suggestions. We’d love you to join in, the more the merrier.
One.
Every two years at about this time I give my Euphorbia mellifera a brutal haircut. Today was the day for 2026. The flowers were turning to seeds and I was sick of pushing past it where it was nearly blocking the path. Hopefully it will make enough regrowth by the time of our first opening to at least look like it’s going to live.
Two.
Last week I showed my two seedlings of an unidentified deciduous azalea and this week, as promised, I am showing you the parent. When I was given this I was led to believe it was a species, but whether it was wild collected or raised in cultivation with the attendant risk of hybridisation I don’t know. It has the best scent of any plant I grow. There will be someone out there who recognises it, I’m sure.
Three.
I grow two forms of Maianthemum racemosum (was Smilacina), what purports to be the straight species and a form called ‘Emily Moody’, which is the one on the right in the picture. They both smell strongly of lily of the valley and being on the opposite side of my tiny woodland area to the azalea, it’s a nicely fragrant place to be just now. ‘Emily Moody’ is taller, with broader, slightly glossy leaves.
Four.
I put a length of fence up in the top corner of the garden a few years back and planted two Clematis montana forms to cover it. That worked. The single pink is ‘Warwickshire Rose’, the double is ‘Marjorie’.
Five.
I’m kind of hoping that you spotted the two purple leaved shrubs amongst the clematis and wondered what it was. We bought it from Lower Keneggy Nursery and I cannot remember the name it had on it but it is very similar to a variety we were selling at the nursery I worked at which we called Fuchsia colensoi ‘Bronze Banks Peninsula’. I don’t recall seeing it flower but would expect a purplish black flower in winter.
Six.
Phyllostachys aureosulcata ‘Spectabilis’ and Hosta ‘Orange Marmalade’, the latter in a pot. Works for me.
Another week completed. I put a picture of one of Sue’s cacti flowering into last week’s six, this week’s header is by way of an update.
garden ruminations 
I really love the pairing of bamboo and Hosta – both in colour and form, it’s a great photo. And the Clematis! Bees must be very happy in your garden! We’re still in peak daffodil season here!
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Two things impress me Jim. There’s so much in garden yiu can bring us a new 6 every week and for the most you can name every single one by variety. Here’s my six from the lost label brigade http://lifeonalondonplot.com/2026/05/09/six-on-saturday-08-05-2026/
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Such a pretty Azalea and that Fuchsia is very desirable. The Bamboo and Hosta work very well for me.
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Whoops, I think I made a mess of the link, it’s always hit or miss with me.
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Fabulous six. I love the clematis hedge with the dark fucshia foliage. I have never noticed that smilacina is fragrant. And that hosta is now on my wish list, it’s new to me.
Six on Saturday. May delights↗
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That really is a brutal haircut! But clearly very necessary. I love the azalea, the flowers are gorgeous.
My six this week is here: https://mysanctuarygarden.wordpress.com/2026/05/09/six-on-saturday-09-05-26/
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Once again I forgot to leave my link…………https://www.leadupthegardenpath.com
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So many to like this week, Love the Azalea, so pretty, and love the bamboo Hosta combinations, quite stunning. I usually just cut away the flowering stems of my Euphorbia mellifera, that seems to keep it to a manageable size, you were brave!
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I have a length of fence that is just crying out for that clematis montana to cover it.
My six in which I’m still moaning about the lack of rain https://wp.me/p88ZiK-def
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That azalea is less familiar than its baby. I have no idea what it is. That fuchsia is also unfamiliar. It certainly is striking as a fuchsia. The bamboo and hosta combination really works nicely.
These are my six.
https://tonytomeo.com/2026/05/09/six-on-saturday-nursery-projects/
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Lovely clematis. I have one I planted last year that is starting to get going. It’s to cover the side of my garage which is a bit of an eyesore. https://potsandplots.blog/2026/05/09/sixonsaturday-09-05-2026/
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Oh my, I do love strolling through your garden Jim. This week I am very taken with the Orange Marmalade Hosta….love the name of that too! The header pic is also beautiful.
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I didn’t know purple leaved fuchsias existed. They’re very striking, as are the Montanas – which reminds me, I need to chop mine back once it finishes flowering https://onemanandhisgardentrowel.wordpress.com/2026/05/09/six-on-saturday-9-may-2026/
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A very pretty display of cactus flowers in the greenhouse! Indeed, the Euphorbia mellifera’s “haircut” is truly spectacular. You’re lucky the frost doesn’t hit them as much as it does mine. https://fredgardenerblog2.wordpress.com/2026/05/09/six-on-saturday-09-05-26/
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