Where did that week go? I blinked and missed it. The garden seems to have slowed down, it’s been relatively cool with very little sun and I went out today wondering what I could find to include in my six. Sue’s cacti are building up for another show so I have a cactus header. I have a garden club group coming on a visit on Wednesday and it looks like the main flowering could happen Monday or Tuesday, which is typical.
I’m trying to sort out which are which with the cacti, with the long term aim of propagating the under represented ones and perhaps getting rid of a few where there are multiples. It did at least give me something to do while the rain came down. Today was just a bit mizzly sometimes, an almost dry day.
Six on Saturday then. If you’re new here this is a meme started in May 2017 by a blogger calling himself The Propagator. He came up with the notion of a post about six things happening in your garden on a Saturday and handed over hosting duties to me about five years later. All that means is that its in my comments below that you leave a link to your post. He wrote a participants guide too, which you may find helpful.
One.
The aforementioned cacti. Two plants flowered Thursday and Friday, one still being open today. The pink one matches a plant elsewhere which actually has a name label, making it Echinopsis ‘Pink Diamond’. Sue collected a lot of Echinopsis, mostly raised by Southfields Nursery under the name New Dawn hybrids. I don’t know how many were given individual names, a lot of Sue’s labels have faded to illegibility. I don’t have a name for the peachy coloured variety but it seems to be the same as one that flowered a few weeks back and got tagged number 1, but I’d need to see them flowering at the same time to be sure.
Two.
I went to a National Garden Scheme get together last year where they had a plant swap. I was relieved of my three contributions before they made it to the swap table, exchanged for three plants borne by the reliever. One of my acquisitions was Watsonia borbonica subsp. ardernei, which I’d seen growing in the bearers garden and had high on my wanted list. It’s tall, 1.3m., pure white and now has three flowering stems, so it’s bulking up nicely. There are side branches on the flower stems, promising a decent flowering period. I also have a couple of seedlings from wild collected South African seed, so I could end up with a lot of it. It seems to do its leaf production in winter and was slightly damaged by one cold spell but seems to have recovered.
Three.
I’m not quite sure what is going on here. The large flowered clematis to the left is ‘Ernest Markham’ which I put in a fortnight ago. The maroon clematis on top of the arch is ‘Etoile Violette’, which usually gets in a six between late July and September. Maybe I simply didn’t cut it back and it’s flowering early. I’m sure it’s not usually so red either. Fuchsia ‘Delta’s Sarah’ is well ahead of her usual flowering time too.
Four.
This orchid is Dactylorhiza x grandis ‘Blackthorn’, a vigorous hybrid between two of our native marsh orchids and a very fine and accommodating plant. Even at f/8 my camera would only focus on one flower spike so I used the onboard focus bracketing and in spite of it being windy, it produced the goods.
Five.
My poor Geranium ‘Nimbus’ has been largely hidden from view in recent years and it is nearly six years since it went in a six. Chopping down the plum tree and pruning the Weigela have exposed it, and sundry accompanying weeds, to view.
Six.
I looked at this Hemerocallis when I took its picture and scratched my head. Has it always been this dull; undecided whether to be brown or purple or reddish? Has it always been so popular with slugs and snails? Why am I growing it? Needless to say, in a group of four or five day lilies it is by far the most robust. That probably wont be enough to save it. I couldn’t even be bothered to look for a label.
There you have it, my offering for the week. I should probably go out slugging but I’m not sure I can be bothered. Bed seems a better idea. Happy gardening.
garden ruminations 
The Fuchsia/Clematis pairing is very attractive, and they both look so healthy. I wasn’t familiar with that Orchid–it’s beautiful. Today was perfect gardening weather here–partly cloudy, 21C/70F, no rain. The only problem was the strong wind–so I went for a walk in the park instead. I hope to be back for SOS next week. Thanks for hosting!
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So much to love here, Jim. Am fascinated by the hybrid orchid, being used to the wild sort on the limestone areas of Shropshire. And the Watsonia is both astonishing and another new plant for me.
More power to those cheering cactus.
https://tishfarrell.com/2026/06/13/six-on-saturday-after-the-wind-and-rain/
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Oooh, pretty marsh orchid! I need to go back and dig through some photos to find if the native orchid I photographed in our forest looks like that.
https://littleblueandwhitehouse.com/2026/06/13/six-on-saturday-13th-june-2026/
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I like the idea of having an NGS plant swap – not something Staffordshire seem ever to have done… we just have a lunch, now downgraded to a drop-in afternoon tea. Gorgeous clematis and cacti today. I see what you mean about the hemerocallis – sometimes we just have to be strict with ourselves, but it’s not always easy! Thanks for hosting https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2026/06/13/six-on-saturday-another-task-for-my-to-do-list/
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Sue’s Echinopsis are beautiful and even better her memory lives on through her plants.
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Lovely, although the daylily is indeed a dull color. I got rid of almost every day lily I had. Still have a nice plain simple yellow one and a dark maroon one with really big flowers.
I covet that white watsonia, I just have an orange one, which is spectacular but more ordinary. A friend gave it to me for a droughty public garden and by the time it bloomed I was gobsmacked because I had forgotten what it was!
My six today. https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/2026/06/13/six-on-saturday-roses/
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My favorite quote this week is, “Today was just a bit mizzly sometimes, an almost dry day.”
The next time I need a comment on the weather, I’m going to check your posts.
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The cacti and orchids are gorgeous! Your garden is such an inspiration. My contribution this week: https://stoneyknob.wordpress.com/2026/06/13/gardening-on-a-shoestring/
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The orchid is delightful. I like bright colored Hemerocallis too. Watsonia sp also caught my eye. Good swap there.
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Those cactis blooms are beautiful! As are the Watsonia and the Orchids. The clematis/fushia combo is lovely too. You really have a wondrous garden.
I’m participating for the first time with 6 from my container garden in France: https://chronicallyhopeful.com/this-week-in-the-garden-six-on-saturday-13-june-2026/
I look forward to visiting everybody’s gardens this week!
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I loved the description of the Day Lily, and your attitude towards it. Can’t be bothered to look for the label is now going to be my thoughts regarding plants that are destined for the ‘to be dug up and got rid of list’. The orchid is delightful. Here are my six: https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2026/06/six-on-saturday-13-june-2026.html
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Love the clematis and geranium, especially the foliage on the geranium. I too am learning the value of pruning. Some plants will be so late, then you take down some of the more aggressive natives and viola! The missing plants pop up. We have had lots of rain lately, but the drought monitor still shows most of WI either abnormally dry or in moderate drought. My county is about 50:50. It rained very hard and up to 80 mph (~129 kph). I found a twig that had been thrust into a milkweed leaf like a spear. Hre is to sunshine and gentle soaking rains. There were a few tornadoes in some areas as well as damaging hail. Luckily not where I live. Anyway, here is my garden after the storms. The crabapple took another hit.
https://wisconsingarden.wordpress.com/2026/06/13/june-13-2026-six-on-saturday/
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Hah, of course I meant Voila, not that perhaps small pansies were popping up! Haha
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The Orchid flowers look so perfect and C. ‘Etoille Violette’ has made me nostalgic. I grew it for many years but the recent summer droughts were too much for it. I ‘need’ to try it again. Your garden visitors are in for such a treat.
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I have a similar day lily. It got badly mauled by tiny snails a few years ago and I swore to remove it, but then last year it was almost perfect. This year it is a mess again so I think its days are gone. I just need to get in there with a fork and dig it out – no mean feat. Sue’s cacti are beauties. I have no idea how you find time to care for that glasshouse, the garden and the allotment! You need some volunteers!
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The garden and allotment are a full time job, it’s everything else I struggle to find time for; food shopping, washing clothes, cleaning the house, preparing meals. I suspect having volunteers in the garden would push my stress level off the scale.
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I have my groceries delivered which saves time. Cooking for one is difficult. I tended to rely on ready meals at first, but now salads are easy. It’s tough and I feel for you.
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I never would have guessed your orchid was an orchid, it’s great! Almost as great, for me, as the Geranium now on full view – the leaves are what make it I think. Very attractive and delicate looking…
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I am of the opinion that ‘liking geraniums’ or ‘liking grasses’ or whatever, tends to lure me into putting up with poor sorts for too long. There are good geraniums but there are a lot of distinctly average ones as well, and some weeds. It’s interesting that you would not have taken my orchid for an orchid, it’s pretty representative of a good slice of our native terrestrial orchids here. We only have terrestrial orchids, no epiphytes.
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Well. So I looked it up and even Ontario has terrestrial orchids – more than 60 species, in fact. Not that any of them grow in my conditions. But you;re right – I’m so used to seeing epiphytes in grocery stores or even in conservatories and public greenhouses I can’t recognize the other!
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The watsonia was a great swap. It looks lovely. I love the thought about the day lily. I often survey my plants and think why did I choose that one, what possessed me to go for this one. My ‘Etoile Violette’ features this week, it’s been in flower for a while as has my fuchsia ‘Hawkshead’ which I’m sure I don’t usually mention until July or even August. Here’s my link https://n20gardener.com/2026/06/13/six-on-saturday-im-calling-it-summer/
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Beautiful orchids! I think our weather up here has been similar to yours. So cold and windy this week for June.
Here’s my SOS – https://thegarrett.garden/2026/06/13/six-on-saturday-13-june-2026/ – would appreciate any advice from fellow SOS’ers about my rose issue!
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No Six for me this week. I’m off to the sea and away from home. In any case, I must admit that your cactus flowers (Echinopsis this week) are always the highlights of your posts!
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Those orchids are lovely, and like Cath, you’re tempting me towards trying to grow cacti with all the amazing flowering pictures. I have too much going on though, so I must resist! https://potsandplots.blog/2026/06/13/sixonsaturday-13-06-2026/
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I’m also very fond of that watsonia, I definitely need more white in my garden. The clematis (clemati?) is/are wonderful. You made me smile talking about the daylily, ending with a defiant “I can’t be bothered to look for a label”. Here is my contribution for the week https://offtheedgegardening.com/2026/06/13/six-on-saturday-flaming/
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White watsonia is enviable. I keep seeing it (unidentified cultivars ) around, but never ask for copies of it. I acquired two of my three watsonia only recently from Tangly Cottage Gardening. They are excellent (!) but not white. Clematis are enviable also. You got all floral pictures, but for this week, I have none. https://tonytomeo.com/2026/06/13/six-on-saturday-foliar-closeups/
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The clematises & ‘Delta’s Sarah’ look good together and Sue’s flowering cacti are looking lovely. My first plant was a cactus when I was maybe 8 or so. I remember being amazed when it first flowered https://onemanandhisgardentrowel.wordpress.com/2026/06/13/six-on-saturday-13-june-2026/
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It’s looking a bit like the garden club group coming round on Wednesday are going to get an awesome cactus show; or it could all happen Tuesday or Thursday.
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Your cactus flowers are gorgeous and the Watsonia is so elegant, beautiful! I also seem to miss some of the stems of my Clematis Etoille Violette when pruning, so also have mine flowering too soon.
My six are here………..https://www.leadupthegardenpath.com/
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Ah, Watsonia…..the plague of Tasmania! We are encouraged not to plant in our gardens over here. It is a lovely looking plant however, so I am a little miffed by the situation. I very nearly purchased the very same Hemerocallis this week but went with a peachy coloured one instead….there’s time yet to get one. A last comment about the cacti….I’ve never been a fan but seeing all the flowers on those plants you’ve got there, I could very well be persuaded. Have a good week.
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The only place here that I’ve seen Watsonia self seeding is in sand dunes in the Isles of Scilly, so I can see that it has the potential to become a nuisance in a slightly more favourable climate.
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I really like that orchid! And the Watsonia looks really good, too – a great addition.
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