I’ve been in the garden for 72 hours, doing an awareness fundraiser for Gifted Lefthanded Gardeners Guild (G.L.G.G.). I slept under the apple tree on night one and in the glasshouse the following night. On my final overnight I did not sleep one wink, as I was disturbed by sleety rain and slug movements nearby. Funds will be lefthanded over shortly. My thanks to all contributors, most especially righthanders. You understand our plight. On an important note, the awareness raised is greater than the seven euro. Buíochas do chách.
Fed and showered now, I’m ready to get on with the business of sharing six plants things that I like this week. Shall we proceed? Tar liom chuig an gháirdín ar chúl an tí.
1. Plant Of The Week: Acer
Last week I admired several Skimmia. I’ve also got several Acers, and they are coming into leaf now. Five altogether. Two large ones and three miniatures.
2. Apple Blossom
Being the first tree to open, it’s also the first to come into flower. The birds use it every day as a safe vantage point.
3. Wallflower
Taken last Monday, I note two plants that are moving in different circles. A few days later, the daffodils are fading whereas the wallflower is coming good. It’s the beginning of April. Much of the beauty of February and March is in the past.
4. Heuchera
I spotted a little job that needs doing, but I’ve only got to step one, taking a photograph. When I get stuck in any day now, I’ll likely get a few root cuttings too.
5. Agapanthus
Every year since 2020 I’ve saved the skeletonised stems of Agapanthus. Leaving the June flowers in place over the winter, I pull them gently away in March. I did so again during the week and, as is my habit, I tied them into a posy. The result is on the top right. Could you identify the oldest one? Could you identify the odd-one-out?
6. Mixum Gatherum
The daffodils in this bottle have finished so I sought a replacement. I came up with a combination of Bamboo, Nandina and last year’s Agapanthus skeletons (5 above).
About Six-on-Saturday
- Here’s The Participant Guide updated by Jim.
- That’s all from me, but for more inspiring gardens and great gardening blogs, head over to Garden Ruminations, the home for Six on Saturday. Have a lovely weekend.
- Jim is also over there on Twitter @JamesLStephens
Thought for the week:
Most people don’t really want the truth. They just want constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth.
Gaeilge Le Foghlaim
Amadán, amadán, an chéad lá d’Aibreán. For the day that’s in it, a worldwide Day For Fools.
Gallery
Click the first PHOTOGRAPH and swipe right or left.
Páraig.
The Three Hairs 
The dried Agapanthus are lovely, Have I spotted dried Cornflowers too? Last year I spent an age growing Agapanthus from seed, then the hard December frost got the young plants, even though they were in the greenhouse. I’m trying again this year and will learn from my lessons.
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Isn’t that what we do? Try and fail and next time fail better…
Not cornflowers, Rosie but other than that I can’t remember what it is.
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I can see that you are ahead of us with your trees, related to the Irish climate. My apple trees just see their leaf buds appear and the acer aren’t yet open. Original your bouquets of dry agapanthus flowers!
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I fear the apple blossom may yet be damaged by an April frost.
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yes….like my plum and peach trees here.
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I have admired a large tree of Acer ‘Orange Dream’ in Mount Congreve Gardens for years and bought one last year – in the Co-Op in Dungarvan, if memory serves me well, something it rarely does – and I like it very much. The new foliage is especially attractive.
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Foliage is go h-álainn, Paddy. Co-op changed to Glanbia and now again to Tírlán. Hard to keep up with it! I guess we go by how we knew things from way back.
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Oh, Kilmeadan is still referred to as “The Co-Op”
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I love the rich colour of that wallflower, I never got round to raising any plants last year and I’m really missing their velvety loveliness and spicy scent now. Note to self: be more organised this year! Is that really apple blossom out in Ireland? On 1st April? 😮
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Apple blossom bursting but, as I mentioned to Fred, there may be a harsh frost in April.
After the early spring daffodils have faded, wallflower and some tulips will fill the gap.
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Its lovely when the apple trees come into leaf, your climate is milder so you get to enjoy that sooner. For heuchera root cuttings – what is your method?
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The Heuchera are surrounded by membrane and a few centimetres of loose gravel. Because they can’t really spread underground, they tend to put out side roots in the stone. Very easy to snip off a few pieces that have decent roots and plant in the nursery bed. Voilà!
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