Last week’s edition of Six-on-Saturday did not appear within the WordPress Reader, so some of my readers will have been disappointed. I now know why. Knowledge is powerful. Here it is.
We’ve had a mixed weather bag here in West Waterford with plenty sunshine but cold easterly winds. Am I bothered? Not in the least! Early sunrise and longer evenings are the buzzwords of late April. How has it been where you are?
I’ve had some gardening time, not a lot but enough to keep my patch of earth tip top and to record a few bits for this Six-on-Saturday, so sit and relax with me awhile. While you’re doing that, I’ll be reading some of the many other Six-on-Saturday posts from around the world, curated by Jim at Garden Ruminations. Ar aghaidh linn…
Heather
I am pleased with my planting of heathers at the base of the vegetable/nursery bed, about five years ago I think. They are very suited to this spot.
Array of Annuals
I mentioned a few weeks ago that I’m only growing two beirt annuals from seed this year, namely Alyssum and Nasturtium. In total there are 48 of each. I did sow two Nasturtium seeds in each cell but I needn’t have bothered, as every single one sprouted. I then needed to remove the second ones. I’ll know better next year. As for the Alyssum, the seed is so tiny that each cell has 5-10 and they will be fine en masse.
South West
Last week, I featured shots of the garden to give an overall view. Here’s one facing south West from the breakfast table. I really should powerwash the patio. I don’t mind powerwashing as long as I spread it out over a few days but I do not like the word ‘should’. On the other hand, perhaps I’ll not trouble myself!
Look at that wonderful blue sky. Is there anything else that catches your attention?
Wine Time
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, Sage, rosemary and wine.
I’ll wager it’s not everyone uses empty wine bottles. The phrase dust to dust springs to mind. Grains of sand used to make glass are returned to the earth once the grapes, grown in the earth have been ingested. Casillero del Diablo is a decent wine.
My friend Liam was quick off the mark.
The wine was served with beef. The rosemary on the left added to the flavour. I’ve my mind set to summer days when tomato plants will climb the frame behind. I love cooking with wine.
Job Done
The hellebores are still flowering, although now going over. This flower is long gone. It formed a fine seed that has just dropped. In the large pot beneath, I had covered the soil with a layer of loose stone. I’m hoping the seed will nestle in a cozy nook and when the heat of the sun together with some rain does its magic, new life will emerge.
Scallions
I’ve got plenty scallions and more young ones coming along. Last Autumn I planted several rows outside and they’ve been a regular on the lunch menu since January. These new ones were started recently indoors and I’ll get them planted out shortly.
About Six-on-Saturday
We are a group of gardeners who write. We write about six items in our gardens, and we do it on Saturdays. Many more choose to publish on Twitter and Instagram using the #sixonsaturday hashtag. Here’s The Participant Guide updated by Jim. For more gardens and gardening blogs, head over to Garden Ruminations, the home for Six on Saturday. Have a lovely weekend.
The Three Hairs
By going to TheThreeHairs.Com anyone who wants the bits of Gaeilge, cycling or other random thoughts will find everything there. I’m loving some rubbishy fiction. ‘Wasting Away’ has been published recently. It’s a one-minute read outlining Fidelma’s advice about getting into that special dress for a wedding. I invite you to browse and hope you enjoy some of what’s there.
Next week, I’ll be back with more.
Páraig.
The Three Hairs 
Your garden is looking lovely. I scattered a few packs of Alyssum seed around in the front garden yesterday – such a good plant and it seems to seed itself around the patio border.
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Thank you, a chara. Alyssum is a great annual needing little attention.
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Your garden looks very organised and well-stocked. A perfect view from the breakfast table I’d say. Your annuals are doing well, my germination rate this year has been surprisingly poor. I’m going to have to sow a couple of more trays – or head for the garden centre.
Is the calendar in Ireland different from Scotland, Páraig? Mine says there’s one more Saturday yet to come. 😉
Have a lovely weekend!
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One more to come, you are indeed correct, Catherine. That’s a bonus Six-on-Saturday I wasn’t banking on.
Your garden centre visit wouldn’t be the worst of plans!
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Only two sorts of annuals, you are quite restrained. I do love nasturtiums and when I see the self sown seeds start to germinate, I’ll sow the three seeds sitting on the window sill. I too love using wine, but often don’t have a bottle lurking, but fear not I have dry and sweet bottles of marsala that add a somewhat Sicilian edge to dishes or Port if it is beef. I’m waiting for the next discount event of one of the supermarkets to get my next six bottles of mainly white, which along with a few other things I can fit in my cycle panniers.
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I can see you grinning while cycling home!
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There are always beautiful flowers and blue skies to the SW wherever you are! I envy these nasturtiums that don’t have a single slug hole!… and cheers! 🍷
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Ah, the slugs will have their day!
Enjoy the weekend, a chara. 🍷
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I love cooking with wine, too. Sometimes I even put it in the food. 😂 All looking lovely and spring-like. Do the nasturtiums transplant happily? I’ve never had any luck so always direct sow them then let them self-seed wherever they fancy. Have a happy gardening weekend!
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Now that you mention it, they take quite a while to progress when planted out, yet I prefer it this way. No doubt there’s enough around the garden that will sprout without my lelp.
Wine in the food? Oh yes, yes! 🍷
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Your garden looks very beautiful ❤ Love your production area.
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Go raibh maith agat, Sarah. Plenty produce non the way.
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Ah, the sunrise over the water, very nice Páraig! I really like the view from your breakfast table, too.
Those are a lot of plants from seed! I had been leaving my babies outside the past week and I forgot to bring them in before the rains on Friday night – lost a bunch of my coleus to drowning (I thought I’d soaked up enough water early Saturday, but I guess not). I’m not sure I’m cut out for growing from seed!
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I like your breakfast table view. If you skip the power washing, it will give the stones a nice weathered, established, old-garden look. (My husband is just about dying to get rid of the moss on the retaining stones in our rock garden. It may mean the end of our otherwise happy marriage, lol!) I look forward to seeing all of those nasturtiums in bloom! Nice looking scallions too. I’m happy my chives are up–I pluck one and eat it almost every time I’m near them!
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I’m late to the garden gate this week as I’ve been enjoying myself in Cornwall walking the coast and countryside. But I’m back now and hoping that the weather will turn warmer so that we can all get on with planting out our seedlings. Nasturtians! I went way too early planting mine and boy-oh-boy are they great germinators! In just 4 days there were 60 seedlings! I’ve made a note to be less excitable next spring. Until next week, my friend…
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