Six on Saturday – 02/04/2021 – the sprouting continues…

I really love crocuses – or Croci , if you prefer. Big ones, small ones, white ones, orange ones, purple ones…white and purple ones…Bees love them too, and they’re one of the earliest bloomers in my garden (starting just as the snowdrops end, and before daffodils etc start) so I think they’re a wonderful addition to any garden. And I’ve planted lots over the years – around 500 I’d say, in the past five years. Just two are now flowering. Only another handful might be on their way. I’ve not seen chipmunks or other critters digging them up (like they do tulips) so it must be something to do with my soil – heavy, limestoney, very dry in summer, that they don’t like. Oh well. Here’s the one that was blooming yesterday – the first of my Six on Saturday – a weekly theme hosted by The Propagator.

What else is sprouting this week? Lots of daffodils – the first should be in bloom by next Saturday – plus:

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  Allium ‘Purple Sensation’

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  Allium’ Globemaster’

Alliums are popping up all over; these larger ones plus the smaller Keeled Garlic (Allium carinatum), Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum) and Allium sphaerocephalon which are all, to a certain degree, evergreen in my climate.

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My tomato seeds have sprouted. I plant two seeds in every little container, not trusting my germination skills. Fresh seeds are, however, very reliable so I’ll wait a week or so then pull out the smaller of each pair. Looks like a third seed was dropped by mistake into one thingy.

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I was given one very small rhubarb root four years ago – it’s been very happy and looks like I’ll have lots of fresh rhubarb to stew and bake again this year!

I’m really pleased that these Baptisia australis, blue false indigo, seeds have sprouted. I collected them (with permission) from the front garden of a local art studio last summer. Growing seeds you collect yourself are somehow a bit more special than store or mail order bought, don’t you think? This perennial will take a year or two to grow and set deep roots before blooming so I need to find a forever spot for them….

Baby Echeveria. I have a largish plant that I brought inside last fall, just as it was sending out a large flower stem. I lopped it off a month or so ago and then cut off a bunch of small rosettes that had started to grow and stuck them all in pots. The front pot has a chunk of flower stem with new baby plants coming out – the flower tendrils were cut off and planted on the other two pots. So easy!

It’s a lovely long weekend here – should be sunny and warmish – best wishes to all for a peaceful Easter, with much chocolate!