In my little corner of the country, the garden has exhausted itself, and it’s looking sad and very dull, much like the weather. So this week I’m taking a look back to summer. Not only was it a Covid-19 summer, but it was also a dripping wet summer, at least, where I am. So this week my six is about rain. And before you switch off, this was welcome rain; it was light rain that fell gently one night in June and refreshed the garden after an unusually dry, sunny and warm spring.
This will be my last Six on Saturday until next year, though I’m sure I’ll be posting about other things, just not six subjects – for a little while. I’ll be baking, helping to organise a Zoom concert, creating invitations, putting finishing touches to the rooms I’m getting ready for Christmas visitors, decorating the trees and hopefully making the house sparkle. I hope to find time to put together another photo book of my favourite garden photos, and I’ll say more about that in a separate post – but for now, here are my six rainy day plants.
Heuchera
The Rose
Hosta
Papaver orientale ‘allegro’
Fatsia japonica
Alchemilla Mollis
The Picnic Table
Oops…I think I’ve gone over six. Does anyone mind? 😁
That’s all from me for the moment friends, I’ll pop in to see your blogs, and post about various topics from time to time and until then, stay safe, healthy & happy!
ABOUT SIX ON SATURDAY
To join with other garden enthusiasts from around the world, and see how they garden, just take six photographs and post them to Twitter and/or your blog each Saturday. You can get all the details from The Propagator who kindly set it all up.
All photographs copyright of Catherine Wood unless otherwise stated
Great minds think alike… Mine is also a review, Catherine. Enjoy the SOS break. I’ll likely be reading some of your other updates.
I too love photographing raindrops on Alchemilla. Amazing droplets even hours after rain has stopped. Beir bua, a chara.
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Thank you Pádraig, I think there will be a good number of Sixer reviews over the next wee while. When I read your posts & comments it always makes me wish I had learned Gaelic as a child. My mother always said it was a dead language and that we children should speak English, and learn French. 😁 Times change.
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Go raibh maith agat, a chara. Most folk of my generation had Irish (aka Gaelic) beaten into us in school. Not the way to go. I do like to encourage a cúpla focal and I’m happy to report that it works as an encouragement many.
There’s a wonderful folk song about a shopkeeper prosecuted by the Brits (before our independence) for having name in Gaelic over his shop!
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It wasn’t taught in schools when I was a child, but much of Scotlands’s history wasn’t taught either. It’s coming back now, along with a huge flurry of blue and white Saltires. Time’s they are a-changing.
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Political realities.. History often taught without context all over the world. Same as the fact that English are unaware of atrocities committed in Ireland. Oh god… I must return to gardening or I’ll turn into an aphid!
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We wouldn’t want that to happen. 😂
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A beautiful selection, Catherine, in defiance of the rain. We are in similar conditions here – rain and mud – but we can only keep going!
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It will stop sometime Paddy. Won’t it…? 😂
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Today was a good day!
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Great photographs as always and I love photos of bejewelled leaves. I’ll miss your SoS’s but look forward to their return next year. Stay safe.
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Thanks, Graeme, life just gets too busy sometimes but I should be able to pop in a few posts here and there and keep an eye on everyone else’s. You stay safe & healthy too.
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Such gorgeous photos, Catherine! Love them all, especially the final one of the picnic table! Enjoy all your preparation for Christmas, your book, the Zoom concert, etc, and we will be looking forward to seeing your garden again in the new year.
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Thank you – I’ll pop into your blog shortly and see what you’ve been doing over the past week. Take care & enjoy your more-sunshiny-garden-than-mine. 😄
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Nice wet and colorful flashback: a concert of raindrops delicately placed on pretty leaves and flowers…
Very nice photos and Six this week
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Oh, I like that expression Fred, “a concert of raindrops”. I’ll have to get you to write my blog posts! 😁
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We’ll make the most of this week’s Six-on-Saturday then. It is a while since rain has been as welcome as it was at times in the summer. I will look forward to your return next year.
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Ah, but it just forgot to stop, Granny. 🌧 I don’t like planting bulbs in muddy soil! 😄
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Lovely inspiring photos. I’d love to be able to take such good photos, but I know they don’t just ‘happen’ and a lot of effort goes into them.
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Thank you Hortus – I’m my own worst enemy though, I go out to take a shot of a single plant and end up with multiple dozens of raw files to choose from and process.
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You always take such beautiful photographs Catherine, these ones stunning after soft summer rain. See you in the new year! K
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Thank you, Katharine, I’ll pop along to your blog soon to see what you have for this week’s Six. Enjoy the coming week & stay safe.
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Beautiful photos. I love raindrops and dew on leaves and petals.
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I love how rain enhances the colours in the garden and makes everything look so fresh. 😊
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Lovely reminders of summer. I must grow some Oriental poppies next year.
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I’ve been digging these up for years Jude, but never manage to get rid of them. I expect too many seeds hit the soil before I lift them – year in, year out. They’re the wrong colour and the wrong plant in the wrong place. I’d like other varieties though. 😁
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Love your rain pictures – things still look so pretty.
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They were a throwback to summer, and sadly they’re all heading off for their winter rest now. 😊
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It’s fun to reminisce about summer. Your photos do the trick. Please take care while you’re away from SoS. We’ll miss your vibrant contributions but will keep up with you through your blog, Catherine.
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Thanks, March, you look after yourself too – I hear the pandemic situation is also very worrying where you are.
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All your photos are wonderful, and the raindrops an added bonus as far as I’m concerned. There have been a few Heucheras this week, mine included. A couple of people have mentioned Marmalade to me, and I’m going to keep a lookout for it. I shall have a laden table of them!
I planted a poppy like yours, but it’s nowhere near as lush. I wonder what it’s missing?
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Thank you Jane, I probably show Heuchara ‘Marmalade’ too often – it’s a long-time favourite. I hope you manage to get hold of one.
I think that oriental poppies like cool conditions in spring and autumn, and they go dormant in the summer heat. Perhaps your plant just needs to mature? I’ve had this one for years and try to remove it every year – but it just loves its spot in the border and keeps coming back.
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Thanks for that info Catherine. It has been rather hot here, so perhaps that’s the problem.
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We have had much in the way of wet and dismal here too Catherine although for once November has been a more pleasant and sunny month that October. Our first light frost happened on Tuesday but we are in for even colder weather and fog as the week progresses. I do like the look of heuchera ‘Marmalade’ and the raindrops add to its appearance. It certainly sounds as if you’re going to be busy over the next few weeks. Have fun and take care 😄
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Our first frost was this morning Anna, but it was just a light frost. We actually had a dry day yesterday and got 145 tulip bulbs planted into above-ground pots and below-ground pots! More to go in tomorrow. I’m happy! 😁
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A lovely look back. We seem to have had either not enough rain or far too much of it here
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We had a lovely dry day yesterday – the first in weeks so took full advantage and made ourselves busy in the garden. Bliss. 😁
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