February, Thank Goodness You're Here

Six on Saturday is a weekly diary hosted by The Propagator & contributed to by gardeners all over the world.  For links to other SoS blogs, check out Mr P's comment section & the Twitter hashtag, #SixOnSaturday.

Our calendar says January's a month of incubation, not action, which is why resolutions seldom last.

I incubate quiet anxiety - over plants unseasonably budding & blooming.  Over dogs that've had Doodle crashing-through-the-woods injuries & BigNose old dog health concerns.  Over how the Home Office will process our paperwork.

Calming anxiety's my January work.

For today, that means thinking about 6 of my favourite things.



1.  Fatty japonica, Spidy Guy. 

This little guy came to live in a seating area  2 gardens ago.  He died back completely during the Beast from the East, then resurrected to tutor me on how much sun he needed in order to create the lovely spider web on his leaves.  This year, he got a shocking pink pot to show off his foliage.

Some SoSers don't like spider fatsia, but he suits me just fine.


2.  Shed blooms.

The strawberries (on left) have been in bloom since they arrived last November; I've not the heart to put them outside in the cold.  If that keeps them from producing this year, those blooms are quite the compensation.

The saxifrage have now joined them.  The saxifrage usually start a pinky red that fades to white, so not sure why they're starting as white.  Something to do with sunlight at this time of year, perhaps?


3.  Beating the Romanesco drum again.

Any plant that I can eat gives me a special joy.  This one has the bonus of being weird looking.

Of the original 21 plants, 17 lived, producing 11 heads so far.  Not a great ratio, but the other 6 aren't fully mature, yet, so I'm not sure if that number'll increase.

One of the non-head-producers has given us a purple leaf, though.


4.  Hyacinth Bucket.

Last year, I received a heart shaped bucket of forced hyacinths.  Come autumn, I planted them in the re-purposed linen baskets with the More Fool You If You Think We're Going To Bloom saffron crocus.

I'd given up hope, undoubtedly because of everyone's forced hyacinth, then this little guy made himself known.


6.  Oregano amethyst falls.

New to me last year, I'm loving this oregano in all phases.  At the moment, the textured leaves give great pleasure.

This photo doesn't so much show that texture, as make the leaves look spotted.  That's actually light catching on moisture from the morning mist.  Trust me, these leaves deserve being in the top 6.

Hibernation over incubation.

Undoubtedly, some of you are shocked & horrified that the Crooked Cherry didn't appear this week, but that's only because she's still sleeping.  Rest assured, she's my favourite of all favs, Romanesco not withstanding.

Well, I certainly feel better for spending time with my beauties, but even so, I spit on January, tff, tff.  Roll on February.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Look forward to seeing you next time.