A quick post this week as I’ve got lots of revising to do for my next set of RHS exams on 22 June! I didn’t want to get out of the new rhythm though, so here’s six things to ponder this week for Six on Saturday.
It’s been a week of showers and sunny spells, quite pleasant really and perfect as far as the garden is concerned. A bright moment for the first daylily of the year, I don’t know which cultivar of Hemerocallis this is, but I do know it’s done some travelling – from our first rented house in Brussels, to my mother-in-law’s garden in Kent, and back here again. It could be Hemerocallis ‘Itinerant’.
This has been the year in which I’ve managed to grow sweet peas from seed successfully, hurrah! Instead of the usual fussing over them through winter as they get leggier and leggier, I picked up some mixed seeds from the garden centre, sowed in March, and here they are. They seem to like it in the former veg bed.
The arch is looking very floriferous. Here is Rosa ‘Compassion’ with Clematis viticella ‘Etoile Violette’ (you saw the close up last week) and just visible at the top, dainty little clematis ‘Betty Corning’. Party bunting is still out from last week’s little Jubilee tea party.
Now why can’t any of my plants stay upright? I added the white Astilbe last year to this shady eastern corner, where until now Geranium Rozanne has had free reign. Note the remarkably unnibbled Hostas above, and the copper tape round one pot (but not the other).
I mentioned I was revising for the RHS exams. One unit is on pests and diseases, and here I had a chance to practise diagnosis on this aubergine in the greenhouse at the allotment. I’ll let you have a try first:
So what did you think? Well, the mottling on the leaf is a potential sign of two-spotted spider mite damage. I did the trick of tapping the leaf with a white sheet of paper held beneath it, and sure enough miniscule little mites appeared on it. Remedial action has been to remove the worst-affected leaves, water well, increase the humidity in the greenhouse, and give the plant a good liquid feed (home-made nettle tea). I might need to give the leaves a quick treatment with a plant-oil-based product too.
Finally, one of the great pleasures of June is the berry harvest. The raspberries at the allotment are very tasty, as are the redcurrants, and I managed to save a few garden strawberries from the slugs. Served with a simple almond sponge cake and cream, the taste of summer!
Have a great weekend!
Nice Six and also the opportunity to share in your knowledge of pests and how to treat plants to help them overcome the regular challenges.
Thanks Noelle, it’s been v interesting learning about the ‘pests’ (think the RHS is ditching that word?!)
Good luck with the exams and a great diagnosis and remedy tips for the red mites.
Many thanks Rosie!
I love the plant combination in the shady corner. Those look like rather swish deck chairs – what’s the text on the one on the right? Good luck with the exams. Mine are on the 20th and I seem to be struggling with soil, compost and propagation!
Isn’t it insane how many cutting types we need to learn for the propagation module?! And all the plant names for each – groan!
The deckchairs came from the Royal Parks, when my OH was working for them in a comms role. The writing is a bizarre recipe for a cocktail involving Pimms and cucumber mousse. Must admit I’ve never made it!
I just realised my exams are on 20th too! Eeek…
I’ve still not had an official letter from the college to confirm times, etc. Trying not to panic!
Likewise nothing from the RHS yet, it’s getting a bit close for comfort now! Someone told me to Google it!
First of all, succes with the exams ! The fruit cake looks delicious as wel as your garden 🙂
Enjoy the weekend and let’s hope for some sun.
Greets,
Rudi
Hello ! Already daylilies? ! Mine are still at the flower bud stage. Another week or two and I’ll have the flowers. You make me want with your fruits but it won’t last long because this weekend is dedicated to picking the red currants which are ripe, despite a massive attack of caterpillars which have eaten all the leaves of my currants, gooseberries, and now the blackcurrants.
There is indeed an attack of spider mites, I spray it with neem oil and that fixes the problem a little but it must be done fairly regularly
Thanks for the tip Fred 🙂
From now on it will be Itinerant! Your berries look delicious and I love the sweetpea flower, you just can’t beat the scent of a sweetpea. Happy swotting to you, I hope the weather is terrible so you aren’t tempted out into the garden. And I love what I can see of your deckchairs!
Good luck with the studying and exams. My raspberry has only just got its first flowers. Lucky you having redcurrents – which I love but don’t have room for.
Thanks! The handy thing about redcurrants is they don’t mind a bit of shade. Do you still have your allotment?
I do, but there is no shade where my raised bed is situated – and I’m not sure I’ll be keeping it after this year – my priorities have changed now there is more light at home after the trees were cut back. I might look for one that will grow in a container, as my raspberry does.
Goodness, your berries are much earlier than mine! The autumn raspberries will be a while yet, although well before autumn, plus there are masses of blackcurrants not yet ripe. The arch of roses and clematis is very pretty. Hope you do well in your exams.
Good luck with the exams! Love the berries, even better for being from your own garden and even better still on the cake! Your arch looks fabulous and what have you done with the S&S? Those hostas are pristine. I haven’t grown any sweetpeas this year after a couple of years of poor flowering. I do love them though. At the moment Sweet Williams are providing a welcome scent in the garden.
Sweet Williams are a great substitute!
I’m sure I have exactly the same Hemerocalis in my garden but it was here when we moved in so I don’t know its name either. It is rabbit proof though, I can vouch for that. Thankyou for the red spider mite white paper trick. It sounds very useful.
Rabbit proof but not always slug proof!
Good luck with the exams. RSM here on a house plant! I’m fighting back. Birds have eaten redcurrants – unetted – but yours are inspiring me to take better care next year. Your garden is looking very lovely – a great arch of flowers!
Thanks! I hastily put up netting to save the redcurrants this year!
Great post! I’m afraid once I saw the berries and cake, everything else went blank. 🙂