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

Chris Mousseau

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.

purple and white crocus

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

  • Allium ‘Purple Sensation’
  • 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.

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.

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!

25 Comments

  1. A great selection of Alliums. I look forward to seeing them as the year goes on.

    You’re right about self collected seed – it feels like it’s the way things are meant to be done!

  4. Rhubarb! It’s not a crop that can be grown here, but when I was a kid, I used the leaves as hats, and my grandparents made rhubarb wine.

    1. Wine! That would be a nice and natural addition to the local economy, since we’re already a huge wine (from grapes), beer, cider and more recently spirits destination….

      1. Really? I’ve not noticed slug damaged leaves before…or do you mean you use the leaves to hold beer, to attract then drown slugs? 😆

      2. No… When cutting the rhubarb, leave the leaves flat on the soil. The slugs shelter there and are easily removed….

  5. I remember your alliums from last year, really nice. And yes, you are right about seed that you have collected yourself being a bit special. Nice plant as well. Hopefully your crocus will appear soon enough. Have a happy Easter!

  6. Rhubarb is so excellent! It is uncommon here though. Except for what is in my own garden, I see it only in pictures from far away. I got mine from my great grandfather before I was in kindergarten. There is another one at work that I do not know the origin of.

  7. I think collected seed and gifted seed are my favorites. I had no luck with Crocus when i lived further north, I had oddly well drained clay soil…looking forward to your Alliums.

    1. It’s so strange about the crocuses – I’ve had great success with them in other gardens not that far away. Oh well…the daffs like it here!

  8. The crocus/croci that have flowered do look lovely. Good idea of yours to sow the tomato seeds two to a container and miss out the pricking out stage.

  9. I didn’t know you could plant bits of the flower from an echeveria. I have just cut one off my plant and thrown it away 😨

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