In contrast to last week’s lovely winter sunshine, this Saturday is rather grey and overcast. We have had a lot of rain this week (you should have seen the downpour on Wednesday), as well as sunshine at the start of the week, wind (today) and the first proper bite of cold weather. In fact it has been a real mix! I headed out to take some pictures this afternoon and check on things (I must trim the lemon balm) and then the rain came down. Ah well. But still…here are my Six on Saturday and thanks once again to The Propagator for allowing us to share what is going on in our gardens.
First up, daffodil progress. These are some of mine, the picture below was taken in the Botanic Gardens on Monday, where some of the miniature ones are already in full bloom.
Next up…more pictures of camellias. We have had a wonderful display this year, and, of course we can also enjoy those of our neighbours.
I am not sure if you can see the buds on the magnolia at the back of the house. I’ll either need my husband to take pictures when the flowers come out (he is a good bit taller than me) or carry out something to stand on!
I had a tidy up of gardening stuff during the week, and found two half bags of potting compost, three pairs of gardening gloves, a proper window propagating tray and other miscellaneous items such as a couple of packets of seeds well past their use by date (3 years in fact…). All I can say is, it is just as well I had a tidy up.
At number 5, we have another picture of berries, which on this gloomy day, looked even brighter.
And finally, since I can’t get out to do anything this afternoon, here is another picture from the Botanic Gardens on Monday, when the sun was shining. This is such an amazing looking plant right now. And no I don’t know what it is of course (I Googled the picture and the answer came back…wait for it…tree…).
So that’s it from me. Looking forward to seeing everyone’s beautiful gardens in other parts of the world.
You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram@thistleandkiwis. As for Twitter….am totally inactive these days. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com
Thistles and Kiwis 
Last plant looks to be a fatsia. I added two last year in pots. The plain and the variegated. The variegated isn’t meant to be as hardy but has come through winter better.
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I think you are right though they are really big. I think there is one behind the house too….will have to wait for dry weather though to check it out.
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They can grow big but can be chopped back to keep in pots.
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This was in the gardens so guess there is lots of space 🙂
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I agree w/Joshua that the mystery does look like a fatsia – they have the weirdest looking flowers. They’re common in council planting schemes here & get huge, but I have a spider one in a pot & it’s only about a metre tall, so they adjust to their setting. So great to see daffs when here, it’s too hot for me to venture out. That white camellia is exceptional – yours or the neighbour’s? And the berries, so red! The cluster looks familiar but I don’t recognise the leaves. Do you know what shrub it is?
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I had another look and yes it does look like fatsia. The white camellia is luckily ours, Our immediate neighbour has some small red ones, which are lovely too. The berry shrub is on the slope sort of under the house (we are on a hill), and I took the photo through our fence, crouching down (if that makes sense!). I will ask my local plant specialist at work. It looks a bit like a non spiny holly, but I find here things are not what you think they are!
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What fun to read this blog. I am very familiar with daffodils but fatsia? Not so much! Never seen or heard of it. It certainly has a distinctive look.
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It is quite distinctive. I keep coming across new things all the time.
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Daffodils! I have been making my bulb shopping list. I will sit down and order them soon, trying to ignore the creaking of my wallet as I do so.
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Bulb catalogues are dangerous 🙂
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What lovely pink that Camellia is. Nice to see pictures of daffs as well.
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Thanks!
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Your daffs aren’t far behind those of the Botanic Gardens. Looking forward to seeing them in full bloom.
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They are coming along nicely. Keeping my eyes on them each day.
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Camellias are always good for some winter colour, nice to see your spring bulbs are flowering though.
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Lovely camellias and yes definitely a Fatsia. You make the gloomy weather look quite cheerful!
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For your time of year everything is looking rather colourful thanks to those wonderful camellias
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I know – it is lovely!
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