For this week’s Six on Saturday, I was torn between featuring my bedraggled vegetables or happy flowers. I chose the latter. We have enjoyed a mixed bag of weather, from strong winds to rain, thunderstorms, and night-time temperatures dropping to around 6C, far lower in the valley.
Cyclamen
I have been so delighted with the pink cyclamen I bought last August that when I went to the garden centre this week to buy some lemon thyme, I spotted a tray of cyclamen clinging to life in freezing winds. A cyclamen with huge white flowers spoke to me, and I couldn’t resist. It will live on the sheltered terrace along with the pink one I bought last August, which has flowered continually since
Hibiscus Flowers Never Fail to Please
What is there not to like about hibiscus. They are easy to grow and propagate and seem to flower most of the year, given the right conditions.
A pink hibiscus I started to propagate from this plant last August has now rooted
I use this method
Pelargonium
I can’t believe this plant is still flowering nearly a year later!
This is the same plant in February 2024
Bottle Brush
I am not a great fan, but it did work well as a cut flower when all else failed
Plants for the Bees
This morning, with temperatures at only 10c, when I took these photographs of the rosemary and lavender, the bees were still sleeping. Normally these plants are swarming with bees.
Merlin Bird App
This morning, whilst selecting plant victims to be featured in this week’s Six on Saturday, I paused to listen to the birds. Struck by the number of different voices, I turned on my Merlin Bird App
and recorded five different birds in two minutes.
Listening to the early morning birdsong is a great way to start the day! Have you tried this app or a similar app to identify birds in your garden?
I’m hoping one of the Tits will take up residence in our birdhouse.
For more gardening inspiration to chase away winter blues do check out other Six on Saturday Gardeners
Piglet in Portugal 
Beautiful Hibiscus. A lovely colourful Six to brighten the gloomy day here
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I love that bird-app! My hibiskus is hardly growing at all. Get flowers every now and then, but it propbably not like it here I think. Have moved it a couple of times to try new conditions, this seems to be the best, so we hope it will grow this year 🙂
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Hi Ana, it’s amazing the number of birds we have discovered uing Merlin.
What a shame re your hibiscus. I wonder why it is so reluctant to grow. I confess I grow my hibs in pots. I only have one in the ground and in truth it does not look that happy
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Hi, Carole – I like how you’ve brought together a mix of flowers and plants that continue to brighten up the colder months. The cyclamen, hibiscus, and pelargonium are so inspiring—proof that even in winter, nature can surprise us with its resilience. I also enjoy the addition of the Merlin Bird App; what a lovely way to start the day with birdsong. Looking forward to seeing more of your garden as the season progresses! Donna
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Hi Donna, I was surprised to see just how many plants were in flower. No only in flower but looking back just how long they had been flowering. I tend to take them for granted. We have a lot of different birds here in the winter and I was surprised to see a robin listed today.
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I love the Merlin bird app! And your blooms are gorgeous…wow, a continuously blooming Cyclamen for a year…very nice! And plants for the bees, too. 🙂 Happy Six!
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Thanks, for stopping by, Beth. Yep, a happy six this week. I am glad I shared the ap.
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I’m also going to have to download that app and ditch my ancient identifying birdsong CD as I’ve never found it that helpful. You have a great selection of Hibiscus.
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I trowel, I hope you enjoy MErlin as much as I do
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I wasn’t aware there was an app that could do that, how cool! I love to go out in the morning and hear the birds chirping away. I’ll try the app. The hibiscus are gorgeous, I love them – we’re not so lucky to have them bloom all year long like that.
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Hi Tracy, I am glad you like the idea of the ap. I have been using it well over a year now and love it.
The hibiscous are gorgous. We have had an extremely mild winter this year so I think that has helped with the abundance of flowers.
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Although I do recognise many bird songs, I do like the sound of that ap and will be downloading it onto my phone. Many thanks
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Hi Noelle, the ap is brilliant. Enjoy. For me birdsong is very much part of gardening.
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Thank you for sharing again your link to take hibiscus cuttings. I had already tried, but the soil was too soggy, or probably because it lacked heat. One that I have succeeded with is the hibiscus schizopetalus which is currently overwintering in my attic.
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Hi Fred, I used sandy soil not compost. I keep the soil moist and only water from the bottom. That was the secret.
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Good to know !
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