February, March, April/Autumn in the southern hemisphere

[Lesley Cox]

A couple more in flower at present. The Asiatic gentians are well under way but coming out rather patchily and not making good photos. In particular, Gentiana depressa is disappointing after the one the year before last. It's a really good mat now (was shifted before flowering last year so I didn't expect much then) but has only about 60 flowers/buds and opening just a few at a time.



some good seedlings are first a pure white, then a very pale delicately washed blue and than a deeper but still soft blue

[Lesley Cox]

Astilbe simplicifolia is lovely in late summer, with pretty, lace-like flowers and glossy foliage in a reddish bronze shade.





Like several others, Rhododendron hanceanum nanum is doing an autumn flowering and using up most of its developing buds so there will be few in the spring



An finally Cyananthus microphyllus, like the gentians is opening just one or two at a time, instead of being its usual blue plate-like mat.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Beautiful Gentians Lesley, what a heavenly blue !!!!

By the way - has anybody heard from Paul Tyerman lately - it's been ages since we last heard from him

[Maggi Young]

Lovely pie and plants, Lesley.



I've been missing Paul T., too. I expect he is poorly at the minute, hope he is soon feeling better and back with us.

[Paddy Tobin]

Leslie, Dave & Fermi,

Great displays from down under, good show.

Paddy

[John Forrest]

Nice to see your Gentiana depressa Lesley, mine is looking rather sorry for itself and is only third the size. I hope it will rally.

[David Nicholson]

Lesley, that was one great pie. I need a re-post of that every week please!

[Maggi Young]

Lesley, that was one great pie.

Good grief, he's scoffed the lot!

[Lesley Cox]

Re Paul, I've heard nothing for months. He sent a private email pre Christmas if I remember rightly, just to say "Hi." He didn't mention his health at all at that time, but back in October when Tim was here, he mentioned that Paul was or had been working for someone and was pretty busy. I'll see what I can find out.

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi everyone,
been a bit busy elsewhere but have cadged a few minutes to send a few pics.
First the lovely pink-with-blue-tips Lycoris sprengeri; not much stem development on some for some reason - probably too dry!
Then a couple of Aussies, the Fissure Bottle-wort ! with its insignificant flowers but distinctive disc-like fruits.
Lastly the new foliage of Banksia blechnifolia doing its best to impersonate a creeping fern!
cheers
fermi

[Paddy Tobin]

Fermi,

That Lycoris looks delicious.

Paddy

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I agree with Paddy here Fermi - the Lycoris is a beauty !

[Anthony Darby]

Me too. I've tried Banksia but they all seem to "damp off". Do you get seed off your Gentiana depressa Lesley? I'd like to try it.

[Lesley Cox]

Anthony, I remember from the year before last that you were interested in seed but so far, there hasn't been any. I look very carefully for it, but nothing. All the "regular" Asiatics set masses except the pure white. G depressa is very easy from cuttings. Would you like me to send some? Now could be a good time from non flowering rosettes. I do cuttings in my spring so maybe they'd be OK going into yours?

[Anthony Darby]

That would be excellent Lesley, cuttings root well in sunny D. Is it a lime lover or hater?