Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: ichristie on November 01, 2008, 04:26:24 PM

Title: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: ichristie on November 01, 2008, 04:26:24 PM
A completely different plant found flowering outside today it is Shizocodon intercedens, it hasn't noticed that we have had snow and hard frost but I have taken it under cover as it was in a pot. cheers Ian the Christie kind
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - Novemeber 2008
Post by: Paul T on November 01, 2008, 08:31:44 PM
Ian,

Very cute.  What is the whole plant like?  The flowers are reminiscent of a Soldanella, at least a little.  :D
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: johnw on November 01, 2008, 10:05:38 PM
I wonder if anyone can identify this Malus species?  It was raised by a friend from seed that I gave him. As best I recall it was a species received from the Arnold Arboretum but I seem to have no notes recorded for it.  Only one seedling survived.

It puts on a marvellous show every year.

johnw

Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on November 01, 2008, 10:20:19 PM
I cannot give a name, John, but I wish there were more Malus as good as that about, for sure!
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - Novemeber 2008
Post by: johnw on November 01, 2008, 10:24:37 PM
Today I drove from Yarmouth, NS in southwestern Nova Scotia to Halifax.  For the first 150km the roadside was awash in Ilex glabra  with black berries and Ilex verticillata covered in berries, mainly orange or red, even pastel shades of both.  Yellow berried forms are known. They look so great against a crystal clear blue sky.

The biggest I saw was 3m high and 5m across, unfortunately it hadn't dropped its' leaves. I'll try to shoot it next week - usually from a distance as they grow in very wet areas.

The first shot is Ilex glabra, the only evergreen holly native to Canada and it occurs only in Nova Scotia.  The others are Ilex verticillata and one could spend a lifetime seeking superior forms.


johnw   - first light frost threatening tomorrow tonight - the Nerines are nervous.  +7c  
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Miriam on November 01, 2008, 10:36:13 PM
Some flowers from today:
Colchicum stevenii-wild flower from Israel.
Zephyranthes candida from Argentina and Bulbine frutescens from South Africa.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Kenneth K on November 02, 2008, 10:27:14 AM
I believe the correct (latest?) name of Ians plant is Shortia soldanelloides var intercedens. Here a picture , where you see a little more of the plant. (and from the more normal flowering time, that is may)
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: WimB on November 02, 2008, 02:07:02 PM
Ian and Kenneth,

very nice Shortia/Schizocodon. It seems there's a lot of debate about the name. As a beginner (I only have S. uniflora, illicifolius and soldanelloides var. magnus) with this (or these) species I like to use the classification that is used in this text: http://www.barnes-botany.co.uk/shortia.html

Although I'm not sure it is the correct classification.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on November 02, 2008, 02:12:51 PM
I think that many use Schizocodon for the Japanese species and Shortia for the American ones.... ??? :-\
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: johnw on November 02, 2008, 05:02:56 PM
Philip MacDougall, having scoured Korea last month, returned to Taiwan for the third time and is now there.

I thought you might be interested in a picture he just sent of a Silene - I assume from Mt. Morrison.  Hopefully he will post many more when he returns - only for a short while though as he is off to southernmost Chile in January.

johnw
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: derekb on November 02, 2008, 05:04:11 PM
In the Alpine house today I saw this 10 inch pot of leaves and I thought I have never seen an article about this odd one out in Fritillaria davidii, I am not sure I am the right person to write about it as up to now I have never had a flower but I must be getting better as the expert where it came from said earlier in an Email that they only had 4 flowers this year that means I am not so bad as about 5 years ago they had 16 maybe next year. This Frit comes from SW Sichuan growing with Ferns and Corydalis flexuosa, it needs repotting in early June as roots form very early it also needs a lot of water.
Fritillaria davidii,
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on November 02, 2008, 05:31:28 PM
Derek, an acheivment in itself to have such a HUGE potful of Fritillaria davidii.... even without it flowering... hang on in there, the flowers MUST come one of these years!! 8)
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: ichristie on November 03, 2008, 08:25:16 AM
Dear Maggie all, I am confused sometimes when the powers that be change names of plants but here are som Shizacodon and Shortia pictures taken this morning, cheers Ian the Christie kind.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: hadacekf on November 03, 2008, 08:11:02 PM
In sunshine Oxalis  massoniana flowers in my bulb bed.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on November 03, 2008, 08:23:54 PM
Your Oxalis massoniana is a cheerful sight for these colder days, Franz, it is enjoying the sun as much as we do!
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Peter Korn, Sweden on November 04, 2008, 07:39:57 PM
My Fascicularia is flowering for the first time. Last time it tried it got frosted. It´s a very strange flower and it feels like hard plastic. This year I have planted some in the garden and it will be interesting to see if they survives. I have never had enough plants to try before. Anyone who grows it in cold climate? (-25C).
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Hans A. on November 07, 2008, 09:02:38 AM
Peter, very beautiful plant! I have some doubts it will survive  - 25º . I have seen it in its habitat in chile together with lapageria rosea in march - here you can find some pics  http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1573.0 - in this habitat they hardly ever have temperatures below 0ºC.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Anthony Darby on November 07, 2008, 10:23:46 AM
It grows well outside at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. Too damp here in Dunblane even though we are only 40 miles away.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on November 07, 2008, 11:24:21 AM
Sandy Leven grows Fascicularia in Dunblane... but not sure if he has it under glass or not. :-\
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: ian mcenery on November 07, 2008, 01:51:53 PM
Mine grows and flowers well outside in a crevice in my scree bed, but -25 well I would be very doubtful but if you have a spare why not??

By the way it flowered 6/8 weeks ago here
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Michael J Campbell on November 07, 2008, 09:12:55 PM
My Fascicularia does not mind the wet,it is growing like a weed, but it has good drainage. I don't know how hardy it is as we do not get much hard frost.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Michael J Campbell on November 07, 2008, 09:15:49 PM
A little Allium in bloom today.

Allium virgunculae
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Gerdk on November 08, 2008, 10:41:00 AM
Gingko biloba - catches the sun, which do not reach my garden until March.

Gerd
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Giles on November 09, 2008, 04:59:54 PM
Taken at Waterperry yesterday
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on November 09, 2008, 05:44:59 PM
On this Sunday and at this time of year... a flower to remember.....

[attach=1]
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Anthony Darby on November 09, 2008, 08:44:04 PM
We had a lovely service in the cathedral today, and the sun shone for the service at the war memorial where my son James was with his BB company.

My Fascicularia does not mind the wet,it is growing like a weed, but it has good drainage. I don't know how hardy it is as we do not get much hard frost.

I have just spotted some planted outside at the Dunblane Centre when a lady gasped and said 'what's that plant?'  :o We had it in the old school greenhouse but lost it when the contractors came in and all the plants mysteriously vanished! Might try it again as it is eye catching?
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: KentGardener on November 09, 2008, 10:02:30 PM
We had it in the old school greenhouse but lost it when the contractors came in and all the plants mysteriously vanished!

That is terrible!  I really do despair that people would steal the plants from a children's greenhouse!  grrrrr, the bast*rds!

John
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Miriam on November 09, 2008, 10:34:05 PM
Two plants from the Amaryllidaceae family with lovely fragrance

 Narcissus tazetta
 Hymenocallis 'Sulphur Queen'
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on November 09, 2008, 10:42:34 PM
Miriam, lovely photos.
The Hymenocallis is so sculptural, isn't it?
By the way, I have edited your post to show the names if the flowers in text because that is the only way the search facility can find them.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Anthony Darby on November 10, 2008, 09:11:15 AM
Miriam, that's cheered up a blustery Monday morning. 8) :)
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Miriam on November 10, 2008, 09:52:58 AM
Thanks Maggi and Anthony :)

I wish we had some blusters here ;) ;D
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Paddy Tobin on November 10, 2008, 07:36:18 PM
Miriam,

The hymenocallis is beautiful.

Paddy
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: mark smyth on November 10, 2008, 07:44:49 PM
I know someone who grows Fascicularia at the base of a hawthorn hedge. Mine grew for many years in a pot before gowing to another garden to get it's feet in to the ground
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Gerdk on November 14, 2008, 07:06:23 PM
This is a small Lobelia species originally from Tsitsikamma, South Africa which behaves as an annual here, but fortunately seeds around and reappeares in spring.

Gerd
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Paddy Tobin on November 14, 2008, 07:08:59 PM
Excellent, Gerd.

Paddy
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Paul T on November 14, 2008, 08:08:39 PM
Nice, Gerd.  :)
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: art600 on November 14, 2008, 08:33:05 PM
From the Peloponnese some Anemone coronaria
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Gerdk on November 14, 2008, 09:14:29 PM
What a variation! Lovely pics, Arthur.

Gerd
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Armin on November 14, 2008, 09:42:11 PM
Arthur,
I agree fully with Gerd. Very lovely.

I failed in the past in pleasing them in my loamy garden soil.
In autuum I purchased a mix bag of them and put them in the sandbed for a last trial.
They developped lots of foliage quite quickly. I'm happy and I keep my fingers crossed they will survive winter...
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Alberto on November 15, 2008, 03:35:32 PM
Hi All. I know it is not for a 'Rock Garden' but Dahlia imperialis this year flowered well and a lot. Thanks to the warm autumn without frost untill now even if wet (rain for a week completely), this year I can enjoy it. It growed 6 m tall but the winds in the middle of October break the stems at about half. Dozens of flowers open their buds just in these days.

Alberto

Dahlia imperialis
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Paul T on November 16, 2008, 01:58:25 AM
Alberto,

Congratulations.  They are a rather spectacular plant aren't they?  The other one to look out for is Dahlia excelsa, which is of almost similar size, but flowers about 2 months earlier here, so you always get flowers from it unlike the imperialis.

Great stuff!!
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Brian Ellis on November 16, 2008, 10:32:09 AM
Thanks for that tip Paul as I hardly ever see flowers on Dahlia imperialis I will look out for Dahlia excelsa and try my luck. :)
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Armin on November 16, 2008, 10:11:50 PM
Alberto,
impressive. Wunderful. 8)
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Paul T on November 17, 2008, 04:33:47 AM
Brian,

I can send you some canes at the end of our growing season if you'd like?  Only reshot in the last month or so unfortunately, so it would be next June before they'd be dormant again?  Can you bring plants straight in without quarantine etc?  I think it is clear for the UK isn't it, although I had heard that is starting to change?
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Michael on November 17, 2008, 08:45:43 AM
Great pics! I love that Dahlia. I wonder how big the tubers can grow to nourish such tall stems...
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Brian Ellis on November 17, 2008, 10:15:32 AM
Thanks for the offer Paul, I will have to check out the regs.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Alberto on November 17, 2008, 12:42:20 PM
Many thanks to all for congratulations.
Michael: indeed the roots are not so large as one can suppose. Before moving to open ground I used to grow this dahlia in a pot, a large pot about 60 cm in diameter. At the end of the season the canes were about 4-5 m high. When I dig it out of the pot the roots were about 4 cm wide and 20 cm long.
Ciao
Alberto
 
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Paul T on November 19, 2008, 02:02:22 AM
The tubers of tree dahlias don't seem to be like normal tubers, in that they tend towards long and slender rather than the normal chunky tubers.  My main clump of the double white Dahlia imperialis had thick roots (sort of tubers, but more like long swollen roots) that were only maybe 6-8cm thick, but 50cm long or so.  I didn't measure them, but that is my recollection.  The normal imperialis I can only vaguely remember moving once, and I think the roots/tubers were a bit thicker and longer on it.  They spread out horizontally not far below the surface, as well as some heading downwards.  The wider "grip" allows them better wind resistence, and given their height they certainly need all the stability they can get.

Incidentally, the double white rarely (and I mean RARELY) ever even gets close to flowering here without being toasted by the frost.  At least a month later than the normal species, so useful only in an architectural and "collection" sense.  Seems to be a bit chunkier in growth to me than the straight species, and is also pure green in growth, as opposed to the darker reddish stem shading on the straight species.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: KentGardener on November 22, 2008, 06:45:04 AM
Hi All

I had a look round the garden this week to see if there was anything flowering to photograph - didn't find much luck I'm afraid except for a blue mushroom  ::)

[attachthumb=1]

So took some pictures to cheer me up indoors instead  :)

[attachthumb=2]

[attachthumb=3]

[attachthumb=4]

regards

John

Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: WimB on November 22, 2008, 09:05:38 AM
Hi John,

that blue mushroom looks very dangerous, almost psychedelic to look at it  ;D
Very nice and colourful Schlumbergera's. Nice to see some colour on our first winter's day here in Belgium.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on November 22, 2008, 10:12:29 AM
That blue fungus is pretty frightening..... glad you went back indoors to where all those "dancing girl" flowers  seem to be thriving :o   
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Brian Ellis on November 22, 2008, 10:58:37 AM
Well John, you wouldn't even have seen that this morning here, a coating of white stuff is obscuring the ground!
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: annew on November 22, 2008, 09:51:42 PM
Beautiful blue toadstool! I've been gathering the smaller arisaema seedheads that I haven't saved for propagation. They look very pretty, but animals don't seem very keen on eating them here.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Paddy Tobin on November 22, 2008, 10:42:21 PM
Anne,

Likewise - despite a plague of fieldmice here the seedheads of arisaema have not been touched. Obviously, they are not to the mice's taste.


On mice and seed - a friend in Canada recommends sprinkling a teaspoon of baking powder on seeds when sowing in pots. Apparently, it neutralises the smell and the mice cannot find the seed.

Paddy
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Anthony Darby on November 23, 2008, 01:52:03 PM
I would suspect that red 'berries' of any sort would have evolved to be dispersed by birds? Most mammals can't see colour.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Michael J Campbell on November 23, 2008, 03:36:15 PM
Paddy,maybe the baking powder is to make the seeds rise quickly. ;D
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Alberto on November 23, 2008, 03:44:24 PM
Hi all. After the first night of frost (-3°C) my Dahlia imperialis looks very bad.
Alberto

Dahlia imperialis damaged by frost




Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Paddy Tobin on November 23, 2008, 06:12:28 PM
Well, Michael Campbell is on top form at the moment anyway.

If only it were that easy, Michael, all our germination problems would be solved so easily.

Paddy
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on November 23, 2008, 06:21:50 PM
Well, Michael Campbell is on top form at the moment anyway.

If only it were that easy, Michael, all our germination problems would be solved so easily.

Paddy

I know.... I hoped for years for success from self raising flour  :'(


Alberto, what a shame for your Dahlia... they seem so sad like that!
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: annew on November 23, 2008, 06:23:48 PM
Anthony, I was including birds in 'animals' - they don't eat them either.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on November 23, 2008, 06:26:28 PM
Michael, is this you returned from your travels: how was your trip to the Holy Land?  Did you get out to see many flowers?


Anne, Anthony:
We, too have found that nothing seems to like Arisaema seed heads.... though perhaps in their native lands their may be some 'beastie' who enjoys them, otherwise I cannot understand why the world is not knee deep in Arisaema seedlings :-\ :P
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Michael J Campbell on November 23, 2008, 07:16:09 PM
Yes Maggi,I am home exhausted. The trip was much more energy consuming than I had expected. I did get 1100 pictures but most  would not be forum related, the few that are I will post when I get round to editing them. Some wildlife and a few plants.  Gone past my sell by date as far as planting hunting is concerned,I think.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on November 23, 2008, 07:43:56 PM
Welcome back Michael, hope you had a great holiday.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Paul T on November 24, 2008, 11:21:28 AM
Welcome back Michael. 8)
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: ruweiss on November 24, 2008, 07:29:46 PM
Last friday we had the first snowfall of the year and the last flowers
were covered. It is a pity, that Saxifraga cortusifolia BLACK RUBY always
flowers so late and mostly gets spoiled by the first frosts.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Anthony Darby on November 25, 2008, 08:58:52 PM
Anthony, I was including birds in 'animals' - they don't eat them either.

I was picking up from Paddy's comments Anne.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: annew on November 25, 2008, 10:46:37 PM
OOps  :-*
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Hans J on November 26, 2008, 01:20:41 PM
Hi all ,

here today pics from my late autumn flowering Scilla :

Scilla lingulata SF 288
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: Paul T on November 27, 2008, 07:40:48 AM
Very cute, Hans.
Title: Re: Flowers and foliage now - November 2008
Post by: art600 on November 27, 2008, 03:03:06 PM
Surprised and delighted to find a reticulate iris flowering this morning.  Pot had been exposed to all weathers.  Please excuse the bad photographs - they are the best after several attempts
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