Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: krisderaeymaeker on August 03, 2010, 09:37:38 PM

Title: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on August 03, 2010, 09:37:38 PM
Flowering today in our rockgarden  :

Campanula barbata
Fuchsia magellanica nana   
Convolvulus compactus
Heterotheca jonesii
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 04, 2010, 12:37:53 PM
A super Convolvulus Kris. Not the easiest to grow I imagine?
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: SusanS on August 04, 2010, 12:49:38 PM
Love the photo of the Campanula.  I never knew they could be so hairy.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Ragged Robin on August 04, 2010, 03:23:37 PM
Is you rockery in full sun Kris?  Lovely photos and you've captured the character of C. barbata so well - in the second photo it is marvellously hairy  :D
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on August 04, 2010, 06:15:46 PM
A super Convolvulus Kris. Not the easiest to grow I imagine?
Thank you Lesley .Here in my garden they are not to difficult .This is a plant which is growing in a pot but I have other young plants growing well between the crevices in my tufa-garden.
I use a mix of course sand and grit to fill the crevices.
Also good to use are tufa-holes for the young compactus-seedlings.
Send you some pictures of my seedlings which are growing in the tufa-bed.In wintertime they are covered with covering material against rain.  
 
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on August 04, 2010, 06:32:50 PM
Is you rockery in full sun Kris?  Lovely photos and you've captured the character of C. barbata so well - in the second photo it is marvellously hairy  :D

Thank you Robin.Oh yes my rockgarden is in full sun. It is even a very hot garden in summer .I have a lack of shadow in my garden. Few square metres benefit from a bit of shadow.
I did see barbata in the wild in Austria .Since that moment I admired this Campanula.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on August 04, 2010, 06:37:42 PM
Love the photo of the Campanula.  I never knew they could be so hairy.

Nice to hear.In the wild they even get more hairs Susan.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 04, 2010, 11:00:38 PM
The seedlings look very strong and healthy Kris, and the pictures show well the kind of mixture they like to grow in. :D
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: WimB on August 06, 2010, 12:34:26 PM
Only Belgians posting pictures here this month! Is the rest of the Northern Hemisphere on holiday?

Here are some plants flowering here now:

Anemonopsis macrophylla
Lobelia cardinalis
Roscoea purpurea 'Red Gurkha' (it's red but if you compare it with the previous Lobelia, it's more of a washed out red)
Syneilsis palmata: nothing really special but it has a pleasant smell.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: David Nicholson on August 06, 2010, 01:10:55 PM
Far too wet to get the camera out Wim.

As far as your Roscoea "Red Gurkah" is concerned have a look at Paul Cumbleton's last Wisley Log here
http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2010Jul261280135744Log_14_of_2010.pdf
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: WimB on August 06, 2010, 02:14:30 PM
Far too wet to get the camera out Wim.

As far as your Roscoea "Red Gurkah" is concerned have a look at Paul Cumbleton's last Wisley Log here
http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2010Jul261280135744Log_14_of_2010.pdf

All the rain you're having now is coming our way for tomorrow. Now it's a very nice 23°C and sunny.

Wisley's look a lot more red, don't they. Maybe it's because it's the first time flowering
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: TheOnionMan on August 06, 2010, 02:15:57 PM
Only Belgians posting pictures here this month! Is the rest of the Northern Hemisphere on holiday?

Here are some plants flowering here now:

Anemonopsis macrophylla
Lobelia cardinalis
Roscoea purpurea 'Red Gurkha' (it's red but if you compare it with the previous Lobelia, it's more of a washed out red)
Syneilsis palmata: nothing really special but it has a pleasant smell.


Heya Wim, planned on posting here a number of times (July, and now August) but things get ahead of me.  It has been so desperately hot and dry, that it "takes the luster off" many plants, some of them wilting terribly, even though I'm trying to keep up the watering.  Even some trees, Magnolia, Halesia, Cercidiphyllum, are being early-deciduous, yellowing, and shedding up to 50% of their foliage due to stress.  Finally had a 30-minute long downpour yesterday when thunderstorms rolled through, which helps a bit.  But even with all this heat and unending sunshine, there are plants that like such conditions, many Alliums flowering, aromatic Agastache, and the hardy Hibiscus; they luxuriate in the steamy weather.

Yesterday, my Anemonopsis macrophylla opened the first blooms, your plants and mine are synchronized!  I don't currently have any Lobelia cardinalis growing here, but I don't have to go far to find it growing natively along rivers.  I really admire Roscoea Red Gurkha.

I'm interested to see your Syneilesis palmata, I only grow S. aconitifolia... such fascinating plants, particularly for the spring foliage effect.  Mine flowered in early July, the flowers are as you say, nothing special, but they are very sweet scented, surprisingly so.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Maggi Young on August 06, 2010, 02:44:55 PM
McMark, those pix of your Syneilesis aconitifolia  flowers are lovely.... which reminds me that I haven't seen flowers on mine this year.... must check up on that!


Your weather and watering problems must be very trying.
I know Anne Speigel has spoken on her hot and humid conditions also...... very unlike our local conditions where, even with quite a bit of rainfall, the plants would like yet more.....
perhaps Forumists would be interested to read this thread of Mark's on the NARGS forum....
http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=371.msg3637#msg3637   :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: TheOnionMan on August 06, 2010, 03:22:15 PM
Your weather and watering problems must be very trying.
I know Anne Speigel has spoken on her hot and humid conditions also...... very unlike our local conditions where, even with quite a bit of rainfall, the plants would like yet more.....
perhaps Forumists would be interested to read this thread of Mark's on the NARGS forum....
http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=371.msg3637#msg3637   :)

Moments ago, I received an automated phone call from Town officials, changing our every-other-day water ban to a 100% water ban with fines imposed for anyone caught watering.  Think I'm going to start boning up on my Indian (Native American) rain chant skills.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: WimB on August 06, 2010, 04:53:44 PM
Your weather and watering problems must be very trying.
I know Anne Speigel has spoken on her hot and humid conditions also...... very unlike our local conditions where, even with quite a bit of rainfall, the plants would like yet more.....
perhaps Forumists would be interested to read this thread of Mark's on the NARGS forum....
http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=371.msg3637#msg3637   :)

Moments ago, I received an automated phone call from Town officials, changing our every-other-day water ban to a 100% water ban with fines imposed for anyone caught watering.  Think I'm going to start boning up on my Indian (Native American) rain chant skills.

Wow, that's tough.
Does that mean you can not use collected rainwater for that either (Assuming you would still have rainwater).
Never heard of a water ban here in Belgium...never heard of a real water shortage here either.
I hope that you won't have to many casualties in the garden..
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: WimB on August 06, 2010, 05:01:18 PM
Only Belgians posting pictures here this month! Is the rest of the Northern Hemisphere on holiday?

Here are some plants flowering here now:

Anemonopsis macrophylla
Lobelia cardinalis
Roscoea purpurea 'Red Gurkha' (it's red but if you compare it with the previous Lobelia, it's more of a washed out red)
Syneilsis palmata: nothing really special but it has a pleasant smell.


Heya Wim, planned on posting here a number of times (July, and now August) but things get ahead of me.  It has been so desperately hot and dry, that it "takes the luster off" many plants, some of them wilting terribly, even though I'm trying to keep up the watering.  Even some trees, Magnolia, Halesia, Cercidiphyllum, are being early-deciduous, yellowing, and shedding up to 50% of their foliage due to stress.  Finally had a 30-minute long downpour yesterday when thunderstorms rolled through, which helps a bit.  But even with all this heat and unending sunshine, there are plants that like such conditions, many Alliums flowering, aromatic Agastache, and the hardy Hibiscus; they luxuriate in the steamy weather.

Yesterday, my Anemonopsis macrophylla opened the first blooms, your plants and mine are synchronized! I don't currently have any Lobelia cardinalis growing here, but I don't have to go far to find it growing natively along rivers.  I really admire Roscoea Red Gurkha.

I'm interested to see your Syneilesis palmata, I only grow S. aconitifolia... such fascinating plants, particularly for the spring foliage effect.  Mine flowered in early July, the flowers are as you say, nothing special, but they are very sweet scented, surprisingly so.

Mark,

like I said in the previous message, I hope you don't have to many casualties in the garden. It must be nice for the Alliums indeed.

Weird that our Anemonopsis flowers at the same time. You live more to the south then I do so you would expect them to flower sooner with you, like the Syneilesis.

I received Roscoea purpurea 'Red Gurkha' as a gift but it appears not to be as red as it should be, maybe it's a seedling...still, very nice though. Must be a nice view to see Lobelia cardinalis flowering in the wild.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: TheOnionMan on August 06, 2010, 05:24:14 PM

Wow, that's tough.
Does that mean you can not use collected rainwater for that either (Assuming you would still have rainwater).


What rain water? :(

Forecast for next week, sun, sun, and more sun, with a slight chance next Monday of thundershowers, but typically can't bet on those, they are sporadic and highly localized at best, *IF* they even materialize.  On the plus side, the humidity is supposed to blow out tonight, and we get some cooler nights for sleeping.  It is supposed to be less hot the next few days (below 90 F),  but I never believe the estimated temps, it is usually hotter than predicted. 

Must go shoot some Hibiscus pics.  For water loving or swamp plants, they are extremely drought resistant.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Olga Bondareva on August 06, 2010, 05:50:25 PM
Only Belgians posting pictures here this month! Is the rest of the Northern Hemisphere on holiday?

Some russian pictures.  :)

Gentians, my love.  :-*

One of septemfids
(http://cs923.vkontakte.ru/u6450879/31156622/x_3daefb85.jpg)

G. kolakovskii
(http://cs923.vkontakte.ru/u6450879/31156622/x_42112570.jpg)

G. paradoxa
(http://cs923.vkontakte.ru/u6450879/31156622/x_0a2843ee.jpg)

G. georgei
(http://cs923.vkontakte.ru/u6450879/31156622/x_cc947eb0.jpg)

(http://cs923.vkontakte.ru/u6450879/31156622/x_06462f38.jpg)

G. tizuensis
(http://cs923.vkontakte.ru/u6450879/31156622/x_f4f5cc0f.jpg)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Olga Bondareva on August 06, 2010, 05:52:42 PM
G. dahurica
(http://cs4461.vkontakte.ru/u6450879/31156622/x_10c5410b.jpg)

And some more septemfida kinds.
(http://cs4461.vkontakte.ru/u6450879/31156622/x_5f2d09a0.jpg)

(http://cs4461.vkontakte.ru/u6450879/31156622/x_44f21115.jpg)

(http://cs4461.vkontakte.ru/u6450879/31156622/x_f59ed49f.jpg)

(http://cs4461.vkontakte.ru/u6450879/31156622/x_3e19f51d.jpg)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: TheOnionMan on August 06, 2010, 06:09:51 PM
Olga, simply beautiful!  Since you're a fan of summer gentians, any thoughts about this one growing in my friend's garden?  I visited again just 2 days ago, and even with scorching heat, the gentian looked marvelous, although I did not have a camera with me at the time:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=5817.0
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: angie on August 06, 2010, 06:47:46 PM
Olga those pictures of those gentians are breathtaking.

Angie :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: David Nicholson on August 06, 2010, 07:13:31 PM
Beautiful pics as usual Olga.

Just to reassure Wim that we still have flowers to show in the UK here are a few pics from my front garden today. I rushed out just after 1800 in the first dry spell of the day(good job I did because it's raining again now!). Nothing special here I'm afraid, but easily grown colourful stuff that fill the spaces nicely.

I'm quite pleased really about the Hibiscus in the last pic. I took some Forum advice from Arthur last year who every year cuts his Hibiscus virtually to ground level and every year it puts on loads of growth and flowers like mad. Last year I cut down mine too and nary a single flower :(  This spring it received a steady trim and is full of flowers.

Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: angie on August 06, 2010, 07:34:11 PM
Well David if that's nothing special to you I would wonder what you would call special...you have so much colour there, I would be happy to have all those plants flowering in my garden at this time, my Hibiscus still hasn't got one flower open yet :'(.
What is the plant in picture 3 that has flowered already.

Angie :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: David Nicholson on August 06, 2010, 07:54:07 PM
Angie, the leaves are of a small collection of Roscoe I'm building all grown from Seed Ex. seed. This year some of them flowered for the first time so next year the little bed should look nice.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: angie on August 06, 2010, 07:59:15 PM
Hopefully you will post a picture next year of the Roscoe in flower.

Angie :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: TheOnionMan on August 06, 2010, 09:39:05 PM
A miscellany of plants in flower, although I could fill these pages with Hibiscus ;D

1-2   Agastache aurantiaca x rupestris - self sown hybrids, in various shades of orange, the parents long gone.  These brightly colored plants love heat (good thing, given the weather here), the foliage is wonderfully aromatic too.  Hummingbirds visit the flowers daily, several times a day.  I sometimes park a chair right next to the plant, still trying to get a hummer to land on me.

3      Cyclamen purpurescens started flowering extra early this year, in flower all June and July, looking even better in August.  I'm getting some good leaf patterning and all silvers.

4      Scutellaria incana - from eastern USA, a fantastic prairie-like species, my plant standing upright to 4' (120 cm), no staking required, trim and neat foliage, and just starting to open large sprays of blue skullcaps, to be followed by ornamental reddish-purple seed pods.  Once established is drought resistant and loves the sun and heat.

5      Hibiscus palustris forma peckii - might lighter pink than normal H. palustris, and straighter paddle-shaped petals.  As always, I'm amazed at how drought-resistent these so-called swamp plants are.  Grows 4-5' tall (120-150 cm).

6      Popular hardy Hibiscus cultivar here in the USA, H. 'Blue River II', unique for the huge dinner plate crinkled pure white flower *without* a contrasting eye color.  Grows 5-6' (150-180 cm)

7      One of my one Hibiscus hybrids, from 'Blue River II', with similar huge crinkled white flowers, but with a bright cherry eyes, the eye unusual in its shape of a pentagon, versus a more diffuse round eye.  Also characterized by improved branching, darker than normal green foliage, and longer season of bloom.

8      Hibiscus syriacus - MMcD hybrid to be named, the only one out of hundreds upon hundreds, ex. 'Helene', which is a white with a diffuse red-veined eye, supposedly sterile but makes successful seed very late in the season (fall).  Notice the unusual dimpled-texture to the petals. Large flowered and floriferous, so far appears to be sterile.

9.     Hibiscus syriacus NOT-'Diana' - nurseries around here often sell cultivars of H. syriacus, particularly the 4 US National Arboretum hybrids named after Greek Gods, 'Diana' being one of them, but they're seed grown ::) and often inferior and not even close to looking like the parent.  However, this plant of my particular Not-Diana is a superb plant, starts flowering very late, usually not until mid to late August, but earlier this year, and with a daily profusion of funnel-shaped pure white flowers.  It comes mostly true from seed.  Just starting to fire up its engines this past week, will be splendid for the rest of August and September.

10.   Hibiscus syriacus 'Blue Bird' - I have posted some pics of this previously (but not this particular one).  Knowing that each flower just lasts 1-2 days, it just seems impossible it can keep flowering with such profusion for months on end, but this is pretty much what it looks like each day.  I have a terrible time trying to capture the true color, it is much bluer that the photo indicates. (notice the nice brown lawn).

Another word about our hummingbirds, they LOVE hibiscus.  Each morning I awake to their cheerful squeak-chirping sounds, as they sample near each and every open Hibiscus syriacus bloom near our bedroom window.  They also go for the basil plants in a planter on my deck.  They're curious little critters, sometimes stopping to hover right in front of one's face, just to check you out.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: angie on August 06, 2010, 09:50:59 PM
OK Mark its a grey miserable night here in Aberdeen and you have now made me more miserable  :'(
My Hibiscus isn't doing anything and to see your last picture Hibiscus syriacus 'Blue Bird'  just makes me so envious, but thanks for showing these lovely flowers I can at least dream that one day mine might flower like yours ::) ::) ::)

Angie :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Gail on August 06, 2010, 09:57:11 PM
Beautiful pictures and oh to see a hummingbird...

One of my current favourites is Dregea sinensis, a Hoya relative that is surprisingly hardy outdoors here, scrambling over an overplanted arch.  The flowers carry on for weeks and are richly fragrant.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Paddy Tobin on August 06, 2010, 10:03:50 PM
Quote: "Some russian pictures.  Gentians, my love.

Olga, I adore your photography. Fabulous images.

Paddy 
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: angie on August 06, 2010, 10:05:25 PM
Gail that's something else...I can imagine the fragrance, do you cover with fleece or anything for the winter protection.

Angie :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: TheOnionMan on August 06, 2010, 10:07:01 PM
OK Mark its a grey miserable night here in Aberdeen and you have now made me more miserable  :'(
My Hibiscus isn't doing anything and to see your last picture Hibiscus syriacus 'Blue Bird'  just makes me so envious, but thanks for showing these lovely flowers I can at least dream that one day mine might flower like yours ::) ::) ::)

Angie :)


Well Angie, as they say, the grass is greener on the other side, in fact, we have no green grass here right now, although the horrid field grass is still holding up to the drought.  Angie, I'm sure you grow lots and lots of beautiful plants that might only last a couple days here... maybe the reason I only have two species of Primula (and even then, I have to work hard at it... the current 100% water ban might do in P. kisoana), but the Primula hate hot weather... and Meconopsis, only in my dreams.  I am lucky that some Hibiscus do well here... the more sun and heat you can throw at them, the better they flower.

Gail, Dregea sinensis is beautiful :o :o
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: TheOnionMan on August 06, 2010, 10:21:27 PM
One plant, three photos... Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'.  Here again we have a shrub that inhabits the edges of ponds, rivers and swamps, yet is completely drought resistant and amenable to most any garden situation.  Any form or cultivar of this species is worth growing and a "must have" in the summer garden, as its enticing spicy sweet perfume wafts for hundreds of feet, filling the whole yard.  It drives bees, butterflies, and nectar-feeding wasps such as mud-daubers into a feeding frenzy, the hummers like it too.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: angie on August 06, 2010, 10:30:28 PM
Mark I hope you get rain soon, it must be so much more work for you. I have put two of my Hibiscus in my polytunnel to see if this gives them a better chance of flowering, I think I have said before that these were my mums plants and she did manage to get them to flower, don't know who she managed.
But thanks for showing them I do enjoy seeing what I cant get to flower happily growing somewhere else and making someone happy.

Angie :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: WimB on August 07, 2010, 07:13:57 AM
Thanks for showing all the pics. I feared the entire hemisphere was on holiday.

@ Olga: I love your pictures of the Gentiana's. I like G. georgei and G. tizuensis especially.

@ David: You might think it's nothing special, but it looks very colourful and it's all growing very well...you can recognize the hand of a master-gardener.

@ Mark: Beautiful Hibiscus you have flowering there. I like the Clethra too. Good to see you have a lot of colour in your garden even when it's bone-dry.

@ Gail: love your Dregea, it's a plant I had never heard about before. How high does it climb?

Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Gail on August 07, 2010, 11:47:50 AM
@ Gail: love your Dregea, it's a plant I had never heard about before. How high does it climb?

Our rose arch is 8ft tall and the Dregea is up and over the top of that so it would easily go higher but it is not really rampant and is easy to control.  (If you prune it, it bleeds white sap like Hoyas)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Gail on August 07, 2010, 02:29:09 PM
Gail that's something else...I can imagine the fragrance, do you cover with fleece or anything for the winter protection.

Angie :)
No Angie - just cross my fingers and hope....
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: angie on August 07, 2010, 02:54:42 PM
Wish I could grow the Dregea.  I have a couple of Hoyas in the house, my mum had Emphysema and I could never wear perfume as it really caught her breath but when her Hoyas flowered I always offered to take them out of her room but no she wouldnt have that.
A plant well worth growing...maybe if I could find one I could grow it in a pot outside in the summer ::)

Angie :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: angie on August 07, 2010, 03:07:47 PM
Some pictures taken a couple of days ago when it was sunny, today not so good.

I have the name of the golden plant that is always sprawling all over the grass, its Benson my old doggie.
I have started to log all my garden plant names so hopefully I will get better at naming, sorry.

Angie
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: WimB on August 07, 2010, 03:39:36 PM
Angie,

you have a very beautiful and tidy garden. Very nice pictures, thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Maggi Young on August 07, 2010, 04:10:55 PM
Angela! Those cloud pruned trees are superb! Are they Birch trees?
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Gail on August 07, 2010, 05:09:56 PM
So beautiful Angie, and I love your aristocratic looking dog!

I'll see if I can root some Dregea cuttings for you.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Gerdk on August 07, 2010, 06:42:02 PM
Just a few shots from today

1.-3. Commelina communis - a little bit weedy but well suited to
        close free space where spring flowering bulbs grew
4.+5. Impatiens arguta - a blue flowering perennial species 
        as opposed to the annual I. namchabarwensis

6. Cymbalaria muralis - a 'wild' form with larger flowers

Gerd
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 07, 2010, 10:50:19 PM
Lovely plants and images from the north. Olga, the gentians are fabulous!
I can only take comfort from the fact that spring is ALMOST here in the south, with many little bulbs in flower.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 07, 2010, 10:55:04 PM
Benson looks very much as if to say "Just remember whose garden this is, if you please." He looks like a lovely dog. :D

Mark, is there another Clethra not unlike yours above but with white flowers, or perhaps creamy-white? I have something that looks exactly like that. It's leafless at present or I'd take a picture.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: angie on August 07, 2010, 11:26:11 PM
Hi Lesley yes Benson is such a lovely dog. He is nearly deaf, eyesight is going and he struggles to get up, from day one he has been the perfect dog.
Old age isn't good.

Maggi the tree is Ilex, Derek likes all these shapes in the garden but I much prefer a wilder look.

Gail that would be nice of you to try and root a cutting of your Dregea, its such a lovely plant.

Angie :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 08, 2010, 12:10:05 AM
I know just how he feels Angie. :(

May I have a small laugh please? At your post I mean? I'm sure you'll forgive me. :-\
We have in our weekly "Listener" a column called "Life in New Zealand" and it's made up of small entries of misprints, bad construction and other odds and ends which appear in our daily papers and which, because of the way they've been written, are usually very funny. Two examples in this week's edition are:

"Council to hire rubbish consultant" from the Southland Times and

Pukera Bay resident Barry Anset, who lives on Muri Rd about one kilometre from the crash site, watched the wreckage get airlifted out with binoculars." from the Kapiti Observer.

So if you were here, I'd send in to the column ""He is nearly deaf, eyesight is going and he struggles to get up, from day one he has been the perfect dog."

There's a Lotto ticket sent to the first contributor of each item printed. Feel free to smack my hand Angie. :D
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on August 08, 2010, 07:56:40 AM
Gentians, my love.  :-*

Very nice Olga ! Georgei and tizuensis are my favorites.
Do you keep them in a special peatbed or are they just growing in the rockery? I suppose they love acid conditions ?   
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Maggi Young on August 08, 2010, 09:45:09 AM
Wow! An Ilex, eh.... I would never have guessed from that shot that it was a holly of any sort.... I was thinking birch because of the pale trunks.
Yes, as you know, I like "wild" too,( though in my case that translates as untidy!)  but highlights of that sort of Oriental neatness are fantastic in my opinion. I love the look!
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: David Nicholson on August 08, 2010, 09:50:47 AM
.......He is nearly deaf, eyesight is going and he struggles to get up,..........

I know the feeling! ::)

Lovely garden Angie.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: zephirine on August 08, 2010, 11:24:46 AM
Just a humble August contribution among so many beauties and rarities...  :o


Clematis flammula 08 10.jpg
Echinacea virgin 08 10.jpg
Eryngium yuccifolium 08 10.jpg
mlok 08 10.jpg : seeds of Paeonia "Molly the Witch"
Origanum fritz kummert 08 10.jpg
Sedum tatarinowii 20 08 10.jpg
Geranium soboliferum 'starman' 08 10.jpg
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Lvandelft on August 08, 2010, 11:27:27 AM
Since 2008 in our garden and established well now, although it was looking rather bad this year until June after the long cold winter. But as you see this plant is remarkable strong and performing nice now in August.

Lysimachia pardiformis var stenophylla (Ogisu)

See also:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2007/190907/log.html (http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2007/190907/log.html)

(My plant came from a Dutch friend of Roy Lancaster, who received a ‘Young’ plant from him)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: WimB on August 08, 2010, 12:30:02 PM
Zephirine,

I love the Clematis and the colourful seeds of Paeonia mlokosewitschii.

Luit,

that's a nice plant. Didn't remember seeing that one in the bulblog.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Maggi Young on August 08, 2010, 02:35:56 PM


Luit,

that's a nice plant. Didn't remember seeing that one in the bulblog.
We call the plant Lysimachia paridiformis ssp stenophylla.... but I'm not sure if that is correct.... I'll check with Roy's article on the plant from the RHS Garden Magazine.....

Wim....  ;) it was in a Bulb Log.... see here:

http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2007/190907/log.html
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Maggi Young on August 08, 2010, 03:15:47 PM
 Have also a look in the Old Forum....Posted by Ian  on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - 7:03 pm:   
http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/283/16226.html ( pix about halfway down a long page!)

 These may be handy if you have these publications....
Lysimachia paridiformis var. stenophylla
cited in The Plantsman 3 p. 83, 84P
Lysimachia paridiformis var. stenophylla
cited in The Garden 124 p. 506-7
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Maggi Young on August 08, 2010, 04:34:46 PM
What a fine selection, Zephirine....I have added the names in the text... I like the Origanum 'Fritz Kummert'
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: WimB on August 08, 2010, 06:28:32 PM
Have also a look in the Old Forum....Posted by Ian  on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - 7:03 pm:   
http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/283/16226.html ( pix about halfway down a long page!)

 These may be handy if you have these publications....
Lysimachia paridiformis var. stenophylla
cited in The Plantsman 3 p. 83, 84P
Lysimachia paridiformis var. stenophylla
cited in The Garden 124 p. 506-7

Very interesting plant. Thanks for the links Maggi.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: TheOnionMan on August 08, 2010, 07:48:21 PM
Luit, a most interesting Lysimachia.  Had me thinking again about Lysimachia, a large number of these things in China.  I remember back in the 1980s I think, when American Don Jacobs collected Lysimachia congestiflora on a mountain in China, and it created quite a stir, a low growing creeping plant with large terminal clusters of yellow flowers.  He selected two forms I think, one called 'Eco Dark Satin' (Don named anything he introduced as "Eco this" and "Eco that", to associate his introductions with his nursery Eco Gardens ::)  Since then, this plant has become a mainstay in large scale plant production, particular for specialty annuals (rated hardy to Zone 6), the nursery trade treats them as annuals.  It wintered over for me when I lived in Seattle, Washington, but not hardy here in Northeatern USA.

Here's some links:

http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2009/07/lysimachia_congestiflora.php

Lysimachia congestiflora 'Eco Dark Satin'
http://www.goodnessgrows.com/id125.html
http://webhosting.web.com/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=http://www.goodnessgrows.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/LysimachiacongestifloraEcoDarkSatin89c.jpg&target=_self

Lysimachia congestiflora 'Walkabout Sunset™' previously 'Outback Sunset'
http://www.provenwinners.com/plants/detail.cfm?photoID=6789

Lysimachia congestiflora 'Persian Chocolate', a Darrell Probst hybrid, had no idea he was working with these too.
http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Plants/Lysimachia-congestiflora-Persian-Chocolate.html

Not sure why this Chinese plant is getting branded with irrelevant geographical connotations, Australia and Persia?
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Graham Catlow on August 08, 2010, 08:04:45 PM
Some pictures taken a couple of days ago when it was sunny, today not so good.

I have the name of the golden plant that is always sprawling all over the grass, its Benson my old doggie.
I have started to log all my garden plant names so hopefully I will get better at naming, sorry.

Angie

Loved the view of the garden and pond previously but this view is spectacular. Those trees are great and certainly don,t look out of place. Nice trough too.
Do you open your garden under the Scotlands Gardens Scheme?
Graham
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: angie on August 08, 2010, 11:06:37 PM
.......He is nearly deaf, eyesight is going and he struggles to get up,..........

I know the feeling! ::)



David there is one thing for sure, your brain is still working perfectly...you are always witty and we wont go into how clever you are  ;D ;D ;D

Angie :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: angie on August 08, 2010, 11:27:34 PM

Loved the view of the garden and pond previously but this view is spectacular. Those trees are great and certainly don,t look out of place. Nice trough too.
Do you open your garden under the Scotlands Gardens Scheme?
Graham

No Graham I dont open my garden, its not good enough.
Here are some more of my husbands good clipping.

Angie :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: zephirine on August 09, 2010, 05:35:07 AM
What a fine selection, Zephirine....I have added the names in the text... I like the Origanum 'Fritz Kummert'
Thank you, Maggi! 'Fritz Kummert' is a selection from Ewald Hügin (the "father" of Sedum 'Matrona').

Wim, Clematis flammula has been enchanting my eyes and my nose for several weeks now. Its delicate scent of vanilla and honey can be enjoyed several meters away...
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: fermi de Sousa on August 09, 2010, 06:10:44 AM
No Graham I dont open my garden, its not good enough.
Here are some more of my husbands good clipping.
Angie :)
But maybe you might let a Forumist or two visit when we come to Aberdeen next year? ;)
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: angie on August 09, 2010, 07:19:23 PM
Anybody is welcome anytime.
My friends Helen and Bill ( srgc members )open there garden, so if you are coming all this way over it would be worthwhile seeing their garden.
It would be great to see you when you come to Aberdeen.
Think of all the advice you could give me  ;D
Angie :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Gail on August 09, 2010, 09:00:53 PM
Not hardy but Hibiscus 'Gator Pride' makes a good patio plant.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: PaulM on August 10, 2010, 08:56:55 PM
Beautiful pictures and oh to see a hummingbird...

One of my current favourites is Dregea sinensis, a Hoya relative that is surprisingly hardy outdoors here, scrambling over an overplanted arch.  The flowers carry on for weeks and are richly fragrant.

I really admire your picture of Dregea sinensis Gail. I had a few flowers on my vine last summer, but the long and very cold winter we had here in Sweden killed two of three plants, and the one which survived started back from the root crown, so I am hoping for not so cold winters to come, so I can enjoy its beauty in 2011  or 2012 maybe.

Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: PaulM on August 10, 2010, 09:25:15 PM
I'm having trouble uploading and processing my pictures right away, so I am a little behind here on my garden photographs, but I hope I'll be allowed to post them here in the August link anyway. Not much new subjects, but I feel like I am showing the same flowers as last year, but I think there are a few new plants anyway. First a series of Cirsium eriophorum as it is opening up:


1-4 Cirsium eriophorum

5-7 Cirsium ligulare

8. Cirsium japonicum
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: PaulM on August 10, 2010, 09:34:46 PM
Here is a section with North American species, some Asclepias and Echinacea simulata

1. Asclepias speciosa, bud

2. Asclepias speciosa

3. Asclepias exaltata

4. Asclepias exaltata

5. Asclepias tuberosa

6-9  Echinacea simulata

10. First year rosette of Oenothera rhombipetala, which I am looking forward to post a flower picture of next year.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Gail on August 10, 2010, 09:58:43 PM
That Cirsium eriophorum in bud is fantastic Paul! :D
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: angie on August 10, 2010, 10:37:06 PM
Gail,  your Hibiscus is lovely, I have put one of mine in my polytunnel to see if I can get it to flower. I get plenty leaves but no flowers :'(

Paul,   love your  Asclepias exaltata 8)

Angie :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Ragged Robin on August 11, 2010, 12:29:11 AM
That Cirsium eriophorum in bud is fantastic Paul! :D

I agree with Gail, your photos are really wonderful studies Paul.

I do love thistles (well I'm part Scottish, so biased I suppose  ;D)   It is amazing to see them opening out ...but which one is this? Snapshots taken last month on the chalk downs in Wiltshire

Corrected image name
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: TheOnionMan on August 11, 2010, 02:36:12 AM
Paul and Robin, I've never seen the stunning visual sequence of thistley buds opening like that, almost makes me willing to relax my "no spiny plants in my garden" rule  (I hate being poked by spiny stuff).

The Echinacea simulata is also striking, somehow I prefer the delicate widely-spaced petal look to the legions of new-fangled and oftentimes clunky or overblown Echinacea hybrids.  I'm also a big fan of Asclepias, for their other-worldly intricate flowers as well as for their richly perfumed flowers.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: PaulM on August 11, 2010, 06:27:16 AM
That Cirsium eriophorum in bud is fantastic Paul! :D

I agree with Gail, your photos are really wonderful studies Paul.

I do love thistles (well I'm part Scottish, so biased I suppose  ;D)   It is amazing to see them opening out ...but which one is this? Snapshots taken last month on the chalk downs in Wiltshire

Thank you Robin, and everyone else. The thistles you photographed in Wiltshire are probably Carduus nutans.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Ragged Robin on August 11, 2010, 09:18:09 AM
Thanks Paul, I'll correct the image titles...your thistles must be a great attraction to butterflies and bees and the rest  8)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: PaulM on August 11, 2010, 06:14:07 PM

Some more plants that are or have been flowering for me this year:

1. Campanula grossekii- I received seeds labled Campanula khasiana ( Adenophora khasiana ), but it looks like Campanula grossekii

2. Centaurea biokovensis has done well since I sowed it in 2009, and is flowering this summer. Unfortunately no seed though.

3. Centaurea biokovensis.

4. Centaurea stenolepis is bigger, but equally nice.

5. Centaurea stenolepis.

6. Centaurea scabiosa

7. Clematis integrifolia

8. Dracocephalum imberbe is very nice. Not sure where it grows natrually.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: PaulM on August 11, 2010, 07:25:36 PM
Here are a few pictures of Delphinium speciosum and Delphinium grandiflorum

1 and 2 Delphinium speciosum

3. Delphinium grandiflorum

Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: PaulM on August 11, 2010, 07:39:06 PM
Zepherine, your Sedum tatarinovii seems to have built up to a sizable clump. My plants are still very tiny. They grow in a very exposed sunny crevice though, so maybe they are slow to develop.
Here is a picture of my plant:

Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: zephirine on August 12, 2010, 04:03:09 AM
Lol, Paul. Usually, I feel sorry that my (few) "rock garden-type" plants suffer from the heavy and ill-drained soil here. Sedum tatarinowii seems to be an exception, yes.
I originally planted 2 specimens: the one in a gritty soil and in pot didn't develop half as well as the one on the picture, in a "normal" garden soil.  It's too early to derive conclusions, just after one year, but I wouldn't be surprised that S. tatarinowii proves to like moisture more than I would have initially thought...
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: PaulM on August 15, 2010, 01:23:30 PM
I have taken up an interest in Salvias and try to grow a few new species every year, here are some of the ones I've been growing this summer, both new and old ( which have proved hardy ):

1. I got seeds of Salvia brevilabra from Robin Middleton, and these seeds resulted in two different types of plants seen here in this picture. The one with the brownish -red flowers and lights green bracts is what looks like the true S.brevilabra, while the other one with more purple-burgundy flowers is some cross where species such as  from S. przewalski, hians, evansiana might be involved. Many of the Chinese  species are prone to hybridizing I've learned.

2. Variation 1-  ( true S. brevilabra )

3. S. brevilabra flower which has yellow striations on the lower lip

4. S. brevilabra leaf

5. Salvia brevilabra variation 2. What should this variation be called ? Salvia hybrid or ?

6. Salvia hybrid variation 2 close up of flws.

7. Salvia hybrid var. 2  leaf
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: PaulM on August 15, 2010, 01:32:16 PM
Right next to the Salvia brevilabra and Salvia hybrid shown above I grow another Chinese species from the SRGC seed ex called Salvia pogonochila, so the seeds I will collect will probably be a crossing of all three. Should this be donated as Salvia hybrid ? Any other vital information I should include ?

1-5 Salvia pogonochila

Some other species:
6-7 Salvia sclarea
8. Salvia regeliana
9. Salvia verticillata
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: PaulM on August 15, 2010, 03:43:11 PM
I have some more pictures of plants that were flowering for me in July and I'd better hurry up posting them as we're halfway into August now.

1 & 2. Knautia dipsacifolia makes a big clump of flowering stalks up to 120cm tall, and butterflies are drawn to it as well as other insects.
3. Linum dolomiticum
4. Onosma arenaria grows into a big clump in a season. Very irritating hairs all over the plant, but nice as long as you don't have to handle it.
5 & 6. Senecio polyodon ssp subglaber- a South African beauty introduced by Panayoti Kelaidis of DBG self seeds and turns up here and there in the garden. Biennial or annual.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: PaulM on August 15, 2010, 03:52:11 PM
1. & 2. Persicaria polymorpha

3 & 4. Penstemon tubaeflorus - I think. The other possibility would be P. digitalis.

5. This year I raised Verbascum wiedemannianum from seed, and I hope that the nice fuzzy rosettes will develop into big stately plants next year. I grow them in Värmland where the temperature can go down to -30 C in the winter. Hopefully there will be a good snow cover.

6. Echinopsis mirabilis was raised from seed in 2009, and the plants are still very small, ( like a thumb nail), but hopefully they will grow and flower in a year or two. They are not hardy outdoors here!




Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Gerdk on August 15, 2010, 04:08:01 PM
5 & 6. Senecio polyodon ssp subglaber- a South African beauty introduced by Panayoti Kelaidis of DBG self seeds and turns up here and there in the garden. Biennial or annual.

Paul, it's a pleasure to find a pic of a South African beauty which in my opinion is little known and deserves much more attention. I had it a couple of years outside and it was unexpectedly hardy here.

Gerd
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Graham Catlow on August 17, 2010, 08:33:47 PM
The herbaceous beds are coming to an end with very little to follow.
Lobelia being the last in the red bed, just replacing the Astilbe.
The colour in the photo is a little more scarlet than the real colour even the one taken in the shade isn't quite deep enough.

A seed head from Arisaema elephas provides some colour also.

Graham
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: David Nicholson on August 17, 2010, 08:38:50 PM
Nice Lobelia Graham they look very happy in your garden. I find I can start them off OK but then the slugs find them, and curtains!
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Graham Catlow on August 17, 2010, 09:03:19 PM
Nice Lobelia Graham they look very happy in your garden. I find I can start them off OK but then the slugs find them, and curtains!
Thanks David,
I don't have a problem with slugs eating the lobelia, but you got me thinking and I don't actually have a 'large' (meaning big slugs) slug problem. In fact I can't remember the last time I saw one. There are plenty of tiny ones that I find under plantpots etc. I do have a snail problem though and there are plenty of those but they don't seem to eat the Lobelia. Probably too many Hostas to be bothered with the Lobelia.

Graham
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 17, 2010, 09:53:16 PM
Love those rich reds. ;D

The little Senecio polyodon can be a bit of a disaster when it starts to seed around, especially in sandy soil, to the extent that it has been declared a noxious weed in NZ and is taking over some North Island beaches and sand dune areas. Pretty but..... Maybe it's not hardy enough in Europe?
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Ragged Robin on August 17, 2010, 10:33:10 PM
Graham, is that Lobelia cardinalis?  I just love that fabulous rich red and it looks terrific against the dark wine red of the acer - you always seem to have a great group of whatever you are growing  :D
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Graham Catlow on August 17, 2010, 10:48:54 PM
Graham, is that Lobelia cardinalis?  I just love that fabulous rich red and it looks terrific against the dark wine red of the acer - you always seem to have a great group of whatever you are growing  :D
Hi Robin,
Thanks for your kind comments.
It is a cardinalis, probably a cultivar.
Graham
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: pehe on August 19, 2010, 01:04:55 PM
Autumn is near wether you like it or not.
And slowly me and my bulbs are coming out of summer dormancy. I have not been so active in the forum lately, but now that the autumn bulbs have started flowering I will post pics regularly.

In the garden:
1. The first flowering autumn bulb was Scilla autumnalis as usually shortly followed by acis autumnalis
2. Then colchicum parnassicum, here with the 3'rd flower. I have been out with my paintbrush on all 3, so I hope for seeds.
3. Another sign of autumn is the many seed pods, here tulipa sprengeri
4. Eucomis bicolor looks great now.
5. Here the same 2 weeks earlier
6. Eucomis autumnalis
7. Roscoea humeana has increased well this year - both vegetatively and by self seeding
8. Roscoea auriculata var. beesiana (I believe)
9. Rhodohypoxis is allmost done - here a pot I bought from the local garden center

Poul
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: pehe on August 19, 2010, 01:36:13 PM
In the green house I had an accident when I was on a 2 week vacation. Some of the plants here needs regularly watering so I have made an automatic watering system. Unfortunately one of the water hoses was leaking just over some of my Mediterranean bulbs.
So they got the first "storm" in July. And they responded promptly:

1. Scilla numidica
2. Scilla intermedia
3. Sternbergia sicula. These are some of a generous gift from a forum-friend. The rest of them (about 50 bulbs) didn't get any water and they are still dormant. Some of the pots will be watered September the 1st while other somewhat later, to see if I can get them to flower without leaves.
4. Romulea thodei was watered intendedly and have been flowering for some time now

Poul
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: PaulM on August 19, 2010, 07:49:56 PM
This blue flowered Impatiens with the tongue-twisting name namchabarwensis ( did I spell it right ? ) is flowering for me now. It was really hard to germinate the seeds and I only got one plant, but sometimes you are lucky, and one seed germinates, that is all that is needed, and now I will be having plenty of seed. There seems to be quite a bit of "mystery" associated with this plant if you google it. Does anyone here know the true story regarding this species ? I suppose the seeds deteriorate when dry stored, so should I keep them moist in the fridge, or store them outdoors ? Do you think the plant can be lifted and grown indoors during the winter ? I don't have a greenhouse.

Very nice specimen actually. Is it widely grown?

Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Renate Brinkers on August 19, 2010, 11:04:00 PM
Paul,

more blue seem to be not possible!

Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Renate Brinkers on August 19, 2010, 11:31:17 PM
Hi to all,

here are some pictures of plants flowering at the moment for me.

Agapanthus `Snow Princess´, a small one with 25cm hight, the flower stalks are 35-40cm.
Agapanthus `Sunfield´, with 90cm a high one.
Chlorophytum macrophyllum, the leaves can grow 8cm wide.
Commelina africana, a yellow flowering Commelina wich grows fast.
Ornithogalum juncifolium or gramminifolium, I am not sure which name is the actual name, a really small one with lots of flowers.
Ornithogalum longibracteatum, this one gets really big bulbs above the surface.
Ornithogalum candicans, absolutely hardy here.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: TheOnionMan on August 20, 2010, 12:34:11 AM
Renate, I never saw a yellow Commelina, only blue... cool!
Might your Ornithogalum candicans actually be Galtonia candicans?
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Gerdk on August 20, 2010, 08:44:09 AM
This blue flowered Impatiens with the tongue-twisting name namchabarwensis ( did I spell it right ? ) is flowering for me now. It was really hard to germinate the seeds and I only got one plant, but sometimes you are lucky, and one seed germinates, that is all that is needed, and now I will be having plenty of seed. There seems to be quite a bit of "mystery" associated with this plant if you google it. Does anyone here know the true story regarding this species ? I suppose the seeds deteriorate when dry stored, so should I keep them moist in the fridge, or store them outdoors ? Do you think the plant can be lifted and grown indoors during the winter ? I don't have a greenhouse.
Very nice specimen actually. Is it widely grown?

Paul, Can't tell the ' true story  ' but a little bit about germinating and position. The plant self-seeds suffiently in the garden without any help. I found seedlings all around and in pots which were situated near. I tried to keep the species alive in a greenhouse (at about 0 to + 5 ° C) but this failed. It seems to be a true annual (different to pale blue Impatiens arguta).
In the open a place in a shady position and sufficient moisture is essential.

Gerd
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: PaulM on August 20, 2010, 11:29:07 AM
Thank you Gerd ! I just looked back this month at your pictures of Impatiens arguta. It's very beautiful as well. Do you think this species can be perennial as far north as Sweden too ? Does it grow at high altitudes in China/Himalaya ? Can I be bold enough to ask you for some seeds ?
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Maggi Young on August 20, 2010, 01:59:55 PM
Renate, I never saw a yellow Commelina, only blue... cool!
Might your Ornithogalum candicans actually be Galtonia candicans?

 I love the yellow Commelina...this is new to me too!

The Ornithogalum/Galtonia is another of these poor plants, suffering under the ministrations of different authorities! To quote the Pacific Bulb Society:" Galtonia candicans (Baker) Decne. has been renamed by some authorities Ornithogalum candicans (Baker) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt."
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: arisaema on August 20, 2010, 02:58:19 PM
Thank you Gerd ! I just looked back this month at your pictures of Impatiens arguta. It's very beautiful as well. Do you think this species can be perennial as far north as Sweden too ? Does it grow at high altitudes in China/Himalaya ? Can I be bold enough to ask you for some seeds ?

It's hardyish here in Svorsk zon 2-3, prefering moist soils and some leaves for protection against the hardest frosts. Drop me a PM and I'll send some cuttings, it must be self-sterile as I've never found any seeds.

There are several other Chinese species that are fully hardy here. I. omeiana rarely flowers before the first frosts, but the foliage more than makes up for it.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: cohan on August 20, 2010, 06:15:19 PM
cool stuff! the impatiens are very nice-- I. omeiana seems very tropical!

renate--i agree commelina is interesting, also chlorophytum--these are tender? do you have any pictures of the plants?
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on August 20, 2010, 08:58:58 PM
I've been a bit lazy posting pictures lately - let's try to do something about it

1) Phlox mesoleuca 'Mary Maslin' - still going strong (started flowering early May !  :D)
2) and 3) Eriogonum soredium - getting ready to flower
4) and 5) Eriogonum caespitosa - doing the same thing
6) Daphne petrea "Persebee" - giving a second show this season
7) Silene hookeri ssp ingrammii - a young plant that has been flowering on and off for 3 months now, producing no more than 2 flowers at the same time !  It's outside in the rock garden, let's see if it survives Winter  :-\
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Maggi Young on August 20, 2010, 09:15:33 PM
I've been a bit lazy posting pictures lately - let's try to do something about it


Oh,  just lazy? I thought you had been lying on a beach somewhere!  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on August 20, 2010, 09:28:01 PM
Hardly on the lawn every now and then Maggi.... ;)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Maggi Young on August 20, 2010, 10:08:11 PM
Hardly on the lawn every now and then Maggi.... ;)

 So, the lawnmower is broken and you must lie there and clip the grass with scissors?  :o
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Gerdk on August 20, 2010, 10:44:46 PM
Thank you Gerd ! I just looked back this month at your pictures of Impatiens arguta. It's very beautiful as well. Do you think this species can be perennial as far north as Sweden too ? Does it grow at high altitudes in China/Himalaya ? Can I be bold enough to ask you for some seeds ?

It's hardyish here in Svorsk zon 2-3, prefering moist soils and some leaves for protection against the hardest frosts. Drop me a PM and I'll send some cuttings, it must be self-sterile as I've never found any seeds.
There are several other Chinese species that are fully hardy here. I. omeiana rarely flowers before the first frosts, but the foliage more than makes up for it.

Arisaema,
Thank you for answering Paul's question. I didn't know the limits of winter hardiness of Impatiens arguta - my zone is 7 b (USDA). Your Impations are very impressive!

Paul,
Maybe my plants of arguta developed some seeds last year but I'm not totally sure.
If I'll be able to collect some for you  I'll send a PM.

Gerd





Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: TheOnionMan on August 20, 2010, 10:49:27 PM
I've been a bit lazy posting pictures lately - let's try to do something about it

1) Phlox mesoleuca 'Mary Maslin' - still going strong (started flowering early May !  :D)
2) and 3) Eriogonum soredium - getting ready to flower
4) and 5) Eriogonum caespitosa - doing the same thing
6) Daphne petrea "Persebee" - giving a second show this season
7) Silene hookeri ssp ingrammii - a young plant that has been flowering on and off for 3 months now, producing no more than 2 flowers at the same time !  It's outside in the rock garden, let's see if it survives Winter  :-\

Luc, fantastic to see such a thriving specimen of Phlox mesoleuca 'Mary Maslin'; these used to be so popular years ago after their initial introduction in the early 1980s, but they have all but disappeared in recent years.  Congratulations!  I used to grow this back in the early 1980s, along with the many named color forms such as 'Arroyo', and the yellow counterpart Phlox lutea... the latter being my favorite.  Congratulations too, on flowering Eriogonum soredium... I never got this to flower, although it is of more interest as a tight silver cushion.  Nice E. caespitosum as well.

I love Silene hookeri, hope your plant survives the oncoming winter.  Curious thing about the misplaced name "ssp. ingramii", as such a combination was never published to the best of my knowledge, although there was a species published as Silene ingramii, but it's a synonym of S. hookeri.  Two subspecies of S. hookeri are recognized, S. hookeri ssp. hookeri (synonyms: S. hookeri ssp. pulverulenta, S. ingramii) and S. hookeri ssp. bolanderi.

Flora of North America link:
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250060854
CalPhotos image gallery (also curious in this case, they do not label the white ones as ssp. bolanderi as they should). Be sure to click on the "next 14" button in the lower right part of the gallery.
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-genre=Plant&where-taxon=Silene+hookeri
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on August 21, 2010, 09:21:13 AM
Hardly on the lawn every now and then Maggi.... ;)

 So, the lawnmower is broken and you must lie there and clip the grass with scissors?  :o

You seem to know my strong points Maggi....  :D ;D

Glad you liked the pix McMark and thanks for the useful information !
I got the Phlox m. last year and it did survive the harsh Winter we had (under some protection) - I hope I can hold it, it's such a striking colour and the flowering (although never in full force) seems to go on forever !
I remember pictures of Arroyo, Mary Maslin, and others in one of my very first AGS bulletins I got somewhere in the late eighties.  I was smitten by them ever since and was ever so pleased to find one last year !
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: ranunculus on August 21, 2010, 10:53:44 AM
Wonderful images, Luc.
I too am so pleased to see 'Mary Maslin' in full flower ... these Mexican phloxes had a brief, but beautiful foray onto the show benches twenty or so years ago, but proved incredibly hard to establish.  I presume they are still grown in the U.K. but seldom, if ever, exhibited now. Appreciate yours whilst you can - it deserves LOTS of photographs!   :D
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 21, 2010, 11:02:48 PM
I raised my current Silene hookeri as S. hookeri 'Ingramii Group' as if there were several within a tight definition. The white ssp bolanderi was quite separate. Now, early spring, bolanderi is coming up well and fast while the pink is still underground and I thought maybe had died but a small fingering among the gravel showed the beginnings of new growth.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Renate Brinkers on August 22, 2010, 09:22:12 PM
Renate, I never saw a yellow Commelina, only blue... cool!
Might your Ornithogalum candicans actually be Galtonia candicans?

Mark,
I also like the yellow Commelina very much and it grows really good.

Ornithogalum: It is as Maggie said, I had it long years under the name Galtonia and short time ago it was renamed.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Renate Brinkers on August 22, 2010, 09:25:10 PM
cool stuff! the impatiens are very nice-- I. omeiana seems very tropical!

renate--i agree commelina is interesting, also chlorophytum--these are tender? do you have any pictures of the plants?

Cohan,
I will take some pictures tomorrow and post it. Both are really interesting plants.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Renate Brinkers on August 22, 2010, 09:31:31 PM
Luc,
that´s a wonderful Phlox, never saw such a clear red one.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: cohan on August 22, 2010, 10:51:45 PM
cool stuff! the impatiens are very nice-- I. omeiana seems very tropical!

renate--i agree commelina is interesting, also chlorophytum--these are tender? do you have any pictures of the plants?

Cohan,
I will take some pictures tomorrow and post it. Both are really interesting plants.



thank-you renate! i'm very interested to see these :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Stephenb on August 23, 2010, 11:43:20 AM
Suddenly, a number of late summer species are in bloom, but what happened to summer  ???

1. Tropaeolum tuberosum "Ken Aslet", grown for its edible tubers, one of the Lost Crops of the Incas...
2. Lilium lanciflorum flaviflorum, Monarda fistulosa var menthifolia and Monarda didyma "Adam" (spreading like "wildfire" and will have to be tamed)
3-4. Cacalia atripicifolia (would love to get my hands on the Asian species Cacalia delphiniifolia and C. hastata if anyone has seed - both used as wild gathered edibles in the Far East??)
5. Commelina coelestis alba
6. Allium wallichii

Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Gail on August 23, 2010, 05:50:30 PM
Distinctly un-alpine but it makes me smile - Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Bonjour' which has huge, flamboyant flowers.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Maggi Young on August 23, 2010, 05:51:55 PM
holy moly! That is one LARGE flower! How pretty.... love the veins and shading... beautifully shown in your photo, Gail.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on August 23, 2010, 07:27:18 PM
A super(b) flower Gail !!!  :o :o :o
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: angie on August 23, 2010, 10:02:51 PM
Wow Gail, mine haven't even flowered yet and did I hear summer is officially over this week  :o, oh well l can at least admire your flower

Angie :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Renate Brinkers on August 24, 2010, 09:27:48 AM
Stephen,

great pictures, especially the Tropaeolum, it has a striking colour. Nice to see that there are more people with Commelina  :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Renate Brinkers on August 24, 2010, 09:28:57 AM
Gail,
a wonderful Hibiscus. It seems as the flowers are really big.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Renate Brinkers on August 24, 2010, 09:39:10 AM
Cohan,

here are some pictures of the Chlorophytum and Commelina, a bit difficult to take good pictures because the plant is more an elegant one with fine branches.
Also some other pics of Commelina variegata and Setrcreasea purpurea `Variegata´, formerly a Tradescantia and sometimes called Setcreasea or Tradescantia pallida `Variegata´ but as I know the name S.purp. `Var.´is valid and S.pallida is an other species.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: pehe on August 24, 2010, 11:35:42 AM
Suddenly, a number of late summer species are in bloom, but what happened to summer  ???

1. Tropaeolum tuberosum "Ken Aslet", grown for its edible tubers, one of the Lost Crops of the Incas...



Nice pics Stephen!

In Denmark we had a nice warm summer, but my Ken Aslet did not flower yet. Do you really eat the tubers?

Poul
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: pehe on August 24, 2010, 11:42:27 AM
Gail, what a wonderful Hibiscus!

I had some welcome visitors in my garden yesterday.

Poul
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Ragged Robin on August 24, 2010, 12:36:35 PM
Gail, a perfect name too - one couldn't help but have a good day seeing such a happy looking Hibiscus  :D

Poul your visitors really like you Dahlia!  Which one is it?  Lovely plants in your rockery.....and your Scilla numidica is gorgeous  :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: illingworth on August 24, 2010, 02:45:07 PM
<<This blue flowered Impatiens with the tongue-twisting name namchabarwensis ( did I spell it right ? ) is flowering for me now. It was really hard to germinate the seeds and I only got one plant, but sometimes you are lucky, and one seed germinates, that is all that is needed, and now I will be having plenty of seed. There seems to be quite a bit of "mystery" associated with this plant if you google it. Does anyone here know the true story regarding this species ?>>

Paul, I have just been looking at John Grimshaw's garden diary, and a few days ago he mentioned this and other impatiens. You might want to have a look here.

http://johngrimshawsgardendiary.blogspot.com/

Sharon
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: cohan on August 24, 2010, 07:21:39 PM
Cohan,

here are some pictures of the Chlorophytum and Commelina, a bit difficult to take good pictures because the plant is more an elegant one with fine branches.
Also some other pics of Commelina variegata and Setrcreasea purpurea `Variegata´, formerly a Tradescantia and sometimes called Setcreasea or Tradescantia pallida `Variegata´ but as I know the name S.purp. `Var.´is valid and S.pallida is an other species.

thanks for these--i like this chlorophytum a lot--it has stolons with offsets like the common houseplant? i think i see the stems going away from the rosette.. did you grow this from seed? i have looked for sources of interesting tropical/potential house plants, and have not yet found any... i am assuming this is tender?
i like the others too, setcreaseas are an old fave too--i loved seeing them as groundcover in miami...
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Gail on August 24, 2010, 09:42:25 PM
Gorgeous planting of your Acis and Scillas Poul and lovely to see your winged visitors!
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Stephenb on August 25, 2010, 09:45:24 AM

Nice pics Stephen!

In Denmark we had a nice warm summer, but my Ken Aslet did not flower yet. Do you really eat the tubers?

Poul

Poul: Well, I don’t grow a lot of Mashua, but put a few tubers aside for Xmas dinner. Tropaeolum tuberosum or Mashua as it’s known in its homeland was the 4th most important root crop in the Andes behind potato, oca (Oxalis tuberosa), and ulluco (Ullucus tuberosus). I prepare all 4 for Xmas dinner in most years and it makes for a very colourful dinner as you can see below. You can read more about Mashua in the on-line book Lost Crops of the Incas: http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1398&page=67

I also use the flowers in salads (they are milder than common nasturtiums).

An interesting point to bear in mind is that Andean men apparently refuse to eat Mashua as they believe that it is an anaphrodisiac. Therefore this a food reserved for women and children..

So this is definitely a food that should be promoted in areas wanting to curb population growth!

If your Ken Aslet isn’t in flower now I would suspect that you have one of the imposters doing the rounds! I can send you a tuber of the real Ken Aslet if you wish – remind me mid-October.

The first picture shows the attractive tubers from Ken Aslet.

The second picture shows assorted Ullucos (yellow, green – there are a whole range of colours), Ocas (reds) and a long white variety of Mashua (ready for the pot for Xmas dinner). The white variety doesn't flower.

(I would also eat your surplus Dahlia tubers, another American root vegetable!)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: angie on August 25, 2010, 10:00:08 AM
Suddenly, a number of late summer species are in bloom, but what happened to summer  ???

1. Tropaeolum tuberosum "Ken Aslet", grown for its edible tubers, one of the Lost Crops of the Incas...



Nice pics Stephen!

In Denmark we had a nice warm summer, but my Ken Aslet did not flower yet. Do you really eat the tubers?

Poul


Boy you learn something everyday on this forum, eating Ken Aslet  :o well if mine doesn't flower in the next two years I will eat mine  ;D

Angie :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: pehe on August 25, 2010, 12:04:23 PM
Gail, a perfect name too - one couldn't help but have a good day seeing such a happy looking Hibiscus  :D

Poul your visitors really like you Dahlia! Which one is it? Lovely plants in your rockery.....and your Scilla numidica is gorgeous  :)

Thanks Robin!
The Dahlia is 'Night Butterfly'. Maybee that's why the day butterflies find it so attractive.

Poul
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: pehe on August 25, 2010, 12:10:25 PM
Gorgeous planting of your Acis and Scillas Poul and lovely to see your winged visitors!

Yes nature is gorgeous. Some years ago I planted 2 bulbs of each species, and now they have spread by self sowing to an area of 0.5 X 0.5 meter.

Poul
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: pehe on August 25, 2010, 12:25:49 PM

If your Ken Aslet isn’t in flower now I would suspect that you have one of the imposters doing the rounds! I can send you a tuber of the real Ken Aslet if you wish – remind me mid-October.

Stephen,

There are no signs of flowers yet, so I will be delighted to try one of yours. (But only if you have enough for your Christmas diner ;D)
I will PM you in October. Let me hear if I have some plants of interest to you.
Very interesting to hear about these edible bulbs. Have you specialized in south American bulbs?


Poul
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Stephenb on August 25, 2010, 01:17:37 PM
No, I specialise on anything that is edible and perennial that has a chance to survive my winters (whether it tastes good or not....), although I have some non-hardy perennials that I overwinter indoors as tubers (like these South Americans).   

I'll let you know if I see something that I like  :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: pehe on August 25, 2010, 06:22:55 PM
Stephen,

If you are interested I grow Stachys affinis.

Poul
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Renate Brinkers on August 25, 2010, 08:21:51 PM
Cohan,

yes, it is a tender but extremly easy to care for.
C.macrophyllum makes rarely stolones and if, then always a single one at the end of the flower stalk when the seed ripens. The flower stems are about 40cm high, they are thick and hard and grow straight upwards, not long, thin and hanging down as the stalks of the usual Chlorophytum commosum. It grows not as fast as C.commosum und rarely builds a second or third plant in the pot.
I have it in the house in winter where it needs not much watering and also grows happy without much light.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Renate Brinkers on August 25, 2010, 08:32:15 PM
Stephen,

nice pictures but are you sure that they are dead? They do look as they want to walk away soon to be far away until Christmas...
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: cohan on August 25, 2010, 09:02:37 PM
Cohan,

yes, it is a tender but extremly easy to care for.
C.macrophyllum makes rarely stolones and if, then always a single one at the end of the flower stalk when the seed ripens. The flower stems are about 40cm high, they are thick and hard and grow straight upwards, not long, thin and hanging down as the stalks of the usual Chlorophytum commosum. It grows not as fast as C.commosum und rarely builds a second or third plant in the pot.
I have it in the house in winter where it needs not much watering and also grows happy without much light.

thanks renate, i will watch for seed available..
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: cohan on August 25, 2010, 09:05:24 PM

Nice pics Stephen!

In Denmark we had a nice warm summer, but my Ken Aslet did not flower yet. Do you really eat the tubers?

Poul

Poul: Well, I don’t grow a lot of Mashua, but put a few tubers aside for Xmas dinner. Tropaeolum tuberosum or Mashua as it’s known in its homeland was the 4th most important root crop in the Andes behind potato, oca (Oxalis tuberosa), and ulluco (Ullucus tuberosus). I prepare all 4 for Xmas dinner in most years and it makes for a very colourful dinner as you can see below. You can read more about Mashua in the on-line book Lost Crops of the Incas: http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1398&page=67

I also use the flowers in salads (they are milder than common nasturtiums).

An interesting point to bear in mind is that Andean men apparently refuse to eat Mashua as they believe that it is an anaphrodisiac. Therefore this a food reserved for women and children..

So this is definitely a food that should be promoted in areas wanting to curb population growth!

If your Ken Aslet isn’t in flower now I would suspect that you have one of the imposters doing the rounds! I can send you a tuber of the real Ken Aslet if you wish – remind me mid-October.

The first picture shows the attractive tubers from Ken Aslet.

The second picture shows assorted Ullucos (yellow, green – there are a whole range of colours), Ocas (reds) and a long white variety of Mashua (ready for the pot for Xmas dinner). The white variety doesn't flower.

(I would also eat your surplus Dahlia tubers, another American root vegetable!)

these are very cool! hmm, that might be a reason to grow dahlias --i don't have one otherwise ;) are there dahlia forms specifically cultivated for bigger tubers without regard to flower forms?
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Stephenb on August 25, 2010, 09:11:55 PM
Dahlias: No, they were I think mainly collected from the wild in their home range, although I guess that they were probably moved into home gardens as edimentals. I know one guy in the states who is trying to develop better food varieties. We'll see what he comes up with. The ones I've tasted are not that exciting with little or no taste and a hard skin which, unlike potatoes, must be removed.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 25, 2010, 09:47:07 PM
Stephen, do you ever sit down to a good hearty steak? or maybe roast lamb? ???
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: cohan on August 25, 2010, 09:51:13 PM
Dahlias: No, they were I think mainly collected from the wild in their home range, although I guess that they were probably moved into home gardens as edimentals. I know one guy in the states who is trying to develop better food varieties. We'll see what he comes up with. The ones I've tasted are not that exciting with little or no taste and a hard skin which, unlike potatoes, must be removed.

ok, i wont bother then...lol; i'm digging up an overgrown bed with rhizomatous iris and daylilies--i remember the daylilies being edible--though so far, not that much to the roots..was thinking that might be the best use for them..lol--used to like them, now not so much, and this is just some old humdrum orange (not that i like the fancy colours, the yellows are nicer though)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Stephenb on August 25, 2010, 10:15:23 PM
Agree, I also prefer the botanical species - I have H. altissima and citrina growing side by side and just coming into flower (both yellow), will post a picture in a few days (they've never flowered together before, one or the other but not both...)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: dominique on August 26, 2010, 09:39:23 PM
Thank you all for the nice plants that you show us;
I send you some pics of  some plants that I like in my garden now.
Impatiens glandulifera Alba. Nothing to do in a fresh half shade place
After, association Lilium and Dahlia that I sew. The orange single one was received under the name : Dahlia imperialis !!! But I like it
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: dominique on August 26, 2010, 09:43:57 PM
I think nice to associate single Dahlia with the botanical species Rudbeckia triloba which is in bloom during 4 months
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: dominique on August 26, 2010, 09:49:36 PM
I like too to associate nice wild species as Nicotiana megalosiphon, Petunia violacea and Salvia tiliifolia. I show you after Ipomoea collection : I. coccinea, coccinea v. hederifolia and a cultivar of purpurea : Carnaval de venise
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: dominique on August 26, 2010, 09:52:19 PM
and the more spectacular : Ipomoea alba, as large as a cake plate !!!
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: dominique on August 26, 2010, 10:05:41 PM
Ipomoea alba has a very strong perfume all around  in the night. It opens around 19 o'clock until 10 o'clock in the morning. It is a curiosity because  the flowers open alltogether  : 10 to 40 by day in 20 minutes and died after one night each. They are visited by night butterflies (Sphynx)
For the end, I reserve you an other night queen which is hardy here. It is a fireworks of nice flowers with a very long tube and nice perfume : Mirabilis longiflora v. wrightii
Thank you for having walk with me to discover these vegetal friends.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Gail on August 26, 2010, 10:25:20 PM
Wonderful Dom!  I love the moonflower Ipomoea alba but have only got it to flower once here, our summers are not usually hot enough.  Mirabilis longiflora v. wrightii is new to me and I shall look out for it.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Ragged Robin on August 27, 2010, 03:34:22 PM
Thanks Dom for a walk by day and night to see the wonderful flowerings in your garden and their visitors (in addition to you  :D)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: fleurbleue on August 27, 2010, 11:04:54 PM
Nice pictures Dom  ;)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Regelian on August 29, 2010, 02:42:06 PM
Well, we have very little blooming at the moment and the rains are not making things any prettier!  It's been three weeks of water, water, water and my garden pool is overflowing!  In any case, here are the few items still worthy of a photo:

Eucomis bicolor
Eucomis zambesiaca
Agapanthus inapertus

The E. zambesiaca I found on the plant market in a pan.  I'd never seen it before.  A dwarf with chrystalline white flowers.  As I understand, it is not winterhard in my zone, so I will need to bring it into the cold house for the Winter.  Anyone have experience with this species?
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: WimB on August 29, 2010, 05:02:21 PM
Some plants which are flowering here now:

Acis autumnalis 'September Snow'
Acis autumnalis var. oporantha
Allium senescens var. glaucum
Anemone (unknown cultivar)
and Saxifraga pubescens 'Snowcap' flowering with a few flowers out of season

And to end two chickens (of the young chickens I showed in the "Yes, I'm so happy" thread in June)

The first is a rooster, the second is one of the hens
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 29, 2010, 10:31:35 PM
How is Acis autumnalis v. oporantha different from A. autumnalis? What I have under that name is identical to the type.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: WimB on August 30, 2010, 06:39:53 AM
How is Acis autumnalis v. oporantha different from A. autumnalis? What I have under that name is identical to the type.

Not a lot of difference, Lesley. Have a look here: http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/acis
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Ragged Robin on August 30, 2010, 09:00:05 AM
Wim, your photos of Acis along with others on different threads make me think they would look good in my garden - Acis autumnalis var. oporantha is so pretty in flower shape and edging and I love the red/green stem, just lovely  :)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Gail on August 30, 2010, 09:49:14 AM
Lovely pictures Wim, the bantams have grown to be very pretty birds.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: ruweiss on August 30, 2010, 09:49:00 PM
Three Agapanthus species which flowered during the last weeks.
A.campanulatus is a low growing plant, originating from the
Drakensberge Mts. in 2500 m elevation.
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 30, 2010, 09:56:27 PM
Thanks Wim. I think mine's just the type but apparently not worth a varietal name anyway. ::)
Title: Re: Northern Hemisphere August 2010
Post by: meanie on January 17, 2014, 04:33:13 PM
I have taken up an interest in Salvias and try to grow a few new species every year, here are some of the ones I've been growing this summer, both new and old ( which have proved hardy ):

1. I got seeds of Salvia brevilabra from Robin Middleton, and these seeds resulted in two different types of plants seen here in this picture. The one with the brownish -red flowers and lights green bracts is what looks like the true S.brevilabra, while the other one with more purple-burgundy flowers is some cross where species such as  from S. przewalski, hians, evansiana might be involved. Many of the Chinese  species are prone to hybridizing I've learned.

2. Variation 1-  ( true S. brevilabra )

3. S. brevilabra flower which has yellow striations on the lower lip

4. S. brevilabra leaf

5. Salvia brevilabra variation 2. What should this variation be called ? Salvia hybrid or ?

6. Salvia hybrid variation 2 close up of flws.

7. Salvia hybrid var. 2  leaf

I know that it is dragging up an old topic, but I was wondering how this has fared with you? I have just been given quite a lot of seed for this and I am rather intrigued by the possibilities of getting something different.
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