Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: Lesley Cox on October 15, 2007, 02:14:12 AM
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We all should be home now and it's a race to see who gets pictures on the Forum first. I think Dave was too busy to take many and Doreen has her mind on the upcoming Study Weekend. Susan and I were both actively shooting.
I had a marvellous time, travelling and conversing with the best possible company (Tim), finding several plants I desperately wanted to replace among the many for sale on Saturday night and in the gardens and catching up with many friends whom I see maybe just once a year or even less. Among all the chat and gossip there was talk of a possible trip to Australia next spring, for the local Fritillaria group, perhaps combined with the Trillium members as well, gardens and friends we might visit, plants we might see. And of course there was the ongoing news from us all about how our respective gardens are flourishing - or not. Apparently there is a "thing" out there among growers of Trilliums. It may be a virus of some sort or some kind of fungus, no-one seems to know as yet but it is causing concern especially among those who grow to sell, and even more, among those who buy.
So - lots to see, talk about, eat, drink and things to look forward to and think about over months to come.
We visited a number of gardens in almost perfect weather for the purpose; mild, windless and very pleasant overall. The following pictures are a real mixed bag of plants that looked especially good or that appealed to me without necessarily being special or outstanding, but just good, great value plants.
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It should be said that all the gardens were in excellent condition with hardly a weed to be seen anywhere. Herbaceous plants were dead-headed, shrubs pruned, lawns mowed and edged trimmed to within an inch of their lives. A major change from what I'm used to!
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A lovely plant of Clematis macropetala. We saw many clematis species and hybrids, just about to burst into their full flowering.
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Most of the gardens were big country gardens with plenty room for massed plantings. This Stylophorum was surrounding a mature birch tree.
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Labelled as Soldanella minima alba, it is most likely S. carpatica alba, one of many shadeloving alpines quite at home on what is normally the hot, dry, windy Canterbury Plain.
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This batch of lovely Trillium luteum seedlings was in a trough in the same area. All have lovely markings and buds waiting to open soon.
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Likewise Corydalis cashmiriana in glorious bloom.
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Verbascum dumulosum has always been a favourite of mine so this was a welcome sight as it snuggled up to the doorsteps. The more I think about it, I'm sure my current plant (from AGS seed) is V. pestalozzae as it's fur has a distinct golden overlay.
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Primula x Juliana `Jill' is close in size, shape and habit to `Wanda' but has an inky violet/blue colouring which includes a dab of brown in it as well. I think everyone should plant Jill with Wanda and the old P. vulgaris `Sibthorpii' all together in a mat. The combination of dark blue/violet, rich purple and soft lavender pink is very beautiful.
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I suspect many people missed this tiny flat plum tree, it was so quiet and subtle rather than spectacular. Its owner didn't know which species it is, so ID help would be appreciated. Prunus prostrata maybe?
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There were great erythroniums in all the gardens.
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We weren't sure whether this soft yellow hybrid is `Pagoda' or `Kondo.' Ian or Maggi will tell us please.
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I liked this very cute and compact globuaria, maybe G. cordifolia, a tight mat in a north-facing hot spot.
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While we frequently grow Ptilotrichum spinosum in its `Roseum' form, this plain white is also very attractive, flowering strongly over little grey leaves.
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Cytisus x Kewensis makes a softly coloured and deliciously scented wide, fan-like or weeping shrub for a warm situation.
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I was really pleased to see this old and rarely seen plant of the old double wall flower, Cheiranthus `Harpur Crewe.' It looked very good with the purple of Aubrieta.
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Used as a very effective ground cover in several gardens, was the easy but under-rated Arabis alpina in it doube form.
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This huge plant of Aphyllanthes monspeliensis was badly in need of drastic division, the flowers being extremely sparse and the foliage of many years struggling to let the new growth through to the light.
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No label was visible but I think this is Saxifraga marginata coriophylla or a form close to that. Late though for a Porophyllum saxifrage.
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This little lemon form of Lewisia cotyledon looked quite at home among the curly metal work.
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Anemone nemorosa was used and effective everywhere as ground cover in cool spots under trees.
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This fine plant of Daphne genkwa in light shade, was one and a half metres in height and covered well with flowers.
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A lovely mat of Cyclamen repandum shared a cool place with CC. coum and hederifolium.
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Paeonia obovata alba drew everyone like a magnet, especially when it was realized that it was surrounded by many seedlings. Probably 20 people had a seedling dug and potted for them, at $5 a pop!
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A lovely patch of an Uvularia species
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And of course we saw masses of trilliums, the T. chloropetalum and its allies being fully out but not yet starting to pass, lovely sights, every one.
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Lovely pictures Lesley, what a great way to spend the weekend. Loved the Paeonia obovata alba. We have a few months to wait for all this!!
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What a wonderful weekend, Lesley! Rhodos, trillium and erythronium..... what could be nicer?
Some super plants, all looking good, congratulations to all those tidy gardenenrs!
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Thanks Lesley for the Trillium weekend report. It's great seeing such well established clumps in gardens.
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Great pictures Lesley, thanks for them
Sue
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Not difficult to imagine you had a great time Lesley !
Wonderful plants
Wonderful pix
Words fail me to describt that Paeonia obovata alba !!!!! :o
Thanks for sharing
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Nice pictures. I like the Lewisia and Trillium a lot!
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Great pictures Lesley, thanks for sharing them. My favourites? Well, the lovely little lemon Lewisia (how's that for alliteration?) cotyledon; the Primula x Juliana 'Jill'-scruptious; Paeonia obovata alba-delightfull; Soldanella minima; Daphne genkwa; the Stylophorum;................
damnit this is a waste of time, they were ALL great ;D
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I suspect many people missed this tiny flat plum tree, it was so quiet and subtle rather than spectacular. Its owner didn't know which species it is, so ID help would be appreciated. Prunus prostrata maybe?
Lesley, this little plum tree seems to be Prunus pumila from North America. To which plant do the blue flowers on the pic in question belong?
Gerd
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What a wonderful trip you had Lesley. Lovely pics too. Gives me heart to go through the winter knowing what is in store for us when we reach the other end of it. Really, really liked the peony though, such a wonderful plant it is. It is already on my shopping list. Just looked it up, Potterton's have it. Will look for it at the Hexham show in the spring......
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Thanks for comments, everyone. A weekend like this helps to make up for the wonderful UK events we can't take part in, such as the shows, study weekends etc and the great gardens for which the British Isles are so famous. But we have our own little events now and then. More to come when I get them re-sized.
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Especially thanks Gerd, for the Prunus name. I've seen a very rare plant of P. pumila in NZ but always it has been a bushlet rather than quite flat like this one. Maybe someone sat on it :D The garden owner said the plant was over 20 years old.
I forgot to mention that the blue flowered plant above the Prunus was a veronica, V. pedunculata maybe? We grow it here as `Georgia Blue.'
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I had better put a few photos on before Lesley shows all the ones I took. It was a very enjoyable week-end and the gardens were in excellent condition and very well manicured. They ranged from small town gardens to large farm gardens.
One of the smaller gardens used Gentians as a border edging, in front of espaliered camellias.
Trilliums planted en masse. You will notice between them, pea straw has been used as a mulch. This area gets hot and dry in summer and have quite fierce winds.
Three forumists trying to be in disguise. Not sure why the umbrellas - the sun was coming out but wasn't hot enough to need sun shades.
Two of our forumists, Dave and Lesley just hanging around.
A lovely shrub growing well, Calycanthus floridus I think.
Lovely foliage on Asarum splendens
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Good one of Dave but I didn't realize I had such hairy legs.
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Isn't it always the way. You never see yourself as others see you!
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I'm really enjoying seeing these beautiful gardens - the gentian border is particularly lovely, especially with the fallen camellia flowers amongst it.
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What a tremendous thread....many thanks Lesley and Susan.
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Thank you for sharing theese fantastic images, Lesley and Susan. Makes our autumn brighter. I have never seen a fully developed Calycanthus before, only young plants. It goes on my list!
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The Calycanthus is new to me, so I had to look it up... I discover it is from the south-eastern states of the USA, grows neater in full sun, is delicicious to rabbits and, while nicely scented, especially in the evening, the scent is variable from plant to plant. I'm off to mark this plant on my want-list too!
(I decided not to comment about Lesley's hairy legs...........)
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very sensible thing to do Maggi ! ::)
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Maggi,
Sinocalycanthus is more impressive. The white flowers are larger, as are the leaves which also develop very tropical-looking drip-tips.
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Okay, Rob, more research coming up for me, I see! I do like the red/brown flowers of that Calycanthus, tho' I believe there is a yellow-flowered variety, also. They remind me of a sort of feral magnolia !!
The sinocalycanthus is even more like a magnolia, I see.... now I remember seeing this plant in The Garden (RHS magazine) at some point, I think. Very beautiful.... I'd have one of those AND a brown flowered one, too! I need next dorr's garden, and quickly.
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I'd have one of those AND a brown flowered one, too!
With those two in the garden you'd probably then get the yellow flowered hybrid as well. How economical - three for the price of two!
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I have just managed to buy Sinocalycanthus chinensis and the leaves are only just coming out, so it is fairly late. I bought it solely on the promise of the description - "shiny leaves, and waxy purple and cream saucer shaped flowers rather like a formal double white camellia, but with a cup centre. Best with quite heavy shade" - sounds Ok for here. I shall keep you posted.
A few more from the week-end.
A planting of Trillium chloropetalum.
Trillium rivale.
Trillium kurabayashii.
A patch of Muscari.
A couple of birds near a pond. The water is a strange colour and I think this may be because the water used comes from an irrigation race. This area has quite large canals supplying water to the farms.
A small lake at one of the farm gardens.
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Binny Plants stock the Sinocalyanthus:
http://www.binnyplants.co.uk/catalogue.php?show=4946&search=sinocalycanthus
.....sold in a 10 litre pot for £29.50 !
Binny Plants
Binny Estate
Ecclesmachan
West Lothian
EH52 6NL
Tel: 01506 858 931
Fax: 01506 858 155
Email: info@binnyplants.co.uk
And I think Karan Kunker sells it , too .... http://www.junker.co.uk/ http://www.junker.co.uk/frames.htm
JUNKER'S NURSERY ORDER FORM
Lower Mead, West Hatch (Please print it out and fill it in)
Taunton, TA3 5RN
Somerset, England
Tel: (01823) 480774
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I didn't photgraph the Calycanthus but I well remember the scent. A wonderful fruit salad smell, mixed paw-paw, pineapple, mango etc. Pure heaven it was and worth growing for that alone. If it comes up on Alouette's plant list, I'll be ordering one.
Here are a few more to go on with.
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This large shrub wasn't labelled but my memory has come up with Syringa x Josiflexa `Bellicent.' A really pretty lilac, less heavy and solid-looking than the general run of hybrids.
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Most of the larger Trillium plants were in cool, mixed borders and growing superbly. Susan has already mentioned the pea-straw which South Island gardeners use extensively. Worth its weight in gold, giving a loose, friable and humusy soil which all plants seem to love. It is the spent vines left after the harvesting of commercail peas and rots down quickly to a beautiful soft, crumbly texture.
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The white trunked birches looked really good with a small lake in the background.
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Easy to see why birch was used as paper.
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Although it looks quite a natural feature, this lake inlet is probably a diversion from one of many irrigation channels in the mid Canterbury Plain.
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The lake had lawn on the house side but a woodland planting on the far side. The young Gunnera will spread widely in coming months and years.
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This tall jar was beautifully placed for a view across the lake. Close-up, we couldn't decide what it was made of; not ceramic and though it had a metallic sound when tapped, it was quite lightweight, and easily moved when pushed even a little bit. It was taller than I am (5ft 4").
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The only picture I took all weekend with Tim in it, and that accidentally. He is the red spot in the distance and Ann Cartman is lurking behind the tree, talking to him.
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Some smaller plants now.
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We saw many erythroniums everywhere. They too love the peastraw compost. These are EE. revolutum and (probably) calif. `White Beauty.'
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Couldn't resist some extra pics of E. hendersonii though they cost me muddy knees. Perhaps they weren't in the best place to photograph, against a brick house but they did look very good and were growing so well.
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There were many Cassiope species as well, all flourishing. I was very surprised at how many cool plants were thriving, considering that the Canterbury Plain is frequently subject to strong, hot winds which in my garden at least (and I only get the edge of them) are real killers. These Methven gardeners must take really meticulous care of their plants in the difficult times.
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Kalmiopsis leachiana, another fine cool lover. In the early eighties the late Jim Lecomte, when he and Jean owned Alouette Nursery, introduced a very good seedling which Jim called `Alouette.' I'm not sure whether or not this is it. For close to 20 years all the dwarf ericaceae which are currently in NZ were brought in by Jim and Jean. Almost nothing new since Jim's death and that supply of material is greatly missed.
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I was really thrilled to see this delightful little Polygonum tenuicaule, one of my own imports but now lost to me through being over-grown. But Ann Cartman also has it and will bring it to the Study Weekend for me.
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The gorgeous "Molly-the-Witch," Paeonia mlokosewitchii, with not quite enough warmth to open her lemon cup-shaped blooms. Well it WAS just after breakfast.
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A superb plant of Daphne cneorum and in close-up. All this last batch of 10 were in the garden of Jenny Senior, a highly skilled lady who has Meconopsis quintuplinervia growing well, a triumph in itself, given the climate. I was delighted to be able to buy a couple.
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A nice mix of trollius, trillium, hellebore, clematis, paeony, primula and rhododendron, all enjoying each other's company.
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We saw several young trees of the gold-variegated form of the "Wedding Cake" cornus, Cornus controversa.
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Fritillaria meleagris alba with primulas, paeonias and pulsatillas.
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Massed Pulsatilla vulgaris. In some places the seeds had washed down from plants to become established along the lawn edges.
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I liked this mixture of pink pulsatilla and brown Fritillaria pyrenaica.
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This is for Fermi as we've been discussing little bearded irises recently, elsewhere. This is the Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris `Forest Glade,' appropriately named as we were in Forest Drive.
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Thanks for the great pics from the weekend, Lesley, and that DBI"Forest Glade" does look suspiciously like my unnamed one! I'll write out a label when I get home!
I hope this frit & Tril "seminar" goes ahead next September and that we can get a few of the NZ crowd over here for it. I think Otto already has his spare room booked out for you!
cheers
fermi
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Susan and Lesley --after reading your earlier barbs on this thread ,my only response is that "you two will keep " !!!!!!!.
Methven is a small service town for the surrounding farms and the Mt Hutt ski field --about 1.5 hours travel south from Christchurch ,(South Islands main city) and situated on the Canterbury plains.
I was too busy,(official business),to take any pictures during the actual event as Lesley mentioned,however i did manage a few Trillium pics from private gardens visited on our 6 hour travel to and from the weekend.
The first couple taken on the way up are not that great ,(the pics that is --not the plants--smile).I can only put that down to the pre weekend nerves i was experiencing.
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A few more that took my fancy---
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Final batch--
Cheers dave.
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Not hard to guess where you took these Dave. The yellows are especially good.
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Is the yellow in Dave's second post Trillium chloropetalum Val Mulvihill?
It is a stunning plant
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Lesley,
Glorious pictures. Beautiful!! I am jealous as anything. Oh those big clumps of Trilliums!
Dave,
That yellow is an absolute corker isn't it? Serious lusting after it going on here at my house at the moment!! ;D
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Hello Rob-- Unfortunately i have forgotten the name given to the plant you refer to,(duh!!!!!).
Trillium Val mulvihill is shown in my middle pic of what i posted as the last batch --ie behind and to the left of T. angustipetalum.
If look closely you will see quite a difference in the leaf markings and length of the red flare of the respective plants.
Hate to tease you Paul --they look even more impressive in the flesh so to speak.
Cheers Dave.
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Dave,
Methinks you don't hate to tease me at all.... in fact I think you darn well enjoyed it!! >:(
Yeah, it's the jealousy talking!! ;D
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The super foliage of the upper yellow (with red flare) suggests that naming may be redundant so early in the breeding programme of these stunning yellows. The upper plant is, to my mind, much better than `Val Mulvihill,' having that extra quality of fine leaves. Hopefully Val will go on with this programme and be able to distribute good yellows more widely, within a few years. They are very special.
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At the risk of boring everyone, here are some more pics from the weekend.
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Three rhododendrons to start, named but names not known by me. All in lovely condition.
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Like all the other things we saw, rhododendrons just LOVE rotted pea straw.
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This young horse chestnut had been rescued from the paddock and was chumming up to the rhubarb in a vegetable patch until a place was found for it. I thought the new leaves were beautiful.
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A different view of the camellia fence with gentians. It was just a wooden fence totally covered with camellias and many clematis in other places so that the whole garden, quite small, seems to be in a leafy/flowery box.
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I though this one could be `Guernsey Cream' but can't confirm.
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The good old "japonicas" or flowering quinces give great value and this one is especially nice. I think it is called `Cameo.'
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All the gardens seemed to have flowering cherries of different kinds. This one was very fine, and a lovely umbrella shape.
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And in the same garden, there were several groups of very tall Lombardy poplars, just coming into leaf. In spite of their living on the Canterbury Plain where every tree gets a distinct lean to the south east, these soared to 50 ft or more, absolutely straight and vertical.
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More little plants.
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Euphorbia epithymoides is a favourite of mine. I love the harsh, lime green colour. It looks amazingly good with both blue and yellow flowers.
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This may be included in Lathyrus nowadays but I've always known it as Orobus vernus.
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Another whose name I am "difficult" about. Now it is Vitaliana primuliflora but used to be Douglasia vitaliana praetutiana. We saw outstanding plants like this one whereas I'm lucky to get 3 flowers on mine. Why is that?
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Many little irises came in many different colours. No names immediately available but the blue/white/lemon combination is very pretty.
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Incredible colour in this small Heuchera plant.
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And 4 blues to finish this last-but-one batch. A Brunnera species, welcome change from the ubiquitous little forget-me-not that was seeding everywhere we looked.
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Even better, Omphalodes capadoccica.
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Easy, inclined to be invasive, but very lovely, Corydalis flexuosa.
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And Mertensia virginica, a classy and beautiful American which has withstood the nor'west winds incredibly well. At my place it is smashed almost as soon as it starts to flower.
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And finally -
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Anemonella thalictroides in a pretty pink form.
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I'm just beginning to appreciate epimediums and have only a couple. I like this yellow species and I was able to get a couple from the many plants for sale on Saturday night.
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From eastern Asia comes the white "skunk cabbage," horrid name for a beautiful aroid, Lysichiton camschatcense. It loves moisture and I have a Japanese book with pictures of this plant growing as far as the eye can see, in sheets of shallow water.
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This Arisaema sikokianum had interesting speckling over its brown and white stripes. It looked like spray residue but wasn't.
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These little flower stems are on what we thought was a beech tree though it didn't look like a native Nothofagus; maybe a South American species. The tree was huge and quite old as branches had twisted to odd angles. The flowers were a delight, these at eye level.
Well, this was a Trillium weekend so 5 trilliums to finish.
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A creamy T. chloropetalum
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Good foliage and a flower of rich pea green
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A pedicillate hybrid whose parents I wouldn't care to guess at. The inside of the flower
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and the spotted outside.
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Something nice to finish with, Trillium luteum.
Thanks everyone, for your patience.
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Lesley,
Wonderful pics of so many spring flowers. Maybe I was somewhat simple minded but until I met this Forum I indeed never expected such an abundance of northern hemisphere species in NZ.
Or is it possible that your garden is situated at one of the Channel Islands near the French coast?
Gerd
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Oh, please keep on sending pictures, Lesley. I am having a great time looking at them - (but my employer may not share that same enthusiasm)
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Lesley,
Fantastic pics!! The Trilliums were a great ending. LOVE that pea green one, and the pedicillate unknown. Both would be welcomed here in my garden, but then again to be honest pretty much every Trillium you posted here would be welcome here. ;D
Can I ask about teh Skunk Cabbage........ how much sun was it in (if you know). I grow mine in full sun but am never sure whether I should be or not. I know they are usually in some forested bog situations (at least in pics I have seen) but I've heard conflicting reports. I have both americanum (the yellow) and camschatcensis (the white species, which I'm assuming your pic was of) and am intending to pot them up into their own water bowls to give them maximum root space and plenty of water....... but I'm wondering how much sun I SHOULD be giving them? Do you or anyone know? ???
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Many thanks everyone. I'm pleased you enjoyed the pictures. My own little ego trip I suppose but a way to relive the experience as well.
Paul the Lysichiton was in water and probably permanent water. All this milky stuff seen in this thread is from irrigation channels and is always this colour. Maybe they don't run in the winter so much when the ground could be expected to be moist from rains - not necessaraily always the case. As I recall, it was in full sun though trees would shade it morning and later afternoon but by mid summer when the sun is much higher, it would be in full sun just about all day I should think. The ones in my Japanese book were certainly in full sun, but always the water. (Even rhododendrons will grow in full, hot sun provided the soil is always moist.) In shade they would be larger-leaved maybe but probably not flower so well. My own experience of the genus is extremely limited. Canberra full sun is most likely hotter than mid Canterbury full sun.
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Lesley,
Thanks. I know of their need for water/bog conditions. I have grown mine for years in a large pot with the base sitting in a shallow pond. I am intending to put them into a water bowl so that their roots have more room to grow, without them taking over a bog garden or anything like that. At the moment they're in fairly solid sun, but will probably be in even more sun if I put them where I am intending to. I guess I'll try it and see. Just wanting to actually see some flowers, something they haven't given me in their current potted conditions!!
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Crumbs. I clicked on this thread thinking I'd missed a local event as Methven is not far up the road, near Perth. ::) Guess there are two Methvens? :D
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Possibly two Perths as well Anthony? :D
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I know of a Perth in Canada - named as 'prettiest town in Canada' by TV Ontario!!!
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Whatever is in Scotland it's in NZ too Anthony. I looked at a house for sale the other day - in Dunblane Street. A very nice SUNNY street it is too.:D
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Very nice Pics Lesley and Susan and Toolie.
Lesley can the upper iris be Gingerbread man? it has similar colours but I do not have a picture to compare with in front of me.
Kind regards
Joakim
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I think you are probably right Joakim, `Gingerbread Man.' In which case, it's likely that someone's (Fermi's?) was right too on another thread, when I argued about it. It seems to be a variety that is lighter, darker, according to the climate and weather at the time.