FCHS Autumn Show- Australia

[ChrisB]

What a wonderful show.  Really enjoyed the pics Fermi.  Did you exhibit any?  My Tassie friend talked about Vireyas when she was here last summer and I couldn't understand her enthusiasm, now I will!  So many shapes sizes and colours they must look amazing in the garden.  She told me there was a special garden in Tasmania that people visited during flowering season.  Great pics thanks for sharing.

[Maggi Young]

Apart from the crazy colours and shapes of the flowers, there are two really great features of Vireyas for me - they are often highly scented and some can repeat flower, or even flower  pretty much steadily through the year. Fantastic!  There is a super vireya collection at RBG Edinburgh and some years ago RBGE  worked with Glasnevin Botanic Gardens in Dublin to give them a great collection too.  I've heard of a truly amazing collection in Hawaii, too, I think... there will be others, but Edinburgh is closest for you to visit. 

[ChrisB]

Well, I learn something new every day.  I had assumed they were tender.   Next trip to RBG I shall look for them! 

[Maggi Young]

Sorry,  yes they are mostly quite tender - they live in glass-houses at RBGE and Dublin.

[ChrisB]

Aha, I don't think I've ever ventured in there.  Do they bloom here Spring or Autumn?

[Maggi Young]

Do they bloom here Spring or Autumn?

That's the great thing about them - some can repeat flower and some even flower  pretty much steadily through the year. 

[Anthony Darby]

They are garden favourites here in Auckland.

[ChrisB]

Such a shame they're tender....