2023

[Chad]

I would like to show two pots of Tropaeolum tricolor in full and magnificent bloom.

Here is the top of the plants.




It should be underpinned by thick growth obscuring the pot, and was yesterday.

Today the lower plant looks like this.




And there is a recently dug hole under the door of the polytunnel.

I think I've been visited by a rabbit!

Chad

[charlie]

Starting to feel like its all happening now

Old stalwarts like the Ribes will later be a climbing frame for viticella Clematis

Ribes Pullborough Scarlet by charliepridham, on Flickr

Almost hope we dont get the wet summer that would make this look majestic!

Rheum palmatum Atrosanguineum by charliepridham, on Flickr

Not as strong a scent as H. corriacea but more eye catching flowers, also seems not to suffer frost damage to the flower buds like corriacea

Holboellia latifolia by charliepridham, on Flickr

These are having a really good year this spring, and no sign yet of the dreaded Lily Beetle!

Frittilaria meleagris by charliepridham, on Flickr

Much more deciduous than quinata and therefore a lot less messy

Akebia trifoliata by charliepridham, on Flickr

I know they are common but we find them really good ground cover, this one came from John at last years HPS plant fair

Ajuga Catlin's Giant by charliepridham, on Flickr

[John P]

Good to see some Spring colour Charlie.

John

[Callum]

Bartlettina sordida flowering away in the greenhouse



Absolutely loving the blooms on the Aucuba himalaica var. dolichophylla



Close up



Agave attenuata coming to the end of its bloom a few seed pods have started to form :D



The Brahea edulis is putting on some impressive growth proper lush looking palm

[charlie]

Having seen Agave attenuata in flower down in the Canaries and on Madeira I thought I would give it a go but failed miserably to get the seed to even germinate! so am well impressed with yours Callum!

[charlie]

Most of the action is still in the conservatory - weather has been dreadful of late

This continues to be one of my favourite non climbing plants we grown in the conservatory, scent is lovely and absolutely nothing touches it!

Acokanthera oblongifolia by charliepridham, on Flickr

Clivia season is well and truly underway

Clivia 0001 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Clivia 0006 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Clivia 0007 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Clivia 0008 by charliepridham, on Flickr

The species pelargoniums have just kept going all winter

Pelargonium cordifolium by charliepridham, on Flickr

Pelargonium fragrans by charliepridham, on Flickr

Pelargonium myrrifolium by charliepridham, on Flickr

[Paul S]

Never heard of Acokanthera so Googled it. Wow, interesting plant! You need to be rather careful with it by the sound of things.

[charlie]

Yes its fruits in particular are like purple plums which bleed a very poisonous milky sap, they are the bit I worry about, so mostly it gets dead headed before they form, the leaves are so hard that they are more like wood and unlikely to tempt any tasting!!

[charlie]

Acokanthera oblongifolia 002 by charliepridham, on Flickr

[Paul S]

Make a nice smoothie with some yohurt :shock: