2024 odds and sods

[Chad]

Like you, I have had no berries, so I bought a plant from an unrelated vendor.

The second plant didn't flower this year, so I can't answer the question; yet.

Chad

[charlie]

This was sunning itself yesterday, I presume its one of the Hawk moths?

moth by charliepridham, on Flickr

Great plant shame its not scented

lonicera mandarin by charliepridham, on Flickr

lonicera mandarin 2 by charliepridham, on Flickr

This was much commented on by the Tregrehan refugees last week Hydrangea serratifoliar is a robust evergreen but the anticipation is better than the reality!

Hydrangea serratifolia by charliepridham, on Flickr

Hydrangea serratifoliar Copy by charliepridham, on Flickr

crinodendron hookerianum by charliepridham, on Flickr

Decided to change the name as it always wound Nick (Macer) up if I called it pilosa!

actinidia tetramera var maloides by charliepridham, on Flickr

actinidia tetramera var maloides 2 by charliepridham, on Flickr

rodgerisia by charliepridham, on Flickr

[MartinNicklin]

I think it's the Eyed Hawk Moth. Beautiful creatures but loathed by so many. I find moths (and butterflies) fascinating and stunning. In fact I've turned my greenhouse into a jungle-type affair and was toying with the idea of getting some tropical Lepidoptera in there.
It's tragic that we see so few of these wonderful animals nowadays compared years gone by.

[charlie]

It was on the Fruit cage door and I had put by hand on it without seeing it - it felt like a bat, all furry, it must have recently hatched as it didn't react at all. Yes its sad to remember how many butterflies was normal, now we seldom see any apart from the various browns in the lanes and holly blues. even cabbage whites are a rare sight

(Doesnt stop me getting cross with them when some caterpillar has chopped its way through something I have managed to keep the slugs off)

[AndyC]

This Impatiens tinctoria is 2M high now, not a plant for a small garden.



There is a lot going on underground to support this much growth.
I dug out a similar sized clump elsewhere in the garden last autumn and filled a wheelbarrow twice with the tuberous roots :o

First flowers on my Cytisus battandieri since planting a bare root tree in the spring of last year

[MartinNicklin]

Andy, both of these are superb plants. My old neighbour has a pineapple broom (whi h i bought with him) and it's so vigorous he has to really cut it hard. Nonetheless, it is always covered with beautiful scented blooms but is worth growing for the silvery foliage alone. I wish I had more space to get one for my now much smaller garden.

The Impatiens tinctoria is stunning. I have finally got one from Farmyard Nurseries and have repotted it so that it grows tall enough to be planted into the ground in my greenhouse and compete with the existing lush planting. However, it has sulked and is not moving forward. It could be my old bugbear of the compost but I don't know if I am keeping it too wet or too dry. I have tended towards damp but not sure if this is best. It's a little too cold up here outside and I lost my last one. What conditiins is your lovely plant growing in? I'd really like to succeed this time around with this amazing plant. I've only ever seen it at Trengwainton (I think!) quite a few years ago and it was so stunning it left a lasting impression. I understand it's easy from cuttings so don't know why it's so hard to come by and always out of stock.

[AndyC]

Martin, I would give your young plant good drainage while not letting it go completely dry.
Once mature enough to have produced a tubereous root system they will survive a winter outside as long as the soil is free draining and the plant is given a mulch of sufficient depth to prevent the tubers from freezing.
Most online advice suggests that they should begrown in dappled shade. Here in coastal Cornwall they are quite happy in full sun.
The only treatment mine gets is a winter mulch from the compost heap and a handful of Fish, Blood & Bone fert in the spring. My soil is not very fertile and is very free draining.
It is very easy to propagate from cuttings, they will produce roots in water.
Good luck

[charlie]

Some lovely weeds on recent dog walks

20240610_125517 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Was struck by the number of Orchids in the grass

20240607_145034 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Tried to grow these once but they disappeared pretty quickly

20240607_145206 by charliepridham, on Flickr

[charlie]

Some stuff from the conservatory (which could do with a hair cut and tidy!)

Bougainvilla Don Mario by charliepridham, on Flickr

Hibbertia scandens by charliepridham, on Flickr

Mandevilla by charliepridham, on Flickr

Pandorea jasminoides Rosea superba by charliepridham, on Flickr

Sollya heterophylla by charliepridham, on Flickr

[charlie]

I cant compete with some of the stuff shown recently like Brachychiton populneus or the tree ferns but the garden has been actually looking not too bad recently!

Weigelia coraeensis by charliepridham, on Flickr

We have over 50 of the older rambling roses out at present

Rosa Baltimore Belle by charliepridham, on Flickr

Lathyrus tuberosa by charliepridham, on Flickr

Hydrangea seemannii by charliepridham, on Flickr

Yes I know its Freesia these days but I am refusing to use that name
Anomatheca laxa by charliepridham, on Flickr

Finally got it planted out, now just have to wait through a winter to see if its hardy enough to grow here

Abutilon Red Tiger by charliepridham, on Flickr