Plants Catching the eye in 2017

[kGarden]

Pleased to have met up with Charlie at Chenies Manor today. thought you might like to see what I bought



:mrgreen:

[charlie]

When you said you had bought a sculpture I had pictured a copy of the Venus d' Milo! mind you sheep might be easier to explain to a wife why you wanted them, rather than a naked woman, all be it one with no arms :)

They are kind of cute, and a lot safer than the real thing, sons labour saving idea of sheep to keep down grass lasted less than 3 months and he has formed a deep dislike of all things sheep like!

[kGarden]

I talked up the sculpture in order to get the car closer and past the security guy, must have been in the same mindset when I mentioned it to you! ... I actually thought they were going to be a lot heavier than they turned out to be.

Anyway, I arrived home saying "Happy Wedding Anniversary" (not something I've ever normally been aware of of course ...) and Mrs K flummoxed as she had nothing in return. Not that I was wanting or expecting anything, but a moral-high-ground-victory of sorts :)

[LONGK]

..................sons labour saving idea of sheep to keep down grass lasted less than 3 months and he has formed a deep dislike of all things sheep like!

Even moussaka!!???

Ismene festalis has been especially good this year............
Ismene festalis by longk48, on Flickr

I bought this Anigozanthos a couple of years ago but it did nothing last year. This year it tried too early (or maybe I put it out too early) and half of the flower stems blasted but the other half had the sense to wait until it warmed up................
Anigozanthos by longk48, on Flickr

My Furcraea is producing lots of bulbils..............
Unknown Furcraea by longk48, on Flickr

The first flowers on Echeveria elegans...............
Echeveria elegans by longk48, on Flickr

[charlie]

Oh he is happy enough to eat them (sheep that is!) :)

Lobelia tupa, the last remaining plant in that genus I still have, used to have loads including some very miffy jobs for up on Kilimanjaro (courtesy of Kev Spence) they never got out of the mist unit

lobelia tupa 005 by charliepridham, on Flickr

lobelia tupa 004 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Common but its a good reliable performer here so long as I remember to hard prune it during the winter.

solanum crispum glasnevin 006 by charliepridham, on Flickr

One of the many named forms of Lonicera periclymenum Sweet Sue is good but one thing we notice is that it releases its perfume later in the evening than some of the other forms, be interesting to hear if thats a real thing, just imagined or caused by positioning ?

lonicera sweet sue 002 by charliepridham, on Flickr

[LONGK]

I had L.bridgesii hang on for a couple of winters but it spent so long recovering that by the time it was ready to bloom the frosts were arriving :evil: For my sins someone in Chile is sending me seeds of L.excelsa and L.polyphylla collected at some altitude so that I can give them a shot.

Alstroemeria isabella "Fred Meyer" is very late this year..................
Alstroemeria isabella "Fred Meyer" by longk48, on Flickr

I'm not sure that it is down to lack of winter love as it was early enough into growth. I suspect that it needs a larger pot as it is full already.

[Chad]

Alstroemeria isabella "Fred Meyer" is very late this year...
I'm not sure that it is down to lack of winter love as it was early enough into growth.
I suspect that it needs a larger pot as it is full already.

Mine is pot bound in a 15 L pot and isn't going to flower at all this year!

Chad.

[LONGK]

Alstroemeria isabella "Fred Meyer" is very late this year...
I'm not sure that it is down to lack of winter love as it was early enough into growth.
I suspect that it needs a larger pot as it is full already.

Mine is pot bound in a 15 L pot and isn't going to flower at all this year!

Chad.

There are quite a few new stems poking through now but they tend to be towards the edge of the pot.

Lilium lancifolium is my favourire Lily..............
Lilium michauxii? by longk48, on Flickr

These are from stem bulbils potted up late summer 2015............
Lilium michauxii? by longk48, on Flickr

This double spathed Zantedeschia elliottiana has certainly caught my eye............
Zantedeschia elliottiana by longk48, on Flickr

This year I'm growing the tall form of Salvia coccinea. The tallest of these is now almost a metre tall now and I rather like this form...........
Salvia coccinea (tall form) by longk48, on Flickr

[charlie]

Not one of mine but John's Disa (hoping to tempt him to post more pictures!) A new thing for me not seen them before and to see them sat in water like that - amazing.

001 by charliepridham, on Flickr

002 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Meanwhile back at home I can't believe how early some things are this year Amaryllis belladona just pushing up its first buds, didn't flower at all last year.

006 by charliepridham, on Flickr

and the first outside ginger starting already, 'Stephen' I think

005 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Cardoons in flower but that means the leaves will go, always forget to chop the flower spikes off to keep the foliage looking good longer

004 by charliepridham, on Flickr

[LONGK]

I've seen Disa species before but never in water. I wonder if it is only suitable for certain species?

Desfontainia spinosa is really going well now............
Desfontainia spinosa by longk48, on Flickr

This Eucomis in a local nursery caught my eye enough for me to splach the cash recently................
Eucomis Aloha Lily Nani by longk48, on Flickr

I'm not usually a lover of pink flowers but it had such a pleasing form overall. It's called Eucomis Aloha Lily Nani and from what I can gather it's a recent introduction from the US.............
Eucomis Aloha Lily Nani by longk48, on Flickr

Talking of Eucomis the boggo standard E.comosa is in fine form this year...........
Eucomis comosa by longk48, on Flickr