PUSHING THE BORDERS

This sunshine is certainly speeding things up here, the Clematis Arabella here should be flowering a month later and is designed to take over from the rose Alida Lovatt, never mind they look nice together! and I always look forward to the Asphodelus ramosus which is in its normal time slot of May here (February on Tenerife)

001 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Meanwhile lots of action in the pond, those fish that have survived the Heron are busy enjoying a very active sex life, the toad tadpoles are growing their rear legs and the damsel flies are swarming everywhere :)

008 by charliepridham, on Flickr

010 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Always the first Canna to flower and so easy from seed, we know this as Canna braziliensis but I rather suspect its just a short form of indica

Canna braziliensis 001 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Looks like being a good year for Abutilons

Abutilon Wisley Red 014 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Abutilon Hintons Seedling 015 by charliepridham, on Flickr

A few pictures from around the garden. Plectranthus zuluensis by Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr
Bamboos like Cornwall, doubling in height this year to hide the neighbouring house IMG_4957 by Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr
A favourite of mine Schefflera taiwaniana by Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr
The Fatsia polycarpa is an incredibly fast grower, it came out of a 3L pot year before last. The Colocasia fontanesii survived unprotected in the ground last winter, another plant that likes Cornwall Fatsia polycarpa and Colocasia fontanesii by Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr
The new gravelled area is finished but I could only afford small plants so you can hardly see most of them IMG_4973 by Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr

Looking good Andy.

AndyC wrote: The new gravelled area is finished but I could only afford small plants so you can hardly see most of them.

Now you really need a more positive attitude!

In Cornwall it is recommended to plant small to avoid wind rock uprooting larger plants without a developed root system.

We plant small because it is better horticulture, and would do even if we could afford larger plants!

I might have put some temporary 'other' things on the gravel for a year or too to soften it; Californian poppies anyone?

Chad

Starting to come together now Andy.

Colocasia fontanesii, what sort of aspect would suit it? I have one in a pot but it needs sorting and I would quite like to try a bit outside although I suspect we are colder than you on average

Chad wrote: Now you really need a more positive attitude!

You are absolutely right Chad, chin up, chest out. I'm positive I can just about see all the plants in my new gravel bed. :)
Thanks for the planting tip.

charlie wrote: Colocasia fontanesii, what sort of aspect would suit it? I have one in a pot but it needs sorting and I would quite like to try a bit outside although I suspect we are colder than you on average

I find that they are happiest in moist soil and some shade from the hottest part of the day but not total shade. I never managed to keep them alive over winter in my old garden so they are certainly very borderline.

If it wasn't so damned windy I would be enjoying the scent! Anyone one know what became of Wayne who used to grow loads of Brugmansia and was raising them from seed?

Brugmansia 005 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Some good colour in the garden at the moment
Cann IMG_5042 by Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr
Tithonia IMG_5040 by Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr
Lobelia tupaIMG_5037 by Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr
Impatiens tinctoria has grown much larger than it ever achieved in my old garden so I will have to retrieve some neighbouring plants that have been smothered.IMG_5036 by Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr
Amicia IMG_5034 by Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr
IMG_5043 by Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr
Dahlia 'David Howard'IMG_5039 by Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr
Dahlia 'Fascination', the darkest leaf of any Dahlia I've grownIMG_5045 by Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr
I grow Dahlia 'Bishops Children' from seed and select the best colours to save as tubers for the following year, some of the bestIMG_5041 by Andy Cowlishaw, on Flickr

Like you I was most impressed with the potential from Dahlia after visiting the National collection, even ordered some but their fate was remarkably similar to all other attempts to grow them - ie they are shredded as soon as they go out. only the big one you gave me has ever lasted a whole season!

Some more shots of the Abutilons which are doing rather well this year

Abutilon Hinton's Seedling 001 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Abutilon Kentish Belle 017 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Abutilon Marion 012 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Abutilon milleri 018 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Abutilon Nabob 010 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Abutilon Wisley Red 013 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Could be anything?!

Abutilon Yellow hybrid 014 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Must try eating some of the tubers of this Bomarea edulis!

Bomarea edulis 005 by charliepridham, on Flickr

What name do these rejoice in these days? I have always called them Brodia

Brodia 001 by charliepridham, on Flickr