Trillium Weekend in New Zealand

[Lesley Cox]

As well as the ragged-edged tulip on the previous page, I really liked this lily-flowered white.


Over the weekend we saw many different Muscari in shades from white to almost black. These two especially appealed to me. I think we have the pale one as 'Iceberg.'




More blue, A Brunnera var, probably 'Jack Frost' with silver foliage setting off the soft blue flowers.

A pretty "jack-in-the-green" primrose.

[Lesley Cox]

I always seem to go for good foliage and these two little Hostas were fine examples, followed by the gold Tiarella (or relative).






Forget the bunny and look in amazement at this previously unknown WHITE Frit. imperialis!!!
Well no, actually, quite accidentally, the owner of this tiny garden had planted a white hellebore and the currently non-flowering fritillaria right on top of it. But she had to explain this to many of us who thought we had found the rarest of the rare in this little spot. Once we knew, we had some fun at the expense of late arrivals.


Among many superb plants here, was the precious Mertensia virginica, in a surprisingly hot and sunny place. I saw several and had to take pictures of them all.

[Lesley Cox]

The double Sanguinaria was flowering in full sun and seemed very happy there.


A well-flowered mossy saxifrage.


One of many auriculas we saw over the weekend and I wish I'd taken a picture of the many different colours, both singles and doubles that Hokonui Alpines had on their sales table at yesterday's Rhodo Day sale at the Botanic Gardens, but I didn't have my camera with me. Silly girl!


A mixed bag of rock garden plants.


A somewhat arty image of another tulip which I liked. It was basically white but with a slight shading of pink at the edges and suffusing the body of the petals. It looked deep blue inside and wasn't fully open so the picture had to explore the depths.

[Lesley Cox]

Five more tonight then I'm off to bed.
Rhododendrons of all shapes and sizes are in flower at present. This was a particularly nice one, but what?


Another pretty Heuchera var.


The spectacular Tropaeolum tricolor which we saw in several gardens, this one in full sun.


Two more clumps of fine foliage, well before flowering time. Geranium, which I think is the cultivar 'Midnight Reiter' and a Lobelia which will have scarlet flowers.




Maybe some more tomorrow.