Ericacea

[Stephen Vella]

An evergreen shrub flowering now up to half a meter. Looks like a Kalmia in the flowers close up, also looks like a Rhodo in some ways especially the leaf shape and the arrangement.Does anyone know what it is?

cheers

[johnw]

Stephen  - A lepidote species, Rhododendron micranthum.  Before taking a close look many say a Ledum!

johnw     - +8c in dense fog.

[Lesley Cox]

I was going to suggest a Ledum but what do I know? Precious little about ericaceous species, except the ones I grow. It's lovely Stephen. Is it growing at Mt Tomah?

[Stephen Vella]

John, I had to look up Ledum. So was known as Ledum and now lumped into Rhodendron sub sect ledum

And thanks for the quick respose to you both and yes Lesley this plant is at Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens.

cheers

[johnw]

Right Stephen, all the former Ledum species got new names when they were moved to Rhododendron.  I can't get a handle on the new names for the life of me.

This R. micranthum was never in Ledum, clearly from the start a rhododendron.  It grows very fast here and is tough as nails.  Flowers late and is monotypic in Subsection Micrantha. I recall someone crossed it with spinuliferum.

johnw - a weather bomb to move in tonight and bringing lower temps in its wake. Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' in flower about town!

[Lesley Cox]

DS over the road (from MTBG) has R. spinuliferum. Poor man I owe him letters and emails and seeds and all sorts. Must get into gear for Christmas or it will be 2012.

[Stephen Vella]

a garden at Mt Tomah, Looks like DS is stepping out! http://www.homelife.com.au/garden/galleries/mount+tomah+garden,16325

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks for the link Stephen. As it happens I was able to read the mag and the article with, I think, all of those pictures, when Tim Orpin was here in October and brought a copy with him knowing I'd be interested.

I believe there was to be a whole book about the Blue Mountains gardens published at some stage, originally a year or two ago but I've not heard any more of it.

[Stephen Vella]

http://www.readings.com.au/product/9781876473778/alison-halliday-and-joanne-hambrett-a-passion-for-place-gardens-of-the-blue-mountains

Its an interesting read,more on history of the places rather than a hort type book with great picks.

cheers

[Lesley Cox]

Dammit! I've gone and ordered it. I checked all the Amazon sites first, Australia, NZ and UK but not available at any of them. Oh well, my Christmas present to me.

[Paul T]

So How's the book Lesley?

[Lesley Cox]

A superb book Paul, absolutely stunning. It's certainly helpful that I know a couple of the gardens well but overall, I'm utterly delighted and charmed by it. A lot of the photos are taken on misty mornings and these give the whole thing a sort of mysterious/mystical and magical feeling. I'm so pleased I bought it.