June 2013 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Lesley Cox]

Oh David, what a wonder you are - faster than a speeding.....rain cloud, and I know about those. We're having floods here at present. Thanks so much. Knew it as soon as I saw it, so the label is written out already. In a previous garden it grew so well I had to put heaps in the compost bins, then found it growing in every place the compost had been used. Then all of a sudden with a couple of dry seasons, it had vanished altogether.

[Maggi Young]

And so pleased to see the Saponaria pictures. They are badly under-rated I believe and many people don't seem to know or appreciate them at all. Yet they are beautiful plants and should be grown by everyone. It's worth growing several flat or cushiony species in close proximity and a batch of seedlings from any one will give some lovely hybrids. This one is lutea x pumila, soft, peachy pink on a small neat plant.

I just knew you would champion the Saponarias, Lesley! I felt guilty when seeing the fine pictures of Kris' plants that I am not growing more of these here.
I promise I will seek out some seed this year!

[johnralphcarpenter]

A nice shrub, Acradenia frankliniae.

[Maggi Young]

Very nice, Ralph.
I've only seen this from Paul T's Australian reports  http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=3339.msg85322#msg85322   good to know it will grow in the UK.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Very nice, Ralph.
I've only seen this from Paul T's Australian reports  http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=3339.msg85322#msg85322   good to know it will grow in the UK.

Yes, has been through recent hard winters with no problem. I think I bought it at The Tree Shop at Cairndow in Argyll.

[Maggi Young]

Yes, has been through recent hard winters with no problem. I think I bought it at The Tree Shop at Cairndow in Argyll.

Curiouser and curiouser! 
Now I feel ashamed that I know so little of the treasures available on the western side of our wee country 
I'd not heard of the Tree Shop   http://www.thetreeshop.net/

[PaulM]

I am very happy over my Ipomopsis aggregata plants which are in flower now. I tried it once before but it died due to winter wetness. This year three plants survived out of five or so, and the flowers are really fantastic, but unlike the USA where I saw them in the wild being pollinated by hummingbirds, I don't think they will be pollinated at all here unless some moth ventures near them.

[Mark Griffiths]

very nice Paul. I'd use a paintbrush - I'm not sure moths see red too well.

[Tim Ingram]

John - really fascinating to see the Acradenia. I used to grow it not too far from you in north Kent and it was a good memory of time spent in Tasmania. Unfortunately one of the drought years we had was too much for it. It's yet another excuse to travel up to the West coast of Scotland!

[WimB]

Wim, a great thrill to see the TB Iris 'Patina.' I lost mine in a previous garden move but it was always my favourite. The brownish colouring is not just brown but has in it a sort of antiqued greyish tinge, as if there's a pewter underlayer. It is so very aptly named. I have an as yet unflowered seedling from it.

I love it a lot too, Lesley...like you say, it has a colour which is very hard to describe. Looking forward to seeing the flower on your seedling!

That Iris 'Exotic Isle' is a beauty too. Is it a TB?

Yes, it is a Tall Bearded!

[Hoy]

Embothrium coccineum from a friend's garden. He collected seed in Patagonia himself some years ago. I got the seed and germinated them and he got some of the seedlings. This is the best one and completely hardy. It has survived 3 very bad winters in a row. Last winter a lot of conifers and evergreens died here but not this one!

[Maggi Young]

I know of a couple of superb Embothrium in Aberdeen - we are hoping our babies will do as well   
It is good to see how it thrives in Norway!

[fermi de Sousa]

I am very happy over my Ipomopsis aggregata plants which are in flower now... but unlike the USA where I saw them in the wild being pollinated by hummingbirds, I don't think they will be pollinated at all here unless some moth ventures near them.

Hi Paul
we don't have hummingbirds here either but the Ipomopsis managed to set seed anyway for the last few years. Mark's suggestion of the paintbrush might be worth it though in case your insects aren't as interested in them as ours obviously are!
cheers
fermi

[John85]

Tim
Is Acradenia particulary sensitive to drought or is the hoseban to blame?
I can water the plant but air humidity can be very low here in summer.

[Tim Ingram]

John - I think the Acradenia was really sensitive to my neglect in a particularly dry year. We could have watered because as a nursery were not prevented by the hosepipe bans. Our garden is quite large and on the whole we don't water areas unless plants are important for propagation. We also grow the wonderful Telopea truncata from Tasmania mountains, but more out of hope than expectation because we are really too dry for it to succeed well.