June 2013 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Maggi Young]

Yes, it was
For me, 'Snow Prince' is one of the most beautiful Irisses ever! Do you have a space in your garden where he might grow? 

Oh yes! (but don't tell Ian! )

[Chuck]

Very pretty. Do the berries have a good flavour?

Yes the flavour is good a little better than the commercial ones.

[Tim Ingram]

This dicentra is so weird that it is now called Ehrendorferia ochroleuca. This, and a second species, chrysantha, are adapted to dry Californian hillsides and germinate freely after fires. We tried soaking seed in Hickory smoke essence (used for BBQ's!) and just a few seed germinated. This plant was left in the greenhouse sand plunge and has rooted through and flowered in situ. In the wild they can grow to 3m tall and I wish I had planted it out to see if it would have reached that here! Both species would be very striking in a sand or gravel garden, perhaps like heathland set fire to every now and again.

[WimB]

Oh yes! (but don't tell Ian! )

Okay, a part of the prince will move country shortly (Don't worry, I won't tell Ian )

[Hoy]

Tim, I like your Ehrendorferia ochroleuca although it is a little weird

Here are three of the plants in flower now (I have omitted all the rhododendrons!)

Arisaema elephas(?) -two different specimens. Although the spathes are similar the stems and leaves are not.
Meconopsis sp
Clintonia andrewsiana

Next post:
Neillia thibetica, nice in flower but spreading vigorously by runners
Rosa roxburghii

[Hoy]

--the rest.
Rosa roxburghii is very late this year.

[Mark Griffiths]

something really tiny, Campanula myrtifolia in the greenhouse

[krisderaeymaeker]

Perfect photo!   .... says the woman who LOVES ericaceae 

Thanks Maggi , just back from a very rewarding holiday .

[krisderaeymaeker]

I was thinking maybe the Gaultheria would make a good replacement for an Arcterica nana I put in a trough and has not grown at all for about 4 years- oddly when I googled it I only got hits in Polish and other non English languages. Very odd!

I think it is not a bad idea Mark .My plant comes from Ger Vanden Beuken , I don't know if it's on his list for the moment ...

[krisderaeymaeker]

It is lovely isn't it Maggi - this from someone who finds the Ericaceae fascinating, probably because I live somewhere where you can't grow them well!  Oh, for a new book on these plants like that written by Alfred Evans... he says of this species: 'It is the flowers, however, that catch most attention. As in many of the Ericaceae, the flowers are globular and in this instance they are pure white, but this pallidity is offset by the calyx, which is deep red in colour. This combination alone would guarantee a place for the species, but in addition bright red fruits develop later in some gardens'.

Thanks Tim . I planted it out in a big peatblock . My garden is also dry and hot (in some years , not this year so far  )but in this way it is possible to grow this beauty.

[Tim Ingram]

I think I will be tempted to try some small ericaceous plants in troughs - especially after reading Barry Starling's article in the AGS Journal. I don't know how easy it is to get hold of peat blocks around here but I will look out for some.

Meanwhile we do do quite well with real sun-lovers like Catananche caespitosa, Centaurea drabifolia and Penstemon ovatus - this latter seeds around gently and is a delightful species.

[astragalus]

Nice plants, Tim.  The centaureas seem to be very underused in gardens and they're really wonderful plants.

[Leena]

Geranium x magnificum, Geranium sanguineum and foliage of Paeonia anomala (with a seed pod) 

[Maggi Young]

Geranium x magnificum, Geranium sanguineum and foliage of Paeonia anomala (with a seed pod) 

A  planting of subtle colouring with great interest in the way of texture/ foliage. I think such combinations can give the greatest pleasure in a garden.

[Leena]

A  planting of subtle colouring with great interest in the way of texture/ foliage. I think such combinations can give the greatest pleasure in a garden.

Yes they do, even when the flowering is over. And there is no room for weeds.