August 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere

[fermi de Sousa]

Nearly the end of winter!!!
Soon we'll be able to complain about the heat again!
Iris George is coming into bloom
This Anemone coronaria came as seed from Goteborg BG as "collected in Iraq"
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Another flower open on Alan Mc Murtrie's Iris 'Blue Ice';
more blooms on Juno Iris planifolia almost hidden by the Californian poppies!
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

At the DBG yesterday after a meeting I saw a planting of perhaps 30 Helleborus 'Flash Gordon.' I hoped these might be available as a seed strain but the Internet so far is just giving two or three sources of individual plants, from garden centres. I bet they'll be expensive. Billed as the result of years of selective breeding, the flowers are in a range of bright red to black, paired with very dark green to deepest red foliage. The one I liked best I thought at first was a paeony, crimson blooms and foliage of deepest plum colour, a spectacular plant. They were surrounded too, by a lot of new seedlings from last year's flowers. I'll take my camera tomorrow and see what I can do. The mass planting was really thrilling.

Edit on 18th August 2104 - see message re this plant on page six of this thread !

[Brian Ellis]

That sounds interesting Leslie, can't wait to see photos.

[Maggi Young]

Intriqued by the name 'Flash Gordon' I went rootling to find out more about this NZ  bred hellebore - seems you may not have to pay too much ..... this place has 'em for 6.50 NZ dollars - sounds good to me!

[Lesley Cox]

Well I have some pictures, not the best because as with most hellebores their heads are drooping but they'll give an idea. There were big patches of seedlings under and around every plant so the seeds obviously were allowed to fall, uncollected. I was horribly tempted but decided I'd better not! When the next lot are ripening I'll go along and talk nicely to the Curator of the Clive Lister Garden.

There were other lovely things in bloom too; several cornus species both with wonderful yellow or red stems and some with small bunches of yellow flowers. Then there were witch hazels and the whole area was heavily scented with Daphne bholua, but my batteries ran out didn't they?

[Lesley Cox]

All of the buds as they were about to open, were as big as good-sized eggs, fat and lovely.

[Hoy]

Nearly the end of winter!!!
Soon we'll be able to complain about the heat again!
cheers
fermi

Don't say it! That means nearly the end of summer to me

Nice Irises!

Well I have some pictures, not the best because as with most hellebores their heads are drooping but they'll give an idea. There were big patches of seedlings under and around every plant so the seeds obviously were allowed to fall, uncollected. I was horribly tempted but decided I'd better not! When the next lot are ripening I'll go along and talk nicely to the Curator of the Clive Lister Garden.

There were other lovely things in bloom too; several cornus species both with wonderful yellow or red stems and some with small bunches of yellow flowers. Then there were witch hazels and the whole area was heavily scented with Daphne bholua, but my batteries ran out didn't they?

Lesley, your batteries or your camera's?
Those hellebores were magnifique! Hope the curator is a nice person

[Brian Ellis]

I do like those reds with purple foliage.  Thanks Lesley, you must invest in a spare battery 

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks Trond, yes, the plants were really magnificent. Fortunately it was my camera's batteries that were the problem. We've had so much fog and drizzle and generally wetness over the winter that though I've been working a lot in my potting shed, it has not been tempting to work in the garden much so I'm ready and fully charged for when the weather perks up a little. Foggy again this morning but the sun's coming out now so I'm off out in a few minutes.

One does need to be careful with words. I have a good friend who had someone for dinner a couple of nights ago. Of course I asked if he was tough.

[Lesley Cox]

Brian I've been using "regular" batteries ever since my charged ones gave out in Prague so yes, I need an extra set of rechargeables. Something else to go on a long shopping list. and yes, the Curator of the Clive Lister Garden is a very nice person but of course she has to work with the DBG's or even the City council's rules when distributing material from the garden, so, we'll see.

Maggi when I clicked on your link above and got the mail order nursery, a search there said no plants of that name and in fact no hellebores at all! I thought to start it was maybe an NZ source though I didn't know it, but decided not when the pics of Chas and Camilla came up.

[fermi de Sousa]

Iris 'Harmony' is finally underway!
An Aussie native shrublet, Pomaderris obcordata, growing in a sandbed.
and the promise of something soon
cheers
fermi

[Maggi Young]

Maggi when I clicked on your link above and got the mail order nursery, a search there said no plants of that name and in fact no hellebores at all! I thought to start it was maybe an NZ source though I didn't know it, but decided not when the pics of Chas and Camilla came up.

Certainly An NZ firm with Flash Gorden and other hellies listed :
http://www.mauways.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=0&products_id=919 

[Anthony Darby]

Here's my front border on a hot sunny August lunch time. A nice pink Hibiscus that flowers all year round, and Magnolia 'Star Wars' plant in the verge across the road. 20^oC today. 

[Hillview croconut]

That's not fair Anthony - its 8 degrees here in Hobart (apparent temp 3.4)

Few narcs

A Rod Barwick seedling 97/1 which could now be named - anyone guess which one?
Julia Jane after a downpour so not at her best
And a little rare darling suffering the same deluge - N. sussanae

Cheers, Marcus