August 2013 in the Northern Hemisphere

[ranunculus]

Lupins at Lassen NP, California.

[ranunculus]

Thermal pool at Lassen NP.

[ranunculus]

Eschscholzia californica on the Pacific coast above Point Reyes, California.

[Brian Ellis]

I have tried both but they have always succumbed in a bad winter in a couple of years

Although I can't speak for Crinodendron patagua, our C. hookerianum looked as though it was dead after last winter, however I left it be and a new set of leaves finally appeared so I am hopeful for flowers next year

[johnralphcarpenter]

Although I can't speak for Crinodendron patagua, our C. hookerianum looked as though it was dead after last winter, however I left it be and a new set of leaves finally appeared so I am hopeful for flowers next year

I saw the most magnificent specimen of C. hookerianum a couple of months ago during a garden safari in Wadhurst, on the High Weald in East Sussex. A good ten feet high and across a smothered in flowers. Didn't have the camera! C. patagua only has a few flowers at a time on my plant.

[Graham Catlow]

After a decimation from a rabbit early in the season my Weldenia candida put on a good show for several weeks. It has a second flush now from one of three new offsets. Another of the offsets is in bud also.

Looking forward to a great show next year.

Perhaps the secret was to de-pot it and take it in a bag into the house (I thought it needed to dry out a little and I had no where to dry it outside) in the dining room and hide it where my wife couldn't see it and then forgot where I put it . I looked for it several times and knew I had put it somewhere but couldn't remember even taking it into the house. Then by chance one day I found it as dry as a bone and starting into growth. It had been there for several months. I potted it up and gently started to water it and here it is now. Not sure I will try that again though .

[ranunculus]

Ipomopsis aggregata (Scarlet Gilia) on Paradise Meadows trek, Lassen NP, California.

[krisderaeymaeker]

Ipomopsis aggregata (Scarlet Gilia) on Paradise Meadows trek, Lassen NP, California.

Nice little thing Cliff ! Great colour .
I gues you had a great time in California  ?

[johnralphcarpenter]

Acis autumnalis has seeded itself into the cracks between the paving outside our back door (1,2)

Watsonia foucadei (3,4)

Lily (5)

[Maggi Young]

Lily is a great imitation of a Scottish wildcat, Ralph - but I can't read her notice - suspect it might say 'come any closer and I'll have your hand off'!

[johnralphcarpenter]

The story goes as follows: I was out in the garden (no surprise there), and when I came back into the house my wife was on the 'phone. She wrote something on a Post-It note and handed it to me, then pointed to the cat who was snoozing on the back of an armchair. It read, "She ate mouse under end table by  sofa!". Thank goodness for carpet shampoo.

[Maggi Young]

What a great story!

[krisderaeymaeker]

First time flowering with only one flower ....A rather difficult thing to grow . In the past I lost this plant very often...
But now I hope it gonna work for a longer period ....In the spring of 2012 I put it in a tufahole , so far so good.
Hope it wil survive for longer time and get more flowers in the future.
Silene nivalis (syn . Polyschemone nivalis) 

[David Nicholson]

Very well done Kris.

[krisderaeymaeker]

Very well done Kris.

Thanks David !