Flowers and foliage January 2008

[Anthony Darby]

Half an hour in the warmth of my study and Crocus michelsonii 'God's Look' opened its flowers today.

[ian mcenery]

Nice crocus Anthony her is a little treat I gave myself over Christmas from Ashwood. Only a few on sale as yet but this one took mt fancy for shape and colour contrast

[David Nicholson]

I wanna onea those-to both

[Armin]

Nice crocus and helleborus.

[Paul T]

Anthony,

That is one corker of a Crocus.  What a colour combination!!  Beautiful!!  I've arranged to finally get C. mathewii this year here in Aus, so I'll finally get to see one of those lovely dark centred Crocus one of these years!!  I just love the pics I've seen of them.  I like the height and proportions of your one in particular..... very nice.   

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Great way to start off the year !
C. Michelsonii hais been on my wants list for a while but your picture only put it higher on the list Anthony ! 

Too bad Ashwood is a bit out of the way from here...    I wouldn't have minded a Christmas treat like that one either.... 

[Brian Ellis]

Nothing very special but one or two nice things out in the garden as well as snowdrops.  I think I have the pruning regime for the Witch hazel right as it is smothered in flowers, so pretty at this time of the year I wish I had room for some more varieties.  My eye was also taken by good old Helleborus foetidus, I must get all the old foliage on the hybrids cut down, I see that eric smithii is heavy with bud.  Nearby a Silybum had seeded in the vegetable patch, the rosette is most attractive...but it will have to go when the patch is dug over!  Another joy of this time of the year is the seedheads on the clematis, this one is a tangutica and smothers one side of the gazebo.  The Daphne mezereum has been flowering since late October.  I planted it near the back door so that we could enjoy it even if we didn't feel like gardening.  The birds sit in it's protection and eat the food from the seedfeeders and also peck the branches (for insects?).  Lastly, also by the back door... but in a pot are two Correa, this one is "Dusky bells" I think, you can see why they are called New Zealand fuschia.  The yellow one has several buds but only one flower out, it's a very pretty soft yellow.  I am struck yet again at how much is still in flower, on my walk this morning I passed several gardens with roses in bloom.  I don't think they will enjoy the cold spell which is about to hit us.

[Brian Ellis]

Whoops hit the wrong button!

[Paul T]

Do you guys really call Correa "New Zealand Fuchsia"?  I'm not sure there are actually any Correa that are native to NZ...... if there are then they are very few as the vast majority of Correa are native to Australia, predominantly South East Aus as far as I know?  Interesting that they're been attributed to NZ rather than Aus in their common name.  Shows why common names can be somewhat misleading!! 

[Brian Ellis]

Sorry Paul et al  I had meant to say Australian but had been looking at one of the other threads and had that fresh in the mind

[Paul T]

No problemo.  Just thought it was strange..... particularly as NZ already has Fuchsias (F. procumbens) to start with.

[Lesley Cox]

And it would be something of a reversal as well, since the Aussies are known for "pinching" everything good that is ours, such as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, the luscious Pavlova dessert, bands Splitenz and Crowded House, a certain famous race horse called Phar Lap, etc etc etc.....

[Paul T]

Now now Lesley.  No need to get snitty.  As a peace offering I'm happy to offer you Russell Crowe back if you'd like??  (now where is that innocent smiley with a halo when you need it?)

[rob krejzl]

Paul,

You're probably happy that L'il Orphan Kylie's been 'adopted' out as well.

[Paul T]

No, I just don't think much of Russell, that's all!!