Fred's Carnivorous Plants and other oddities

[Chris Johnson]

I have a very good microscope Chris but it's lacking the knowledgeable person ( fungi) on the viewing end.

Ah well, it's an attractive sight.

[fredg]

I prepared a couple of these photos for a reply to a topic on another forum. They really demonstrate just how easily Sphagnum moss is grown.

[fredg]

I have had the top Tricyrtis for many years and it just seemed to survive insignificantly in the border. However, in the last two or three years it has really come on, spreading further along the garden, growing taller and more floriferous. I've no idea why it suddenly decided it was happy in its situation but that's plants for you. I found the bottom plant at a very reasonable price in a local nursery so we'll see if that flourishes as well. The top flowers have been in bloom for over a month but this new one ( bottom) has only opened its buds over the last week whilst we were up north.



The late colour is always welcome.

[fredg]

Much was happening during my week in Scotland.

I reported that I'd completed planting up all my spring bulbs on September 30th. On two of those tubs I found these little chappies and their friends on my return on October 31st.



There are well over 50 of them and considering they must be less than a month old they already have open gemmae pots. With the rain we're having they must be throwing out gemmae by the dozen. It'll be interesting to see just how quickly they spread.

[Maggi Young]

Faster than the speed of light, I shouldn't wonder!!

[David Nicholson]

Isn't gemmae, gemmae, gemmae an Abba song

[ranunculus]

Isn't gemmae, gemmae, gemmae an Abba song

I thought it referred to your legs, Mr. N?

[David Nicholson]

Are you accusing my legs of vegetative reproduction or what?

[Maggi Young]

I'm thinking Cliff means gammy gammy gammy, David 

(Sorry Fred -we children are out playing again )

[fredg]

Play as much as you like, just don't tread on the plants 

[Maggi Young]

Play as much as you like, just don't tread on the plants 

We promise to be  careful - don't we Boys?

[David Nicholson]

Yes Mum

[fredg]

I was walking into Wilkinson's today and this plant just sort of fell off the shelf into my basket. Considering it was in a 6" (15cm) pot and cost £5 I took this as a sign and left it in. There is a spot for it in the centre of the Fernery so it'll be planted out when it dries up a bit out there.

Polystichum polyblepharum, Japanese Tassel Fern

[Maggi Young]

Fine healthy plant - Fred - it would have been rude not to give it a new home.

[fredg]

I've planted out what I can for the moment and top dressed where necessary with pebbles ( cat deterrent) and this is how it looks now.

Top:- The Fernery, original area
2nd:- The extension to the path (Phase 2)
3rd:- The extension to the left   (Phase 3)
4th:- Somehow they spread over the path (Phase 4). The 'fern' bottom right in this isn't a fern     it's a Corydalis.

The various 'wigwam skeletons' are anti cat scratching devices. Coupled with the pebbles they have been successful so far in preventing the digging of latrines. 



All four areas contain spring bulbs ( or did). It's just a matter of seeing what comes up.

Included, amongst others, are Aconites, Snowdrops, Bluebells, Snowflakes ( spring and summer) Trillium and Dog's-Tooth Violets ( Dens-canis and revolutum)