July 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere

[latestart]

Some of the blue flowers in the garden this week.

[arisaema]

That's a really nice, dark Roscoea!

One from Jiajinshan below:

[latestart]

That's a really nice, dark Roscoea!

I am very pleased with this Roscoea. It is darker than shown. This is its first year in the garden and it has produced three flowers so far. Your photo is lovely showing the stunning scenery in the back ground. Are the flowers dianthus and saxifrage? 

[astragalus]

Wonderful photo of a stunning plant.

[François Lambert]

Lovely blue flowers of Commelina Coelestis.  Two year ago I had just a few plants miraculously preserved as (wild) seedlings somewhere in the garden.  I collected seeds from these to increase my stock again.  I experienced that these plants are very easy from seed, germination rate is almost 100%, flowered last year as tiny 1 year old seedlings and this year all plants have made thick strong stems.

[johngennard]

Diascia 'Ruby Field' in two different situations in the garden.
Diascias have been hybridised extensively recently and many hybrids are to be seen in the garden centres for use in hanging baskets but I have yet to see one better than 'Ruby Field'

[Tim Ingram]

One of the hottest and driest summers we have had in Kent for a long time - very different to last year - and parts of the lawn have turned brown. These are a few of the 'silvers' which revel in the heat and drought:

Sideritis syraica (seed raised form Mojmir Pavelka, Euroseeds)
Lotus (Dorycnium) pentaphyllos (a marvellous bee plant - from Cally Gardens)
Eryngium giganteum 'Silver Ghost' (Martyn Rix's introduction of this familiar garden plant)
Centaurea cineraria 'Colchester White' (the name dates back to Mrs Desmond Underwood and Ramparts Nursery in Colchester, Essex, close to Beth Chatto's, but now long closed)

[Hoy]

The pea looks like an Astragalus alpinus to me.

Tim, although I would like a bit warmer weather I am not sure I would like something like your drought

We had a very warm and dry summer last year but not now.

[ruben]

Not alpines but another part of my garden, the border garden. Is in full flower now 

[meanie]

A few things in the garden;

Salvia miltiorrhiza is something of a gem in my opinion................


Salvia stolonifera.............


Another Abutilon hybrid from this years January sowings.............


Aloe striatula.............

[johnralphcarpenter]

Not alpines but another part of my garden, the border garden. Is in full flower now 

Very nice Ruben, looks like an "English" garden.

[Chris Johnson]

A few things in the garden;

Love the Aloe, Meanie. What conditions do you give it?

[meanie]

Love the Aloe, Meanie. What conditions do you give it?

Soil 
Seriously though, nothing special. The soil is well drained but it's not in a sheltered spot or dry in the winter. The only bugbear is that slugs love it.
Planted two years ago it quickly grows and throws up side shoots.

[Chris Johnson]

Soil 
Seriously though, nothing special. The soil is well drained but it's not in a sheltered spot or dry in the winter. The only bugbear is that slugs love it.
Planted two years ago it quickly grows and throws up side shoots.

Thanks Meanie.

I don't normally consider such exotic-looking plants for up here but I might just try this one.

[meanie]

Thanks Meanie.

I don't normally consider such exotic-looking plants for up here but I might just try this one.

I'm not sure how cold you get but maybe best against a south facing wall. As they grow quite tall the wind may be more of an issue up there?
Main thing for me is that they see as much sun in the winter as early as they can when it does come out.