June 2016 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Maggi Young]

Gabriela :Clematis 'Bijou' from the relatively new group of low growing Clematis varieties.   

Gabriela - I know nothing of these plants - can you describe  more of their habit /size? Looks interesting.

[Tristan_He]

Convolvulus cneorum. Or at least, it was...

[Maggi Young]

But what a VERY cute destroyer! 

[Tristan_He]

Yes, that's Pippi. We sadly had to put our old lab/retriever cross Willow to sleep earlier this year - she was 15 and had cancer. Having a puppy is a bit of a shock to the system!

She's mostly good but we are going to have to accept some collateral damage in the garden for a bit I think.

[Gabriela]

Nice and furry Gabriela, does it sleep on the end of your bed?

  I often think of going to sleep outside in the summertime Lesley, if not for the too many mosquitoes....

[Gabriela]

Gabriela - I know nothing of these plants - can you describe  more of their habit /size? Looks interesting.

I can only say what I read about them Maggi - I only bought it a couple of weeks ago (I was at the garden center to buy bags with soil actually It's a collection of compact plants, supposed to grow about 30 cm. Recommended mostly for containers, hanging baskets and, most important, advertised as being more heat tolerant.
I can already tell that I planted it in a bad location, need to wait for a cooler day to move it.

Days with above 30C temperatures and blasting sun, one after another in southern Ontario...

[Maggi Young]

Thanks Gabriela - "more heat tolerant"  eh?  Not that I think that will be a problem for them here- if I were to find them! 

[meanie]

The lake Ståvatn at the border between Hordaland and Telemark counties.

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The road to back home

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If it wasn't for the ice I would be envious of your scenery!

An unknown Martagon (?) Lily...............

[jomowi]

Re. the various comments about broad beans.  Those of you who claim to hate them are probably eating them when they are too well developed and gone 'floury'.  Picked very young, they are delicious and the skins are not tough, or the inner flesh floury.  TV chefs remove the skins, which to me is time consuming, a waste and not necessary if you pick them young enough.  The best variety for flavour which we grow in our Museum garden is called 'Perla' and is available from Mr. Fothergill's, DT Brown and Kelways.  My favourite meal is broad beans and crispy bacon. Cut the bacon into small squares, fry until crispy, and toss the cooked beans in them to coat them with the bacon fat. Yummy!

[meanie]

Re. the various comments about broad beans.  Those of you who claim to hate them are probably eating them when they are too well developed and gone 'floury'.  Picked very young, they are delicious and the skins are not tough, or the inner flesh floury.  TV chefs remove the skins, which to me is time consuming, a waste and not necessary if you pick them young enough.  The best variety for flavour which we grow in our Museum garden is called 'Perla' and is available from Mr. Fothergill's, DT Brown and Kelways.  My favourite meal is broad beans and crispy bacon. Cut the bacon into small squares, fry until crispy, and toss the cooked beans in them to coat them with the bacon fat. Yummy!

I cannot comment on varieties as mine are from saved seed with the linage going back to my father. But I can agree totally regarding the deliciousness of a good broad bean.
And the versatility. Pureed, a dash of good olive oil, a little garlic, grate some parmesan in and mix, then spread over some good toasted bread and grill. Add them to rice to go with your curry. Add to casseroles. Add to tomato based bean and chorizo stews. Or simply cooked to go with a traditional roast. Just plain yummy!

[Lesley Cox]

And a wonderful risotto with fresh green peas, lightly cooked, some chives and parsley and a good dose of grated parmesan.

[fermi de Sousa]

Stop it, you lot
you're making me hungry
Our Broad beans (the Americans call them Fava Beans ... remember "Silence of the Lambs"?) are only a few inches tall - we won't be picking any pods for quite a while,
cheers
fermi
PS Pippi is very cute, Tristan, and there will be collateral damage Is she also a Lab/retriever cross?

[Gerdk]

Petunia exserta - photographed a few days before, looking much better than today after endless rain showers

Gerd

[Tristan_He]

Pippi is very cute, Tristan, and there will be collateral damage Is she also a Lab/retriever cross?

She's 3/4 poodle and 1/4 cocker spaniel Fermi, so a bit smaller. Non shedding which is handy. She is very cute and wants to be everyone's friend.

Actually the collateral damage has been limited so far, fingers crossed!

[Maggi Young]

Petunia exserta - photographed a few days before, looking much better than today after endless rain showers

Gerd

I couldn't resist sharing  here this article from Robbie Blackhall-Miles - he writes of Petunia exserta, being grown from seed from  Derry at Special Plants !! http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2015/jul/30/petunia-exserta-a-flower-on-the-brink-of-extinction

In order to keep the species though, it may be necessary to grow it well away from other petunias- http://www.specialplants.net/shop/seeds/petunia_exserta/