July 2018

[Yann]

thank you David.
Roma C. thyrsoides can reach 1.4-1.5m with a 60cm diameter in the wild

[sokol]

It's very warm for several weeks however i still can find some interesting plants in the wild.

The first plant is a Epipactis helleborine form, Epipactis muelleri has no viscidium and a flatter epichile.

[Yann]

Stefan do you mean those 2 points? It's funny because i didn't pay much attention as in the site visited muellerii is well known.

[sokol]

No Yann, it is the one in the middle that sticks the pollinia at the bees head. Ep. muelleri is self pollinating and competely lacking the viscidium and the pollinia fall directly on the stigma.

It is not visible in my picture, sorry. But you can look here for example:

http://www.aho-bayern.de/epipactis/ep_muel.html

[Yann]

thanks Stefan

[johnw]

Kalmia latifolia 'Galaxy' in Ken's garden.

johnw
23c & sunny

[Maggi Young]

Kalmia latifolia 'Galaxy' in Ken's garden.

johnw
23c & sunny

Summery looking flowers, aren't they? I'm put in mind of raspberry ripple ice cream!

[fermi de Sousa]

Summery looking flowers, aren't they? I'm put in mind of raspberry ripple ice cream!

I was thinking "Sweet William"!
cheersw
fermi

[Maggi Young]

I see what you mean, fermi - you're right. 

Which brings me to the question - why don't Sweet William flowers smell as good nowadays as they used to? 

[Lampwick]

Photos taken today.

Cyananthus lobatus ‘Dark Seedling’. . .?

There is only one bloom fully open so far, but there are some ominous dark clouds above and the distant rumble of thunder threatens the bloom being bashed. Hence the photo now!
I have had this plant for quite a few years, I believe from Jack Drake. It has been dug up and moved a number of times when other plants have encroached. It disappears completely in autumn and I have somewhat neglected it some years.
The “?” after the name is because I’m not certain it is as named. Could someone confirm or otherwise please?

[Carolyn]

I think you have Platycodon grandiflorus.

[Maggi Young]

Super plant, John - I agree with Carolyn, not Cyananthus but  Platycodon grandiflorus

[Leucogenes]

Gentiana georgei

[Lampwick]

I think you have Platycodon grandiflorus.

Thank you for identifying my plant Carolyn and Maggi. At the moment there is a big downpour of much needed rain. I will do my best to post a better picture in a week or more, providing it isn’t bashed to much. 

[Gabriela]

Gentiana georgei

Lovely Gentian