Flowers and Foliage August 2008

[Lvandelft]

Here is another "glowing"red Phlox of which I'm not sure what it is.
Probably Phlox Frau Alfred von Mauthner (syn. Spitfire) ??

[ian mcenery]

Luit I have never had problems with Starfire (fingers crossed) with mildew and I grow it in partial shade where its colour shows stronger.

Luit and Paul I think Eucryphias are acid preferring and that they are considered marginally tender, the best ones in the past often in our gardens of the south and west, but I guess that with global warming that's a thing of the past here. I have 3 Eucryphias all well over 20 years old the other 2 being X Rostrevor and the lovely species glutinosa which is one of the parents of Nymans. They are all quite large now and give colour and a sweet fragrance at a time when rhodies and magnolias are finished

Paul there are some pink hybrids but the ones I have seen are to my eyes not as beautiful or as free flowering as Nymans and glutinosa

[Brian Ellis]

The fantastic Silene regia...a great substitute for the harder to obtain S. virginica, or for those who have trouble growing Lobelia cardinalis. It even tolerates light shade.

Now that's interesting Kristl, what sort of soil conditions does it prefer?  I love Eryngium amethystinum not only for the flowers, but for the wonderful foliage.

[johanneshoeller]

Arthur your unknown Saxifraga (#10) is Saxifraga candelabra!

[Kristl Walek]

The fantastic Silene regia...a great substitute for the harder to obtain S. virginica, or for those who have trouble growing Lobelia cardinalis. It even tolerates light shade.

Now that's interesting Kristl, what sort of soil conditions does it prefer?  I love Eryngium amethystinum not only for the flowers, but for the wonderful foliage.

I have found that the Eryngium amethystinum is so often misidentified in the trade, at least in North America---it actually took me many years to get the correct seed for the correct species. Yes. Wonderful foliage.

I grew the Royal Catchfly from wild collected seed (Missouri) and planted the seedlings straight into full sun, well drained, ordinary (alkaline) soil. They have done well (although the constant rain this year is not making them happy). As I knew they occurred naturally in open woods as well as prairies, I also tried a batch at the edge of the woodland garden, where they have also done well, although not quite as floriferous, but over a longer period.

It is actually on the endangered/threatened species list in several states but a snap from seed...

[Diane Clement]

Kenneth,

And over on this side of the world it's spring flowering cousins Acis tingitanum and Acis aestivalis are currently flowering!

Paul, Leucojum aestivum (along with L vernum) stayed as Leucojum, when all the others moved to Acis.

[ArneM]

Aconitum volubile, Dicentra macrocapnos and Tricyrtis 'Tojen' flowering right now in the garden:

[David Nicholson]

Lovely plants Arne and very good pictures. For one so young you show a very high level of skill in both cultivation and choice of plants. I'm sure you will go far in the horticultural world.

[ArneM]

Thank you, David. I hope it will come true what you said. 

[Brian Ellis]

That's good news Kristl thanks, I'll have to try it as we can't grow Lobelia cardanalis as we are too dry.

[Maggi Young]

Lovely plants Arne and very good pictures. For one so young you show a very high level of skill in both cultivation and choice of plants. I'm sure you will go far in the horticultural world.

I'll second that, David... it would be terrific for horticulture and the likes of SRGC if more young men like Arne were
developing their gardening interests.... plants are the fututre, eh? !

[Kristl Walek]

Arne....now everyone is looking at your profile to see if you posted your age...and now that I too know (16..WOW!!!!!)

I also want to tell you that I have had just one regret in life, and that was that I did not have the courage to stick to horticulture when I was your age (when it was my serious hobby).

In those days, the mid 1960'ies, one could not imagine being able to make a living from loving plants. So, instead I pursued all sorts of other lives and professions, eventually ended up as a lawyer...and it was not until I was almost 42 that I gave that up and started my seed business.

And it is that original regret that causes me to say "so many species...so little time."
Even at your age that is true, but you will get to know at least 25 years worth more plants than I ever will.

 I congratulate you!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lvandelft]

Interestingly some of the same plants (just longer established),
as Arne showed before today.
Arne you will need a lot of space for your Dicentra. (Don't know which name is right)
Seemingly we have the same good taste...

Eupatorium maculatum Riesenschirm       
Dicentra scandens                           
Tricyrtis Tojen             
Thalictrum delavayi Hewitt's Double

[olegKon]

Some pictures from the garden toda
Ligularia canaitzensis
Eucomis autumnalis

[Paul T]

Diane,

Thanks, I didn't know which stayed as Leucojum and which went to Acis.  I have heard it used so often now that I'm just starting to thing of them all as Acis.  Will have to mentally correct that.  Thanks for the info.

Ian,

Someone posted a pic of a lovely pink Eucryphia in one of the garden visit threads I think?