Flowering now April 2007

[mark smyth]

Paddy are all these plants in your garden? Is the AGS Ulster Group by any chance visiting you in June?

Someone recently commented on the quality of my photos. Not always

[Paddy Tobin]

A special magnolia.

This tree, along with many, many others, were grown from seed sown in the 1960s. Most are of M. cambellii. This one has been selected as being worth naming - note they waited 40 years to decide to name it.

It has been named, Magnolia 'John Congreve' after the father of the present and, unfortunately, the last of the Congreves, Ambrose, who celebrated his 100th birthday last week.

Magnolia 'John Congreve' - a full view of the tree.
M. 'John Congreve' flower
M. 'John Congreve' flower

[Paddy Tobin]

Mark,

Yes  they are all in the garden. I have been taking photographs away for the last ten days or so, holidays, but hadn't found time to post them.

Of course, the last three posted are from the gardens of Mount Congreve here in Waterford. Wouldn't I love to be able to say I had that tree in my garden. A little one may come my way soon.

No, the Ulster Group of the AGS is not visiting. I'm afraid I am not into groups coming to the garden, not  my scene, too much stress for me in advance of any such visit. I did it for a few years and have had enough of it.

Re Karan Junker, she has a new book just out on woodland plants. It came in the post yesterday morning and, despite its obvious attractions, I maintained my self-discipline and left it wait in line behind those books which are ahead of it for reading. It looks like a good general introduction to the area of woodland plants, excellent in its layout and presentation but, perhaps, not detailed enough for those who specialise in a particular genus.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

My, that Magnolia 'John Congreve' is a wonderful colour and a fine shape to the tree. Lovely!

[Paddy Tobin]

Finally, a few odds and ends.


Mertensia virginica - the Virginian Bluebell.
Pulmonaria 'Blue Ensign', a really fabulous blue, I think.
Paris polyphylla, interesting rather  than startlingly beautiful.
Sanguinaris canadensis
Moorea vegeta - this must be the most fleeting of flowering plants. It took me three days to catch the flowers open. In the morning I would see buds just ready to open and would come back to check later to find that they had opened and faded. I caught them eventually, an interesting little thing.


Paddy

[ranunculus]

I would plump for Ranunculus millifoliatus as well Maggie (but spelt millefoliatus)....mine is just coming into full bloom here in sunny (for once) Whitworth, Lancashire.
North Midland AGS Show this weekend....possibly camera time?

Greetings to all.

[Paddy Tobin]

Maggi,

Isn't it just a magnificent tree! At the moment they are in the process of propagating this tree using an air-layering method and they are hopeful of having some in the near future.

Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

Cliff,

Forgive my poor spelling. I shall check in future.

As with yours, my  plant is really just beginning to come into flower and is a great plant to give a long period of flowering as long as it is dead-headed.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Ah, there you are, Cliff! I hoped this would draw you out!
Hope you have a good day at the AGS show, we'll be waiting eagerly for your pix! It is the Edinburgh show this weekend, of course... we won't be there, as Ian is off to Shetland where he has an exhibition opening at the Bon Hoga gallery and I am here in Aberdeen with Lily-dog.Things are not going as well for the Edinburgh Show Secretaries as they might hope at this time.... Carole Bainbridge has broken her leg and is in plaster... not what she needs this week. Well, I suppose not any week, really! Get well soon Carole! The intrepid Carole was not deterred by her accident from getting along to hear Finn Haugli's talk for the SRGC at the RBGE the other evening, though!
Finn Haugli is across from Norway, on a mini tour, and has given three talks... and how we wish we could have attended those, too.....sigh!

[Maggi Young]

Paddy, these pix are super, I love the mertensia and the sanguinaria, they are like smart portrait shots!
Your Moorea, should  actually be   Moraea vegeta also known as Dietes vegeta, I think. I do like these Irids, we should grow more... must leave memo for the BD!

[Paddy Tobin]

OK Maggi,

The spelling is bad. I really must take more care. Shall I write lines?

Paddy

[mark smyth]

how hardy is the Moraea?

[Maggi Young]

Paddy, we're all as bad! Not enough professional typists here, I think!

[annew]

I think Paddy's Moraea has a serious contender in fleeting flowers with Jeffersonia diphylla. I picked 2 plants just opening their buds for a plant sale, and by the time I'd got 15m to the house all the petals had dropped off!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Now that Cliff "Ranunculus" Booker has spoken, I think I'll go for R. Millefoliatus for my plant.
Thanks a lot for helping out !!