Flowering now April 2007

[Paddy Tobin]

Mark,

I'm not sure of the hardiness of this Moraea as I only planted it out a short while ago. I do have M. huttonnii growing in the garden for several years and it has never been troubled by the weather, flowers every year and has flowers much more impressive than M. vegeta, large and a clear yellow, very iris-like in fact.

Paddy

[SueG]

I grow Moraea vergata and it has white flowers - so I'm wondering if it is the same plant at all 
My plants do not survive outside if we get a normal winter - ie I lost them last winter but they have come through this one OK - under cold glass they are fine and my original plant is 4 or 5 years old - I suspect it is the cold and wet which does them in, rather than the cold on its own.
Sue

[Anthony Darby]

I have a friend who grows a Moraea huttonnii brought back from South Africa many years ago. It flowers every year in a south facing border against a wall, by a slabbed path.

Here's some stats Mark: I went round the garden (and greenhouse) this morning and counted 121 Cypripedium (species and hybrids) shoots.

[Maggi Young]

That is an impressive statistic, Anthony....I wonder you could afford a holiday, or that the children can eat!

Luc, yes, I was waiting for the Ranunculus to proclaim, bless him!

[Maggi Young]

There is Moraea vegeta and Moraea virgata... two different plants. By the name, you would think M. virgata would be white, like Sue's.....but it seems it is yellow, very like M. lewisiae... confusing, isn't it?

[Andrew]

Arisaema sikokianum

[johanneshoeller]

A few Arisaema sikokianum

Hans

[derekb]

The first time I have flowered a Cypripedium,
Cypripedium Gisela.
Anthony I must be doing something right.

[Susan Band]

Here are a few pics taken early this morning, hence the low sun.
Glaucidium palmatum in mum's garden
A view in mum's garden with some rhods in it to persuade Maggi to come to our open day. All forumists welcome, last Sunday in May.Plenty of CAKE
Don't want to blaw but I thought the field was looking good with all the Erythroniums flowering, unfortunatly I will have to remove all the flowers soon to stop them seeding amongst each other and also makes the bulbs bigger.
Some really bright Primula rosea growing for seed.

[mark smyth]

I knew you had a field but that's massive!

[David Nicholson]

Susan, your Mum has a lovely garden.

One of thesed days I will get to Scotland again, I must try to time it with one of your open days if CAKE is on offer!

You must have boundless energy coping with the demands of your fields, if you have any to spare (energy, not fields!) just pop it in the post please.

[David Nicholson]

I like most flowers but I seem to have a dislike of Arisaema and Ciprepedium. Can't think why, I just don't like 'em. But then it wouldn't do if we all liked the same things.

[Susan Band]

The field certainly keeps me busy, I have totally abandonned my own garden, it is in a mess now.
You are very welcome to our open day, or any other time, give me a call, as you can gather I am not often at the house.Always plenty of cake at mum's, my cupboards tend to be a bit bare at times. Reminds me better think about baking for the Perth Show next weekend.

[Maggi Young]

Fellow Forumists, yes, I must confess, I have never visited either of the Band Family's gardens at Pitcairngreen. I know, I know, this is a shameful admission. Believe me, I am distressed by this fact and not just because the Band Baking is famous throughout Scotland...deservedly so, I might say... but because I know that these are great growers with a fine sense of the artistic which lends their gardens that extra va-va-voom. Jean Band, Susan's Mum, has an all round capacity for hard work and kind heartedness that couldn't be matched by the workers who were made to build the pyramids and Florence Nightingale! The SRGC would not be what it is without Tom, Jean and Susan Band, I promise you that.
Go along to the Perth Show on 21st April and meet them all there. With luck, you could also meet Adrian, Susan's partner, struggling to keep their Border terrier, Heather (they say she's pure bred, but if you ask me, there is certainly some real terrorist in that wee dog) from mugging any other dog in the area! Hard to believe than something so little and cute and friendly could hate dogs so much... that's Heather, not Adie!!


Oh, and Mark, about those Erythronium in bulk..... need I say more... you've seen the evidence now, see how many Susan has!

[Maggi Young]

I was sidetracked by my admiration for the Bands and Susan's field so I neglected to comment on the positvie outbreak of Arisaema sikokianum !! Early for these, from an Aberdeen point of view... I seem to be saying that a lot lately! (some things are ahead, and going over fast in the heat, though it has been overcast and coolish today and is dampish and pretty chilly now.)
That is a forest you have there, Hans!

Hans, I must apologise, we have not sent the primula yet  , and now there is a local holiday so the post office is closed... we will send soon  !!