Flowering now April 2007

[Maggi Young]

When you see a Malus that is such a good specimen, doesn't it make you wonder why there is such a preference for the flowering cherries in so many town plantings ? Or private gardens, fo that matter . I always think the prunus varieties while so pretty for that brief spell of flowering, are not the most attractive trees later and, of course, most of them produce no fruit. I like a tree to work harder for its place!

[Rob]

Hi All

I got this tree peony for half price, because the label was missing, some years back.

It is growing in the front garden next to the road.

Looking at Hans post it looks like Paeonia Taiyo.

Does anyone have a different suggestion for the name?

Regards,
Rob

[Maggi Young]

I have no idea as to its name. Rob, but what a half-price bargain. It is a smasher! I'll bet that gets a lot of admiring glances from passers-by. Extraordinary from my viewpoint here in (today, very cold and dull) NE Scotland, to see it in full flower.

[mark smyth]

if only there was a miniature P. rockii

[mark smyth]

Hopefully Ian will show the best Flowering Now display that I have seen in a very long time. Last night I, and many more, went to Ian's Bulb Log Live lecture in Dublin. Thanks for driving the Irish leg,William. Out side of the National Botanic Gardens restuarant was a brilliant display of Tulips, wall flowers, daisies and pansies. The scent too.

[John Forrest]

Joakim, The Magnolia is obviously the tree type and so the flowers are starting at about 2m now  but I'm sure will start getting too high to reach. Good job it's not grown for its perfume or else I would have to buy a James Bond jet pack.

Razvan, that is a wonderful Malus.

I have just lost a favourite Ceanothus Koncha, which covered a standard 2m fence panel. I went to  garden centre today and on an impulse bought a very pretty INDIGOFERA HIMALAYENSIS 'SILK ROAD'. The label says that it is hardy and ideal for the hot dry spot against the fence panel facing south. Does anybody grow it?

[Ian Y]

Yes I greatly appreciated the good audience and the fact that people had travelled a long way to come and see me.
One picture here Mark of the wonderful display and more in the bulb log feed back.

[Maggi Young]

John, I seem to remember from some press stuff from last year, or the year before, that INDIGOFERA HIMALAYENSIS 'SILK ROAD' is a new cultivar to the market, it was hailed as being hardy.  I have yet to see it up here but I will keep an eye out for it. I think the flowers are fuller in Silk Road than in other forms. I made a vague note of it because I'm interested in plants that produce dyes for textiles etc.
So, in a few years, you'll be able to report on its performance as a garden plant and tell us how Pat has dyed everything in your house indigo!

[Anthony Darby]

Here's some flowering in the greenhouse: Ophrys apifera X tenthredinifera; Serapias sp. and Asphodelus fistulosus.

[mark smyth]

wow, Ian, so much better from your helicopter!

Impressive orchid collection, Anthony.

I'm offering some seeds here as I know most people watch this thread. Posters only, sorry. This morning I collected seeds of Eranthis cilicica. Would you like some before I sow them myself?

[mark smyth]

Here is a reminder from my first garden, an Ulster Mary, pusing up through where the weed supressing fabric meets the raised bed wall. It appeared last year after 3 years with no top growth. If it remains here it can stay but if it romps it will have to go

[David Nicholson]

Mark, if you have any left, I would like to have some Eranthis cilicica please

[mark smyth]

As nobody else has come forward some are yours. All I need is your address

[David Nicholson]

Mark, thanks very much, I will post it to you privately

[mark smyth]

Here is a lovely trough hugging willow S. reticulata. The stems are tight to the trough walls. Doing very well when comparing 2006 and 2007

Can I take cuttings and root them by just sticking it in water?