Plants flowering in the open rock garden- July 09

[Sinchets]

Now is the time for the sharp and prickly or the smelly and sticky to flower here:
Carlina corymbosa- before and after shots
Salvia pachyphylla from California

[Sinchets]

Well, I think I will have to post a retraction on a plant posted a few weeks ago as Cirsium candelabrum. It appears it isn't, as the real think flowered today from a different seed source. I am not sure if it could may be Onopordum giganteum.
So here it is Cirsium candelabrum and also Onopordum messeniacum

[cohan]

Now is the time for the sharp and prickly or the smelly and sticky to flower here:
Carlina corymbosa- before and after shots
Salvia pachyphylla from California

wow--that carlina is really something!

[Ragged Robin]

Simon, I find these prickly plants fascinating and they are so attractive to all sorts of insects who queue up for a taste!  I must look for a photo I took last year of plants like carlina which grow on the St Bernard pass to Italy in great numbers and are stunning in the right light like windows reflecting sunshine across the valley

[Sinchets]

We have the stemless Carlina here too- lovely to see them at this time of year, like huge dinner plates across the goat-grazed hillsides.

[Lori S.]

I'm very interested in the Salvia pachyphylla, Simon!  I managed (this time  ) to have a couple of seedlings survive until planting-out time, so I'm giving it a try.   Do you happen to have a photo that shows more of the plant?

[Sinchets]

Hi Lori, I will try a few pics later. This is a 'taller' form from Alplains- and sadly much loved by the grasshoppers 

[Sinchets]

Sorry for the delay, Lori. A pic of the growth form of the Salvia pachyphylla.
Also the plant I grow as Hypericum pseudopetiolatum var. yakushimanum, but which I believe is now known as H.yakusimense. There was a thread somewhere about plants from the island of Yakushima, but I forget where.

[Lori S.]

Thanks, Simon - it would be absolutely fascinating to walk around your garden!

[cohan]

Sorry for the delay, Lori. A pic of the growth form of the Salvia pachyphylla.
Also the plant I grow as Hypericum pseudopetiolatum var. yakushimanum, but which I believe is now known as H.yakusimense. There was a thread somewhere about plants from the island of Yakushima, but I forget where.

the xeric garden is looking great--love all those silvers..
hypericum is nice too, great form..dont know anything about yakushima!

[Sinchets]

Thanks. You are welcome to look around- fetch a parasol and a g&t for maximum comfort
Yakushima is on my list of plces to visit in my next life- along with ....

[Sinchets]

Silene regia opened for the first time this morning and stopped me dead in my tracks. I am hoping the hummingbird hawkmoths find them later today 
Also open today- the plant I grow as Allium kermesianum

[cohan]

Silene regia opened for the first time this morning and stopped me dead in my tracks. I am hoping the hummingbird hawkmoths find them later today 
Also open today- the plant I grow as Allium kermesianum

regia indeed!

[Ragged Robin]

No wonder it stopped you in your tracks - your Silene regia is absolutely stunning Simon 

Your thistly plants have been wonderful too here and in Flowering and Foliage now - you must have a big seed production line going - would like to know more about how it's all done when you have time 

[Sinchets]

At the moment we collect as seeds ripen. We'll be sorting over the summer and hopefully producing a seedlist for this autumn.