Cypripedium 2007

[Anthony Darby]

Paddy, any of the robust hybrids such as Gisela, Ulla Silkens, x ventricosum or even Sabine are suitable. Calceolus is also a good species plant with which to start. I plan to repot some of mine in the autumn, and that may afford the opporchancity to do some splitting?

[Anthony Darby]

Here's a tiny one, also taken on the frosty morning. Cypripedium 'Sebastian'. It has montanum as one of its parents.

[Paddy Tobin]

I've had a look at all the websites you recommended and again I saw beautiful plants. Now, please forgive me sounding like a real skinflint but at present these prices are more than I am willing to pay. I must start dropping the hints in time for next birthday - though I have already started dropping hints for a book to be published in September, major expensive, so maybe I will wait another while for the cypripediums.

Gardening would be a complete bore if we had all we wanted immediately. It is always a great interest to have some plant in  mind that one will get 'one day'.

I'll keep admiring your photographs in the meantime.

Paddy

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Great show everybody !
Anthony do the flowers survive these late frosts unharmed ??

[Anthony Darby]

I don't they would tolerate a really heavy frost, but they were OK after this week's. Even my newly unfurling tree fern (Dicksonia antarctica) fronds, some of which are almost fully out, were untouched. A friend lost his Courgette plants, which he had put out to harden off, though.

[mark smyth]

absolutely stunning everyone. I didnt know, like many others, that this thread existed until just now

[ellenndan]

A great pic of Cypripedium 'Sebastian' Anthony, you seem to have every Cyp going.

[Maggi Young]

I like the scale of 'Sebastian'. Neat little chap but still showy, pity he's not growing in a pot, Anthony!!

[Anthony Darby]

'Sebastian' is already showing signs of age - slipper goes translucent and shrivels. 'Emil' wasn't in a pot and is back in the ground. I would have to dig 'Philipp' out, but it won't be ready. Everything else is a week or so away. Because of the nature of the medium, they are easy to dig up. The substrate just falls away and the roots can be washed with fungicide (and no, I can't remember which one, but it's smelly and comes in a small bottle ) just in case any were broken.

Having seen Bambi the other night, it was Thumper's turn to show a face in my garden this morning. Here puss puss. Nice kitty. Catch the naughty wabbit. Sorry, that's Bugs Bunny. Touch my plants and you're dead!

[Lesley Cox]

I just had an email from friend Don in Australia that his blasted bower bird ate the blue berries on MY coprosma. Have to wait till next year now.

[rob krejzl]

"...blasted bower bird ate the blue berries on MY coprosma."

How unfortunate. Pity you can't ask anyone else for some.

[mark smyth]

and as bad as the starling that has taken many of my plants, bought in the Czech Republic, for his/her nest

[Anthony Darby]

....and there was me thinking that plants with berries were grown for eating - either by humans, or by wildlife. Our neighbour had a beautiful cotoneaster overhanging our back fence that attracted Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) every year. (It was the only reason I could see for growing this plant. ) He chopped it down and replaced it with 'Castlewellan Gold' I protect cyps from early damage, either by deer or footballs with the use of upturned hanging basket frames. Wouldn't stop starlings, but Mark will need to invest in some wee wire mesh devices. I did to protect plants in the greenhouse from mice before I 'nuked' them.

[mark smyth]

this is one of my Cyp reginae taken today. Only one out of 5 very poor. The others must be dead or taking a year out. One pot of C. reginae bought 3 weeks ago is only just poking through.

[johanneshoeller]

Some Cyps  from my garden (? and flavum) and nature (calceolus).

Hans