Flowering now August 2007

[Paddy Tobin]

Another few:

Lilium 'Stargazer'
Lilium 'Stargazer'
Geranium sanguineum var. lancastriense
Oenothera missouriensis
Hydrangea bed
Hydrangea bed
Hostas in flower

Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

And to finish, two oddities:

Magnolia soulangiana flowering very out of season.

Amorphophallus 'Konjac' - There is a group of Amorphophallus 'Konjac' in the raised bed. These had grown in a narrow bed which was to the front of the raised bed - this is where 'crevice bed'  or  my version of one, anyway, is presently situated. Note the single Amorphophallus 'Konjac' growing up through the stone of the crevice bed. I obviously missed this tuber when moving the others but yet it has managed to grow from its position several inches below the stones of the crevice bed and up through it to almost the same height as those in the raised bed.

Paddy

[Paul T]

Paddy,

are you sure that is Amorphophallus konjac?  The leaves don't look right for an Amorph, but looks more like an Arisaema.  Amorph konjac has leaf stems that split into 3, then split again into two then branch into leaflets etc.  The whole effect is like a big pinwheel or wagonwheel arrangement.  Yours looks more like some species of Arisaema than konjac I think.  If you photograph a leaf from directly above I can tell for sure.  I can probably dig up a pic of my konjac leaves which "might" show what I mean (I'd have to see what the pics were like of course! LOL)  Does yours produce offset heavily, up to a foot away from the main plant?  konjacs are stoloniferous and by some people are regarded as weedy because they are such good growers!    I love them for the leaves and have never yet flowered one. 

[Afloden]

Hello,

  It is Typhonium venuosum, or the old name Sauromatum venuosum.

 Aaron Floden
 Knoxville, TN

[Paul T]

Aaron,

Yep, that probably fits even better.  I always find the top profile of the leaf of that has a D curve profile to the stems holding the leaflets, which becomes obvious once you look down on it, which is why I asked.

[Brian Ellis]

....nevertheless thank you for the super pictures from your garden.  Aren't we fortunate to have such a pool of knowledge at our internet fingertips.

[Paddy Tobin]

Aaron,

"Sauromatum venosum" rings bells in my distant memory and I couldn't contradict your identification. You are most probably correct as these plants were moved and you know what happens when one moves things about in the garden. I shall amend my labels.

Many thanks.

Paul,

I shall still attempt to post a photograph of the leaves from above later in the day.

Paddy

[Paul T]

Paddy,

I think Aaron is right and you probably don't need to photograph the leaves.  The more I look at it the more it looks like the old Sauromatum (now Typhonium).

And I too would like to say thanks for the pics.  I was much remiss in just pointing out a problem and not thanking you for all the other wonderful pics you'd posted.  I'lll be interested to see all the Eucomis as they flower.  Is that one you labelled "Burgundy' one that has dark laeves, or is it just dark flowers.  Yes, Eucomis are another one that I collect.

[Maggi Young]

I think I feel a Eucomis collection coming on, too!
Paddy, your Hydrangea bed is lovely... and not something I've seen done... usually they are just dotted about a garden, so nice to see them highlighted in this fashion. we are seeing more really fat, healthy hydrangeas around Aberdeen this year than ever before. They seem to be enjoying the weather... colours are very intense and flower size and coverage is super. Must remember to take a camera out to capture some to show.

[Paddy Tobin]

Paul,

The Eucomis, 'Burgundy' is indeed growing on a plant which also has purple leaves.

Maggi,

This has been a particularly good year for hydrangeas here also. They simply love to have plenty of water available to them and the weather has certainly obliged this year. This border of hydrangeas was Mary's idea. It is a little longer than shown but the plants at either end are still a little small.

Speaking of hydrangeas: we visited a garden lately and saw a cultivar which caught our eye with its very red flowers. It was named 'Lady in Red', was bred in the USA by Michael Dirr and is supposedly available at this side of the Atlantic. However, I have not yet managed to find a source. If, by any chance, anyone knows of an outlet where it is available I would be obliged to hear of it.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Aha! Another good idea of Mary's!
I am not aware of Hydrangea 'Lady in Red', Paddy, but I will keep my eyes open.

[Maggi Young]

Paddy, I found this link in UK  for H. Lady in Red:

http://www.guardiangardencentre.co.uk/Index.cfm?fuseaction=product.standard&continueaction=category.standard&category_id=476&producttype_id=48978

[Gerdk]

Just a few shots from today (after the permanent rain has gone)

1. Agapanthus praecox ssp. minimus - originalla from Tsitsikamma,
    South Africa
2. Campsis x tagliabuana (sometimes cited as 'grandiflora') 'Dancing
    Flames'
3. Cyclamen hederifolium 'Ruby Strain'
4. Eccremocarpus scaber - red variety
5. Erodium ? cazorlanum - from the Sierra de Cazorla, I am not really
    sure because there are some similar species there
6. Pumpkin, grown as an ornamental in a pot
7. Saintpaulia ionantha - the original plant from the Usambara
    Mountains - in German: Usambaraveilchen (Usambara violet),
    cultivatred indoors of course
8. Sternbergia sicula 'Dodona Gold'

Gerd Knoche, Solingen
Germany

[Maggi Young]

The "Ruby Strain" of Cyclamen is a good deep colour, Gerd, very nice. Your Sternbergia sicula Dodona Gold is very early, the rain must have excited it!

[Paddy Tobin]

Gerd,

I am always so jealous when I see Sternbergias in flower in someone's garden. Although I have grown them for many years all I ever seem to manage is foliage. Only once did I have flowers.


Maggi,

Many thanks; I had been to this site but they do not ship to southern Ireland and this has been the difficulty with all sources I have come across. I suppose, as an hydrangea in a pot would be very heavy, carriage would be prohibitively expensive. Perhaps later in the year I may be able to cajole one of them to knock off the compost and pop a plant in the post then.

Paddy