July 2011 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Brian Ellis]

It is very delicate and most attractive.

[daveyp1970]

 Incarvillea delavayi white form

[Lvandelft]

I've always grown quite a number of oddball plants and so a few examples that look good just now. Asclepias speciosa;

Catching up here I saw these Asclepias and my first thought was of a look alike, I saw here in the dunes some years ago, Asclepias syriaca.
Tim, is your plant as much invasive as the one I saw here? I really hope not ?? 
The most interesting about the plants here is the name, which at first sight let believe it is coming fromAsia. But it is a plant from N. America.
Here a few pictures of the weedy plant:

Asclepias syriaca

[Magnar]

Gentianas in the gravel this week.

Gentiana arethusae
Gentiana hexaphylla dark and pale form

[PaulM]

Here are some pictures of what has been or what is flowering for me here in Sweden now in July.

To start with four pictures of Michauxia campanuloides, which was collected in Turkey in 2004. It usually takes more than two years to build up a large enough rootstock to support the magnificent branched flowering stalk with many many flowers. It is hardy here as long as it doesn't get wet in the cold season.


Another member from the Campanulaceae family is Campanula versicolor, which was aquired through the SRGC seed exchange has been putting on a better and better display for each year, and the tightly packed flowering stalks are really precious I think.

Asclepias variegata was started from seed in 2008, and has this summer produced flowers for the first time. It doesn't seem to be very invasive. It's also known as red ring milkweed, which is clearly seen when studying the flowers which have a red ring around the inner parts of the flower.

[PaulM]

....following are:

Hibiscus aculaetus, which is marginally hardy. It's a late starter, so you get a better display if you raise them from seed early in the spring, and plant out in May. The flowers are very beautiful I think.


Gaura longiflora formed rosettes the first year, and the second year it has grown very bushy and 2m tall, and I think I will have to dig it up in the fall after seed harvest. The flowers are not very attractive, and have no scent, which I had read somewhere that they should have.

Ipomoea lindheimerii from central Texas has proved to be very hardy, and it is a quick grower with nice light blue flowers pre noon ( or longer on cloudy cool days )

Last year I tried Caiophora chuquitensis in a rocky  exposed site, and it never developed to anything near this year's plants. This year I'm growing them in a container with clay, limestone scree, sand and a little loam, and they have grown magnificently. The leaves and flowers are covered with irritating hairs ( like nettles ), and it needs to be handled with care ( unless you wear gloves ).


Plectritis congesta is an annual from NW USA, in the Valerianaceae family, and it's easily grown in a constantly moist spot.

[angie]

Paul I really like your Michauxia campanuloides and your Hibiscus aculaetus. Thanks for sharing these wonderful flowers with us.

Angie

[PaulM]

and last:

Alophia drummondii which was a bit tricky to germinate, but responded well to GA-3. It flowered in it's second year already, and I must say the flowers are really something else, like a piece of jewelry. I have overwintered the corms at a minimum of -5 C.


Phlox roemeriana from central Texas is an annual, but it grows quickly but needs to be kept on the dry side, and pinched back to form a nice plant.

Gaillardia suavis is also from Texas, and it has proved hardy here and is flowering in its second year. The flowers are just little brown buttons, but the scent really is sweet, and this flower fly is attracted to it as well.

A viper had found a sunny warm spot in one of my flower beds, and I thought it best to catch it, and release it in another location. Would be a bit nervous doing weeding around the bed with a viper having its home there.

[Peter Maguire]

Some fabulous plants there Paul.

As one who has a liking for the unusual, I would have to say my favourite is Caiophora chuquitensis. I've grown Loasa before and been prepared to suffer the stinging hairs, but the Caiophora is a far more showy plant, worth a little pain. 

[ichristie]

Hi Anthony and Dianne, many thanks for all the info about my Gentianella which we found at Little Ferry in Golspie it is indeed G. amarella such a really lovely wee flower, cheers Ian the Christie kind sorry for delay.

[Diane Clement]

Hi Anthony and Dianne, many thanks for all the info about my Gentianella which we found at Little Ferry in Golspie it is indeed G. amarella such a really lovely wee flower, cheers Ian the Christie kind sorry for delay. 

Then it must be G amarella ssp septentrionalis which is the form found in N Scotland, with white flowers

[Lesley Cox]

Beautiful and unusual flowers in the recent posts, especially from Norway and Sweden. I like the viper too but can say so knowing I'm entirely safe from snakes of any kind, in NZ.

[Anthony Darby]

Gosh, some lovely gentians Magnar, and that's quite a dark coloured snake: in fact, a black adder!

[David Nicholson]

..... or perhaps, just a cunning plan

[Lesley Cox]

Gosh, some lovely gentians Magnar, and that's quite a dark coloured snake: in fact, a black adder!

That's great! Hope it's a whole new series.