Sunday, June 15, 2014
Mark and Gaz
Time flies so quick and it's the middle of the month again which means Bloom Day!
Taking photos earlier in the day I was thinking that I bet loads of other bloggers are bedazzled by a large selection plants currently in bloom for them, being June and all. Whilst I was relatively struggling, or at least it felt like that anyway as I searched the garden for what currently in bloom.
Well it's a mainly foliage garden so what else can I expect? That's not exactly a bad thing now when it's deliberate and preference.
Still I think I cam up with a decent selection...
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| Kniphofia thomsonii |
Nice to see the lovely, hot, orange blooms of this poker again, looking more like Aloe blooms rather than a poker. I have to say though that at the moment I'm confused by the name of this plant. Is it: K. thomsonii, K. thomsonii var. thomsonii, or K. thompsonii var thompsonii? Anyone out there can shed a light? Well whatever it is it is fab nevertheless.
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| Euphorbia deflexa |
Well Euphorbia deflexa is still blooming away. Although the bright yellow flowers it had since early have started to mellow down.
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| Eremurus sp. |
This Eremurus is not quite in bloom but almost. It should be opening its orange blooms pretty soon. I didn't bother to remember the exact name of this one. Wish I did now but then again I have been bad at remembering the names of loads of other plants knowing that there's a label of them somewhere in my 'plant tag box'. That's if I can be bothered to sift through it...
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| Cordyline australis |
Ahh the Cordyline australis on the third raised bed, blooming away at such a short height and filling the air immediate to it with its heady perfume. I'm still not sure whether I like its strong scent or not.
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| Thalictrum sp. |
Love the profuse, airy, and light pink blooms of this Thalictrum.
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| Beschorneria septentrionalis |
Speaking of pink, well this one is very hard to ignore with it's very strong, almost fluorescent bright pink colour. I found it hard to take decent photos of this Beschorneria septentrionalis but this will do for now.
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| Tinantia pringlei |
Loving the dainty purple flowers of this hardy wandering jew, Tinantia pringlei, complementing rather than detracting from the purple speckled foliage.
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| Tinantia pringlei (variegated) |
Not to be outdone is it's variegated version...
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| Peltoboykinia tellimoides |
Recently I have been having doubts about the identity of this one, whether it is P. tellimoides or P. watanabei. And it seemed only one of the two came back this year. Hmmm...
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| Euphorbia |
Another plant that I've forgotten it's exact identity. I'm sure I have a tag for it deep within my 'plant tag box'.
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| Saxifraga stolonifera |
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| Saxifraga stolinifera |
Talk about profuse blooming, loving the display of this patch of Saxifraga stolonifera.
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| Lilium hansonii |
Now this Lilium hansonii, funny enough I mainly grow for its foliage which in early spring is arranged like a spiral. As the foliage fades away later on to make way for the blooms we get this as a bonus. We ought to grow more of this really.
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| Hosta |
This dwarf Hosta blooming through a fern foliage.
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| Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla 'Gerda' |
Such a long new name for a plant that I still call Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace'.
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| Cyphomandra corymbiflora |
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| Cyphomandra corymbiflora |
I couldn't decide whether to feature the photo this hardy tree tomato, Cyphomadra corymbiflora with or without a flash so I decided to put both instead.
And last but not the least...
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| Gunnera tinctoria |
Well the multiple inflorescence of our Gunnera tinctoria qualifies as a 'bloom'. And the most unique looking of the lot too!
We join Carol of May Dreams Gardens for this months Bloom Day! Click on the link to see what's blooming in the garden of other bloggers this month.
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
Great post! I, too, prefer foliage, but it's amazing how many flowers manage to sneak in. Your Saxifraga stolonifera is amazingly floriferous. My patch has only a narrow alley between the aconitum and hakonechloa in which it gets enough light to bloom.
ReplyDeleteI'm really pleased with this saxifrage Evan. Unfussy and looks very exotic too. It has covered a reasonable size of patch over gingers which fortunately don't seem to mind this plant growing over them.
DeleteNot struggling at all, some fantastic blooms. Rather loving the Beschorneria, and the lily.. hot hot hot! The Eremurus will look spectacular too. Saxifraga stolonifera really lights up a shady spot, good ground cover as well.
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it Jessica I still came up with a decent, fairly large selection of blooming plants. All the lamps you mentioned would be great for your garden.
DeleteQuite a few great blooms for a mostly foliage garden. Good to see the Beschorneria bloom, I keep checking mine for blooms and it might be next year. The Kniphofia is a great color and does resemble aloe blooms.
ReplyDeleteHi Shirley, in your area you can grow a selection of different types of Beschorneria. They do have rather dramatic inflorescence isn't it? :)
DeleteAnyone out there can shed a light?
ReplyDeleteTo quote the Desirable Plants web listing for the plant you show;
'Kniphofia thomsonii var. thomsonii ‘Stern’s Trip’ AGM £5.50
The classic form of this elegant, rather variable species from the mountains of East Africa. 1m or more in height, it has tall inflorescences of widely spaced, downcurving soft orange flowers and spreads by stolons. In cold or wet gardens, or in pots, hardiness may be an issue, but I saw a lovely clump a few weeks ago, on an open loamy soil, which sailed through –15oC last winter. If you have the species already, it’s probably this vigorous sterile clone. If you have something labelled ‘snowdenii’ it’s also probably this. If gardening books tell you that you should have snowdenii they definitely mean this, even if they don’t know it… The name alludes to its being a triploid, rather than to psychedelic experiences at Highdown.'
If you want a fertile form then Cally Gardens have that - and it looks quite different!
Chad
Hi Chad, I'm glad you replied and thanks for the enlightening info! Funny enough I was just looking the at the Cally Gardens catalogue a few hours ago and made a mental note that they seem to be the only one listing this poke as a straight species. I might just get one from them.
DeleteNeedless to say the flowers in this post are anything but ordinary.
ReplyDeleteMy Cordyline australis is done blooming for the year. I've finally decided I don't like the smell. It reminds me of, well, urine. LOL.
You're not the only one to say that Gerhard, hehe! The take on the scent seems to vary from person to person. I find the scent strong and I'm not sure whether to like it or not. Although once the emission of scent is over I won't miss it either.
DeleteOh! That kniphofia bloom is something different! And instant plant lust for me...
ReplyDeleteIt's a fab plant Renee, prolific in blooming and I find rather unfussy too.
DeleteWow! That Beschorneria septentrionalis is downright startling, but one needs a good startle now and then, especially in a foliage garden. I also love the Gunnera blooms. Also, I did not know that cordyline blooms! I have striking purple variety, and now I wonder what its bloom looks like and how long I must wait. I don't think it is hardy, but knowing it blooms, I cant let it die. Lou will be excited to know I have another plant for his office this winter.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Lou will oblige Debs :) The purple cordyline is not as hardy as the green one but under protection should be fine. Who knows it might reward you with a flower spike next year! The inflorescence of B. yuccoides is more dramatic however it's not as hardy as B. septentrionalis.
DeleteSee you've got quite a few fabulous flowers! I too garden for the foliage so it always come as a surprise when I see how many flowers I've ended up with. That Kniphofia thomsonii (or whatever they're calling it) is to die for.
ReplyDeleteWhen I actually came down to finishing this post I was pleased that I still had a good selection of blooms to showcase despite initially feeling that I didn't. That Kniphofia would look great in Danger Garden Loree!
DeleteYou have such interesting flowers - and no shortage at all! I really like that Kniphofia - I can't recall ever seeing that variety here. And the color of that Beschorneria is almost unbelievable! Happy GBBD to you both!
ReplyDeleteBoth plants I can imagine would be fine in your area Kris, and likely to relish the summer heat there too and do even better there :)
DeleteWow! That Kniphofia in your first photo is amazing! And, being a sucker for hot orange lilies, I do covet your L. hansonii as well. Wonderful...
ReplyDeleteWe love orange blooms :) Although the lilium is incidental it is a fab bonus to have here!
DeleteLook at all of your gorgeous blooms! Gunnera inflorescences still amaze me and I've been known to stare at them for long periods of time. Your Kniphofia is glorious!
ReplyDeleteThose flower spikes are quite mesmerizing aren't they Peter? :)
DeleteI think it' s Kniphofia thomsonii var thomsonii, one of those silly tatologies you keep finding with plant names. Whatever its name it's one of the nicest of all Kniphofias. You have some wonderful plants in bloom. I love the red stem of your Beschorneria and I have never come across the Peltoboykinia before, what unusual flowers.
ReplyDeleteI love your delection of blooms.
Thank you Chloris :) I agree that the Kniphofia above is up there as one of the nicest among the lot. And they're quite prolific bloomers too, spike come out relatively early and can bloom all the way till late autumn here (or at least till the first frosts).
DeleteYou´ve got many blooms! they are beautiful and exotic...that kniphofia is pretty neat and I love Eremurus and Beschorneria blooms... wait, actually I also love Cordyline, Gunnera, Thalictrum...blooms.
ReplyDeleteI didn´t know that Sambucus had chanched its name...
Thanks Lisa! Most of them should do well in your garden, if not better and can relish the summer heat your area gets.
DeleteBotanists, ahh they can be a fickle lot and like to change their minds, and names all too often!
It's so fun seeing how different the blooms are across everyone's gardens and you have such unusual ones. I love the gunnera spikes! And I don't usually care for Knipfofia but I love yours.
ReplyDeleteThe diversity amongst bloggers across the world is fascinating isn't it Heather? :)
DeleteSo glad you posted on the tinantia! I was just gifted what looks like T. pringlei a couple days ago, but a much darker flower. The plus side of flowers is they help with plant ID ;)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that Denise :) The timing was perfect and pleased that it helped you ID the plant!
DeleteI enjoyed peeking at your June flowers. I can't keep up with all these plant name changes! Intrigued by the hardy tree tomato which I've not come across before. I'm off to find out more about it. The open flower reminds me of a potato flower.
ReplyDeleteIt does look similar Anna :) We got ours from Jungle Seeds many years back, grown from seed. Hopefully we get fruits again this and perhaps can send you some seeds if that's the case.
DeleteWe plant for foliage, but those darned plants insist on blooming, don't they? Oh, well...I can't resist getting excited about some of the forms they come up with...nor can you, it seems.
ReplyDeleteSame sentiments Ricki :)
DeleteI always wanted to include your garden as a tourist spot in that part of the world! Yes it seems so fast for your garden, as if it was just the other week that they are starting to shoot and now, wow, there's a lot of amazing blooms. It looks like a jungle again, a beautiful one. And the foliage are very ornamental already, beautiful even without blooms. Uhhhm, congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrea! The growth spurt of plants in June and July here is quite exciting to see :)
Delete