I was all set to write about something in particular but I had to change plans as it was so rainy and gloomy when I got home this afternoon that it wasn't conducive at all to take photos of the subject matter I was going to write about. Rather than succumbing to the temptation of a Wordless Wednesday I decided instead to write about a few random things...
Based on a few random photos I've taken over the past few days. The sort that were interesting enough to take snap shots of but not sufficient enough to become a stand alone subject for a blog post. I suppose they could be really but I'm not always good at limiting myself to short posts.
Anyway, let the randomness begin!
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| Pseudopanax crassifolius 'Trifoliata' |
Pseudopanax crassifolius 'Trifoliata' - one of those plants that I find so hard to take photos of and yet looks so eye catching in person because it is so unique and looks rather strange. Lancewoods are not everyone's cup of tea especially as they can look like upside down leafless trees for quite some time whilst they remain juvenile. As they develop and mature they eventually assume the look of a typical tree. This one is a hybrid by Hardy Exotics Nursery and is a cross between Pseudopanax crassifolius and one of the leafy types, perhaps Pseudopanax lessonii or P. adiantifolius. Is it hardy or hardier? Potentially as one of the parents are one of the hardier types (P. crassifolius) but I have tried planting one before and it perished...but that was naughty winter 2010-11. This one is a replacement and will remain in a pot for now.
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| Yucca rostrata |
Found this absolute bargain in one of the garden centres relatively near where we live. Over a foot of trunk, well rooted, and they had loads when we were there (apparently not much left now since). I was tempted to buy several but restrained myself and only went home with one. A bargain at just £22 (US$37).
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| Magnolia tripetala |
A fleeting moment of beauty. Magnolia blooms rarely lasts long so when I spotted our Magnolia tripetala starting to bloom I immediately took a photo of the first one to open. More blooms have opened in the days after this but true enough to its fleeting nature they were all shed by the time I looked at this tree again.
Kamikaze snail. If it only knew what's on the other side of the glass...
Neither of us are fans of selfies but I suppose this might qualify as one?
A pair of well traveled chairs, looking pristine again after a good hosing. Getting these two into our garden had it's own share of saga. Supposed to be 'in stock and ready for immediate delivery', it had to be moulded in Italy on order, was then shipped to a warehouse in France, then a warehouse in Spain, then finally to the UK. Almost two months before it got to us last year.
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| Schefflera taiwaniana |
We may have to start hacking off some branches of our biggest Schefflera taiwaniana. They'll be cutting materials for possible re-rooting. The only thing is we're not always good at re-rooting cuttings....
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| Echeveria 'Compton Carousel' |
Echeveria 'Compton Carousel' - I love how photogenic this Echeveria is, always looking like it's on soft focus. I was going to repot it a few weeks ago when I spotted it is throwing out offsets. I'll let these get bigger first before I repot this.
Persicaria 'Kunming' has taken its role as a groundcover plant very seriously...
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| Schefflera macrophylla |
Schefflera macrophylla is currently busy flushing away too. This one is looking extra good in front of the bamboo.
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| Pachystegia insignis |
One day it looked like this...
A few days later there was an intruder in the midst. Nice looking bamboo shoot though! This Phyllostachys nigra shoot has to go eventually but at the moment I think it looks nice surrounded by Persicaria filiformis.
A random, pick and mix sort of a post! Writing about random things can be nice too don't you think so?
Come to think of it, a 'Random Wednesday' meme perhaps?
Maybe!
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.
You've got some great random things happening in your garden! Your chairs are as well traveled as you are!
ReplyDeleteYour comment made me laugh Peter! Those chairs also make me smile, thinking that nothing was ever that simple with the pond project, including the chairs :) I'm just everything's all sorted now, in place, and smooth sailing.
DeleteIt looks as though the plants are enjoying the rain even if you aren't. I love those chairs and you've placed them perfectly.
ReplyDeleteAll the plants are certainly relishing the rain Kris, especially when nearly all of them are currently actively growing :)
DeleteWe all have those garden photo "scraps" that need to get collected and posted every once in a while. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the Pachystegia insignis -- this is the first time I've seen it! Another nice one that I can't grow.
Photo scraps, I like that term Alan, will have to use that on a future post about...photo scraps :)
DeleteWell worth trying the Pachystegia even in your location, it's a lot hardier than first perceived especially when grown hard on poor soil.
Many of my posts stray from the supposed topic and become random. Nice idea to just admit it at the outset. It reminds me of setting out to do a particular chore in the garden and being sidetracked by all sorts of other things.
ReplyDeleteI recently got a Pseudopanax ferox. I'm wild about it but have had the same problem with photographing it.
Thanks Ricki! We get sidetracked all the time too especially when we're out in the garden, set to do something in particular and end up doing all sorts. It can't be helped most of the time, too many distractions on the garden playground :)
DeleteReally interesting -Please can we have a few more of these ramblings of randomness. You always manage to have a few plants that are new to most people which probably keeps them happy Googling for many hours :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy to oblige Don :)
DeleteWowzer, you guys just have the most fabulous collection of unusual plants. LOVE them all! that Rock Daisy is so interesting. I've never heard of that one before. (everyone needs to give in to a selfie from time to time)
ReplyDeleteThanks Deanne :) The pachystegia is perhaps a good candidate as an addition to your garden?
DeleteIt would be great but is only hardy to zone 8 and we are a zone 5 so wouldn't survive our winters. What a great plant though.... Love it
DeleteYour random sampling comes out great. Your selfie might not be as vivid but that satisfies your intention to make it fully revealing, haha. And i am surprised at the saga of the chairs, surprised it can also happen in Europe! Lastly, that Phyllostachys nigra is very expensive here and difficult to find, i am sorry for it to be the object of premeditated murder!
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrea :) Europe is not spared with fumblings with deliveries too. And don't worry, the bamboo is safe, only the wandering shoots will be removed.
DeleteA very nice collection of randomness. I sometimes contemplate doing short posts, but instead hold onto those onesies and twosies, and ultimately end up not posting them at all. I should collect them like this.
ReplyDeleteSame here Alison! I often find myself having a collecting of shorties that inevitable never gets posted. So best to collect them and post as a collection :)
DeleteI'd like to see more of your magnolia tripetala since I have just planted 2 this year and would like to see how they can develop
ReplyDeleteWill do :) It's a fast growing big leaf Magnolia (supposedly the easiest too) and sizes up very quickly.
DeleteI do love random collections (as evidenced by my garden) so really enjoyed this post. I recently spotted a big leaf magnolia that I was unable to identify, naturally I took photos and wonder if it might be your Magnolia tripetala. Hopefully you'll weigh in when I post them (someday). Love your sort-of selfie and wow $37 trunking Yucca rostrata, I wonder what I would have done...
ReplyDeleteYou know our garden is not too dissimilar to yours Loree :) Looking forward to your post about the big leaf Magnolia, it could well be a M. tripetala. I'm so chuffed with that Yucca rostrata, such a bargain!
DeleteI love the Echeveria!
ReplyDeleteThe mild winter and warm wet Spring have been a gift for your garden - it will soon be a lush jungle again. I hope you get some sunny days and dry warm evenings soon so you can sit outside on your clean chairs.
(My iPad keeps eating my comments - fingers crossed this one arrives)
Thanks Celia, it arrived very nicely :) Sunny days and warm evenings would be great for us all, interspersed with generous rains too, even perfect if during the evening while we're all fast asleep, a recipe for a good growing season.
DeleteI love to see random pictures of gardens. I also think yours is an original selfie. And well...I always love the plants you show us...
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa :) it's a rare selfie from us!
DeleteWhat a fantastic collection of plants! The Yucca is a beauty and that stunning magnolia.
ReplyDeleteWonderfull randomness! I love everything in this post, but especially the Pachystegia.
ReplyDeleteI loved your random post. The variegated Echeveria is gorgeous. The Kamikaze snail may have been my favorite photo. The picture of the bamboo shoot amidst the persicaria was my least. Bamboo has proven to be a horrible invader here. It was planted long ago by previous owners, and we have been battling it ever since me moved in. Those cute shoots are now sprouting up all over my veggie bed!
ReplyDeleteThat echeveria is really beautiful. I am addicted to succulents now. Jeannine
ReplyDelete