The white room, you know, that room at the back of our house overlooking the garden? I must confess that up to now I'm still not comfortable using the word 'conservatory', I'm not used to it and it feels weird saying but it is what it is...
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| Astrophytum myriostigma |
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| The Agave 'Cornelius' is busy putting out new leaves |
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| The Pachira aquatica is growing away nicely looking very lush, with leaves not too dissimilar to my beloved Scheffleras |
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| The Chamaedorea radicalis have been sending out flower spikes |
Neither of us have noticed it before until I took the photo of the Bishop's Cap above, looked at the photo and noticed something strange in the midst of it all.
It turns out that one of the aerial roots of the Philodendron 'Xanadu' beside the cactus have leaped over its pot and has been inching its way out, perhaps over the past few days, or even weeks.
Triffid alert! A plant trying to invade the space!!
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| Philodendron 'Xanadu' |
As for outside, well you won't be able to help but notice the very bright blooms of both the Eremurus and Kniphofia thomsonii var. thomsonii on the first raised bed, giving us a wonderful summer treat of hot orange and yellow colours!
Anyway, keep enjoying summer (we are!) and play well outside!
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.
Hello Mark and Gaz,
ReplyDeleteWell, your white room is looking anything but white from here. A green room, perhaps, or even the garden room for it is looking very prolific and decidedly horticultural. You do have an amazing plant collection both inside and outdoors, always choosing the most intriguing collection of textures and forms.
But, what stars of the borders your Eremerus and Kniphofia are! They are true celebrities of the summer borders and you are growing them to perfection. It looks like a Garden Opera and the divas are in excellent voice!
Lovely, eloquent words as always Jane and Lance :) the yellow orange blooms from both of them screams summer, even on grey days which I'm sure both of you know are regular occurrences too in British summers.
DeleteI think most people would roll their eyes if I were to use the word conservatory. Here we would call it a garden room. Anyway, I wish I had a conservatory or a garden room that resembled your white room! I love that Bishop's Cap and its wayward neighbor. Plants can be so much fun. And your wonderful outdoor space, with orange and yellow and green and white, looks like Florida!
ReplyDeleteThanks Debs! Garden room, I like the sound of that. Even sun room. Both terms I'm more comfortable in saying over conservatory as I also tend to roll my eyes when I say that. I'll get used to it eventually, or maybe not...
DeleteFascinating root on your Triffid! Better sleep with one eye open! The deep orange color of your Eremurus is gorgeous! Isn't summer grand?
ReplyDeleteIt is Peter, we love it and savour every moment :)
DeleteThe Astrophytum bloom is beautiful!!!! Ohh...I love Eremurus...
ReplyDeleteAre those brown trees in the background trees that burned with last summer fire?
It's a lovely bloom isn't it Lisa? A bonus to an already nice plant. Yes, those trees are the ones that burned last year.
DeleteI agree with what Deb said, "conservatory" would sound awfully pretentious in U.S. English. I'd call it a "sun room." But no matter what you call it, it's a lovely space with beautiful plants.
ReplyDeleteRe eremurus, I see them for sale every spring in the bulb section, and every year I pass on them because of their reputation for being so ornery. Maybe I'll buy a bag next year because the payoff is certainly worth it!
It's more acceptable here and part of the vocabulary to use the word conservatory no matter how big or small it is, but personally I'm still not comfortable using it. I prefer Garden room (I think I'll stick to that) :)
DeleteWell worth trying Gerhard, a bit of trial and error though as not all I've planted did well, more of a case of finding the one that will from a bunch of duds.
The Eremurus and Kniphofia are gorgeous! I wish I had anything resembling a conservatory. Your plants look happy and healthy, and Xanadu is being a little mischievious.
ReplyDeleteIt's only a small space Evan but very nice place to sit especially on cold and rainy days :)
DeleteYou have some lovely specimens in your new room, however you choose to refer to it. I don't think I've seen anything like that Astrophytum before - very handsome! I've always coveted Eremurus but, unfortunately, they won't grow here.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to hear about Eremurus not growing there Kris, I suppose it gets to warm for them there. The Astrophytum makes for a nice potted plant :)
DeleteYour garden room is full of surprises. That Bishop's Cap is really interesting looking. Definitely a conversation plant. The orange color in the gardens is very showy. Love to see that peak of color in my own where I have it also as it stands out so much, maybe because I don't have a lot of that color.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
Love orange Cher, getting more and more into this colour as years pass by as it never fails to bring a cheer anywhere you put, especially in the garden :)
DeleteOooo la la, love those oranges. Fabulous to have a 'White Room' attached to the house. I'm jealous. You always showcase so many unusual and interesting plants, Love it
ReplyDeleteAnd you as well Deanne, I always discover something new whenever I read your blog :)
DeleteThe Eremurus are fabulous! Mine are flowering right now too. I've noticed that as they flower, the basal foliage gets rattier and rattier, like Alliums. Is that normal? BTW, thanks for setting me straight on the Aloe polyphylla in my post.
ReplyDeleteYep, pretty much the same here Alison, foliage looks great initially then they go tatty as the flower spikes emerge. Funny you mentioned about Alliums which pretty much behaves exactly the same, which is also the reason why opted not to plant them out in borders as the foliage goes tatty quickly.
DeleteYou have caught the Eremurus in their prime.. I like them less when the bottom flowers start to die out before the topmost ones have opened. Stunning colour too.
ReplyDeleteI wish the blooms of the Eremurus all opened at the same time Jessica, for the reason you've just mentioned.
DeleteHow about calling it the sun porch? It's how I refer to them at my design client's Edwardian, maybe because before being glassed in and having marble flooring added, it was an open porch! Love those Kniphofia thompsonii with the Eremurus, which I can't grow here in a mild zone 10a climate. That combination is fabulous! Does the Kniphofia bloom over 3~4 months in summer as it does here in northern California?
ReplyDeleteI'd caution on letting the Xanado have its way with aerial roots; they rather quickly try to attach to surfaces, and make a mess if left to do so.