Nice things outside

[meanie]

Been busy with work & the outside garden recently. A few nice things happening now.
First up, my Bluebell Creeper (Sollya Heterophylla) .......




Small flowers of 6 to 8mm.

Next is Lotus Berthollotii........




Next is Iris japonica, a new one for us this year.........


A small flower, probably only about 25 to 30mm across.

Finally, the Daddy! Gloriosa Superba........



Thanks for looking.

[lmartiny]

Those are neat flowers. Ones I'm not familiar with. The Lotus is very cool.

[ysanabria]

great unique flowers!!

[meanie]

Thanks.
I actually have two of the Sollya Heterophylla, as I ordered the white form on the net & when it bloomed it was blue (matching the one that I already have). Tomorrow I'll have three, as the correct one should arrive (free of charge). In all fairness to the nursery involved, they were very good about it & dealt with it with the minimum of aggro, not even wanting the wrong one back.

[Schlyne]

I really like that last one, how big is it?

[berniep]

G'Day meanie

Great pics thanks for showing them to us.

Cheers
Bernie

[meanie]

Thanks guys!

Schlyne; The bloom itself is about 3 inches or so. Gloriosa is a climber, and at the moment this is standing about seven foot tall. I lifted the tuber (which had become two tubers) mid March & repotted. To be fair this was in the conservatory until the beginning of May, & was bought in when there was a chance of temperatures below 5 deg c overnight.

Here's a picture taken late last night showing the bloom in what is pretty much its final form.

[sunshine]

I bet your garden is just gorgeous Love the iris and Gloriosa

[-k-]

Gloriosa Superba........ That's one sweet / strange looking bloom! Well done, thkx for sharing!

[meanie]

Thanks.
Sunshine, my garden is not gorgeous, but I think that I have some gorgeous plants! By that , I mean that the plants that I grow are what please me. They range from an ever increasing collection of Campanulas, to plants such as those above. The Sollya & Gloriosa have been living in the conservatory, so are a little more advanced.
My collection of perennial Lobelia was pretty much wiped out over our last winter. I have a few L. Cardinalis coming on, but they are just babies. Likewise with my favourite Lobelia, Queen Victoria. Lobelia Vedrariensis seems to have survived in pretty good shape though.
I keep a couple of Penstemon - Heterophyllus (Electric Blue), which despite its reputation of being a little tender & short lived just seems to get stronger by the year & is very near to blooming, & Penstemon Digitalis (Huskers Red) which also gets stronger by the year.
I'll update this thread as new things come along, & thanks for looking!

[dounoharm]

congrats on the gloriosa lily....and the rest, but the gloriosa is really superb!! good growing!!

[meanie]

Couple of fresh shots.
First is Camassia Leichtlinii Alba........




This is a first timer for me and really pleasing.

Next is Papaver Naudicaule.......




I don't usually go for Poppies, but this one was a bit too nice to turn down.

My collection of Campanulas increases by the year. This is C.Globerata......



And finally, I've been trying a couple of Phals outside. It seems to agree with them at the moment and this one is growing at some rate of knots.........



Again, thanks for looking.

[zaeem]

Plants in color and flower.thanks.
zaeem

[meanie]

Zaeem - thanks for your contribution. If anyone would like to tag their photos on here, please feel free to do so.

First up in this update is my Penstemon Heterophyllus "Electric Blue", which is now in full bloom.........





This is Campanula Persicifolia in the white form........



.....and the blue form......



This last Campanula for now is C.Glomerata in full bloom........



This is called Aconitum Cammarum "Stainless Steel". Just bought it in bloom.......





Thanks for looking.

[orchids4me]

Very pretty flowers,
Thanks for sharing them.
Emmaye

[orchid_girl]

Very nice flower pics everyone!!!

[orchidlover55]

Very beautiful flowers ..

[zaeem]

very colorful.I like the blues.lovely.thanks
zaeem

[meanie]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

[Shannara]

Very cheerful. A nice way to brighten the day looking at your blooms.



Shann~

[lmartiny]

Some nice flowers. I always like walks through the yard.

[meanie]

Thanks Shanara & Imartiny.

As my orchids (apart from the usual Phals) are more interested in growing than blooming, I'm really enjoying sharing some of the outside specimens with you.
I'll start with one from earlier in the season which is now over. It's the white form of Dicentra Spectabilis..........



This next one self seeded last year and survived our winter to bloom in the spring. Cerinthe Purparescens...........



This next one is a little thug! It's a hardy Geranium (unknown as it was from a cutting), which seems to have been invigorated by the harsh winter. Much as it produces a strong display, it will have to have a very harsh chop next spring..........



For those who enjoyed the earlier photo of my Gloriosa Superba, this is a shot of it as it goes multi floral. I really like the difference in shades of the young & old blooms.........



Finally, my white form of Sollya Heterophylla (Bluebell Creeper) has just put out its first flower. Tiny little bloom of 6 or 7mm, but this is bursting with buds & should look fantastic in a week or two........



Once again, thanks for looking.

[orchidlover55]

Oh my , how beautiful!! those are breathtaking flowers thanks

[meanie]

Thank you Orchidlover.

I've just noticed that this Pelargonium has escaped so far. I don't know the name or anything else about this as it was given to me, but it's a bit of a stunner in its hanging basket.







Thanks for looking.

[zaeem]

I recollect we talked about desrt rose some where.here is one small plant.Thanks
zaeem

[meanie]

A few more things have put in an appearance, or been added.
First up is Campanula Punctata. I've had this in a pot for five years and this is its first time in the ground. It seems quite happy as there are lots of new shoots emerging as it stretches its legs.........


This next shot is our Osteospermum, which is as tough as old boots and survives anything our winters can throw at it................



This is Fuchsia "David", a small form...........



Finally, a new addition; Diplarrhena latifolia.........



Thanks for looking.

[zaeem]

meanie.HI!

Lovely You have all shapes and color around you.Must be great to walk around and appreciate nature at its best.Wow!Thanks.
zaeem

[meanie]

Work, coupled with the fact that my orchids seem to be more interested in growing than blooming, have kept me away for a while. I've been sat here since 6 am invoicing, so by way of a break I thought that I'd update this thread a wee bit.

First up is my favourite Penstemon - it's called Huskers Red. It has a messy basal growth habit with the near white flowers coming out on maroon stems of anything up to 80cm height..........





Next is a Torenia. I don't usually mess about with small annuals, but the velvety flowers were hard to say no to...........



This next photo is of one of my Campanulas (C.Rubriflora).......



This one is Campanula Kent Belle........



Finally for now, a photo of a perennial Mimulus. This is M. Cardinalis, which enjoys damp conditions. It is a slightly tender perennial, but self seeds readily and grows rapidly...........



Thanks for looking.

[meanie]

As I've been missing from this forum for a while due to work and my efforts outside as much as anything, I thought that I would update this and show you some of the fruits of my labours outdoors.

First is one of the highlights of the summer for me, Datura Metel..........

I know that in parts of the states it's regarded as a weed, but the hybrids are quite widely grown over here. I personally prefer this more pure (and very fragrant) one.

Next up, Salvia "Black and Blue"...........

Borderline perennial, so I have a few cuttings coming on under cover just in case.

This is Monarda didyama..........

Tough as old boots and can become a little invasive if it's happy, which is fine by me!

This next photo is of one of my favourite climbers, Rhodochiton.........

It's common name is Purple Bell Vine.

I always have a triphylla Fuchsia, usually Thallia, but for a change I had "Koralle Fulgens" this year, and it has performed brilliantly!


And a photo of my perennial Sweet Pea.........


Finally for now, Gaura Lindheimeri.........


Once again, thanks for looking!

[maria1971]

I've been trying to find that Gloriosa lily but I can't find it anywhere. And your lotus is TO. DIE. FOR.

[meanie]

Maria - I'm surprised that you can't find the Gloriosa over there in the States! The Lotus is a really nice addition to hanging basket, but it didn't enjoy our somewhat cool summer very much!