2025 in the round

[charlie]

Lovely surprise, planted this Tropaeolum speciosum years ago, plan was for it to run about and for me to be able to lift bits of roots (to sell!) but the most we have ever had is a few flowers and a single stem, this year its got to the top of a large apple tree it grows under, could only manage a picture low down but there are sheets of it up in the tree!

Tropaeolum speciosum 008 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Wish I knew what I had done to make it happy!!

[MartinNicklin]

I wish I know what I’d done to make mine unhappy! One of my favourite plants. I’d have it scrambling everywhere. I’ve grown it for years. This was it last year:





This year … not a sign of it :(

[charlie]

Having moaned last November to Jonathon Webster (Head of Rosemoor garden) that not only were dogs banned from the garden but also from the car park. We spotted they were having a trial on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays of allowing dogs so we thought we aught to take advantage! unfortunately our chosen day was a bit too hot to really linger but areas were looking good I have always liked the wet area and stream garden

DSC_0002 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Goodness knows how they keep it maintained!

DSC_0001 by charliepridham, on Flickr

(Dog was a model citizen so if they abandon the trial it wernt us!!)

[Paul S]

Goodness knows how they keep it maintained!

Volunteers, Charlie. Same at Hyde Hall. 22-odd full time gardeners, nearly 80 gardening volunteers.

[ian s]

Ipomopsis rubra, it’s an easy and hardy biennial that seems happy in soil and a deep pure gravel bed too so not really ‘pushing the borders’ but it’s first year’s growth (first picture, bottom right) looked appealing so I sowed some seeds a couple years ago. The flowers were a nice bonus so hopefully I can save seed from them.

[MartinNicklin]

That's a lovely plant. I bought seeds of that from Special Plants Nursery but none germinated. In fact, none of the seeds I got from there germinated! However, seeing your pictures has made me want to try again.

[Paul S]

I am tryiing this for the first time, also. I tried - and failed - raising it from seed last year - this year bought small plugs from somewhere, forget where now, to dot in amongst my spikies on the rubble bed to flower next year. It is great to see it doing its thing here making a lovely splash of colour.

[MartinNicklin]

To many people boring and uninspiring but I’ve really been getting back into fuchsias this year. I think if you can get the plants to a good size they become much more admirable as plants. I’ve grown particularly fond of the lesser known types. Fuchsia lycioides is delightful. It reminds me of that chap who produces immaculate sculptures in the eye of a sewing needle!



Roger de Cooker received as a 6cm plant a couple of weeks ago is flowering its heart out:




Fuchsia speciosa:




I haven’t been able to get Lady in Black at all but Lady Boothby was a small plant bought from Stone House Cottage recently and is clambering up the wall nicely:






I love the Dutch fuchsias, especially the ones you can’t get hold of :x , and this one, Jasper’s Pink Pipes is very pretty:



I’ve got lots of green and foliage in the garden at the moment, so I’m enjoying the “flower power” of the fuchsias to brighten up otherwise dull spots:













I’ve got a few other species fuchsias yet to show me the delights of their blooms so that will be something to look forward to.

I’m also liking the look of Indigofera Reginald Cory. I put it in a pot as I was undecided as to whether or not it would merit a place planted out but I think it does:



After the recent ferocious sun we have had some welcome rain today but this has now given way to quite strong winds which will quickly dry out the good work of God’s tears. I don’t think I’ve known a June and July as windy as we’ve had this year. It’s knocking plants about quite badly.

[charlie]

Feeling a bit underwhelmed!

Got this Heteropterys angustifolia from Tom Hudson at Tregrehan, it grew well and lots of flower buds but now they are opening and they are rather small (and not scented) so now I apparently need to wait for the colourful seed set - it better be an improvement!

heteropterys angustifolia 001 by charliepridham, on Flickr

heteropterys angustifolia 002 by charliepridham, on Flickr

[Chad]

Hang on in there Charlie, the main reason for growing this, apart from nobody else knowing what it is, is the seed heads.

Bright red and look like Acer seeds.

Another picture once you've been converted towards it please.

Chad

ps.

I've just looked this up, there are 166 species in the genus [ I only knew this one].
AND, wouldn't you know it, the only one I knew has the wrong name. According to Kew it should be called Heteropterys glabra.