[David Dickinson]

My Justicia carnea was developing flower buds nicely when along came a cold snap. It is still flowering but I'm sure it would have had much fuller flowers had it not been for the drop in temperature. Still, the flowers are always worth waiting for.  First photo was taken yesterday, the second last year.

[David Dickinson]

Thanks to Cindy and Alisdair I was able to find the name of a plant that I had seen in a video shot in Cindy's garden. I managed to track a supplier down in Italy and the first few flowers are coming through now. Salvia 'Anthony Parker'. Thanks again Alisdair for all your help in getting in touch with Cindy. Here is the happy ending (new beginning?)

[Joanna Savage]

Crocus looking good today. Crocus cartwrightianus

[Joanna Savage]

And Crocus goulimyi

[Alisdair]

Lovely, Joanna; yesterday we were surprised and pleased to see this in the Garden of Ninfa near Rome, on the MGS tour of gardens in the area following a very enjoyable AGM programme on Ischia

[JTh]

No autumn without this vibrant show of colours at the weekly open-air market here in Halkidiki. I wonder how they manage to grow them into such perfect spheres?


PA161146 Autumn colours.jpg by Jorun Tharaldsen, on Flickr

[Fermi]

This Puya has been growing in our garden for over ten years and finally started to flower just as we were about to leave for a 2 week trip!
However there were still flowers when we got back,
cheers
fermi

[Hilary]

Fermi,
How big is this plant?

[Fermi]

Hi Hilary,
The base of the plant is about 1.5m across at the base as it is made up of a number of rosettes. The flower spike is about 2.5m high,
cheers
fermi

[Charithea]

Hello David, congratulations on getting your Salvia 'Anthony Parker'. I have finally managed to get a 'cutting ' with roots on. On our way back from the MGS AGM,  I was taken to visit the garden of Marcus Mariani in Velletri by Keay Pierconti ,an MGS member. He had some lovely specimens in his garden and when I admired them he offered a cutting. I am also grateful to Keay because she also gave me cuttings of Salvia guaranitica. I think from the two salvias mentioned above  the guaranitica takes the prize for beauty. I have been given a few cuttings of Salvia splendens 'Martinusborg' by Alessandra Vincequerra.  Amazing coloured stems and flowers. I had success in getting cuttings of Clerodendrum ugandense from Alessandra too. What a nice lady she is. She gave me the address of the site of the nursery that grows salvias in Italy because I complained that  I couldn't find specimens
 here in Cyprus. It is Le Essenze Di Lea.  Before I forget I have read the Salvia book you recommended and I now know why I had so many failures last year trying to grow salvias that thrive in cooler climes.

[John J]

Have been absent from this thread for a while, away in Italy followed by accumulated paperwork.
This hibiscus opens a virginal white in the morning before blushing pink and ending its life a deep scarlet in the evening. An untidy tree it's difficult to control as the flowers are produced at the end of the branches so injudicious pruning leads to a loss of blooms.

[JTh]

I suppose this is hardier than Hibiscus rosa-sinensis?

[John J]

I would say so, Jorun, as it is deciduous. One of its common names is Confederate Rose as it grows well in the confederate states of America apparently, where it is said to sometimes die back to the ground following frost, only to regrow in the spring. As we very rarely get a frost here I can't vouch for this.

[John J]

Not mine but in the gardens of La Mortella on Ischia. An excellent, versatile shrub. Can be grown as a standard or as a hedge, it takes being cut back without flinching. The flowers are very fragrant, not for nothing is it called Japanese Mock Orange. Evergreen and even the seed pods are ornamental.

[John J]

Seen in the gardens of La Mortella, Ischia.