Tag: AugustPage 3 of 4

Drifting disinfectant

A mature clump of Cimicifuga japonica is in full flower on the edge of the conifer walk. The scent wafting down from the long plumes these past mild…

Blood on the blade

Planted in the corner of the herbaceous border is Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’. The leaves; blood red in colour from the tip down. Plant where the sun will reflect…

Stamp collector?

Growing in the student plots is carpeting annual awash with flower. Nemophila menziesii ‘Pennie Black’; the true species being native to California where it is found in meadows…

August 2012: Swaying in the wind

The Dierama collection growing at the Garden has this season been spectacular. Delicate and delightful images of arching fishing rods come to mind, a slight breeze causes the…

A prickly customer

Eryngium amethystinum var. euspinosa was collected from grassland in the Tuscan hills in which mature plants were growing in abundance at c. 900m. The plants can be found…

Twilight zone

Aster macrophylla ‘Twilight’  is proving its worth this season. Monsoon like downpours have characterised August and many herbaceous plants have bowed to the weight of the rain. Not…

Patriotic Balloon

The twin colours of the Saltire, the national flag of Scotland, are the feature of this Platycodon grandiflorum cultivar. The species has blue petals; this reversion has a…

Shapely foliage

Planted to nestle down in the streamside within the Chinese plant collection this herbaceous Composite; Sinacalia davidii, has foliage shaped for effect. A native of China, the seed…

Evenly balanced

An avenue of Zonal Pelargoniums leading visitors into the Victorian Palm House. Single colour block planting; what better way to make a statement. This is Pelargonium ‘Pentland Deep…

A Gentian with goatee beard

Sitting atop the limestone wall at the alpine area where the roots are guaranteed a growing medium with good drainage is Gentiana paradoxa. Enjoying exposure to full sun…

Swaying in the wind

The Dierama collection growing at the Garden has this season been spectacular. Delicate and delightful images of arching fishing rods come to mind, a slight breeze causes the…

Crocosmia, or if you are of a certain generation, Montbretia

The name Montbretia came from a young French botanist, Coquebert de Montbret, who accompanied Nelson on the invasion of Egypt in 1798 where he unfortunately died. The genus…

A long time developing

Initially photographed on 26th June as the flower buds were emerging green from the heart of the plant it has taken a further five weeks for the colour…

An easy summer task

Surely you have something better to do with your time? In the border enjoying the sun to the south of the Herbarium is a large group of Kniphofia…

To Bushman’s Nek for Glorious Gladioli

As summer touches autumn the South African flora rises to the challenge of shorter days and cooler temperatures. Observe the Gladiolus dalenii in the border south of the…

Hairy Hydrangea

Hydrangea aspera the young stems are frosted white with a covering of minute hairs. The bark on older wood becomes papery and peels from the stem. The deciduous…

The beast blooms

Over the weekend we have had torrential rain, strong winds and still this hybrid Ligularia looks good. A strong growing plant, Ligularia dentata ‘Hybrid’ can be seen in…

Tall tree story

The Garden has several collections of Koelreuteria paniculata. One, growing in the copse is flowering profusely, collected by Joseph Rock in 1926. In his notes he mentions that…

Hoverfly magnet

Kirengeshoma palmata, a woodland plant that devours shade. Here in the woodland area it has bulked up in the two seasons since transplanting. The plant does show signs…

Packaging

Packaging; one of the 21st century’s environmental issues. The Poplar has a similar issue. How do you protect the gene pool of the next generation? Take a walk…