Shared for Cee’s FOTD.
Anguloa ‘Isabelle’ – A Curious Orchid
I’ve never had much success growing orchids, but their sturdily-constructed, often theatrical flowers are guaranteed to lure me over when I see specialist growers exhibiting their treasures at UK flower shows. Continue reading “Anguloa ‘Isabelle’ – A Curious Orchid”
A Radiant Lily and a Test
My last post, on the quirky terraced house gardens of Hebden Bridge did not appear in WordPress’s Reader, so if you check out posts that way, you’ll have missed it. I’ll test the power of crossing my fingers for good luck as I publish this post since that seems as likely to fix the problem as anything else. Continue reading “A Radiant Lily and a Test”
Flower of the Day: Yellow Roses
I thought we could all do with a little sunshine today.
We are often warned not to ascribe human characteristics to animals – although it is clear to anyone who spends time with animals that they share at least some of the characteristics and emotions we reserve for ourselves.
How much worse must it be to ascribe them to flowers? Yet I find it so tempting. The neat rose has a calm, self-satisfied look as if everything is going to plan. Ending its days in an arrangement in a floristry marquee is right and proper. Continue reading “Flower of the Day: Yellow Roses”
The Lizard’s Rose (And Yellow Star Jasmine)
For several years my sweetheart has been growing a white rose that has been very reliable in his Mississippi garden. I have my fingers crossed as I write. He’s due back home this week and will find out how many plants have survived the summer’s drought, which is reported to have killed even well-established plants.
If the rose has survived unscathed it will have been thoroughly tested. A couple of cold spells last winter put paid to a fine rosemary bush that had been growing beside it and bit off star jasmine below ground level. Continue reading “The Lizard’s Rose (And Yellow Star Jasmine)”
Flower of the Day: Lavender Matsumoto Asters
Matsumoto asters are popular with florists, being larger and showier than your average aster. This posy was part of an arrangement in the floristry section of this year’s Southport Flower Show. More from there to come. Continue reading “Flower of the Day: Lavender Matsumoto Asters”
Osa pulchra: a rare tropical plant that needs a midwife
Last month I was lucky to see a rare tropical shrub/small tree, Osa pulchra, in full bloom. Huge, trumpet-shaped flowers hung just overhead, still and improbable, translucent against light pouring through the magnificent high roof of one of Kew Garden’s conservatories.
At the time I didn’t understand what I was looking at, but I knew it was special. To an observer I must have appeared like a human version of the His Master’s Voice dog. Continue reading “Osa pulchra: a rare tropical plant that needs a midwife”
Susan Rushton 