May 19, 2014

Plant of the Day


Plant of the Day


Damn but this is a busy time of year in the garden, but I always steal a few moments to smell, if not the roses, then the daphne, the azaleas, or the lilacs, or any of a dozen other plants that perfume the air to a lesser degree.
The blue poppies,

which I have determined are
Meconopsis Horridula, and not Meconopsis betonicifolia, 'Lingholm', nor grandis, and which I don't think will flower this year, loose out as the plant of the week simply because I have been spending too much time staring at them, and am determined to overpower their charm with my own, to a nearby azalea: Rhododendron 'Jane Abbott'. It is supposed to be 'lightly scented' but here, on a warm day, the perfume carries as far as one could hope, even farther. And then there is Rhododendron 'Vernus" - magnificent to say the least. And, and, and, the copper-leaved Acer palmatum Beni otake, or Beni fushigi.




And I should mention the spectacular (so far) results of Rhododendron seeds planted February 0f 2012. These were from a hand pollinated cross between [(Perfectly Pink x Janet Blair) X Abe Arnott] - very vigorous, unlike several other crosses I planted.






Bloom in two years?


Now, how do I economically carry over the few hundred Lewisia I seem to have brought into the world this year into the next?

May 14, 2014

The Blue Poppy

The Blue Poppy


It looks as if the blue poppies will bloom this year. Will have to check my records and see if I can determine whether these are Meconopsis betonicifolia, perhaps the lingholm variety, or M. horridula. Regardless, I am anxiously anticipating their full expansion.