I initially thought that I would be struggling to find blooms for today after this last week's perishing temperatures which have polished off some stragglers. It is is a degree or two warmer and definitely not as wet as yesterday, so I managed to get out into the garden between the showers. Greeting me when I initially stepped out into the porch with my camera was a glorious rainbow. In the north facing courtyard in front of the house a few
erigeron mucronatus plants are still showing flowers. Although not as prolific as they were back in the summer this plant deserves a medal for its sheer length of flowering time. I liked the one above which is shyly tucked in one of the corners of the house walls. Galanthus 'Faringdon Double' is making slow progress -
here it is photographed on 21st November. It is an early flowerer and multiplies well. It is difficult to see that the flowers are double unless you tip the pot up but I did not fancy doing that. I bought my pots of special snowdrops into the greenhouse to protect them in the cold snap - now a decision needs to be made whether to keep them in there, or bring them back out. I think that I could be playing a game of yo - yo all winter if I go for the latter option. Out in the garden helleborus 'Angel Glow' has opened another flower but it will be next month before this gets into full flow. There are other hellebores in bud so my to do list includes removing last year's foliage in the very near future.
Finally in the house on a north facing windowsill, an
African violet is providing me with pleasure. Now although not worthy of an entry in the
Guiness Book Of Records, the very fact that I've kept a houseplant alive for more than three and half years is an
EVENT of almost world shattering proportions. The plant was given to me as a leaf cutting in April 2009 by my mother and is still alive to tell the tale. It was smothered with flowers this summer and is now showing a much smaller but equally appreciated show. The leaves are however looking slightly anaemic so it will require repotting before long.
Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is kindly hosted each month by Carol over at
May Dreams Gardens. It is the ideal signpost to a world of gardening blogs where you will linger and no doubt add to your wish list.
I hope the snowdrops last for you seeing as how early they're blooming. As to keeping them in the greenhouse, I would err on the side of caution after losing so many of your prized varieties previously.
ReplyDeleteI think that I'm leaning towards the greenhouse option Jo bearing in mind my sad losses :(
DeleteI think keeping a house plant alive for 3.5 years is definitely worthy of a medal, I've never managed more than a year! Seeing your hellebores reminds me to look and see if mine are in flower, I'll have to look in the morning.
ReplyDeleteThanks Su - I am thinking that metal should be gold :) Only the one hellebore in flower here and it is a relatively new one to me in that it was only purchased in the spring. Will be interested to see what it gets up to next year.
DeleteKudos for keeping that violet alive - I've never even tried African Violets in my house as I think it's too dark for them in my rooms. Hope that little pot of snowdrops survives - I was so surprised to see it in flower already.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you Rosie. I keep the African violet on the north facing windowsill of the hallway, so they do not get much light - you may be pleasantly surprised if you have a go. The snowdrop is an early flowerer but having said that it's a bit ahead of itself this year.
DeleteWould the prized snowdrops suffer in the elements?
ReplyDeleteThe erigeron just keeps going. I grow the e. karvinskianus, but severe cold does for them.
Good question Rob. I am concerned that the snowdrops might suffer if we either get a prolonged period of very cold weather or very wet weather as they are in pots. Erigeron mucronatus is the same as erigeron karvinskianus - it changed its name to the former a few years ago. It is still going here and despite himself's attempts to kill it it has survived for years probably as it self seeds.
DeleteI think your snowdrop needs the cold to keep it happy and also I think it would be happier in the ground, they don't last very long in pots! My Faringdon double isn't as far on as yours, but then, mine is coping with the elements!! Lovely rainbow!
ReplyDeleteThe greenhouse is kept ventilated in the day Pauline unless it's very cold. In my experience snowdrops can last a good few years in pots but the last two or three years have not been kind to them. I think that the excessive wet has meant some of them have just rotted away :( I'm now planning to plant them in the ground when I have spares but will also continue to grow them in pots as well so that I can appreciate them at very close quarters :)
DeleteThe hellebore is very pretty! And snowdrops too - how lovely! I haven't tried growing African violets for years... perhaps I should give them another go. (I think I used to overwater all my houseplants, but nowadays tend in the other direction!)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Cathy. I think that of the two options underwatering is the best course of action :)
DeleteMy erigeron gave up the ghost a few weeks ago but I can't complain it had been flowering for nearly 6 months. I can't believe you've got hellebores in flower. Looks like mine are a good few weeks off at least. Loving the flowers on your African violet. I had heard they were quite temperamental so well done for getting one to survive 3 and a half years.
ReplyDeleteThat erigeron should win a prize for longevity of flowering. I have found that the African violet quite undemanding WW and have amazed myself by nurturing one for so long.
ReplyDelete