What's Looking Good November 2024

I am not sure, but I think Mao Tzu Tung was.

 

Glad you went on that tangent, I was aware of Mao’s gardening, but had not made the effort to wonder what that might look like. No photographic evidence, of course. Researching images of Chinese gardens vs Japanese, I was struck by the contrast between the flowy, lush, rich aspect of the former, and the stark, acetic discipline of the latter, both poised in beautiful equilibrium in their own idiosyncratic ways ... the comparison below being somewhat simplistic, I trust you have had occasion to sample both, as it were, in the flesh?

Sadly, Mrs Lao and I have finally decided against visiting Kyoto; I had wanted to go there ever since, some 20 years ago, over a cup of tea, I had asked an indefatigable traveller and friend what in his view was the most beautiful place he had seen; his unhesitating answer had been “Kyoto”, and that compelling memory endured (call it my madeleine). Unfortunately, recent reliable reports have made us aware that, nowadays, long queues meander at the entrance of all the Kyoto zen gardens and that, once inside, they are so crowded and regimented that “one can barely move” … associating this with our recent Vatican experience, we’ll continue to dream …

Chinese vs Japanese

 

Polyanthus

 

Still a few flowers around to brighten up the grey days.


Anemone 'Honorine Jobert'





Helenium 'Mardi Gras'







Nasturtium





Rudbeckia 'Rustic Dwarf'

 

How could I forget Cosmos which have been flowering since June.

 

I've got a few cosmos still going

 

Dahlia David Howard, Pink Amistad salvia and a dahlia from Morrisons which was supposed to be a pink decorative one but looks more like a cactus. My new young Prince Charles clematis has just produced some flowers behind the unknown dahlia.
Fuchsias are still in flower, Delta's Sarah has been very good this year, alstroemeria Indian Summer hasn't stopped and a blue delphinium has just come out. Rose Olivia Rose Austin is just having another small flush.

 

Dwarf Dounle Azaleas ...

 

The last hurrah of my sweet peas which were meant to be Dr. R. Uvedale - but aren't!


White ones are still doing well, but no dahlias still flowering here, but they kept going for a good while due to the mild conditions. A few more flowers on my white Weigela which is weird, but a lot of things have been weird. Ajuga is flowering again too which has never happened before, and Welsh poppies still going.

 

Fading grasses and perennials adding some autumn colour to my garden today.

 

Cordyline Cha cha

 

Still flowering fuchsia hatschbachii

Eryngium (planum?)

Grevillea full of bud again, and flowering

Diascia still going strong

Hesperantha coccinea (in a callistemon) has been flowering for ages.
However... Look at my anisodontea El Royo.
Earlier this week it was fine, full of flower and I took cuttings. Now it's looking terrible! Any suggestions? The roots are solid, soil reasonably damp, and we've had no frost.

 

I wonder whether taking cuttings has set your Anisodontea back a bit @CarolineL. I have a different variety with smaller flowers (A. capensis) which is now flowering more than in the summer. Having done some research, this is evidently typical of A. El Rayo, flowering most during autumn and winter in the UK and less during spring and summer. Some diluted seaweed extract may perk it up a bit, I find it helps if a plant is stressed.