What's looking exotic in September 2012

Stunning photo John

 

Great photo John.

By conincidence we were sitting out today and there is a gap through the trees through which you can see my Maurellii - purely fortuitous positioning, but its a view that just catches the eye when sitting at the table, and its a nice bit of serendipity.

Same tack: at the entrance to the Exotic Garden I have a T. Rex, as a statement plant, but from the outdoor table the view is at a more oblique angle, and I planted some dark leaved Cannas in that bit - and they have the same effect. So although they were intended to be one year only - "until everything has filled out and takes over that space" - I reckon I need to, deliberately in future seasons!, repeat that trick.

 

Kristen , keep looking at your blog , but not updates , seen your pictures around , can you please publish some pictures ....really love some combination you have made.

 

I normally only update my blog once a year, in late autumn, with a whole story for the year ...

Anything "topical" I post here. I'll try to post some photos, but the "pictures" I described today I haven't photographed, as yet.

 

Grevillea juniperina is having another shot at blooming. The first flush all blasted when the weather turned cold earlier this year.

 

Tibouchina organensis (Glory Bush) has just come into flower.

 

Aren't they stunning Peter!
Is this one of your Hill House purchases?

 

Yes LongK. Its one that I had from them in the spring. I really like it as its so neat and attractive even when its not in flower.


The flower has opened out a bit more to show the strange stamen.


Even before the flowers open, the buds are loverly


And the leaves are beautiful too, with parallel ribs and fine hairs that give it a glossy sheen at certain angles.

 

OMG IWOOT !!!

 

The stamen are interesting even after the petals are gone.............


These were on my T.urvilleana

 

LongK - do you know what the difference is between T. urvilleana and organensis?

The pictures on Google seem to be the same, and there is no mention of the difference. So I am not sure if they are two names for the same plant or two seperate species.

That's a beautiful close up of the stamen. Tibouchina appears to have a bit of lobster DNA in it somewhere. Do you have any idea why they are that shape?

 

Here's the best photo colour wise of mine................



Look at the leaves in the background and you'll see a a thin red red edge to leaf that doesn't seem to be there on yours.

As far as the shape of the stamen goes, it does seem to be a pest free plant to grow so I wonder if evolution grew these in this way to imitate a predator?

Must give mine proper attention next year - it has been badly neglected this year and it shows!

 

I have just had a look at mine - the leaves also have a red edge, which I hadn't noticed before. But I was aware of a lot of red pigment in the plant that shows as red blotches in places on the stems and some spots of the leaf surface as well as the buds, of course.