I should be pleased, but................

I know that I should be pleased, and I would be if it was the right time, but it's not! Both of my Clianthus puniceus are now producing flower buds. Pictured are the buds on the white form........


I was a little dismayed to see the first flower bud poking through in my wee Hermodactylus patch, but this is getting stupid!

 

The buds on my Kerrier edit: Kerria in the garden have burst into leaf.

Looking around a garden centre yesterday there were potted apple trees which still had some of this years leaf on, but also had flower buds that were starting to open.

 

It's ok as long as we don't get a really cold spell.
I'm not familiar with a Kerrier - tell me more.........

 

I have the same question............

My Fuchsia perscandens is in bud, and there is a flower bud appearing in my Hermodactylus patch too.

 

longk, its quite normal for clianthus to be budding now, they are one of those plants that form flower buds late, that then overwinter.

I've not got any now but grew a largeish plant for many years on a protected fence until the last three hard winters kicked in.

 

just got back from a garden that I landscaped .... went to chat to the owners about another property they want me to sort

the garden is small ... and plants were planted mid summer

ceanothus is in bloom

black beauty sambucus still has all it's leaves

Jasmine (fiona sunrise) has all it's leaves but has taken on a yellowish colour, so they will fall off shortly (looks very good though)

smoke bush has all it's red leaves

mock orange (aurea) has all it's leaves, but is also making new buds

most other plants still look like they did in summer ....

only plants that have died down are the hostas

 

Thanks Pete!
So, if we see nothing worse than we've had so far it should be ok then?

It's all too weird for me Dim.

I don't want cold winters (actually I don't want any winter), but I do wish my plants would look at the calender!!!

 

Longk, clianthus can take a bit of frost, but its not hardy really, it never goes dormant as such.

Many plants will just readjust to the mild weather, its not like its never happened before, in fact a few years ago it was considered quite normal to reach the new year with only slight frost.

We do tend to get stuck in ruts, a few years ago, mild winters were the accepted thing, then three years of hard winters and we are all expecting hard frost, at some point.

I'm hoping the pendulum has swung back regarding mild winters, then we can get back to growing plants like your Clianthus, they dont belong here, but they do make gardening that bit more interesting

 

Thanks Pete!
I paid three quid each for these (they were both 2metres high) which is why I'm taking extra care with them - I can't see a deal like that coming along again.

I need more winters like this one (so far), as I'm collecting to many tenders. The Sollyas and my Erythrina have remained out, the Tibouchina went in the garage when frost was predicted, and the Polygala myrtifolia is blooming as well as it did in the summer. I have a couple more New Zealand natives, Metrosideros umbellatta and Fuchsia perscandens (which also has flower buds forming) that have remained outdoors too and seem quite happy (although the Fuchsia looks a little odd forming flower buds when it has dropped all its leaves!). It does make gardening more interesting........

 

My Erythinas are in the garage now defoliated and dry.
As to Fuchsias, I've not tried perscandens, but I do have a fairly large excortica, also a NZ plant I believe, it flowers very early in spring on bare branches, but only rarely, usually the frosts stop that.

Roll on global warming I say.

But I think its bascally a political ruse.:D

 

F.excortica is on the list for after the move.
F.perscancens usually flowers May time, and then towards the end of the summer again.
I know that I'm pushing it a little with the Erythrina, but the one at Oxfords botanic gardens is sited similarly to mine and blooms without fail every year.

Here is a link to the native Fuchsia page on the Fuchsia society of New Zealand............

http://nfsnz.orconhosting.net.nz/nzspecies.htm

 

I think Scrungee has just misspelt Kerria.

 

Thanks Dai - Scrungees is way ahead of my OH's!

 

Sorry, too many trips to Cornwall has confused me.