Today in the garden

The tub rockery is filling out nicely, but that crassula (sedum on the right) has to go before it gets too big.



The miniature cyclamens are doing well.



The portulacas get better all the time.



Something is eating holes in the double daturas.



The Blackcurrant swirl daturas are blooming now.




Single & double daturas together.



The campsis hasn't grown much in its first year, but the flowers are large.

 

Lovely Rich. That Campsis is especially fine - can you tell us people who have never grown it a bit more about it, and the Portulacas - thats new to me.

 

That campsis has loads of buds, Rich - a lovely colour too. I'm very fond of portulacas - such nice bright colours :D

 

I grew the portulacas from seed this year. Very easy and they loved the weather in July as they are drought tollerant. I will have a bigger bed next year in the front garden.

There are three varieties of Campsis with c. radicans being the most common. This is c. grandiflora, I bought it in France last year. Although this is only 2' high now, it is a diciduous vine and will grow over the roof of the conservatory giving more shade.

 

Beautiful flowers, Rich. I have got Campsis 'flamenco' which is a similar colour but flowers only half the size. However it is quite rampant in growth, having reached over the top of its' trellis in the first year. I'm told it is possible to prune it as a standard, which I hope to do so that something else can be planted below.
I've tried portulacas before but not with the success you've had. Where did you get your seeds?

 

I think they were Suttons.

 

It's all looking lovely, Rich, and your Portulacas filled out nicely. I only discovered this year they self-seed as I now have them growing in corners and pots I never put them! I have a beautiful clump of the orange double in a pot that just appeared!

PeterS, Portulaca is a sun rose and must have a dry, light soil in full sun to succeed. They close at night.

Rich, my white Brugmansia hasn't bloomed at all this year and the leaves have been all but eaten away and I can't find the culprit! However, the pink one next to it hasn't been affected and is covered in blooms!

 

I've been fighting to get my brugs to grow. After the RSM attack I had no leaves left on them. They are just starting to make leaves now, far too late for flowers of course.

I'll keep them cooler this winter to see if I can beat the RSM.

 

RSM, what's that?

 

Thanks Rich and LoL for your explanations. Yorkshire has recently beeen cold wet clay with little sun - not quite Portulaca conditions.

RSM sounds like red spider mite.

 

Red Spider Mite. The bane of my life.