WHAT'S LOOKING GOOD IN JANUARY 2014

Great pics Armandii - only got back Sunday from 2 weeks away so haven't a clue what my garden looks like. Dark when I go to work and when I get home. Can't wait for the weekend to have a look around!

 

After flowing all summer I thought my Euryops we getting ready for the Winter.

Appears this is not so, went out there earlier and they are covered in buds waiting to flower. I don't think they will get a chance to show off a late (or early as its the new year) bloom of yellow as I have read that the cold will be hitting us next week.

 

My Coleus (also from Kristen's cuttings ) are also looking good

My Perilla (from Strongylodon's cuttings) rooted and started to grow well and then died because I forgot to water them, which is a huge source of embarrassment to me :(

Somewhat. Very fine seed, and as is typical of fine seed they make very small plants to start with. Thus you need to start early, and cross-fingers for good light in the late Winter (I cheat and use growing lights)

Seed grown (rather than named varieties) have a reputation for going to seed more easily ... so you might want to try some named varieties (e.g. from Dibbleys)

From seed I grow the Wizard varieties, particularly Wizard Velvet Red (very red) and Wizard Scarlet (plenty of green margin). I find the ones that are completely Red are much slower to grow, and in a bad year may not make big enough plants to be impressive, so perhaps choose something with some green in the leaf! This year I am going to sow the Red leaf ones a fortnight earlier than the Green.

Some pictures of the varieties I have grown on my Blog:
https://kgarden.wordpress.com/projects/exotic-garden/coleus-solenostemon/

I get my seed from Moles (packets are large and last me 2 or 3 years)

http://www.molesseeds.co.uk/flower_and_vegetable_seed_store_uk/Products_Wizard_Series_775.html

Yes Pinch any flower shoots off as & when they form.

I plant Coleus in tubs:



and as focal-point edging in my Exotic border:

 

It looks breathtakingly beautiful, especially in baskets! What are the plants you have growing in your baskets... such a beautiful arrangement of foliage... Somethings book can never teach.. you need an eye for things like this... simply amazing

 

Solanum laciniatum still looking good, and a decent crop of fruits - rare for mid Winter

 

These?


1. Canary Island Date Palm
2. Begonia Double White (Anglia Bulbs)
3. Choisya ternata - probably Sundance
4. Coleus (these from seed, rather than named varieties)
5. Ipomoea batatas - I think it was "Black Tone", but I also like "Blackie" which has three-pointed leaves, and there are some light green leaved ones that provide good contrast too.

 

Well, wandered around the garden after a 2 week break and not a single thing worthy of a photo so well done to all those that have!

 

Everything, in all honesty, there is nothing that is looking bad, not even in my selection of sheltered bedded 'houseplants'.

 

Out in the garden on a grey January afternoon today, there were still a couple of splashes of colour to be seen.

Winter Jasmine scrambling among the bare branches looked good:



One of last year's annual Rudbeckias, still hanging on and flowering in a sheltered corner.

 

Up in the bathroom, where my precious "overwinterers" reside is this. Just to remind me that it WILL all happen again:

Jenny

 

Coastal South African plant Polygala myrtifolia, still flowering in January!