Whats Looking Good September 2022

Love the Fuchsia archway Michael.

 

Thank you @Logan ...

Thank you @Victoria the 'archway' is about 4 feet high but it is covered in flowers. There's nothing supporting it and if the winter doesn't kill it back I'll put a trellis to tie it on next year.

 

A pot of Autumn colour to enjoy through the patio doors.



Pampas Grass plumes reaching for the sky



Calendula





Circular border in the middle of the garden



A new addition...



Geum



Zebra grass next to the pond



Dogwood


Dainty little viola

 

Last week I discovered lots of seedling Nasturtiums & Morning Glory right in front of the balcony growing in the grass! I was very surprised as neither have grown well on the balcony this year! In fact the 2 packets of seeds I sowed hardly germinated at all & those that did soon died! These seeds must be from last year & some how the extremely hot weather then the rain had caused them to break dormancy & germinate!
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This is like a 2nd spring this year! But I'm afraid they will soon be killed, either by the council gardeners who cut the grass outside our balcony or by the frosts this winter.

My granddaughter who saw them said "Why don't you dig them up & keep them over winter in the flat?" I explained that trying to do so first would probably damage their roots & they would die. 2nd they are annual plants that die down any way at the end of the summer. 3rd it's much easier to sow new seeds next year than trying to keep them alive during the winter in the kitchen window.

 

For the first time ever, I gave these a shot this year. Acidanthera bulbs/corms bought at my local Sainsbury's in Feb. I was not expecting them to grow in this part of the world, but I have been surprised. I started some in pots in a cold frame and planted them out around late May. Those have flowered in the sunniest part of the garden.

The ones that I planted directly into the ground have not flowered and don't seem to have produced any flowerheads.

My problem now is what to do with them over winter. I am sure they will not survive outdoors, so I am thinking of letting the flowers pass and then cutting down the stems and drying off the bulbs over winter for starting again next year. Kinda like daffodils.

 

@erskine
Here's something that I've found for you, they're part of the gladioli family

Caring for Acidanthera After it Blooms

In areas where Acidanthera is not hardy, the corms may be treated as annuals and be discarded at the end of the season. You can also store the corms indoors during the winter and replant them in spring. Wait until frost has damaged the foliage and then dig up the plants. Move the clumps to a sheltered location and allow them to dry completely. Cut off the foliage or gently pull it away from the dry corms. Store the corms in a dark, dry place with good air circulation. The storage temperature during the winter months should be approximately 60-65°F.

If you grow acidanthera in containers, you can simply bring the pots indoors in the fall, cut off the foliage, and store the corms right in the (dry) soil. In spring, dump out the soil and replant the corms.

 

@erskine when the tops die off lift, dry, store frost free, just like any other gladioli. I've never lifted daffodils, normally plant in autumn and then leave in ground to bulk up.

 

Nerine sarniensis seedling, recent purchase.

Tulbaghia violacea "Purple Eyes" these have shot through in the past 10 dys after rain.

Amaryllis belladonna

Salvia darcyii

A couple of sunflowers

Erigeron karvinskianus

Sinningia tuberosa

Iochroma coccinea

Iochroma purpurea

Cyclamen hederifolium growing on top of dry stone bank

 

@Logan is that a new puppy you have in your profile pic?

@shiney what happened to Sarafi?

 

@Logan and @NigelJ

Thanks for the advice. This was the kind of thing I was considering doing. I am reluctant to simply throw the corms away, so would like t at least try to store them over winter and get them going agai next year.