Re: Summer is a comin'!

dave-poole@ilsham.demon.co.uk wrote:
> 
 for me the real start of the year
> together with hints of summer, arrives with the opening of the first
> 'New Zealand Iris' - Libertia grandiflora.  In today's sunshine, the
> first few have opened on a young clump bearing over 50 spikes. It is
> In my opinion, one of NZ's nicest 'weeds' forming dense clumps of
> sword-like evergreen foliage and 3ft spikes of white, three-petalled
> flowers which continue to open well into mid-summer.  There are some
> allegedly 'nicer' species such as L. peregrinans which has pleasant
> almost coppery orange tinted leaves if grown on thin soil in full sun.

Hi Dave

I must say, in most garden situations I would rather have L grandiflora
any day. L peregrans spreading habit make it a real thug in all but
suitably confined conditions and I have so often seen it out of control
in a bed and coming up all over the place.

The best use of it I ever saw was a narrow bed on the top of a low stone
retaining wall. It completely filled its stone "box" and in the poor dry
conditions was quite spectacular, I must admit.

> Clianthus puniceus which as some of you know, was giving concern
> through 'die-back' a week or so ago, seems to have sorted itself out
> and despite a week of heavy rain, has opened many more racemes of it's
> light red flowers and is once more a magnificent show.  Many rapidly
> swelling pods mean that should it decide to 'keel over' as Moira and
> Trevor have warned, there'll be plenty of replacements.  There is a
> stunning relative of this species which is as difficult to grow as it
> is beautiful - the Sturt's Desert Pea.  I learnt this week that a new
> salmon pink form is now becoming available and is grafted onto
> Clianthus puniceus rootstock in order to overcome the root rot that is
> associated with it.  Fingers crossed, I'm hoping to get a plant of his
> later in the year, although it will probably prove to be the toughest
> of all to maintain in good condition.

I remember at one time they used to graft Sturt's pea on to some sort of
Cotula, but interesting to see they now prefer C puniceus. Makes sense,
being a close relative.

I have never somuch as attempted this beauty here, even in its ordinary
scarlet form, but have seen several spectacular pics of it growing free
and on its own roots in its native desert. 

I wonder how free-flowering the pink form is. I am a little suspicious
of these colour variations after growing a pink Vallotta for upwards of
ten years without a bloom, finally seeing somewhere it was very shy and
almost impossible to get into flower. I threw it out in disgust!!

I once met a lady (actually a bank teller at a bank I was dealing with)
whose name was Sturt (on a name plate over her counter). I couldn't
resist asking if she was a relation of THE Sturt and yes, she did come
from the same family.

We have been interested to discover over the years how limited the
spread of certain surnames actually is. Perhaps you have heard of
Malthus and his writings last century on population theory. Well, it
seems that this is probably an example of a  surname unique to one
particular family. We know two brothers locally who bear that name and
to their knowledge every living Malthus in the world is directly related
to them.
> 
>  A 2ft high 'seedling' Gardenia
> jasminoides sent to me from Spain by Jose Almandoz just over a year or
> so ago, is showing the first flowers buds of the year and really has
> astonished me with its resilience to light frosts, winter wet and
> biting winds.  Here in the UK. Gardenias are treated with 'kid gloves'
> and considered to be 'hot house' subjects requiring very high
> humidity, constant warmth and good, indirect light.  This plant
> receives full sun, has happily endured several minus 2C frosts and
> days of biting, easterly winds which sent the chill factor down even
> further.  Gentler weather of the past few weeks have encouraged it to
> grow well and it promises to become a handsome specimen in a very
> short time.

This amazes me, after trying  over the years to keep different Gardenias
alive in my glasshouse only to see them eventually waste away. I am
tempted to have one final fling and just treat one rough to see what
happens.

Moira

-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, 
New Zealand (astride the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
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