Precious plants

I have spent a bit of time in the yarden today.

If you’ve been following my posts of late, you’ll know I grow the more unusual and where possible rarer type of plants and flowers.

I was really happy that these petunias survived the winter and have started to re flower.

I don’t normally grow petunias, but when I saw these silky black flowers I couldn’t resist and bought a couple of plants.

These pictures do not do these flowers justice.

I have grown black violas before but sadly they were no longer. I found these at weekend, I must try and propagate these to ensure I don’t lose them again. They maybe small but aren’t they stunning?

Viola ‘Molly Sanderson’.

Another plant I’ve grown before but sadly not been able to keep alive are these dark leaved ipomoea. sadly they have never flowered for me but still. How delicate are the leaves?

Another amazing plant that is a must in my yarden is Aeonium Swartzkopf

This year I also have these stunning but highly poisonous Ricinus New Zealand Purple. I’m hoping that those leaves will grow huge!

Another amazing plant that is showing itself is this Arisaema ciliatum var liubaense. I can’t wait until it’s flower comes out more.

Since we moved here I have tried to encourage wildlife by adding plants, water, food and different habitats. I am pleased to say we have regular visitors, bees and birds mainly however today I saw this stunning black and red moth – The Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae).

Whilst pottering about I tidied up some areas and also decided it is about time I made a ‘feature’ out of my lovely piece of art that I bought off eBay some years ago.

Let me know what you think of it.

It reminds me of my travels around Asia and how they have such ornate pieces of art. Also how water is often placed at the front door – I believe that this is meant to ward of evil spirits but I may be wrong.

What do you grow? I’d love the hear back from you.

I have to give special thanks to my friend David who has given me many unusual plants and who is teaching me more about the rarities out there. He actually gifted the aeonium, Arisaema, Hedychium and ricinus in these pictures.

Plant parcels

I am always excited to receive plants, here is an order from Turn it Tropical.

Here I have Aloe ‘Cleopatra’, Cordyline fruticosa ‘Mambo’, Impatiens arguta ‘Blue Dream’ and auricoma x bicaudata, finally Rhipsalis ramulosa.

I couldn’t help getting this little badge too!

Do you have a plant on your wish list? I have been searching for these for a while now. I have even tried to grow them from seed.

These are Mirabilis longiflora, they are not as commonly grown as their relatives Mirabilis Jalapa. These have white long highly scented flowers.

How beautiful are these white lilies?! I bought these in autumn 2008 from Peter Nyssen and they are great performers! These are Lilium martagon ‘Snowy morning’.

Here is the first ever flower on my Iris Chrysographes ‘Just around midnight’.

Truthfully I was hoping that they would have been blacker, still they are a very beautiful flower.

A much blacker flower are these Petunias I bought last year. They didn’t wither this winter, they did get a little straggly but I tidied them up and here they about to open up.

I have hung my new rhipsalis in a pot that I had made a homemade ‘macrame’ for. Here’s to hoping it is happy here.

I am pleased to see we have had more rain, hoping to fill the water butts and giving the plants a good drink!