Sorry to bore some of you, but I couldn't resist taking a couple of snaps of these slightly more exotic things I have going on at the moment.
(http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RACtAvMUruGxiwjBLlu*PUyTDUAsKKRuDQblfepX6t3wCYo*!E!9RN3dUWd7YoAbEG18kPTS4UVc3YZRz04m9wSlea7nkY4z0NOHgSaaj9k/bottle_brush.jpg?dc=4675476701318464527) My australian bottle brush bursting into flower. One of my faves, survives outside all winter, tough as old...bottle brushes!
(http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0PgAFA2kSQT36KajSVJF7AXFasRz0ADEaHmYuj8BiCP6maJ4Qol0ifPSuNHnigRhurNUEoBqSFJ4MBMGYyhPtz3cAKQq4M6dN/cactus.jpg?dc=4675476701323911182) (http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgAAAAMUh6Mu9TjHkn4A5urwBloZvJ22b7Q!CwdH3AJcuvhCTSk*YV21niMBx6NlDCDAsIBpKwOQw2ZjVBW6FTU0IPV81hAoSciMk7LlY9k/red_cactus.jpg?dc=4675476701328906070) No idea what the correct name of this cactus is, but I have a few choice names for it! ;)
p.s. Yet again, applogies, looks like I was wrong with my earlier posting about the achilea, no, alchemila, no potentilla....well....it seems it is a potentilla and I can happily blame my gramps for giving me the wrong name! :-\
EJ they are lovely, and that bottlebrush reminds me of home, we had one in the house I grew up in back in Australia :)
Lovely photo of the bottle brush EJ. Tried to grow one years ago but failed dismally :'( You have inspired me to try again, especially as you say it survived the winter.
The cactus looks like one of mine. A friend gave me a cutting once and it has grown into the most beautiful plant with huge flowers. Is it the same do you think?
(http://img55.photobucket.com/albums/v168/gardengirl2004/Cactus.jpg)
Have looked in my cactus book but can't find it.
oooooo, yours is more of a coral where as mine is pillar box red! We may have to trade cuttings madam!! ;D I reakon they are the same, just different varieties. Anyone a cacti fancier that can help us out? ;D
That would be great EJ but when do you take cuttings? I suppose about now as all my flowers have now died off? Do you think the cuttings would travel well? If you want to trade PM me and we can exchange addresses. I must admit I am a but of a cacti fanatic ::)
SSSShhhhhh it's me couldnt find a disguise Thought that i would show you ladies this one he is only 4" high.Sorry about the rain but had to fetch him inside to take his piccie and it's bucketing down.
(http://img51.photobucket.com/albums/v157/budgiebreeder/my%20gardens/cactus.jpg)
Oh BB, that is a beauty - what a lovely colour :)
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo BB, if you accidently knock a piece of ;) I wouldn't say no. Tis lovely! My grandad keeps his outdoors, but I am too chicken as I think the kids would batter them. They don't seem to mind the intense heat in the conservatory.
EJ, I'm not a cactus expert, but my orchid cactus looks VERY similar to yours - same flower shape, same leaves - but my cactus's flowers are pale pink. The buds resembled magnolia buds before they erupted into large blooms. I was told it was a succulent and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. I feed mine with a weak potash feed every now and then, and this is the first year it has flowered. I grew 3 plants from single leaf cuttings, just by breaking them off and putting them in water till they rooted. Lovely photos, by the way!