Two By Two...

Well, this isn't another Noah and the Ark story, its just a series of flower fotos that are currently in bloom. Two of each flower depicted.

To begin with, the Crocosmia lucifer.



The next set are the Aconitum napellus.

Then the Aconitum cammarum.


Here the lovely Phlox paniculata 'Bright Eyes'.

...and the Phlox paniculata 'Nicky'


This is a sunflower that popped-up all on it's own. The preceeding year I had some yellow ones and some extremely dark red ones together in a stand. I am wondering if this specimen is a cross or an already existing sort that coincidentally blew-in.




The Cerinthe is looking good this year in a new plot.

I have found that it does better in half shade than in the full sun. The bees really like this one.
The peculiar blueish-purple colour to the leaves make this plant look so exotic to me.


Finally the Physotegia virginiana. We call this plant the Scharnierbloem (hinge flower).

When Droopy was here she told me that english speakers call this plant the "obedient plant". Then she proceeded to show me why--apparently one can move the blooms left or right with their finger tip and they stay where you move them to. Amazing.

 

Such wonderful photographs Sjoerd! You are ahead of us here...no Crocosmia, Phlox or Obedient plant blooms yet. I love your 2nd Monkshood bloom...I've never seen one that color. It's gorgeous!!

 

I love all your blooms especially the purples and lilacs but all would look great in my yard

 

What beautiful, gorgeous flowers. I especially like 'the obedient plant'. Love the color and texture and the shape is so unusual.

 

Lovely blooms. You present them so well. Our Lucifer and Aconitum has just started, and the phlox too.

 

Thank you guys for your nice comments.
Yes, Eileen--I really do like Lucifers There are few reds in the garden like the C. lucifer, that's for sure.
The sunflowers that you asked about--this sunflower is about clacicle-high on me, so I look down onto it's face.
I am noit sure that it would be so shore normally as it's location is back by the compost bin. It is possible that it is mixed with one of the short species though, I reckon.
I am liking the looks of this dark-eyed beauty, though.

Well Netty, you will catch up soon and when my blooms are waning, I shall be looking at your lovelies. I can hardly wait.

Yes, KG--that tint of purple is beautiful, isn't it? It looks good with other flowers that are near-by too, I find.

Okééééééé then Droopy ...thank you for saying so. I would very much like to see yours when they are blooming. I wonder how they do up there in your soil type and with all the moisture.

 

It's hard to know where to start with these -- I am drooly over the red Crocosmia Lucifer... wow! It's so saturated with color.... mesmerizing. Of course I have Phlox on the brain at this moment so seeing yours made me excited to see mine when they bloom next year. And I do also like the look of then Cerenthe -- it has a sort of gentle look to it. I'm not at all familiar with that one. I'll have to look it up.

 

I'm chuffed that you liked the flower fotos, daisy.
The Cerinthe is a flower with a gentle look and gives a person a gentler feeling when seen in the correct place.
They can get to be about waist-high on a girl and their interesting colour seems more attractive in shadier locations.

I grow trhese from seeds almost every year. They are easy to germinate (at least I have no trouble).
I usually grow the Cerinthe alonf with the Eryingium, which I have in a sunny and dryish location, the Cerinthe was always was markedly shorter there and thus were less visible. Although the purplish blue of the Eryingium and the Cerinthe went well together, I thought I should move the Cerinthe over to my tiny "shadey plot". It has done well there, but I was late getting it in and with the coolish weather conditions it has developed several wide branches which are ok, but look a bit messy being so low to the ground. If I had known that the branches were going to go wide instead of up, I would have pruned them when the plant was still young. Live and learn, someone once said.

 

AH! Thanks for the info Sjoerd! But would that be waist high on a tall girl or a shorter girl?

I was looking up Cerinthe and saw that a common name is Shrimp Plant. I had just seen that at the Botanical Gardens in Washington DC last Sunday and I admired it... What a coincidence. From what I read, it would grow here happily.

AND, on the topic of Eryngium, it's absolutely one of my favorites. Sea Holly, I love its common name too. Hmm. I didn't get any this year...

 

Love all of the pics, especially the Physotegia virginiana. Keep sharing I love seeing your lovely garden.

 

Beautifully presented photos of your flowers Sjoerd. I love the colour of the Aconitum as blue is my favourite colour in the garden. Your phlox put mine to shame, beautiful blooms. Mine usually do well, I have white and pink, but this summer's excess of rainfall has somewhat spoilt them. One question, we have had these phlox in place for quite a few years now. Do you have to split them every so often?
The Cerinthe is a also a favourite of mine as it reminds me of a dear departed friend. When she was very ill with cancer she asked me to sow some seeds for her as she was not well enough, but by the time the plants were ready to go out in the garden she had passed away, so I planted them in my garden as a memorial to her. They self seed everywhere so I am never without them.

 

Hello GG-- Well the key word here is, "have", like in "have to split them".
I do not think that it is a case of 'having ' to split the root clumps.
I have done it a couple of times with certain ones...but most Phloxes I simply leave and the stand just gets bigger and bigger.

If you ever do want to propagate by root division, do it in late fall or early spring for the best results. It should be very easy.
As you know, they like rich and free-draining soil--so when I have divided mine, I always work the ground well in the site where they will be going to before planting the root bits.

I found your story of the Cerinthe a poignant one. It's a nice way to remember your friend.

I am pretty happy that you enjoying seeing my little garden, Jewell. Your kind comments are so nice to hear.

 

Thanks for the advice on the phlox Sjoerd. I may split them up this year as the ground they are in is getting very compacted so may need a little tlc.

 

, Girl.