Geranium maderence and the annual bed revisited

When I think of Geraniums stinky smells and old people come to mind. My thoughts, however, were changed when Michael Dale pointed out this magnificent Geranium maderence which is in the entrance garden in Parkville. When not in flower I barely noticed it but it is now in bloom and it looks amazing, nothing like the traditional ones I see here in the front yards of seniors. Like the Echiums I'm fond of it is also native to the Canary Islands and specifically the island of Madeira. It is a biennial plant but it self seeds easily so there is always another ready to go when another dies. It flowers in its second year of growth.

Look at all those flowers

Close up of a Geranium maderence flower

Last of all we finally got rid of all the Mizuna plants from our annual bed and it looks so much better. It has also filled out substantially since my last post. All the Tulips are now open and the Stocks are standing tall.

Looks so much better than in my first post

The Dutch love Tulips and so do I

Primulas

Some sort of crazy coloured Tulip chosen by Michael Dale



Echium simplex plants in Parkville

Another Echium I love is Echium simplex. Its flowers are much larger than Echium fastuosum, the ones shown below are well over 1.5 long. The plant in its entirety is over 3m tall. The common name for this plant is 'Tower of jewels' due to its incredible flower heads. It doesn't like frost so I wont be trying this one at home as unfortunately it is just too cold. Having just said that, I did see lots of Echium fastuosum plants in Macedon in full flower on the weekend so I'll try planting them. It is a biennial plant but it self seeds vigorously due to its plentiful flowers.  Echium simplex is native to the Canary islands. If you live in Melbourne where the weather permits this plant I would highly recommend it, especially as a show piece in the front garden.

 

Towers of jewels growing in the Parkville garden I work at

 

Bees love Echiums

Strange flowers in Dicksonia rare plants Mt Macedon

 Here are some plants I spotted whilst working at Dicksonia last week. First of all is Muscari botryoides 'album' which is the white version of a regular blue grape hyacinth plant (which can be seen in to the side of the plant in question).

 Next is a plant I know little about which goes by the name of Rununculus ficaria 'brazen hussy'. I had to include it because of its funny name. I'd love to know how it got the name brazen hussy, perhaps an interesting lady once grew them. This is one of the plants in the nursery that is not for sale and that being the case makes me really want it.

Below is a mystery plant that I found behind the brazen hussy at the nursery (I'm referring to the plant when I say that). It looks to be some other variety of Runuculus. I'll ask Stephen what its called next time I'm working with him.