Share pics from yours, a friend’s or a public garden you enjoyed visiting

[PeppermintPatty]

Does size matter? When it comes to bulbs, it can. Doesn't this bulb look loaded with potential? Taken 5 days ago when I first saw a flower stalk emerging.

For a sense of scale here is a picture I took yesterday with my hand for reference.

Mine was a gift from another club member when she sold her property to move to Oregon. She invited me to dig them up, keep as many as I like and disperse them as I saw fit among the group. Because board members do so much I felt I should share them with fellow board members. Apparently mine is the only one with a flower so far, but as I told them that isn't necessarily a good thing. Another year of putting energy into its roots could pay off long term.

But while our former president's bulb from that batch was not in bloom yet either, another one he received from an elderly member a Southern California group did bloom this year for the first time for him and what a show! I took this photo of that bulb back on July 24 at his place.

Just the other day I asked him how large the flowering stalk had gotten he sent me this photo with a yardstick to show the scale. All the flowers had blown by then but on the last photo you can just see one red flower open.

That plant grew that much in a months time?
Thats quite remarkable

 

[MarkD]

That plant grew that much in a months time?
Thats quite remarkable

It blows my mind too. Fun to watch. In nature (South Africa) the flower head would eventually fall from the stalk and blow all over the fields scattering its seeds.

 

[RadishRose]

Litchfield CT

 

[RadishRose]

Westport, CT

 

[Kadee]

Canbera , Australian Capitol Territory ( Capitol city of Aust )
We spent 2 weeks there in March this year so much to see and do there , it’s referred to as the bush capital of Aust as it’s a fairly dry part of Aussieland .

It’s 1300 km from where I live thats about 820 miles …

The city centre garden area , and the very old well kept carrousel right next to the pictured garden / rest area

 

[Kadee]

 

[MarkD]

I've been to a big public garden Friday and two smallish private gardens today. The thing that made the biggest impression on me today was the spectacular color of hydrangeas. Here are four I especially liked, starting with three of one that was just a beautiful shade of blue.

I was really smitten by the big blue outer petals but the show in the center was also wonderful.

There were others but these were the ones I thought in the most peak condition.

I've never grown them myself but have admired them in northwest gardens and now this one in San Francisco, a plant collector on Cal Hort's board.

 

[RadishRose]

I've been to a big public garden Friday and two smallish private gardens today. The thing that made the biggest impression on me today was the spectacular color of hydrangeas. Here are four I especially liked, starting with three of one that was just a beautiful shade of blue.

I was really smitten by the big blue outer petals but the show in the center was also wonderful.

There were others but these were the ones I thought in the most peak condition.

I've never grown them myself but have admired them in northwest gardens and now this one in San Francisco, a plant collector on Cal Hort's board.

I love hydrangeas!

 

[MarkD]

I love hydrangeas!

#me2 now.

 

[MarkD]

Fall is the time for the big South African bulbs and some cactus to grow in my garden. There are other plants which will also be blooming but they haven't yet announced themselves.

More flowers on my Monkey Tail cactus this morning.

Sorry that last one is so out of focus. The Brunsvigia bulbs are well on their way to blooming. I suspect the B. littorals will open flowers soon. These are still big bulbs but most of the bulb is below the soil level not as big as B. josephinae whose bulbs extend far above ground. Here is where the B. littorals are as of this morning:

Here are some recent pics of my B. josephinae's first bloom stalk.

This morning's picture isn't in good light but shows the size of the bulb better.

 

[MarkD]

South African Amaryllis bulbs in my garden today.

Most exciting are the Brunsvigia littoralis hybrids blooming today in my side garden.

But even more exciting for me is the huge first bloom stalk on my Brunsvigia josephinae though it isn't yet in bloom.

Least exciting but arguably the most showy with larger individual flowers are the Amaryllis belladonna bulbs out front beside my driveway. Common as dirt around here, care free with no added irrigation needed.

 

[MarkD]

Yesterday it finally happened my newly acquired Brunsvigia josephinae bulb started blooming yesterday after a couple of years of settling into its new bed. Here, have a cyber cigar.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

South African Amaryllis bulbs in my garden today.

Most exciting are the Brunsvigia littoralis hybrids blooming today in my side garden.

But even more exciting for me is the huge first bloom stalk on my Brunsvigia josephinae though it isn't yet in bloom.

Least exciting but arguably the most showy with larger individual flowers are the Amaryllis belladonna bulbs out front beside my driveway. Common as dirt around here, care free with no added irrigation needed.

Those are gorgeous. A neighbour of ours used to give me a Christmas amaryllis every year. They look so lily like but fancier. Lots of flowers off one stem. Gorgeous.

 

[MarkD]

Those are gorgeous. A neighbour of ours used to give me a Christmas amaryllis every year. They look so lily like but fancier. Lots of flowers off one stem. Gorgeous.

I think of it as being like a Medusa head, full of unfurling snakes.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Fall is the time for the big South African bulbs and some cactus to grow in my garden. There are other plants which will also be blooming but they haven't yet announced themselves.

More flowers on my Monkey Tail cactus this morning.

Sorry that last one is so out of focus. The Brunsvigia bulbs are well on their way to blooming. I suspect the B. littorals will open flowers soon. These are still big bulbs but most of the bulb is below the soil level not as big as B. josephinae whose bulbs extend far above ground. Here is where the B. littorals are as of this morning:

Here are some recent pics of my B. josephinae's first bloom stalk.

This morning's picture isn't in good light but shows the size of the bulb better.

The first pic looks almost like horse tails. You really are quite the gardener. Thats spectacular. How long have you had that? What zone do you live in?

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Yesterday it finally happened my newly acquired Brunsvigia josephinae bulb started blooming yesterday after a couple of years of settling into its new bed. Here, have a cyber cigar.

Congratulations!!
That’s exciting.

 

[MarkD]

In @PeppermintPatty's A Nice Walk thread the subject of Dragon Fruit came up and as I said there I've grown quite a few different varieties of related plants which my stepson calls Dragon Fruit though none has produced even one. Most of these pictures are ten or more years old though I still have several going. I've lost track of the cultivar names for any these unfortunately. @Kadee

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Beautiful photos Mark. I’ve got a question.
I’ve often seen culinary shows or cooking shows where flower petal are used in the recipes. Do you ever eat flower petals or ever used them to decorate a cake or certain dish?

 

[MarkD]

Beautiful photos Mark. I’ve got a question.
I’ve often seen culinary shows or cooking shows where flower petal are used in the recipes. Do you ever eat flower petals or ever used them to decorate a cake or certain dish?

I happily eat them when someone else preps a cake or salad that way but no I don't cook fancy.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I happily eat them when someone else preps a cake or salad that way but no I don't cook fancy.

Does your wife cook fancy meals using flower petals?

 

[MarkD]

Does your wife cook fancy meals using flower petals?

No the short list of things she can still eat with her low kidney function rules that out.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

No the short list of things she can still eat with her low kidney function rules that out.

I’m so sorry. I hadn’t that of that when I asked.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

South African Amaryllis bulbs in my garden today.

Most exciting are the Brunsvigia littoralis hybrids blooming today in my side garden.

But even more exciting for me is the huge first bloom stalk on my Brunsvigia josephinae though it isn't yet in bloom.

Least exciting but arguably the most showy with larger individual flowers are the Amaryllis belladonna bulbs out front beside my driveway. Common as dirt around here, care free with no added irrigation needed.

Your pictures are awesome Mark!

 

[OneEyedDiva]

Two of the flowers the garden committee planted in the courtyard. Each year we may get different selections.

 

[MarkD]

Your pictures are awesome Mark!

Thank you. I'm not very technical but I just shoot what looks good to me.