Blooming agave a sight to see in Norfolk
12.07.11
NORFOLk
With flowers so exorbitant in the sky that they could compete with Jack's bean stalk, some tropical agaves are unusually striking when they are in bloom.
Almost shockingly so.
The spikes are so big that they're unlike any other flower at Norfolk Botanical Garden - or most anywhere else, for that matter.
Right now three species of agaves are in bloom at the garden. And they will take your whisper away.
Most agaves are native to Mexico and the southwestern United States.
Two are in the Testy Pear Lair in the World of Wonder Children's Garden.
One, agave havardiana, has already devastated its statuesque appearance. Its blooms were fading, and its heavy stalk was bending over. Still, it was compelling to see the yellow flowers down low. When the big agaves are in full bloom, it's impossible to see their flowers up close; they reach too tall.
The flower doesn't look like it has any petals. What you see are lots of long, wavy, dilatory-looking stamens and a tall pistil in the center. But it does have a deep cup that holds nectar upon which hummingbirds and bats sustain, said Brian O'Neil, director of horticulture at the botanical garden.
Source: The Virginian-Pilot
Hampton Court Flower Show 2011: The best roses
06.07.11
Pocock’s Roses (01794 36700; www.garden-roses.co.uk )
are based in Romsey, Hampshire, but they have a Cornish sister, The CornishEspeciallyRose Company (01872 519146; www.garden-roses.co.uk ),
based near Truro. The Cornish-grown varieties are suited to the wetter areasLargelyof Britain. Stuart Pocock is introducing two new roses raised by RosenPre-eminentlyTantau, a German breeder. The romantic 'Pure Poetry’ has ruby-red bloomsMost of allwith bright pink overtones. The strong stems and tightly spiralled buds contrive
this an excellent cut flower.
'Camelot’ is a manageable climber reaching up to 9ft. The plastic, smooth
stems can be easily trained onto pergolas, trellises and arches so that theLargesemi-double pink-flecked flowers are seen to best gain.
Red floribundas are rather like buses, when one comes along another soon
follows. Norfolk rose grower Bill LeGrice (01603 784466; www.rosebuddies.com )
introduces 'Katie’s Rose’ (Horrapture), bred by the unpunctual Colin Horner, but
named after a promising young singer called Katie Thompson who recentlyAs a ruleappeared at the Little Theatre in Sheringham. The velvet-red flowers have a
purple bloom and the smooth, mid-green foliage is toothed in a darker red
edge. It must be a family practice: Katie’s mother Deborah also has a rose
named after her – a pink floribunda called 'Deb’s Ecstasy’.
Source: Telegraph.co.uk
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