Hardy Tropicals UK

miketropic wrote:This happens to be the first one I have ever come across

I've got some spares here of the 3 most common forms of variegated, I'll bung them in the parcel next time I send you something Mike. If you are just growing them as singles (rather than a hedge) then a Lollipop topiary, or something like that, might show them off better than growing them as a bush.

We've been planting a serpentine-path labyrinth and used different variegations of Holly for various sections of the walk, hence I have a few left over. You might find that yours is Male, if it has no real berries of its own, so be prepared for that


Serpentine maze


Lollipop Topiary:


Have you ever come across Pearl Fryar's topiary? He's in South Carolina and bonkers (in the Topiary sense, as opposed to the Tropical sense ). THere's an alternative hobby for you



http://www.pearlfryar.com/

You know I'll take anything you want to send over Kristen.. That maze with some var. holly will look insane when it grows up and fills in. put a few back for me. I have no idea if it is male or female and I think it was only for sale due to the holidays comming around. its in a small pot and about 12 inchs tall so it will be awhile before it would make berries. there were some holly at my old house ( common green ones ) and there was 1 male and 2 female and they always made berrys but never got above knee high...hopeing this one gets bigger so I can trim it to a topiary style. Never heard of pearl frayer but if I am ever down that way id love to take a look at what he has going on. They do a bit of topiary at the local zoo, I will have to snap a pic of some next time I go.

Just got in a large division of some japanese forest grass and a nice crazy looking chinese mayapple rhizome. should look great in spring.

The winter has been getting the best of me and I have to find somthing to do. I have been ordering seeds like crazy but none to plant now..I have a few things going in the prop but that isn't cutting it either. I had been wanting a new palm for awhile and I finally put up the money for a good one..Just received a very nice Princeps in the mail today. Had no prior experience with this seller so didn't know what I was going to get but he sent me a wonderful one and I will be buying from him again...either another princeps or possibly a trithrinax campestris very soon.

Great little plant

I planted my princeps out at the start of the season. I did have 3no prior to that but one developed crown rot, tried to send out a second growth point but eventually carked. The other two are in slightly raised beds. The leaf size started to shrink and i feared the worst again. Fortunately, after a while the leaf size then started to increase again so i'm hoping they'll be fine. They've had a cover over them for a couple of months to keep the rain off and the crown dry for winter.

Princeps are very prone to a disease that affect the base of the stem and the roots. Many of mine havegone into decline. Hopefully at least one will flourish.

I only know of a couple good size ones over this way, there kind of hard to come by and a large one is unheard of. I will make sure I keep a close eye on it and don't water into the crown even in summer. I really like the look of it and hope it does well..Now that Kris mentions the princeps hybrid in the other thread I need one of those as well

My other new plant that came in saturday in the snow storm..gigante




On a side note any idea what happened to this sheffie..it took a dive and went all the way down. pretty sure its a goner

It should re shoot.

fern Rob wrote:It should re shoot.

I hope so I am just leaving it sit on the table to see what it does

Don't let it dry out if its in the house

I think thats how it got in the situation it was in. I was so worried about root rot I let it dry out to much.

-13c this morning..not fun

These came in today. Top 2 are hybrid/variegated tulips I got for my wife. Bulbs arthe only gardening she will do since there plant and be done no maintance the 2 bags on the bottom are mine. the larger bag has 5 "orange marmalade" foxtail lilys and the other bag has a Dracunculus vulgaris bulb which I wish I had gotten more of now seeing the size they sent me..a monster that should bloom for around £1

The voodoo will colonize very , very quickly , Mike. I started out with just 3 bulbs last year and now have 20 plus.

Well I was mad at myself that I didn't buy more but I guess I don't need to if they spread like that.

FINALLY signed the papers on my new home yesterday and went to change the locks today. I snapped a few pics off but the weather is aweful so I came back home quickly. It don't look like much now but over time I will make it something I can really enjoy. It does pitch one direction but I am hoping to work that into the plan and use it instead of trying to hide it. The knocked down tree will be removed as well and I think it will all look better once the grass has been cut down. I own back to the large cedars and I hope to get the lot next to me and have it 2 acres wide

View from the dineing room window



out the back door

A great space to work with.