Spritzhenry's Outbox

I've only just spotted it, Mg. The type really is very small. Take a good look! Get your magnifying glass out! LOL.

I thought of doing that very thing, Bamboo - does the shrub not look a bit sparse?

Well done, Nicky! :-)))

I agree, Lilypad - it is indeed strange. I have plenty of flowers out still, as well!

You're welcome. :-)

I haven't had that - but I do love this shrub. When we first got here, it hadn't been pruned at all - and the stems (plus flowers!) draped beautifully over the stream wall and amost touched the water! Our tree surgeon had to ID it for me - and he cut it hard back that first spring. I had to trust him! I do it now, of course. I lose the flowers - but gain the beauty of the red stems. :-)))

LOL. Don't we all, Sbg!

Are you looking at the RHS 'A-Z'?? Mine says it needs full sun, and 15 degrees minimum, also that it flowers in the summer!

Love, 'Puzzled of Somerset'. x

Yes - so it says to the right of the photo! LOL.

Haha, Bamboo - you didn't look hard enough! (only teasing...)

Ooo-errr - they're tender, Nicky! Would they be as late flowering as November? I thought they flowered in August-September???

I just answered this on your previous question, Jon!!!

Still won't be G. communis subs. byzantinus (AKA Byzantine gladioli), Lilypad - they flower so early, and in the sun, too. As I said, their colour is distinctive. Now you have the full latin name, take a look at them - you'll see what I mean! I have them in my garden. I love them! :-))

Never mind, Nicky - but we still haven't ID'd Lilypads plant!

Thanks Ajay - I hope you didn't mind my 'quoting' you! :-)

Let's hope you can 'sort' this one.

Sorry, Lilypad - but I think your bulb question remains a mystery!
(See my response on it....)

What a pain squirrels can be!

Not Byzantine gladioli, (sorry Nicky!) - they are a bright cerise colour and flower in May - June.

I just checked out G. palustris, too - it flowers in the spring, and isn't white.

Sorry - I suspect that your mysterious plant probably isn't a gladiolus.

I asked Ajay for clarification earlier this week on this, and posted what he said under the earlier question on this subject.

Guests can NOT comment on anything on the site. They can't respond to queries on their initial question, therefore, so they have, on occasion (in the past) asked a supplementary question.

Now, the intention is that they are only allowed one question as a guest and then must join to respond/ask.

Let them die back in a sheltered place - then dry the corms and store until next spring. I have found, sadly, that I don't have much success with these - and read that it's better/easier to start with new ones!

That's what I shall do, anyway.

This is absolutely true - I have a large plant, and in the spring 2 years ago, when I was tidying the plant, cutting dead leaves off, etc, a piece came loose. I dropped it onto the bank of our stream - and it grew there. It's now a respectable sized plant!!

So - yes, you can take a piece and it will root easily. Good luck!

When they've finished flowering, stop watering them and keep them in a cool place to dry out. Pot the corms up in the autumn in fresh compost, with the corm just showing, and resume watering. Don't water the top of the corm, though - it'll rot.

Someone else can probably help with the propagating bit! I hope this info. helps you.

There is a hermaphrodite one - called Skimmia reevesiana - could it be that species? Otherwise, the answer is no - you'll need a male one in future years, as well, to get berries.

Thanks, Ajay - and for listening to us!!

Of course!! I'd like to know, too!

But they can be temperamental in colder areas!

Guests are not able to add a comment to our responses, or to any blogs etc. P&A are working on this situation and they have already made changes which have helped - like the slightly different coloured avatars for each guest, which shows that it isn't the same person constantly asking questions.

The location of questionners is also an innovation - and a helpful one. We should be flagging any 'daft' or incomprehensible questions, and contact P&A if we have any other thoughts to improve this area - it's up to us to let them know, folks! More changes are on the way, I do know that.

Denise - you should definitely put forward your good ideas to P&A!!! :-)))

Keep an eye on them in case of rotting - I kept mine on the dry side, I seem to remember.

Possibly, Denise - I shall have to await developments!

Thanks for doing that for me, Cliffo. :-)

I'll keep my eyes open, Fractal.

Oh - and BADGERS!!!!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.............................

No idea, Fractal! I just saw this - and wondered about the effect on the poor tree! It is a waste, though.....

Found it, Andrew - thanks. I might well be ordering that Dianella!