This is an INFOMANIAC Garden Photos Event Reminder

 It may still be months away but, if you haven't already made a start, now is the time to start taking photos of the plants in your garden, courtyard, balcony, windowsill (or other green and pleasant area) for this year's

 

I N F O M A N I A C

Garden Photos Event

☙❧

 

 As always, the Event will begin on Hallowe'en with the Terrifying Triffids exhibit obstacle course, then the next day will be the official opening ceremony along with the Great Triffid Survivor Count (hopefully most of you will make it through if not in one piece, then at least alive).  Your garden photos will then feature every two or three days throughout November culminating in the Grand Finale.

 

 The Garden Photos Event is open to all - you don't need to be an Infomaniac Bitch or member of the Bloggerati to take part.  You don't even need a blog.  Or a garden - a couple of house plants will do (and at a push, a can of cranberry jelly...)!  We would love to see gardens and greenery from regular and irregular commenters & visitors, friends of friends, and any lurkers, as well as the aforementioned Bloggerati and Infomaniac Bitches.  You can find out more, including links to previous events, on my GPE page. 

 

 And remember, despite what certain people may say - I'm looking at you, Savvy! - the Infomaniac Garden Photos Event is NOT a contest! 

 

☙❧

 

 Speaking of contests - not that this is one, mind - here are some more of the first flowers at Hexenhäusli Device.  But no bumblebee - I haven't seen her since the last First Flowers post, sadly.

 

27th May : Iris siberica, possibly?

 

 

28th May : They're growing!  They're actually growing!!!

White and black bat flower stumps (Tacca integrifolia and Tacca chantrieri respectively)

I couldn't tell if the white one was growing so I cut off all the old leaf stems and now there's a leaf shoot poking through.  As for the black one, I thought it was a goner as it was just languishing in its pot looking more and more miserable.  I gently de-potted it and discovered a big bruised, rotting patch being eaten by fungus gnat/sciarid fly larvae!  I scraped it away, washed the wound (and accidentally broke it in two!), left it to dry for a bit before putting them in some fresh orchid compost.  The smaller part has now rotted, but the larger part with the scraped out bit remained firm and has put forth two small leaf shoots (I've just discovered the other one poking through the compost!).

I know these aren't flowers - yet - but I had to include them because I'm so excited about the chance to have actual bat flowers! 

 

 

29th May : Crimson bottlebrush, possibly "Splendens" (Callistemon citrinus)

 

 

29th May : Himalayan honeysuckle/pheasant berry (Lycesteria formosa)

 

 

2nd June : Agapanthus "Lapis Lazuli"

 

 

3rd June : Cabbage palm (Cordyline australis) at the back with its first flower spike.

 

 

4th June : Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena)

 

 

5th June : Philadelphus x lemoinei "Belle etoile"

 

 

5th June : Fuchsia "Delta's Sara(h)"

 

 

And finally, today, 6th June : the native Stinking iris/Roast-beef plant (Iris foetidissima)