GPE #8 : Mago's "terrifying tryffidrie"

M A G O

 

 Finally a few pictures for the Garden Photo Event, much too early, sorry.*

 

 It is Plant A (I still call her so, despite the fact that it is not the original "plant A" of some years ago) - Plant A, I say, in total, from below, and an apple.

 Sorry, no terrifying tryffidrie.

[That's what you thought! - IDV]

 

Plant A total

GPE #7 : Jon suggests I "muck around with them..."

D O L O R E S

D E L A R G O

T O W E R S

(AKA Jon & Madam A)

 

 After a bit of a slow start, it was a magnificent Spring and summer this year in London, and the extensive gardens here at Dolores Delargo Towers have really benefitted for all the extra sunshine - not least when I added a new tiered display stand to the border, and then two of the hideous bastard weed trees in neighbouring gardens were felled!

 

 Without further ado, highlights from the seasonal display, starting with the earliest blooms...

l-r: Cyclamen persicum,  Primula hybrida,  Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'

GPE #6 : Savvy "shares something gorgeous from the garden and cheers the fuck up!!"*

 

S A V V Y

 

These are some random shots of what's growing in the garden today.

[21st February - IDV] 

 

[...] The poppies just started blooming, but we've had big clumps of green leaves waiting patiently for their arrival.

 

I don't the name of the succulents that are blooming near the curb, but perhaps one of y'all might know from the close-up. (I know I could look it up, but...)

GPE #5 : Remembering Elephant's Child

 

 This is a very special Garden Photos Event post in commemoration of Dinahmow's blog friend, Sue, who lost her battle with cancer at the end of September.  Dinah asked if we could feature Sue's garden in Canberra, Australia, as she left it at the onset of spring which I thought was a lovely idea.

 The commentary and most of these photos are from Sue's final post, and I've provided links to the respective originating posts beneath the rest of the photos.  (The cockatoo and magpie above are from Sue's blog header photo.)

 

☙❧

 

S U E

 

 Spring is most definitely here and I continue to revel in it.  I hope to see anenomes and ranunculas in the coming days.

[I hope you did, Sue - IDV]

 

 

 Same old, same old on the photographic front but they make me smile and I hope they do the same for you.

 

[From Sunday Selections #831]

GPE #4 : Dinahmow "sacrificed some blood to get it!"

 

D I N A H

 

 I still don't have a "proper" garden, but I have a few things in pots and I've been doing some severe pruning which has unearthed all sorts of stuff!  Walnuts!  No sign of a walnut tree!  Three very BIG trees that I think are cherry or plum. And a very prickly native which I can't be certain of!

 The Jacaranda is from our Australia garden; also the Trachelospermum jasminoides - But taken since last year's pics.

 

My grand old stalwart Trachelospermum. Yes, I have it here (actually, in the niece's side of the garden; not quite flowering here yet.)

GPE #3 : Maddie, the Mistress Borghese's "upright perk"

 

M I S T R E S S  M A D D I E

 

 Here we are again at the Casa du Borghese and I still don't know what things are called and still just plant things even if I'm not sure of their requirements.  Needless to say, I think it was a banner season in the garden as it gave color from spring right through the summer and even still has some color currently. 

 

GPE #2 : Ms Nations is the kind of lunatic who makes jewellery* for her houseplants

 

F I R S T  N A T I O N S

 

 Less a couple of plants, this is what  my 'garden' looks like these days - all indoors.  I like the cascading type as you can see.

 

If you look closely you might see a couple of spots of color dotted around that don't seem very planty...

 

GPE #1 : Ms Scarlet's "is large and somewhat messy"

 [This is not Ms Scarlet.  This is Barney her canine companion]

 

M s  S C A R L E T

 My garden saw some new additions in 2025, namely a higher fence, and a larger dog. There were also some plant purchases, which included an apple tree in early Spring, and some Asters, which gave some much needed colour in early autumn. There was also something that had orange flowers - dead common, grows in hedgerows, and just about everywhere else, but I can't remember what it's called. We bought it in the hope that it would see off the ground elder. 

 The big pink bush did its thing in late spring - not as vibrant as last year, but still in the pink. 2025 was a good year for the Hawthorn tree, but not as good as 2023. 

 

[Snowdrops in January - IDV]

The Infomaniac Garden Photos Event 2025

 Welcome to the 15th annual I N F O M A N I A C  GARDEN PHOTOS EVENT, and the 6th to be hosted here at Inexplicable Device! 

  

 Thank you to everyone who sent in photos - and to those of you who haven't yet got around to it but will do soon.  And certainly by Tuesday the 4th!  Without you  - even the slackers and lallygaggers (whom do not include Savvy this year as she got her photos in BEFORE the original deadline!!) - there would be no Garden Photos Event.

 

 As of this writing, there are 11 sets of your garden and/or pot plant photographs waiting in the wings to be published throughout November.  

 Unfortunately, The Very Mistress herself is not taking part this year - in her words: "I have nothing" - so I have included this sunflower from the gardens of Hexenhäusli Device in honour of her 2020 contribution.  

 And also, in the continued absence of the Infomaniac Duck (and last year's stand ins, the Hexenhäusli Device Dove & Jackdaw), may I present our special guests, the Canberran Cockatoo & Magpie:

 

 

 Some of you may recognise the above pair from another blog, Elephant's Child, run by Dinahmow's friend Sue.  Sadly, Sue lost her battle with cancer at the end of September, so Dinah asked if we could feature her garden as she left it - bright, colourful, and full of the joys of spring.  Of course I agreed, so you'll be able to see Sue's spring bulbs and other blooms about midway through the Event (garden #5).

 

 So, what else is coming up? 

GPE 2025 : Terrifying Triffidery

 

 Ah, here you all are - Welcome to the 6th annual Terrifying Triffidery extravaganza!

 

 Gathered here for your bewilderment and horror are some of the finest specimens of triffidery from across the globe.  And possibly from other globes, too.

 As always, the Bloggerati who supplied them did not see fit to provide any labels so it is up to you to identify these menacing monstrosities and from whom they originated.  The originators are listed on the poster above and, to make things a little more complicated, some of them supplied more than one triffid.  Good luck!

 

 A word of warning: Some of the specimens are mobile or have prehensile tendrils, so do keep your distance from the enclosures as you go by, and be sure to strap yourselves in. 

 The Hexenhäusli Device woodsman is on hand to ensure your safety and provide a demonstration of how to secure your extremities should you need it. 

 (I have personally gone through this with him several times - for certification purposes, of course - and still find myself somewhat breathless such was his enthusiasm and vigour!)  

 

  Oh, and please note: The Management cannot be held responsible for loss of limbs/head/life, and We hope you all manage to get through the tour relatively unscathed.  Or at least manage to Stay Alive...

 

 

 Yes, we watched Romy and Michele's High School Reunion the other day.  I love their dance routine to N-Trance's version of "Stayin' Alive" which is why I've featured it here!

 In fact, I've picked another Hallowe'en-adjacent song from Romy and Michele for later in this post.

 

Here's the full track for those who are interested:

 

WARNING! WARNING! This is Your Garden Photos Event Final Reminder

 Yes, in just over a week's time, on 31st October, the Terrifying Triffids will be released heralding the 15th annual

 

I N F O M A N I A C

GARDEN PHOTOS EVENT

 

 I hope you've all been taking photos of how your expansive grounds | bijou courtyard | overgrown wilderness | rampant houseplants | tasteful city garden | impenetrable jungle | potted paradise [delete as applicable] has grown over the year, as I'll want your carefully curated selections - along with terse or verbose captions - in my in-box by Wednesday 29th October, please.* 

 And remember also to include a photo or two of a particularly spooky plant in your collection - or, failing that, a rather more mundane plant which has been snapped at an odd angle/close-up/while drunk - to join the rest of the Terrifying Triffidery on Hallowe'en.

 This blog's gmail address for sending your photos & captions into is in my profile on top of the Sideboard over there.  Or, if you have the Host's personal hotmail address, you can use that instead.

 

☙❧

 

 For anyone new to this/with only a few houseplants/concerned about your gardening abilities (etc.) who may be wondering if you can take part: Yes, you can!

 As you can see by looking back through previous Garden Photos Events (see my handy GPE Page) pretty much anything goes - and the more the merrier!  You don't have to provide dozens of photos - one or two will be fine - and there'll be no judging or negative critique.  After all, in the exasperated tone of the GPE originator herself, The Very Mistress: 

 

May I remind you that the Garden Photos Event is NOT a competition!

 

 If you have any questions, thoughts, or ideas about the GPE, please sound off in the comments.

 

 

☙❧

 

 * But, because I am a soft touch, as long as some of you send in your photos by then, the rest of you lallygaggers can have a bit longer.  But not much longer, mind!  I have things to do, and I don't want to be curating photos all the way through November.  (I'll leave it up to you to decide who's going to be in my good books by getting their photos in on time, and who will earn under-my-breath mutterings and a spectacular eye roll come 30th October.  Or later.  Almost certainly later.)

 

 (As of this writing, we've received Triffid photos from five of you, and garden - indoor and out - photos from three of you lovely Bloggerati.  The rest of you - get your skates on!)

  

See you and your triffids - good or evil - next week!

Not The Infomaniac Garden Photos Event

 Yes, that's right, this is NOT the Infomaniac Garden Photos Event.  Because, as you all know, the GPE doesn't begin until the end of this month - Hallowe'en, in fact.

 It is, however, a reminder to most of you - and a wake-up call to one or two - that I'll need your garden photos by Wednesday 29th October if you'd like to take part.  Your Terrifying Triffidery photo/s MUST be submitted by the 29th so that I have time to put them together for the Hallowe'en post.  I may allow a little leeway for the main event photos because I'm a soft touch - BUT NOT TOO MUCH!

 More on that at the end of this post, but for now, here are some photos from Thursday's visit to the Old Vicarage Gardens at East Ruston: 

(In the vicinity of the) Winter Garden #1

 

(In the vicinity of the) Winter Garden #2