FFF366 - DIETES

Dietes bicolor (variously known as African iris or fortnight lily) is a clump-forming rhizomatous perennial plant with long sword-like pale-green leaves, growing from multiple fans at the base of the clump. This species belongs to the Iridaceae (Iris) family. It can form large clumps if left undisturbed for years.

This species is common in horticulture in its native South Africa, where it is often used in public gardens, beautification of commercial premises and along roadsides. The blooms are yellow with three dark purple spots, each surrounded by an orange outline, and are followed by a capsule that may bend the flower stalks to the ground. Ripe seeds (dark brown in colour) are dispersed when the capsule dries and splits. The leaves of Dietes bicolor are narrower than those of Dietes grandiflora and Dietes iridioides, and tend to arch more.

Some species of Dietes are considered "environmental weeds" in parts of Australia, particularly Western Australia, Queensland, and Lord Howe Island.

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FFF365 - RED POPPY

Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy, is the species of plant from which opium and poppy seeds are derived. Opium is the source of many drugs, including morphine (and its derivative heroin), thebaine, codeine, papaverine, and noscapine. The Latin botanical name means the "sleep-bringing poppy", referring to the sedative properties of some of these opiates.

The opium poppy is the only species of Papaveraceae that is an agricultural crop grown on a large scale. Other species, Papaver rhoeas and Papaver argemone, are important agricultural weeds, and may be mistaken for the crop. This poppy is also valuable for ornamental purposes, and has been known as the "common garden poppy", referencing all the group of poppy plants.

Poppy seeds of Papaver somniferum are an important food item and the source of poppy seed oil, a healthy edible oil that has many uses.

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FFF364 - ALSTROEMERIA

Alstroemeria, commonly called the Peruvian lily or lily of the Incas, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Alstroemeriaceae. They are all native to South America. Almost all of the species are restricted to one of two distinct centres of diversity, one in central Chile, the other in eastern Brazil. Species of Alstroemeria from Chile are winter-growing plants while those of Brazil are summer-growing. All are long-lived perennials except Alstroemeria graminea, a diminutive annual from the Atacama Desert of Chile.

The genus was named after the Swedish baron Clas Alströmer (1736 – 1794) by his close friend Carolus Linnaeus. Many hybrids and at least 190 cultivars have been developed, featuring many different markings and colours, including white, yellow, orange, apricot, pink, red, purple, and lavender. The most popular and showy hybrids commonly grown today result from crosses between species from Chile (winter-growing) with species from Brazil (summer-growing). This strategy has overcome the problem of seasonal dormancy and resulted in plants that are evergreen, or nearly so, and flower for most of the year. This breeding work derives mainly from trials that began in the United States in the 1980s. The flower, which resembles a miniature lily, is very popular for bouquets and flower arrangements in the commercial cut flower trade.

Shown here is the hybrid 'Indian Summer'. This variety has a strong upright habit and produces pale orange to yellow flowers set against unique bronze foliage. Height 70-100cm spread 30-70cm. Plant in part-shade, fertilise regularly and do not allow the soil to dry out.

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FFF363 - PINCUSHION PROTEA

Leucospermum is a genus of evergreen upright, sometimes creeping shrubs that is assigned to the Proteaceae, with currently forty-eight known species. Almost all species are easily recognised as Leucospermum because of the long protruding styles with a thickened pollen-presenter, which jointly give the flower head the appearance of a pincushion, its common name. Pincushions can be found in South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Currently, the genus is subdivided in nine sections based on morphological commonalities and differences, each section having several species. The classification becomes more complex when garden hybrids are considered. Leucospermum pluridens 'Gold Fever' is shown here and is a large upright evergreen shrub of up to 3 m high. It has leathery, oblong to wedge-shaped leaves about 7½ cm long and 2½ cm wide, deeply incised near the tip with seven to ten teeth.

It has initially yellow, later carmine coloured flower heads. The 2 cm long bracts have slender, recurved tips. From the centre of the perianth emerge long styles that jointly give the impression of a pincushion. It is called Robinson pincushion in English and Robinson-kreupelhout in Afrikaans. Flowers can be found between September and December. It naturally occurs in the south of South Africa.

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FFF362 - ROSA 'HENRI MATISSE'

Rosa 'Henri Matisse' is a Delbard rose. Georges Delbard began the family empire with a simple shop in Paris 1935 selling his vegetable seedlings and flowers. A keen grower of new plant varieties, Georges soon found the need for more varieties of fruit trees, so he began breeding new trees on a small property in Malicorne, 3 hours south of Paris. His success grew and many Delbard Garden Centres were opened around France.

Rose breeding began in earnest around the early 1950's and from that moment Delbards fame as a great rose breeder grew, first throughout France, then Europe. Today their roses can be seen growing in gardens and glasshouses from South America to South Africa, North America, Japan, Russia and finally Australia.

The Delbard rose collection is well known for its 'Painters' hybrids, which are variegated and multicoloured. These roses have been named after great Artists that add a brilliant flare to any garden. We have 'Henri Matisse' hybrid growing in our garden, and what led us to choose this was the intense delicious fragrance it has.

Rosa 'Henri Matisse; is a grandiflora style plant with swirling colours of raspberries, pinks and whites in large double flowers. Marvellous rich perfume with notes of rose and raspberry. it is a sturdy bush and produces mass flowering, bursting with colour.

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