FFF210 - DELPHINIUM 'BLUE SENSATION'

Delphinium is a genus of about 300 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae, native throughout the Northern Hemisphere and also on the high mountains of tropical Africa. All members of the Delphinium genus are toxic to humans and livestock. The common name "larkspur" is shared between perennial Delphinium species and annual species of the genus Consolida. The name "delphinium" derives from the Latin for "dolphin", referring to the shape of the nectary.

'Blue Sensation' is a vigorous Delphinium that will rebloom up to five times after each successive flush when dead headed. Ideal in cottage gardens where it adds a dimension of height and colour. Growing to just under a metre, the strong, well branched stems of Delphinium 'Blue Sensation' are loaded with blooms through summer. Plant in a sunny location with well drained, humus rich soil and fertilise well. Delphinium 'Blue Sensation' can be enjoyed as a cut flower also. Plant Delphinium 'Blue Sensation' in moist, humus rich, well drained soil, that has well-rotted manure or compost worked into the soil prior to planting.

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FFF210

1.	STRAWBERRY	12.	Cath@Home in Tasmania	23.	Aletta - nowathome	34.	Vivishageroms fotoblogg
2.	RASPBERRY	13.	Lea's Menagerie	24.	Frauke {it's me!}	35.	Heidrun
3.	BLACKBERRY	14.	WoollyMuses	25.	moni (reflexionblog)	36.	Sara Chapman, Seattle USA
4.	DUSTY MILLER	15.	orchid(Japan)	26.	Maribels Garden	37.	Romi
5.	Birgitta B	16.	Lieblingslandleben	27.	bij jen	38.	Anne-Mari
6.	Tom The Backroads Traveller	17.	Dekotraum - Austria	28.	Lenas Trädgårdsrum	39.	Liz Needle
7.	ohmydearests:in the garden	18.	Nicole/Frau Frieda	29.	Dawn	40.	photographing New Zealand
8.	Jesh StG	19.	ladyleemanila	30.	BEE & FLOWER	41.	isabella
9.	AMARYLLIS | Julia	20.	naehmeise.blogspot.de	31.	Rose Garden Malevik	42.	Ingmarie We/Refugium
10.	Katarina - Sweden	21.	Anne Seltmann	32.	veta	43.	Zauberpalme
11.	Abrianna	22.	Ulla Laiho	33.	Gabi *handGemacht*

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FFF209 - MOTHER & CHILD ROSE

Rosa "Mother and Child" is a new release hybrid from Rankin’s Roses for 2015. The elegant strong stems of "Mother and Child" peak into highly fragrant clusters of dark pink flowers, with up to 10 flowers per stem. Set off by hardy, dark green foliage, the beautiful blooms of "Mother and Child" will flower profusely and will stay disease free (very resistant to black spot and mildew in gardens). The rose grows approximately 1.1m high x 0.6m wide. Rankin's "Mother and Child" sales will follow the tradition in supporting research into MND (Motor Neurone Disease) to find a cure for this terrible disease.

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FFF209

1.	WHITE TI-TREE	11.	Ingmarie We/Refugium	21.	Jutta K. Germany	31.	Rose Garden Malevik
2.	SPIDER CHRYSSIES	12.	Ulla Laiho	22.	Frauke {it's me!}	32.	Dawn
3.	ALSTROEMERIA	13.	WoollyMuses	23.	Maribels Garden	33.	orchid(Japan)
4.	DIANTHUS	14.	Jesh StG	24.	Annie (bien tomber)	34.	Sara Chapman, Seattle USA
5.	Tom The Backroads Traveller	15.	Katarina - Sweden	25.	Lieblingslandleben	35.	Liz Needle
6.	Minoru	16.	photographing New Zealand	26.	bij jen	36.	Anne-Mari
7.	ladyleemanila	17.	Villroses hage	27.	Nicole/Frau Frieda	37.	Ela
8.	JULIA | mammilade-blog	18.	Dekotraum - Austria	28.	Amy Johnson	38.	Fresh Apples and joyful colours
9.	pink ROSES and more | JULIA	19.	Aletta - nowathome	29.	Heidrun	39.	Buttercups
10.	andrea, italy	20.	naehmeise.blogspot.de	30.	Square cacti arrangement

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FFF208 - GONDWANA BOUQUET

The flora of South Africa and Australia is quite distinctive with quite a few rich botanical families that provide a diverse and amazing bouquet of flowers. The Proteaceae (banksias, grevilleas, waratahs) and Myrtaceae (eucalypts, bottlebrushes, titrees, lillipillis) especially are well represented.

Australia and New Zealand once formed part of a huge southern land mass now referred to as Gondwanaland, whereas northern hemisphere continents were once aggregated into Laurasia. Gondwanaland and Laurasia began to disaggregate about 160 million years ago. Prior to this time, the southern hemisphere land masses and India were connected into Gondwanaland, while North America, Europe and much of Asia formed Laurasia.

South Africa, Madagascar, India, South America, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Australia and various other fragments broke away and drifted northwards, leaving Antarctica behind. Australia and South America were the last major land masses to separate from Antarctica, Australia beginning slowly about 90 to 100 million years ago and establishing a deep ocean passage some 30 to 40 million years ago.

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FFF208

1.	PHILADELPHUS	14.	Jesh StG	27.	andrea, italy	40.	bij jen
2.	RED PEONIES	15.	Tom The Backroads Traveller	28.	Sara Chapman, Seattle USA	41.	Zauberpalme
3.	STRELITZIA	16.	Abrianna	29.	naehmeise.blogspot.de	42.	Ingmarie We/Refugium
4.	ORANGE ROSES	17.	Heidrun	30.	Nicole/Frau Frieda	43.	amy Johnson
5.	Mina fotostunder	18.	Lenas Trädgårdsrum	31.	Frauke {it's me!}	44.	hapzydeco
6.	Julia | mammilade-blog	19.	Villroses hage	32.	Jutta K. Deutschland	45.	Anne Seltmann
7.	veta	20.	Andrea, Pure Oxygenerators	33.	Ulla Laiho	46.	Dawn
8.	HYDRANGEA | Julia	21.	Andrea, lupins	34.	DAHLIAS	47.	Liz Needle
9.	ladyleemanila	22.	Gayle	35.	moni (reflexionblog)	48.	Rose Garden Malevik
10.	Vform	23.	photographing New Zealand	36.	Maribels Garden	49.	Grønn fryd hos Monique
11.	Mascha	24.	Aletta - nowathome	37.	Advent-Wreath	50.	Alexa T
12.	Tony in Tasmania	25.	Dekotraum - Austria	38.	a spirit of simplicity
13.	Katarina - Sweden	26.	andrea, italy	39.	Romi

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FFF207 - EASTER CACTUS

Hatiora gaertneri is a species of epiphytic cactus within the family Cactaceae. Together with the hybrid with H. rosea, Hatiora ×graeseri, it is known as Easter cactus or Whitsun cactus and is a widely cultivated ornamental plant. H. gaertneri is found in southeastern Brazil, in Paraná and Santa Catarina, at altitudes of 350–1,300 m. As with other species of the genus, H. gaertneri grows on trees (epiphytic) or less often rocks (lithophytic) in tropical rain forests.

With maturity, it develops into a branching pendant leafless shrub with a woody base. The stems are made up of segments, most of which are flattened and which are the photosynthetic organs (cladodes) of the plant. Structures characteristic of cacti, called areoles, form in these notches. Flowers form from areoles at the ends of the stems. These are scarlet in colour, 4–5 cm long, radially symmetrical (actinomorphic), opening to a funnel shape with a maximum diameter of about 4–7.5 cm. Red oblong fruits form after the flowers are fertilised.

Under the name Easter cactus or Whitsun cactus, Hatiora gaertneri is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant for its scarlet flowers. Its common names reflect the period in which it flowers in the Northern Hemisphere, namely late Spring. It has been artificially crossed with a pink-flowered species, Hatiora rosea, to form the hybrid H. × graeseri, cultivars of which have flowers in a wider range of colours. The Easter cactus is considered more difficult to grow than the Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera).

Recommendations for care include:

Temperature Summer temperatures around 25 °C are suggested, with lower temperatures down to 7–13 °C in the winter (November to January in the Northern Hemisphere) to initiate good bud formation.

Light As epiphytic forest plants, they are not exposed to strong sunlight. Half-shade is recommended; plants can be placed outside in the summer.

Watering The Easter cactus is said to respond badly to over- or under-watering, e.g. by losing stem segments; continuously moist soil is recommended.

Propagation Stem segments may be removed in late Spring and the cut surface allowed to dry out before being placed in slightly moist soil.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so. 

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FFF207

1.	YARROW	12.	Jesh StG	23.	Gartendrossel	34.	amy Johnson
2.	AGONIS	13.	Heidrun	24.	bij jen	35.	Maribels Garden
3.	DIETES	14.	Aletta - nowathome	25.	PARSLEY	36.	Dawn
4.	PEONY	15.	Romi	26.	Gayle atMuldoon	37.	la vita
5.	Birgitta B	16.	WoollyMuses	27.	Nicole/Frau Frieda	38.	Lenas Trädgårdsrum
6.	Abrianna	17.	Dekotraum - Austria	28.	PASSIONFLOWER	39.	Rose Garden Malevik
7.	Katarina - Sweden	18.	Vita- Germany	29.	Liz Needle	40.	andrea, italy
8.	Tom The Backroads Traveller	19.	naehmeise	30.	moni (reflexionblog)	41.	Grønn fryd hos Monique
9.	Sara Chapman, Seattle USA	20.	Frauke {it's me!}	31.	Cath@Home	42.	A Student Gardener
10.	Sara Chapman #2	21.	DAHLIAS	32.	Perfect Rose	43.	veta
11.	Sara Chapman #3	22.	ladyleemanila	33.	Anne Seltmann

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