Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Windless Wednesday




My Autumn Driveway.



"Ho!

for the leaves that eddy down,
Crumpled yellow a
nd withered brown,

Hither and yonder and up the street
And trampled under the passing feet;


Swirling, billowing, drifting by,
With a whisper soft and a rustling sigh,

Starting aloft to windy ways,
Telling the coming of bonfire days."
- Grace Strickler Dawson, Bonfire Days

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Iris ensata "Confetti Shower"

Early / Mid Season Japanese Iris.





Iris ensata
" Confetti Shower"






Another stunning soft but subtle Japanese iris that grows well in the Otara Birch Gardens making it's own statement when flowering in my garden display.




This iris produces tall stems of huge beautiful flowers in early to mid season. This 6 petal rose violet purple flowers which looks very beautiful in a garden display.


The striking rose - ground, violet, blue stippled petals, purple veins extending into the purple banded halo. Brilliant dark purple style arms complimenting the presentation of this beautiful flower.

The flower smiles and radiates in the soft evening light.


The plant grows really well for me with lots of beautiful clean foliage with stems held proudly above the upright arching foliage. It produces an abundance of flowering stems on a well formed stunning clump in early December.



Another beautiful variety created by Walter A. Payne. This seedling was crossed from selected seedling Payne seedling 30 X Payne seedling 82, being registered and introduced in 1950.



In 1964 this iris was awarded with a Bronze M
edal from the International Horticultural Exhibition, USA.

















It grows to a height of 122 cms (48 ins) and flowers mid season in New Zealand, while flowering in the early to mid season else where in the world.





Available in New Zealand and around the world.



Please click on the photo's to enlarge.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Windless Wednesday





The Final Curtain.



What a beautiful time of year to wander through my garden and contemplate the passing of time.

To see how the sharpness of Autumn cold....

has highlighted the leaves from green
....

to scarlet and gold....






Soon time to rest....

to conserve....

to gather energy....

as the winter months unfold.






~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Come said the wind to
the leaves one day,
Come o're the meadows
and we will play.
Put on your dresses
scarlet and gold,
For summer is gone
and the days grow cold."
- A Children's Song of the 1880's

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Japanese Iris 'CRYSTAL HALO'


Early / Mid Season Japanese Iris.



Iris ensata
" Crystal Halo"




Growing at Otara Birch gardens a fantastic angel of deep violet petals surrounded with a bight white halo in mid season lasting two to three weeks in its flowering makes it's own statement.

This iris produces tall stems of huge beautiful flowers measuring 5 - 6" across in early to mid season. This 6 petal purple has a white band on the flowers which stands out being very spectacular in a garden display when planted on mass.

The striking purple centres with a bright 1" halo set around the edge of the huge petals, purple veins extending into the white halo. Brilliant dark purple style arms complimenting the presentation of this beautiful huge flower.This flower smiles and radiates in the early evening light from some distance catching the eye with its bold presentation.







The plant grows really well for me with lots of beautiful clean foliage and tall ram rod stems held proudly above the upright arc
hing foliage. It produces an abundance of flowering stems on a well formed stunning clump in early December. Excellent pod parent for use in any hybridizing program.



Another great variety created by W
alter Marx from the many hundreds that he considered to release.


This seedling 49-43 was produced from crossing two Higo seedlings, being registered in 1958 and introduced by him in his 'Walter Marx Gardens' in 1959.

It grows to a height of 97 cms (38 ins) and flowers mid season in New Zealand, while flowering in the mid to late season else where in the world.

Available in New Zealand and around the world.








.









.