Gardening

[hollins]

The calico bush is kalmia latifolia. I think we also have one of those and it does flower later.

[hollins]

Hugo, I am not sure but I think this maybe our calico bush. It does have pink flowers but obviously they are not out yet. What do you think?

[Hugo]

Hollins,  I'm not an expert on plants but my calico bush  ( kalmia latifolia.) is more compact than the one in your last photo.    It's hard to tell but yours looks a bit like a rhododendron, you'll soon see when the flowers come out.
I've just gone into my garden to take a photo of the Calico Bush and it's looking odd to me.   Most of the shrub is  not in flower, but the parts that are, are looking more like the colour of the leaves of the Pieris that is intertwined with it.   
No wonder the plant is confused as it's my fault for planting them so close!
The Primulas are out now but that is all the colour I have in the garden at the moment.

[hollins]

Thanks for your help. Like you say we will have to wait until the flowers come out. I will post another photo then.
Your garden looks really lovely.

[hollins]

I was looking through the original posts on this gardening thread trying to see if I had posted a pic of the kalmia before and I saw the amazing photos that Hugo and Bellringer posted of their snowy gardens in December 2010. Worth a second look!

[hollins]

Sorry, I had asked the question before about this shrub in June 2011 and ME had very kindly given me the answer then!
It still looks quite different to yours though Hugo.

[Hugo]

Those flowers look very much like the ones that come out on my Calico Bush.   Here's a photo of the flowers that I took years ago, sorry about the quality of the photo.

[hollins]

Yes, I see. I think ours is just a sickly version of yours!
 

[Hugo]

I was looking through the original posts on this gardening thread trying to see if I had posted a pic of the kalmia before and I saw the amazing photos that Hugo and Bellringer posted of their snowy gardens in December 2010. Worth a second look!

This is my favourite photo from the posting.   It doesn't look like we'll be getting any snow this Winter though.   

[hollins]

I have been back and looked through my Dec 2010 photos. It is hard to imagine that winter now compared to the one we have just had or am I speaking too soon! Let's hope not.

[Neil]

I'm back from Malta on Wednesday, but I am remembering last year when the winter didn't really start until I'd got back from my winter holidays in mid March, hope that is not the case this year!

[snowcap]

are the flowers primroses  in your third photo Hugo? What are the blue ones called I.v got them in mine but not a clue what they.r called, Come back Blodyn

[Hugo]

are the flowers primroses  in your third photo Hugo? What are the blue ones called I.v got them in mine but not a clue what they.r called, Come back Blodyn

Yes Snowcap, they are primroses and the blue flowers near the Australian Tree Fern are called Muscari or Grape Hyacinth.     On the left of the photo the ordinary Hyacinths are starting to come into Flower.   
I had heard that Blodyn was still busy with her work but hope too that she gets some time off to do some postings     

[snowcap]

thanks for that Hugo now i know what to call them instead of referring to  them as those blue things.

[Merddin Emrys]

Our dwarf rhododendron is looking great this year!