As observed during August 2011
30/8/2011
A prickly customer.
Eryngium amethystinum var. euspinosa was collected from grassland in the Tuscan hills in which mature plants were
growing in abundance at c. 900m. The plants can be found through the Mediterranean region, preferring an
alkaline soil. A mature plant is now thriving in the rock garden. 
The clump does fall apart in the centre as the weight of its growth develops. The flowers, opening metallic violet, attract all manner of pollinating insects. It is a desirable specimen when in full open bloom, one which needs an open sunny situation, plenty of space and ideally support to utilise its full potential.
23/8/2011
Twilight zone
Aster macrophylla ‘Twilight’ 
is proving its worth this season. Monsoon like downpours have characterised August and many herbaceous
plants have bowed to the weight of the rain. Not so this strong growing and mass flowering of this
Aster.
Reaching a height of one metre it produces prolific amounts of blue ray florets. The plant becomes home to swarms of hoverflies in the warmth of early evening, just as twighlight time arrives.
16/8/2011
Patriotic Balloon
The twin colours of the Saltire, the national flag of Scotland, are the feature of this 
cultivar. The species has blue petals; this reversion has a mixture of white and striations or blotches and splatters of blue. A member of.jpg "Platycodon grandiflorum"){kind=small}
the family Campanulaceae, native to China, it is a compact herbaceous perennial with good habit and 
much flower. The terminal flower buds swell rapidly becoming balloon like then burst open to reveal the flower parts to pollinating insects. Flattened, twisting brown anthers and an icicle like stigma.
Choose an open situation where the sun will warm the soil for this plant to give of its best. A light well drained soil is another prerequisite to maximise growth and flowering. The leaves are serrated around the edges and arranged spirally on the sturdy stem.
9/8/2011
Shapely foliage
Planted to nestle down in the streamside within the Chinese plant collection this herbaceous Composite; Sinacalia
davidii, has foliage shaped for effect. A native of China, the seed collected from a plant growing in Sichuan
Province. It thrives on grassy slopes, roadsides and forest margins in the wild. Growing to one
metre the flower spikes are made up of a multitude of thin cylindrical yellow flowers.
Individual leaves lie flat and have straight edges with severe angles. Mid green in colour they are an attractive feature of this plant.
2/8//2011
Evenly balanced
An avenue of Zonal Pelargoniums leading visitors into the Victorian Palm House. Single colour block planting; what better way to make a statement. This is Pelargonium ‘Pentland Deep Red’, a cultivar raised from seed and grown on
from plug plants. Planted out in early June and now showing scarlet bloom in profusion welcoming visitors taking respite from the Edinburgh Festival. By continuously dead heading the display will prolong well into the autumn.
The containerised Olive trees, Olea europaea, are showing tight flower buds. A native of the Eastern Mediterranean where it fruits on hillsides baked by the sun. Here these are given shelter in a polytunnel during the winter months.