GBBD for JULY

My second Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day already.
Can't quite believe that a whole month has passed.

Things are looking rosier.

Phalaenopsis santeriana

Early Autumn? No: this picture was actually taken yesterday.

Last remnants of Rosa 'Alfred Sisley'

White Hebe with Lavender 'Hidcote'

Rosa 'Constance Spry'

Penstemon 'King George'

Above some of the plants that are giving me pleasure at the moment. The orchids are one of many garden presents I have received over the weeks. I feel truly spoiled by the kindness that has been shown me.

Phalaenopsis is one of the easier orchids to grow when you don't have a heated greenhouse. It will flourish in a warm room, (minimum of 15 degrees C overnight) as long as there are no draughts and good light but not direct sunlight. In poor light they develop lots of green leaves at the expense of flowers.

Compost should be changed after a year or so, and will need the addition of bark or rockwool. It should not be allowed to totally dry out, and hard water should be avoided. Better to use boiled and then cooled tapwater or use clean rainwater at room temperature.

A weak liquid general feed every other week at most, and the removal of spent leaves and flowers will be required. The flower stalk should be cut off no more than half way, at the nearest node, in order to have more blooms coming.

Penstemons (= five stamens), or Beard's tongue, won't do well in shade. They need a year to became established and should be cut back to 3 inches in April of the second year. This will promote strong flowering stems.

They mostly originate from the US and have been around in the UK since Victorian times and even then there were many hybrids around. They are a promiscuous lot and the endless numbers of seedlings raised by amateurs and professionals alike, mean that the nomenclature is extremely confusing.
As early as 1910 there were trials at Wisley of around 190 cultivars.