We start at the planting area in front of the Rutherford Conservatory.
Growing over the rock wall is Microcachrys tetragona, aka the creeping strawberry pine, which doesn't produce strawberries and isn't a pine.
It's in the Podocarpaceae family and those are cones, not fruit. Such an unusual plant.
Adiantum aleuticum var. subpumilim
Something about the leaves of this plant reminds me of a Banksia, do you see it?
I had to ask Emily Joseph (assistant nursery and retail sales manager at the garden) what it is... Lysionotus pauciflorus, it's a Gesneriad (African Violet family)! The Cistus Nursery description: "Another intriguing gesneriad, this with deeply lobed shiny leaves, to about 18” frequently adorned with lavender-purple "snapdragons”. A very good plant indoors anywhere, or outdoors where temperatures do not fall below the upper 20sF. We find it is vigorous enough to make a very good pot stuffer for shady situations. Keep from the hottest of sun and place on a saucer of damp gravel if used as an indoor plant. Frost hardy to 25 F, USDA zone 9b."
I guess I won't be planting it out in my garden. Oh well...
I love the low-growing assortment of textures in this area (still in front of the conservatory).
And who wouldn't want a rock wall you can plant in?
I also love these trough planters and they were looking especially fetching during my visit. Asplenium ceterach...
Cheilanthes argentea (on the left)
Cassiope, maybe C. ‘Askival’
Such cute little dried blooms.
I think that's another Cassiope on the left, and Adiantum aleuticum var. subpumilim on the right.
We're inside the conservatory now, the strappy plant in the middle of this photo is a Curculigo sp.
I believe that grass-like plant growing on the tower is Pyrrosia angustissima...
It was offered through the RSBG Fall Catalogue, but I'm not a member and by the time it was open to the public it was sold out.
I wasn't too sad about it, since I wasn't 100% sure I liked it. Then I saw it at a friend's garden (she'd received her catalogue order) and instant plant lust and jealousy washed over me. Photo of her plant...
Moving on, big sigh, moss makes everything better.
I do not know what this sweet fern is, but since we're still in the conservatory I wonder if it's not hardy?
Pyrrosia species SEH#15113 (in the catalogue and still available).
I love this Pyrrosia so much!
Another Pyrrosia, maybe P. sp. SEH#12547.
Out of the conservatory now, Kirengeshoma palmata, I think?
Pyrrosia sheareri, of course.
Wowsa! I still sometimes struggle with pink and orange together but this Magnolia sieboldii cone is working it.
Okay yes, I've shared these before, Pyrrosia logs.
I reminder to myself that I need to do more of this!
In the stumpery...
Goodyera oblongifolia, aka rattlesnake orchid.
Rhododendron cardiobasis
Another of the Pyrrosia log/stump plantings that I must visit.
And it was great to see Pellaea atropurpurea there too! I shared my haul back in an earlier post, but if you're curious I came home with a Rhododendron yuanbaoshanense, a Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum and a Aeschynanthus sp.
We're back in the RSBG nursery now where I was admiring the increased offerings (including some Little Prince plants). Love the backlit Eucomis with Cheilanthes sieberi.
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