I am pleased to see that I have a flower spike developing on my hybrid plant between N. sibuyanensis x N. aristolochioides

Flower spike on a N. sibuyanensis x N. aristolochioides

Just opened this week in the garden is the rich, deep coloured and highly strong smelling Dragon Arum Dracunculus vulgaris

This plant has a rather unpleasant smell of rotting meat to attract flies and other pollinators. Despite the smell though it clearly has a wonderful looking Spathe and Spadix.

Dragon Lily Dracunculus vulgaris June 2016

Dragon Lily Dracunculus vulgaris

Garden in the summer

Pond and rock garden

Although this post is not botanical it just has to go on. Feeding a wild animal has got to be one of the best moments in life.

Wild Possum feeding

A trusting moment

Anthouse plant – Cairns, Jan’ 2016

Last weekend I travelled back to Cairns and was able to find some Ant house plants again.

Anthouse plant fruit

I was also lucky enough to see a plant fruiting which I didn’t, three years ago.

In 2013 I went travelling to Australia in search of the Anthouse Plant Myrmecodia beccarii. This species has a fascinating symbiotic relationship in the wild between the host plant, the Golden Ant and the Apollo Jewel Butterfly.

An Anthouse plant growing in situ’, Cairns, Australia

Two smaller plants mounted on a piece of cork bark in the normal greenhouse conditions

A slightly larger plant that I am growing in a warm box with some lowland Nepenthes

I am pleased to have introduced these into my collection of tropical plants and I hope they survive through the winter. The slightly larger plant I decided would be worth putting in the heated box with some lowland Nepenthes to see which plants grow the best. Normal greenhouse conditions or extra warmth?

Dischidia pectinoides growing in my greenhouse

Another species of plant with the common name of the Ant plant but in fact a different genus altogether is Dischidia pectinoides.The leaves of the Dischidia shown here have bullate leaves which curl around on themselves forming a hollow chamber within, the ideal haven for ants. These plants grow as an epiphyte. High humidity, warmth and good light is all this plant needs.

My greenhouse contains many plants that are used for painting reference as a botanical artist.  The space has also proved to be a great place for personal relaxation and down time.  I have decided to create this blog site to show people the plants I am growing. The greenhouse is quite small but I have certainly crammed a lot of interesting plants into it. All of these originate from tropical regions and I have just over a 100 orchids ranging from Coryanthes to Dendrobiums, Angraecums, Gongora’s and Stanhopea’s

Inside my greenhouse