Author Archives: admin
Nepenthes flower spike
Garden
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.
Wildlife
Cairns, Australia
Anthouse Plant
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.
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?
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.
Greenhouse news
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