Aerial shot of a nursery garden with geometrically pruned trees near Leer, Germany (© Karl Johaentges/Getty Images)

FFF8 - MONTBRETIA IN OUR GARDEN

Montbretias belong in the the Iridaceae family of bulbs, the Crocosmias having originated in Southern Africa. Montbretia is a hardy member of the Crocosmia group and is very easy to grow. Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora (Montbretia) is a garden hybrid of C. aurea and C. pottsii, first bred by Victor Lemoine in 1880. The variety illustrated here is ‘His Majesty’.


The orange flowers are trumpet shaped and appear alternately along the stems. The leaves are long and narrow.This is one of the few summer flowers in our garden that make a pretty display and can grow wildly. Some people call this a "wild gladiolus", but the wild gladiolus is pinkish in colour.


Please join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below.

Stately live oaks in Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, S.C. -- Adam Jones/Visuals Unlimited, Inc. ©

Hyacinth and tulip garden, Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, Netherlands -- Adam Jones / Getty Images ©

Shore Acres Dahlia Gardens

The dahlia beds in this garden are breathtaking. There are four big beds full of hundreds of dahlias in dozens of different varities and colors. I won't bore those of you who aren't flower lovers with photos of all the varities but will show a few of my favorites.

Tomatoes

The tomatoes were late starting to ripen this year. These cherry tomatoes are my favorites. They taste best standing in the garden picking and eating them right there.

Artichoke

I discovered this lone artichoke in a flower bed at work. I don't know anything about them but I think you're supposed to pick them before they flower. I think seeing the flower is worth giving up eating the veggie though.