Talking Dirty

Alan Gray and Thordis Fridriksson return with a look at the plants causing a sensation at East Ruston Old Vicarage this September, after a long and droughty summer.

PLANT LIST
Brugmansia × candida 'Shredded White Fantasy'
Iresine herbstii 'Brilliantissima'
Begonia 'Richmondensis'
Begonia grandis
Prunus 'Tai-haku'
Bupleurum fruticosum
Amsonia
Ceratostigma willmottianum
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Petunia exserta
Salvia involucrata 'Bethellii'
Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan'
Tragopogon balcanicus

With apologies for long absence, Alan Gray and Thordis return for more planty joy - with some 'Show and Tell' of what's looking great at East Ruston Old Vicarage at the moment!

PLANT LIST
Rosa 'Climbing Pompon de Paris'
Rosa 'Guy de Savoy'
Rosa 'La Rose de Petit Prince'
Rosa 'American Pillar'
Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin'
Clematis 'Tie Dye'
Fuchsia arborescens
Fuchsia procumbens
Plumbago auriculata
Zantedeschia 'Kiwi Blush'
Phygelius capensis
Kniphofia rufa
Punica granatum 'Flore Plena'
Salvia 'Tropicolor Sunrise'
Salvia 'Amistad'
Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'
Abelia chinensis
Erigeron annuus
Tagetes 'Cinnabar' (Dixter Strain)
Laurus nobilis 'Aurea'
Tradescantia 'Maiden's Blush'
Dianthus 'Chomley Farran'
Lathyrus odoratus 'Henry Eckford'
Echium vulgare
Dianthus carthusianorum
Lonicera etrusca 'Michael Rosse'

A new year and plenty to talk about. Join Alan Gray as he takes you and Thordis on a 'wander' through the plants wowing at East Ruston Old Vicarage this month.
PLANT LIST
Clianthus puniceus ‘Kākā King’
Lachenalia rubida
Fuchsia 'Wapenveld's Bloei'
Tropaeolum majus 'Hermine Grashoff'
Tropaeolum majus 'Margaret Long'
Tropaeolum majus 'Darjeeling Gold' syn 'Darjeeling Double'
Phlebodium aureum 'Davana'
Viola hederacea
Carex buchananii
Galanthus plicatus 'Wandlebury Ring'
Iris unguicularis
Iris lazica
Narcissus 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation'
Narcissus 'Pueblo'
Prunus mume 'Beni-chidori'
Malva arborea 'Variegata'
Salix alba var. vitellina 'Britzensis'
Arum 'Hungarian Rhapsody'
Galanthus 'Wasp'
Galanthus 'Glimmer of Gold'
Galanthus plicatus 'Golden Fleece'
Galanthus 'Primrose Warburg'

It's been a little while. Thank you for your patience.
Alan and Thordis wish you a very merry Christmas and all the best for 2026.
PLANT LIST
Anemone pavonina
Agave montana
Daphne bholua ‘Spring Beauty‘
Punica granatum var. Nana
Cordyline australis 'Charlie Boy'
Galanthus plicatus 'Three Ships'
Galanthus 'S. Arnott'
Arum pictum
Arum maculatum
Arum italicum subsp. neglectum 'Monksilver'
Musa sikkimensis 'Bengal Tiger'
Lagerstroemia indica
Weigela ‘Wings of Fire'
Euphorbia mellifera
Iris unguicularis
Iris unguicularis 'Peloponnese Snow'
Iris unguicularis 'Walter Butt'
Fascicularia bicolor
Dicksonia Antarctica
Viola hederacea
Begonia luxurians
Ilex aquilifolium ‘Nellie R Stevens’
Cyclamen persicum 'Dragon Deep Blue'
Plumbago auriculata
Bomarea caldasii

September already and East Ruston Old Vicarage is as bursting with colour as you might expect! Alan Gray brings just a few favourites for Show and Tell, while Thordis is FLOMO*ing over a very 'Alan' container she spotted on holiday!
*FLOMO = FLoral/plant-based fear Of Missing Out

PLANT LIST
Brugmansia 'Shredded White Fantasy'
Brugmansia × candida 'Grand Marnier'
Tagetes ex 'Cinnabar' Great Dixter form
Ageratum petiolatum
Tropaeolum majus 'Empress of India'
Lobelia tupa
Salvia regla
Salvia involucrata 'Bethellii'
Salvia involucrata 'Mulberry Jam'
Salvia involucrata 'Joan'
Salvia 'Tropicolor Sunrise'
Solanum laxum 'Crech ar Pape'
Catalpa fargesii
Begonia sutherlandii
Begonia sutherlandii 'Saunders' Legacy'
Cuphea 'David Verity'
Cuphea llavea
Lotus berthelotii
Salvia oxyphora
Chrysanthemum 'Julia Peterson'