Viva Mexico!

A drizzly start to the day, so I finished, eventually, wiring the laminated labels for the recently planted shrubs at Dunollie. I've not been there for ages and hoped for a dry afternoon to let me finish the job. It really has to be dry or otherwise my notes get wet! Needless to say it didn't let up, so I had to give Dunollie a miss, while Mrs M went to join her friends in the sewing group there. 
 
So I'm sitting behind the computer sorting pictures and cataloguing various things, Maybe in another life I could have been a researcher, as I like finding out about plants and places and writing them up!
 
My Blip today is a case in point. This is Eucodonia ‘Adele’, a tender hybrid between the two Eucodonia species which are native to Southern Mexico and Central America. There seems to be some difference of opinion as to their identities. It’s a plant of moist and shady forests, so quite enjoys a windowsill here in Oban! This flower is about 4cms across.
 
It’s a member of what is probably my favourite genus - Gesneriaceae. There are a few hardy shrubby species - I grow Mitraria coccinea and Asteranthera ovata outside - but probably the best known plants in the genus are the African Violets. Eucodonia ‘Adele’ grows from scaly rhizomes which are potted in the spring, grow into beautiful foliage and flowering plants, then die down for the winter. I was given some rhizomes by a friend and now have several potsful!

Then as the rain was almost off I went out and planted a rhododendron!
 
Quote of the Day: “Plants want to grow; they are on your side as long as you are reasonably sensible.” — Anne Wareham.