Just one Pelargonium!

Pelargonium exstipulatum

The sky was blue, the sun was shining so, although there was a chilly wind, Brian and I went to Wisley this morning.  And I found just this one pelargonium in flower in the glasshouse.  The natural habitat of Pelargonium exstipulatum is the Little Karoo in southern Cape Province growing on light soils in rocky conditions.   Said to be a small branching woody shrub, the plant at Wisley was quite sprawly and ground spreading.  The one I had grew in a straight line upwards - I should probably have pinched it out to make it branch.   The leaves are an attractive grey/green, but do have a sticky feel to them, and a pungent aromatic scent.   Diana Miller, in her book on the species 'Pelargoniums' says this plant is known to have been grown here as early as 1779 by the Countess of Strathmore.

Some colourful views of Wisley today:-



This view of the prairie planting outside the glasshouse always looks good, whatever time of year.

I'm not too sure about this display in the corridor between the glasshouses - a mix of spring, summer and autumn planting.



Brian hopes our Crassula does not get this big!  

I don't think they are real!  Hippos in the glasshouse pool.

Alpine House

Crevice Garden being constructed outside the Alpine House - looks interesting.