Simple Sister - Angel Pelargonium

Simple Sister - Angel Pelargonium

When this Angel Pelargonium is in flower in my greenhouse, it always makes me smile. And they just seem to smile back.  The flower are small and single, very floriferous and with bright lavender pink markings on paler pink petals.  The leaves have a slight citrus scent.  Simple Sister is hybridised by Jay Kapac and can be obtained from Gosbrook Pelargoniums.

If you've not already done so, take a look at the website of The Pelargonium & Geranium Society - http://thepags.org.uk  for news, articles, reviews and members' forum.  Or find us on Facebook.

Quantock Perfection - a stunning Angel Pelargonium

Angel Perlargonium "Quantock Perfection"

Isn't this a gorgeous flower?    Beautiful frilled dark pink upper petals and paler lower petals, "Quantock Perfection" is a stunning Angel Perlargonium and one which always catches the eye in my greenhouse when it is in flower.   "Quantock Perfection" was hybridised by the well known Angels hybridiser Ken Dymond who has introduced so many of these lovely pelargoniums.    This is, I think, one of his best and indeed, it was awarded the BEGS* Gold Certificate in 2007.  

Quantock Perfection - Angel Pelargoniuim

If I thought last winter was bad, this winter has been even worse. My plants have been very slow to come into growth due to the cold and lack of light.   I usually give my zonal pelargoniums a boost with a high nitrogen feed in mid-February when I can first see some new growth.  Not this year though.  I have only just spotted the first signs of new growth this last week, so I will be giving the plants their annual boost this week.   They only get the one feed of high nitrogen – I don’t want my plants to have huge leaves!

*BEGS (The British & European Geranium Society) with The British Pelargonium & Geranium Society merged at the beginning of 2009 to become The Pelargonium and Geranium Society (PAGS).   Take a look at their new website: http://thepags.org.uk

Dibbinsdale - Dwarf zonal pelargonium

Dwarf Zonal pelargonium "Dibbinsdale"

Hybridised by Ken Lea, UK, "Dibbinsdale" was introduced about 1962.   "Dibbinsdale" is a beautiful dwarf zonal pelargonium with double deep pink flowers.    One of my favourites, although not in my collection now.

Dwarf Zonal pelargonium "Dibbinsdale

I’ve been taking a few more cuttings – mostly Angels as they are growing away nicely just now in the greenhouse.  Sadly, not all, but a lot of the cuttings I took just earlier in the year did not root at all, although oddly they looked OK, but on close inspection the stems in the plugs were beginning to rot.  Although they were in the heated propagator, I think it was just too cold at night and too warm during the day in the conservatory, even with the heat off.   At this time of year, cuttings can be a tricky business.     

Pelargonium grandiflorum

Pelargonium grandiflorum

Although a shrubby and straggling plant, P. grandiflorum has attractive and  unusual flowers.   The upper petals are large and can vary in colour from a creamy-white to pink, or purple with darker feathering.  The lower three petals are thinner, oval in shape and a pale pink to cream with a purple streak.    The stems are almost hairless with glaucus, sometimes zoned, palmate leaves.

Introduced into England in 1794 by Francis Masson, P. grandiflorum  is found naturally in the mountainous regions of the south-western Cape Province.

Leaves of  P. grandiflorum

Both's Snowflake - a scented pelargonium

"Both's Snowflake" Scented pelargonium

Looking through my Pelargonium photographs for something ‘seasonal’ I came across “Both’s Snowflake”.   It fits the bill don’t you think with all the snow we have had all over the country?

This is a scented variety and because the flower is not white, but a dainty pink, it is often wondered why the name “Both’s Snowflake”.   If you look closely at the leaves on this plant you will see that they are splashed and spotted with white – looking just like snowflakes.

I love the scented pelargoniums – they are a good all year value plant I think.  They have pretty flowers and a lovely scent in the summer, but in the winter I just have to brush my arm across them as I am watering the greenhouses in the winter to bring me a reminder of summers past and summer to come.    The leaves of “Both’s Snowflake “are deeply incised and have a rose/lemon scent.    I haven’t grown this plant for several years now, but it is a sprawling plant and suitable for growing in a patio container.

Many of you will know Ted Both as the South Australian hybridiser and introducer of the Stellar varieties.  He also hybridised many other types of pelargoniums, but I think “Both’s Snowflake” is the only scented variety.   Ted Both also introduced a miniature zonal variety called “Snowflake”, and to avoid confusion the prefix Both’s was added.

“COURTNEY WATSON” BI-COLOURED ZONAL PELARGONIUM

Bi-coloured zonal pelargonium "Courtney Watson"

This has to be one of the prettiest pelargoniums - I just love the colours.  Hybridised by that amazing Pelargonium hybridiser, the late Brian West, “Courtney Watson” has the most delicious soft peach semi-double flowers and delicate silver  bi-coloured leaves.    “Courtney Watson” is a cross between the miniature pelargonium "Ray Bidwell" and another of Brian West’s raisings, "Sandown".

Leaves of bi-coloured zonal pelargonium "Courtney Watson"

 The cuttings I took about a week ago are still looking good, particularly the angels.  I have lost a couple of scented cuttings and also a couple of the zonals.  But, hey!, that gives me four spaces to fill with cuttings.  

The greenhouse has dried out after the wet spell we had.  Now we have cold – very cold!    I do have greenhouse heaters, but last night we were down to -5C, so I took the precaution of covering the plants with a layer of fleece.  I took it off this morning as I want as much light as possible to get to the plants, but the fleece just gives an extra layer of warmth to my plants.   It will go on again tonight and every night we get these sub zero temperatures.  Very spoilt plants I have.