"Bell" Ernie Oliver - dwarf zonal pelargonium

"Bell" Ernie Oliver

Introduced in 2012 by Gosbrook Pelargoniums and hybridised by Steve Pollard. A dwarf  zonal pelargonium, ‘Bell’ Ernie Oliver has beautiful deep rose pink flowers above gold leaves that have a bronze zone, making a very attractive plant.  Why ‘Bell’?  Steve named this plant for Ernie Oliver and as he had been a bell ringer, it was requested that this be recognised in the name of the plant.  

"Bell" Ernie Oliver

 After what has seemed like a very long winter, we have at last had some bright sunny days recently and it is amazing how the plants in the greenhouses have perked up.  I have removed the bubble wrap and cleaned the glass.  I have not yet put the fleece away yet as we have a change in our weather forecast for this weekend with frosts predicated.  With the warm days and chilly nights I have had quite a few leaves turning red.  These I have been removing from the plants.  As recommended by Ken Abel in his monthly tips column on The Pelargonium & Geranium Society website, I do not take these off the plant all at once; just a few at a time.  One thing I don’t do though is take the entire leaf and stem off – just the leaf, leaving the stem.  This is so that any diseases cannot enter the plant through the wound left from pulling of the leaf stem.  The stem very quickly dies in a matter of days and turns brown and brittle and is very easily pulled off. 

Zonal leaf turning red

Regal Pelargonium "Aztec"

"Aztec" Regal Pelargonium

Introduced by Wm. E. Schmidt in 1962, the regal perlargonium "Aztec"  flowers profusely and has a compact and self-branching habit, making it a popular choice still today for exhibitors.     The flowers have a  dark red centre blotch gradually fading to strawberry red and then to white/palest pink around the petal edges. 

There is a version with fringed petals which is  a sport from "Aztec" and was introduced in the U.S.A. in 1973.  It was originally named “Betty Bly”, but was introduced commercially in 1975 as "Fringed Aztec".

This winter has certainly been a challenge.  I have had to admit defeat and have thrown a lot of my plants out.  I took cuttings from those that had fairly good cutting material on them first.   I'm not sure how these cuttings will fare; only time will tell.  Cuttings taken about three weeks ago are now rooting well and will very soon need potting on.  Other plants in the greenhouse have been re-potted.  What we really need now are some bright sunny and warm days and the plants will really perk up and begin to grow. 

DWARF PELARGONIUM 'CLAYDON'

"Claydon" - dwarf zonal pelargonium

Hybridised by the late Ray Bidwell of Suffolk, "Claydon" is a compact dwarf zonal pelargonium with double lilac pink flowers and dark leaves with a darker zone.  Ray Bidwell lived in Suffolk and named many of his varieties after local villages.   He introduced many miniature and dwarf varieties which are still available today.

SILVER GLITTER - MINIATURE BI-COLOURED STELLAR

Silver Glitter - miniature bi-coloured stellar

"Silver Glitter" is a miniature silver bi coloured stellar pelargonium with double white flowers which are speckled and splashed with bright red.    This is another pelargonium hybridised  by the late Brian West and is a cross between Chelsea Star and Pidford.  "Silver Glitter" was released through Warrenorth Pelargoniums.

Silver bi-coloured leaves of "Silver Glitter"

Despite it now being officially spring, we still have very low light levels and cold weather here in the UK and my pelargoniums, like those of many other growers here, are very late in making any growth this year.     The forecast for the rest of the month is not good either, although we are getting the odd bright day.  I've been potting on and re-potting some of my plants this week.  The plants certainly do appreciate the new compost around their roots.  

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