MY FAVOURITE GARDEN FLOWERS

We are now up to "H" and the flowers I prefer are hyacinth and hollyhock.  Hydrangea get a look in as well as honeysuckle.

HYACINTH are a small genus of bulbous flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae.  The genus is native to the eastern Mediterraean (from south Turkey through Lenanon and Syra to northern Israel/Palestine), Iraq north-east Iran and Turkmenistan.

HOLLYHOCK:  Alcea, commonly known as hollyhocks, is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae.  They are native to Asia and Europe.

HYDRANGEA is a genus of 70-75 species of flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia and the Americas.  By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia. notably China, Japan and Korea.

HONEYSUCKLES are arching shrubs or twining bines in the family Caprifoliaceae, native to the Northern Hemisphere.  Approximiately 180 species of honeysuckle have been identified in Europe 20 in India, and 20 in North America.  Honeysuckle gets its name because edible sweet nectar can be sucked.

I have never attempted to grow the first three although I always admire them in the gardens of others.  We have honeysuckle climbing over one of our side fences.  It is the white species (shown above).  Years ago I had a tiny piece and popped in the ground and before long it had covered several metres along a picket fence.  When we had that fence replaced with a modern metal one I then planted some on the picket fence on the other side of the house and it once again took off and grows with little assistance or water.  (Phil used to work with a chap that said he couldn't get honeysuckle to grow no matter how hard he tried.  I often wondered if he tried too hard.  I gave Phil several rooted pieces for his workmate but unfortunately I never got feedback to know if he managed to get it to grow or not).  I think it is one of those plants that thrives on neglect so it does well in our garden.