There is just something about Auriculas that I love. Maybe it is because there is so much variety, there is something about the shape of each individual flower that I like. I find the plants quite difficult to grow. I have lost many, bought many, but for now, I am staying with what I have left about six plants in pots and will hope to enjoy them. Its been a strange growing season. In fact despite the mild winter, they are later to come into flower compared with previous years. Non were ready for the April Show.
This is Primula auricula Nessun Dorma, the first to flower this year. In order to enjoy it I have brought it into the conservatory, though I am attempting to keep it as cool as possible. When I took the following picture yesterday, where the plant usually sits, so that I can have an eye level view, I realised that there is a metal flower on the shelves very similar in shape to an auricula!
When I checked the photograph close up, I realised that greenfly were starting to emerge, and unlike my garden where I hope birds and other insects help to maintain an equilibrium, house plants need to be defended!
Yesterday I went to St Nicholas Church to a lovely birthday concert given by my friend Vita, in which she sang some lovely songs with friends.
The Primula auricula is so pretty, Noelle, such a deep rich color, and I like the last shot in particular with the overlapping petals. It's great that you can keep it alive in a pot. I started a lot of fancier Primula from seed and some I bought, and it seems only 2 kinds are left, the tougher ones, I guess. And the usual common primulas are hanging in there too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Hannah. These fancy primulas needs a lot of cosseting. I replant them during their 'summer dormancy' period, then as they start their little autumn spurt,feed them with a high potash fertilizer. I also keep moving them around, early in the year into bright light, then into indirect light after they have flowered. Still worth it for a few plants I think. The old florists had gardeners to grow their best ones for them!
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