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Cape Point

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Hello All,

 

Having stated that our season was over this bloom turned up.  And what a lovely flower!  This is not one of Brian’s recent introductions but is still a regular winner.  This bloom was large and has wonderful texture.  Oh, for a show!

 

I can assure everyone that our season is really over this timCheers,

 

Peter

3 comments for “Cape Point”

  1. Hello Peter,
    My goodness – how on earth did you manage to get ‘Cape Point’ to flower so late?  I regard it as mid-season – possibly late mid-season but I’ve never had it when all other flowers are over. I suspect it may be a new import and not yet turned around, very late planting or perhaps some disease has got to it. I know that many of your NZ flowers tend to flower relatively earlier than many of our British Isles flowers but there must be another factor here? Anyway, whatever,the reason I would not like the impression to be left that ‘Cape Point’ is a late late end of season flower. Six- eight  weeks  ago I had a newly imported Tasmanian bulb in bloom.
    Brian

  2. Hello Brian,

     

    None of the above!  Excellent glossy green foliage. and not a new import. I have had this stock for a long time.  Some other stock that was acquired from a fellow NZ grower flowered a little earlier.  In NZ Cape Point  is never seen mid season unless pot grown or pre-chilled. Several of your varieties are late flowerers here – for example Outline and Jake have finished flowering about a week ago.  Great flowers on both. Many UK varieties are also late here eg Astrid’s Memory.   However Cape Point is usually available for the SI National (was Reserve Best Bloom there  three years ago) as are Jake and Outline – we have experienced a very late season this year which was welcome after five very early seasons in a row.  Whatever, the bloom of Cape Point is still on my mantelpiece and is a welcome addition to the flowering season.

     

    Peter

     


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  3. Peter,
    I have to accept what you say – perhaps it is the absence of a decent hard winter that causes British Isles flowers to come later in your special climate. Oh, for such a favoured climate , as you know I’ve enviously said that “if you throw a stick on the ground in the Waikato it will take root and grow”.  Probably nearly as good as Tasmania where Rhododendrons can be pruned several times in one season to keep them compact – and they still can produce flowerbuds. If we loose first growth to frost we loose the next years flowers.
    So, enjoy your late flowers of ‘Cape Point’ – but I assure you – the extremely late flowering in your garden is not typical.
    Brian

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