Impatiens niamniamensis - Congo Impatiens

Lovely!
Whilst I've been stuck at home I've been browsing Flickr and discovered the Impatiens group - I've sourced seeds in Holland and plants in the UK.

Meanie:

Thanks! This is one of the Impatiens species which tolerates high temps. Most prefer a little cooler and shadier conditions here. Impatiens are very nice, easy flowers plants. Have you ever seen the variegated pink flowering one? It's one of my favorites! I'll post a pic.

There are some gems here.......

http://www.flickr.com/groups/68657337@N00/pool/

I've found some plants here in the UK which are supposed to be hardy.

Meanie:

Those were great photos on this website. Thanks for the information!

There seems to be a group for almost everything on Flickr!
Try this one - the group admin says "Aloha From The Big Island of Hawaii Everyone ~"

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1287547@N23/

or this one - dedicated just to Plumeria.........

http://www.flickr.com/groups/frangipani-plumeria/pool/

One of my faves to look for in heated glasshouses in gardens and parks here. I'd happily settle for one of these cockatoos instead of a parrot!!! :-)

David:

I've grown these Impatiens for years...never would think of ever growing it indoors. They would be so infested with mites, I'd have to through them all out. :>)

They are really neat-looking plants!

David - check out the Crug Farm website. They have some unusual and sometimes hardy types there.
Along with most of the "exotics" Delonix, this would be fine outdoors over the summer months, just the winter that's tricky!

Bet you are glad that you don't have to grow them indoors, Delonix - sounds mitey yukky!! :-D)

Many Thanks for that pointer, Meanie! :-)) Have bought from Crug before, so shall definitely revisit that site! :-))

I'm not overly keen about buying online but they'll be getting a fair bit of my cash next year!

Oh!!! What are you getting? No, don't say, I want to look forward to next year's pics, lol!!

Buying online is, I find, a full-time "occupation" in itself. You need to be able to mentally picture what a plant will look like, when described merely as being a "plug", "pot ready", etc. You also need to be able to convert pot diameters and litres, and envisage the size/maturity of the plant you will get from all this. Add the P&P (looking out, firstly, for flat rates regardless of size of order, work out the cost in fuel to obtain the plants from "local" suppliers, where you can view the products, and choose etc., etc. Mindboggling!! I am "getting there", however, and find it a great way to spend the winter months, researching.

I posted a blog on a delivery I got from Crug in Spring 2009 (not sure if it is still here), and seems to be a reliable nursery - my climbers have been fab, from them! I do think that, when buying online, especially, you simply get what you pay for, with regard to cost. Word-of-mouth, and reputation, also mean a lot, I have found, here. :-))

A couple of Impatiens and Tricyrtis too. It was Louise who gave me the heads up on them.
I am wondering whether to take a few days out for a break in their area actually - kills two birds with one stone!
The only company that I use for mail order now is Burncoose. They made one cock up, but it was sorted quickly and without any "bull" in the space of two e-mails, and I ended up with a free plant too!

You are also thinking along my wavelength, Meanie!!! I also try to tie in family shortbreaks with vists to nurseries I hav checked online - Great, isn't it? Only had one cock up, and that was this year, with Van Meuwen - I was most surprised!!!!! As I bought as plugs, by the time they grew, was too late to do anything, but, perhaps, by then, I couldn't be bothered? Will be more astute, next year!!!!

It's the part of me that likes to touch before I buy!