planted directly into the ground inside our new Poly tunnel.  Canna tuerckheimii grows at elevations of 1,600 -- 6,500ft in its native habitats in south and Central America. Reportedly growing from 13-16ft tall, mine has reached the Poly tunnel roof at 12ft tall with 3 x 1ft leaves on very thick stout stems and looks absolutely amazing! Unfortunately it hasn't flowered yet, but if and when it does, they will be typical smallish specie flowers in a shade of orangey-red -- so here's hoping flowers will be produced in the next few weeks! Canna tuerckheimii Some of my favourite exotics are now coming into bloom -- the Nerines. They are absolutely breath taking bulbous plants when in full flower, brightening up the dullest of autumnal days and look absolutely radiant on the sunny ones. They flower outside from September right through to November depending on the season and temperature. The blooms last for weeks especially if it's cool. Each bulb generally produces a single flowering stem that carries from 2-12 individual funnel-shaped flowers with recurved petals. After flowering, strap-like leaves are produced that last through the winter months then die down in the spring before withering away and going dormant for the summer months. Nerine bowdenii growing in the xerophytic garden Nerines are indigenous to South Africa, especially the Drakensberg Mountains, where  about 30 species can be found,  though only two are reliably hardy plants outside here in Norfolk, N. bowdenii and N. undulata. There are now many smashing and