We were in Penzance, SW England in early June. As best I can tell, this area is zone 9 and therefore contains many plant species which wouldn't overwinter here in Surrey, B.C. (zone 7). I'd be grateful to anyone who might glance at these pix and advise what they are. Unreduced copies of photos are available, if necessary. There are two species here - the two of the red flowered plant are of the same specimen.
Thanks to all - identifications appear to be correct. My apologies for the delay in responding .. we've been away. To Michael F .. I was basing my conclusions about the Penzance gardening zone only on the plants I was seeing and the conversations I'd had with a few locals. Asking about "zones" usually results in looks of confusion but those hefty Fuchsia hedges and local gardener's comments about Pelargonium overwintering outside, without protection, had me wondering just high their zone was. I would highly recommend touring Cornwall to any keen gardener ... it is so very clearly a very mild climate (and the Cornish pasties are very good, too!) For that matter, it was pretty impressive seeing clear indications that Inverness in Scotland - 1 degree of latitude south of Juneau - appeared to be a zone 8. We're a zone 7 here in Surrey, B.C.
Yep, very mild winters in coastal Britain, however far north you go! The benefits of being completely surrounded by the sea. The coldest coasts are those closest to the European continent, as they have the least protection from icy blasts out of Siberia.
