Sacha wrote:

I don't know if it will produce results but I've sent the pics to Fibrex to
see if they can help ID it. It is indeed very like that but I'm not sure if
the streaking on 'La France' is quite the same. I had a look at Crocodile
and don't like that leave at all. It looks unhealthy!

Well, streaking always tends to be variable and can be almost none
existent to very pronounced. Of course you can occasionally find a
shoot that produces some very fine, well streaked flowers and cry
"Whoopee! Where's Peter from Genesis' number? I've got a winner!"
You take cuttings and next year ,,,, the flowers are back to normal :
(
If Hazel Key can id it differently, that's fine, but I'm almost
certain it must be 'la France' in view of overall habit etc. If the
others say different, I think I might stick to my guns

'Crocodile' takes some getting used to. It was a half-sensation when
it first became widely available well over 30 years ago, although it
had been quietly doing the rounds for a while before. A well-grown
plant in full sun with its golden veined leaves red-tinted by the
exposure can look quite special. But grow it indifferently and it
looks very ill indeed. It's a leggy plant and the single flowers are
of a shade of pink that doesn't go with the variegation at all well.

There was a fabulous old dear called Monica Bennett ,,,,,

What a shame she isn't around now! Who has the National Collection, do you
know?

Monica must have been in her 80's when I first met her during the
1970's, but although I got to know her well she was one of those
people that you would never asked of their age. She was tiny thing
with a dowager's stoop and great beehive of silvery hair that did
nothing to increase her overall height. She became a dear friend and
was one of the kindest, well-natured people you could hope to meet. I
could never get away without spending half a day at her nursery.
Which was fine, because it was such a refreshing change to spend a few
hours away from my place. I turned up unannounced one day to find
Central TV filming there. Now I was doing stuff for the Beeb at the
time, but what the heck we'd finished that year's series several
months before so I got 'roped in' as well.

I'll never forget that day. One of Central's presenters John Swallow
was doing the directing and links while regular TV garden guru Bob
Price was there to do the talking. I'd done a few bits for Central
and often popped into the studios so I knew John and Bob pretty well.
We were discussing the merits of one of Monica's new varieties and
about Pelargoniums in general, but Monica got a fit of the giggles and
in no time we were all in bits.

Apparently the peals of laughter, cackles and general hilarity
rattling through the greenhouses and around the nursery caused much
bemusement amongst the customers. We finished bleary eyed and with
aching sides. I remember watching the broadcast and anyone could see
that it was barely controlled, each one of us on the verge of a
complete giggle-breakdown. Nevertheless, it was a good piece about a
fine dark-leaved miniature - I think it was called 'Gemma Craven', but
that detail escapes me.

Monica always had a twinkle in her eye and could see a funny situation
arising well before it popped over the horizon. She was very well
known in the 'Black Country' writing prolifically in local newspapers
and was the original 'geranium' guru. Many of us beat a path to her
door on Christmas morning for a sip of sherry before buying flowers to
take to our families. Happy days.

BTW, don't remember if I asked you but are you growing Petrea volubilis in
your garden?

No you haven't, but funny you should mention it. There were huge
bushes of a rather odd form growing everywhere around Pafos when I was
there earlier. The flowers were a bit dull and small, but the fruits
were extremely showy - great clusters of golden 'berries' dripping
from the branches.

I bought quite a few back with the silly notion of introducing it
under the varietal name of 'David Beckham' (because of its 'golden
balls'!), but have not managed to persuade them to germinate. I'm
sure Petrea (or Petraea) is a goer for my garden and must give it a
try when I've finished ripping the place to bits and decided how to
put it all back together. Dare I admit that it incorporates a decked
pier (already built) with twinkling blue LED lights sunk into the
treads? ... Ooh dear and how passe!