AUGUST IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE 2020

[Hoy]

Hi Trond,

In the Sierra Nevada Mountains I find Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium growing in rocky habitats where few plants compete with them. Their habitat is fairly dry, however in our garden they are tolerant of some irrigation. I have never found them growing in meadows. This species does well in our garden as long as they are not crowded and overrun by more aggressive species. Above is what I have observed in the wild both on the east and west side of the Sierra Nevada crest, as well as my experience growing them in our garden.

In our garden, I just try to make the best of what I have and what is easily available. My goal is to have a beautiful garden filled with flowers as much as the climate and seasons allow. I hope I can inspire others to see how their existing garden can be full of creative possibilities even with simple and common plants species.

Thanks Robert.

My plant(s) do grow in a dry spot. It is not a meadow but they have to compete with another plant that spreads a lot. (Euphorbia chamaecyparis). I will try to remove the last one!

Escallonia 'Iveyi' in my garden now:

[Robert]

Robert
At least in this end of the world, you seem to have succeeded in inspiring me: Epilobium canum (mine var garrettii) is being sowed tomorrow along with Salvia roehmeriana, Phacelia campanularia. All of these my own seed.... .
Epilobium canum is a short lived perennial here but seeds well and I'm going to keep it more like a biennial than a perennial. So does the Salvia roehmeriana. Phacelia campanularia is a beautiful annual very garden worthy here.
There are quite a few more in lesser advanced degree.
I discovered a pot full of Lewisia brachycalyx seedlings that obviously germinated and GREW! under snow . We have been having quite a lot of it covering my seedlings, however it doesn't stay for long.
Thank you very much for your support!

Arturo,

Yes, it feels good to be inspired. I too feel inspired by your projects in Argentina. You are growing many interesting plants in a unique climatic zone. I am keenly interested in your progress and the end results, good or bad. Although our interests seem very different, there is still a great deal to learn that can be applied in different situations.

The activities of many of the forumist are very intriguing, and enlightening. Some gardeners are specialist, others collectors, and so many different gardening styles based on climate, interests, and accessibility to plants, seeds, or bulbs. For me it is often like taking a mini garden tour. 

Thomas,

You are always showing plants that are new and different, at least to me.  Thank you for sharing the results of your gardening activities. 

[hamparstum]

Robert, perhaps my recent discovery is that any garden anywhere in the world is a trinity: the plants, the garden setting and the gardener. Each are unique in so many ways that it is simply impossible to replicate elsewhere. This SRGC is particularly stimulating at least to me because it brings forth a rather unique crowd of gardeners that is dedicated to whatever they grow beyond the average traditional gardens.
I'm just now getting myself prepared in sowing your annuals ( indoors of course).: i.e Clarkia concinna, Layia gallairdoides. I've got a suspicion that many actually germinate in your place in fall, or barely do so and stay ready to jump into the season as soon as it warms up a bit. Their growing window is quite short as your deadly summer heat hits you sometime during August. They should be by then in seed format. So with a shortened season they ought to perform very well here if started early. This is my experiment for this season. Then if I'm able to collect enough seeds I'll try out fall sowing outdoors. Once my pots are filled I'll post what have emerged.
Trying to introduce your herbaceous perennials has its tricks too. Gaillardia aristata from Oregon grows unattended in the slightly wetter part of my property, but doesn't reseed naturally ( something sought after, since I don't want to generate weedy introductions here).
However unless I try there's no way to elucidate which will behave how. Since I keep a very close eye on how each fare I'm confident that I won't introduce weeds!
Arturo

[Yann]

A lot of early bloomings for those in northern regions, except Acis and few Colchicum i don't have many flowers to photography.

[Robert]

Trond,

Very nice looking Escallonia. Escallonia rubra is very common in the nursery trade here in California.

Arturo,

I have a posting concerning the germination of California native annual species somewhere on the forum. Their germinating behavior can be much more complex than has been stated. if the posting can be found it might be worth reviewing.

The smoke from several forest fires in our region has persisted all day (19 August). The smoke has been so dense that it has reduced the temperature today by approximately 10 F (5.6 C).

Yesterday I spent the previous evening grooming, deadheading, and weeding the plants in the garden. Ash fell from the smoke filled sky like snowflakes. During such sessions, I take note of significant traits exhibited by the plants that I am tending. On this evening I noted that Penstemon laetus ssp. laetus is seeding around in the rock garden beds and containers. This is a good signal that this species is happy in our garden. Cosmos sulphureus is starting to look ragged after 5 consecutive days of 100 F (37.8 C) plus high temperatures. I found one plant, among many in the same bed, which was still lush with bright green foliage and many new flower buds. I will be saving seed from this plant!



Symphytrichum spathulatum blooms for many weeks during the summer into the autumn in our Sacramento garden. With some improvement this species has the potential to be a desirable addition to our garden.



I attempted to dig and move this specimen of Colchicum macrophyllum the other day. There are unhappy accidents! I sliced through the center of the bulb cutting it completely in half. I attempted to tie the two pieces together with raffia and am hoping for the best. I thought that I had other specimens of this species, however this appears to be the only one. Bummer! Fortunately, I have a number of other Colchicums species in the garden that form viable crosses and set viable seed. At least I can continue with this breeding project.



The current heat wave is a great opportunity to test my new plants for heat tolerance. With rigorous selection the plants in our garden can obtain peak performance. There are still flowers in the garden, which pleases me greatly.

[Hoy]

Trond,

Very nice looking Escallonia. Escallonia rubra is very common in the nursery trade here in California.

........

The smoke from several forest fires in our region has persisted all day (19 August). The smoke has been so dense that it has reduced the temperature today by approximately 10 F (5.6 C).

.....

I attempted to dig and move this specimen of Colchicum macrophyllum the other day. There are unhappy accidents! I sliced through the center of the bulb cutting it completely in half. I attempted to tie the two pieces together with raffia and am hoping for the best. I thought that I had other specimens of this species, however this appears to be the only one. Bummer! Fortunately, I have a number of other Colchicums species in the garden that form viable crosses and set viable seed. At least I can continue with this breeding project.

....

Robert,

I did see a lot of different forms of Escallonia rubra when visiting Patagonia. It is still rare in cultivation in Norway but should have a great potensial.

Wildfires are rare here and this year we have had only minor ones as it has been a wet July. I am glad I don't need to consider ash downfall!

If you sliced though the bottom stem of the bulb I think you will have 2 or more bulbs next year!

[Leena]

I enjoyed the common Delphiniums that Leena posted a while back..

I'm happy to read this.

Gentana asclepiada - an attractive pale blue form I got at Cambo a few years ago.

That is a very nice colour! Here ordinary darker blue G.asclepiadea is opening also now, not yet in full bloom.

Early yesterday morning there was a heavy mist in the garden, but by the time (10 minutes) I got out, it was already clearing. Morning mist makes always everything so pretty in autumn.

[hamparstum]

Trond, your Fuchsia magellanica is just wonderful. My place is unfortunately  too cold for it to survive. Perhaps once my evergreen have grown high and thick enough they may reach the size of yours. Only ten km west of my place its a very commonly grown bush in gardens!

This is the most colorful I have in my garden at the moment, Fuchsia magellanica. Now it reaches almost 2m in height.

(Attachment Link)

There are  so many species of Escallonia here. That might be developed into many  horticultural forms... Many more just across in Chile. Escallonia virgata is a very beautiful evergreen shrub that grows in wet situations, a good companion to Fuchsia.

Leena, your garden view is just mesmerizing. It is exactly the type of atmosphere that I hope to achieve around my house. Congratulations...( I'm hurrying to sow Heleniums... )

Arturo

[shelagh]

I am always surprised that people grow Epilobium over here it is the most tremendous weed. I think it's sometimes called Fire weed because after the blitz in London during the war it was the first plant to grow on the bomb sites.

We were amazed when we went to Alaska to find it was the State flower and on all the postcards.

[Maggi Young]

Thank goodness all epilobium are  not as  invasive  as  the  most  common one in the  UK, Epilobium angustifolium.
 I reckon they had  a  good lawyer  who worked  to get  some  really  cute  Zauschneria re-classified  into epilobium to boost  their  appeal! 

[Robert]

Leena,

Thank you for sharing the photographs from your garden. I enjoy the ambiance of your garden so very much. Although I may not be able to grow many of the plants that thrive in your garden, I certainly get inspired by your photographs and comments to improve our garden here in hot and dry California. BTW – I will attempt to grow common hybrid Delphiniums this coming season. The seeds are easily available and plants are offered at the local nurseries for sale, however the plants rarely survive past the spring blooming season.




The wildfires in Northern California continue to rage. Day-after-day of dense smoke fills the air, turning day into evening. The street light go on at 5 in the afternoon, it is that dark. Ash from the fires has turned to top of our automobile from blue to ash gray. We are safe in Sacramento, however some people in the San Francisco Bay Area are being evacuated (This is a very densely populated area). The nature of wildfires has changed in California. 20 to 30 years ago wildfires like these never occurred. Now major wildfires that threaten major population centers are a yearly occurrence.

BTW again – some Epilobium species are weedy here in California. Epilobium canum is not weedy. It is very safe to grow. Epilobium canum is very ornamental and a very useful species, ideal for our hot dry region of California.

[Rick R.]

incredible photos, Leena.  Even better than your usual good quality.  "Mesmerizing" is the perfect adjective, and you have really captured the emotional sense of your garden.

[Gabriela]

Nice Escallonia Trond - broadleaves evergreens are very difficult to grow here because of our cold winters, Buxus, Mahonia and some Ilex manage to look decent but that's about it. In my region even Mahonia can look unhappy with burnt leaves sometime.

Spectacular captures Leena

[Hoy]

Nice Escallonia Trond - broadleaves evergreens are very difficult to grow here because of our cold winters, Buxus, Mahonia and some Ilex manage to look decent but that's about it. In my region even Mahonia can look unhappy with burnt leaves sometime.

Thanks Gabriela. Maybe the climate change makes it easier to grow them?

[Hoy]

Trond, your Fuchsia magellanica is just wonderful. My place is unfortunately  too cold for it to survive. Perhaps once my evergreen have grown high and thick enough they may reach the size of yours. Only ten km west of my place its a very commonly grown bush in gardens!
There are  so many species of Escallonia here. That might be developed into many  horticultural forms... Many more just across in Chile. Escallonia virgata is a very beautiful evergreen shrub that grows in wet situations, a good companion to Fuchsia.

..

Arturo

Thanks Arturo.

I did see a lot of Escallonia when I visited Patagonia a couple years ago. Some were very nicelooking! It's strange you can't grow them, your climate can't be "worse" than mine? What's your minimum winter temperature?