March 2007

[Armin]

Luc, like your  T. "pulchella". Very early. My ones outside just show the peak of leaves.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I also quite like it Armin - and it is a lot earlier than normal - but what is normal nowadays ? 
I hope there won't be a late cold spell spoiling the fun in the coming weeks - at least this will not be the case next week, as further rain and wind seem to be on the menu for the next four days out here...

[mark smyth]

my Tulipa humilis are in flower. polychroma is in bud

[Lesley Cox]

Those long blue tresses suit you so well John, PLEASE don't have them shorn off. Maggi has no taste at all, for such things.

David, my Cilla is the apalling partner, now wife, of the lout of Coronation Street, Les Battersby. Don't tell me you're not a fan? Just about the only decent thing on our telly these days. All dreadful "reality" series and the like and more and more American rubbish. (Nearly said a very rude word there.) But leaves more late evening time for gardening of course.

[David Nicholson]

Lesley, my wife is an avid watcher but I have never seen a single episode! I have heard it from another room, but never watched it.

By the way you managed not to have your photograph taken in the big hat!!

[Maggi Young]

John, I forgot to say, fab fungus! The  bracket fungus are always atractive, but these, from  Cobham Wood, are very colourful.

[Ola]

Spring has arrived in Sweden, at least here in the southern part.





Of course there are more colour in my frostfree greenhouse. The camelias have been in flower for some time.



Also some of the primulas are out. First P. cortusoides.



And then P. allionii, my first plant of this new favourite species of mine.



Speaking of favourites, I am a Gesneriaceae-fan. Chirita and Petrocosmea are quite easy from seed. This is C. tamiana.



This time of the year is the best for Asarum. A. splendens is maybe more interesting than beautiful.



A. capaniforme has a kiwi-like (the fruit) interior.



A. maximum has very nice velvety flowers.



A. delavayi is my most floriferous species and also the one with the biggest flowers, a nice combination.



Ola

[SueG]

Sue, that's a fine Primula moupinensis, really looks healthy. You obviously have the knack with the Petiolarids. I have not dared to try one yet as I don't think they would take to glass over winter and I don't really have anywhere wher they might be happy. Having said that I would be very interested to learn more about your cultural methods if you have the time. 

Hi David - I'm not sure I'd dignify what I do with the phrase 'cultural methods' I have a couple of those cheap plastic covered 4 tier greenhouse things which I've taken the plastic covers off. Well to be honest the first one split! Probably because there were too many plants inside
I was reading about these primulas and decided that as they are covered in the winter by snow to keep them warm and (presumably) dark, they could live on the lower shelves of the greenhouse stands - I don't water them but they do get a bit of blown rain. Plants on the shelves are usually stood in seed trays as that makes it easier to slide them in and out so I can peer at them/gloat and that helps to keep it darker below and protects from rain. So far this seems to suit some of these primulas and I've kept alive/flowered a few. I'll check back when I'm at home and let you know which seems to like this regime of neglect. Once they start into growth I simply keep them in my back yard on the shady side so they don't get full sun.

Sue

[Maggi Young]

Welcome, Ola! Good to have your begin posting.  These are lovely photos, I do like your close-up pix of the Asarums, fascinating flowers.

[hadacekf]

Welcome Ola, Thank you for your fascinating pictures. I look forward to see more.

[mark smyth]

'Trees that made Britain' is on now - at least on BBC N Ireland

[John Forrest]

Ola, I like your A. capaniforme it has a lovely patterned interior and looks less menacing than many of the other species.

Here is a Cyclamen alpinum from exchange seed in its first flowering. Nicely marked leaf.

[Maggi Young]

Nicely marked leaf.

Not just the leaf, Jof, very pretty transition through the colours on the flower, too. 

[Lesley Cox]

I just love the Asarums. Thanks for those pictures Ola. I'm glad you mentioned it was the FRUIT of a kiwi one resembled. I would be worried if I looked like that inside

David, there is a photo of me at the Market on Saturday on the Clematis napaulensis thread. Susan went along with her camera specially, but was disappointed.

[John Forrest]

A few more things are popping up in the sunshine.

1 Scilla reverchonii an unassuming but pleasant little squill.

2 Dionysia aretioides grown from a bunch of self sown seedlings. It's the only Dio I grow because it is the easiest to please.

3 Cyclamen pseudibericum This could have been a good show plant if I could turn it more often and generally give it more TLC than I can offer it but it is lovely for all that.