April 2011 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Lampwick]

I hope no one minds me starting off this April thread.  

Pictures taken today.

Fritillaria michailovskyi. A close-up of one flower.

Cassiope 'Beatrice Lilley'. This started out as one of several cuttings and is seen here growing over the side of a large trough,
 

[Maggi Young]

John, your Cassiope is a picture indeed. 
Here in Aberdeen we have found that when Cassiope of whatever sort, get to that size they stop flowering so well. What is your secret?

[Lampwick]

John, your Cassiope is a picture indeed. 
Here in Aberdeen we have found that when Cassiope of whatever sort, get to that size they stop flowering so well. What is your secret?

My secret Maggi!.....if I did have a secret I would willingly share it….but I don’t got one!  ....not that I am aware of. By all accounts you should be able to grow them better than I can here in the Midlands.

I have tried to grow dozens of various Cassiope in the past, but with limited success.
I first fell in love with these beauties after seeing them grown to perfection in the late Sid Lilley’s garden in Sutton Coalfield, several miles from where I live.

All those that I do/have grown, possess lycopodioides blood.
CC. ‘Edinburgh’, ‘Randle Cook’, ‘Badenock’, ‘Muirhead’, ‘Beatrice Lilley’ and ‘Medusa’.

I only have two at the moment; CC. ‘Beatrice Lilley’ and ‘Muirhead’. None of the others mentioned were ever much success.
C. ‘Muirhead’ is now very old, and it has opened out leaving a big bare space in the centre which I have top-dressed with an ericaceous compost. It hasn’t done much good, but I hope I can root some cuttings from it.   
 

[Lampwick]

Primula ‘Belarina Cream’
Pictures taken today

This was one of the plants that my daughter picked from Pottertons Nursery catalogue, all the plants arrived mid February.

I have planted this in a refurbished trough.
This plant is new to me! Apparently, there are others in the ‘Belarina’ stable – orange, blue, yellow and white.

Does anyone know the background of these? Info would be appreciated. 
 

[Lesley Cox]

I don't know the background at all but I have two a superb cobalt blue (Giles has it too I think) and one called 'Pink Ice which starts just about white then ages to a soft rose colour. Good doubles.

[WimB]

Some plants flowering here this week:

Arisaema engleri with a nice serrated leaf

Dicentra cucullaria and Dicentra cucullaria 'Pink Punk'

Jeffersonia dubia

Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Papageno'

Thalictrum thalictroides 'Jade Feather'

Two Trilliums of the 'Western Sessile Hybrids'

And Trillium albidum

[Lampwick]

Pictures taken today.
Anemonella thalictroides
Hacquetia epipactis
Primula ‘Lady Greer’
Primula ‘Peter Klein’
Dicentra cucullaria
Amelanchier lamarckii. (Snowy Mespilus)
Erythronium 'Pagoda'
Hebe 'Pink Elephant’
Hebe 'Silver Dollar'

[daveyp1970]

A few pics from my friend Margaret's meadow(front lawn) today.

[daveyp1970]

Brunnera Jack Frost

[Maggi Young]

My, that's a lovely sight, Davey. My congratulations to your friend Margaret on her meadow.

[Giles]

Belarina:  http://www.kerley.co.uk/ProductForm.aspx?itemKey=BELARINA#mainimgloc

[David Nicholson]

Belarina:  http://www.kerley.co.uk/ProductForm.aspx?itemKey=BELARINA#mainimgloc

Is there a "Ballerina" as well as a "Belarina" or did someone blow it word wise at some time??

[ian mcenery]

At the risk of being told it is wrong here is what I have Trillium albidum with a cherry base.

Also a very old clump of chlorapetalum now at its best

I mentioned that what I had as Trillium "sessile" was probably a form of chlorapetalum and also it is a bit of a weed and thug in the garden (no complaints) Here are a few pictures of some of the clumps that have mostly self seeded around. I have got some lovely leaf forms with flower colours. I think this is  probably hybridised with the "true" chlorapetalum. These plants however stand up well and stay in good condition for several months better than most others. I would welcome any opinions on its progeny

[Lori S.]

A few pics from my friend Margaret's meadow(front lawn) today.

Amazing!!     What are the little yellow ones in the foreground of the first pic?

[daveyp1970]

At the risk of being told it is wrong here is what I have Trillium albidum with a cherry base.

Also a very old clump of chlorapetalum now at its best

I mentioned that what I had as Trillium "sessile" was probably a form of chlorapetalum and also it is a bit of a weed and thug in the garden (no complaints) Here are a few pictures of some of the clumps that have mostly self seeded around. I have got some lovely leaf forms with flower colours. I think this is  probably hybridised with the "true" chlorapetalum. These plants however stand up well and stay in good condition for several months better than most others. I would welcome any opinions on its progeny

Ian your clumps are fantastic,i will glady home some of your bad boy rogues.