Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: ruweiss on April 03, 2022, 08:30:03 PM

Title: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ruweiss on April 03, 2022, 08:30:03 PM
Winter came back yesterday, it seems, that my cousins Magnolia did not
like it so much. Hope, it does not too much harm to the other plants.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: MarcR on April 04, 2022, 03:34:04 AM
ruweiss,

About 3 weeks ago we got about 83 cm of snow.  Shortly before that I had set out seedlings of 18 species of 9 genera of Iridaceae, including several South American species.  Almost all of them survived undamaged. Out of nearly 300 seedlings, I lost only 12. All 12 had others of the same specie that survived.  All things considered, it was no big loss.  It is my experience that plants tend to be surprisingly resilient.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Diane Whitehead on April 04, 2022, 04:55:41 PM
And your garden is automatically selecting for hardiness.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 05, 2022, 06:23:23 PM
Extremely dry conditions continue in our part of Northern California. With record breaking high temperatures in the forecast for this coming week, we are spending a great deal of time watering and preparing for summer type weather conditions (June like) in early April. Temperatures in excess of 32 C are being forecasted for our area.

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Small parts of our garden are coming back to life and are looking good. There is still much open space and rough areas that still need much attention, but progress is being made

Nemophila maculata with Erythranthe guttata.

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Nemophila menziesii with Collinsia heterophylla. Pacific Coast Hybrid Iris are in the background.

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Nemophila menziesii with Pansies, Salvia ‘Bee’s Bliss’, Nicotinia ‘Pricilla’, and Wallflower.

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Phacelia campanularia, Erythranthe guttata, and Collinsia heterophylla.

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Pacific Coast Iris with Erythranthe guttata.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 05, 2022, 06:26:30 PM
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At 3 meters in height, Azalea Idi’s Laugh dominates our backyard.

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This is one of my favorite selections of Rhododendron austrinum.

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Calochortus season has started. Calochortus albus is blooming with Triteleia laxa in the background.

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Calochortus amabilis grown from seed I gathered in Colusa County, California.

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Calochortus monophyllus grown from seed gathered in El Dorado County, California continues to bloom.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 05, 2022, 06:29:39 PM
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Iris tenuissima is well established in our garden.

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Gilia tricolor ssp. tricolor

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Research and development of new plant varieties is progressing well. This is an F2 Ranunculus hybrid. These new hybrids are the starting point toward predetermined goals. There are generally happy accidents along the way too.

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Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentlais is being tested in a garden setting. The seeds of this perennial species were planted in the autumn of 2021 and are blooming ~ 6 months later.

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Akke,

This is Tulipa humilis as purchased at a local garden center about 10 years ago. It does not look like any photograph of Tulipa humilis that I have ever seen. Do you have any comments or ideas? Sadly we are at the end of the commercial bulb distribution chain. Unfortunately in our area, mislabeled and low quality bulbs are frequently encountered. We do have many fine native bulbous species, so this more than makes up for the deficiencies in commercial locally available bulbs. I guess I could purchase via mail order, but I admit that I like to see what I am purchasing and ask questions about the plants when necessary. I am not unhappy with the situation, but things are the way they are.

Akke,

I also have an update on the status of wild populations of Limnanthes in our area. Currently, small populations of Limnanthes alba are blooming in seasonally moist areas near our Placerville, California property. Most of these populations are on private property, so I cannot photograph the plants or even stop and look at them. Later in the season, other populations of Limnanthes alba will come into bloom at higher elevations. The last stand of frequently seen and easily accessible Limnanthes douglasii in our area is now taped with orange development tape and will be lost forever. There are other populations of this species in our area, however they are less accessible and require additional driving to see.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 05, 2022, 06:31:07 PM
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I will finish this posting with one last garden scene. Prunus mume is in a training container planted with Pansies, Nemophila menziesii, and Collinsia heterophylla.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ruweiss on April 05, 2022, 08:24:43 PM
Marc,
thank you for the report of your climatic and growing
conditions. It is always interesting to read, how gardeners
do their best with the culture of 'difficult' plants.

Robert,
thank you again for presenting us again these beautiful pictures.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: MarcR on April 06, 2022, 12:26:16 AM
And your garden is automatically selecting for hardiness.

Dianne,

The seedlings I lost suffered crush damage not cold damage. In most cases the snow fell evenly around and over the; thus keeping them from being flattened.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Akke on April 06, 2022, 05:25:36 PM
Rudi

Thanks for showing the lovely plants. Hopefully they’re allright and didn’t suffer from the late snow.

Weather over here has turned ‘normal’ again, short autumn arrived for a change of season, spring is expected though.

Robert

The way you combine plants is really inspiring, it will take time to get to know the drawing materials before being able to make a good picture.
Azalea Ida’s laugh looks great between the green leaves topped with a blue sky, -oops, something went wrong- but you might prefer our grey clouds. Growing season has slowed down because of the weather conditions here, lots of buds appearing, only Narcissus rupicola ssp watieri opened up in the last few days.
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More lovely plants to look forward to, including some Tulipa humilis (cultivars/selections) between white and purplish/reddish, nothing like this.  I cannot say that I’m hundred percent sure, but I love T humilis and have done some more digging in the past as well, your Tulipa isn’t like it, it looks lovely however. Maybe someone, with more experience, on the Tulipa subject can take away the last one percent of doubt.
Understandable that you prefer to see what you buy, in my experience so far the problem wasn’t the quality of the bulbs, but of our postal service.

Thanks for the update on Limnanthes alba and douglasii, seedlings of L. douglasii that have shown up here, didn’t even care about the snow. I was also very pleased to see more of your Calochortus of course :).

Shelagh

Don’t worry to much about pictures, your plants and ‘weeds’ look lovely.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Akke on April 08, 2022, 09:23:27 PM
This was a lucky one.while the sun was setting, it was a close up for my neighbour to show the tulip buds as he can’t get really close.
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Left Scilla Siberica and Chionodoxa are still flowering, Fritillaria meleagris is hiding a bit. Right Tulipa Cretica (dutch, sources say this isn’t Cretica) and T. humilis clones (dutch again). Grown up Frittelaria meleagris and uva-vulpis didn’t fit in, but they have two and three flowers now, I hope this means they like their treatment and it’s not a desperate attempt to sow.

This is container two, it’s been filling up over the past few weeks as well (container one just ignored winter, flowers and lots of foliage continually), they are both at my neighbours’ and lasagne style.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mike Ireland on April 09, 2022, 07:51:52 PM
Plants flowering in the garden.
Anemonella thalictroides Kikuzaki
Jeffersonia dubia
Trillium camschatcence Nemuro
Trillium kurabayashii & Anemone ranunculoides fl. pl.
Trillium kurabayashii seedlings with Corydalis solida red, pink, lilac & white forms.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mike Ireland on April 09, 2022, 08:16:11 PM
More from the garden & alpine house.
Erythronium Pagoda
Fritillaria meleagris
Lewisia tweedyi x 2
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 11, 2022, 08:30:59 PM
We have experienced some wild swings in our Northern California weather over the last 5 days. First we had three days with record, to near record high temperatures. Then the weather turned cooler with strong desiccating north wind. The relative humidity was so low that ice in a glass did not form condensation on the outside of the glass. Instead sublimation took place and the ice turned directly to vapor! Needless to say, a great deal of time was spent watering the garden.

Now the skies are overcast and there has been some light rain. Not enough to do any good, but at least I do not have to race out and water plants to keep them alive. More rain and snow is forecasted, as well as below average temperatures. We will see what happens. More precipitation will be welcome.

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Despite being thrashed around by the strong winds, enduring record heat, and now some rain our garden faired well.

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The Cornus kousa x florida hybrids are quite beautiful and do well in our garden. This is the cultivar named ‘Stardust’.

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Azalea ‘Raspberry’ is a good pink from back in the days when I bred Azaleas.

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This hybrid Azalea is a good bright orange with a very compact growth habit.

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This is a nice yellow Azalea from my ‘Tatiana’ grex. This selection has a very compact growth habit and is extremely floriferous.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 11, 2022, 08:34:37 PM
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Early on in my Azalea breeding, I bred some huge plants (not intentionally). ‘Pink Night Life’ is a towering Rhododendron occidentale hybrid. It blooms prolifically and is extremely heat tolerant.

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Azalea ‘White Night Life’ is a sister seedling of ‘Pink Night Life’. It too grows very large, blooms prolifically, and is very heat tolerant.

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We grow many selections of Rhododendron kiusianum in our garden. They all seem to thrive despite our hot, dry summer weather.

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Rhododendron kiusianum var. sataense blooms profusely each spring.

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Diplacus aurantiacus seeds around our garden freely. In this photograph it is blooming in a container that it shares with our California native dwarf Oak, Quercus durata var. durata.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 11, 2022, 08:36:53 PM
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This is an outstanding selection of Collinsia heterophylla var. heterophylla created from seed I gathered many years ago near our Placerville, California property.

My wife has been too busy to edit my mistakes.  :-[
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Roma on April 12, 2022, 11:25:12 AM
Robert, your Tulip could be a variety of Tulipa batalinii.  There are a number of named varieties.  This is 'Bright Gem' which has a touch of apricot but there are pure yellow selections.

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Akke on April 12, 2022, 09:10:44 PM
Roma

Tulipa ‘Honky Tonk’ apparently is a T. batalinii cultivar, used your info to check, I’ll post pictures when it’s flowering.

Robert

Despite the challenging weather conditions your garden and plants look beautiful. Weather conditions here are going back to normal average, while Crocusses and Iris where early, Tulipa season is more as to be expected.

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Dutch Tulipa humilis; ‘Red beauty’, Persian pearl’, ‘Violacea yellow base’ and ‘Odalisque’ in the back add colour to the big container.

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Tulipa heweri in front is making an impression, T. Cretica, T. humilis pulchella rosea caerulea oculata, T. Schrenkii and T. Cretica ‘chania’ (maybe not Cretica at all) are ‘just’ being lovely as is T. Subbiflora in the middle of it.

What’s still missing is a slight buzzing of bees, maybe it’s just a case of wrong place, wrong time.
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This one seemed to be resting on the Anemone (appenina? park).

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At least this one is doing some work on Corydalis Solida (park).

The park is a good place to look a bit higher occasionally.
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Some parts are getting colour.

Jasmin

First young birds have shown up in the park, unfortunately invasive ones.







Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Yann on April 13, 2022, 08:55:46 PM
First week of this month i spotted a very dark form of Iris unguicularis in the Peloponnese, all around these plants only common form.
The soil was quite different so i guess the chemistry operated.

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Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Yann on April 13, 2022, 09:21:56 PM
Tulipa goulimyi in situ southernmost part of europe, Cape Tenaro (also know as Matapan) in Greece.

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Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Tomte on April 14, 2022, 08:09:12 AM
A very beautiful form of this Iris indeed and very aesthetically captured Yann! The tulips, too, of course.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 14, 2022, 06:43:31 PM
Roma,

Thank you very much for posting the information and photograph regarding Tulipa batalinii. Yes, based on your photograph Tulipa batalinii seems to match the specific tulip growing in our Sacramento garden. I will see if I can find a key to the Genus Tulipa and key out the plant next season when they are blooming again. Thank you again for your thoughtful posting.

Akke,

It is amazing what can be accomplished in a container garden. Sometimes your planters seem to contain only bulbous species, at other times a mixture of small perennial species and bulbs. Do you do succession planting in some of your plant containers?

Wild weather here in our part of California: Record heat, strong dry winds, and now much needed rainfall and snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The weather changes are keeping me busy in the garden.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Akke on April 14, 2022, 10:18:08 PM
Yann

Your pictures are beautiful and I. unguicularis and T. goulimyi are very lovely plants, very interesting to see chemistry at work.

Robert

The container garden is pretty new and still developing, in the short-lived vegetable garden a few annuals that were both liked by bees and good for the soil already found a place. As the vegetable plot was not available anymore and not much later the less-typical(northern?)-bulbs got my attention, gardening (r)evolved. Then I added a beginners collection of bulbs available and started to enjoy, even added a couple of small perennials(to combine), next year added more bulbs and started (mostly bulb) sowing. Succession planting/sowing annuals is planned as a new experiment this year,  started and thought of recently, got ‘some inspiration on some forum’😀. Logically spring will remain bulb season, more flowers in summer are welcome here as well, where Nemophila and Limnanthes managed to get my attraction themselves, Escholzia californica got a bit of assistence. 😜
 
Vegetable gardening at a very small scale.
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At my neighbours’,  a very small (less then one cm across) potato is showing up, ‘left over crop’ from last year.

Naturalized Pseudofumaria Lutea.
Height about 1,90m. 

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Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Nik on April 15, 2022, 12:55:40 PM
Caltha palustris, marsh marigold, in the woods nearby.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Nik on April 15, 2022, 01:09:19 PM
Sanguinaria canadensis, bloodroot, in the woods.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Nik on April 15, 2022, 01:29:32 PM
Pyrola americana, also in the woods. I found an area with hundreds, if not thousands of them.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Nik on April 15, 2022, 01:53:35 PM
In the yard, my variegated Sempervivum (a spontaneous mutation) has a very pleasant color this time of year.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: shelagh on April 15, 2022, 04:12:22 PM
Roma T. batalanii Bright Gem is one of my favourites. We've had it  in the garden for years and no matter what changes we make it always comes up somewhere.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Yann on April 15, 2022, 05:44:38 PM
Caltha palustris, marsh marigold, in the woods nearby.

Caltha are not often grown in garden despite their adaptation to different soil types. They don't need be under water level year round.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Nik on April 15, 2022, 07:51:01 PM
Yann, you are right, but they really do enjoy water. In the wild they are always near streams. Our neighbors successfully grow them at the edge of their koi pond. I have not had luck with them, even though we have a stream in our front yard. (I have to admit, I have not tried hard.) Similar situation with Lobelia cardinalis, local to our area. It occasionally shows up in the yard but never thrives. That is why I grow it from seed in a pot placed in a bucket of water on our lower deck. It does amazing every year (up to 2m tall) and is a magnet for hummingbirds. We enjoy watching them from our living room.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: kris on April 17, 2022, 01:52:26 AM
Hello to all gardeners
I am enjoying all of your pictures .
I was reluctant to add some pictures here because when I take pictures with my iPhone the pixel size is always very high. I did not know how to reduce the size . Today after so much of struggle I finally succeeded in my attempt. Hope I can remember again!!
The weather is really very cold here for the last one week. At last today  daytime is about 1C with sunshine. The Bulbacodium vernum  is not all affected by the  cold temperature (around -11C consistently).
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: kris on April 17, 2022, 02:50:08 AM
Adonis amurensis  picture taken one week ago
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: LucS on April 17, 2022, 03:18:02 PM
Uvularia grandiflorum
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: LucS on April 17, 2022, 03:23:19 PM
The white form of Pulsatilla slavica
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Akke on April 17, 2022, 09:50:33 PM
Nik

Your woods look great, Lobelia Cardinals is very impressive.

This morning, borrowing public green, Caltha palustris was very showy against its background.
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Ground is almost at waterlevel.

Tulipa sylvestris in the park is very lonely, Hyacinthoides are usually the last of main bulb season in the park.
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In my own container Fritillaria meleagris is flowering abundantly, Allium paradoxum var normale is still going on.
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Kris

I hope all your plants are ok, we’re actually having fine spring weather; sun, good temperature and not much wind.








Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 18, 2022, 05:08:18 PM
[Jasmin]:  A blessed Easter/Pesah-Passover!  It is still the busy nesting season for me and the birds; however, the garden was looking so gorgeous and irresistible today:  Yesterday we received 7.62 mm of rain; the most we have received since late January.  This year we did not even have a “March miracle” and the drought continues to be very worrying.  While there are predictions more rain is likely this week, too many predictions have come to naught.  The bit of rain revived everything better than any hose has done.

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Today was the first day Calochortus luteus opened.  The nectaries are just lovely.

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The dissected petals on this azalea have always fascinated me. 

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This afternoon was lovely enough for preparing the vegetable beds.

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Lebanese Light Green and Golden Glory are the two types of summer squash planted in this bed now.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 18, 2022, 05:10:35 PM
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The barley is ripening quickly.

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Nearby, this Papaver rhoeas gracefully sways.

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I close with this lovely butterscotch Pansy.  The garden is definitely outstanding right now:  Everywhere we look, there is some lovely to behold.

All text and photographs by my beloved wife Jasmin
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Akke on April 18, 2022, 08:48:13 PM
Merry/cheerful/happy Easter (just trying to express the Dutch wishes, probably welcoming spring).

Jasmin

Thanks for the lovely pictures and plants, local shadow and full sunlight in your Calochortus luteus picture is great (really enjoying your pictures of Calochortus anyway😀). The amount of flowers around the vegetable bed (containers and open garden) is lovely as well, despite the drought your garden is looking very pleasant.
Another sign of the new season; local birds have a noticeably different way of behaviour and sound, first young birds have shown up.
Hope you  get more rain soon.



Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Diane Whitehead on April 19, 2022, 07:16:16 PM
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One of my trilliums, T albidum, native to Oregon and Northern California.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Nik on April 20, 2022, 04:10:53 PM
Lindera benzoin is very common along streams in the area.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Akke on April 20, 2022, 09:03:49 PM
Diane

Trillium albidum seems to be doing well in your place too.

Nik

Lindera benzoin might be common, it’s looking good, the mirror of water gives a beautiful touch.

Viola riviniana (?), growing between the pavement. (Just a street nearby.)
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It looks like ants had something to do with it.

A few more further down the street.
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Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: kris on April 20, 2022, 09:37:47 PM
Snow strom brewing  at our part of the province. Picture taken today with a backyard visitor Ring necked pheasant
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Akke on April 21, 2022, 06:29:57 PM
More summer-ish weather here, good for these little ducks maybe. Mom is watching from a small floating island, created with a neighbour to give them a shelter.
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Very common, but in the park most don’t make it, none last year, just one year before that (the egg was adopted by a ‘city’ goose). 

How this very lonely Puschkinia made it to the park, I don’t know.
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I assume it’s a seedling and as there’s no population of them in the park, this would have taken a very lost ant.

Around it, Cardamine pratensis is just one of our local, not very weedy, weeds.
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Not very impressive, but I like them.

Sometimes there’s a hint that bulbs in the park were planted personally.
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I hope romance is still going on.
Btw, professional planting (last fall) has so far turned out a bit strange too, I think.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mariette on April 21, 2022, 07:20:52 PM
Indeed, Akke.  ;)

Such a dazzling array of flowers by everyone!

Yann, I especially like Your contributions from Greece!

Robert, are annuals like Erythranthe and Nemophilia self-sown in Your garden or placed deliberately? Anyway, they produce lovely sceneries!

Six years ago we spent a holiday in France, and I dug this Asphodelus in the Luberon, which flowers now for the first time.

(https://up.picr.de/43451649ll.jpg)

Arum italicum ´White Winter´and Muscari leucostomum do well in my garden.

(https://up.picr.de/43386355pz.jpg)

A good form of Anemone nemorosa with flowers up to 5 cm in diameter.

(https://up.picr.de/43451641ts.jpg)

Epimedium ´Atranis´and Anemone nemorosa.

(https://up.picr.de/43451645at.jpg)

White Anemone blanda and Cardamine bulbifera.

(https://up.picr.de/43451644rl.jpg)
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Akke on April 21, 2022, 07:49:59 PM
Mariëtte

Your garden looks great with lovely combinations, did C. pratensis turn up or was it sown?  Asphodelus looks very beatiful.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mariette on April 21, 2022, 09:26:44 PM
Thank You, Akke - and sorry: it´s Cardamine bulbifera, not pratensis. The latter grows wild on the other side of the street (I´m living in a very small village). There are some almost white ones among them, but the buds are  tinged lilac. I´d love a pure white one! Cardamine bulbifera is not growing in our area, I´ve got this one from a friend and put it in an enclosed border, hoping that it cannot escape.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 22, 2022, 07:10:53 PM
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Our spring garden is coming along well.

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This is another view of our “woodland” garden.

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Other parts of our garden are coming along, but still need time to get established.

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I like Rhododendron occidentale hybrids. Many such as this unnamed hybrid are very fragrant.

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I grow Penstemon laetus var. laetus in large containers with very gritty porous soil. I suspect that this species will do well in our average garden soil in the drier parts of our garden. I will experiment with rooted cuttings and new seedlings to see how this works out.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 22, 2022, 07:13:38 PM
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Many of our California native Allium species can be very effective in our garden. This is Allium falcifolium.

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Our California native Allium unifolium is easy to please in our garden.

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These Calochortus luteus are growing in a large tub.

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A close up view of Calochortus luteus – in various shades of yellow and with a variety of nectary markings.

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This is a chance hybrid of Digitalis minor x purpurea that germinated, grew, and is now blooming in our woodland garden.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 22, 2022, 07:15:43 PM
[attachimg=1]

Mariette,

To answer your question, yes Erythranthe, Diplacus, and Nemophila have self-sown in our garden(s). Diplacus and Erythranthe species do self-seed in our Sacramento garden, but in most cases, not prolifically. This situation may change as our garden matures. I am hoping for more self-sowing. Nemophila and Collinsia self-sowed in the past in our Placerville garden. I just gathered some seed from the wild plants within walking distance of the property and scattered the seed. The Collinsia still grows on the Placerville property without any gardening attention on my part. They are blooming right now.

Pictured above is Collinsia tinctoria blooming, now, in our Sacramento garden. They are starting to self-sow in our garden.

BTY – Your garden and plants looks great! Thank you for sharing.

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We have a nice colony of Collinsia heterophylla var. heterophylla growing in our Sacramento garden. This seed line was established from the seed I gathered near our Placerville property.

Akke,

Thank you for sharing the scene of the duckling in the park. Very sweet!  8)
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mariette on April 22, 2022, 08:34:14 PM
Thank You for Your information and wonderful display of mainly American plants, Robert! I´m afraid I´m piling up a long list of American natives to try due to the tempting pictures You show. Collinsia tinctoria looks very attractive, too! I wonder whether these plants were not successful in our climate or are just not known. Some nemophilas and phacelias are available, but I do not know of any source for Eryanthe, for instance.
PS: Both diplacus are on the windowsill, still. D. grandiflorus germinating and growing better, perhaps it can do with lower temperatures?
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Akke on April 22, 2022, 08:56:03 PM
Mariëtte

Thanks for the correction on Cardamine, it still is beautiful😀.

Robert

Thanks for sharing the lovely views from your garden. Penstemon laetus var. laetus is interesting growing sideways, should it? Seeing the variations in your Calachortus luteus is very pleasing, it might take some time, but the possibilty of variations was one of the main reasons to start sowing, beside just liking the whole process.

Definitely not sown, Tulipa ‘Honky Tonk’ is now flowering, probably from the batalinii group. It looks like your Tulipa.
[attachimg=1]


Good news, (the sad thing being that this is not ‘normal’), no ducklings were lost yet. They’re actually not in the park but right next to my home.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Nik on April 22, 2022, 10:50:42 PM
Japanese maples are finally showing their leaves. This one is a 4-year old seedling, about 6 feet tall.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Nik on April 22, 2022, 11:04:54 PM
I love Japanese maple seedlings. They are so variable. One never knows what you will end up with. These two are from seeds from the same tree.
I have few named varieties: Shin Deshojo, Ukigumo, Sensu, Shirazz and Rhode Island Red, but I always find the seedlings more exciting. Also, because they are unique, nobody else has them unless they are propagated by grafting or cuttings.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mariette on April 23, 2022, 10:17:20 AM
Yes, these maples are beautiful, and I do share Your love for them, but, unfortunately, they do not like the conditions in our garden.

Akke, the contrast between Your interesting collection of container-grown plants and the lovely sceneries in Your neighbourhood is as fascinating as enjoyable!

Arum maculatum ´Bakovici´ produces spathes of different variegation, just as the leaves.

(https://up.picr.de/43451655ig.jpg)

A double Anemone ranunculoides found by the late gardeners Barbara & Eberhard Fluche.

(https://up.picr.de/43451646ns.jpg)

More fully open.

(https://up.picr.de/43451647df.jpg)

Anemone nemorosa ´Alba Plena´ produces odd flowers this year.

(https://up.picr.de/43451650rk.jpg)

(https://up.picr.de/43451651ft.jpg)
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: shelagh on April 23, 2022, 11:59:52 AM
Everyone posting wonderful pictures, thank you. Thought I'd do a quick run round as the wind is bitter this morning.

Cytissus ardoinii Cottage.
Maud's corner.
Narcissus rupicola on the bench at the local Horticultural Show 27.3.22
Same Narcissus rupicola this morning.
Pelargonium Frank Hedley. Brian has been overwintering this in the garage and greenhouse.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: shelagh on April 23, 2022, 12:03:24 PM
Another Pelargonium that Brian has tended all winter P. Vancouver Centennial.
Peony mascula ssp. mascula.
Raised bed from both ends.
Trollius europaeous Lemon Supreme and the new shoots of the Martagon Lily.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: shelagh on April 23, 2022, 12:05:09 PM
Last but not least Tiarella Spring Symphony with the snake like heads of Soloman's Seal coming through.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Andre Schuiteman on April 23, 2022, 03:14:54 PM
1. Phlox richardsonii. I received this as P. muscoides, which it certainly isn't. These cushion phloxes are not easy to identify but I think P. richardsonii comes closest. Admittedly, some botanists believe this is a synonym of P. hoodii. Near London, cushion phloxes are easier to grow in the open garden than Himalayan alpines such as androsaces, as they seem better capable of dealing with dry air and the occasional high temperatures. They appreciate protection against rain between November and March. It's a pity that the flowers are quite flimsy and last only a few days.
[attachimg=1]
2. Cassiope wardii. I have tried other Cassiope species planted only inches away from this one but they all died within months, whereas C. wardii is getting better and better after three years in the same spot. Maybe this species is easier or I may just be lucky.
[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Andre Schuiteman on April 23, 2022, 03:26:13 PM
Cytissus ardoinii Cottage.

Shelagh, this should be known as Cytisus Cottage, as it is a hybrid of C. ardoinoi with something else. Pure C. ardoinoi is a smaller plant with deeper yellow flowers. See https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2012Feb241330043727IRG_26_Feb2012.pdf (https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2012Feb241330043727IRG_26_Feb2012.pdf)
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Nik on April 23, 2022, 06:46:46 PM
I also would like to thank everyone posting great pictures in this thread. They are all so lovely!

Akke,
Our side yard becomes violets heaven this time of year, no idea about the species, some are white.
Sadly, they all get the lawn mower treatment later on.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ruweiss on April 23, 2022, 08:13:13 PM
Thanks to all of you for showing us all these  beautiful pictures.
Spring is on the way everywhere.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: shelagh on April 24, 2022, 10:09:19 AM
Thanks for the correction Andre. We bought it years ago at the Glasgow Show with the name we use.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 24, 2022, 06:35:14 PM
Akke,

The inflorescence of Penstemon laetus is generally ascending. The decumbent inflorescence is the result of the resent rainfall. Last year the plant got tangled in a mass of vetch, which impacted its growth. This this did not help. Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis will be blooming soon. This species grows well both in containers and our loamy garden. I have much to do to prepare for summer. The spring flower show is easy. A succession of flowers early summer into the autumn is challenging in our climate. There are some species that work well for us, however I admit that I am not satisfied with our summer selection at this time. There is plenty for me to ponder.

Mariette,

Many low elevation California native annual plant species germinate and start growth with the first precipitation in the autumn. Temperatures are generally cool, day length is declining, and the soil is cooling and generally stays moist. Many Diplacus and Erythranthe species fit into this germination – growth scheme. Seeds of many annual species will not germinate with warm temperatures. My experience with the cultivation of California native annuals is that many grow and develop poorly if they are started too late in the “season”. Late September to late October sowing brings the best results with many of our annual species. Those that live where winters are extremely cold face the dilemma of attempting to protect seedlings from extremely cold weather during the winter, or timing their planting in the spring – before temperatures warm too much and day length becomes an issue.  Think about how many onion varieties are day length sensitive to bulb formation. Many of our California native annual species are responding to day length and temperature. The good news is that there are both Diplacus and Erythranthe species that grow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains where snow cover during the winter can be intermittent or consistent. These species respond well to spring sowing. Another factor is, some Diplacus and Erythranthe species are perennial. Some grow at high elevations where snow and cold weather are typical features of the weather. This is good news if one lives in a cold winter climate (not extreme cold).

It seems like you have much to experiment with. I will be keenly interested in your results. You might find Diplacus and Erythranthe seed for sale via Seedhunt. They have a website, however I will no idea if they ship overseas. In addition, Annie’s Annuals at one time sold via mail order and had a listing of California native annuals. Once again, I have no idea if they are still in business, ship over seas, or even offer seed. They are perhaps places to start an inquiry. Your gardening plans sound exciting!
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Akke on April 24, 2022, 09:31:26 PM
Lots of  great pictures.

Nik

Your side yard looks lovely, lawn mower treatment doesn’t seem to hurt them, I’m not an expert on Viola (or anything else), just cheated to find out about the ones growing in the pavement.
Your japenese maple and seedlings are very attractive, do they require any special treatment to germinate?

Mariëtte

Thanks, adding the really lovely plants and combinations of them like you and others show, to what’s around here is relaxing, no need for speed, just enjoyment and slow progression. Love your Anemone.

Shelagh

Love your garden view and plants, thanks. By coincedence I found some more pictures of your garden in summer still looking great.

Robert

Just read your interesting post.
Neighbour and I had a short talk about summer flowering species around here this morning, it might not be just my impression that they’re not easy to find locally. I hope you got some serious rain.





Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Nik on April 25, 2022, 09:26:48 AM
Akke,

Japanese maples need cold stratification to germinate. I just leave the pots outside during the winter. Other than that nothing special. I use soil from the yard. It seems to work perfectly fine.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Anders on April 25, 2022, 06:20:12 PM
My favourite prostrate willow because of the light pink flowers. A cutting from the Narsaq area, Southern Greenland, probably Salix arctica.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Graham Catlow on April 25, 2022, 06:35:05 PM
Some images from my garden as the Acers and Rhododendrons begin to put on their Spring show.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

[attachimg=4]

[attachimg=5]

Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Graham Catlow on April 25, 2022, 06:39:55 PM
Some more…

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

[attachimg=4]

[attachimg=5]

Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Graham Catlow on April 25, 2022, 06:45:24 PM
And finally…

Rhododendron Everred which is flowering at its best since I bought it many years ago. Glendoick advertise it as ‘rarely flowers’

[attachimg=1]

Sanguinaria  canadensis

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on April 25, 2022, 09:40:19 PM
You're further ahead than us, Graham - our Acer leaves just beginning. Your garden is looking lovely!

Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Graham Catlow on April 26, 2022, 03:35:40 PM
Thanks Maggi. Probably a bit warmer down here.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mariette on April 27, 2022, 07:09:21 AM
Yes, Your garden looks lovely, Graham - and is well - matched by the scenic grey stone-house in the background!

Robert, thank You for Your enlighting explanations! Eschscholzia californica is a well-known Californican over here, which self-seeded for many years in my allotment, usually starting in autumn and surviving our increasingly mild winters. Lesson learnt, I´ll try to sow plants like this in autumn, if possible. Unfortunately, the seed received from an American organisation arrived in late winter.

Calochortus is a species I always admired, but trying some bulbs in the driest spot of my garden they never turned up, though Sternbergia lutea copes with the conditions there. As I noticed that You grow them in tubs I wondered if they wouldn´t do well in the open ground?

A Trillium erectum seedling with Disporum megalanthum starting to sprout on the left.

(https://up.picr.de/43489430gq.jpg)

Brunnera ´Diane´s Gold´with a double Anemone ranunculoides.

(https://up.picr.de/43489429kh.jpg)

A bracteate Hyacinthoides non-scripta of filigree charm.

(https://up.picr.de/43489428wq.jpg)

Trillium kurabayashii with Epimedium franchetii ´Brimstone Butterfly´.

(https://up.picr.de/43489426qy.jpg)
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Andre Schuiteman on April 27, 2022, 05:26:30 PM
Daphne cneorum 'Benaco'. Floriferous and fragrant and easy to propagate from cuttings. Why is it so rarely offered in the trade?
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Stefan B. on April 27, 2022, 07:27:06 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/JZXzY2B.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dRt0y95.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/99R67wJ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/UDzmKLp.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/RsDFsB4.jpg)
That is the mood in my garden today.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Akke on April 28, 2022, 09:26:36 PM
Stefan

Looks like a good mood, how did you get your wildlife to pose? 😀 A good moment to add that your blue above yellow is really good.

Nik

Thanks for the info, really late I picked up some (probably) japanese maple seeds prestratified in the park and for cross-reference some other maples. The last ones sprouted, none of the japanese maples did so far, I’ll leave them and keep an eye on possible seedlings (I assume grabbing is no problem if they’re going to be mown or weeded anyway) at the park. Very interesting to see that young seedlings already show variations.
[attachimg=1]
Although planted inofficially, Acer palmatum is fitting in very well here, in my opinion.
Graham, your A. palmatum got a lot of my attention, combined with the other plants your garden already looks great.

Mariëtte & Robert

I’ll keep an eye on your experiments Mariëtte, your climate seems much like mine.
Maybe it would be interesting to sow a few ‘Californians’ ,  Nemophila and Limnanthes, in autumn, what do you think Robert?


Park season is starting the final show, a huge number of Allium ursinum beginning to flower, a bit less of Hyacinthoides too, in my containers things are slowing down.
[attachimg=2]
Narcissus wilkommii is finishing while Allium ‘chameleon’ is colouring up to it’s name, ‘Botanical’ dutch Tulipa in the background, maybe not collectables but very enjoyable.

Anders

I love Salix arctica.
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ArnoldT on April 29, 2022, 03:00:05 AM
Paeonia tenuifolia
Title: Re: April in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Akke on May 01, 2022, 08:11:01 PM
With a bit more sun and higher temperatures, last Tulipa are making a show.
[attachimg=1]

In the park colours are changing.
[attachimg=2]
Weeds are left to grow for now as bees like them.
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