April 2021 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Tristan_He]

That's a fine pan of Ramondas Shelagh!

[shelagh]

Thanks Tristan several people have said their plants have been at their best this year when there have been no Shows, our Ramonda is another more stems than ever before.

[ruweiss]

It is time for Primulas and Townsendias:

[koneko]

Bletilla striata - blue form -
Dendrobium moniliforme
Paeonia suffruticosa
Paeonia suffruticosa - yellow form -

[ArnoldT]

Two Paeonia

Paeonia. emodii
Paeonia tenuifolia ssp. lithophila.

[ArnoldT]

Cydonia sinensis  Korean quince

[Yann]

This year less photos from the greenhouse but more from nature, with the lockdown i need some fresh air and less "inside".

Allium ursinum are all around in the nearest woods, i'll collect buds and keep them in vinagar.

[Tristan_He]

Allium ursinum are all around in the nearest woods, i'll collect buds and keep them in vinegar.

Hi Yann, this is a new one on me! Is it botanical or culinary?

[johnw]

Jeffersonia dubia in Ken's garden. Just noticed the many seedlings popping up!  No doubt he will not have missed them.

johnw
16c & sunny, won't last.

[Andre Schuiteman]

1. Cassiope wardii. You wouldn't expect a plant from the heights of Tibet to grow well near London, but this little ericaceous shrub has been going strong for a few years now. It receives morning sun only and the base of the plant is shaded by a piece of rock.

2. Coluria omeiensis var. nanzhengensis. There is not much information to be found about this attractive plant. According to the Flora of China, it occurs in Sichuan, Guizhou and Shaanxi at elevations of 1200 - 2300 m. Nothing is written there about the habitat, but the few photos on the internet taken in situ show that it grows in crevices on limestone cliffs together with what appears to be Rhododendron williamsianum and other plants. It seems to enjoy a gritty ericaceous soil in a big planter situated to avoid the afternoon sun. With its 3 cm wide, primrose-yellow flowers and small rosette of broad leaves it does resemble a primrose, but it is related to Geum.

3. Pseudomuscari forniculatum, also known as Bellevalia forniculata. Full disclosure: I only planted this last November, so I cannot claim to have properly 'grown' it. It occurs in large drifts in alpine valleys in Turkey, which must be quite a sight, as the flowers are a really piercing light blue. Unfortunately, the bulbs are a bit too expensive for me to try to emulate this.

4. Petrocallis pyrenaica. One of the 'classic' alpine plants. Mine are growing in a raised bed (from AGS seed sown in December 2018).

[Gail]

Pseudomuscari forniculatum, also known as Bellevalia forniculata. Full disclosure: I only planted this last November, so I cannot claim to have properly 'grown' it. It occurs in large drifts in alpine valleys in Turkey, which must be quite a sight, as the flowers are a really piercing light blue. Unfortunately, the bulbs are a bit too expensive for me to try to emulate this.


(Attachment Link)

I've had mine a couple of years now and it has not shown any sign of drifting yet sadly...

[Andre Schuiteman]

I've had mine a couple of years now and it has not shown any sign of drifting yet sadly...

There's a reason why it's expensive.

[Gail]

There's a reason why it's expensive.

I wonder if anyone has tried leaf cuttings?
https://www.ishs.org/ishs-article/109_38

I may sacrifice a leaf in the interest of experimentation...

[Roma]

I found it easy from seed. This potful (photo from April 2019) was from AGS seed exchange sown in 2011. It hasn't been repotted for a couple of years so only one flower spike this year.

[Claire Cockcroft]

Epimediums are starting to bloom.