Hi Fermi
Thank you for sharing the photographs. I am curious; does Narcissus ‘Shattergreen’ produce viable pollen? Also, you mentioned that a Galanthus hybrid is doing reasonably well under an Elm tree. Do Galanthus species do well in your summer hot-dry, winter cool (but not cold) climate? Or do the aggressive roots of the Elm monopolize all the nutrients and moisture within their root zone?
I am settling back into farm life and am quite content. Currently, I am planning a trip to Iceland Lake near Sonora Pass in September. There are so many perfect plants (hot, dry summertime climate) for our Sacramento garden that grow in this region.
![August 2023 in the Southern Hemisphere](https://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=e985b9b76a6479fd5d888f5c6a1b48bc&action=dlattach;topic=19352.0;attach=715929;image)
Pictured is Artemisia arbuscula ssp. arbuscula growing above 10,000 feet elevation in the Carson Pass region of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I have been successful growing this species in our Sacramento garden. It stays quite small and the silvery foliage is a delight. During the winter it looks dead, but I like this look too. I guess I am different.
![August 2023 in the Southern Hemisphere](https://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=e985b9b76a6479fd5d888f5c6a1b48bc&action=dlattach;topic=19352.0;attach=715931;image)
Pictured is Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana growing in the Ebbetts Pass region of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This species, too, thrives in our Sacramento garden. Unlike Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata, subspecies vaseyana stays quite small. It too looks dead during the wintertime, a characteristic I clearly like. It is another species that has intensely silvery foliage that looks great in our garden.
![August 2023 in the Southern Hemisphere](https://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=e985b9b76a6479fd5d888f5c6a1b48bc&action=dlattach;topic=19352.0;attach=715933;image)
Pictured is Artemisia ludaviciana ssp. incompta growing above 10,000 feet elevation above Sonora Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This species thrives in our Sacramento garden. With some summertime irrigation this species remains very green during its growing season. The foliage of this species has a very distinct fragrance, very different from many other Artemisia species.
![August 2023 in the Southern Hemisphere](https://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=e985b9b76a6479fd5d888f5c6a1b48bc&action=dlattach;topic=19352.0;attach=715935;image)
I have a friend that lives in Ålesund, Norway. I am also hoping to get into the Caldor Fire burn scar area within the Lyons Creek Basin and gather information on Rhododendron columbianum for him. The high elevation Ericaceae species of the Sierra Nevada do not do well in our Sacramento garden. Bummer! :'( There are some very beautiful species. I have my hands full, but maybe I should continue to try. They are easy to germinate and grow well for a time before they succumb to the extreme heat and xenobiotics in the air and water.
Things are going well here in California. Thank you again for sharing the photographs.