Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: Mike Ireland on April 03, 2015, 11:09:58 AM

Title: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mike Ireland on April 03, 2015, 11:09:58 AM
Draba sphaeroides cusickii
& self sown seedlings in tufa wall.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mike Ireland on April 03, 2015, 11:22:13 AM
Plants on my tufa wall,
Draba mollisima
saxifraga oppositifolia Theoden
various saxifraga
tufa wall
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on April 03, 2015, 11:43:54 AM
Obviously Theoden thrives in tufa Mike. Mine looks a sorry object in ordinary gritty soil. Think I need to check the prices of vans, balaclavas and such and make a dead of night tufa theft :D
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 03, 2015, 12:17:28 PM
A wonderful tufa wall, and so colorful now.
Hmmm, David, maybe you need to build one yourself. 
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mike Ireland on April 03, 2015, 01:18:01 PM
A wonderful tufa wall, and so colorful now.
Hmmm, David, maybe you need to build one yourself. 
Obviously Theoden thrives in tufa Mike. Mine looks a sorry object in ordinary gritty soil. Think I need to check the prices of vans, balaclavas and such and make a dead of night tufa theft :D
Thanks both.
David I find Sax oppositifolia generally struggles in my garden no matter where I have tried to grow it.
Seems very happy in the tufa though.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on April 03, 2015, 03:57:24 PM
A wonderful tufa wall, and so colorful now.
Hmmm, David, maybe you need to build one yourself.

I would do that if I could Anne but tufa is as rare as rocking horse manure (and just as expensive!) in the UK.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on April 04, 2015, 06:30:08 AM
My Clerodendrum ugandense has sneaked back into bloom without my spotting it under glass.................
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7653/17022380371_351ca5e4dd_z.jpg)

And this wee self seeded Viola is a bit of jewel outdoors.............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7636/17015695532_484e5b5624_z.jpg)

I know that Viola are as common as muck but the colour is unlike any of the others I have kicking around.

Indoors Pachyphytum is back in bloom...............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7282/16784620009_d8b3212e9e_z.jpg)

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7590/16944860176_1672266cb6_z.jpg)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on April 04, 2015, 07:49:44 AM
How lovely red viola.
Over here it's been rainy and cloudy the past week so all the flowers have closed flowers, but Daphne mezereum has started to flower.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: latestart on April 04, 2015, 12:56:43 PM
I bought this as R.Sinogrande and for the first year it had yellow flowers but since then it has had these pretty pink flowers which fade to white. When first bought the leaves were at least two foot each long. The leaves are still pretty big but much less now. I spoke to a rep on the Rhodo society stand and he said the leaves do tend to get smaller as the plant ages.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: latestart on April 04, 2015, 01:13:08 PM
Our winter flowering rockery was planted with 176 heathers and a few dot shrubs in 1989. It starts to show colour in November and peaks in April. The first photo is November 2014  and the second April 2015. The 3rd is the back of the rockery also April 2015. 
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on April 04, 2015, 01:43:36 PM
latestart - Perhaps I am not seeing the leaves of your sinogrande.  What I do see don't look like them to me.

Here is true sinogrande as id'ed by Cox.  Yes the leaves do decrease as the plant increases but are still notable.

johnw
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: latestart on April 04, 2015, 04:18:54 PM
I agree my leaves are not nearly as big as the ones you show but I am also puzzled that the plant I bought had yellow flowers and now they are pink. Here is a photo that shows a comparison with the skimmia leaves and red berries. It was planted around 1990.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on April 04, 2015, 04:31:52 PM
Plants on my tufa wall,
Draba mollisima
saxifraga oppositifolia Theoden
various saxifraga
tufa wall

Great stuff, Mike !!

Over here, in flower :
Iris potaninii
Lithodora zahnii
Magnolia stellata 'Kobold'
Prunus incasa 'Ko-yo-no-May'
Primula auricula 'Mauve Mist'



Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on April 04, 2015, 05:38:35 PM
Luc - What a splendid Lithodora! I nearly dropped to the floor as I thought you had a blue-flowered Rhododendron roxieanum Oreonastes there.

johnw
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on April 04, 2015, 06:02:29 PM
Luc - What a splendid Lithodora! I nearly dropped to the floor as I thought you had a blue-flowered Rhododendron roxieanum Oreonastes there.

johnw

Thanks John !  Glad you didn't hurt yourself !  ;D
The Lithodora is in its third year, John, so far so good !  I've lost it in the past after a hard Winter....
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on April 04, 2015, 07:09:39 PM
Great show Mike and Luc.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Tim Ingram on April 04, 2015, 07:21:33 PM
The Lithodora must like that warm wall its against Luc. A plant in our garden is not flowering so well this year - usually I cover it with glass lights - but that is really nice. Another plant for the long awaited crevice garden that we have not yet built! Like these Boraginaceae very much.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on April 04, 2015, 08:19:31 PM
latestart - Right, I see I was looking at Skimmia leaves.  The colour change is noit entirely unheard of but .... is it possible you might have had a macabeanum nearby or one grafted on that sino and it petered out?

johnw
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on April 04, 2015, 08:51:55 PM
The Lithodora must like that warm wall its against Luc. A plant in our garden is not flowering so well this year - usually I cover it with glass lights - but that is really nice. Another plant for the long awaited crevice garden that we have not yet built! Like these Boraginaceae very much.
You're right,  Tim, it is agains a South/West facing wall to provide for some shelter in Winter.  Still i wrap it in bubble foam when it starts freezing.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 04, 2015, 09:26:08 PM
I think spring might be starting.  Lost snow cover on the troughs last week and a week of even occasional sun and only a couple of dustings of snow has made an enormous difference.

1.  Douglasia montana in its winter color
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 04, 2015, 09:28:02 PM
Same plant 1 week later next to a Sax. sp. in bud.
These are both planted in a very large and deep trough.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: latestart on April 04, 2015, 09:49:00 PM
johnw I will check tomorrow to see if this rhodo has been grafted. I wrote a longer reply telling you what I found when I googled macabeanum but when I tried to post it I was advised there had been another submission and asked if I wanted to change what I had written. I checked and there was no relevant message but when I again tried to post I got the same message popping up. I have not been able to post because my message  has disappeared.  ???
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on April 05, 2015, 01:10:03 AM
latestart - I often get that message and just ignoring it is the best approach.

john
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 05, 2015, 03:44:36 AM
Spring has sprung finally.  In a sun trap with no snow, Eranthis hyemalis has finally popped up.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: latestart on April 05, 2015, 02:44:10 PM
johnw, I had a look this am my rhodo does not appear to have been grafted. It was impossible to take a photograph because there is so much congestion in the shrubbery. I googled your suggestion of Macabeanum and found a pink hybrid on one of the images sites. 
R. ‘Sarita Loder x calophytum x macabeanum x basilicum’. I followed the link to
http://frasersouthrhodos.ca/newsletter-archive/2013/YAKnov13.pdf (http://frasersouthrhodos.ca/newsletter-archive/2013/YAKnov13.pdf)
I could not see the undersides of any leaves to help with an ID.

Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: K-D Keller on April 05, 2015, 07:23:32 PM
Pictures from today:

Dionysia tapetodes, Fritillaria aurea, (bought as) Pleione pogonoides, Primula allionii "Marie Talbot" and Townsendia hookeri.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on April 05, 2015, 07:42:53 PM
Nice series K.D !

Spring has sprung finally.  In a sun trap with no snow, Eranthis hyemalis has finally popped up.

Glad you came out of the cold, Anne !!  :D

I thought this Pulsatilla x 'Budapest' looked particularly attractive today.

Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 05, 2015, 10:01:03 PM
That's a beauty, Luc.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: K-D Keller on April 06, 2015, 07:31:27 PM
Luc, thank you for your kind comment.  :)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 07, 2015, 03:45:23 AM
The biggest trough is finally free of snow.  Nothing flowering yet but the pictures shows the nice contrast between the early foliage of Gypsophila aretioides v caucasica and Penstemon thompsonii v desperatus.  The interesting thing about the penstemon is that I've never had germination when I potted up seed.  One year I threw the leftover seed back into the trough and the next year I had over a dozen seedlings.  This is now the way I propagate this plant.  The seedlings get moved when they look strong enough and have made a number of true leaves.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: fredg on April 08, 2015, 07:51:18 PM
A common sight at this time of year for some of us but not everyone gets to see this.

http://youtu.be/DfEUjNjPeIw (http://youtu.be/DfEUjNjPeIw)

Does anyone have a spare AAA gun please?
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 09, 2015, 04:33:18 PM
What a lovely sight (and site).
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mike Ireland on April 10, 2015, 09:23:39 AM
Plants from the garden this morning.
Erythronium tuolumnense
Fritillaria kotschyanus
Paeonia tenuifolius foliage
& one for Ian Young who kindly gave me this Erythronium Cover Girl

Thanks Ian, ooops  & Maggie, must keep in with, as a friend always says, "she who must be obeyed",
quickly followed by "I know my place".
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mike Ireland on April 10, 2015, 09:38:32 AM
Two more from this morning in the garden.
Trillium albidum & kurabayashii
Trillium kurabayashii
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on April 10, 2015, 09:44:46 AM
Your plants are way ahead of ours up here in (admittedly now) sunny Aberdeen. The garden must be a delight right now, Mike - hope you're taking some time just to sit with a cuppa and enjoy it!
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 10, 2015, 11:28:58 AM
The Trillium kurabayashii is gorgeous.  Wonder how hardy it is.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mike Ireland on April 10, 2015, 01:03:11 PM
The Trillium kurabayashii is gorgeous.  Wonder how hardy it is.
The Trillium kurabayashii in my experience is extremely hardy.

Your plants are way ahead of ours up here in (admittedly now) sunny Aberdeen. The garden must be a delight right now, Mike - hope you're taking some time just to sit with a cuppa and enjoy it!

Plants have really started to move in the last couple of weeks here Maggie.  It's only this week I've gone outside without a warm sweater on.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 10, 2015, 01:45:12 PM
I know it's hardy in the Pacific Northwest, but not sure about the Northeast.  We can get winter temps of -20F and colder on occasion.

Just discovered Lewisia brachycalyx foliage popping up in a trough.  Maybe there will be spring.  This weekend is supposed to be warmer with lots of sun.  That should get things going finally.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Giles on April 10, 2015, 02:27:50 PM
Old potting soil dumped in a heap at the bottom of the garden.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Giles on April 10, 2015, 02:33:52 PM
Mixed Prunus and Magnolia.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on April 10, 2015, 02:38:12 PM
Crikey Giles, those are all doing really well.  You could be having your own Cherry Blossom Festival there!
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on April 10, 2015, 03:31:02 PM
It's good to see things getting going for everyone at last!

I got in from work today and found the first bloom on my Cantua buxifolia open..............
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8700/16891811657_c98fa7ab3a_z.jpg)

I'm rather pleased! The colour is even better than the photo in the flesh.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on April 10, 2015, 04:04:33 PM
Some Anemone x lipsiensis and hellebores. Not a great photo I agree!
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 11, 2015, 06:04:01 PM
[attachimg=1]

Iris hartwegii blooming in the garden today.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on April 11, 2015, 06:08:42 PM

Iris hartwegii blooming in the garden today.
Such an elegant shape and lovely colour.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: K-D Keller on April 11, 2015, 06:40:12 PM
A yellow series from today.

Draba aspera, Erysimum kotschyanum, Saxifraga x elisabethae "Foster`s Gold", Dionysia aretioides and Iris bucharica "Conquest".
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Matt T on April 11, 2015, 11:18:41 PM
Such a good, rich yellow on that Sax. Lovely. The wee Erysimum is nice too.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ebbie on April 12, 2015, 09:55:14 AM
A fine yellow series.

My oldest Ranunculus calandrinoides. For 16 years in my rock garden without protection.

(http://up.picr.de/21566754xn.jpg)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on April 12, 2015, 09:56:20 AM
Ebbie! That Ranunculus is superb - never seen better.   8)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Steve Garvie on April 12, 2015, 10:06:38 AM
Wow!!!
A superb Ranunculus calandrinoides Ebbie!


Yulan (Magnolia denudata)

I planted this 25 years ago when I had no real knowledge of gardening (nothing changed there then!). I stuck it in the wrong place and far too close to the house. It has survived a Siberian winter and numerous drastic prunings by Scottish Power and British Telecom engineers. The first flowers appeared eight years ago and it seems to present a reasonable display every 2nd year. I really wish I had placed it more carefully as it can be very impressive in flower. The flowers are huge and appear white but when viewed in shade they have a delicate pink suffusion. Late March/early April frosts, heavy rain and strong winds play havoc with the large delicate flowers. Flowering spans a two week period with a week at its peak. Given all the adverse variables I never usually see it at its best. The absence of recent frosts and a settled non-windy sunny spell have allowed a reasonable display ......until this morning! Strong overnight wind and rain have spoiled the display as white handkerchiefs now blow in the wind!

View of an individual flower taken from a bedroom window three evenings ago:
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8718/16932752189_9f6f7d38ce_o.jpg)

A view of part of the tree in flower:
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8801/16496497324_df5285c900_o.jpg)

Marian holds a ruler up to show the size of a single bloom:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7718/16931385550_e925e6de5a_o.jpg)

It survived the very cold winter of 2010 with some bark-split and die-back (the Magnolia is on the very left of this image; the Rhododendron rex to the right of it died of bark-split):
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/16931384620_089cdbc704_o.jpg)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on April 12, 2015, 01:39:03 PM
..I planted this 25 years ago... The first flowers appeared eight years ago and it seems to present a reasonable display every 2nd year. I really wish I had placed it more carefully as it can be very impressive in flower. The flowers are huge and appear white but when viewed in shade they have a delicate pink suffusion...
Steve,
You lucky man! I think the reason the tree took so long to flower could be that it's not a Yulan, but a Magnolia campbellii hybrid!
It looks stunning,
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on April 12, 2015, 02:43:41 PM
I planted this 25 years ago when I had no real knowledge of gardening (nothing changed there then!). I stuck it in the wrong place and far too close to the house.

That gets a wow from me too.

My seed grown Vestia foetida has been far quicker to bloom - seed to blooms in just over a year at a height of 110cm..................
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8761/17119780062_50827aaa65_z.jpg)

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8768/16913933287_1055b76bef_z.jpg)

Uvularia grandiflora.............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7606/17120676861_f9d8e5c26d_z.jpg)

Erythronium "Kondo".............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7615/17095377416_92c10f0199_z.jpg)

Finally I have managed to get a good capture of the colours of Cantua buxifolia.............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7669/16501168103_4c9168ca44_z.jpg)

Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 12, 2015, 02:46:33 PM
Ebbie, your ranunculus is spectacular!

Unfortunately photographed in my garden - a Lewisia cotyledon pulled right out of the ground by the antlered rats.  The garden is too big to protect all of it with chicken wire. This was the third time it was pulled out of the ground and just left there, how insulting and irritating Now replanted yet again but I don't have high hopes for it.  There was still ice in the ground when I replanted it.  And how do I know it was the antlered rats?  They left their hoof prints as calling cards.  Lewisia tweedyi is the only one they actually eat for some reason.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on April 12, 2015, 03:20:26 PM
Steve  - Wonderful magnolia there.  Certainly looks like a campbellii hybrid face on and I suppose too upright to be denudata 'Forrest's Pink'.  What sort of cold took out your Rhododendron rex? You've got me worried.

johnw 
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Carolyn on April 12, 2015, 10:11:37 PM
Things grow so quickly at this time of year. Suddenly there are at least 6 buds on this Paeonia obovata alba - but the foliage is so spectacular just now that I wouldn't mind if it did not even flower.
The erythroniums are rushing to flower now. Here's E. tuolumnense Oregon strain.
Another favourite which stays looking good with its ferny foliage is Corydalis cheilanthifolia, very easy from seed.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on April 12, 2015, 10:15:30 PM
An easy but lovely one,Armeria juniperifolia 'Bevan's Variety'
Soldanella carpatica x pusilla
Dicentra cucullaria
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Steve Garvie on April 12, 2015, 11:16:23 PM
Steve,
You lucky man! I think the reason the tree took so long to flower could be that it's not a Yulan, but a Magnolia campbellii hybrid!
It looks stunning,
cheers
fermi

Thanks Fermi.
I bought it either from Burncoose nursery in Cornwall or Glendoick (Perthshire) -I had orders from both nurseries at the same time and can't remember which it came from. I had assumed the name was correct but the flowers don't look typical of M. denudata. Could it be a campbelli x denudata?
I had always considered M. campbelli to be too tender to try; my tree survived -17C here in 2010.

Steve  - Wonderful magnolia there.  Certainly looks like a campbellii hybrid face on and I suppose too upright to be denudata 'Forrest's Pink'.  What sort of cold took out your Rhododendron rex? You've got me worried.

johnw 

John the Rh. rex succumbed to bark split after the cold winter of 2010. It got down to below -17C here on a few occasions. Rh. macabeanum also died back to almost ground level from where a painfully slow new growth has emerged. I also lost a large Rh. yunnanense and an arboreum but Rh. kesangiae survived unscathed.

In my early gardening years I was totally unrealistic about what I should grow. I bought a number of the larger rhodos without really having enough space or a suitable microclimate for them.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on April 13, 2015, 01:47:40 PM
In my early gardening years I was totally unrealistic about what I should grow.

That was my problem too but in fact it paid off in spades as we found out we could grow a lot more than thought thanks to cool summers and nights.  The problem later was "I was totally unrealistic about how many I could look after"!

Our rexs have taken -17c but if cold comes very quickly early in the autumn it is lethal.  I remember a 10 footer exploding when the temp plummeted from 55f to just below 0F in a few hours on Boxing Day in the late 70's.

john
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on April 13, 2015, 03:31:50 PM
Galanthus nivalis and Hepatica transsylvanica
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: K-D Keller on April 13, 2015, 05:00:17 PM
A late "thank you very much", for the kind comments to the yellow series.  :)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: olegKon on April 13, 2015, 05:05:23 PM
To continue your wonderful yellow series - Gymnospermum altaicum of yesterday
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Zdenek on April 14, 2015, 11:35:31 AM
Four pictures, two first two are however taken in March:
Crocus baytopiorum
Narcissus hedraeanthus
Primula ´Allen Queen´in early April snow
Ranunculus calandrinioides
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on April 14, 2015, 12:53:36 PM
Salvia gesneriiflora..............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7685/16959505689_f01ee40c7f_z.jpg)

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7597/17145712805_c3094f7b79_z.jpg)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 14, 2015, 02:28:45 PM
meanie,

Salvia gesneriiflora can be such a beauty! They look great.

Winter blooming here in California.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Tim Ingram on April 14, 2015, 03:27:54 PM
Beautiful crocus Zdenek! Wonderful colour in a genus with such a palette of hues.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on April 14, 2015, 06:11:09 PM
meanie,

Salvia gesneriiflora can be such a beauty! They look great.

Winter blooming here in California.
The inflorescence could be bigger but as it survived the electric failure I can't really moan. And the seed was only sown last April.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Matt T on April 14, 2015, 06:18:08 PM
So much more than just a white buttercup! Ranunculus alpestris is a joy.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on April 14, 2015, 06:19:58 PM
So much more than just a white buttercup! Ranunuculus alpestris is a joy.

I just have to have one of those.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Carolyn on April 14, 2015, 06:54:25 PM
Me too! Is it growing outside? Does it need winter rain protection? Super plant.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Matt T on April 14, 2015, 07:00:05 PM
I find it very easy to grow outside all year round in a trough on an east-facing windowsill with a gritty, moist but free-draining potting mix. It dies back completely in the winter and only showed through a short while ago, exploding into bloom like this and it will continue to flower throughout the summer (4 flushes last year). I suspect my success may be due to our cool climate, our summers are never hot (and only rarely warm!) I got mine from Edrom and they appear to have it in stock now.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Carolyn on April 14, 2015, 08:52:29 PM
It's usually fairly cool here too. I think I'll need to have a wee trip over to Edrom...
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Matt T on April 14, 2015, 08:56:23 PM
Guarantee that you'll come away with more than you intend too  ;D
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 14, 2015, 11:29:22 PM
The inflorescence could be bigger but as it survived the electric failure I can't really moan. And the seed was only sown last April.

Very impressive!

Many years ago I grew Salvia gesneriiflora in a large unheated high tunnel here at the farm. During extreme cold I would put some extra row cover over it. It always survived, however there were a few years when there was die back. Most years it bloomed all winter. Its roots were in the ground so it became gigantic!

From some of your photographs it looks as if things are making a good come back after the greenhouse disaster.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on April 14, 2015, 11:42:45 PM
Asarum maximum
Dionysia 'Monika'
Lewisia nevadensis
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on April 15, 2015, 12:07:39 AM
I find it very easy to grow..... I suspect my success may be due to our cool climate, our summers are never hot (and only rarely warm!)...
So it probably won't cope with summers in the 40's (oC) ???
 ;D
We'll just enjoy seeing your pics instead!
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on April 15, 2015, 06:24:58 AM
Very impressive!

From some of your photographs it looks as if things are making a good come back after the greenhouse disaster.
Losses were heavy amongst the succulents and the damage to the Cantua was disappointing but on the whole I've been pleasantly surprised.
Most surprising is how the three vines coped with it. Thunbergia gregorii, Kennedia nigricans and K.rubicunda were prime candidates to succumb I thought but they're in growth again and K.rubicunda is starting to produce its blooms.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Brian Ellis on April 15, 2015, 10:34:04 AM
Here's Sanguinaria 'Star' this morning, bought from Pitcairn Alpines in 2011 and settling in nicely.  Missed out on buying the pink form of sanguinaria this year and unfortunately no sign of Sanguinaria 'Mizar' (yet?).  Such a shame the single form of sanguinaria comes and goes so quickly but at least we have this and fl.pl. to admire :)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 15, 2015, 11:39:21 AM
So much more than just a white buttercup! Ranunculus alpestris is a joy.

One of my favorites in the Dolomites.  Don't think the hot and humid summers here would be to its liking.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Irm on April 15, 2015, 12:24:01 PM
Today in my Berlin garden

Jeffersonia dubia alba
Jeffersonia dubia
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Irm on April 15, 2015, 12:25:06 PM
Tulipa alba coerulea oculata
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Irm on April 15, 2015, 12:25:52 PM
a nice corydalis
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 15, 2015, 02:27:48 PM
Losses were heavy amongst the succulents and the damage to the Cantua was disappointing but on the whole I've been pleasantly surprised.
Most surprising is how the three vines coped with it. Thunbergia gregorii, Kennedia nigricans and K.rubicunda were prime candidates to succumb I thought but they're in growth again and K.rubicunda is starting to produce its blooms.

Glad to hear that things are recovering well. Hopefully the lost plants can be replaced.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on April 15, 2015, 06:26:48 PM
Glad to hear that things are recovering well. Hopefully the lost plants can be replaced.
Thanks.

How is the drought situation up your way?
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on April 15, 2015, 06:37:56 PM
Four very nice pictures Irm.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on April 15, 2015, 07:07:38 PM
Today in my Berlin garden

Jeffersonia dubia alba
Jeffersonia dubia
Especially lovely.  8) 8)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Roma on April 15, 2015, 09:12:40 PM
Chaenomeles 'Nicole'
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on April 16, 2015, 10:10:49 AM
Chaenomeles 'Nicole'

 Pretty  - Dear "fleurbleue" should be growing this - have you got this, Nicole?
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on April 16, 2015, 01:37:30 PM
Clivia 'Vico Yellow'  - full sun outdoors, spring to mid autumn, seems to give it the necessary jolt to set buds.

That's a 14" pot.

johnw
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 16, 2015, 02:04:31 PM
Thanks.

How is the drought situation up your way?

The drought situation is getting strange. Our irrigation district has everyone on a 25% mandatory cut back on water, and yet they want to sell 16,000 acre feet of water (about 1/2 to 1/3 our current supply) to the Westlands Water District (Gigantic corporate farms - they are willing to pay big money). I am not the only farmer out of business. Other farmers have lost all their fruit trees and the farmers' market has thinned of vendors considerably. The produce also tastes terrible now! Tough, woody and dry.  :P Stay tuned. Now we have to get through the summer and fall.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: fredg on April 16, 2015, 06:21:24 PM
A short video of the start of the Prumula season at Pleasley Pit.
Cowslips, Primroses and Oxlips.

http://youtu.be/Xa6-K4omiRc (http://youtu.be/Xa6-K4omiRc)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on April 17, 2015, 10:58:34 AM
Lovely,one of my favourite Spring sights but not seen often enough.Sadly I haven't been able to establish them as I would like but enjoy them in great profusion when travelling to my daughter in Bedfordshire where the roadside banks are covered with them at this time of the year.

These are a few pictures taken in the last few days in my garden.

Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia sargentiana robusta
Magnolia Leonard Messel


Acer palmatum Katsura
Pachysanthum
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on April 17, 2015, 11:00:03 AM
cont'd
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 17, 2015, 12:00:02 PM
No flowering trees yet, but a few things are flowering in the garden.  Not eough forage for the deer yet to distract them from the garden, so it is still covered by chicken wire, which makes it interesting when trying to photograph.

1.  Iris reticulata 'Clairette'
2.  Unknown Sax. in tufa.
3.  Close-up of above
4.  Another unknown Sax. in tufa
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 17, 2015, 12:03:48 PM
And two more.
1.  Draba zapateri
2.  Synthyris laciniata  (?)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on April 17, 2015, 02:14:54 PM
Salix reticulata
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on April 18, 2015, 05:50:22 AM
The drought situation is getting strange. Our irrigation district has everyone on a 25% mandatory cut back on water, and yet they want to sell 16,000 acre feet of water (about 1/2 to 1/3 our current supply) to the Westlands Water District (Gigantic corporate farms - they are willing to pay big money). I am not the only farmer out of business. Other farmers have lost all their fruit trees and the farmers' market has thinned of vendors considerably. The produce also tastes terrible now! Tough, woody and dry.  :P Stay tuned. Now we have to get through the summer and fall.
Big corporations will always win any battle to protect or grow their profits. It is a harsh and unpleasant reality as the African land grab has proven. Enough politics though. I wish you the same as an online "buddy" in San Diego which is a wet and cool summer.

Here are a handful of standout plants from my visit to Oxfords Botanic Gardens yesterday;
Strongylodon macrobotrys was pruned back hard a couple of years ago and this is the first year that it will have a good flush of blooms since.............
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8713/17179852661_4c74a89d0b_z.jpg)

Fritillaria acmopetala............
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8731/16992379498_33f9d99e70_z.jpg)

Arisaema sikokianum...........
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7599/16559962063_c19e313626_z.jpg)

Helicodiceros muscivorus...........
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7713/16994263509_a39d342503_z.jpg)

Lysichiton americanus..........
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7649/17154610216_3fc182b66f_z.jpg)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: brianw on April 19, 2015, 07:36:57 PM
Dryas drommundii today, or is it?
This is in flower on a new rock bank I created to hold the soil/drive up. Planted 2 years ago as bought at an AGS show. The concrete edging is 3 feet wide. It only had 1 flower last year. The buds are quite attractive with the reddish hairs. Unfortunately I may have to erect a fence along the concrete in an attempt to keep the local deer out of this area so it will then get no sun. How well will it move and when should I do it?
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on April 19, 2015, 07:55:54 PM
Couldn't you put a net bottom to the fencing to allow the area and its plants to keep their  light?
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ArnoldT on April 19, 2015, 10:32:39 PM
Blood orange "Moro"

Wonderful scent.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: fixpix on April 20, 2015, 04:51:54 PM
Some pics around my small garden. I am unemployed at the moment so there's more free time and fewer weeds.

Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: fixpix on April 20, 2015, 04:56:30 PM
A few more (didn't know I was only allowed 5)

I always see some lizards around the rocks so I have pets :)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: brianw on April 20, 2015, 10:38:34 PM
Couldn't you put a net bottom to the fencing to allow the area and its plants to keep their  light?
Can't decide how to close off this space. May use hit and miss fencing so broken sunlight would still get through. If I move it the other side of the concrete edging it would be flat in full sun for half the day. Maybe too hot. At present it is near the top of a north facing slope.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: latestart on April 21, 2015, 06:12:23 AM
Can't decide how to close off this space. May use hit and miss fencing so broken sunlight would still get through. If I move it the other side of the concrete edging it would be flat in full sun for half the day. Maybe too hot. At present it is near the top of a north facing slope.
The hit and miss fencing is a good solution. If the concrete will take them use flat base metposts instead of digging in to the garden space.  If you use them you could then use the h&m fencing on 4" square posts to a height of your choice. Alternatively use wind/shade material,  (3.8mm x 1.6mm mesh made from "army" green polyethylene, with eyelets. Gives 50% wind speed reduction without creating turbulence and eddies as occurs with solid boundaries. It should be noted that wind speeds over 15mph can stress a plant so much that it will stop growing. It will give 35% shade which helps prevent scorching of plants) or High density black polythene. 15mm square mesh which should be deer proof. 
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: latestart on April 21, 2015, 08:13:08 AM
I am very pleased with this Androsace septentrionalis. It is the smallest member of the Primula family in the garden. I grew it from seed from SRGC seedex 2013/14. It is a small plant with a rosette of leaves and umbels of small white flowers held on multiple stems. 
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 21, 2015, 04:22:21 PM
The tiny Androsace septentrionalis is a charmer, so nice to see someone growing it.  In the wild it seeds around and is a understory counterpoint of white.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 21, 2015, 04:29:49 PM
Very early stages of spring in the garden, but some of the daphnes are already showing the promise of color to come.  You can even see a few small flowers opening on the precocious D. velenovskyi 'Balkan Rose'.  It was also the last to stop blooming, still trying to open flowers in November.
I think the taxonomists have changed the name of the Eunomia, but can't recall to what, sorry (not very).
OK, this bounced back sa
ying too large although I checked each one and it was OK.  So, one at a time.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 21, 2015, 04:39:07 PM
The rest, hopefully.  Made them a bit smaller.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on April 21, 2015, 05:49:02 PM

.................I think the taxonomists have changed the name of the Eunomia, but can't recall to what, sorry (not very)...............

Aethionema Anne. My hybrid A. 'Warley Rose' is in full flower, I'll try to get a pic of it sometime this week before the rains come again.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on April 21, 2015, 11:09:38 PM
Daphne x susannae 'Cheriton'
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 22, 2015, 02:32:54 AM
D. 'Cheriton' looks lovely.  Will be trying that one this year.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: latestart on April 22, 2015, 08:36:02 AM
The tiny Androsace septentrionalis is a charmer, so nice to see someone growing it.  In the wild it seeds around and is a understory counterpoint of white.
I was wondering how it propages itself in the wild and thank you for saying it seeds around. I am now more confident about planting it in the garden. Your Daphnes are looking good. i planted a Daphne retusa in a sink in Jul 2010. It has never flowered but I am hoping the fat buds are flowers this year and not just leaves.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: latestart on April 22, 2015, 08:55:26 AM
St Patrick's day was in March but the weather held this Daffodil back until April. Daffodil 'Saint Patrick's Day' is a Division 2 Large-cupped daffodil to 40cm tall, with broad, light yellow perianth segments, tinged greenish when first opening, and a flared, creamy-yellow cup with a frilly, slightly deeper orange rim
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mike Ireland on April 22, 2015, 11:25:53 AM
Can you smell the Daphne?
Daphne x susannae Tichborne x2
Iris attica x2
Cardamine trifolia
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on April 22, 2015, 11:42:20 AM
Can you smell the Daphne?
Daphne x susannae Tichborne x2
Iris attica x2
Cardamine trifolia


 I really think I do!
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mavers on April 22, 2015, 12:36:15 PM
Some great plant folks thanks for posting.

Anemone apennina double blue form in an open well drained bed. It didn't flourish in the woodland bed in part shade.

The spectacular Prunus Tai Haku in all its glory.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on April 22, 2015, 04:36:46 PM
Lovely Daphnes folks. It's a great pity that Anne's D. velenovskyi 'Balkan Rose' appears not to be available in the UK or Mainland Europe as it is a cracker. I've spoken to a number of nurserymen all of whom expressed a wish to propagate it if they could only get material. I think Anne pointed me in the direction of Harvey Wrightman but I didn't get a reply to my email.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnstephen29 on April 22, 2015, 06:07:21 PM
Really like your St Patrick's day daffodil latestart.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 22, 2015, 07:52:59 PM
David, Harvey Wrightman recently moved his nursery to New Brunswick.  I think he plans to propagate D. velenovskyi 'Balkan Rose' again soon.  It is really a great plant, I agree.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: latestart on April 22, 2015, 09:04:29 PM
Really like your St Patrick's day daffodil latestart.
Thank you. This is a x between the seed parent Ice Follies, which is one of my favourite daffs, and the pollen parent Binkie. I only have eight bulbs and hope they do bulk up quickly. 
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: fredg on April 23, 2015, 05:31:31 PM
One of MrsG's Ipheions.

Ipheion Jessie

Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Roma on April 23, 2015, 09:41:49 PM
Daphne retusa
This was flattened by snow in the 2010/2011 winter.  I cut it hard back over two years and it is a nice compact plant now.
I thought Narcissus 'Pencrebar had died but now it is getting some light it is doing well.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: latestart on April 23, 2015, 11:02:04 PM
Daphne retusa
This was flattened by snow in the 2010/2011 winter.  I cut it hard back over two years and it is a nice compact plant now.
I thought Narcissus 'Pencrebar had died but now it is getting some light it is doing well.
I like that a lot. My one planted in 2010 is going to flower this year for the first time. It is only 7" tall. How long did this one take to reach this size?
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on April 25, 2015, 01:12:21 AM
Ozothamnus coralloides-coming along nicely,but slowly
Jeffersonia dubia-or is it J.Diphylla?
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on April 25, 2015, 10:11:26 AM
Verbascum acaule , one of my favorites .....BUT NOT EASY OR NOT LONG LIVING ....
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: shelagh on April 25, 2015, 11:07:12 AM
A quick trip around the garden yesterday produced quite a variety of beauties.

These double Ranunculus just love the damp end of the garden.
This Junellia was bought as J. nova sp. but Martin Sheader tells me it is now J. coralloides.
I love both Omphalodes they really brighten up dark areas.
Pretty little Phyllodoce nipponica doesn't really shine on the show bench but it always flowers well.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: shelagh on April 25, 2015, 11:10:41 AM
This Primula was about to be cleared out at our daughters so Brian gladly took it off her hands, it's one from a packet of seeds sown a long time ago.
Three lovely Rhodo's R. cilpinense and Razor Bill both outgrew the show bench but are flourishing in the garden.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ebbie on April 25, 2015, 11:13:54 AM
Kris, yes Verbascum acaule is a fine plant. But I think it is monocarpic.

shelag, the Junellia is spectacular - great!
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on April 25, 2015, 11:36:11 AM
This Junellia was bought as J. nova sp. but Martin Sheader tells me it is now J. coralloides.

Al beautiful plants shelagh but what a great Junellia !   :o :o :o
Congrats !
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: shelagh on April 25, 2015, 12:27:39 PM
Thanks for your comments Ebbie and Kris.

Last couple if pics. Two nice clumps of Tulips.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on April 25, 2015, 01:58:00 PM
Nothing posh but at least things are happening;

Corydalis flexuosa............
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8765/16643850493_0f6355856e_z.jpg)

Polemonium................
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7625/17264068175_f7d25bcf8f_z.jpg)

Euphorbia............
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8784/17263534821_6b316eb719_z.jpg)

Iris japonica.............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7624/17238097226_0b99df42dc_z.jpg)

Asarum proboscideum..............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7666/17059346108_0ae129c731_z.jpg)

Allium karataviense.............
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8740/17198837142_7d94babb7b_z.jpg)

Geranium pheum..............
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8690/17012964890_9200cac831_z.jpg)

Salvia algeriensis............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7601/16970034679_3f7d1cdd53_z.jpg)

Fuchsia excorticata............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7607/16950140340_aeb87c56e9_z.jpg)

Finally, Impatiens kilimanjari has been outdoors for about three weeks and is in bloom now...............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7623/17238096056_ea1a44b759_z.jpg)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: shelagh on April 25, 2015, 03:13:23 PM
Love the Iris :)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on April 25, 2015, 05:33:22 PM
Love the Iris :)
Its only downside is that the slugs love it too  >:(
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Roma on April 25, 2015, 09:34:26 PM
I like that a lot. My one planted in 2010 is going to flower this year for the first time. It is only 7" tall. How long did this one take to reach this size?
It was a lot bigger before I cut it back.  I think it has been there for over 25 years.
Here it is in 2009 before it got damaged by snow.

Daphne retusa
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 25, 2015, 10:29:46 PM
We got a good soaking last night, 50mm of rain!  :)

Some photographs from the garden.

[attachimg=1]

Camassia quamash looking good despite the weeds. It is a meadow plants.  :)

[attachimg=2]

Corydalis taliensis, or something like it. From a seed exchange. One of the few Corydalis that does well despite the summer heat. It would be good to try others at some point.

[attachimg=3]

Eriogonum umbellatum var. polyanthum. A few of our other species are blooming or will be blooming soon.

[attachimg=4]

Layia gaillardioides. An annual species. Earlier in the season I had grand plans for some of our native annuals. It did not pan out, so plan B, the seedlings went into containers. Some of them are still coming along okay. They looked better before the rain.

Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: shelagh on April 26, 2015, 08:44:32 AM
Robert what sort of conditions does your Eriogonum grow in?
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 26, 2015, 01:27:43 PM
Robert what sort of conditions does your Eriogonum grow in?

Shelagh,

The Eriogonum umbellatum var. polyanthum pictured grows in well drained clay soil next to a stone wall. This is not a recommendation. I generally grow all the Eriogonums in a well draining, gritty, gravelly, and sandy soil mix. I get away growing some Eriogonums in clay by rarely, if ever, watering them during the summer, dry months, even with our up to 40 c + summertime temperatures.

And of coarse, the plants are growing in full sun.

Down the road the wild Eriogonum nudum grows in clay on top of serpentine rock. Very extreme xeric conditions! They are not what I consider ornamental. Varieties of the same species from high elevation are ornamental, and almost as drought tolerant.

Anyway, thank you for asking. I hope that my answer is useful.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on April 26, 2015, 02:38:27 PM
The Eriogonum umbellatum var. polyanthum pictured grows in well drained clay soil next to a stone wall. This is not a recommendation.

Great humour! Thanks!
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: fredg on April 26, 2015, 03:57:15 PM
Scilla verna.

Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Johan K. on April 26, 2015, 09:11:18 PM
Arisaema sikokianum
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: latestart on April 26, 2015, 09:37:29 PM
It was a lot bigger before I cut it back.  I think it has been there for over 25 years.
Here it is in 2009 before it got damaged by snow.

Daphne retusa
Roma thank you for the before photos. It is a nice size. 
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on April 27, 2015, 12:09:11 PM
A Lewisia hybrid
Aquilegia grahamii
Anchusa caespitosa
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on April 27, 2015, 02:10:29 PM
A couple from the garden today:-

Aethionema 'Warley Rose'. Been in flower a couple of weeks now and should still have some flower about it in September. Just gets a good haircut in late Autumn.

Tulbaghia 'Purple Eye'. A good doer,again been in flower a couple of weeks and should still be so in November.

Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: K-D Keller on April 27, 2015, 02:36:07 PM
Five pictures from the weekend.

Androsace sown as Androsace tapete.
Iberis attica
Iris attica
Thlaspi bellidifolium
Myosotis pulvinaris
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Tim Ingram on April 27, 2015, 02:48:07 PM
Two really nice crucifers there with Aethionema 'Warley Rose' and Iberis attica.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: olegKon on April 27, 2015, 06:07:57 PM
Spring is advancing very quickly here. As usual, everything is at the same time. Gymnospermum altaicum with other spring bulbs
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ian mcenery on April 27, 2015, 06:09:56 PM
After a couple of aborted attempts to grow this plant I finally got it to flower - but for how long?
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on April 27, 2015, 06:13:05 PM
Spring is advancing very quickly here. As usual, everything is at the same time. Gymnospermum altaicum with other spring bulbs
Excellent plant, Oleg.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on April 27, 2015, 06:13:58 PM
After a couple of aborted attempts to grow this plant I finally got it to flower - but for how long?

 I bet that now it has settled enough to be that happy it may  go on to a long happy flowering life, Ian.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: olegKon on April 27, 2015, 06:16:24 PM
Thanks, Maggi
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on April 27, 2015, 06:17:24 PM
Nicely set off with the Colchicum around it too, Oleg.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: olegKon on April 27, 2015, 06:20:57 PM
It is C. stoloniferum (or Merendera stolonifera?)really spreading around by stolons. The picture is meant for #153
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on April 27, 2015, 06:22:45 PM
It is C. stoloniferum (or Merendera stolonifera?)really spreading around by stolons
Ahh!  (I have difficulty with Colchicum /Merendera - especially in photos!)  Nice plant  - maybe Merendera sobolifera ?
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ian mcenery on April 27, 2015, 06:30:54 PM
I bet that now it has settled enough to be that happy it may  go on to a long happy flowering life, Ian.


Thanks Maggi and I hope so. Let's hope it makes some seed
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: olegKon on April 27, 2015, 06:53:13 PM
It actually depends on the authority. Some call them now colhicums. This one is bound to be a colhicum - Colhicum hungaricum Velebit Star
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 29, 2015, 03:53:32 AM
A few more photographs from the garden / nursery.

[attachimg=1]

Collinsia heterophylla. An excellent form from the central - southern Sierra Nevada, California.

[attachimg=2]

A close-up of the flowers. The flowers are twice the size as the C. heterophylla found locally. The seed is from the vicinity of the South Fork of the Stanisaus River, California about 100 miles south of here.

[attachimg=3]

Eriogonum nudum var. deductum. As far as I am concerned the best variety of E. nudum. Very much worth growing.

[attachimg=4]

It is a very compact grower, the flowering stems only 2-3 dm tall. This plant is from seed gathered in Alpine county, California at about 2,750 meters.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on April 29, 2015, 07:01:47 AM
Anemone obtusiloba 'Pradesh' has been a favourite in my garden ever since I got it some 5 years back from Ian Christie.
It's a real chameleon among Anemones as it changes colour every day going from white on opening to dark purple at the end of the flower's life span.

I made a little compilation of a flower showing these changes.

A wonderful plant to my eyes !

Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: shelagh on April 29, 2015, 09:16:22 AM
Thanks for the information Robert. I'm afraid Bury weather doesn't quite match yours so our Eriogonum stays in the Alpine House.  It gets quite a lot of protection and sun but doesn't flower well if at all.

K-D I love that Thlaspi, is it a very long lived plant?
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on April 29, 2015, 05:54:50 PM
Anemone obtusiloba 'Pradesh' has been a favourite in my garden ever since I got it some 5 years back from Ian Christie.
It's a real chameleon among Anemones as it changes colour every day going from white on opening to dark purple at the end of the flower's life span.

I made a little compilation of a flower showing these changes.

A wonderful plant to my eyes !

Looks lovely Luc.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on April 29, 2015, 07:58:16 PM
Canarina canariensis grown from seed a couple of years ago..............
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8760/16691684844_ae63bf346c_z.jpg)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on April 29, 2015, 08:46:07 PM
A few things in flower here after one abysmally slow starts.

Puschkinia, Iris 'Katherine Hodgkins', a cw hepatica and Helleborus foetidus 'Wester Flisk'.  How 'Wester Flisk' managed to stay intact after sitting in 6" of ice for 6 weeks with a meter of snow and inch thick layers of ice atop boggles the mind.  We got our original plant from Helen Ballard in 1983, they last about 10-12 years and lose vigiour, still not one to be without.

Trillium cuneatum 'Don Armstrong' just emerging.

johnw
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Steve Garvie on April 29, 2015, 08:56:30 PM
Good to see that Spring has eventually shown her face for you John. We had Summer in mid-April. Now back to winter weather with snow on higher ground.

Anemone obtusiloba 'Pradesh' has been a favourite in my garden ever since I got it some 5 years back from Ian Christie.
It's a real chameleon among Anemones as it changes colour every day going from white on opening to dark purple at the end of the flower's life span.

I made a little compilation of a flower showing these changes.

A wonderful plant to my eyes !
Great compilation Luc!!!
It is indeed a wonderful plant.

Blue always does it for me!

Anemone obtusiloba Pradesh
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8783/16692693564_402b3a0a10_o.jpg)

Corydalis fumariifolia
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7697/17289190166_ee6d739c34_o.jpg)

Gentiana verna It grows in a raised peaty bed among dwarf rhododendron.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8746/17128921959_9cb8153326_o.jpg)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on April 30, 2015, 03:35:04 AM
Thanks for the information Robert. I'm afraid Bury weather doesn't quite match yours so our Eriogonum stays in the Alpine House.  It gets quite a lot of protection and sun but doesn't flower well if at all.


Shelagh,

Yes, for me there are many plants I have to enjoy vicariously through the forum, etc. An example is Canarina canariensis grown by meanie (a few post above). I do have some seedlings coming along, however it will most likely be too hot during the spring, early summer for it to do well here. It is fun trying.

I have a small seedling of Bear Buckwheat (Eriogonum ursinum) getting ready to bloom. Hopefully I will get a photograph posted. It is a beauty.

May your Eriogonums thrive for you despite the climatic conditions.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on April 30, 2015, 06:58:55 AM
Yesteday it rained all day and for couple of hours the rain turned into snow, now it has all melted away.
Tulipa humilis 'Persian Pearl' yesteday in the snow.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on April 30, 2015, 07:11:44 AM
Good to see that Spring has eventually shown her face for you John. We had Summer in mid-April. Now back to winter weather with snow on higher ground.
Great compilation Luc!!!
It is indeed a wonderful plant.

Blue always does it for me!

Anemone obtusiloba Pradesh



Your shot isn't to bad either, Steve...  :o :o :o
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on April 30, 2015, 09:43:00 AM
Yesteday it rained all day and for couple of hours the rain turned into snow, now it has all melted away.
Tulipa humilis 'Persian Pearl' yesteday in the snow.
Glad to hear the snow has melted , Leena, but I still feel sympathy for those poor cold tulips!
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: hadacekf on April 30, 2015, 06:39:06 PM
The Gentiana flourishes well this year.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on April 30, 2015, 06:56:13 PM
Franz!  These gentians are magnificent!  It is a pleasure to see them so happy in your garden.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Anne Repnow on April 30, 2015, 07:12:27 PM
Anemone obtusiloba is quite lovely as is the Gentiana!

My Trilliums are coming along at last:
T. kurabayashi
T. albidum
T. grandiflorum 'Flore Pleno' ('Snowbunting')
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on April 30, 2015, 08:31:12 PM
The Gentiana flourishes well this year.

That's quite an understatement, Franz !!  They are absolutely gorgeous !!

.... the light blue one is to die for !!!!
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on April 30, 2015, 09:33:32 PM
I second that, Luc.  Much a I love the deep blue, the light one is sensational.  And all of them growing so happily.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on May 01, 2015, 06:24:21 AM
but I still feel sympathy for those poor cold tulips!

I did too, how tough the plants have to be, but 'm happy that they seemed to survive the snow and now the sun is shining and they are open. :)

Wonderful gentianas and trilliums!
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Tim Ingram on May 01, 2015, 06:55:39 AM
So many plants coming into flower now but I wish we could grow gentians like that  :) - similar to some of those wonderful gardens in the Czech Republic. This is a transient beauty that we must make sure to collect seed from this year - Jeffersonia dubia 'Alba'.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Anne Repnow on May 01, 2015, 09:40:34 AM
That is a very beautiful plant, Tim! (I only have the normal purple-blue variety). Can you tell me what the correct botanical name is these days - is it Jeffersonia or Plagiorhegma? And as to seed: do you have experience of growing Jeffersonia from seed?
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Tim Ingram on May 01, 2015, 10:51:20 AM
Anne - I know it as Jeffersonia - I shall have to learn a new language to call it Plagiorhegma, though it is that in the Collins Guide to Alpines that I have from the 1960's. I begin to find it difficult to know what a 'correct' name is with so many changes occurring at the moment! ;), but maybe some gardeners know it as that? There is also a lovely Korean form which has a darker centre to the normally purple-blue flower which Mark McDonough has shown on the NARGS Forum. All really lovely plants.

From seed they are easy but you have to collect it fresh in early summer (and it is rapidly dispersed when ripe and hidden under the developing leaves) and sow it immediately. We leave woodland seed like this in a cool cold frame, enclosed in fine mesh to protect them from mice and birds and kept watered in very dry spells. Good germination follows after the next winter, so about six or seven months later and the seedlings are then quite slow to grow on and need to be kept an eye on, very much in the same way as trilliums, erythroniums etc.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on May 01, 2015, 11:18:02 AM
................And as to seed: do you have experience of growing Jeffersonia from seed?

Some information on the "Yes, I'm so happy thread 2009" Reply 502
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Anne Repnow on May 01, 2015, 11:28:02 AM
Thank you Tim, thank you David! I will try my luck - it is worth it I think.
And yes the babel of changing botanic names is awful. (I just changed Dicentra into Lamprocapnos in my lists...)
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: arilnut on June 10, 2015, 01:39:16 AM
Sorry for being late with this but I had petunia patagonica bloom in April.
Title: Re: April 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Anne Repnow on June 10, 2015, 08:05:10 AM
Beautiful and exotic!
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