Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: Maggi Young on May 01, 2015, 12:25:30 PM

Title: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 01, 2015, 12:25:30 PM
May 1st - cold and there are  hail showers - flattened plants in the garden.  Yuck! :-X :(
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on May 01, 2015, 12:29:36 PM
Cold and gusty showers here. Every time I start something I have to rush around and de-equip to the garage within minutes.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Chris Johnson on May 01, 2015, 03:42:37 PM
Fabulous sunny day here, and yesterday. :)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on May 01, 2015, 05:56:20 PM
Nassauvia lagascae in flower here ....

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Peter Maguire on May 01, 2015, 06:03:49 PM
Lovely Nassauvia Chris!

I can't offer anything as dramatic, but this Lamium is taking over a corner of the alpine house at present. Grown from a seedling in the plunge, it's gone a little bit wild.  ::)
Not sure of the species, there's a label under there somewhere....
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on May 01, 2015, 06:13:42 PM
Lovely flowers Peter , a bit of pruning and everything is alright .....

Some other whites of today
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on May 01, 2015, 10:36:56 PM
Lovely Nassauvia Chris!


I'll second that.

I can't offer anything as dramatic but the Wisteria is starting to bloom...............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7756/17143223829_fbb6446db8_z.jpg)

Despite the fact that it requires sod all input from me I still find it a delight. It grows up a Taxodium and when it is properly in bloom I'll post another photo as the effect is rather pleasing.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Steve Garvie on May 01, 2015, 10:48:21 PM
A most impressive-looking Nassauvia Kris!!!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 02, 2015, 01:27:54 AM
Very impressed by your lovely Nassauvia, Kris - one of the special plants we saw in Patagonia, a land of special plants.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Irm on May 02, 2015, 06:46:09 AM
Berlin: sun but cold  ;)  Lewisia tweedyi is in flower now.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on May 02, 2015, 07:23:29 AM
Very impressed by your lovely Nassauvia, Kris - one of the special plants we saw in Patagonia, a land of special plants.

Thanks Anne , Steve & Meanie .

I did see them growing in Patagonia to Anne in 2008 .....

I think they ar not long living in our climate . And I would be not surprised that this plant dies after flowering ....At least in our conditions .
But in the meanwhile we just enjoy it ....
The rockgarden is full of easier plants .....
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ebbie on May 02, 2015, 07:32:59 AM
Wow Kris. The Nasauvia - what a strange and peculiar plant. I've never seen before.
Do you call the two Androsacea above with names please.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ebbie on May 02, 2015, 07:38:20 AM
Tchihatchewia isatidea, a little too big for my alpine house.

(http://up.picr.de/21777387xj.jpg)

(http://up.picr.de/21777386ut.jpg)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: fixpix on May 02, 2015, 08:27:14 AM
Lovely May flowers everyone :)
Despite the drought, I still have a bunch of flowers in my garden (well, it's raining now...)

My Xanthoceras sorbifolium are blooming like crazy (first time ever as I have grown them from seeds)
Cercis siliquastrum (?) in full bloom
Asphodeline lutea opening their yellow flowers from bottom to top
Limnanthes douglasii doing what they do each year (bloom, seed, germinate and grow nicely without me doing anything)
Clematis integrifolia - in their first nice stage (it's a plant that looks great in all 3 stages, buds, blooms, seedheads)

Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: arisaema on May 02, 2015, 09:15:45 AM
Lovely Xanthoceras, How many years is it? My own attempt at raising it from seeds back in Norway failed miserably, too cool and wet.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 02, 2015, 10:05:20 AM
Tchihatchewia isatidea, a little too big for my alpine house.


Ebbie - does Tchihatchewia isatidea  set seed for you? If so I would be very pleased if you could spare me some  :-*
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 02, 2015, 12:06:14 PM
Spring has arrived.  The Magnolia soulangeana is in bloom depite being frosted a number of times and things are popping up everywhere.  Just a few pictures of the early garden plants.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 02, 2015, 12:10:23 PM
Blooming now down at the stream garden - various hellebores which are lush in comparison to those growing at the end of the cliff.  In the stream garden they are constantly moist, but not soggy.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 02, 2015, 12:36:21 PM
Anne- after all that snow you had, it is a great comfort to see so many beauties in your garden.  But plants like that are a joy anytime, really!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 02, 2015, 02:15:19 PM
Foliage emerging now from the Acers in our garden - all seed grown apart from the 'Osakazuki' in the centre

[attachimg=1]

Found these critters on one sample :
[attachimg=2]

I presume they may be an aphid of some sort  :-\

[attachimg=3]
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on May 02, 2015, 02:30:24 PM
Found these critters on one sample :

I presume they may be an aphid of some sort  :-\
I presume that they're some sort of pancake shape now!  ;D

I found a Lily Beetle on an Aquilega today. Whilst I'm happy that they're leaving my Frits and Tricyrtis alone whilst they're on the Aquilega I'm not sure that I want them getting a taste for adventurous cuisine  :o
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ebbie on May 02, 2015, 02:39:51 PM
Ebbie - does Tchihatchewia isatidea  set seed for you? If so I would be very pleased if you could spare me some  :-*

Maggi, I do not know. The Tchihatchewia blooms with me the first time. If it make seed, I will send you a message.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 02, 2015, 03:47:03 PM
I presume that they're some sort of pancake shape now!  ;D

I'm afraid so - thought I'd act now and ask questions later.  :P
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 02, 2015, 03:49:35 PM
Maggi, I do not know. The Tchihatchewia blooms with me the first time. If it make seed, I will send you a message.
  Thank you ,Eddie!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 02, 2015, 04:39:47 PM
In for a bit of a break.  Some more in the garden now.  You can call this the plant that refuses to die.  It was pulled out 3 times during the winter by deer, stuffed back into the ground each time with little hope, and here it is showing signs of life.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: fixpix on May 02, 2015, 05:19:13 PM
Lovely Xanthoceras, How many years is it? My own attempt at raising it from seeds back in Norway failed miserably, too cool and wet.

Thank you, I'm also fascinated. New flowers yellow and become dark red as they grow old :)
I think I sowed the seeds in 2010.
We get it hot and dry in summer so it looks like my little trees like it.

Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on May 02, 2015, 10:32:43 PM
Aquilegia-sown as saximontana
Lewisia
Phlox kelseyi 'Rosette'
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on May 03, 2015, 08:37:52 AM
Aquilegia-sown as saximontana

Ah, yet another of life's interminables ;D
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on May 03, 2015, 09:53:34 AM
Foliage emerging now from the Acers in our garden - all seed grown apart from the 'Osakazuki' in the centre

Great Maggi , love it !
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on May 03, 2015, 09:55:19 AM
Spring has arrived.  The Magnolia soulangeana is in bloom depite being frosted a number of times and things are popping up everywhere.  Just a few pictures of the early garden plants.

Pictures that every gardener want to see Anne . 
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on May 03, 2015, 09:57:31 AM
Aquilegia-sown as saximontana
Lewisia
Phlox kelseyi 'Rosette'

Strong and good colour for the Lewisia Philip .
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on May 03, 2015, 10:00:55 AM
Tchihatchewia isatidea, a little too big for my alpine house.

Great plant Eberhard , we see them growing in Turkey . It is a very pretty plant and stil a bit mysterious to  ....
Is it monocarpic ?
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Steve Garvie on May 03, 2015, 11:57:11 AM
Caltha sinogracilis rubriflora It's taken a bit of a hammering from hailstones and heavy rain hence the marks on the leaves but the flower is quite resilient and there are a few more flower buds tucked underneath.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8699/17145791497_557f254689_o.jpg)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ebbie on May 03, 2015, 02:31:41 PM
Great plant Eberhard , we see them growing in Turkey . It is a very pretty plant and stil a bit mysterious to  ....
Is it monocarpic ?
I think so. But it is the first time that the Tchihatchewia flowers with me.

Steve, your Caltha sinogracilis rubriflora - what a fine color!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 03, 2015, 03:18:09 PM
Caltha sinogracilis rubriflora It's taken a bit of a hammering from hailstones and heavy rain hence the marks on the leaves but the flower is quite resilient and there are a few more flower buds tucked underneath.


A beauty Steve !!  :o

Some showstoppers flowering at the moment :

Androsace jacquemontii
Anemone obtusiloba sulphurea
Aquilegia canadensis nana colonising part of a raised bed
Calceolaria fothergillii starting to flower
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 03, 2015, 03:20:51 PM
Some more :

Calceolaria 'Walter Shrimpton'

Daphne petraea 'Persebee'

Dianthus 'Conwy Silver'

Erigeron 'Canarybird' always free flowering

Dryas octopetala tenella hugs the rocks
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 03, 2015, 03:44:35 PM
Luc, your garden has wonderful plants and color.  How long does the Erigeron 'Canary Bird' last for you?
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 03, 2015, 03:49:55 PM
Luc, your garden has wonderful plants and color.  How long does the Erigeron 'Canary Bird' last for you?

Thanks Anne !
The Canary that is pictured has been there for 4 years I think and it's still in his prime !  ;D

Some more eyecatchers :

Hymenoxis scaposa getting out of the starting blocks

Some Lewisia cotyledon

Genereal view of the small peatbed

Phlox 'Zwergenteppich'

pleione bulbocodioides and Corydalis flexuosa 'Blue Panda'


Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 03, 2015, 03:53:09 PM
Some more :

Ramonda nathaliae doing well this year.

New leaves on Shortia soldanelloides var. magnus - no flowers as yet - still young plants, but the leaf amazes me !

Detail of the tufa mound

Soldanella villosa
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Chris Johnson on May 03, 2015, 04:41:44 PM
Luc, a vibrant display of colours, plants and textures. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: fixpix on May 03, 2015, 05:00:16 PM
All wonderful, Luc. So many I haven't yet tried :)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on May 03, 2015, 05:39:45 PM
Lovely display Luc.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ruweiss on May 03, 2015, 07:48:19 PM
Great plants Luc, thank you for showing.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Steve Garvie on May 03, 2015, 08:39:48 PM
A varied and truly wonderful display Luc!!!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Johan K. on May 03, 2015, 09:04:27 PM
Sarracenia flava
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 03, 2015, 09:10:11 PM
Wow! What a great potfull!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Johan K. on May 03, 2015, 09:26:57 PM
Wow! What a great potfull!

Specially for you Maggi.   :)

I have a few more.  ;)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: HClase on May 03, 2015, 09:38:27 PM
Well, I am in the Northern Hemisphere even if it's 2000 miles to the west and two months earlier here in Newfoundland.  Most of the snow finally melted and we are promised a really warm day tomorrow - 12 C, but only for a day.  It's a long time since you've heard from me, but the last three years have been tied up with moving from our acre to a condo with a few square metres of garden, and also with Leila's final illness that came to an end in November.  Now I'm trying to pick up the threads of my life again.

Most of my bulbs were left behind, but I did manage to bring a few and my spirits have been lifted by the appearance of this chance seedling from amongst a large bed of "Princess Beatrix" a few years ago.  I've named it "Phoebe" after one of my granddaughters, and it seems to be increasing well, unlike the other browner one that has fizzled out. ( I must try to find another for Imogen - luckily the new owners still allow me to dig up things!)

P.S. Sarracenia purpurea is our Provincial Flower, we occasionally get a yellow form that's quite like S. flava in flower, but the leaves are squatter.

Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 03, 2015, 09:40:04 PM
[attachimg=1]

Johan - I am  delighted to see all these -  thank you!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 03, 2015, 09:47:06 PM
Howard - how wonderful to have you back among us once more - and bearing  news of the rather lovely 'Phoebe' too.   
We will all be wishing you luck in finding a suitable namesake for Imogen  :)

It cannot have been an easy time for you  with the loss of Leila - we send our best wishes to you.

The winter has been a long time in moving out for you folks -  it has turned cold and wet again here so we're wondering if it is really spring even here in Scotland.

The dogs just found a nice fat Hedgehog in the garden, so I suppose it is spring.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 04, 2015, 12:46:27 AM
Maggi, do you have a picture of a hedgehog?  I'm wondering how it differs from our woodchucks, which are  very nasty when cornered.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 04, 2015, 12:47:36 AM
Luc, what a wonderful array of plants.  Your garden must really be wonderful.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on May 04, 2015, 03:36:42 AM
[attachimg=1]

Eriogonum ursinum

The first seedling to bloom from Alpine County, California. From a little over 9,000 feet (2,742 meters) elevation. It is doing well in a tub - sand and lava rock mix.

[attachimg=2]

Triteleia hyacinthina

Native here on the farm. Some years they come up and bloom thickly. This year there are scattered stands.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on May 04, 2015, 08:07:13 AM
Nice to have you back with us Howard.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 04, 2015, 09:31:35 AM
Maggi, do you have a picture of a hedgehog?  I'm wondering how it differs from our woodchucks, which are  very nasty when cornered.
  Woodchucks are rodents- and I'm aware they can be quite fierce. Hedgehogs, while equipped with good little teeth, are only a danger  in that an over enthusiastic dog can get jabbed by the spines.  The reaction of the innocent hedgehog to any interference is to roll into a ball, presenting an array of sharp spines to the assailant.  The spines do not, however, detach, as in a porcupine.  The other problem is that hedgehogs carry masses of fleas and ticks.   Have a look at this website to learn about these rather noce  creatures. They are a help in the garden, eating slugs and snails. http://www.worldlandtrust.org/education/species/european-hedgehog (http://www.worldlandtrust.org/education/species/european-hedgehog)

They do not do damage in the garden as Fermi's Australian Echidnas do - they seem to dig and root around more than our little chaps!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Allan Jamieson on May 04, 2015, 11:14:51 AM
These are a few pics of one of my Meconopsis hybrids which just came into flower at the end of April lured into a false sense of security by warm, sunny weather and then opened up to wet, windy conditions with sharp frosts in the mornings too! I managed to grab these pictures in spite of the weather and the flowers are looking kind of battered now, luckily still got another two plants of the same form to come into flower though.

This hybrid is from a cross that I did some years ago taking pollen from Meconopsis Kingsbarns (Hybrid) and crossing that onto a good form of Meconopsis Lingholm. It was literally the last fading flower on Kingsbarns and the very first flower from Lingholm that day, luckily the cross gave a plant with the early flowering habit of Kingsbarns and a bit of the hybrid vigour of Lingholm. There were originally dozens of seedlings but from those that I have left I think I prefer this form best because of the flower form combined with the attractive leaf shape. It isn't very tall, barely knee height and some years the weather will hold it back so that it is coming into flower at the same time as the main season large flowered Meconopsis but all the same it is a pretty little thing to start off the Meconopsis season with.

I've done my best to bring the file sizes down as far as possible, which was a struggle as the originals were from a very high resolution camera, so apologies for any loss of image quality as a result of this drastic pixel pruning!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 04, 2015, 11:23:46 AM
Thanks, Maggi.  They look a bit like porcupines.  The woodchucks here are best left alone.  They ignore "have-a-heart" traps.  The hunter who comes here in the fall for deer will also get rid of one if he sees it.  They do carry ticks and are quite nasty to dogs.  The only problem is their multiple tunnels which will kill
a large plant almost overnight.  Since we're mostly rock here it hasn't been a major problem.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 04, 2015, 11:36:09 AM
Allan - Welcome!

Your photos of your hybrid are quite lovely. The colour is charming, I agree. 

I think if you reduce the photos to a max. width of 760 pixels to start with, you should be able to compress the file sufficiently thereafter to reach the  < 200KB limit while still having a larger picture on the screen than you have  here.


Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on May 04, 2015, 12:23:01 PM
Aquilegia laramiensis-seeded into a nearby pot
Caltha palustris
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Allan Jamieson on May 04, 2015, 12:50:21 PM
Okay Maggi, here are the images resized your way, kind of convoluted this, export as jpegs from Lightroom reduced down as per your instructionsand then opened up in Photoshop saved for web, the file sizes now are tiny from what they started off as! Even a jpeg version of these files, exported from the original raw file is around 18 to 20mb each, now down to less than 50kb each.

Hopefully they will look a bit better this way!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 04, 2015, 12:59:07 PM
Gorgeous, Allan!!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 04, 2015, 01:00:36 PM
Aquilegia laramiensis-seeded into a nearby pot

   Makes you wonder why we bother trying to make them grow where we want them to, doesn't it?   ;D
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on May 04, 2015, 01:03:01 PM
With great trepidation Ken planted Epimedium 'The Giant' out last spring.  After this messy & icy winter he reports it's come through the winter with foliage intact. We have one in the greenhouse whose flowering stems measure over 8ft.  Here's a reminder of it - Philip MacD. and his pride and joy 'The Giant'.  He's crossed it with E. wushanense and they too appear to be cold hardy, some very interesting foliage there.

johnw - +10c @ 9:49 Atlantic
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on May 04, 2015, 01:32:38 PM
Amazing pictures everyone!

The camellias haven't enjoyed the cold weather and overnight frosts, but this one is doing well: Camellia 'Nuncio's Carousel'.

And a couple of Epimedium cultivars, Epimedium 'Amber Queen' and E. 'William Stearn'.

Would LOVE to grow E. 'The Giant'!
Title: What's in flower on the lawn!
Post by: Allan Jamieson on May 04, 2015, 01:33:51 PM
Not really alpine but kind of nice all the same, a few shots of Cowslips and Daisies taken on last Thursday/ Friday mornings when there was a sharp frost first thing in the morning. The daisies in particular look pretty good when viewed up close, I could do without the buttercups and dandelions on my lawn but the daisy has a certain something too it and unlike its neighbours does not invade the rest of the garden!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Matt T on May 04, 2015, 01:44:41 PM
Welcome, Allan. We like all plants here, it doesn't have to be rare or difficult. We're enjoying cowslips at the moment too, with a batch of young plants grown from seed last year. Can't beat them for putting on a good show.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Allan Jamieson on May 04, 2015, 02:08:59 PM
Thanks Matt, somehow the self sown Cowslips in the lawn look better and more natural to my eyes than those in the borders, just a bit smaller and not so over grown.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 04, 2015, 04:39:04 PM
In from the garden.  With no shade, it's too hot to plant on top of the cliff, even with screening.  We seem to be morphing from lingering winter into summer.
This wonderful onosma is always early.  It's planted at the edge of one pf the crevice gardens in these pictures.  Please notice this year's tiny seedling in front and last year's seedling behind.  It's also planted on the back of the cliff.  It seems to like exposure, sun and wind but it will get woody in a few years.  Makes lots of seeds.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on May 04, 2015, 08:49:03 PM
I was pleased as punch to see this skunk cabbage I had given friends as a small plant a few years ago.  They are stinkers to get established, especially so near brooks that can be fast moving at times.  Once they have a couple of years under their belt they can withstand anything.

johnw - +18c & brilliant sunshine
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on May 05, 2015, 07:49:15 AM
Okay Maggi, here are the images resized your way, kind of convoluted this, export as jpegs from Lightroom reduced down as per your instructionsand then opened up in Photoshop saved for web, the file sizes now are tiny from what they started off as! Even a jpeg version of these files, exported from the original raw file is around 18 to 20mb each, now down to less than 50kb each.

Hopefully they will look a bit better this way!
For forums I just embed them from Flickr (1t.byte free) or Photobucket. Flickr is particularly good as you can save the original but select a smaller size to embed.

Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 05, 2015, 09:34:55 AM
For forums I just embed them from Flickr (1t.byte free) or Photobucket. Flickr is particularly good as you can save the original but select a smaller size to embed.

Unfortunately we have had occasions in the past when Photobucket and similar  albums have become unavailable and the photos are then  lost from the forum.  :'(

This may not bother everyone but from the point of view of building the forum as a permanent searchable resource, it is, as they say "a bummer"   :(
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Allan Jamieson on May 05, 2015, 11:47:58 AM
It isn't that big a deal now I know how to do this but all the same there is definitely a bit of loss in image quality compared to the original images but good enough to give an idea of what I saw. I understand Maggi's point of view completely, dead links are very annoying and rather commonplace on photography websites where people chop and change the images they have on online sites like Flickr and might well forget that they have linked some of these images to other sites. I do have a Flickr account which is really needing overhauled and more images put onto it, currently if you look up my name there all it has are a few pictures of Meconopsis but I have many thousands of images of many very diverse things including landscapes, macro of plants and abstract stuff, etc, etc.

Sometimes it is nice to share some of these images with people who might appreciate them for what they are without wanting to know all the technical details of how each image was taken, which camera/ lens/ aperture/ filter. Photographers sometimes lose sight of the beauty they try to capture by obsessing about using the latest and greatest cameras that they can afford but truth be told I could take virtually the same images on any modern camera which allows you to change the lens. The only real difference being the image quality gained from the sensor and the lens used, the photographer can control every other part of the image taking process, taking control back from the camera where need be and manually focusing the lens where you want it to be in focus and not where the camera thinks that it should be. In macro photography that is all the difference in the world!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 05, 2015, 12:34:09 PM
For print work big files are essential of course  but for  standard web-viewing, what kind of system and size of screen would one need to "properly" appreciate a huge  18MB  picture?!

No average screen would be able to cope with even a tiny segment of the photo, would it?
Very grateful to you, Allan and the others who take the trouble to share their plants with us in these pages.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on May 05, 2015, 12:55:19 PM
This is terribly late for Leucojum vernum to be flowering but that's not a complaint.  We love the vernums and have v. carpaticum, we lost v. wagneri and one called 'Popo.......' which originally may have come from Janis. What has been elusive are those with green marks.  We were told the seed must come from Romania or easternmost Hungary. (???)
So I was excited when going through friend's garden yesterday to learn they had the green-marked vernum which came from a neighbour.  On examination the marks were green initially but seem to fade to yellow. Is this the case as a rule?  We had 1000 seeds from the eastern form but none germinated and have not found a source since.

A few photos from the aforementioned ones, you will see green marks on a freshly opened one on the left.  The last photos shows how persistent this species is here, it is struggling to come up in a well-used path that is compacted like cement.

johnw
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Roma on May 05, 2015, 02:09:24 PM
Gentiana acaulis (or it may be angustifolia)
Oxalis enneaphylla just coming into flower - it produces lots of seedlings but does not travel far from the original plants.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 05, 2015, 02:37:44 PM
This is terribly late for Leucojum vernum to be flowering but that's not a complaint.  We love the vernums and have v. carpaticum, we lost v. wagneri and one called 'Popo.......' which originally may have come from Janis. What has been elusive are those with green marks.  We were told the seed must come from Romania or easternmost Hungary. (???)
So I was excited when going through friend's garden yesterday to learn they had the green-marked vernum which came from a neighbour.  On examination the marks were green initially but seem to fade to yellow. Is this the case as a rule?  We had 1000 seeds from the eastern form but none germinated and have not found a source since.

A few photos from the aforementioned ones, you will see green marks on a freshly opened one on the left.  The last photos shows how persistent this species is here, it is struggling to come up in a well-used path that is compacted like cement.

johnw

I have two different clones but they are very similar, one being a bit more yellow than the other which have two flowers in the inflorescence. None are as yellow as you sometimes can see pictured. The plants are from friends and Leucojum vernum is a very common and old garden plant here at the west coast where it increases well.
They usually flower as early as February - March here.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on May 05, 2015, 03:12:18 PM
Unfortunately we have had occasions in the past when Photobucket and similar  albums have become unavailable and the photos are then  lost from the forum.  :'(

This may not bother everyone but from the point of view of building the forum as a permanent searchable resource, it is, as they say "a bummer"   :(
I see the point there, but as the photos I post are "look at what I've got" type photos they don't qualify as a resource do they?  ;D Let's be honest, the odds of me being able to give you guys a "how to" thread are marginally less than booger all, it's deffo the other way round ;)
Plus my 800 odd photos on Flickr still doesn't add up to 1% of my available storage.

Anyway, back on topic, a piccie of Ornithogalum nutans.............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7663/17170954877_4db695d7b8_z.jpg)

Dead common and easy but I like them and they reward me by multiplying freely here............
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g430/longk48/DSC_0951.jpg)

I'll share this rather nice surprise with you as it is technically foliage. Yesterday I pulled a Datura wrightii out that was planted last summer for a last hurrah only to notice that it is back in growth. So I can confirm that D.wrightii is hardy to short spells at -8°c..........
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g430/longk48/DSC_0949a.jpg)

All in all not a bad weekend as Bomarea edulis is just breaking the surface after being planted out last year.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 05, 2015, 03:21:53 PM
I see the point there, but as the photos I post are "look at what I've got" type photos they don't qualify as a resource do they?  ;D Let's be honest, the odds of me being able to give you guys a "how to" thread are marginally less than booger all, it's deffo the other way round ;)
Plus my 800 odd photos on Flickr still doesn't add up to 1% of my available storage.

Anyway, back on topic, a piccie of Ornithogalum nutans.............
Dead common and easy but I like them and they reward me by multiplying freely here............


I'll share this rather nice surprise with you as it is technically foliage. Yesterday I pulled a Datura wrightii out that was planted last summer for a last hurrah only to notice that it is back in growth. So I can confirm that D.wrightii is hardy to short spells at -8°c..........

All in all not a bad weekend as Bomarea edulis is just breaking the surface after being planted out last year.

Well, you see , as the forum contains so many photos of plants that are either correctly ID'd in the first place - or obtain correct naming from the other forumists chipping in, even  a basic "this is what I've got" shot can add to a balance of information on a particular plant.
And look at the rest of your post -  comment on your experience with the Ornithogalum and useful info on the Datura  - what makes a resource  that can be used by so many if not the experiences of the many - so long as they are here for good and searchable!
That's what worries me about Facebook  for instance - there are folks imparting some useful stuff there - but it will disappear into the ether and never be able to be found by a search  in the future. It ca be tough to find something there after five minutes!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on May 05, 2015, 04:24:31 PM
Trond  - That L. vernum you posted looks green to me. Does it indeed fade to yellow?

john
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on May 05, 2015, 06:21:59 PM
We're quite chuffed with Ernie O'Byrne's Winter Jewel Series, THE ONYX ODESSEY STRAIN of Helleborus xhybridus even though I am no lover of doubles in anything but Galanthus.  All are nearly identical to these two - Photos 1 & 2  ONYX ODESSEY STRAIN seedlings, a good percentage are like these.   Photo 3 is his Winter Jewel Series, APRICOT BLUSH STRAIN which is now fading to raspberry and hard to capture properly.

Edit  - See below for seed availability outside North America, not available in N. America! Photo names have been renamed.

johnw
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on May 05, 2015, 06:36:36 PM
I think those are the darkest I've ever seen John.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 05, 2015, 06:46:20 PM
Trond  - That L. vernum you posted looks green to me. Does it indeed fade to yellow?

john

No, not yellow but a colour between green and yellow.

The other clone looks like this, it tends to be more yellow (but not like butter) and to have only one flower.
It is difficult to see the colour difference in the pictures.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 05, 2015, 06:54:46 PM
I love Leucojum vernum - but I do think that most are a tad on the "variable side"  :-X

Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 05, 2015, 06:56:39 PM
We're quite chuffed with Ernie O'Byrne's Winter Jewel strain of Helleborus xhybridus even though I am no lover of doubles in anything but Galanthus.  All are nearly identical to these two - Photos 1 & 2.   Photo 3 is his Apricot Blush strain which is now fading to raspberry and hard to capture properly.

johnw
Those are glorious! The black is just scrumptious.   A double that is complete with "sexy bits" can be very acceptable in my eyes - it's frilly fully double flowers that  I don't like.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on May 05, 2015, 08:10:10 PM
Trond / Maggi - Your picture in reply 82 is more what I thought of as a green-marked L. vernum.  To my eye I'd call it lime green rather than the bright yellow we see here either as v. carpaticum or a faded "green".  :)

As for the black Hellebores I have never really seen them effectively displayed.  Helen Dillon said she yanked out all the black flowers and foliage as she reckoned she was simply creating holes in the garden.  As is so often the case she may well be spot on.  We won't be tossing them however. By the way has Hazles Cross Farm stopped hellebore seed sales? Every year I go on their website and the seed sales section says the list will be posted in May 2012.  And never a response from them.

john
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on May 06, 2015, 01:16:38 AM
A few photographs from the garden - nursery.

[attachimg=1]

Allium campanulatum. One of our common, high elevation native Allium species. They are easily grown and may be worth selecting improved forms. In their native habitat they look great mixed with their other native wildflower companions, such as Lupinus lepidus, various annual Mimulus species, Calochortus minimus, Eriogonums, ect.

[attachimg=2]

Collinsia heterophylla. This form is from local seed gathered down the road about 1/2 mile. This is the third generation of saving seed and selecting. The flowers are not as large as the Southern Sierra form, however they are good robust plants that produce many flowers. When massed, as they can be in nature, they put on a spectacular show.

[attachimg=3]

Geranium dalmaticum. Very common and easily grown. Still a sweet little plant that I would not be without.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on May 06, 2015, 11:15:15 AM
That is the most beautiful dark double I have ever seen!

About Leucojum vernum: they are here just going over and it is raining now, but i'll see if I have any photos of mine. I have one which starts yellow and stays yellow (usually two flowers per stem), another starts green and changes to yellowish green (usually one flower/stem), and then I have the third but I don't remember how it behaves.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on May 06, 2015, 11:56:02 AM
That is the most beautiful dark double I have ever seen!

About Leucojum vernum: they are here just going over and it is raining now, but i'll see if I have any photos of mine. I have one which starts yellow and stays yellow (usually two flowers per stem), another starts green and changes to yellowish green (usually one flower/stem), and then I have the third but I don't remember how it behaves.

Leena  - You should be able to find that strain in the EU somewhere.  North West Garden Nursery sells seed in the EU but not in North America.  All the seedlings here are virtually identical.

L. vernum, I believe we too have a group that open with yellow markings and stay yellow.

john
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on May 06, 2015, 12:42:20 PM
Leena  - Yoiu should be able to find that strain in the EU somewhere.  North West Garden Nursery sells seed in the EU but not in North America.  All the seedlings here are virtually identical.

I googled it, but only found Oregon based nursery. If anyone knows where their seeds are sold in EU, I would be interested in them. :)

These are my Leucojum vernum.
The first two pictures are are from a strain which has mostly one flower per stem and the spots start out green but change to yellowish green later, in the first picture the flowers are different age and show the change (sorry that they are not sharp, leucojums were not the main target)

In the third picture these are Leucojum vernum also bought from Estonia (at the market in Tallinn) but they produce mostly two flowers per stem and the flowers start green and stay greener as the first one.

The fourth strain was bought from Netherlands and there are both bulbs which start yellow and stay yellow and some bulbs have green spots, sorry I don't have a better picture.
I didn't find a picture of the strain which has yellow flowers all the time and has two flowers per stem, when the rain stops I will have to go and see if the flowers are still in any condition to photograph.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on May 06, 2015, 12:47:08 PM
This is a picture from the garden yesterday evening. Corydalis is still in flower, as are some crocuses and hellebores. The narcissus is N.moschatus (or bought as such).
Second photo is of one of my yellow hellebores (from Ashwood seeds) and the third is Trillium chloropetalum 'Rubrum' planted last autumn and flowering now.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on May 06, 2015, 01:33:07 PM
I googled it, but only found Oregon based nursery. If anyone knows where their seeds are sold in EU, I would be interested in them. :)

Ken straightened me out on these blacks Leena. Ernie and Marietta O'Byrne's series of Hellebores is know as the Winter Jewel Series, that series comes in different colour strains.  This dbl. black strain is called Onyx Odessey. My apologies as I thought I was looking at 2 different strains but all the dark ones were Onyx Odessey , a very few single, most double as in the pix and a few greeny purple doubles.

The O'Byrne's nursery is North West Garden Nursery in Oregon, it is a fantastic nursery with all sorts of delights.  Under contract in North America they sell these seeds to growers who in turn sell the plants retail. In the EU  - i.e. outside of North America    - anyone can buy seed, but in quantity.  What I meant was you might just find a local grower who is growing O'Byrne's seed. Otherwise order seed but get a price first!  Sorry for the confusion.

johnw
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 06, 2015, 01:39:01 PM
Your Spring garden is looking lovely , Leena
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on May 06, 2015, 02:25:34 PM
I think those are the darkest I've ever seen John.

They're pretty dark David, darker than pictured and the foliage is very purple as well.  The blackest I've ever seen were in the UK - one at Stella Tracey's in Plymouth and the other at Fred Hunt's in Invergowrie, both world class gardens.  Those blacks were shiny coal black with no slately, dusty overlay.

john
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on May 06, 2015, 02:47:30 PM
They're pretty dark David.  The blackest I've ever seen were in the UK - one at Stella Tracey's in Plymouth and the other at Fred Hunt's in Dundee, both world class gardens.  Those blacks were shiny coal black with no slately, dusty overlay.

john

I'm growing a couple of seedlings from Stella's dark forms, they may flower next year.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 06, 2015, 04:09:19 PM
Ken straightened me out on these blacks Leena. Ernie and Marietta O'Byrne's series of Hellebores is know as the Winter Jewel Series, that series comes in different colour strains.  This black strain is called Jade Star. My apologies as I thought I was looking at 2 different strains but all the dark ones were Jade Star, a very few single, most double as in the pix and a few greeny purple doubles.

The O'Byrne's nursery is North West Garden Nursery in Oregon, it is a fantastic nursery with all sorts of delights.  Under contract in North America they sell these seeds to growers who in turn sell the plants retail. In the EU  - i.e. outside of North America    - anyone can buy seed, but in quantity.  What I meant was you might just find a local grower who is growing O'Byrne's seed. Otherwise order seed but get a price first!  Sorry for the confusion.

johnw
   A muddle there it seems - I contacted Ernie , showing him the photo of the glam black  and asking him about seed to the EU -- he replied :
" Hi Margaret, Well, that is actually Onyx Odyssey, not Jade Star. You can look at the website www.nwgnursery.com (http://www.nwgnursery.com) to see the proper Jade Star, which is a single green with a red star in the center. If that was sold as Jade Star, there was a confusion at the growers. We have VERY strict protocols to make sure that such confusions do not happen here. We don't know of anyone selling seed in the UK, although we are happy to do so, but in wholesale quantities, i.e. 250 per color variety and 1000 per order, mimimums. Thanks for your interest."



Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on May 06, 2015, 05:11:40 PM
Well thankfully that is straightened out.  All the Hellebore photos have been correctly named now.  Onyx Odessey is the Strain to look for!

David  - Our best blacks came from seed from the late Wanna Reardon-Smith's collection in Newton Abbot, 20 or more years ago.  Superb blacks they were and never again equalled until this strain, we grew 100s of them.  So you're in the right part of the world!

johnw
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 06, 2015, 05:33:39 PM
Some images of the garden, just before the hailstorm came...  :(

First flower ever on my young Glaucidium palmatum !!  :D

Iris lactea

Iris reichenbachii f. balkana

Jankaemonda vandedemii

Oxalis 'Red Heart'
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 06, 2015, 05:36:09 PM
And some more :

Oxalis laciniata 'Mathew Forrest'

Saxifraga x 'Tumbling Waters' ready to go !!


a couple of garden views
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on May 06, 2015, 05:42:34 PM
Looking really great Luc.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 06, 2015, 06:01:17 PM
Your garden is  superb, Luc!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 06, 2015, 06:51:46 PM
 :D

Thanks Maggi and David !  :-[
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on May 06, 2015, 06:55:13 PM
Yes , Luc's garden look so  beautiful .....

Here in flower today :   

Centaurea achtarovii
Androsace mariae
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on May 06, 2015, 07:47:02 PM
Two star strikers in the VRV Champion's League
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 06, 2015, 07:56:15 PM
Yeah! And that Centaurea was exciting :o

My contribution is more modest:

Anemone ranunculoides and A. trifolia
Cardamine bulbifera - and you can see why it is called bulbifera!
Cardamine heptaphylla (obvious also ;D)
Sanicula europaea
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on May 06, 2015, 09:08:56 PM
Two star strikers in the VRV Champion's League

 :) :D ;D
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on May 07, 2015, 06:50:39 AM
Trond, you have a good place for anemones for them to grow so well. :)
Cardamine heptaphylla looks good, here C.glanduligera has just finished flowering.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Matt T on May 07, 2015, 11:32:22 AM
Aquilegia viridiflora - just enough warmth in the sun today to release its fragrance - in profile and an awkward up the skirts shot.
Erodium x variabile 'Bishop's Form - very easy to grow, recovered well from grazing by sheep and will flower from now through till the autumn.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on May 07, 2015, 11:44:47 AM

Matt amazing photos of Aquilegia viridiflora. I have three plants in the garden here but only one of them flowered last year, during a heatwave as luck would have it, so I hardly got to enjoy them before they were desiccated.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Matt T on May 07, 2015, 12:15:06 PM
Thanks, Jamus. It seems to appreciate our cool, moist climate, which must reflect its native habitat.

I'm pleased to tell you that the Limonium companyonis seeds you sent me are germinating. Too small to photograph just now but I'm made up - thanks.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on May 07, 2015, 12:26:56 PM

Good new, I hope they do well for you Matt. Try to give them some warmth, if that's at all possible!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Matt T on May 07, 2015, 12:30:17 PM
Try to give them some warmth, if that's at all possible!

 :D :D :D  Oh dear! That's a good one.  ;)

They are under cover, so being mollycoddled a bit (as much as anything gets mollycoddled here).
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: olegKon on May 08, 2015, 07:51:47 AM
Aquilegia viridiflora is magnifiscent, Matt. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
Daphne blagyana "Brenda Anderson", a small plant from Potterton nursery, have opened its flower bud. The only disadvantage is that so far one should lie down to feel the fantastic smell
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on May 09, 2015, 02:30:49 AM
Things are roaring along here after several warms days.  Only to 12c today but the early magnolias are in full flower as are the very earliest rhododendrons.  The primulas have started at a garden on the coast that Ken tends.

Primula 'Freedom'
Primula marginata, dwarf form ex Jim Sutherland
Primula x miniera (allionii x marginata) ex Harry Jans
Phylliopsis 'Sugar Plum' which I would have thought crushed and/or dead

Even Nerine bowdenii leaves are peaking out here in the city, a great surprise was the survival of Trochodendron and the local Monkey Puzzle tree.  Atlas cedars looks more like larches I'm afraid though C. libani v. stenocoma is A1.

john
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on May 09, 2015, 06:40:56 AM
Very nice Primulas. :)
I sowed Primula marginata last winter from the seed exchange seeds, and I was wondering how to grow it after it germinates. It is more a rock garden primula than woodland bed primula?

Hacquetia epipactis is still flowering here, it is like a little sun in half shade bed.
Corydalis marschalliana has flowered already for some time and is soon going over, it is quite tall and impressive corydalis.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on May 09, 2015, 01:07:40 PM
And the icy winter was not without casualties.

Dianthus - can never remember the species - 'Gordon Bentham'. 

Under ice & snow on the rock wall, the Dianthus is/was between the two studio windows, after the melt a sneaky Campanula dasyantha is on the assault and popping up in the corpse.

The neighbourhood cats have eaten an entire 15 gallon pot of Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold' overnight, I fear the worst is yet to come............... :-X

johnw
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Tim Ingram on May 10, 2015, 09:23:17 AM
The daphne is a super plant Oleg - we have it in a trough, just growing out now after flowering and must take cuttings this summer.

A few pictures of the small sand bed in our garden which brings more and more interest each year - in time I think I might remove the grass and replace with gravel, but will have to negotiate with Gillian! More tufa with this would be the perfect combination but the sand still works well for a remarkable variety of plants. The last two pictures show it late autumn 2011 and a close up of the sand used - fine crushed flint which is left over from the coarser grades used for pebble dashing houses and easily available in Kent.  Very sharp in texture. The sand is between 30 and 50cm in depth (except in the left hand corner where there used to be a tree and the soil is richer).
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 10, 2015, 11:34:36 AM
Your sand beds are proving a great success, Tim. They look super.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: fredg on May 10, 2015, 06:21:17 PM
Video taken today of English woodland. You know, there was a distinctive smell of onions in one spot that I never did pin down :D. Odd that  ;)

http://youtu.be/rGm3cI3DLUA (http://youtu.be/rGm3cI3DLUA)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 10, 2015, 06:27:52 PM
How lovely - I enjoyed that.  A good range of plants too - thought he "ramps" take the award for  quantity. I've never seen so many  as that - and I've seen a fair few  places where I thought they were very numerous!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 10, 2015, 08:28:44 PM
Trond, you have a good place for anemones for them to grow so well. :)
Cardamine heptaphylla looks good, here C.glanduligera has just finished flowering.

Yes, thanks Leena. But the slugs have been nasty to the Cardamines this spring.

Here is one you recognize, maybe ;) I hope it will grow like the yellow one!

[attachimg=1]



A Anemone robinsoniana seedling. They pop up everywhere. I assume they are robinsoniana seedlings ???

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on May 11, 2015, 05:10:53 AM
Trond  :), yes I do, and also the Robinsoniana seedling looks familiar. :)
Here blue A.nemorosa cultivars are starting to open their flowers, funny that they always flower a little later than wild A.nemorosa.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 11, 2015, 07:16:15 AM
So many beauties being shown !!!

Here's some in flower at the moment in my garden.

Almost ready to flower (and to die, after that...  :'( ) Saxifraga longifolia

Iris Imbricata - big and strong

Meconopsis 'Lingholm' - maybe nothing special for many people in cooler climes, but out here I'm always excited to see it flowering.

Veronica oltensis

Viola delphinanta x cazorlenzis on the tufa mound.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ichristie on May 11, 2015, 07:39:50 AM
Great to see all the flowers despite the foul weather it is so cold here and a few flowers have been frosted most wear wellie boots. A few Oxalis laciniata are flowering in my glasshouse just love the way the flowers open, cheers Ian the Christie kind
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 11, 2015, 09:23:51 AM
Luc - there cannot be many people flowering the  Viola delphinantha x as well as that- well done!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 11, 2015, 10:08:54 AM
Luc - there cannot be many people flowering the  Viola delphinantha x as well as that- well done!

Thanks Maggi ! I guess I'm quite lucky being able to give him the optimal habitat (sand and tufa)  ;)

Ian, these Oxalis are to die for !!  :o :o
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on May 11, 2015, 12:19:13 PM
This Asphodelus ramosus is having a good year.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on May 11, 2015, 12:20:45 PM
Camellia reticulata 'Satan's Robe'. Need feeding judging by the leaves!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on May 11, 2015, 02:13:18 PM
The pink Sanguinaria canadensis 'Don Armstrong' to the fore this morning.  Yesterday 23-24c and sunny, winter straight into summer - a rare occurence on the coast.

johnw
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ichristie on May 11, 2015, 03:14:24 PM
Hello all more superb pictures a bit warmer today but wet in the afternoon love the Sanguinaria Don Armstrong we do have this but flowers were frosted this year must move a bit to another site, cheers Ian the Christie kind
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Brian Ellis on May 11, 2015, 05:47:36 PM
The pink Sanguinaria canadensis 'Don Armstrong' to the fore this morning.  Yesterday 23-24c and sunny, winter straight into summer - a rare occurence on the coast.

johnw

Very pretty John.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ebbie on May 11, 2015, 06:00:29 PM
Ramonda nathaliae in blue and white
(http://up.picr.de/21877772gy.jpg)

Cypripedium formosanum
(http://up.picr.de/21877859hf.jpg)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ichristie on May 11, 2015, 06:38:45 PM
WOW what a superb Cypripedium formosanum makes my eyes water. We have quite e few Trilliums now with a lot of the early ones zapped by the frost, cheers Ian the Christie kind

    Paris japonica
    Trillium  hybrid  pink flush
    Tr hyb pink large flower
    Tr siulcatum Black Magic
    Tr sulcatum Eco White 1
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ichristie on May 11, 2015, 06:43:17 PM
A few other plants flowering now, cheers Ian the Christie kind

    Cypripedium macranthos
    Cyp. pubescens
    Cyp. 'Ziggy'
    Trillium grandiflorum 'Jenny Rhodes'
    Oxalis 'Seven Bells'
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 11, 2015, 06:59:37 PM
Ramonda nathaliae in blue and white

Cypripedium formosanum

I was going to compliment you on those nice Ramaondas, Ebbie - but then I saw your HUGE Cypripedium and now I cannot speak at all!!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on May 11, 2015, 07:30:00 PM
Some absolutely cracking stuff posted here this week folks, but I'll just pick out three (notwithstanding Ian the Christie kind's Oxalis that I always fail abysmally with). LucG's Viola delphinoides x cazorlensis and Veronica oltensis really struck me but a Google Search gave me no ideas on which UK based nurseries might be best to try, did you pick those up whist Chanel hopping Luc?

Also a cracking plant from JohnW, Sanguinarea canadensis 'Don Armstrong. Again nothing turned up by Google in the UK.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 12, 2015, 06:58:03 AM
Some absolutely cracking stuff posted here this week folks, but I'll just pick out three (notwithstanding Ian the Christie kind's Oxalis that I always fail abysmally with). LucG's Viola delphinoides x cazorlensis and Veronica oltensis really struck me but a Google Search gave me no ideas on which UK based nurseries might be best to try, did you pick those up whist Chanel hopping Luc?

Also a cracking plant from JohnW, Sanguinarea canadensis 'Don Armstrong. Again nothing turned up by Google in the UK.

Thanks David !
If I remember correctly I picked the Viola up from Robin White's plant stall at the Kent AGS show 4 or 5 years ago... unfortunately, Robin stopped selling plants since...  :'( :'( :'(

The veronica comes from a nursery at this side of the channel....  not sure, but might have been Ger van den Beuken.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on May 12, 2015, 08:17:29 AM
Cheers Luc.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on May 12, 2015, 08:56:49 AM
All looking good everyone  :)
I'm especially smitten with Lucs Saxifrag and Ians Oxalis  :P

In contrast I have little of interest but a few things still please me;
The cold spring suits Salvia gesneriiflora quite nicely. As a winter bloomer it should be done by now but I'm not complaining............
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5463/17487038435_a3892ff08f_z.jpg)

Cornflowers are uber common and require no effort to grow yet still I look forward to them. Probably my favourite spring subject with the camera..............
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8885/17484893772_de7b72f6c0_z.jpg)

My Asarum proboscideum is having a particularly good year............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7702/17486744781_b83cb8e222_z.jpg)

I struggle to get more than a couple of blooms open at any one time on Cammasia yet still I stick with them and put up with the scraggy foliage because I just plain like their simple beauty................
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8791/17272944769_1e8e50ec16_z.jpg)

Finally, Ornithogalum longibracteatum in the greenhouse...............
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g430/longk48/DSC_0991small.jpg)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mike Ireland on May 12, 2015, 10:29:04 AM
Some plants from the garden & greenhouse today.
Androsace jaquemontii lilac form
Androsace x marpensis
Calceolaria Walter Shrimpton x 2, first time I have managed to keep this for a second year.
Ranunculus parnassifolius
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 12, 2015, 10:39:39 AM
Things looking good with you, Mike. Calceolaria do  have a hard life - they are martyrs to aphids and slugs - a miracle any survive I reckon!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Tim Ingram on May 12, 2015, 12:37:32 PM
David - we have plants of Veronica oltensis if you are coming to the 'Rocky Plants Show' at Wimbourne at the end of the month. This is a really interesting genus, well worth investigating; every time I look in the garden we seem to have another one! (but so far no success with V. bombycina or V. caespitosa - I remember seeing a fantastic picture of the latter on the Forum a year ago).
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 12, 2015, 04:46:46 PM
Tim, I'm surprised to hear about your problem with Veronica caespitosa, which does really well in a trough.  I think I put a picture on the Forum last month.  Really great plant in the trough and I'm thinking of putting some in the new tufa crevice bed and see how it does.

Back from Michigan.  It was hot there and it's hot here, too hot to plant, definitely too hot to continue building.  Tomorrow should be OK.  We've missed spring this year.  Just putting a few pictures on from Jacques and Andrea Thompson's garden in Michigan.  The first two show how effective simple, easy plants can be.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 12, 2015, 04:49:56 PM
The Thompson garden again.  A couple of trilliums and a wonderful hybrid between Anemone nemerosa and Anemone ranunculoides.  I loved this one (Anemone sipiensis) and Jacques very kindly gave me a piece to try.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 12, 2015, 05:07:54 PM
A few things from my garden.  I missed so much by being away for 4 1/2 days.
Paeonia tenuifolia was in bud when I left and the heat forced it.  All the petals were dropping when I returned.  The stream garden was suddenly two weeks ahead of schedule, very strange.  The double marsh marigold is managing to hold its own against encroaching Primula japonica, quite advanced for this time.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: carolesmith on May 12, 2015, 07:44:37 PM
A few things growing in a peat filled bath - the only way I seem to be able to grow them:
Ramonda serbica (a raffle prize at a Discussion weekend, I believe donated by the Bainbridges), Soldanella montana and Adonis brevistyla - a combination which I am very pleased with.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: majallison on May 12, 2015, 07:55:58 PM
Arilbred irises, which I adore; anyone (Europe only) who'd like some, please send me a PM as I'll need to split these when they go dormant in a month or two. They grow very happily in a sunny bulb frame here in Gloucesteshire.

Here are pictures of the irises in their frame, 'Domingo' (yellow) & 'Heimdall' (purple), 'Concerto Grosso' (reddish purple) & an unnamed seedling
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on May 12, 2015, 08:53:05 PM
Some flowers of today ....

Calceolaria 'Walter Schrimpton'
 2 times  Jankaea heldreichii

Paeonia obovata Alba
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: brianw on May 12, 2015, 09:44:25 PM
Both a bit short lived flowers, but welcome all the same yesterday
Paeonia, 'Rockii' type. and Podophyllum hexandrum
I have another Paeonia without the deep red marking. Not sure where I got it or what it was named at the time. Otherwise identical.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 13, 2015, 12:39:34 AM
Pretty impressive, Kris.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on May 13, 2015, 06:55:58 AM
Astragalus, I love the woodland views.
Here is one from my garden now, I'm hoping that trillium will form a bigger clump one day.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: shelagh on May 13, 2015, 01:17:29 PM
Look what I spotted growing amongst Cyclamen in the front garden.  I think it must be Gladiolus tristis or one of its hybrids but we haven't grown it for years.  A lovely surprise none the less.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 13, 2015, 01:59:36 PM
I love that kind of surprise .
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 13, 2015, 03:33:08 PM
Spent most of the morning planting.  Cloudy and in the 50s, absolutely wonderful.  Such a change from the dreadful heat we've had.

The pictures are from Michigan of a fabulous Viola pedata site in a state park.  It is sandy, acidic woods, although in my garden it grow in the open with vacciniums and a lot of sun.  Many differences in color and petal shape.  The last picture shows the same plant in my garden.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 13, 2015, 03:42:52 PM
And another Viola pedata from the site in Michigan which shows some of the variation in color.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: fredg on May 13, 2015, 06:22:07 PM
A group of Sarracenia flava, rather unluckily you can't detect the delightful aroma of Tom cat.

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8776/16984418733_c112cc7055_o.jpg)

Pinguicula grandiflora which just gets on with it every year and throws up groups of flowers.

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8711/17604772795_69482ce6e9_o.jpg)

Beware of this next one it's not a flower.

















(https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7686/17416936498_9d3ee83d74_o.jpg)

IT'S A TRAP!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Yann on May 13, 2015, 07:10:30 PM
Geum x 'mai tai'
Geranium phaeum seedlings of unknown parents
Baptisia australis
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on May 13, 2015, 08:11:55 PM
David - we have plants of Veronica oltensis if you are coming to the 'Rocky Plants Show' at Wimbourne at the end of the month..........

I won't be able to manage that one Tim. An outside possibility of a visit to Kent at some stage of the Summer though!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 14, 2015, 05:38:25 PM
Some more plants from Michigan gardens.
We are having what one newspaper referred to as a "pollen tsunami".  Leave your car out more than 5 minutes and it will be yellow.  The heat forced things so everything is opening at once.

There were some of the dbl white anemonellas at the plant sale but I wasn't quick enough nor agressive enough.  Michigan seem to have a lot od doubled flowers, all lovely - think trilliums (many), anemonellas etc.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ichristie on May 15, 2015, 05:45:20 PM
Hello all great pictures love the trap, we have a few more Oxalis laciniata forms flowering now hope to take at least on to Aberdeen show tomorrow, cheers Ian the Christie kind
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Yann on May 15, 2015, 07:53:33 PM
In the greenhouse Crocus are now in dormancy, it's time for Sarracenia

Sarracenia flava var ornata
Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora cv 'Burgundy'
Sarracenia flava var. ornata x S. flava 'all red tube' - FL60
Sarracenia flava var. cuprea - Pender Co. NC ,W
Sarracenia leucophylla cv schnell's ghost
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Yann on May 15, 2015, 07:55:15 PM
in the garden i spotted some flowers, if someone can help to identity this perennial fuchsia?

Allium stipitatum 'Mount Everest'
Edraianthus graminifolius ssp apenninus.
Geum 'Pineapple Crush'
Iris 'Broadleigh Sybil'
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Yann on May 15, 2015, 08:17:58 PM
a few more

Dicentra spectabilis 'Valentine'
Geum 'Cream Crackers'
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 15, 2015, 08:20:27 PM
A very summery selection, Yann.  8)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on May 16, 2015, 01:19:04 AM
Lewisia 'George Henley'
Lewisia columbiana x pygmaea
Lewisia 'Little Peach'
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on May 16, 2015, 01:21:48 AM
1st 2 growing in tufa
Gypsophila cerastioides
Phlox douglasii variety
Oxalis lacniata
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on May 16, 2015, 08:13:25 AM
Nice Philip. I'm not too sure about your Lewisia 'Little Peach' though. It may be the light but it looks a fairly convincing yellow and the leaves are somewhat broader than one would expect from L. longipetala?
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on May 16, 2015, 09:32:46 AM
An unknown Impatiens grown from seed that a friend bought back from Nepal.................
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8710/17532125318_7ac965a412_z.jpg)

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g430/longk48/DSC_1006_1.jpg)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Yann on May 16, 2015, 10:07:25 AM
Nice foliage on this impatiens, from Chadwell seeds?
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on May 16, 2015, 10:39:20 AM
Nice foliage on this impatiens, from Chadwell seeds?
No - a friend collected the seeds from plants in pots in an outdoor restaurant in Nepal. The foliage does add to an already nice plant though.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on May 16, 2015, 11:07:44 AM
David-it is a bit more 'peachy' than the photo,but I did wonder when it flowered last year if I'd mixed up some labels.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 16, 2015, 01:14:08 PM
Everything totally dry, not good for this time of year.  The stream garden has lots of water and looks lush.  Usually, the caltha would be finished but it started late because of the prolonged cold and the Primula japonica started early because of the heat.  The result is an unplanned color combination.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on May 17, 2015, 01:38:58 PM
Aster likiangensis
Lewisia hybrid
Saxifrage in tufa
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Steve Garvie on May 17, 2015, 02:41:49 PM
A couple of shrubs which should be flowering in June but have come on early due to the sustained warm weather we had here in April:

Deutzia gracilis
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7709/17155224713_fc4177e2c7_z.jpg)


Deutzia calycosa Farrer form
-This is one of the best forms of Deutzia. It was collected from the Mountains of Northern Myanmar (Burma) by Cox and Farrer. It is not widely available but is still grown and propagated by Euan Cox's family at Glendoick.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5325/17155228643_23808ffbcb_z.jpg)

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8766/17749262096_0e3c5aca77_z.jpg)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on May 17, 2015, 06:07:31 PM
Rosa ecae is a splendid shrub at this time of year.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: K-D Keller on May 17, 2015, 08:10:29 PM
Some blossoms of this week (1).

Asperula arcadiensis, Campanula oreadum, Dianthus alpinus, Viola delphinantha and Achillea umbellata
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: K-D Keller on May 17, 2015, 08:29:09 PM
Some blossoms of this week (2).

Dionysia involucrata alba, Erigeron aureus, Silene hookeri ssp. ingramii, Ranunculus parnassifolius and Ranunculus seguieri.


Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on May 18, 2015, 08:37:15 AM
Fritillaria camchatcensis.............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7725/17794104361_84f946ba95_z.jpg)

They were massively damaged by slugs this year  >:(
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Yann on May 18, 2015, 11:58:16 AM
Fantastic shots from all of you
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: François Lambert on May 19, 2015, 11:26:04 AM
First flower of a Hemerocallis opened this morning.  This one is always pretty early to flower, and these are heavenly scented  :D

And there are still hundreds of buds to open over the next weeks  :)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 19, 2015, 01:49:42 PM
A couple of shrubs which should be flowering in June but have come on early due to the sustained warm weather we had here in April:

Deutzia gracilis
Deutzia calycosa Farrer form

Both are beautiful, especially the Deutzia calycosa.  All bloom schedules this year seem to have gone haywire due to the weird weather patterns.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 19, 2015, 01:53:58 PM
First flower of a Hemerocallis opened this morning.  This one is always pretty early to flower, and these are heavenly scented  :D

And there are still hundreds of buds to open over the next weeks  :)
I'm fond of these - went out to see how far along mine are - a very long way to go yet- buds only tiny .
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: François Lambert on May 19, 2015, 03:47:17 PM
I'm fond of these - went out to see how far along mine are - a very long way to go yet- buds only tiny .

They set seeds too ... I will collect seeds and send to the seed exchange - unless you ordered from the previous seed exchange N° 2038 labeled as Hemerocallis 'hybrids'.  Those were seeds from these plants but because the variety is unknown Stewart decided to list them under this id.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 19, 2015, 04:03:35 PM
I think mine are simply H. citrina ?
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Lvandelft on May 19, 2015, 06:13:59 PM
Since 15 years this plant is growing and florishing at the Northside of the house, not in a steep wall nor in a crevice but in sandy soil close to a tufa stone.

Ramonda nathaliae
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 19, 2015, 06:26:43 PM
Your Ramonda is  beautiful, Luit.  Perfectly happy there, for sure.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Anne Repnow on May 19, 2015, 08:54:58 PM
What a beautiful colour, Luit!

A week ago I took a shot of Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens 'Pueblo' together with the last narcissus ('Hawera') and Epimedium grandiflorum 'Lilafee'.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on May 19, 2015, 10:16:58 PM
Aquilegia buergeriana
Campanula saxifraga
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on May 19, 2015, 10:54:05 PM
Boy are these guys late this year, or at least holding up well.

I wonder  if the big one on the right might be the hybrid.  It was over a foot tall which to my recollection seems awfully large for Lysichiton camtschatcense but then again it is not typical creamy yellow of the cross.

johnw
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on May 19, 2015, 11:01:27 PM
The biggest shock this spring was the survival of this legendary local palm!  A bit battered mind you but alive nonetheless.

johnw
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on May 20, 2015, 05:38:04 AM
I think mine are simply H. citrina ?

I think H.citrina flowers later, here in the beginning of August.
The H.lilioasphodelus is one of first ones to flower here in June and has fragrant lemon yellow flowers (but different shape than Francois's daylily).
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on May 20, 2015, 05:47:02 AM
Here May has been cool, around 10-15°C all month and flowering of the spring plants still goes on.
Helleborus are still flowering, daffodils are now also in bloom.
Sanguinaria canadensis flowered earlier this month but S.canadensis 'Star' is flowering now, I don't know if it is supposed to be later or if this is because it was planted last autumn.
Fritillaria meleagris 'Alba' and Fritillaria pallidiflora are flowering and Glaucidium palmatum opened it's flowers yesterday.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Tim Ingram on May 20, 2015, 06:23:17 AM
The Glaucidium is very beautiful. Love the play of light in those last two photos and the simplicity of the planting.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Brian Ellis on May 20, 2015, 07:49:08 AM
Sanguinaria canadensis flowered earlier this month but S.canadensis 'Star' is flowering now, I don't know if it is supposed to be later or if this is because it was planted last autumn.

Star is the later one to flower here too.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 20, 2015, 09:19:30 AM
I think H.citrina flowers later, here in the beginning of August.
The H.lilioasphodelus is one of first ones to flower here in June and has fragrant lemon yellow flowers (but different shape than Francois's daylily).

Mine will not flower until later -  I will TRY to remember to note when - and photograph the flowers in due course.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on May 20, 2015, 09:21:48 AM
Brian, that is good to know, so there is nothing wrong with my plant.  :)

The Glaucidium is very beautiful. Love the play of light in those last two photos and the simplicity of the planting.

Thanks Tim,
I took those pictures late last night when sun was shining low.
I also love my Glaucidium, I had sown it 2006 (I think), and there are two plants which have grown into big clumps, apparently they like where they grow in shade of a plum tree.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: François Lambert on May 20, 2015, 11:00:31 AM
Mine will not flower until later -  I will TRY to remember to note when - and photograph the flowers in due course.

Done some Google search on Daylilies.  Mine could be Hemerocallis Minor.  As far as I see in the descriptions I found, flowering time, size, colour & fragrance pretty much match what I have in the Garden.  I have sown some Hemerocallis Citrina from last year's seed exchange, so in the next years I will be able to make comparisons.  Although snails have been feasting on my seedlings recently  :(

but identifying Hemerocallis is a hell of a job with more than 50.000 cultivars & hybrids existing and many of them really look the same.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 20, 2015, 08:07:58 PM
The biggest shock this spring was the survival of this legendary local palm!  A bit battered mind you but alive nonetheless.

johnw

Interesting John.

I assume it is outside all winter?

I have not tried any of my palms outside all the winter but am tempted to do so now! Halifax (it's Halifax, isn't it?) seems to have colder winters than we have here but slightly warmer summers.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 20, 2015, 08:16:20 PM
Two woodlanders which are in flower now. Oxalis oregana smalliana and Oxalis acetosella rosea. The last one is much bigger than the common Oxalis acetosella, so I am not quite sure it is correct.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 20, 2015, 08:26:19 PM
These are also in flower now - need more light (and a little feeding maybe)  than the Oxalis.
Corydalis buschii and an unknown Corydalis. The latter is a favorite of the slugs also!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on May 20, 2015, 09:56:40 PM
Interesting John.

I assume it is outside all winter?

I have not tried any of my palms outside all the winter but am tempted to do so now! Halifax (it's Halifax, isn't it?) seems to have colder winters than we have here but slightly warmer summers.

Indeed Trond, outdoors all winter but with a wind screen erected.  Friend puts a strand of Xmas light (8-10 bulbs) around the trunk for the winter but I feel little heat from those tiny non- LED bulbs.  Halifax it is likely a bit warmer than you in summer but not as balmy in summer as say London, especially at night. Locals speak of London as foggy, damp  and chilly - too many 1950's movies I guess; they'd be laughing if we had that climate.  On the other hand Londoners would not be amused if they had our fog!

john

john
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Gerdk on May 21, 2015, 09:55:48 AM
This is Silene uniflora from seeds collected at Tintagel - a lasting memory to a nice place.

Gerd
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 21, 2015, 10:51:56 AM
Early morning after a brief shower of rain during the night.
I included the Dianthus arpadianus because of the funny way it starts to bloom, with literally hundreds of buds to follow.  Looking down on it, it's like a tonsured monk.  Saponaria x olivana does the same thing and probably a host of other plants.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 21, 2015, 10:57:10 AM
And a few more.
I've discovered when the computer tell me a picture is 200KB, it's actually a tiny bit more and gets rejected.  Dianthus arpadianus to follow.   The flowers of P. debilis are lovely but the foliage is really amazing.  It looks so delicate and is found in such an inhospitable place.  My thanks to Alplains for the seed some years ago.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 21, 2015, 11:15:56 AM
Dianthus arpadianus, which will be smothered in tiny pink flowers, and keeps a low, tight mound.  Growing in a natural crevice on the back of the cliff.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: karel_t on May 21, 2015, 11:43:27 AM
Since 15 years this plant is growing and florishing at the Northside of the house, not in a steep wall nor in a crevice but in sandy soil close to a tufa stone.

Ramonda nathaliae

Hi Luit, Sorry to disappoint you, but your Ramonda is not R. nathaliae. True R. nathaliae has only four petals. See the picture.
K.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Lvandelft on May 21, 2015, 09:40:03 PM
Hi Luit, Sorry to disappoint you, but your Ramonda is not R. nathaliae. True R. nathaliae has only four petals. See the picture.
K.
Karel, I'm not disappointed at all, it is a beautiful plant, whatever the name is.
I show a pic of the same plant in 2003. At that time it had 4 petals, so there must be a difference with young plants and mature plants?
Looking at your plant I think the habitus and flowering looks more like a R. serbica. Just the filaments and pistil are different.
I show a pic. of my R. serbica, also from 2003.( When my R. serbica is rightly named?   :) )
R. serbica is still alive but has only a few flowers every year and does not really like the place which is only 50 cms away from my R. nathaliae.

Is it possible that the plant you showed, is a natural cross with R. serbica??

Ramonda nathalia
Ramonda serbica
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ichristie on May 22, 2015, 07:09:57 AM
We have quite a few Dactylorhiza seedling in the garden probably hybrids two are flowering now only 1 few inches high have no idea what or where they came from,  cheers Ian the Christie kind
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: François Lambert on May 22, 2015, 11:41:46 AM
Although the weather has cooled down these last weeks two new flowers in my collection growing in pots

Roscoea Cautleyoides & Zantedeschia Aethiopica.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: hadacekf on May 23, 2015, 07:09:11 PM
Erinus alpinus is a usually short-lived perennial. He likes my rock garden and it is without a control almost a weed.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Ian Y on May 23, 2015, 07:46:16 PM
But what a beauty Franz, as always your garden looks fantastic.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 23, 2015, 08:07:40 PM
Erinus alpinus is a usually short-lived perennial. He likes my rock garden and it is without a control almost a weed.

I'm also a big fan Franz !

Dianthus arpadianus, which will be smothered in tiny pink flowers, and keeps a low, tight mound.  Growing in a natural crevice on the back of the cliff.

That will be great in a few days, Anne, don't forget to show us again !!

That Penstemon is breathtaking !

Some flowers out here as well :

Aethionema cordifolium

Arenaria purpurascens... somewhat smothering its neighbour Chiastophyllum oppositifolium

Asperula boissieri hardly shows a leaf

Dianthus haematocalyx pindicola

Dianthus 'Pudsey Prize'



Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 23, 2015, 08:10:26 PM
Some more :

Dianthus squarosus


Campanula chamissonis major

Edraianthus niveus

Edraianthus serpyllifolius and company

Ramonda myconi 'Jim's Shadow'
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 23, 2015, 08:13:58 PM
... and more...

Geranium cinereum 'Lawrence Flatman'

Potentilla nitida rubra - magnificent flower... too bad it flowers so poorly in captivity

Pulsatilla rubra ssp hispanica

East facing rockery
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ruweiss on May 23, 2015, 09:14:42 PM
Simply beautiful Luc, thank you for showing.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 24, 2015, 04:07:42 PM
Luc, wonderful plants.  The Asperula boissieri is fantastic, it's never done well here.  Is it long-lived for you?  Campanulas in general aren't happy here either - too dry, I think.
Some plants here:
1.  Androsace globosa in trough
2.  Primula japonica multiplying rapidly in the stream garden
3.  Asperula sintenisii
4.  Camassias by the stream
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 24, 2015, 09:11:48 AM
Thanks Rudy and Anne !

The asperula boissieri is in its 4th or 5th year Anne, I do give it a glass protection in Winter though.
The sight of the Primula japonica's is awesome !  Fabulous to have them in quantities like that !
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on May 24, 2015, 02:02:49 PM
Aster natalensis-always healthy,never many flowers
Erinus alpinus-colonising a bed waiting to be redone
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Tim Ingram on May 24, 2015, 02:18:07 PM
Luc, I thought the Pulsatilla was pretty exciting but the rest of the garden :D - great plants and beautifully grown! A trip across the Channel beckons to learn more.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on May 24, 2015, 04:08:39 PM
Luc - Dianthus squarosus is lovely. Sometimes simple is so much more.

Echium candicans.............
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8875/17411061704_4f3d26da4b_z.jpg)

Not the most impressive inflorescence but in its defence it was outdoors in a sheltered spot all winter...............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7723/18030391982_0e4366d60c_z.jpg)

I had two others - one in the ground (which was huge) and one that went in the shed when it turned cold. Both are dead now  :(

Salvia "Pink Blush"............
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5337/18030348892_04d4cb8448_z.jpg)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 24, 2015, 04:43:00 PM
Aster natalensis-always healthy,never many flowers
Erinus alpinus-colonising a bed waiting to be redone

Why redo the bed when the erinus is so lovely?  Would love to have it look like that here.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 24, 2015, 04:48:53 PM
Best for working and photography is 6 a.m.   The working stops by 1 p.m. and resumes after 6 p.m.
Too sunny to plant and too hot to work.
Just a few things in the garden this morning.

1. Hedysarum candida - flowers from the bottom up, so still has the incredibly furry buds
2. Saponaria 'Bressingham'
3. Asperula gussonii
4. Acantholimon bracteatum capitatum
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 24, 2015, 04:51:49 PM
The first tufa crevice garden finished and the second one ready for tufa now.  Still have to add more tufa crumble to the first and a few more plants.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Lori S. on May 24, 2015, 05:05:04 PM
Absolutely wonderful, Luc!   So beautiful, Anne!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on May 24, 2015, 10:47:39 PM
Wonderful images Luc. I am most impressed with your asperulas particularly and would love to grow them as well outside.What conditions do you give them ?
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 25, 2015, 09:04:24 AM
Wonderful images Luc. I am most impressed with your asperulas particularly and would love to grow them as well outside.What conditions do you give them ?

Thanks for the praise, Lori and John !
I guess it's a good season, John, they don't do as well each year.
The boissieri is on a hot, south facing slope and in winter it gets a pane of glass to protect from winter wet as it's quite hairy.  Seems to like it like that !
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on May 25, 2015, 01:35:21 PM
Clianthus puniceus..............
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5336/18076586225_a22d26bb97_z.jpg)

Sadly I bought it out of the bargain bin last year as a white one  :(

Allium siculum..............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7672/18077553791_43d1eb138a_z.jpg)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on May 26, 2015, 02:46:22 AM
Lewisia colombiana
Rhodohypoxis baurii
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: François Lambert on May 26, 2015, 12:57:14 PM
Clianthus puniceus..............
Allium siculum..............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7672/18077553791_43d1eb138a_z.jpg)
I like a lot the Alium Siculum
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on May 27, 2015, 05:32:59 PM
Wisterias on the front and back of the house at the moment plus a standard wisteria 'Lipstick' in a raised bed close to the house and rhodohypoxis in the same bed
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on May 27, 2015, 05:35:46 PM
Rosa banksiae lutea screening an outbuilding.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 27, 2015, 05:53:29 PM
With such luxurious floral screening I wonder you can find the way into the house, John!   Just glorious to se.

 Do your Rhodohypoxis live outside all the time or do you winter them under cover? They look super.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on May 27, 2015, 10:48:14 PM
I like a lot the Alium Siculum

Me too. Simple to grow but very effective.

With such luxurious floral screening I wonder you can find the way into the house, John!   Just glorious to se.


I have to agree.

Anyway, one of my year old Nicotiana glauca (Tree Nicotiana) has started blooming...............
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8803/18132193241_64e91bcb96_z.jpg)

The mother plant that I collected the seed from is in the ground and survived the winter and is actually not that far behind.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 27, 2015, 10:58:35 PM
Nice to see your beautiful flowers everybody! But I am a bit jealous :( Almost nothing has changed in several weeks - cold nights and rainy days have delayed the blooming a lot. :( :(
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on May 27, 2015, 11:52:49 PM
Almost nothing has changed in several weeks - cold nights and rainy days have delayed the blooming a lot. :( :(
Sounds like West Oxfordshire then! I'm still lighting the woodburner at night and still sleeping under two duvets  :(

Eccromocarpus scaber is very late this year...............
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8811/18147742106_37de9c5417_z.jpg)

But these Peony in a shady spot are the best they've ever been.............
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8771/18174289935_ebba778cfc_z.jpg)

And the Echeveria glauca in the greenhouse is far happier than it was earlier this year............
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8838/17551634894_f1127e8969_z.jpg)

Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on May 28, 2015, 07:51:26 AM
Some flowers from my woodland garden this week.
Trillium parviflorum, it has not increased from last year but is flowering nice anyway. I read somewhere that it's flowers are small, but I think this plant has quite large flowers.
Anemone trifolia and Anemone x lipsiensis
Chrysosplenium davidianum, in the background is Primula sieboldii (and lot of self seeding Viola odorata). The funny thing is that I have tried to establish our native Chrysosplenium alternifolium several times and they always die in my garden, and this chinese plant has now lived for four years and is spreading.
Hylomecon japonica is flowering now, in the foreground Trillium grandiflorum 'Flore Pleno', planted last autumn.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on May 28, 2015, 10:49:23 AM
The rhodohypoxis have been there for four years Maggie
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: François Lambert on May 28, 2015, 11:01:28 AM
First roses of the year over here : Rosa Rugosa.  Raised from seed a few years ago.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ashley on May 28, 2015, 12:11:37 PM
What lovely woodland plants Leena.
The back-lit trillium is especially nice :)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 28, 2015, 12:38:04 PM
Wisterias on the front and back of the house at the moment plus a standard wisteria 'Lipstick' in a raised bed close to the house and rhodohypoxis in the same bed

Blown away, John, that's what I am.... blown away !!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 28, 2015, 03:29:55 PM
The rhodohypoxis have been there for four years Maggie
Thanks John - that speaks of milder winters, I reckon. They are certainly doing well.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on May 28, 2015, 09:18:01 PM
Thanks a lot Luc.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on May 29, 2015, 07:50:22 AM
What lovely woodland plants Leena.
The back-lit trillium is especially nice :)

Thank you Ashley. It grows in a bed which gets always the evening sun very nicely.  :)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ChrisD on May 29, 2015, 09:53:54 PM
Fabulous plants (and pictures) everybody. Big Thanks to you all, I have really enjoyed being a lurker on this thread.

Chris
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Gunilla on May 29, 2015, 10:13:41 PM
Allium karataviense subsp. henrikii is perfectly globular and has a very pleasant fragrance.

Allium zebdanense.  Umbels of bell-shaped flowers, white as snow, dangling on long stems.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on May 29, 2015, 10:17:53 PM
Davidia involucrata commonly known as The Handkerchief Tree.Planted 45 yrs.ago as a 4ft.whip.It is surprising how many people have walked around the garden when it is in full bloom without even noticing it.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Gunilla on May 29, 2015, 10:23:36 PM
A lot of  handkerchiefs  :o. Very impressive.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on May 29, 2015, 10:41:54 PM
Two more less usual trees/shrubs,both highly scented.

STAPHYLLEA COLCHICA

AZARA SERRATA
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 30, 2015, 12:41:07 AM
Just a few plants around the garden.
The penstemon reseeds itself gently every year and loves the drought we're having.  If it gets too wet, it flops but still blooms. The foliage is beautiful and the flowers are large.
1. Dianthus sp
2. Iris gracilipes alba
3. Penstemon grandiflorus
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: shelagh on May 30, 2015, 12:14:32 PM
A quick flip round the garden and alpine house at the end of a dismal May. Cold and grey hope June will be better.

Best pan of Rhodohypoxis and the nearest Show is 200 miles away, typical.  A Campanula which is new to us C. dzaaku and a first flowering for this Celmisia densiflora silver form.  I always think the Leucocoryne looks very naked without any leaves.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: shelagh on May 30, 2015, 12:18:18 PM
This Ramonda myconi is not a very neat plant but it does flower well.  The Incarvillea is one of two little black blobs I bought about 4 years ago for 80p at Lidl.  This one does better than the one in the front garden which has more competition.  I just love it :)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: shelagh on May 30, 2015, 12:20:27 PM
Last couple of pics.  This lovely Peony alsways flowers just as the wind and rain arrive but the Tulip and Geum combination really brighten up the edge of this bed.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on May 30, 2015, 02:15:11 PM
Chiastophyllum oppositifolium
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on May 30, 2015, 09:37:22 PM
End of May, and it's all looking rather lovely at the moment.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on May 30, 2015, 09:42:00 PM
A couple more, then a rather interesting herbaceous Phlomis, Phlomis alpina, from Mongolia I'm told. Also Lupinus polyphyllus from Canada, Prince Edward Island, and Hemerocallis minor, the first day lily to flower here.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on May 30, 2015, 09:43:28 PM
A couple of roses flowering now; Rosa 'Agnes' and Rosa 'Dunwichensis'.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 31, 2015, 10:25:53 AM
Hi Ralph,

your garden looks splendid at the moment! Wish my was half that :-\

I have spent my spare time almost every day picking and killing slugs >:(
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on May 31, 2015, 10:32:24 AM
Looking good Ralph.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 31, 2015, 11:47:46 AM
Fantastic images Ralph !  :o :o

Love the rhodohypoxis, Shelagh !

Here's some flowers of the moment :

Aquilegia bertolonii

Delosperma 'Kelaidis' getting started.

Iris cycloglossa first time in flower here.

Rhodohypoxis 'Picta'

Ptilotrichum spinosum
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 31, 2015, 11:50:58 AM
Saxifraga longifolia....  :D  will have to look for a new one now...  :-\

Veronica austriaca

Saxifraga x 'Tumbling Waters'

The tufa mound with Rhododendron background.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on May 31, 2015, 12:06:00 PM
Wonderful, Luc. Thanks Hoy and David.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: shelagh on May 31, 2015, 12:15:51 PM
Terrific garden views from John and Luc what a wonderful way to end May.  Much better than the dull rainy day here. Thanks both.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on May 31, 2015, 01:47:11 PM
Arisaema speciosum which was a recent purchase to replace the ones in the ground that I'd lost (which true to form emerged as soon as I'd bought this)...............
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7748/17681142083_5d544b99c3_z.jpg)

A rather nice unknown Iris................
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/338/18086050600_4225464321_z.jpg)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 31, 2015, 07:02:46 PM
You certainly have quite a collection and garden, Luc!


Saxifraga longifolia....  :D  will have to look for a new one now...  :-\



You probably know it but if you damage the apical meristem of the plant you'll get more than one rosette!

Here's my plant. The meristem was damaged two years ago.

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on May 31, 2015, 07:25:10 PM
Well, I didn't know that.  Thanks, Trond.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 31, 2015, 07:49:12 PM
Well, I didn't know that.  Thanks, Trond.

My pleasure Anne ;)

A few more from my garden on the last day of May - at last one sunny and not too cold one!

A succulent from South Africa (Silverhill seed) has survived one winter outside. I have lost the name though :-\

[attachimg=1]


Geranium phaeum self seeds but is not a problem.

[attachimg=2]


Ichtyoselmis macrantha spreads slowly in the woodland.

[attachimg=3]


Rhodotypos scandens from seed several years ago.

[attachimg=4]


Lot of buds but I don't think I'll get enough grapes to make wine ;) It is outside and late to flower this year.

[attachimg=5]



Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on June 01, 2015, 02:19:33 AM
Trond,

I enjoyed seeing the photograph of Rhodotypos scandens. I grew this species in the garden. It seemed easy-to-grow however it is gone now.  :'(  For me it has such a simple beauty.
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on June 02, 2015, 06:54:52 PM
Glad you like it Robert! It is that kind of quiet simple flowers I like ;)
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Mike Ireland on June 03, 2015, 09:36:56 PM
Would not normally post pictures of leylandii but Charles Ellis's nursery in Stanton has 5 absolute beauties.
He tells me his grandson is frightened of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: May in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on June 03, 2015, 09:45:26 PM
Giant green snakes that size - heck, I'd be frightened of them too!  :o

Beautiful work!
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal