Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: Robert on May 03, 2023, 07:16:08 PM
-
[attachimg=1]
During the end of April we experienced several days with record to near record daily high temperatures. Now, in the first part of May, temperatures have turned much below average. There has even been some rain.
The early season flowering species have generally finished blooming and now the second secession of flowering plants is now in bloom. The ambience of the garden is difficult for me to capture with a camera, but the garden is still looking good. The coming challenge is the hot summer season. I am still not satisfied with my selection of flowering plants for the summer months. There is always something new to explore and improve in our garden.
[attachimg=2]
I have grown Drymocallis lactea var. austiniae in our Sacramento, California garden for a number of years now. They seem quite happy in our garden and have started to seed around the garden. This high elevation species from the Sierra Nevada Mountains has bright yellow flowers that retain their bright coloration in our hot valley garden. This is not always the case when high elevation plants are cultivated in hot, low elevation gardens. The flowers continue to open over an extended period of time during the spring and the pinnately compound leaves are attractive during the growing season. There are additional varieties of Drymocallis lactea native to the Sierra Nevada Mountains with different characteristics.
I also grow our California native Drymocallis glandulosa. To date this species has grown well in our garden, however it has never flowered up to par. It might be a poor specimen or in the wrong location. I will trial this species again in the future with seed gathered from various sites and elevations and see how these perform in our garden.
[attachimg=3]
Penstemon laetus var. laetus has grown well in our garden for many years. Lavender-blue is the most common color form of this species, however I have found pink flowering forms of this species in the wild. I have always grown this species in an extremely well draining soil mixture. I believe with some breeding effort on my part I can develop a line of plants that will grow well in ordinary garden soil. This would be a great asset to our garden.
[attachimg=4]
Allium unifolium consistently provides a fantastic display of flowers each spring. This species is extremely easy to please in summer-dry portions of our garden. I strongly suspect that this species is tolerant of some summertime moisture, so I will be experimenting with it in summer-irrigated portions of the garden.
[attachimg=5]
Ranunculus occidentalis var. ultramontanus is very tolerant of summertime moisture and irrigation. The flowers are smaller and less showy than other Ranunculus occidentalis type species, however it has proven itself to be an excellent parent in many of the Ranunculus hybrids I have created for our garden.
-
Some very nice species shown, here.
Paeonia morisii few days ago in central Sardinia
-
Yann, P. morisii is very beautiful! I definitely prefer the form of this flower, many species look less open and regular. Thank You for showing!
Robert, You´re able to grow an incredible range of flowers, something we´re missing in Germany at this time of the year.
Meanwhile, we enjoy native and naturalised flowers in Sweden, this unusual greenish and rounded Adonis vernalis we saw on Öland.
(https://up.picr.de/45606070tw.jpg)
Less easy to spot in the meadows is Pulsatilla pratensis, but of architectural charm when seen from close by.
(https://up.picr.de/45606068kk.jpg)
Corydalis cava in white and dark purple.
(https://up.picr.de/45606194jy.jpg)
Ornithogalum nutans is often seen naturalised in Småland and Öland, in this case most likely in a former garden, now common of the village Mönsterås.
(https://up.picr.de/45606115hi.jpg)
Hepatica nobilis are often past their prime, this one looks still perfect.
(https://up.picr.de/45606082bh.jpg)
-
Hi Mariette,
It is good when we can all celebrate and share our gardens with others. We all garden with different circumstances, constraints, goals and plant preferences. I learn a great deal, and our garden benefits greatly when touring other gardens through this forum. Here in California I garden with plants that I like and that are also readily available. I would not have a garden or get anything done if I waited around to obtain exotic plants from faraway places. I just do the best I can to work with what I have, be creative, and learn from other gardeners.
I definitely have challenging issues with the range of plants I have to work with. The hot summer months are particularly challenging. Many of our California native plant species that bloom in the summer need considerable “taming” to be useful garden plants in our Sacramento garden. My goal is not to have pots full of fussy exotic or rare plants, but a dynamic and vibrant garden full of versatile plants that can be crafted in beautiful and pleasing ways. Maybe this is my version of paradise.
[attachimg=1]
Iris hartwegii ssp. hartwegii extends our Iris blooming season into early May. Here they are blooming with our white flowering native Triteleia hycinthina and common, weedy forget-me-nots. It is a very pleasing scene in our garden.
[attachimg=2]
Collinsia tinctoria has pleasing white spotted foliage and tiers of creamy-white flowers. Here they are looking good with common Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea.
[attachimg=3]
Here a chance seedling of Gilia capitata is blooming among the spotted leaves of Collinsia tinctoria. Many of our annual California native plant species are very much at home in our garden. So many now randomly seed around throughout our garden. It is truly a delight. We garden in California – so why not garden with native species? It certainly is working for us.
[Jasmin]: Today we had a gentle spring rain. Temperatures are quite pleasant and mild, 12 C. There is no arctic chill wind. I persist at taking photos, to continue the garden tour on the thread “Robert and Jasmin’s Garden”. I will continue to submit them as I can.
It is an extremely busy time, not just with the garden, bird care, and writing my bird care guide project. Some birds are still receiving my medical attention, and I have been summoned to serve for jury service in a few weeks. As much as possible, I am attempting to instruct Robert in the bird care, so he can tend them and supplement the care I provide if I am indeed selected for a jury.
This service is particularly important to us, at this time there has been so much factiousness in the country. Other than voting, jury service is one of the few times we can genuinely make a difference. Democracy is such a fragile construct, particularly when we take these institutions for granted. In many ways, it is no different than our ecosystem and our gardens. Without care and regular nurturance, the very things we prize can all too easily vanish.
Mariette,
The native and naturalized flowers in Sweden are so very beautiful. What great plants you have to work with right in your general vicinity! They would likely be very unhappy in our scorching Sacramento garden, however I appreciate that you are sharing these photographs. I learn a great deal from these naturalistic scenes. They remind me of scenes of our California native species in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Thank you again for sharing!
-
Robert,
I garden with native species. They comprise about 30-35% of my plantings.
There are 3 families I want to explore in depth; particularly Iridaceae; but, but also Ericaceae and Ranunculaceae. There are 9 genera of Ericaceae native to the mid Willamette valley.
However, much of the family is native to Europe, South Africa, and the Eastern U.S.
Likewise, much of Ranunculaceae is native; but much is found elsewhere.
Most of Iridaceae is native to South Africa; and most of what is not, is native to South and Central America. Very few genera are native to the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
-
Your project seems very ambitious. You’re covering a lot of bases, but then these are topics and plants that many are likely very interested. Will you have any preliminary report for the Forum in the near future?
-
Robert,
It is too late for a preliminary repport. I have been persuing this for 8 years.
In Iridaceae I grow 174 species in 62 genera, and have 11 additional species and 3 additional genera planted but not yet germinated.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XwyixlvDf8pOi_98dXx8Q4oqlr-cl05LVluNpTYvQJw/edit?usp=sharing
In Ranunculaceae i grow 150 species in 31 genera, and have 15 additional species and 1 additional genus planted but not yet germinated.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18I3xagP5P8TEas9bhoGkRkOO9eW-Z-mT/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100954530762417840872&rtpof=true&sd=true
In Ericaceae I grow170 species in 65 genera.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bRmBHTsVpT1lFFWe9EI_g93ybD_KPU94/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100954530762417840872&rtpof=true&sd=true
-
Yann, it is a very beautiful peony and new to me. :)
Mariette, lovely pictures of interesting plants in Sweden!
Here the past week has been colder than usual, with two nights -6C and rest -2 - -4C, so very cold considering this time of year.
Most plants are fine, but some have suffered though I have covered them with double horticultural fleece for nights. Mainly Epimedium buds are damaged and also Ranzania japonica has suffered even with protection. Even some of double flowering Sanguinaria canadensis flowers are damaged, but mostly it is ok.
Our native Anemone nemorosa doesn't mind cold nights and its flowering has been prolonged, it has now flowered almost three weeks. There isn't much variation in its flowers.
-
My corydalis are fine with cold nights, and they have put a good show also this year.
In the second picture Corydalis 'Drops of Claret' with Scilla rosenii.
-
Hi Leena,
I enjoyed your latest posting immensely. It was extremely informative and it is always a pleasure to “tour” your garden. I agree, your Corydalis species are putting on a fine show this year. I enjoyed both garden scenes featuring the Corydalis with other plants.
Thank you for providing information regarding the magnitude and duration of the cold weather event you have been experiencing. How the various species preformed and the steps you took to help ameliorate the situation was very informative. Late season frosty weather is not an issue in our Sacramento, California garden, however it is an issue at our Placerville property.
We certainly have to build resiliency in our gardens. Climatic changes are increasing both the frequency and magnitude of anomalous weather events. We need more information regarding the performance of species and specific clones to various extremes in weather including drought, excessive heat, unseasonable cold snaps, and other extreme weather events.
I cannot thank you enough for this information. 8) 8) 8) :) :) :)
-
We certainly have to build resiliency in our gardens. Climatic changes are increasing both the frequency and magnitude of anomalous weather events. We need more information regarding the performance of species and specific clones to various extremes in weather including drought, excessive heat, unseasonable cold snaps, and other extreme weather events.
Thank you Robert. :)
You are so right about what you wrote above.
Weather in mid April was unusually warm, so many plants were very advanced when the cold spell hit again. Of course native plants were fine with it, but there are other plants also which are fine. I like to grow peonies, and it is interesting to see how P.veitchii always comes up late, no matter the weather, and still it flowers in early June, the same time as many peonies from Caucasus, which come up much earlier. It is trial and error to find the plants which grow well and suit my garden. But very often I succumb to something new..
About the weather, I forgot to write that the past week when night temperatures were so low, also days were below +10C. Yesterday it was +14C, and now it should get warmer. In fact warmer than average, so it is from one extreme to the other.
-
One wonders why the Ranzania fiowers are 2 to 3 times larger this year. Could it have been the more than ample rainfal last summer & autumn despite 2 cold almost snowless days in early February? Or is it simply maturing?
johnw
-
That may well be - on the other hand I wonder whether this Ranunculus bulbosus on Öland grows so short due to the long- lasting drought.
(https://up.picr.de/45639804hw.jpg)
Most of these plants we´ve seen today and yesterday average 5-7 cm. This one was definitely the extreme version.
(https://up.picr.de/45639798cj.jpg)
A woodland-scene on Öland: Lathyrus vernus, Anemone nemorosa + ranunculoides and violets.
(https://up.picr.de/45639793kz.jpg)
A double Anemone ranunculoides.
(https://up.picr.de/45639790ru.jpg)
Adonis vernalis with Orchis mascula.
(https://up.picr.de/45639809pu.jpg)
-
[attachimg=1]
Rhododendron lowndesii, first flowering of a nine-year-old cutting. Some plants really test our patience.
-
Mariette,
I have not heard of the prolonged drought in Sweden. Where might I find more detailed science based information in English?
BTW – I am keenly interested in your use of California native annual species in your garden, such as Phacelia campanularia. I hope that you can keep us all posted on your results. :)
-
Robert, what I wrote about drought in Sweden relies on what people here are telling me, not scientific dates. You should note that I´m on holiday in the Southeast of this very longstretched country, a part which is regularly much drier than the westcoast. Farmers are watering their fields here, which is certainly no usual practice for this time of the year. Back home, we enjoyed a good deal of rain in the area where I live, next to the Dutch border. Other parts of Europe, on the other side, are suffering from extreme drought already since last year, parts of France, for instance, or the North of Italy.
As to Californian native annual species : I don´t expect them to establish themselves in my garden, as conditions are too different. Just for fun, I´m only trying some of them, usually starting with pot-culture.
Nevertheless, Eschscholtzia californica is a species which self-sowed for many years on my allotment, often already in autumn and surviving mild winters. Recently it became rare there, out of resons I don´t know. This is a well known annual over here, easily available.
Diplacus pictus certainly isn´t, and was much admired when I showed pics of this in Germany. Following Your advice, I sowed it already in autumn in my frost-free greenhouse. What may have been seedlings just starting into life was gone over winter, but in spring 2 new ones popped up. Right now, I may only hope that they survived my absence due to the care of my sons. :)
-
Your project seems very ambitious. You’re covering a lot of bases, but then these are topics and plants that many are likely very interested. Will you have any preliminary report for the Forum in the near future?
Robert,
You asked for a preliminary report which was impossible 8 years into the project.
In my may 8 reply, I have provided links to a list of all the species I grow in these 3 families.
My initial statements re the number of genera and species I grow were place holders until I could compile an accurate inventory of what I grow. I have not attempted to inventory the number of plants of each specie.
I can source 80-90% of what I listed and can give growing conditions for all.
The 10-20% that I cannot source are because my sources are no longer available or because they were acquired from friends.
-
Hi Marc
It appears that you have very large private collection of plants. Collecting seems to be very popular. Your source index of where to find specific plants must be very useful for other collectors.
I have to admit that for me, huge lists of plants and large collections are increasingly completely overwhelming. I admire those that can maintain large collections of plants. The best I can do, is offer my encouragement. I have my hands full with the very small limited number of plants I currently maintain. I do try new plants each season, however only on an extremely limited scale.
Good luck with your endeavor. I am sure many will appreciate your efforts.
-
Hi Mariette,
I apologize for offering advice on California plants on the Forum. This is foolishness on my part. In most instances I do not know how California species will respond in another location or climate. All I can do is state my observations about plant behavior in the locations I study in detail and our Sacramento garden. This is why I ask so many questions and have a few contacts beyond our part of California that share detailed science based information about how California plants respond in their locations.
I rarely look at the news, however Jasmin follows the news nearly everyday. I asked Jasmin about the reports concerning drought conditions in Sweden, France, and Northern Italy. She knew nothing about these reports and when she did a search she still came up with nothing. I also scanned the US NOAA databases for information. I could not find anything there either. I believe your report 100%. I guess this is, too, why I ask questions. Perhaps I ask too many questions? :-[
Enjoy your holiday! :)
-
Robert, there is absolutely no reason for excuses, quite on the contrary! I´m glad for the inspirations and information You offer, and surely others will feel the same! As it may be difficult for You to establish some European species in Your garden, so it´s over here with Californian ones. After all, even conditions in Germany differ largely, some parts enjoy sufficient rainfall, others don´t. Also, much depends on drainage, the lack of which is a great problem in my garden. Some Californian annuals like Eschscholtzia are commonly known in Germany and regularly offered by the trade. It´s just tempting to try some more of those You show, perhaps some will do.
There was a great surprise when I returned in the week-end: My 2 plants of Diplacus pictus are in flower!
I wonder why You find no informations regarding the drought in Italy and France. The river Po lacks water since the middle of last year, the lake Garda, also. In France are parts where the use of water is restricted in a way never known before.
-
[attachimg=1]
Hi Mariette,
I found, in English, this EU web site concerning drought in Europe. This is exactly the information I was looking for. For me, this does not replace perspectives on the weather posted on the Forum. Ultimately we are concerned about how the weather is impacting our gardens and what works to help ameliorate adverse situations.
I was also able to find a limited amount of news coverage concerning drought conditions in France and Northern Italy. Without getting into the details, the algorithms used to present the news here in the U.S.A. are attempting to manipulate our perceptions of the world. Some of the “news” material presented to me was extremely offensive and misogynistic. Jasmin and I were using the same news outlet (NPR) and the same devise. How the algorithms could target me was scary. I refuse to support this type of behavior and thinking, thus I quit following the news.
-
[attachimg=1]
Our Gila capitata hybrids are now starting to bloom. This line is derived from subspecies mediomontana x subspecies pedemontana hybrids. The plants are extremely vigorous, about 2 meters tall, and bloom profusely for an extended period of time into the summer. The flower heads are very large. Currently this line is susceptible to extremes of damp weather and insect damage at the seedling stage of development. Clearly improvements need to be made, however I am extremely pleased with the progress to date.
[attachimg=2]
Collinsia heterophylla is starting to seed itself freely around our garden. Ian Young’s gardening advice to look to nature for gardening inspiration is priceless. In nature Collinsia heterophylla is frequently seen blooming is dramatic pure stands. Next season I hope to imitate this natural propensity in our garden.
[attachimg=3]
Penstemon laetus ssp. laetus has very showy flowers and blooms for an extended period of time in our garden. Currently our plantings of this species is limited to containers with lean, quick draining soil. They do seed out in other containers. Currently my goal with this species is to see if I can develop a line that is amenable to cultivation in average garden soil. Extending the range adaptability of this species would be an asset to our garden.
[attachimg=4]
Meadow Penstemon, Penstemon rydbergii ssp. oreocharis, is very amenable to cultivation in our garden. This species is very tolerant of average garden soil and summertime irrigation. I am working on improvements with this species to extend its versatility in our garden.
[attachimg=5]
Penstemon purpusii is another Penstemon species that is currently limited to container culture in our garden. I have a number of seed lines of this species from seed accessions I made on Snow Mountain in Colusa County, California. I have not worked with this species to date, however this species too may have potential for cultivation in the open garden. This small species has very large showy flowers.
-
[attachimg=1]
Even parts of the old ornamental garden at our Placerville property survive. Last autumn I planted a small patch of Ethiopian Barley next to a bed with bearded Iris. The orange and red poppies planted themselves. The photograph might not be the greatest, however the scene was very nice
-
Robert,
With all the time and energy sent on maintaining my collection I have no time for hybridizing; but I think the results of your efforts are beautiful.
-
One cannot but agree! I do like the penstemons very much, but generally they abhor our often damp conditions. It would be very welcome to to be able to grow more adaptable strains!
Back home from Sweden, most of the tree peonies were already withered. This one still looks alright.
(https://up.picr.de/45669567kn.jpg)
Camassias are a mystery for me. For many years I grew big clumps of C. leichtlinii ssp suksdorfii and several others as well. All of them disappeared, either due to rodents or unsuitable weather. The only ones remaining for many years, though reduced, are C. leichtlinii ssp leichtlinii ´Sacajawea´in front of the pic, and C. cusickii to the right.
(https://up.picr.de/45669562ak.jpg)
As may be seen in the background, they started producing seedlings these last years.
(https://up.picr.de/45669563kt.jpg)
I wonder what they are? The blueish one in the middle looks like C cusickii, yet the other blueish one withers like leichtlinii, though there are no blue ones growing here for about 15 years. The white one is really white, unlike C. l. ssp l., which shows creamy white flowers, like that of ´Sacajawea´ to the right.
(https://up.picr.de/45669564kt.jpg)
Yet the chalk-white seedling withers like C. leichtlinii, despite of its different tint of white.
(https://up.picr.de/45669570jc.jpg)
[img]ht
-
Hi Mariette,
I enjoyed your remaining Camassia plants immensely. It is very interesting how the seedlings evolved in your garden. They seem quite “at home” in their current setting. I like the naturalistic setting with the other plants.
Here in our Sacramento, California garden I grow both our local interior California versions of Camassia leichtlinii ssp. suksdorfii and Camassia quamash ssp. breviflora. Our local subspecies suksdorfii has thrived in our garden and I have a succession of seedlings advancing from various geographic locations in our area. I have only grown one set of Camassia quamash ssp. breviflora in our garden. They have persisted but they have preformed poorly. They rarely bloom and the clumps are slowly dying-out.
I rarely encounter Camassia quamash ssp. breviflora in our area. Camassia leichtlinii ssp. suksdorfii is by far more common. Populations of Camassia leichtlinii ssp. suksdorfii from interior California locations appear to have some very distinct regional adaptations compared to populations growing in Coastal California and in the Pacific Northwest. The interior California populations that I have observed over the years are always found growing in moist to hydric environments. The soil rarely or never dries out completely during the summer-autumn seasons. Frequently the plants are growing and blooming in hydric (flooded) environments. During years of much above average precipitation, such as this season, the bulbs can remain flooded all summer and autumn.
I frequently observe regional and/or habitat specific adaptations in our wild plant species. I am working at using these regional and local adaptations to advantage to create superior varieties for our Sacramento garden. This certainly keeps me busy and the projects are very fulfilling. I will keep the Forum posted as to my progress with the Genus Camassia.
Mariette, if you decide to continue cultivating Camassia I will be keenly interested in your progress and results. Thank you so very much for sharing your observation! :)
-
Robert, what puzzles me is that in this particular spot the camassias set seed. There are three others in the garden, where small groups of 2-3 Camassia cusickii are in flower, most likely the seed was spread with garden compost. All of these do not set seed as far as I can judge till now.
Once I planted Camassia quamash, but these hardly showed any growth next season, and disappeared, maybe due to rodents. Maybe I should try again, now, as the rodents´population obviously broke down.
Unlike sandy and other well drained soils, our heavy clay may prevent dormant bulbs from drying out, which is why it´s prefered by many geophytes favouring more humid conditions. Drought during their dormant season does hardly any harm to them.
-
Mariette,
This is all very interesting. Thank you for sharing. You have described your clay soil in the past. It is a reminder that we can still accomplish great things in our gardens under very adverse conditions. 8)
[attachimg=1]
This is an example of how I am attempting to utilize California native plants in a naturalistic way in our Sacramento, California garden. Potentilla gracillis var. fastigiata is a native species that seeds itself around our garden without help on my part. The non-native annual Nigelia damascena also seeds around our garden. Currently this works in our garden, however I would like to refine the design by incorporating additional California native species.
[attachimg=2]
Potentilla gracilis var. fastigiata is a perennial species that is both drought tolerant as well as tolerant of summertime irrigation. This species grows well in both part shade as well as full sun. It blooms for many weeks during the spring and has very attractive foliage when not in bloom. This species definitely works in our garden.
[attachimg=3]
There are still plenty of non-native species in our garden. Geranium dalmaticum always looks nice. It is a keeper. The Fuchsia is the last one standing in our garden. As long as it survives we will allow it to grow.
[attachimg=4]
Our native Columbine, Aquilegia formosa, thrives in the shadier parts of our garden. The plants are very persistent and seed around occasionally. This species will throw flowers off and on most of the summer. Currently I am experimenting with other species to see how well they can be incorporated into our garden design.
[attachimg=5]
Erythranthe lewisii x cardinalis hybrids have been available in the California nursery trade for a long time. I have created my own set of hybrids in a range of colors from yellow, through red, to hot pink, to lavender pink. They are all perennial and bloom most of the summer. Each season I create new hybrid combinations hoping for something different to appear. Nothing so far, however many are pretty and well enjoyed in our garden.
-
[attachimg=1]
Triteleia bridgesii is one of our later blooming Themidaceae species. I have them planted throughout our garden and they preform well in a variety of soil types and watering regimes, from no summer irrigation at all, to moderate summertime irrigation. I especially like this species and have incorporated it into our breeding program.
[attachimg=2]
To date, this is the best selection I have made of Eriophyllum lanatum var. grandiflorum. I am hoping it will preform equally well in the open garden. It blooms profusely and has an excellent dense compact habit of growth. It also propagates well from cuttings. This seed accession came from 3,275 feet (988 meters) in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. There was nothing special about this seed accession, as the majority of the plants in the area were “average”, pretty but nothing remarkable.
-
Robert,
I grow many of the natives that you grow; but I don't feature them. I do not grow anything from Compositae [asteraceae],or Portulacaceae, and very little from Rosaceae; even though I can appreciate them in other people's gardens.
I use natives as accent plants and companion plants when they compliment species from the three families that I feature. I also grow an eclectic mix of plants from many other families; especially: Amarylidaceae, Liliaceae, Scrophulariaceae/ Plantaginaceae/Phrymaceae,[which I treat as one complex - Scrophulariaceae++] Malvaceae/ Sterculiaceae, Campanulaceae, Theaceae, Magnoliaceae, Styracaceae, Papaveraceae/Fumaraceae, Fabiaceae, Violaceae and Bignoniaceae.
-
Hi Marc,
The range of plants you grow is phenomenally impressive.
As I have grown older I have lost interest in collecting plants. These days I am content growing and experimenting with our local native plants. I grow a few new plants each season, but my process is extremely slow. For example, I have wanted to grow our local annual Diplacus kelloggii for many years. This year I will gather seeds and get started. I have many other gardening projects and understand my limitations. Next year I will be able to give adequate attention to this species. There has been a great deal I needed to learn before I was ready to proceed with Diplacus kelloggii. These days, I am very content with the tiny range of plants I grow.
There seems to be a great deal of interest in collecting plants. I certainly hope that you are connecting with those that can truly appreciate the significance of your plants lists. I do confess that I do not get it and am easily befuddled by the lists presented to me from time-to-time, but then this is my issue not yours. Good luck with your endeavors. It appears you are making great progress.
-
Robert,
I have .78 Acre of which I have changed most of the original grass into planting beds.
My neighbor, who has 5 acres of open woodland, has allowed me to plant a 20' strip along our 330' west property line as a firebreak; so I have access to a large shade garden of 6600 sq ft with a recirculating stream, pond, and waterfall. My neighbor still owns the property; so I suppose my efforts enhance the value of his property; but my wife & I have permanent access while we own our property.
-
Peak flowering season here, with spring flowers hanging on and summer flowers starting to join to the mix.
[attachimg=1]
Dianthus sternbergii, with Erodium glandulosum on the left
[attachimg=2]
Dianthus tymphresteus
[attachimg=3]
Erodium glandulosum
[attachimg=4]
Ramonda myconi
-
[attachimg=1]
Spiraea betulifolia is a magnet for the rose chafer (Cetonia aurata), which feed on the anthers.
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
Contrary to my expectations, the Chinese Corydalis barbisepala is a good doer, forming large patches through underground stolons. Woodland conditions suit it very well.
-
[attachimg=1]
I am very pleased that local California native plant species are predominately featured in our Sacramento garden. For the most part they preform extremely well in our garden, but more importantly they “look” right in the garden. Using nature as a cue for garden design is invaluable. It has been fairly easy for me to mimic native habitat and plant combinations in our Sacramento garden that I see in our local native plant communities.
Philadelphus lewisii is in full bloom right now. This native shrub grows in a prominent location along our main garden path in our back yard. The fragrant flowers are nicely scented. Although this species is native throughout much of western North America, I grew this specimen from seed gathered from a favorite plant growing near a long time favorite swimming hole near Rock Creek. This adds a difficult to describe depth of feeling to our garden.
[attachimg=2]
I have shown this specimen of Eriophyllum lanatum var. grandiflorum on the Forum on several occasions. Now it is near peak bloom and is truly a glorious plant. The next step with this plant is to root cuttings and gather seed. The rooted cuttings can be used to evaluate this clone’s performance in various garden settings. Plants grown from self-pollinated seed can fix genetic traits and then be used in further breeding work.
[attachimg=3]
This photograph taken on 15, June 2017 in Colusa County, California is of Clarkia gracilis ssp. traceyi. I grew plants from this seed accession for a number of years before losing this line. Losing this line was a disappointment for me. My system of gardening and breeding is based on an accurate and detailed knowledge of the origins of the plants that I am working with.
[attachimg=4]
Blooming now in our garden are the F3 generation offspring of Calrkia gracilis ssp. traceyi grown from seed obtained from Seedhunt. I am extremely fortunate to have access to a very small group of highly talented and reliable individuals from which I can obtain well-documented seeds.
[attachimg=5]
Now that I am primarily focused on developing our local California native plant species, I can give needed attention to a selected group of our native Penstemon species. Pictured is Penstemon azureus var. angustissimus grown from a seed accession I made near Snow Mountain, Colusa County, California. This species has preformed well in our Sacramento garden for many years. I have adequate breeding stock to move forward with this species. I will report my progress with this and other Penstemon species into the future.
-
[attachimg=1]
Castilleja affinis ssp. affinis has grown and bloomed well in our Sacramento garden for many years. I have grown to blooming age other local native Castilleja species, however they have not persisted in our garden. In addition, there are many fine California native annual Castilleja species that I have yet to try in our garden. This is a group of plants that I wish to explore, in much greater detail, their garden potential.
[attachimg=2]
This is one of several forms of Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense that I obtain back in the 1990’s. The plants have remained strong and healthy despite challenging conditions and long periods of neglect.
[attachimg=3]
We currently have many Lilium pardalinum hybrids in our Sacramento garden. They all have their origins from my breeding work with these plants back in the 1990’s.
[attachimg=4]
We also have a number of deep, almost red, Lilium occidentale hybrids.
Back in the 1990’s I was fortunate to conduct extensive field studies of Lilium species in Northwestern California and Southwestern Oregon. In addition, during this time period I also conducted extensive field studies of our local native Lilium species. From the knowledge gained and the genetic material obtained from these field studies, I am now starting a new Lilium breeding program with entirely new objectives. Locally we have many fascinating varieties and variations of Lilium parvum. This species will be featured prominently in this breeding program.
-
[attachimg=1]
The development of exciting new plant varieties is proceeding phenomenally well. From my breeding program, I am selecting novel new forms of our local native Dichelostemma multiflorum based not only on flower color or flower count, but also many other characteristics such as the color of the foliage and dependable garden performance in a variety of gardening situations.
[attachimg=2]
This interesting light lavender-pink flowering form of Dichelostemma multiflorum showed up in this batch of seedlings.
Our Sacramento garden is truly an exciting place with unlimited possibilities even with very commonly grown plant species. I hope that you have enjoyed the photographs.
-
Peak flowering season here, with spring flowers hanging on and summer flowers starting to join to the mix.
(Attachment Link)
Dianthus sternbergii, with Erodium glandulosum on the left
(Attachment Link)
Dianthus tymphresteus
(Attachment Link)
Erodium glandulosum
(Attachment Link)
Ramonda myconi
Andre,
Beautiful images! You make the camera sit up and talk!
-
Early start for the very hardy Brimeura amethystina. It's very common in the Pyrénnées, usually growing in meadows and rockies areas.
In the wild it's blooming from June to August.
Iris x sambucina diffuse its elderberry scent all around the garden.
-
May is also the season for the first garlics and they will close the summer period in early october.
Allium kharputense
Allium alexejanum
-
Yann, Iris x sambucina is of special interest to me. Eight years ago, I found this Iris in an abandoned Swedish garden, where it still grows.
(https://up.picr.de/45748518mw.jpg)
Back home, I planted in a sunny place on my allotment, where it proved to be the most floriferous of all Iris barbata I ever saw. Showing it to collectors of Iris barbata, nobody recognised it to be an old variety, which I thought it was. Do You think it might be Iris x sambucina?
(https://up.picr.de/45748519kz.jpg)
In my own garden, which is not well suited for Iris barbata, some old varieties like ´Rheintraube´, ´Ododratissima´ and ´Rheingauperle´proved to be more successful than the many newer varities I once bought.
(https://up.picr.de/45748520ik.jpg)
In the green-house, Anomatheca laxa ´Joan Evans´started to flower.
(https://up.picr.de/45748521ub.jpg)
And Diplacus pictus flowers, too. This year I´ve got much stronger plants. I wonder whether this is because I followed Robert´s advice and sowed in autumn, though these germinated in spring. Or maybe it´s because I failed to transplant the two seedlings in time and just added some organic manure to the substrate I sowed them in?
(https://up.picr.de/45748522cx.jpg)
-
[attachimg=1]
Asperula sintenisii. This would do better in a large piece of tufa; in the rock garden, as here, it tends to split into small pieces due to winter dieback.
[attachimg=2]
Dicentra peregrina. Flowering for the second year in a row, which is considered a success for this rather tricky species.
[attachimg=3]
Paris luquanensis. I keep this outdoors in a pot in the shade, without any winter protection. As long as it doesn't increase, I will not try it in the open ground. It's too expensive for experimenting.
[attachimg=4]
Weldenia candida. One of the purest white flowers (apart from the anthers). I overwinter this Mexican/Guatemalan alpine in an unheated shed and keep it completely dry. In April, when the risk of severe frost is over, it goes outside again, and it will reappear above ground after a few weeks.
-
Two easy Geraniaceae with a long flowering period.
[attachimg=1]
Geranium subcaulescens with Erodium castellanum on the right.
[attachimg=2]
I like the black anthers.
[attachimg=3]
Erodium castellanum.
-
Andre,
Beautiful images! You make the camera sit up and talk!
Thanks for the compliment, Marc. It's a pity that on this site image file size is limited to 200KB, so that we must keep them small and low quality.
-
Andre,
Small yes. Low quality DEFINITELY NOT!!
-
Lots of beautiful pictures! It seems that summer has arrived in many regions.
Robert - Nice to see someone else trying Castilleja in the garden. They are all so beautiful, too bad that due to their hemiparasitic nature they are not easy to grow or to maintain in the garden. I've seen once in the North American Rock Garden Society Journal a most amazing garden of a lady who managed to grow lots of Castilleja species in the garden, so it is possible.
This year it is very rewarding to see Castilleja coccinea flowering in my garden for the first time - I sowed seeds 'in situ', a lot of them, and there are a few plants now. There are Deschampsia and Symphyotrichum laeve nearby, which they say are preferred hosts (grasses, Asters and few others), although I read that they can reach far away plants as hosts actually.
Other native species in flower right now: Sisyrinchium mucronatum and Tetraneuris herbacea (with Linum capitatum in the background)
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
-
@Andre
It is a feast for me to see your
Dicentra peregrina. One of the great jewels of the Asian Alpines. I had it once too... but lost it very quickly.
So I am very pleased that it seems to work very well for you.
BTW... your photos are generally of the highest quality.
Thanks for showing them...✌️
-
Back home, I planted in a sunny place on my allotment, where it proved to be the most floriferous of all Iris barbata I ever saw. Showing it to collectors of Iris barbata, nobody recognised it to be an old variety, which I thought it was. Do You think it might be Iris x sambucina?
Yes it's sambucina. It may clump easily once etablished.
-
Thank You, Yann, that´s very interesting news!
-
I was traveling during most of May. These are some plants that welcomed me home.
Collomia debilis and an unnamed campanula
[attachimg=1]
Candelabra primulas
[attachimg=2]
Cypripedium parviflorum
[attachimg=3]
-
Just two more pictures.
Dianthus putting on a show in a sand bed
[attachimg=1]
Iris 'Spanish Coins' and Geranium 'Phillippe Vapelle'
[attachimg=2]
-
Really showy Claire
-
Beautiful, seems that your weather is not so awfully hot and dry as ours.
Thank you for showing.