Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: cohan on November 07, 2012, 07:37:50 AM

Title: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: cohan on November 07, 2012, 07:37:50 AM
I don't think this topic was started yet?
A few images to scare those of you in gentler climes ;) Winter (in the guise of lasting snow) seems to have come early this year -we got snow starting  October 20, and for several days after that- not huge amounts, enough to need shovelling a couple of times, and while we've had some days warm enough for settling, and in the last couple of days warm enough to melt from paths, roads etc (much more melting in town and in open sunny spots, here in the trees it's still more white than not), still several inches to half a foot in many places- probably up to a foot on the ground in low places when these photos were taken..
Not in my garden, rather its native woodland/wetland on the family farm, just beyond my acreage...
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Brian Ellis on November 07, 2012, 09:55:19 AM
I am suitably scared ;D
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on November 07, 2012, 12:12:09 PM
Some beautiful pictures, Cohan.  The snow/tree/understory contrasts are excellent.  Very nice!
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: KentGardener on November 07, 2012, 01:41:58 PM
I am suitably scared ;D

Me Too!!!  BBRRrrrrr! :o

It made me think of what I have left outside in my garden for the winter (last week I posted a picture of all my 'exotics' that have been moved indoors for the next 5 or 6 months!)

So following are a few of the things I have been leaving in my garden, that are often thought borderline hardy but have 'survived here' (some better than others...) in my little town garden.

This is NOT a guarantee of hardiness - rather, just a few of the things that have scraped through here for one or more winters  :)   (Sorry these are not alpines - but I thought it might be worth mentioning).

1 - Begonia Connie Boswell
2 - Begonia Little Brother Montgomery
3 - Begonia Metallic Mist (tough as nails)
4 - Begonia Silver Splendour (tough as nails)
5 - Begonia Benitochiba (planted deep - comes back a bit better each year - always very late June to emerge).
6 - Asparagus densiflorus (?)
7 - Aspidistra elatior 'Variegata'
8 - A Farfugium I was given a few years back as 'Big Willy'!
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on November 07, 2012, 03:21:27 PM
So, John, for those begonias, for example, do you give them a mulch or other cover to keep the worst of the weather off their roots?  I'd expect them to turn to mush and never be seen again.
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Tim Ingram on November 07, 2012, 04:18:05 PM
I'm astonished John! I never would have expected Begonias to get through the winter (except for grandis), and especially the really low temperatures we had last winter. Maybe the proximity of the house and being in town keeps a warmer microclimate. Do you propagate the begonias? I did this years ago from leaf cuttings and have always admired the Dibley's stand at Chelsea - they are great plants.
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on November 07, 2012, 05:37:52 PM
I got up one morning last week and the radio man said it is presently -28c  - at which point I headed to the window - in Grand Prairie, Alberta.

We had our first frost last night, -1c at 7am.  Temperature on Sable Island, NS was +7c.

johnw
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ashley on November 07, 2012, 06:42:28 PM
Very nice John.
To my astonishment Little Brother Montgomery came through the prolonged freeze here two years ago, in gravelly soil with only ivy as a groundcover.

Beautiful photos Cohan 8)
They remind me of Finnish winters in an earlier life.
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: cohan on November 07, 2012, 07:23:53 PM
Thanks, Ashley and Paul- these are among my very favourite views of the year- the trees look great in white! Paul- the contrasts are fascinating, and tell you the direction the fog blew in- often trees will be white on one side, bare on the other. If the understory plants/shrubs are sheltered from the incoming fog, they may remain clear while the treetops above/behind them turn white...

John- very interesting! Some of those plants would scarcely survive summer outdoors here...lol
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Olga Bondareva on November 08, 2012, 12:20:42 PM
May I join Cohan with some snow from St.-Petersburg (last week)?  :) Not to scare just to remind winter in cold climate can be so beautiful!

(http://cs421230.userapi.com/v421230879/820/6AVTySOLlPk.jpg)

(http://cs421230.userapi.com/v421230879/828/8QExArneZqU.jpg)

(http://cs421230.userapi.com/v421230879/810/iwGZ_66NeVU.jpg)

(http://cs421230.userapi.com/v421230879/226f/Nj8Su72-wCQ.jpg)
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on November 08, 2012, 12:53:32 PM
Those rose flowers are certainly wishing they were in a warmer climate.  ;D  Great pics.

Cohan,

Interesting about the fog.  Makes perfect sense, but would be fascinating to see in person.  Thanks again for the pics.
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: KentGardener on November 08, 2012, 07:54:29 PM
So, John, for those begonias, for example, do you give them a mulch or other cover to keep the worst of the weather off their roots?  I'd expect them to turn to mush and never be seen again.

Hi Maggi

I was sceptical about these - so have planted them deep - about six inches down - that might perhaps add to their survival, late arrival, and short season?  (sometime only a few months above ground)

Now they seem to have settled I will probably try and propergate them next year and be slightly less prescious with them in other conditions.
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on November 08, 2012, 08:02:41 PM
Hmm, yes, deeper than I might have guessed. I think if they are willing to survive then a short season isn't the worst thing!
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ArnoldT on November 09, 2012, 04:01:32 AM
Here's a row of Fagus sylvatica after a snow fall.
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Olga Bondareva on November 10, 2012, 12:51:25 PM
Those rose flowers are certainly wishing they were in a warmer climate.  ;D
Yes.  :) And this Acer palmatum too.

(http://cs405827.userapi.com/v405827879/5251/EE_0Pg4a-_g.jpg)

(http://cs405827.userapi.com/v405827879/5249/RzjIIBLgPqM.jpg)

But snow melted already. Yesterday in my garden. Sasa tsuboana.

(http://cs405827.userapi.com/v405827879/521b/5CxgetehxF0.jpg)
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: vanozzi on November 10, 2012, 01:39:00 PM
Nice cane begonias John.  Begonia Little Brother Montgomery never performs well for me in sunny Australia and yet you have it thriving outdoors in freezing conditions !

Olga, your pictures are just so beautiful.
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on November 10, 2012, 01:55:10 PM
Olga  - I am keen to know if the Sasa tsuboiana stays green above the snowline with you.  This particular species is rated highly in N. America even though it's a spreader but not so rampant as some Sasas.

johnw
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Olga Bondareva on November 10, 2012, 03:04:41 PM
Olga  - I am keen to know if the Sasa tsuboiana stays green above the snowline with you.  This particular species is rated highly even though it's a spreader though not so rampant as some others.
John it stays green below the snowline.  :) After I shooted it i pressed it by a log and covered with spruce branches. Above the snowline it loose it's leaves.
It has grown at my garden since 2003. And yes it is not as aggressive as many other bamboo.
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: cohan on November 11, 2012, 07:14:29 PM
Olga- beautiful shots of course- yes winter can be very beautiful- there has to be something good about it  ;D Nice to see your snow left again for a while- I thought ours would, but it is staying- now we've had another 20-30cm on top!
The bamboo is interesting, it would be interesting to try here!
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Pete Clarke on November 11, 2012, 10:15:11 PM
Petrocosmea grandiflora - a nice delicate flowered plant.
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Roma on November 12, 2012, 10:21:42 PM
Still flowering this month
An unnamed aster
Colchicum agrippinum
Crocus pulchellus
Gentiana 'The Caley'
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on November 12, 2012, 10:23:59 PM
Roma, is  your nameless Aster from seed collected by Alistair McKelvie? I have one just like it. I don't know what it is, either!
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Roma on November 12, 2012, 10:39:03 PM
I got the aster at a Friends of Cruickshank Garden plant sale 3 or 4 years ago.  It could be a cultivar.  I don't remember if it had a name when I got it.  It is thriving in dry shade beside my big birch trees.  The Rudbeckia fulgida I bought to go with it is just surviving and has not flowered for two years :'(
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on November 12, 2012, 10:48:16 PM
Mmmm ... whisper it ... all asters do look  pretty much alike, eh?
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Victor Yatskevich on November 13, 2012, 01:50:34 PM
3 weeks ago and we had a similar snowy picture, but then the snow has melted and the temperature of +3 - +8
But I'm afraid things will go back soon and before March we will not see anything green ...
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Olga Bondareva on November 15, 2012, 05:35:41 AM
Roma thank you taking us back from snow to flowers.

Some picts from S.-Petersburg Botanical Garden orchid show. Please don't ask me the names. I am a zero in the subject.

(http://cs421030.userapi.com/v421030879/a69/jIaD2NpeuNA.jpg)

(http://cs421030.userapi.com/v421030879/a79/KekHa7ld3D4.jpg)

(http://cs421030.userapi.com/v421030879/a89/Hq1FcA_1uz4.jpg)

(http://cs421030.userapi.com/v421030879/a91/7BkqeylUopo.jpg)

(http://cs421030.userapi.com/v421030879/a99/vnnqSEZDEPk.jpg)

(http://cs421030.userapi.com/v421030879/d5e/eL2_UO_3_h8.jpg)
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: angie on November 15, 2012, 01:29:11 PM
Wow Olga, some gorgeous pictures there.

Angie  :)
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Tim Ingram on November 17, 2012, 04:20:24 PM
Autumn colours are just beginning to go but these are a few examples from a week or so ago. Little in flower but Eupatorium ligustrinum is always good value, despite being severely cut back last winter. At any other time of year it would probably hardly be noticed. Serratula seoanei is one of those names that hides in the back of your mind, but is a welcome and unusual alpine so late in the year (I need to grow it in much poorer soil because it has grown far to lax). Colouring leaves are always rather beautiful, and immensely varied; I like the green edged hydrangea. Finally we have a quartet of trees in view from the house: Acer griseum, Cornus controversa 'Variegata', Magnolia 'Leonard Messel' and M. 'Elizabeth'. Underneath are bulbs to look forward too in the spring.
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on November 18, 2012, 10:47:55 AM
If anyone does want names for any of Olga's pics let le know.  I can at least provide genus names for most of them if wanted.
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Olga Bondareva on November 19, 2012, 11:31:11 AM
Thank you Angie.
Thank you Paul!

Some other orchids from the exhibition. Small species.

(http://cs406930.userapi.com/v406930879/31ed/orJ7GJZoVxQ.jpg)

(http://cs406930.userapi.com/v406930879/31e5/ojcjJC--zo8.jpg)

(http://cs406930.userapi.com/v406930879/31d5/lGTPcfzecDA.jpg)

(http://cs406930.userapi.com/v406930879/31c5/cYcFedS4Yyw.jpg)

(http://cs406930.userapi.com/v406930879/32da/Di-GslY7Yos.jpg)
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: John Aipassa on November 19, 2012, 01:23:12 PM
Your last picture Olga is like paradise. Beautiful photo arrangement.
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on November 19, 2012, 01:54:22 PM
Olga,

They really are beautiful photos.  I'd struggle to supply names for most of that second lot though. ;)  Some beauties in there.
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David King on November 20, 2012, 01:01:30 PM
It was the Norfolk & Norwich Late Autumn show at the weekend and these exhibits were shown by Cecilia Coller.

1.  Crocus goulimyi
2.  Galanthus peshmenii
3.  Crocus goulimyi mani white
4.  Oxalis masoniana
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David King on November 20, 2012, 06:19:25 PM

Some picts from S.-Petersburg Botanical Garden orchid show. Please don't ask me the names. I am a zero in the subject.



I think the first of Olga's pictures may be this taken at Cambridge Botanical Garden - Zygopetalum 'Elder Park'
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: KentGardener on November 20, 2012, 07:39:14 PM
Lovely Orchid pics. 

If anyone does want the full names of any them, then our very own SRGC member 'Michael', Orchid expert from Madeira who is currently at Kew for 3 years will undoubtedly know their names.   ;) 
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Olga Bondareva on November 22, 2012, 10:14:59 AM
Thank you  John, Paul, David and John!

Burning heart of gone autumn
(http://cs406930.userapi.com/v406930879/33e5/COVR36KXa9A.jpg)
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on November 22, 2012, 11:40:51 AM
Olga,

Aren't Physalis just gorgeous.  It is like someone invented something to grow purely for photography. ;D
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Olga Bondareva on November 23, 2012, 05:39:28 AM
It is like someone invented something to grow purely for photography. ;D
Yes!  ;D And I took some at home thinking to train in photographing it.  ;)
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: zvone on November 25, 2012, 04:10:31 PM
Hi!

It is warm and Primulas bloomed in my garden again!

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1E8IqPKUx9M/ULI_9GMvpcI/AAAAAAAAOP8/Mr8HVNWnBi8/s640/20121125_111224.jpg)

http://zvonem.blogspot.si/ (http://zvonem.blogspot.si/)

Best Regards!  zvone
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: pehe on November 26, 2012, 01:06:25 PM
Zvone, I have also Primula vulgaris in flower now.

Here are some other signs that the spring flowering bulbs respond to a cold period followed by a little warmer (5-7 0C)weather:

Eranthis hyemalis flower buds and germinating seeds
Cyclamen coum
Muscari armenaicum 'Christmas Pearl' (which lives up to it's name this season)

Poul

Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: pehe on November 26, 2012, 01:24:34 PM
Here are a few flowers and some nice foliage

Crocus cartwrightianus
Massonia pustulata flowering for the first time (from seeds 2009)
Colchicum troodi
Muscari aucheri 'Autumn Glory'
Arum italicum
Arum pictum
Arum pictum ssp. sagittifolium seedlings from 2010

Poul
Title: Re: November 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ruweiss on November 27, 2012, 09:57:07 PM
Last weekend many florists and nurseries opened their gates for the
first Christmas shoppers. We took the chance to visit a producer of
Poinsettias, Cyclamen and other houseplants and were amazed by
the colours and forms of the various plants.
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