Cute Seedlings..

[Kristl Walek]

We have in-house contests here for "cutest seedlings"---many tree seedlings have made the grade over the years, but then quickly got surpassed by fern imps once I began growing from spores. These have been at the top of the "cutest" list for a while.

But today my second year seedlings of Syneilesis aconitifolia emerged in their trays---and well--- that miniature umbrella (just like it's mum, go figure) is just simply huggable.....

[Maggi Young]

No doubting the cuteness factor when the babies are such perfect miniature versions of the parents....and these little guys are furry, as well, what could be cuter?

[johnw]

Kristl - We have a pot of seedlings here that stopped me in my tracks a week or so ago.  Do you see any variation in the seedlings, i.e. red-leafed ones, particularly hairy ones etc.?

johnw

[Kristl Walek]

John---went out just now and peered closely at the 4 flats of seedlings---most are reddish when the first leaf is still closed--but all have opened to green; the more advanced the seedling; the greener. They are all very hairy---it would be quite hard to determine relative hairiness.

[johnw]

-it would be quite hard to determine relative hairiness.

Not on the top of my head!

As for cute babies... I would vote for Rhododendron forrestii Repens Group.

johnw

[Kristl Walek]

-it would be quite hard to determine relative hairiness.

Not on the top of my head!

As for cute babies... I would vote for Rhododendron forrestii Repens Group.

johnw

....first guffaw of the day....thanks, John.

can you post a baby picture of the R. forrestii (repens group)...or even adolescence...or heck, adulthood is fine too...

[johnw]

Kristl - Here is repens at Jens Birck's in Copenhagen.

I will try to shoot a baby tonight.

johnw

[Lesley Cox]

Poor baby! I didn't realize you had this streak of violence in you John.

[johnw]

Leslie  - Good grief, hadn't quite realized what I said there.  I hope I haven't been reported to the moderator.

Here is the baby, fully intact and almost a year old. It's certainly one of the slow-pokes but so dark green and shiny.

johnw

[Kristl Walek]

Yes, very cute, John.
Can I assume this babe is still in a pot?
How long does it stay potted until until planting out?
I won't even tell you how many baby rhodos I've killed while playing that waiting game.

[Lesley Cox]

John, I've no doubt the moderator will have picked it up on her own. She doesn't miss much, our Maggi.

Very nice seedling the little one is. I only grow some very dwarf species from seed but usually they have 2 or 3 pottings before they're big enough for the garden. Two before selling.

[johnw]

Kristl - I sowed the R.  repens last year and as soon as it sprouted I moved them into a cold stone room at around 5c under fluorescents. They will go outside in a frame in a few weeks. As you say the longer one waits to get these cranky species outside the better the chance of losing them.  I see the fungus gnats have arrived in the pots so I may have to move the date ahead, the gnats have a tendency to stick by the pots even when moved outdoors.

I wish I knew of a control for them, the predators don't work at 5c.

johnw

[Lampwick]

Uvularia grandiflora seedlings.

…The Uvularias are coming to the end of their flowering period with me at the moment, and amongst the fallen twisted yellow petals you can see the seedlings. They came up soon after the main plant put on green growth. I have counted about 18 seedlings. I will carefully move them to other parts of the garden in a week or two. 

[Maggi Young]

Sidetracking here.... Lampwick.... nice dog.... Brittany spaniel or Welsh Springer?

[Lampwick]

Sidetracking here.... Lampwick.... nice dog.... Brittany spaniel or Welsh Springer?

He is a 6 year old Welsh springer spaniel Maggi. His name is Kai, a real poseur, but one heck of a beautiful boy!

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn284/Lampwick_2008/Alpines/980boy.jpg

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn284/Lampwick_2008/Alpines/980kai002.jpg