August 2025 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Catwheazle]

Gentiana asclepiadea and Aster amellus are beginning to bloom here in the Allgäu. (Bavaria, Germany)

Bernd

[Mariette]

Beautiful pictures, Catwheazle! Does the gentian grow upright and set seed? Recently I saw a pic of such a specimen which never produced seed. On the other hand, Hans Kramer writes that he sells seedlings of his upright form ex Hoo House.

[Catwheazle]

Hello Mariette, Yes, it grows upright. It's the wild form, and it produces plenty of seeds. (I've already shared some here for seed exchange.) In some places in the garden, it's even growing on its own now :-) It's a wonderful blue, especially when the sun shines on it.
Best wishes from Allgäu
Bernd

[Mariette]

Thank You, Bernd! You´re lucky to live in an area where these beautiful plants grow naturally. Once I saw them flowering in Slovenia, flowering at eyelevel in a gorge, where the hanging habit of some was an advantage. Gardening in a lowland area, upright flowering specimen would be much more desirable.

[Catwheazle]

I know, but there are many beautiful plants that only grow here because of the long winters and harsh climate :-)

Bernd