Flowering in a Swedish Summer

[maggiepie]

Hi Paul, I really like the geranium, how big does the plant get?

[PaulM]

Hi Lori and Helen ! I'm gardening in two different zones. For one in Norrköping, which is close to the Baltic Sea and is considered zone 6 according to the books -23 to -17 is the lowest we get, and at Börjesbråte in Värmland where it is zone 5 ( -29 to -23 ).

The Geranium sp gets to about 60cm tall and is very airy and good growing with some kind of support. I have a few seeds if  you'd like to try it.

[PaulM]

I have a little bit of time, so here are a few more of the plants which have been or are flowering with me:

1) Nicotiana sp ( Brazil ) from Seed Hunt has been very nice and has flowered for a long time. The flowers start out white and fade to a soft lilac or pink as they get a day or two old.
2) Nicotiana sp - whole plant
3) Oenothera stricta from Chile
4) One more of this evening primrose which flowers first year from seed
5) Oplopanax horridus- nice foliage plant, but very spiny!
6) Penstemon digitalis
7) Polygonatum odoratum - a very short colony growing in a depression on top of a cliff
Same colony from a different angle. I wonder if they would come this short from seed if grown in a rugged spot ?

[cohan]

I have a little bit of time, so here are a few more of the plants which have been or are flowering with me:

7) Polygonatum odoratum - a very short colony growing in a depression on top of a cliff
Same colony from a different angle. I wonder if they would come this short from seed if grown in a rugged spot ?

this is a great spot! i would love to have a rock like this in my yard given my choice, i'd rather truck in soil for veggies, and have the rocks already here (there are none) ...lol

[Ragged Robin]

Gosh Paul what fabulous views over the rock...lovely things still growing with you the Penstemon digitalis is great

[PaulM]

...ooops ! maybe I should have clarified that the pictures of the Polygonatum is not from my garden, but taken in nature close to where I live.
Wish I had rocks like that too though.

[Ragged Robin]

Rocks or no rocks your garden is full of gems 

[cohan]

...ooops ! maybe I should have clarified that the pictures of the Polygonatum is not from my garden, but taken in nature close to where I live.
Wish I had rocks like that too though.

i did understand its not in your yard
wouldnt we all love that?..lol

[Stephenb]

5) Oplopanax horridus- nice foliage plant, but very spiny!

I've always wondered why these plants aren't more often grown - they are interesting at all seasons. The RHS Plant Finder notes only one nursery listing this plant. My plants originated from a trade I did with a woman in Alaska who told me that old growth Oplopanax can reach impressive dimensions.

If I may, here are a few more pictures.

By the way, have you come across Oplopanax japonicus, Paul?

[Diane Clement]

Oplopanax horridus- nice foliage plant, but very spiny
I've always wondered why these plants aren't more often grown - they are interesting at all seasons.

With my seed name checker's hat on, can I warn that there is a great confusion in the trade and on the internet between Oplopanax horridus (Araliaceae) and Opopanax horridum (Apiaceae).  The former is a North American shrubby relative of Ginseng (hence the panax in its name), the latter is a Mediterranean herb used in perfumes.  Both are spiny (horridum). The pictures and names on some internet sites are confused! 

[Stephenb]

I was going to collect seed of Oplopanax yesterday, but the birds (either Starlings or Fieldfares) got there before me and I didn't find a single berry... Haven't experienced that before.

[PaulM]

Oplopanax; Greek  (h)opla, (h)oplon = weapon

Opopanax; Greek opos= plant juice

Panax ; Greek panakes= which heals all ; pas= all; akeistahi= to heal

[Hjalmar]

I still haven't woken up properly, so I read your explanation as
Greek pancakes= which heals all

I'm looking forward to the rest of the alphabet!

[PaulM]

Some Salvias, which have been flowering with me in August:

1) Salvia castanea
2) Salvia dolicantha
3) Salvia glutinosa
4) Salvia glutinosa close up
5) Salvia koyamae
6) Salvia koyamae close up
7) Salvia vitifolia

[PaulM]

1) Satureja sp, or some other genus in in Labiatae- family, collected in Uzbekistan 2005. Very aromatic minty foliage.
2) Scabiosa columbaria ssp ochroleuca from the Ala Daglar range, Turkey
3) Scabiosa columbaria ssp ochroleuca
4) Schizonepeta kokanica
5) Solidago rigida which is well behaved and doesn't spread
6) Stipa barbata in seed
7) Verbesina helianthoides from Sugar Loaf Mtn, Heber Springs, AR
Stem of Verbesina helianthoides