Signs of life

[RickR]

Yes, from seed.  I have a trade list on Garden Web.  It is all with Latin names, so the people who look at it and find something they want, often have some unusual things too.  Such was how I secured this impatiens seed.  She said germination was low, so she sent me at least a hundred seeds.   She said she seemed to have best luck with sprouting seed direct sowed outside in the fall, but I did get a couple to germinate inside.

Impatiens glandulifera(or glandulosa(?)) and Impatiens balfourii are sprouting now in the garden, but I don't see any namchabarwensis yet, or maybe you can't tell until the true leaves emerge.

[Todd Boland]

Well I'll have little to show over the next 2 weeks...the long range is rain, drizzle and fog for the next 14 days! and top it off with temps just above freezing.  THIS is more typical of April in Newfoundland.    And just when things were going along so nicely...sigh

[Hoy]

Well I'll have little to show over the next 2 weeks...the long range is rain, drizzle and fog for the next 14 days! and top it off with temps just above freezing.  THIS is more typical of April in Newfoundland.    And just when things were going along so nicely...sigh

I feel sorry for you! The forecast here is not that bad although we will have lower temperatures than we have had the last weeks.

[Todd Boland]

Rick, if you should ever get seed from that blue impatiens, I'd love to try it.  I only got one I. balfourii seed to germinate from those you send, but I allowed it to self-seed...no signs yet.

[RickR]

The two seedlings of nam... I have been growing all winter just kicked the bucket.  The were about 12 inches high and were flowering since about 5 inches.  They are real blooming machines.  This happened to me the previous winter too.  They seem to be very susceptible to root rot inside the house.  Never had any problem with the one surviving one I had last year, once I planted it out side.  I am hoping this season when I get more volunteers in the garden (just assuming they will come), perhaps the cross pollination will be produce more fertile pods.  I tried to collect what I could last year and got a whole five seeds that look viable.   I will harvest all I can.  The species is certainly in vogue now, especially being such a newly discovered taxon.

Impatiens seedlings come up rather early here, but I am not surprised you haven't seen anything. Todd.  Our soils warm quickly compared to yours, and this spring is about 3 weeks ahead of normal years.

[Todd Boland]

Three days ago we had 8 cm snow....all gone now thankfully, but we also had 60 mm rain which helped.  No wonder I can't grow western drylanders!

Helleborus purpurascens is pretty much open now and Petasites albus is showing its buds

[RickR]

Excellent H. purpurascens, Todd.  Puts mine in the doghouse.  I am assuming mine is still purpurascens?  I got it from Arrowhead Alpines.

This is the foliage now.  Do other species have similar foliage?

[Lori S.]

Oooh, oooh, here's an interesting one! (To me, at any rate -   - exciting because it's new and unknown, but I'm not sure how truly ornamental these really are.)
Sorry, poor photo taken when it was a little too dark out last night, but here's Scopolia carniolica, from Fraser's Thimble Farm last year:

[Lori S.]

I'm envious of all your hellebores!  They survive here (well, some do) but never get so lush as those I'm seeing here.... even at these early stages!

Is Petasites albus quite a spreader, or is it reasonably well-behaved?

[Hoy]

All the Petasites I know of spread like wildfire with huge leaves. But the early blooms are charming! I have not dared to plant any in my garden.
Scopolia carnicola is charming!

[Lori S.]

Oh, good to hear, Trond (re. Scopolia)!  Do you grow it?

[Todd Boland]

Petasites albus is not as bad as some but it can be , shall we say, robust!

Rick, the foliage on your purpurascens tells me it is NOT purpurascens...seems much too finely cut.

[Hoy]

Oh, good to hear, Trond (re. Scopolia)!  Do you grow it?

Yes, Lori, I have some in my woodland. In shade they develop the leaves more before blooming than in sun. But i like the plants and they behave well!
Sorry, no pictures (yet - I am not at home this week).

[RickR]

Rick, the foliage on your purpurascens tells me it is NOT purpurascens...seems much too finely cut.

Well then, does anyone have an idea of what it is?  It sure sets seed quickly.  And it is deciduous, Lori.  I bet it would do fine there.

(P.S. Todd: I 'd love some fresh seed of your very worth purpurascens.)

[Hoy]

Rick, can it be H. torquatus? or a hybrid?