Image of the day

[Kelaidis]

There don't seem to be too many postings of late. I'm about to go to California for a few weeks, and probably won't be contributing much then, but since I have been sorting and labeling images from this past year, I thought a short retrospective (more like "images of the year") to give you all a glimpse of the terrific year we have had in the garden (as well as the mountains)...the mountain shots shall have to wait. So here goes a short revisit of my past year...

1) Corydalis malkensis dancing with Draba hispanica in the Rock Alpine Garden
2) Corydalis shanganii ssp. ainii (finally got it thanks to Odyssey Bulbs! Great operation that)
3) I believe this is C. s. ssp. shanganii: must more graceful than mine (growing at DBG)
4) Dactylorhiza majalis, loving my bog
5) I think I got this stunning erigeron as E. algidus: doesn't quite match the description. Whatever it is, it is the most beautiful of its genus and seemingly easy to grow.
6) Narcissus 'Sun Disk': one of the few hybrid dwarf daffodils that likes me
7) A trough full of fleabanes: Erigeron compositus 'Red Desert' (tiny white) and "Erigeron nanus" in purple. (Not sure of the latter's ID)
Penstemon fruticosus in my home garden

Enough for now!

[McDonough]

Congratulations Panayoti, your post marks the 100th page in this "Image of the day" topic.  You show some fine plants here, more than making up for the irregularity of posted images of the day.  The topic "Image of the day" is the top viewed topic on NARGS Forum with 34729 views as of this date, I too check out this topic regularly with enthusiasm. Whatever your Erigeron "algidus" is, it's a wonderful plant.
 

[James McGee]

Panayoti,  Your photos are very nice.  I must admit some plant envy.  After seeing your photo of Dactylorhiza majalis I unsuccessfully searched online for a nursery that carries this plant.

I had purchased Penstemon fructicosa a number of years ago from a local nursery.  Unfortunately, I was not able to maintain it very long in the garden.  To successfully grow this species I would have to put it in a pot where I can move it to a cooler position in summer.

James

[Kelaidis]

Thanks, James, for your kind comments....and Mark too! Didn't realize I was centernarian! Already.

The Dactylorhiza came from England: Several British nurseries used to sell them to us. Forgot the name (will let you know when I remember).

Penstemon fruticosus has many forms, and I have seen quite a few in eastern and midwestern rock gardens over the years: it is more of a mesic plant. I would plant it with saxifrages and dianthus...which I suspect you grow already well?

Thanks again! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving...

[RickR]

Those corydalis are truly awesome!

[Todd Boland]

Stunning images PK!  BTW, do you mind if I repost them in the NARGS image galleries?

[Kelaidis]

Dear Todd!
     What is mine is your's: I am VERY grateful for all you do for NARGS. You NEVER need to even ask (for one thing, I will never remember what I said you could do anyway!)...
     Fondly,

Panayoti

[Todd Boland]

You're the best PK!  Thanks from NARGS for being one of our best supporters!

[McDonough]

I like Monarda, been wondering about the new compact varieties. The only one I'm currently growing is Monarda punctata (spotted bee-balm, dotted horsemint).  It has a wide range and is quite variable; I like those that have yellow flowers.  This one hasn't shown any signs of mildew in the past 4-5 years that I've grown it.  Can be shortlived, but mild self sowing has kept it around.  In the second image, there's a mud dauber milling about.



http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MOPU
http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_mopu.pdf

[Kelaidis]

I love those annual monardas as well (suprised to hear that puncatata can be perennial). I just realized I never photographed my big clumps of M. pectinata I finally got going around my garden. I hope THEY self sow!

[McDonough]

I love those annual monardas as well (suprised to hear that puncatata can be perennial). I just realized I never photographed my big clumps of M. pectinata I finally got going around my garden. I hope THEY self sow!

I don't know M. pectinata so I googled, looks quite attractive in some forms, I like the linear foliage:
http://www.opsu.edu/Academics/SciMathNurs/NaturalScience/PlantsInsectsOfGoodwell/plants/pasturefiles/pasture28.html

The M. punctata plant shown in the two photos above were from 2010.  Here's a photo of the same plant taken mid July 2011.  Whether it sticks around for a third year is anyone's guess.

[Booker]

Another from the Dolomites ...

'Orchid meadow'

[Lori S.]

Beautiful, Cliff!  Are those Pulsatilla seedheads I see amongst the orchids?  It must have been an amazing sight earlier too when they were in bloom.

I like this photo - the scale comes across reasonably well:

[Hoy]

Cliff, a wonderful meadow!
Lori, I do understand why you like that photo - I would like to walk there

From places I have walked:

   

[AmyO]

Really awesome photos! I would so love to hike there! Where were these photos taken Lori & Trond?
Here are few taken a couple years back on vacation to Wyoming & Utah. What a blast!!  I can't recommend Capitol Reef enough, there were so many side canyons to explore around every bend in the access road. Loads of Castilleja and other natives that I didn't know.