Fall walks in Ryfylke, Southern Norway

[Hoy]

Here it is a dull season, still some weeks to the first snowdrops and snowflake open their bells.
While waiting I looked at some pictures from previous times.

The first 4 is from tours in the Ryfylkeheiene, a montane area between east and west in the south of Norway. Not the most alpine landscape but rather wild many places. Used to bring students there to learn outdoor life, ecology and names of common plants (unbelievable what they can not!).
The 4. shows a tourist cabin open for all hikers, but you have to borrow a key. In Norway it is hundreds of such places.

The 5. is a buttercup (Ranunculus montanus) I had for some years but this was the slugs' favorite!
The 6. is from a friend's garden. He collected Chilean firebush seeds in Patagonia and I germinated them and allocated plants to all interested. His specimen flowered two years ago, none of mine have yet!

[Spiegel]

I remember having the Ranunculus montanus many years ago when I first started the rock garden.  I grew it with Gentiana verna, a lovely combination.  Didn't know at the time that the gentian might be difficult in my conditions.  It was wonderful for a few years (talk about beginner's luck!)  When you start rock gardening in total ignorance, it can be very liberating.  You'll try anything.

[Wainwright]

Love those scenery shots of Norway, Trond. Especially the first one. I was hoping to visit Tromsoe in Norway this summer but it's impossible to find someone to take over my duties in the Alpine Garden where I spend most of my summers. Perhaps next year.

-------------

Rick, I was interested to hear of your success with the lily scales - what temperature do you have in your linen closet?
Topic was split, see: http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=24.msg5856#msg5856)

[Howey]

Trond: A lovely picture of Embothrium coccineum - something I have tried to germinate from Seedex seeds several times without success.  Is there some special way of doing this?  You say yours hasn't flowered after two years?  Is this the "nature of the beast" or perhaps some special type of fertilizer would make it flower.  Fran



Frances Howey
London, Ontario, Canada
Zone 5b

[Hoy]

I remember having the Ranunculus montanus many years ago when I first started the rock garden.  I grew it with Gentiana verna, a lovely combination.  Didn't know at the time that the gentian might be difficult in my conditions.  It was wonderful for a few years (talk about beginner's luck!)  When you start rock gardening in total ignorance, it can be very liberating.  You'll try anything.

The plant didn't know it should be difficult either!

[Hoy]

Love those scenery shots of Norway, Trond. Especially the first one. I was hoping to visit Tromsoe in Norway this summer but it's impossible to find someone to take over my duties in the Alpine Garden where I spend most of my summers. Perhaps next year.

Thanks, Jenny.
I hope you make the trip sometimes!
I have been there once many, many years ago but then the arctic-alpine botanical garden didn't exist. I hope to go there too in a year or two.

[Hoy]

Trond: A lovely picture of Embothrium coccineum - something I have tried to germinate from Seedex seeds several times without success.  Is there some special way of doing this?  You say yours hasn't flowered after two years?  Is this the "nature of the beast" or perhaps some special type of fertilizer would make it flower.  Fran

The seeds I got were collected fresh and I sowed 1/2 of the seeds right away in my cold greenhouse in the fall. 100% germination in the spring, like cress in the pot. Had to discard many seedlings.
The other seeds were stored in the fridge for some months. Maybe 30% germination after sowing in the spring. I didn't keep the seedpots after transplanting the seedlings - maybe more seeds had sprouted later.

All the plants are some years old but only my 2 plants have flowered so far (starting 2 years ago) but they have grown to 2-3m, the other plants are smaller and have not flowered. I think this is due to the soil type.

[Hoy]

Here are more fotos for those not tired yet. Same area.
It is abundant in blueberries/bilberries, bog bilberries, lingonberries, crowberries and cloudberries.

[McDonough]

Memorable photos Trond, thanks for sharing!

[Todd Boland]

Gee Trond..that area looks so similar to the Long Range Mountains in Newfoundland...feels like I'm at home.  I see why the Vikings took such a liking to Newfoundland!

[cohan]

Great looking area--must be some nice little plants in season!

[Hoy]

Great looking area--must be some nice little plants in season!

The bedrock consists of acidic old precambrian rock,  granite and gneiss. However some places there are softer cambrosilurian sediments and phyllite and there are where you find the finest plants.