Pulsatilla patens

[Hoy]

I can't copy such scenes but I have decided to try to establish P patens at my cabin along with P vernalis. I had several seedlings growing, however almost all died of lack of water during the Easter holiday  (I didn't loose any other plants though.)

[McDonough]

Incredible to see such masses of P. patens!

[Lori S.]

You're welcome, Malcolm!

I have decided to try to establish P patens at my cabin...  I had several seedlings growing, however almost all died of lack of water during the Easter holiday 

How disappointing, Trond! 

Incredible to see such masses of P. patens!

Where there is still unbroken prairie (not that there is much), this sort of density of plants is not unusual!   

[cohan]

It's wonderful to have this bit of unbroken prairie, in the middle of the city, surrounded by residential streets!

Great to see these I was hoping to try to get east to find some in flower this spring, not sure if I'll get the right timing....

[Todd Boland]

Looks like spring has finally hit the Calgary region!  My vulgaris are just starting to show wee buds, so I am quite far behind.

[Lori S.]

Looks like spring has finally hit the Calgary region!

Yes, in between the snow storms... 

[cohan]

Looks like spring has finally hit the Calgary region!

Yes, in between the snow storms... 

As of today, we still have snowbanks in many places, and --mosquitoes!

[Hoy]

Snow, what is that

Don't be angry, I am just teasing. Next winter we shall have a tough one I have read. The sun is diminishing The sunspot activity is rather low although it is slowly increasing now after a two year delay.

[cohan]

Every winter is a tough one...lol
I just need to try to scrounge some money together for at least part of our firewood, and something to help with moving snow---then I might be able to sit inside by the fire and 'enjoy' the season instead of working to exhaustion for 5 months...lol

[Hoy]

Maybe your health is better off with hard work than with noising machines and badsmelling exhaust! Snow outside, fire at the fireplace, a glass of red wine or something on the rocks - that can't be healthy

[cohan]

No danger, Trond-- I will have lots of hard work to do, no matter what! But I think an occasional day of rest is healthy too?  When the snow shovelling is 6 months, and woodcutting is ..10?.... 
I've still been doing some snow shovelling (even yesterday) to help snow banks in shady places go away (to let the driveway dry up!) and still large expanses of snow in some other shady areas I don't care about....
 No wine here, just coffee...lol

[Hoy]

I have done some "hard work" myself the last weeks, no snow shuffling then, but masonry and stonebuilding. I have built a new step of big natural flat stones. Had to remove the old one (also stone) and rearrange the steps.

[cohan]

Stone work is heavy for sure! Will you be planting in the cracks of the stone?

[Hoy]

Stone work is heavy for sure! Will you be planting in the cracks of the stone?

I did plant in the previous step but dandelions, grasses, campanulas, yellow corydalis etc invaded it! Can't use anything valuable to compete with those

[RickR]

Well apparently, Minnesota does have well colored Pulsatilla patens.  This is grown from wild seed (not by me) from Becker County in the northwest of the state.  And in a serendipitous conversation,  I spoke with someone who has actually seen them there, and she verifies that they are indeed purple.  According to Minnesota flora literature, the stage of leaf growth in relation to the flower blooming is also with in the species' parameters.