Image of the day - 2012

[Hoy]

What a plant - Nototriche - maybe cold hardy but I suppose not humid and moist hardy Can't hope of growing this one in my garden!
Nice cacti too, Cohan Can't grow those outside either

[cohan]

Thanks, Trond- these tender cacti do not go outside here, either! But, unless I lived in the subtropics or tropics, I'd never want to be without plants indoors...

[Kelaidis]

This picture is of Synthyris missurica, one of my favorite natives. The photo was taken a few years ago at Denver Botanic Gardens, where we have had a patch for some time (usually blooms in late March early April): I post it now because it was in full bloom in Seattle where I just went to the AGM of NARGS in Everett. There were some terrific talks about the plants of Eastern Washington, and some terrific displays and a really wonderful plant sale where this Synthyris was in full bloom. You can read a bit more about the plant on my most recent blog (http://prairiebreak.blogspot.com/2012/03/mountains-kittentails-synaesthetic.html) but the real reason I am posting is to say that it was a treat to see quite a few old friends, and especially to meet face to face with Lori Skulski, whose postings on this Forum are among my favorite. I didn't have a lot of time to visit, but we exchanged greetings at least, and she actually conducted the rather exciting election of new board members for NARGS at the banquet. I was delighted that Stephanie Ferguson, Lori's fellow Albertan (and another top notch rock gardener) got an award at the same time. I had not attended a Study Weekend or meeting of this kind (except for those I have helped host) for some time: one forgets how much fun it is to meet with fellow rock gardeners. Although my bank account is suffering due to aforementioned plant sales and an awesome book sale as well.

[AmyO]

Panayoti...I'm so glad you told us a bit about the AGM. I've been looking forward to hearing about it! I hope more attendees will give us a review here so we can all see what shenanigans went on!

[cohan]

Sounds like fun, Panayoti..
 I've been looking at Synthyris on Alplains list for a while.. its on my shortlist, but I'm not ordering this year...lol

[Hoy]

I am so sorry I can't easily participate in any events over there!
Synthyris has been one of my favorite genera although I have actually only grown one plant! It lasted several years before it made an unwanted sortie. I have tried seed several times but not been lucky.

My contribution today is this Thlaspi - I think it is T stylosum - from seed last year. It has tried to flower from January but the wet and shifting weather hasn't been to its liking. I hope the flowers unfold a little more ...

[Todd Boland]

I'm so jealous!  Wish I could have attended the AGM.  But then, it's difficult to get plants into Canada from the US so I'm glad I didn't have the temptation!

[Toole]

What a plant - Nototriche - maybe cold hardy but I suppose not humid and moist hardy Can't hope of growing this one in my garden!

It didn't survive in our woodland plot either Trond...

Nototriche is the stuff of dreams!  Love to get my hands on one to give it a try.

Will keep an eye out for seed for you Todd.

Cheers Dave.

[WimB]

This picture is of Synthyris missurica, one of my favorite natives. The photo was taken a few years ago at Denver Botanic Gardens, where we have had a patch for some time (usually blooms in late March early April): I post it now because it was in full bloom in Seattle where I just went to the AGM of NARGS in Everett. There were some terrific talks about the plants of Eastern Washington, and some terrific displays and a really wonderful plant sale where this Synthyris was in full bloom. You can read a bit more about the plant on my most recent blog (http://prairiebreak.blogspot.com/2012/03/mountains-kittentails-synaesthetic.html) but the real reason I am posting is to say that it was a treat to see quite a few old friends, and especially to meet face to face with Lori Skulski, whose postings on this Forum are among my favorite. I didn't have a lot of time to visit, but we exchanged greetings at least, and she actually conducted the rather exciting election of new board members for NARGS at the banquet. I was delighted that Stephanie Ferguson, Lori's fellow Albertan (and another top notch rock gardener) got an award at the same time. I had not attended a Study Weekend or meeting of this kind (except for those I have helped host) for some time: one forgets how much fun it is to meet with fellow rock gardeners. Although my bank account is suffering due to aforementioned plant sales and an awesome book sale as well.

Wonderful plant, will have to try that one. Not very easy to find over here!

[Tim Ingram]

Really like the Synthyris - Elizabeth Strangman at Washfield Nursery grew and sold this plant for many years but I never succeeded with it; my favourite is S. pinnatifida, which occasionally is seen at Shows but I think is even more difficult to grow and flower.

A good North American flowering again on my raised bed - Lomatium columbianum. The flowers are even more richly coloured seen close up, and it looks better this year as the bed has had a good renovation and topdressing with fresh grit. (A few new things being planted). Last year the lomatium set seed well, and these were sown in the autumn outside and are germinating nicely now. A few other umbels are on, or going on the bed, including Cymopterus montanus, which was discovered amongst a batch of old seed pots. This looks equally attractive from images I have seen.

[Todd Boland]

Nice raised bed Tim...that Lomatium has lovely foliage.  I saw a couple of species in Alberta but they had yellow-green flowers...not as showy as yours.

[Booker]

Very striking, Tim.  Quite a plant.

[Spiegel]

Lovely Lomatium, Tim.  May I suggest you try Lomatium grayi?  Will post a picture when it blooms.  Noticed today that the foliage was starting to appear.  Just back from the NARGS Meeting in Seattle where it was very chilly and wet, but the hellebores were spectacular.

[cohan]

Nice Lomatium, Tim.. I had a couple tiny seedlings of Cymopterus planosus last year... hoping they grow.. Alplains has many tempting umbellifers...

[Lori S.]

This picture is of Synthyris missurica... I post it now because it was in full bloom in Seattle where I just went to the AGM of NARGS in Everett. There were some terrific talks about the plants of Eastern Washington, and some terrific displays and a really wonderful plant sale where this Synthyris was in full bloom.

It was a great pleasure to meet you at the NARGS Winter Study Weekend in Everett, Panayoti, and I too wish we'd had more time to chat!  It turned out that there was lots to do with the book sales, plant sales, displays, talks and garden visits there!  
It was terrific too to have gotten to meet and to chat with Peter George and Anne Spiegel... it's so nice to be able to put faces to the names of some of the famous rock gardeners here, and to have gotten to know them a little!
That was the first NARGS event I've attended... it was fun, interesting and educational!