Image of the day - 2012

[Hoy]

There are several plants vying for Image of the Day in our garden at the moment, but I think this Pulsatilla really is the most eyecatching. The flowers don't last long like this, but in combination with that foliage they are a real picture.

Tim, it is worth growing even if the flowering period lasted but one day!

and no freezing even at night for 5 weeks now.

Wow, that still amazes me- even though I know intellectually you are so much warmer than us, you are still in the 'north'...lol and we hardly get more than 5 weeks frost free in summer

Cohan, it's the blessing and curse of the sea!
A blessing in winter but a curse in summer! It almost never gets really cold, however, it never gets really warm either

[Booker]

Sensational image Tim ... and so beautifully captured.

[Todd Boland]

Spring has finally made an appearance.  Here are the first flowers (nearly opened) of the season.

[Lori S.]

Wow, it may have taken a while, Todd, but you're way ahead of my yard!!

Bulbocodium vernum remains the winner as the first flowering plant this year, followed today by a couple of snowdrops.
 

This snowdrop seems to have a yellowish calyx and markings... do you suppose I could claim it was a fancy one and sell it on e-Bay for hundreds of pounds?    

Buds on a Draba:

[Fermi]

The Pulsatillas were another group we found enchanting last year in the UK!

The image of the day in our garden has to be this South African Amaryllid, Brunsvigia gregaria, which has just started to bloom - first flower since planting the seedling bulb in this sand-bed about 8 or 9 years ago!
cheers
fermi

[Tim Ingram]

Thanks for the kind comments about the Pulsatilla; all plants have that moment when they look really good, but pulsatillas seem to have it more than most! (probably because like peonies they do go over quite quickly). This Callianthemum anemonoides on the sand bed flowers for rather longer and is one of the stars of the bed, but there are a couple of other plants just coming on that will compete with both of these plants - it's a fantastic time of year as these plants start doing their thing!

[Hoy]

Spring has finally made an appearance.  Here are the first flowers (nearly opened) of the season.

Todd, glad to hear that! It is always the most exciting time of the year whenever it happens

[Spiegel]

Difficult to believe that something will outshine that Callianthemum, Tim.  Everything here is 3 to 4 weeks ahead of itself despite the
recent cold.  One large trough is in a sunny spot protected from the wind and things are starting to happen already.

[Spiegel]

Don't know why the pictures of the trough didn't come through.

Douglasia nivalis
Veronica caespitosa and Daphne 'Ernst Hauser'
Douglasia nivalis var. nivalis



(Edited to add searchable plant names.)

[Spiegel]

Sorry, the last picture is of Douglasia nivalis v nivalis.

[Hoy]

The image of the day in our garden has to be this South African Amaryllid, Brunsvigia gregaria, which has just started to bloom - first flower since planting the seedling bulb in this sand-bed about 8 or 9 years ago!
cheers
fermi

I have many times been tempted to try some Brunsvigia but never taken the step. I had to grow it in a pot anyway. However when I see yours  I do regret I haven't tried yet

This Callianthemum anemonoides on the sand bed flowers for rather longer and is one of the stars of the bed, but there are a couple of other plants just coming on that will compete with both of these plants - it's a fantastic time of year as these plants start doing their thing!

It is a fantastic plant too, Tim!

Don't know why the pictures of the trough didn't come through.

Douglasia nivalis
Veronica caespitosa and Daphne 'Ernst Hauser'
Douglasia nivalis var. nivalis

It is here now, anyway!
I understand Douglasia is hardy but does it tolerate winter wet?

[Spiegel]

The trough is not covered in any way but it also is very deep and has incredibly positive drainage.  I did lose Townsendia jonesii v lutea in this trough after three years druing a snowless wet winter.  Townsendias in general don't seem to last more than 4 years or so except for Townsendia montana.

[Todd Boland]

Well spring was short-lived...currently have a raging blizzard...70 Km winds and 12" snow!  Drift over snowdrops is now 3 feet high.  Guess it will be another couple of weeks before they see the sun again.
 

[Tim Ingram]

Commiserations Todd - we do get strong bracing winds of the North Sea at times but very rarely snow. Lately the weather has been unusually warm and very dry; I think woody plants will suffer in the summer/autumn.

This is probably the nicest Bergenia, except maybe omiensis which is not really hardy. B. ciliata is very early flowering and characterised by these rather hairy leaves, very unlike all other species that I know. The close up is quite pink in flower, but a second clone is closer to white and works well with the leaves of snowdrops. These are tough drought resistant plants which has always surprised me with such bold leaves, but Beth Chatto has lauded them in her dry garden where the leaves turn wonderful colours in the winter.

[McDonough]

Tim, I like the commingling idea, the lovely Bergenia and snowdrops looking quite happy together.  It reminds me that this would be an interesting forum topic; plant pairings, like wine and food, certain plants seem to go together well, enjoying a mutual level of growth, location, soil, and spacial needs.