Image of the day - 2012

[Jandals]

Thanks Cliff . I think I spotted an ex-pat in there

[cohan]

A brief selection of images from the Alpine Garden Society Show at Blackpool yesterday.  Benches full of glorious plants and some classes that were extremely difficult to judge.  The Farrer Medal (for best exhibit in the show) went to, who else, but the remarkable Geoff Rollinson with his spectacular Saxifraga 'Coolock Gem'.
It is our own East Lancashire national show this coming weekend and we hope we can attract just as many beautiful plants to our hall in Whitworth, near Rochdale.

Some amazing plants- somehow that first white mound is especially cool to me

[Booker]

Thanks Cliff . I think I spotted an ex-pat in there

You certainly did Steve ... and what a beautifully grown celmisia it is!   No need to ask the name of the exhibitor?  Alan Furness has always grown NZ plants to perfection.

Thanks Cohan ... I wouldn't like to estimate the number of individual blooms on that saxifraga or on the huge Dionysia bryoides exhibited by Derek Pickard.

[McDonough]

Fabulous Dionysias and Saxifragas filled to the brim.  Cliff, what is the pale yellow Dionysia, is it a hybrid? (image name = DSC_5506SMALLER.JPG).  Also, whats the Ornithogalum, can't quite make out the name.

I do however have this devilish urge, assuming I had a greenhouse and the skill to grow such challenging plants to perfection (which I don't on both accounts), wouldn't it be whimsical to plant one of those mounding alpines into a square pot, and then systematically keep nipping off the advancing growth in the north-south-east-west directions to coax a square plant.  Not sure why I think of these things, but wouldn't a square mound be awesome?

[Mattus]

A pot of Melasphaerulea ramosa blooming in the greenhouse. Only one species in the genus, and easy-peasy under glass ( an apparently in the garden in warmer climates where it can be a pest. As a late blooming South African bulb, it fills a gap between Lachenalia species, and Gladiolus tristis for me. It's so warm this spring, I've moved many of the potted bulbs outdoors, since we've had no frost for a week now.

[McDonough]

I've not heard of this one before, very different looking isn't it, rather light, frothy, and delightful.  Matt, can you believe this weather, so warm, almost reached 80 F in Nashua, reached 75 F where I am; but keep a close eye on the weather if bringing out your tender treasures to your patio and deck, we still could get whacked with frost; you know, 80 F one day, 25 F the next morning sort of thing

[cohan]

I liked this one, Matt I think I've seen it on SRGC before...

[RickR]

Cliff, I am awestruck and dumbfounded!  How can anyone judge those?

My favorite is the Frit, with the twisty bracts like the sparse branching of an alpine fir, decorated with the red bells of frit flowers.

[Booker]

Fabulous Dionysias and Saxifragas filled to the brim.  Cliff, what is the pale yellow Dionysia, is it a hybrid? (image name = DSC_5506SMALLER.JPG).  Also, whats the Ornithogalum, can't quite make out the name.

I do however have this devilish urge, assuming I had a greenhouse and the skill to grow such challenging plants to perfection (which I don't on both accounts), wouldn't it be whimsical to plant one of those mounding alpines into a square pot, and then systematically keep nipping off the advancing growth in the north-south-east-west directions to coax a square plant.  Not sure why I think of these things, but wouldn't a square mound be awesome?

Good morning Mark,
The Ornithogalum is Ornithogalum sibthorpei, while the pale yellow Dionysia is Dionysia monika.
Your idea for a square mound isn't (unfortunately) totally original as we have seen examples on the show benches over the years ... the judges don't seem to agree about the 'awesomeness'.      What about a pyramid?   

Hi Rick,
The diversity of frit's being exhibited is immense and, whilst this hasn't been one of the best seasons for these bulbs so far, we can enjoy an enormous range of shapes, sizes and colours at our shows.

[Spiegel]

Very nice plant, Matt.  Certainly new to me.

[Hoy]

Matt, your Mela-something is rather a very special plant! Is it bulbous?
I've moved almost all my pots out now, haven't had frost for a month   - But no warm weather either

[Todd Boland]

I've moved almost all my pots out now, haven't had frost for a month   - But no warm weather either

No frost for a month!  I've had nothing BUT frost...dropped to -8 C last night and apparently will stay below freezing at least into early April...this has been one of the coldest March months on record for Newfoundland yet WAY ABOVE normal elsewhere in eatern North America.  Just our luck! Normally my earliest crocus and eranthis would be open the first week of April...still under a foot of snow at the moment. I am living vicariously through the rest of you!

[cohan]

The only time I can say I haven't had frost for a month is likely to be July, if I'm lucky....
Its still been warm for us, much of the time, but the last week or so has been cooler- normal (which was +3C daytime, and has now jumped to +5as a daytime normal, but -9 is still normal for night) or a bit less.. this week is forecast for daytime highs of -1 to +8C, with nights from -4 to -15C.. pretty average stuff for us... still lots of snow around, and possible snow 3 days in the week, with tomorrow maybe 2-4 (5-10)cm.. at least we missed the 25cm some parts of the province got the other day- we stayed sunny and cool that day! Probably Faith got that storm?

The first bits of my new Semp planting started to show today, and one other new planting from last year is mostly bare, as is the spot where I sunk my cactus seedlings.. not sure if that's good or not.. most other spots still well buried

[Tim Ingram]

I am beginning to feel a bit mean showing all that is going on in our gardens whilst much of North America is still in the grip of winter... but I just couldn't resist this anemone as an image of the day; incredible colour like the chocolate cosmos, how true is it likely to come from seed? The second picture, by way of comparison, is a more natural colour variant of Anemone coronaria. Both ideal plants for balmy Mediterranean gardens!

[cohan]

I am beginning to feel a bit mean showing all that is going on in our gardens whilst much of North America is still in the grip of winter... but I just couldn't resist this anemone as an image of the day; incredible colour like the chocolate cosmos, how true is it likely to come from seed? The second picture, by way of comparison, is a more natural colour variant of Anemone coronaria. Both ideal plants for balmy Mediterranean gardens!

Fantastic colour! Never hesitate to show us flowers to give us hope In any case, I don't think its most of North America that is still wintry- seems to be only parts of the West and far East-- just me and Todd  even Lori already has Bulbocodium up!