Image of the day - 2012

[Lori S.]

Yeah, I hear ya - I've killed the small number I've bought or grown from seed.  According to Stephanie's article, for this one, (despite that we are already in a generally sunny and dry climate) think the sunniest, hottest, driest, best drained spot you can make!

Todd, at least the late snows usually melt fast... and you are ahead of us again!  There are a few Corydalis solida emerging as yesterday's snow melts:

[Hoy]

Trond, call it a senior's moment!

Well, I'm getting more of them than I like

Two days above freezing and Aethionema oppositifolia has managed to open a couple of flowers.

Todd, the leaves are more Sedum-ish than kale-ish! An interesting plant.

Yeah, I hear ya - I've killed the small number I've bought or grown from seed.  According to Stephanie's article, for this one, (despite that we are already in a generally sunny and dry climate) think the sunniest, hottest, driest, best drained spot you can make!

Todd, at least the late snows usually melt fast... and you are ahead of us again!  There are a few Corydalis solida emerging as yesterday's snow melts:
*INCORRECT USE OF [attachthumb=#]. You need to specify the attachment number, for example [attachthumb=1].

I am afraid I have killed a lot of seedlings   I left them outside when I went on holiday (the forecast wasn't that bad) but I know we have had serious freezing some nights now - first in 5 weeks. . . I do not hope I'm back to square one

[cohan]

Lacking a period of real planning and foresight, its turned out fortunate that its simply taking me a long time to get some rock garden beds built, and I've made more observations of my property meantime-- there are huge differences from one spot to another on my acreage in the amount of snow cover, how long it lasts (many weeks difference, could even be a couple months difference for some spots!) --- discounting the deep shade where snow can last far into May, even from some kinds of sunny spots to others, there is a big difference, and this reflects (causes?) huge differences in moisture as well..
I've also realised sharp slopes are important here to prevent water sitting during spring melt....

[Todd Boland]

Lori, I think we are on-par.  Here is my Corydalis solida, along with Galanthus nivalis Flore-pleno, Crocus tomassinianus and Eranthis hyemalis.

[Merlin]

Still cool here is Idaho but some of the RG plants are getting into the spring thing. From today:
Erythronium grandiflorum, seed collected in Wallowa mountains in Oregon

Erythronium grandiflorum, from seed collected in the Blue mountains of Oregon ground cover Dryas octopetala

[Hoy]

Very nice plants, Merlin! Seems to be seeding around a bit too

[Lori S.]

I know we do this every year, Todd, but seriously, your garden is way ahead of mine!    Absolutely beautiful clumps of aconite and snowdrops!

Lovely to see those glacier lilies, Merlin!  They look like they're doing great in your yard!  It's not one I've even attempted in the yard (other than fitfully scattering the odd seed pod around); I imagine it's too dry for them to be happy, given that the places in the wild where I see them in profusion are usually rather wettish alpine meadows.

[cohan]

Racing right along, Todd! The Eranthis is especially nice
Not so much as a nub of anything emerged yet, here...lol

Merlin- is that Jim? The Erythroniums are lovely!

[Toole]

Wonderful to see spring colour folks .

Down here things are starting to wind down ...
Arisaema fruit with a view.

Cheers dave.

[Todd Boland]

Lovely Erythronium...that species is very much a challenge in  my area.  dave, i can't think about the garden 'winding down'...I'm desperate for a 'wind up'!

Hepatica nobilis is just about there and the first Pulmonaria montana are just opening.

[Tim Ingram]

Perhaps the most beautiful plant in the garden when the flowers open like this - Adonis vernalis. This is slowly forming stronger clumps after sowing seed (from Jelitto) probably seven or eight years ago, and there is slight variation in colour between plants. Although it seems to set seed I have only ever had a few germinate.

[Lori S.]

Wonderful, Tim!
Re. seed viability, in Dr. Deno's Seed Germination Theory and Practice, he reported that he'd planted over 30 samples of various species and had total failure due to a high proportion of normal-sized and completely normal-looking seed having empty shells.  It was said to be, apparently, genetic defects that lead to defective pollen and pistils, and empty shells.

[Booker]

Perhaps the most beautiful plant in the garden when the flowers open like this - Adonis vernalis. This is slowly forming stronger clumps after sowing seed (from Jelitto) probably seven or eight years ago, and there is slight variation in colour between plants. Although it seems to set seed I have only ever had a few germinate.

This species perfectly illustrates the north-south divide, Tim ... yours in glorious flower today, mine just showing half an inch of reluctant foliage above the surface of the compost and still weeks away from flowering.  Beautiful image by the way.

[Merlin]

It is delightful to be able to see how spring evolves in other people's garden all over the world. I really enjoy seeing the fine plants that people are able to grow. Spring came with a vengeance here today with temps in high 70's. I see that quite a number seedlings are coming on this year, some from seed sown years ago. I took a few pictures of some plants that are in bloom today(Easter Sunday).
Lewisia tweedyi, this a seedling that volunteered from a group that i had since moved(to their death, as it turned out)

Draba densifolia

Townsendia condensata

Townsendia mensana

[Lori S.]

An enviable assembly of plants there, Jim.  The townsendias are spectacular - they look right at home nestled in the rocks.