Alpine Photos While Thinking About The 2012 - 2013 Seed List...

Submitted by Mikkelsen on Sun, 12/16/2012 - 01:49

As I have been thinking of the possibilities of what might be on the 2012 - 2013 Seed List, I decided to check out some of my "in the wild" photos of some alpine and "desert" alpine gems. Here's one of my favorites: Phlox muscoides OR P. bryoides or, or, or... there are several hybrids in the area where I collected the seed. All of them are sublime specimens of tight, caespitose buns. Grown from seed, 2nd year and flowering. This little beauty loves it moist in the Autumn, Winter and Spring but let it have an 8 week dry season in the Summer. Surprisingly, it doesn't mind several hours of shade during the day.

Comments

Submitted by Weiser on Sun, 12/16/2012 - 08:24

James
What a great western phlox!!
Collecting seed from the tight buns must be a challenge. What is your method of collection. I have one species in my area, Phlox covillei that I should collect seed from but I have not come up with an efficient way. I really don't relish the idea of laying on my belly with a tweezers and magnifying glass.

Submitted by Mikkelsen on Sun, 12/16/2012 - 10:41

Relishing the fact that it is practically a requirement to
a) lay on your belly in the sand
b) next to a sage brush that jabs a broken branch into your ribs,
c) in front of a Bouteloua that tickles your face,
d) while daintily squeezing each capsule with tweezers
e) while holding a small envelope
f) while having sand in your left eye, both shoes and along your belt line
   
and so much more...

is part of the glory of collecting great seed and having
your relatives think of you as a madman while you have dreams
of bunneries in flower.