In the rock garden, 2016

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General Alpines

In this extended period of warm, spring-like weather, plants are emerging (and some are blooming) a couple of weeks or more earlier than last year, which was an early spring itself.  

Seedlings started last year of Thlaspi zaffranii, an endemic from the island of Crete, are looking fine after the winter:

  

Unknown yellow-flowered Draba in bud:

Buds on Townsendia nuttallii, Douglasia montana and on Saxifraga 'Allendale Charm':

    

Some recently-emerged growth on Primula algida; a native dandelion, Taraxacum species, from the local high alpine zone (new foliage actually started on this one some weeks ago); Callianthemum aff. kernerianum:

    

Plantago nivalis, Oxytropis campanulata and Oxytropis multiceps:

    

Comments

Richard T. Rodich's picture

Richard T. Rodich

Sat, 03/12/2016 - 6:22am

It's hard to understand, but as usual this early in the spring, you are ahead of me in Minnesota.  And we are having all time record-breaking warm temps, too.

 

Thlaspi zaffranii, an endemic from the island of Crete

The "endemic to Crete" had kicked that seed of my first choice list for the seed ex.  I am very surprised (and happy) it has survived at least one winter for you in Alberta.  But perhaps I'll get the seed anyway, since it went to my second choices.

Lori S.'s picture

Lori S. (not verified)

Tue, 04/19/2016 - 7:55pm

The highlight of the spring so far has been Chorispora bungeana, from seed in 2015.

In bud: 

It then covered its (tiny) self in blooms:

    

 

Hatchett's picture

Hatchett (not verified)

Fri, 04/29/2016 - 4:46pm

I have not been on the forum for a while but all the things flowering in the garden has reinvigorated me.  As usual, it is inspiring to see all the great species people are able to be so successful with. i put together a little album of the plants in the rock garden the last few days, hope you like it though i have not gotten around to labeling everything yet just lazy i guess.

http://ImageEvent.com/teita/jimsrocknativeplantgarden

Richard T. Rodich's picture

Richard T. Rodich

Fri, 04/29/2016 - 7:00pm

That's a lot of stuff!  Really nice pics, and really nice plants!

I assumed all Aquilegia formosa looked like this that I grew from wild collected Alaska seed:

 

I also see you have Lewisia rediviva flowering with and without leaves in different pics.  Tell me about that.  Are they different provenances?

Rick

Hatchett's picture

Hatchett (not verified)

Sat, 04/30/2016 - 7:21am
Rick, I find A. formosa to be somewhat variable depending on where it comes from, not to mention the darn things make hybrids like crazy so who knows? The bitterroot are from locally harvested seeds and now quite a few volunteers. Usually the leaves die back before the flowers open but maybe all the moisture and cool temps this year have brought this on.