And Lysichiton americanus is spreading rapidly too! Anybody who wants seed? [/quote] I'd love some seed if you still have some to spare. I'm working on a water garden at the bottom of the property. The only drawback is that it's so far from the house but it's moist all year. So far I'm trying Primula florinda, japonica etc and irises and rodgersias and ligularias. It's a real change of pace to grow big plants. The pictures are from last year, have been too busy to photograph this season. Oops - the pictures are from '09. Guess I'll try and take some new pictures.
Peter, I certainly hope yours is a minority viewpoint. Why would anyone hesitate to share what's happening in their garden? That's how we all learn. It's wonderful that you have all these people on the Forum to share how they grow certain plants so well. For every plant that might be a star in your garden, there are at least a dozen more that you would like to grow but are unsuccessful. I get ideas from all the postings, and am not hesitant to ask questions of anyone. No one expects you to be a star photographer - just someone who loves plants and wants to participate and learn. I hope all the lurkers will start posting. Please.
Liked your photo of Penstemon 'Pink Holly'. I tried it years ago and didn't do well with it at all. I always thought that it, and P. 'Grape Tart', were introductions by Mark McDonough through Siskiyou Nursery. That's where I got mine.
Anne, I agree with your sentiment wholeheartedly! And you are correct, both Penstemon hybrids 'Grape Tart' and 'Pink Holly' are ones I named back in the mid 1980s, these I gave to Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery to propagate and sell.
Once again I'm facing a project deadline, so can't post much for a couple days... very frustrating, as I agree with Peter that its been amazing to see the fine array of plants shown on this pages, I've been viewing them and wanting to comment on these plant wonders, but I must stay focused on my deadline... grrrrrr! Peter, I love the Oenothera caespitosa, one of the finest species and you're growing this xeric plant so well. More later.
Thanks, Mark That means my memory is still working!!!!!
The name is "The International Rock Gardener" and the March 2010 issue has the article on convolvulus. It appears C. boisseri is a separate species but there is C. boisseri v boisseri and C. boisseri v compactus, thus a little confusing. The foliage of C. boisseri is quite elegant, with almost silky-looking hairs.
Many beauties! Anne --love those Convolvulus! Haven't tried any yet, but I will :) Trond--beautiful Allium--good to see the woodland species, since as much as I love wide open sunny spots (and their plants), that does not describe my property in general...lol Peter--that Peony is exquisite! I too hope folks will feel free to share what they are trying or succeeding to grow! My garden, for one, is primarily at the stage of fantasy...lol--thank goodness for wildflowers :)
Wow, there have been so many fantastic photos lately, I don't know where to start commenting!
Trond, what an exquisite viola, and what lushness in all your photos! The tall ostrich ferns remind me of earlier days in Northern Saskatchewan. I use Geranium macrorrhizum as a groundcover too - good plant, easy to control. You and Anne are both showing wonderful Enkianthus! Is that something that has a chance in colder zones? Is that one you grow or have tried, Rick?
Rick, I'd love some seed of Peltoboykinia too (if it is true that that there is no shortage from your plants ;)) Let me know what you'd like in return, please. Very interesting lily photos!
Anne, I have not grown Gentiana verna long enough to say anything profound about it... I just have the one plant, planted in 2008 in the spring extension to our first in-ground rock/crevice garden (started in Oct./07)... I have not been at this long, you can see, but so far, so good, I guess. That convolvulus is really choice... it's like it was dipped in silver.
Peter, so nice to see your beautiful plantings! I hope sincerely that more people will be encouraged to participate, by the variety of plants and different areas and growing conditions represented!
Apparently regular chickweed-which was a huge issue in our large veg gardens on the main farm, growing up, but only a couple patches on this property, in odd spots, is a 'delicacy' in salads, according to Richters' Herbs, who sell seeds, so I will start eating it! Ranked among the top 10 nutritional/medicinal herbs, besides! I haven't yet run across any native Cerastium here (based on sepals being as long as petals on the introduced sp) but then I don't check every flower up close!
I first came across the word Cryptocrop in an article describing how farmers actively encouraged Hosta growing as a weed in rice fields in Japan - it was harvested and sold on markets as a secondary or cryptocrop. Chickweed is my main crytocrop which grows quickly on my potato beds and is harvested early June and is made into a nutritious soup or added to mixed salad. In this way I get two crops from the same land without doing anything apart from letting some plants seed themselves (this actually saves me work). It's a lost cause trying to get rid of it anyway! Here's a picture of harvest a couple of years ago!
Peter, I can't compete with Cliff or Todd in photoartistry but I am not afraid of posting my pictures! I hope nobody else is either. I am personally interested to see and read about what other people grow in their gardens even if the plants may seem "common".
Spiegel wrote:
Trond, the convolvulus that grow well here are C. compactus and C. Boisseri, which may even be a vaiety of compactus, not sure. I think "The International Garden" had an article on convolvulus some time ago. Now that it's temporarily too humid to do much in the garden, I'll have time to check that out. C. phrygius also does well and flowers. C. assyricus does not do as well. It's only been tried in the lime bed so far. Does anyone grow this one? If so, where and how?
I am tempted to try some of these Convolvuli at my summerhouse. In my opinion they should do better there in drier climate. To humid to do anything? Then I couldn't do much in the garden ;D
Spiegel wrote:
And Lysichiton americanus is spreading rapidly too! Anybody who wants seed?
I'd love some seed if you still have some to spare. I'm working on a water garden at the bottom of the property. The only drawback is that it's so far from the house but it's moist all year. So far I'm trying Primula florinda, japonica etc and irises and rodgersias and ligularias. It's a real change of pace to grow big plants. The pictures are from last year, have been too busy to photograph this season. Oops - the pictures are from '09. Guess I'll try and take some new pictures. [/quote]
I'll put you on my list. Sorry, no more seed now but I'll harvest pounds later.
Skulski wrote:
Wow, there have been so many fantastic photos lately, I don't know where to start commenting!
Trond, what an exquisite viola, and what lushness in all your photos! The tall ostrich ferns remind me of earlier days in Northern Saskatchewan. I use Geranium macrorrhizum as a groundcover too - good plant, easy to control. You and Anne are both showing wonderful Enkianthus! Is that something that has a chance in colder zones? Is that one you grow or have tried, Rick?
Rick, I'd love some seed of Peltoboykinia too (if it is true that that there is no shortage from your plants ;)) Let me know what you'd like in return, please. Very interesting lily photos!
Anne, I have not grown Gentiana verna long enough to say anything profound about it... I just have the one plant, planted in 2008 in the spring extension to our first in-ground rock/crevice garden (started in Oct./07)... I have not been at this long, you can see, but so far, so good, I guess. That convolvulus is really choice... it's like it was dipped in silver.
Peter, so nice to see your beautiful plantings! I hope sincerely that more people will be encouraged to participate, by the variety of plants and different areas and growing conditions represented!
Peter, there you can see! That violet is even out of focus ;)
Lushness is describing, Lori. I have to buy a machete before my next stroll in the garden. When the kids were small they and their friends called the garden "the jungle". Here where I live the Enkianthus has been completely hardy and come unscratched even through the last two very cold winters. It is regarded as medium hardy in Norway.
My garden is filled with cryptocrops - but I don't eat it!
Trond, the view from your terrace is tremendous - we don't have lakes, or mountains, or rain(!) in Kent, so it is great to imagine them in the minds eye. It is nice to see the two Pulsatillas in Lori's pictures (campanella and turczaninovii). I have only grown the latter but the whole genus are amongst my favourite plants. Does anyone grow georgii which has much paler flowers (almost silvery-blue like vernalis) but the same neat ferny leaf. This I think I had originally from Josef Halda seed.
Thank you, Tim ;D It is the third terrace I build near the house. We want to have the sight and the sun for as long as possible and leeward for the wind!
Tim wrote:
Trond - those Enkianthus are just beautiful; I imagine your garden must have pretty glorious autumn colour. We used to try and grow a few Rhodos and other Ericaceae here and a friend not far away but higher up and on retentive acid soil does well with them. He has a superb specimen of R. cinnabarinum with those beautiful waxy flowers and glaucous leaves. Why is it one covets those plants one can't grow?! Mind you I have succeeded with Cardiocrinum, we don't suffer too badly from slugs and snails. Have you been up to the amazing Botanic Garden at Tromso? There was a talk on it at the Edinburgh 2001 Alpine Conference and I found it remarkable the plants they were growing there.
Tim, In fact, I have some very nice plants with exquisite autumn colours. Enkinthus is among them as is Parrotia persica. I always want to grow plants I know I can't grow - and I have spent some money trying ;D I have tried Cardiocrinums too and once I managed to grow three plants safely for several years.
I am sorry that I have never visited the Botanic Garden at Tromsø but it is on my travel list! It is much easier for me to visit Kew than Tromsø :) When I visited Tromsø a long time ago the Botanic Garden didn't exist.
Lori, a few people do grow Enkianthus here, but only in protected spots and only the naturally low growing forms. Consequently, they are quite the buzz here, but I've never seen one more than a couple feet high. That was several years ago. I wonder if it's gotten any higher... I remember you wanted some Jeffersonia diphylla seed, so I'll send the Peltoboykinia seed when they are ready - which might only be another couple weeks or so...
Regarding posting photos, I don't mind people noticing the weeds, holes in leaves, sticks or whatever that really don't belong in a well designed photo. I take most of my pics as records of the plants, rather than beautiful photos. Some do both, and even I stumble upon producing some real favorites. But it is very evident here that the botany is just as important as beauty, and that one man's weed can be another man's desire. After all, what other group of gardening fanatics would be so interested in a pile of chickweed greens that they would actually "click to enlarge"? By the way, those are some big chickweed leaves. I guess I am glad I only have the little pests.
A few for today... Dracocephalum poulsenii has finally bloomed and seems to have rather small flowers, not too disproportionate to its small leaves.
Androsace chamaejasme is still going strong:
Aconitum sp. ex DaXue Shan, from Beaver Creek; rather stretched out now, but supposed to be 12" tall; Iris suaveolens; this Phlox multiflora is trying a bit harder to live up to its name! - very pretty, pristine flowers; almost missed the bloom of Iris attica...
Asperula boissieri will soon be very floriferous!; a little Calyptridium umbellatum; Primula polyneura, rather rain-washed.
It was interesting (well, mildly ;D) to see Ornithogalum nanum finally bloom this year; no doubt it will improve with time:
Apparently regular chickweed-which was a huge issue in our large veg gardens on the main farm, growing up, but only a couple patches on this property, in odd spots, is a 'delicacy' in salads, according to Richters' Herbs, who sell seeds, so I will start eating it! Ranked among the top 10 nutritional/medicinal herbs, besides! I haven't yet run across any native Cerastium here (based on sepals being as long as petals on the introduced sp) but then I don't check every flower up close!
I first came across the word Cryptocrop in an article describing how farmers actively encouraged Hosta growing as a weed in rice fields in Japan - it was harvested and sold on markets as a secondary or cryptocrop. Chickweed is my main crytocrop which grows quickly on my potato beds and is harvested early June and is made into a nutritious soup or added to mixed salad. In this way I get two crops from the same land without doing anything apart from letting some plants seed themselves (this actually saves me work). It's a lost cause trying to get rid of it anyway! Here's a picture of harvest a couple of years ago!
Lori, we made a dash into the mountains today--- lots of Androsace chamaejasme (at lower sites) :) Interestingly, Viola adunca at many sites, blooming here at the same time, though local plants could be a bit more advanced... I have not seen V canadensis yet, though I have not looked in more than a week..
Good word! I suspect (and have read just a little to suggest it) that many of the most common garden weeds (most of which seem to be edible and nutritious) were actively encouraged at some point in our less single crop obsessed history....
Have you been up to the amazing Botanic Garden at Tromso? There was a talk on it at the Edinburgh 2001 Alpine Conference and I found it remarkable the plants they were growing there.
Yes, it is a remarkable garden. My last visit was a couple of years ago. You might want to check out the pictures I posted over at SRGC, see http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3874.msg102013#msg102013 (There are other threads about Tromsø if you use the search function).
Some do both, and even I stumble upon producing some real favorites. But it is very evident here that the botany is just as important as beauty, and that one man's weed can be another man's desire. After all, what other group of gardening fanatics would be so interested in a pile of chickweed greens that they would actually "click to enlarge"? By the way, those are some big chickweed leaves. I guess I am glad I only have the little pests.
I actually had a large leaved cultivar of common chickweed one year (from Seed Savers Exchage) in the US :o However, only a few came up and I didn't manage to maintain the variety (the picture shows the common small leaved variety!)
Some do both, and even I stumble upon producing some real favorites. But it is very evident here that the botany is just as important as beauty, and that one man's weed can be another man's desire. After all, what other group of gardening fanatics would be so interested in a pile of chickweed greens that they would actually "click to enlarge"? By the way, those are some big chickweed leaves. I guess I am glad I only have the little pests.
I actually had a large leaved cultivar of common chickweed one year (from Seed Savers Exchage) in the US :o However, only a few came up and I didn't manage to maintain the variety (the picture shows the common small leaved variety!)
Very interesting! looks like one to try, for sure!
Lori-- I missed the Ornithogalum initially--interesting to me, for sure, since I first knew Ornithogalum as tender South African plants (growing a couple of small ones from seed indoors, others on my list) so its just fun to see one outdoors :) (I know there are some weedy ones in some coldish places, never grown any)..
The trouble with missing this continuing perambulation in our gardens for a few days is how much goes on in between! It is very refreshing for me because there is not the tradition of posting pictures and details of our gardens on the AGS site. Instead there is a strong focus on Show plants and botanical and photographic excellence. This is great but I've always felt that gardens and propagating plants, and people coming to see your gardens (even if 'virtually'), is what it is really all about! The web certainly opens this up. (We have a scheme in the UK for opening gardens for charity, which is very enjoyable and also a good way to sell plants when you run a small nursery!).
A few more plants looking good at the moment.
Asperula daphneola (this looked terrible over winter, even with cover, but has perked up now) Aquilegia amaliae (A favourite over the last couple of years - must collect seed) Edraianthus owerianus (this has now finished flowering but as a nurseryman I have always been just as fascinated by the seed capsules and these are good fun when they ripen and open like tiny bird's nests) Eucomis schijffii (very hardy, for us, Drakensberg species grown from seed from Jim and Jenny Archibald. I am pleased to see this coming up as it is always so late!) Linum narbonnense (this must be the most beautiful of the genus for its almost metallic silvery-blue flowers . It is also a good perennial unlike perenne! But it is a devil to propagate - possibly root cuttings are the answer?? I always get very poor take from traditional cuttings) Phlomis species (good plants for our relatively hot and dry garden. This came from a French nurseryman friend, Jean-Paul Jolivot - Le Jardin d'en Face near St. Malo - who has a passion for the plants from around the Mediterranean)
Tim, I agree its great to be able to share and see gardens, excursions, etc without worrying about show standards--especially for those of us far from any shows/meetings, or even any similarly minded gardeners! etc
Some choice plants you are showingW Phlomis catches my eye, as does the Eucomis-- I guess this is just early foliage? At this point looks like a Sansevieria, and if it were, it would be a very pricey one with those colours!
Beautiful plants, Tim, albeit ones we can't grow here in the northeast US. Here are a few things I found around the garden today, after a day of rain, wind, thunderstorms and even a few tornadoes!! Luckily the really serious storms stayed away from my town, but some areas of central and western Massachusetts were really damaged.
I found three 2nd year plants of Viola douglasii, which I had somewhat overlooked until they started to bloom a week or so ago. I am VERY pleased that they came back for another season, as they went dormant very early last year and never bloomed.
The other two are my 4 year old self sown seedling of Ptilotrichium spinosum 'roseum' and a very nice white Ptilotrichium which I think is P. macrocarpum. They both are blooming quite well right now, and I'm going to be adding one or two more of each to my garden.
Wonderful plants and flowers Lori! It has been so cold and miserable here that I have not bothered to take any pictures...we just came through one of the coldest May's on record and June looks like it will not be any better.....looks like a short summer is in the making. I'm off to Nova Scotia for the weekend..be back Monday. perhaps they will have some flowers for me to share when I return.
Peter - I don't know the little violet, but what a beauty! The Ptilotrichium (spinosum 'Roseum') grows well here and seems a pretty tolerant plant so long as the drainage is good, but I haven't come across the other species. Seeing all these choice dryland plants from Lori and Anne in particular is definitely going to encourage me to build some new places in the garden to grow them.
Stephen - thank you so much for directing me to your posts on the SRGC site on Tromsø. There are some astonishing plants; Gentiana brachyphylla....!!!! and those beautiful leaves of Oxalis loricata. Sideritis syraica I have grown - nice thing but I had no idea you could make tea from it! I will search more to see what grows at the garden. It would be a nice place to take the children if I don't tell them we are going to look at plants!!
When I discovered through an ex-colleague who was Greek that Sideritis syriaca (and I've since learnt various other species in the genus) is one of the two most popular herb teas in Greece and yet was unknown in herb gardens I was astonished (most our herbs are from Southern Europe). I wondered perhaps if it was difficult to grow and I suspect it is sensitive to winter wet - it has done best with me in sunny dry locations.
Marvellous plants Tim and Peter! Viola douglasii and Eucomis schijffii seem to be worth looking for!
At the moment I am at my summerhouse. Very nice weather and today we took the small boat out to the island of Jomfruland. All the island is like a park and garden now with millions of flowers. Just to show one: Saxifraga granulata make big patches in the meadow.
Such beauties, Tim! The seedheads on the Edrianthus are very intriguing; love the Phlomis too!
Thanks for posting, Peter! The viola is wonderful... I didn't even know there were other Ptilotrichum; I will have to keep an eye out!
Nice scene, and love the saxifrage, Trond!
Here are a few little jewels for today... Lewisia longipetala; Dianthus microlepis; Aubrieta deltoides 'Blue Indigo' (again); Dianthus myrtinervius ssp. caespitosus, now in bloom (it's actually a deeper pink than shown):
One for the Lithospermum lovers... L. ruderale, starting to blooming in the front yard though not yet in the park:
And changing the subject entirely... Nymphaea 'Marliac Albida'; N. 'Jana Walska' - the second is a newly-opened flower with a pool of nectar at its base; N. 'Colorado':
Iris taurica starting to bloom; Draba rigida, not so floriferous as usual... perhaps I should start propagating cuttings/divisions and give the old plant more room?; Phlox hendersonii - I love the pristine look of phlox flowers!; my one bloom on Clematis hirsutissima:
Last blooms on Adonis vernalis; vanillaleaf, Achlys triphylla; buds on Saxifraga paniculata var. minutifolia 'Red-Backed Spider'(?):
Some gorgeous plants there Lori ... I especially like the Aubrieta deltoides 'Blue Indigo' - Dianthus myrtinervius ssp. caespitosus combination. May I ask the age of your Adonis vernalis, quite a mature plant I suspect?
Trond-- I'm amazed you can garden at all--you are never home ;)
Lori--all beauties, but I love that little Lewisia!
You are right, Cohan. I can't tend the plants and they have to look after themselves! I and use a long time finishing what I start ;)
More very nice plants, Lori! I would love to (try to) grow them here, I think they fit except the waterlilies! Haven't heard of waterlilies for seawater though ;D
A favorite genus here is Geranium. Have several species. Here is Geranium renardii.
Earlier you showed a tiny Ornithogalum, Lori. Here's my version, Ornithogalum umbellatum. It is wild here, probably a garden escape or ballast plant.
Potentilla rupestris has gone wild too. I planted a few seedlings some years ago and now it has expanded territory and is at it's best early June.
Trond - it is good to see the Potentilla rupestris. This is a native in Britain too and for a long time we grew in the main border here. A friend has promised me some seed. It looks very good with Tulipa sprengeri planted around it.
Lori - you have some really great plants. I've heard of Achlys but never seen it before. I think our garden is too dry for it. The alpines are beautifully grown - presumably you have long snow cover over winter? I agree with Cliff about the Aubrieta - a fine looking selection which puts a lot of rarities in their place!
Thanks for your interest, folks! Cliff, it looks like I got the Adonis vernalis 8 years ago.
Trond, I like Potentilla rupestris too, and have a miniature version ('pygmaea') that is nice. Ornithogalum umbellatum is a pleasant surprise when it blooms in my garden, far from being the invasive plant that it is reported to be in warmer cilmates.
Tim, Achyls is a west coast plant but if it can grow here, with little supplemental watering, I would be surprised if it couldn't grow there... ? We have had snow cover these last 3 winters, but normally, it is patchy and fleeting. So far as I can see, snow cover is essential for a good bloom on my little rhododendron, but I'm not convinced it's an improvement at all, otherwise!
Yes, Aubrieta is, generally-speaking, an easy genus, and I get the impression it may sometimes be categorically dismissed or even scorned due to that, but they can certainly be beautiful!
More rain... :rolleyes: Oh well, we've missed out so far on the week of snow that we usually get in late April/early June so I can't complain too much.
This is as good as it gets for rhododendrons in my yard, in fact, it's the only one now... R. mucronulatum 'Crater's Edge' in the very rustic-looking old acid bed:
Trollius laxus has a very long bloom in the yard; raindrops on Pulsatilla vulgaris; Aquilegia laramiensis:
Lori, I have some tiny seedlings of R mucronatum that after a couple of years are still no more than a half inch tall (that's if they still exist, haven't looked recently..)
Trond, I have seedlings of G renardii, too.. I love the leaves; Potentilla is another favourite genus--tiny ones and border plants..
Polemonium confertum - only one flowering stem this year, but it has spread itself around a bit. (I should separate off and move some bits to other areas... I learn, though slowly. ;D)
Potentilla porphyrantha - it has bloomed modestly for me, since being planted in '08. As I build onto the crevice bed, I plan to move it into a sunnier position, which I think may improve it.
I guess it's Potentilla time... P. neumanniana, or whatever it's called now...
Wonderful plants, Lori. Trond, I grew Geranium renardii years ago. Loved the foliage especially. I recall it as being quite different. Taken early eveing in the rock garden and crevice garden. Lots of good color.
Lori--love that Euphorbia! Your Mitella is a little ahead of the wild ones which are everywhere here--they are just budding now.. and of course they don't usually get so many flower stems so close together when they have to grow among other things...
Don't we all, Trond! In better bloom now, the pink form of Convolvlus compactus, and living up to its name more than previously. Also, C. compactus is bursting out early thanks to the continuous sun. Every day it says "scattered thunderstorms", but apparently they're scattering else where, and the garden is very dry.
Lori are leaps and bounds ahead of me now. We have had nothing but drizzle and fog for a week with no end in sights. Temps struggling to reach 10 C...the daffs and tulips will last for weeks!
Great plants Anne....similar species here will not bloom until mid-July!
Two new things blooming this week. First is Penstemon debilis, which is blooming for the 1st time. It's from Alplains seed, and I planted the seed in 2009. I have 3 plants, still small, but they are surprisingly healthy and I'm optimistic about their future in the garden.
Second is Centaurea bagadensis, a very nice pink thistle. It's a bit taller than I'd like, but the flowers are quite beautiful, and it looks great in seed as well.
Peter - I like those two plants. The Penstemon has fine silvered foliage, quite unusual. I used to try a lot of species from seed but our climate is not well suited to many of them and I expect they would be better in a covered raised bed year round, or in the alpine house. The Centaurea is very attractive; I particularly like this genus which is not widely grown outside the stronger border perennials. I've grown a few tiny species from Turkey from Czech seed but only have slides. We have had some rain at last so I hope the garden will perk up and provide some good pictures before long.
Anne-- I have to add my admiration for the Convolvulus! (es/i?)
Todd, do you have a woodland section in your garden, or with your cool climate do you grow some things in the open that would need shade in some other places?
Comments
Anne Spiegel
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 05/30/2011 - 6:09pmAnd Lysichiton americanus is spreading rapidly too! Anybody who wants seed?
[/quote]
I'd love some seed if you still have some to spare. I'm working on a water garden at the bottom of the property. The only drawback is that it's so far from the house but it's moist all year. So far I'm trying Primula florinda, japonica etc and irises and rodgersias and ligularias. It's a real change of pace to grow big plants. The pictures are from last year, have been too busy to photograph this season. Oops - the pictures are from '09. Guess I'll try and take some new pictures.
Mark McDonough
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 05/30/2011 - 6:20pmAnne, I agree with your sentiment wholeheartedly! And you are correct, both Penstemon hybrids 'Grape Tart' and 'Pink Holly' are ones I named back in the mid 1980s, these I gave to Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery to propagate and sell.
Once again I'm facing a project deadline, so can't post much for a couple days... very frustrating, as I agree with Peter that its been amazing to see the fine array of plants shown on this pages, I've been viewing them and wanting to comment on these plant wonders, but I must stay focused on my deadline... grrrrrr! Peter, I love the Oenothera caespitosa, one of the finest species and you're growing this xeric plant so well. More later.
Anne Spiegel
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 05/30/2011 - 6:42pmThanks, Mark That means my memory is still working!!!!!
The name is "The International Rock Gardener" and the March 2010 issue has the article on convolvulus. It appears C. boisseri is a separate species but there is C. boisseri v boisseri and C. boisseri v compactus, thus a little confusing. The foliage of C. boisseri is quite elegant, with almost silky-looking hairs.
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 05/30/2011 - 8:31pmMany beauties!
Anne --love those Convolvulus! Haven't tried any yet, but I will :)
Trond--beautiful Allium--good to see the woodland species, since as much as I love wide open sunny spots (and their plants), that does not describe my property in general...lol
Peter--that Peony is exquisite! I too hope folks will feel free to share what they are trying or succeeding to grow! My garden, for one, is primarily at the stage of fantasy...lol--thank goodness for wildflowers :)
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 05/30/2011 - 9:50pmWow, there have been so many fantastic photos lately, I don't know where to start commenting!
Trond, what an exquisite viola, and what lushness in all your photos! The tall ostrich ferns remind me of earlier days in Northern Saskatchewan. I use Geranium macrorrhizum as a groundcover too - good plant, easy to control.
You and Anne are both showing wonderful Enkianthus! Is that something that has a chance in colder zones? Is that one you grow or have tried, Rick?
Rick, I'd love some seed of Peltoboykinia too (if it is true that that there is no shortage from your plants ;)) Let me know what you'd like in return, please. Very interesting lily photos!
Anne, I have not grown Gentiana verna long enough to say anything profound about it... I just have the one plant, planted in 2008 in the spring extension to our first in-ground rock/crevice garden (started in Oct./07)... I have not been at this long, you can see, but so far, so good, I guess. That convolvulus is really choice... it's like it was dipped in silver.
Peter, so nice to see your beautiful plantings! I hope sincerely that more people will be encouraged to participate, by the variety of plants and different areas and growing conditions represented!
Stephen Barstow
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Tue, 05/31/2011 - 2:31amI first came across the word Cryptocrop in an article describing how farmers actively encouraged Hosta growing as a weed in rice fields in Japan - it was harvested and sold on markets as a secondary or cryptocrop. Chickweed is my main crytocrop which grows quickly on my potato beds and is harvested early June and is made into a nutritious soup or added to mixed salad. In this way I get two crops from the same land without doing anything apart from letting some plants seed themselves (this actually saves me work). It's a lost cause trying to get rid of it anyway! Here's a picture of harvest a couple of years ago!
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Tue, 05/31/2011 - 1:12pmPeter, I can't compete with Cliff or Todd in photoartistry but I am not afraid of posting my pictures! I hope nobody else is either. I am personally interested to see and read about what other people grow in their gardens even if the plants may seem "common".
I am tempted to try some of these Convolvuli at my summerhouse. In my opinion they should do better there in drier climate. To humid to do anything? Then I couldn't do much in the garden ;D
I'd love some seed if you still have some to spare. I'm working on a water garden at the bottom of the property. The only drawback is that it's so far from the house but it's moist all year. So far I'm trying Primula florinda, japonica etc and irises and rodgersias and ligularias. It's a real change of pace to grow big plants. The pictures are from last year, have been too busy to photograph this season. Oops - the pictures are from '09. Guess I'll try and take some new pictures.
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I'll put you on my list. Sorry, no more seed now but I'll harvest pounds later.
Peter, there you can see! That violet is even out of focus ;)
Lushness is describing, Lori. I have to buy a machete before my next stroll in the garden. When the kids were small they and their friends called the garden "the jungle".
Here where I live the Enkianthus has been completely hardy and come unscratched even through the last two very cold winters. It is regarded as medium hardy in Norway.
My garden is filled with cryptocrops - but I don't eat it!
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Tue, 05/31/2011 - 1:40pmThank you, Tim ;D It is the third terrace I build near the house. We want to have the sight and the sun for as long as possible and leeward for the wind!
Tim,
In fact, I have some very nice plants with exquisite autumn colours. Enkinthus is among them as is Parrotia persica.
I always want to grow plants I know I can't grow - and I have spent some money trying ;D I have tried Cardiocrinums too and once I managed to grow three plants safely for several years.
I am sorry that I have never visited the Botanic Garden at Tromsø but it is on my travel list! It is much easier for me to visit Kew than Tromsø :) When I visited Tromsø a long time ago the Botanic Garden didn't exist.
Richard T. Rodich
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Tue, 05/31/2011 - 5:12pmLori, a few people do grow Enkianthus here, but only in protected spots and only the naturally low growing forms. Consequently, they are quite the buzz here, but I've never seen one more than a couple feet high. That was several years ago. I wonder if it's gotten any higher...
I remember you wanted some Jeffersonia diphylla seed, so I'll send the Peltoboykinia seed when they are ready - which might only be another couple weeks or so...
Regarding posting photos, I don't mind people noticing the weeds, holes in leaves, sticks or whatever that really don't belong in a well designed photo. I take most of my pics as records of the plants, rather than beautiful photos. Some do both, and even I stumble upon producing some real favorites. But it is very evident here that the botany is just as important as beauty, and that one man's weed can be another man's desire. After all, what other group of gardening fanatics would be so interested in a pile of chickweed greens that they would actually "click to enlarge"?
By the way, those are some big chickweed leaves. I guess I am glad I only have the little pests.
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Tue, 05/31/2011 - 7:40pmThanks, Rick!
A few for today...
Dracocephalum poulsenii has finally bloomed and seems to have rather small flowers, not too disproportionate to its small leaves.
Androsace chamaejasme is still going strong:
Aconitum sp. ex DaXue Shan, from Beaver Creek; rather stretched out now, but supposed to be 12" tall; Iris suaveolens; this Phlox multiflora is trying a bit harder to live up to its name! - very pretty, pristine flowers; almost missed the bloom of Iris attica...
Asperula boissieri will soon be very floriferous!; a little Calyptridium umbellatum; Primula polyneura, rather rain-washed.
It was interesting (well, mildly ;D) to see Ornithogalum nanum finally bloom this year; no doubt it will improve with time:
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Tue, 05/31/2011 - 7:50pmSome native plants in the garden (aside from Androsace chamaejasme)...
Penstemon nitidus
Viola canadensis
Viola adunca
A very early flower on Geranium viscosissimum
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Tue, 05/31/2011 - 8:25pmGood word! I suspect (and have read just a little to suggest it) that many of the most common garden weeds (most of which seem to be edible and nutritious) were actively encouraged at some point in our less single crop obsessed history....
Stephen Barstow
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Wed, 06/01/2011 - 1:19amYes, it is a remarkable garden. My last visit was a couple of years ago. You might want to check out the pictures I posted over at SRGC, see http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3874.msg102013#msg102013 (There are other threads about Tromsø if you use the search function).
Stephen Barstow
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Wed, 06/01/2011 - 1:27amI actually had a large leaved cultivar of common chickweed one year (from Seed Savers Exchage) in the US :o However, only a few came up and I didn't manage to maintain the variety (the picture shows the common small leaved variety!)
I'm growing another interesting Stellaria this year, Stellaria yunnanensis. It's perennial - more information here: http://www.horizonherbs.com/product.asp?specific=1864
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Wed, 06/01/2011 - 2:09pmVery interesting! looks like one to try, for sure!
Lori-- I missed the Ornithogalum initially--interesting to me, for sure, since I first knew Ornithogalum as tender South African plants (growing a couple of small ones from seed indoors, others on my list) so its just fun to see one outdoors :) (I know there are some weedy ones in some coldish places, never grown any)..
Tim Ingram (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 06/02/2011 - 2:46pmThe trouble with missing this continuing perambulation in our gardens for a few days is how much goes on in between! It is very refreshing for me because there is not the tradition of posting pictures and details of our gardens on the AGS site. Instead there is a strong focus on Show plants and botanical and photographic excellence. This is great but I've always felt that gardens and propagating plants, and people coming to see your gardens (even if 'virtually'), is what it is really all about! The web certainly opens this up. (We have a scheme in the UK for opening gardens for charity, which is very enjoyable and also a good way to sell plants when you run a small nursery!).
A few more plants looking good at the moment.
Asperula daphneola (this looked terrible over winter, even with cover, but has perked up now)
Aquilegia amaliae (A favourite over the last couple of years - must collect seed)
Edraianthus owerianus (this has now finished flowering but as a nurseryman I have always been just as fascinated by the seed capsules and these are good fun when they ripen and open like tiny bird's nests)
Eucomis schijffii (very hardy, for us, Drakensberg species grown from seed from Jim and Jenny Archibald. I am pleased to see this coming up as it is always so late!)
Linum narbonnense (this must be the most beautiful of the genus for its almost metallic silvery-blue flowers . It is also a good perennial unlike perenne! But it is a devil to propagate - possibly root cuttings are the answer?? I always get very poor take from traditional cuttings)
Phlomis species (good plants for our relatively hot and dry garden. This came from a French nurseryman friend, Jean-Paul Jolivot - Le Jardin d'en Face near St. Malo - who has a passion for the plants from around the Mediterranean)
Tim Ingram (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 06/02/2011 - 2:49pmWhoops - pressed the wrong button!
Tim Ingram (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 06/02/2011 - 3:19pmA quick correction - it should be Jean-Pierre Jolivot! His nursery is more than worth visiting if in the area. (Granted few are likely to be!!).
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 06/02/2011 - 4:51pmTim, I agree its great to be able to share and see gardens, excursions, etc without worrying about show standards--especially for those of us far from any shows/meetings, or even any similarly minded gardeners! etc
Some choice plants you are showingW Phlomis catches my eye, as does the Eucomis-- I guess this is just early foliage? At this point looks like a Sansevieria, and if it were, it would be a very pricey one with those colours!
Peter George
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 06/02/2011 - 5:01pmBeautiful plants, Tim, albeit ones we can't grow here in the northeast US. Here are a few things I found around the garden today, after a day of rain, wind, thunderstorms and even a few tornadoes!! Luckily the really serious storms stayed away from my town, but some areas of central and western Massachusetts were really damaged.
I found three 2nd year plants of Viola douglasii, which I had somewhat overlooked until they started to bloom a week or so ago. I am VERY pleased that they came back for another season, as they went dormant very early last year and never bloomed.
The other two are my 4 year old self sown seedling of Ptilotrichium spinosum 'roseum' and a very nice white Ptilotrichium which I think is P. macrocarpum. They both are blooming quite well right now, and I'm going to be adding one or two more of each to my garden.
Todd Boland
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 06/02/2011 - 5:52pmWonderful plants and flowers Lori! It has been so cold and miserable here that I have not bothered to take any pictures...we just came through one of the coldest May's on record and June looks like it will not be any better.....looks like a short summer is in the making. I'm off to Nova Scotia for the weekend..be back Monday. perhaps they will have some flowers for me to share when I return.
Tim Ingram (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Fri, 06/03/2011 - 5:46amPeter - I don't know the little violet, but what a beauty! The Ptilotrichium (spinosum 'Roseum') grows well here and seems a pretty tolerant plant so long as the drainage is good, but I haven't come across the other species. Seeing all these choice dryland plants from Lori and Anne in particular is definitely going to encourage me to build some new places in the garden to grow them.
Tim Ingram (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Fri, 06/03/2011 - 9:24amStephen - thank you so much for directing me to your posts on the SRGC site on Tromsø. There are some astonishing plants; Gentiana brachyphylla....!!!! and those beautiful leaves of Oxalis loricata. Sideritis syraica I have grown - nice thing but I had no idea you could make tea from it! I will search more to see what grows at the garden. It would be a nice place to take the children if I don't tell them we are going to look at plants!!
Stephen Barstow
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:51pmGlad you enjoyed the tour, Tim!
When I discovered through an ex-colleague who was Greek that Sideritis syriaca (and I've since learnt various other species in the genus) is one of the two most popular herb teas in Greece and yet was unknown in herb gardens I was astonished (most our herbs are from Southern Europe). I wondered perhaps if it was difficult to grow and I suspect it is sensitive to winter wet - it has done best with me in sunny dry locations.
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Fri, 06/03/2011 - 1:41pmMarvellous plants Tim and Peter! Viola douglasii and Eucomis schijffii seem to be worth looking for!
At the moment I am at my summerhouse. Very nice weather and today we took the small boat out to the island of Jomfruland. All the island is like a park and garden now with millions of flowers. Just to show one: Saxifraga granulata make big patches in the meadow.
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Fri, 06/03/2011 - 2:47pmSuch beauties, Tim! The seedheads on the Edrianthus are very intriguing; love the Phlomis too!
Thanks for posting, Peter! The viola is wonderful... I didn't even know there were other Ptilotrichum; I will have to keep an eye out!
Nice scene, and love the saxifrage, Trond!
Here are a few little jewels for today...
Lewisia longipetala; Dianthus microlepis; Aubrieta deltoides 'Blue Indigo' (again); Dianthus myrtinervius ssp. caespitosus, now in bloom (it's actually a deeper pink than shown):
One for the Lithospermum lovers... L. ruderale, starting to blooming in the front yard though not yet in the park:
And changing the subject entirely...
Nymphaea 'Marliac Albida'; N. 'Jana Walska' - the second is a newly-opened flower with a pool of nectar at its base; N. 'Colorado':
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Fri, 06/03/2011 - 6:06pmIris taurica starting to bloom; Draba rigida, not so floriferous as usual... perhaps I should start propagating cuttings/divisions and give the old plant more room?; Phlox hendersonii - I love the pristine look of phlox flowers!; my one bloom on Clematis hirsutissima:
Last blooms on Adonis vernalis; vanillaleaf, Achlys triphylla; buds on Saxifraga paniculata var. minutifolia 'Red-Backed Spider'(?):
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Fri, 06/03/2011 - 9:04pmTrond-- I'm amazed you can garden at all--you are never home ;)
Lori--all beauties, but I love that little Lewisia!
Cliff Booker
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sat, 06/04/2011 - 12:35amSome gorgeous plants there Lori ... I especially like the Aubrieta deltoides 'Blue Indigo' - Dianthus myrtinervius ssp. caespitosus combination. May I ask the age of your Adonis vernalis, quite a mature plant I suspect?
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sat, 06/04/2011 - 4:00amYou are right, Cohan. I can't tend the plants and they have to look after themselves! I and use a long time finishing what I start ;)
More very nice plants, Lori! I would love to (try to) grow them here, I think they fit except the waterlilies! Haven't heard of waterlilies for seawater though ;D
A favorite genus here is Geranium. Have several species. Here is Geranium renardii.
Earlier you showed a tiny Ornithogalum, Lori. Here's my version, Ornithogalum umbellatum. It is wild here, probably a garden escape or ballast plant.
Potentilla rupestris has gone wild too. I planted a few seedlings some years ago and now it has expanded territory and is at it's best early June.
Tim Ingram (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sat, 06/04/2011 - 5:27amTrond - it is good to see the Potentilla rupestris. This is a native in Britain too and for a long time we grew in the main border here. A friend has promised me some seed. It looks very good with Tulipa sprengeri planted around it.
Lori - you have some really great plants. I've heard of Achlys but never seen it before. I think our garden is too dry for it. The alpines are beautifully grown - presumably you have long snow cover over winter? I agree with Cliff about the Aubrieta - a fine looking selection which puts a lot of rarities in their place!
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sat, 06/04/2011 - 9:08amThanks for your interest, folks! Cliff, it looks like I got the Adonis vernalis 8 years ago.
Trond, I like Potentilla rupestris too, and have a miniature version ('pygmaea') that is nice. Ornithogalum umbellatum is a pleasant surprise when it blooms in my garden, far from being the invasive plant that it is reported to be in warmer cilmates.
Tim, Achyls is a west coast plant but if it can grow here, with little supplemental watering, I would be surprised if it couldn't grow there... ? We have had snow cover these last 3 winters, but normally, it is patchy and fleeting. So far as I can see, snow cover is essential for a good bloom on my little rhododendron, but I'm not convinced it's an improvement at all, otherwise!
Yes, Aubrieta is, generally-speaking, an easy genus, and I get the impression it may sometimes be categorically dismissed or even scorned due to that, but they can certainly be beautiful!
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sat, 06/04/2011 - 10:29amMore rain... :rolleyes: Oh well, we've missed out so far on the week of snow that we usually get in late April/early June so I can't complain too much.
This is as good as it gets for rhododendrons in my yard, in fact, it's the only one now... R. mucronulatum 'Crater's Edge' in the very rustic-looking old acid bed:
Trollius laxus has a very long bloom in the yard; raindrops on Pulsatilla vulgaris; Aquilegia laramiensis:
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sat, 06/04/2011 - 10:44amLori, I have some tiny seedlings of R mucronatum that after a couple of years are still no more than a half inch tall (that's if they still exist, haven't looked recently..)
Trond, I have seedlings of G renardii, too.. I love the leaves; Potentilla is another favourite genus--tiny ones and border plants..
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sun, 06/05/2011 - 6:46pmA few things today...
Oxytropis megalantha, from seed in '09:
Mitella nuda in the acid bed - not a showy native plant, but I am always intrigued by the intricacy of the flowers.
Tonestus (Haplopappus) lyallii - it will be some time before I see them in the mountains after last winter's very high snowfalls!
Euphorbia capitulata is looking much more interesting this year than I ever noticed before:
Erigeron aureus, from seed last year:
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sun, 06/05/2011 - 6:57pmPolemonium confertum - only one flowering stem this year, but it has spread itself around a bit. (I should separate off and move some bits to other areas... I learn, though slowly. ;D)
Potentilla porphyrantha - it has bloomed modestly for me, since being planted in '08. As I build onto the crevice bed, I plan to move it into a sunnier position, which I think may improve it.
I guess it's Potentilla time... P. neumanniana, or whatever it's called now...
Anne Spiegel
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sun, 06/05/2011 - 6:59pmWonderful plants, Lori.
Trond, I grew Geranium renardii years ago. Loved the foliage especially. I recall it as being quite different.
Taken early eveing in the rock garden and crevice garden. Lots of good color.
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sun, 06/05/2011 - 7:08pmVery nice, Anne! Good colour, indeed! Convolvulus compactus is especially beautiful - more dipped-in-silver foliage and lovely flowers!
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sun, 06/05/2011 - 8:47pmLori--love that Euphorbia! Your Mitella is a little ahead of the wild ones which are everywhere here--they are just budding now.. and of course they don't usually get so many flower stems so close together when they have to grow among other things...
Anne, the Moltkia is especially showy!
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 06/06/2011 - 12:16amWhat a display of lovely plants, Anne and Lori :) :)
You grow such gems that I dream of acquiring and some I didn't know of so I didn't dream of ;D
I learn too, Lori, but I forget as much as I learn!
Anne Spiegel
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 06/06/2011 - 9:48amDon't we all, Trond!
In better bloom now, the pink form of Convolvlus compactus, and living up to its name more than previously. Also, C. compactus is bursting out early thanks to the continuous sun. Every day it says "scattered thunderstorms", but apparently they're scattering else where, and the garden is very dry.
Cliff Booker
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 06/06/2011 - 11:30amBeautiful plants Lori and Anne. Convolvulus compactus is particularly glorious.
Todd Boland
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 06/06/2011 - 5:18pmLori are leaps and bounds ahead of me now. We have had nothing but drizzle and fog for a week with no end in sights. Temps struggling to reach 10 C...the daffs and tulips will last for weeks!
Great plants Anne....similar species here will not bloom until mid-July!
Todd Boland
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 06/06/2011 - 5:27pmSome plants from the last few days....Cortusa turkestanica, Primula halleri, Rhododendron Blue Baron and Rhododendron hippophaeoides
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 06/06/2011 - 8:34pmJust beautiful, Todd! I envy you all the primroses, especially!
There is sometimes a benefit even to really crappy weather!
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 06/06/2011 - 8:52pmI have only this Dodecatheon to add today...
Peter George
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Tue, 06/07/2011 - 6:50pmTwo new things blooming this week. First is Penstemon debilis, which is blooming for the 1st time. It's from Alplains seed, and I planted the seed in 2009. I have 3 plants, still small, but they are surprisingly healthy and I'm optimistic about their future in the garden.
Second is Centaurea bagadensis, a very nice pink thistle. It's a bit taller than I'd like, but the flowers are quite beautiful, and it looks great in seed as well.
(Edit: Sp. of species name.)
Tim Ingram (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Tue, 06/07/2011 - 11:36pmPeter - I like those two plants. The Penstemon has fine silvered foliage, quite unusual. I used to try a lot of species from seed but our climate is not well suited to many of them and I expect they would be better in a covered raised bed year round, or in the alpine house. The Centaurea is very attractive; I particularly like this genus which is not widely grown outside the stronger border perennials. I've grown a few tiny species from Turkey from Czech seed but only have slides. We have had some rain at last so I hope the garden will perk up and provide some good pictures before long.
Anne Spiegel
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Wed, 06/08/2011 - 3:52amWonderful penstemon, Peter, and looking very healthy.
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Wed, 06/08/2011 - 10:47amAnne-- I have to add my admiration for the Convolvulus! (es/i?)
Todd, do you have a woodland section in your garden, or with your cool climate do you grow some things in the open that would need shade in some other places?
Peter, I agree, great foliage on the Penstemon...
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