Lori, I like your little Alyssum wulfenianum but I assume it will grow bigger?
Trond, those are flower rosettes forming on the ends of the stems of an adult plant - they are evergreen; it's a relatively short-lived, self-seeding perennial, and not particularly small (at least not in regular soil) - the plants get to about a foot across and about 6" high. It is notable here for how early and late it blooms and for repeat bloom through the season. Here are some better photos of Alyssum wulfenianum:
Here are two plants I pictured today when I did some tidying up!
Scilla rosenii. This year they are contemporary with S bifolia and siberica.
Very pretty, love the ice blue color, but I'm wondering if this really isn't Scilla rosenii; maybe a different Scilla species or Puschkinia scilloides (...or var. libanotica).
Assuming this really is what the seed was claimed to be, Limonium perplexum is remarkable hardy for a coastal Mediterranean species. (It is also apparently critically endangered in its very limited native range in Spain.) Here it is after coming through the winter and a spring snowstorm... (it's nothing to write home about, particularly... just surprisingly hardy. ;))
It was ready to bloom in fall last year, in its first year from seed, but frost killed the flowers before they could open - a typical-looking Limonium flower spike.
Here are two plants I pictured today when I did some tidying up!
Scilla rosenii. This year they are contemporary with S bifolia and siberica.
Very pretty, love the ice blue color, but I'm wondering if this really isn't Scilla rosenii; maybe a different Scilla species or Puschkinia scilloides (...or var. libanotica).
Very pretty, whatever they are!! A close-up photo directly into a flower may help to firm up the ID... from what I can make out on the flower detail photo, I don't think I see the fused ring of stamens that (I think) distinguishes Puschkinia and Chionodoxa from Scilla... is that (still) a valid distinction? I know the taxonomists have been messing around with these genera.
I love retic Irises in general , and that's a lovely colour,Amy; I'll need to watch for some :) I'm jealous of the coum, since I don't think its possible here...
Thanks John. It has increased well the last two years but not by seeding.
cohan wrote:
Nice patch of Scilla! the Sax planted itself on concrete? or you put it there?
Cohan, I planted the Sax nearby in a hollow concrete slab - it is a bigger plant a foot away but without flowers! It has somehow spread to the rim of the slab.
Skulski wrote:
McDonough wrote:
Hoy wrote:
Here are two plants I pictured today when I did some tidying up!
Scilla rosenii. This year they are contemporary with S bifolia and siberica.
Very pretty, love the ice blue color, but I'm wondering if this really isn't Scilla rosenii; maybe a different Scilla species or Puschkinia scilloides (...or var. libanotica).
Very pretty, whatever they are!! A close-up photo directly into a flower may help to firm up the ID... from what I can make out on the flower detail photo, I don't think I see the fused ring of stamens that (I think) distinguishes Puschkinia and Chionodoxa from Scilla... is that (still) a valid distinction? I know the taxonomists have been messing around with these genera.
I do believe I planted these as S rosenii but I won't swear. I have Puschkinia and Chionodoxa too and those are different as Lori's pictures show. Here is a close-up:
Lori, I like your little Alyssum wulfenianum but I assume it will grow bigger?
Trond, those are flower rosettes forming on the ends of the stems of an adult plant - they are evergreen; it's a relatively short-lived, self-seeding perennial, and not particularly small (at least not in regular soil) - the plants get to about a foot across and about 6" high. It is notable here for how early and late it blooms and for repeat bloom through the season.
Thanks, Lori. I didn't know this Alyssum species. Your first picture showed something I thought would be 5cm!
A few shots from 3 days ago, before the fresh snow turned everything white again, showing the extent of our melt, so far.. The bare areas are either along paths which we shovelled all winter, or along spruce trees which keep the snow more shallow.. next to some of these bare spots, the snow was still knee deep, with another 15-20cm now on top.... The 'rock garden' views show the area where I have excavated my old overgrown rock garden from my teenage years which was untended most of the 25+ years I was away, soil was mounded and pots sunk for the winter, rocks piled around awaiting more work this year...
Any plants surviving the 25 years you didn't tend them, Cohan?
not much--the whole thing became part of the natural environment here with native plants and shrubs...lol, plus some Irises and daylilies from a neighbouring bed spread over a large area... One willow- a mid sized, about metre, metre and a half tall.. just a couple of stems; a Zigadenus elegans, which was not flowering over the years (that my mother noticed, anyway), but has since I have weeded around it; a couple of tiny plants of what I think are a Heuchera sp from B.C., and a couple of things from presumably dormant seed popped up in a cleared area-- a pale flowered Potentilla (also from B.C.--arguta?) and Androsace septentrionale... no traces of semps, opuntias etc...lol
Wim, I didn't realize Taraxacum pseudoroseum was so "bicolored". A very nice feature. I have Taraxacum pamiricum seed that I will be sowing shortly, but now I'd rather have pseudoroseum.
Some plants which caught my eyes in the garden during the last week: Haberlea rhodopensis 'Virginalis' Taraxacum pseudoroseum Viola cucullaria 'Red Giant'
Beauties, Wim!
RickR wrote:
Wim, I didn't realize Taraxacum pseudoroseum was so "bicolored". A very nice feature. I have Taraxacum pamiricum seed that I will be sowing shortly, but now I'd rather have pseudoroseum.
Rick, I grew T. pseudoroseum from seed last year and the plants bloomed by the end of June, but I never got to see the darn things fully open! :( From my photos of half-closed flowers, it looks like they are bicolored... I hope they will be as showy as Wim's this year! T. pamiricum looks nice, and with that foliage, you won't have to defend it from any visiting gardeners who might forget themselves and start weeding: http://www.google.ca/images?client=safari&rls=en&q=Taraxacum%20pamiricum... (Hmmm, this sudden - at least on my part -reverence for dandelions is a bit odd and ironic! ;))
I also wanted to comment on your pretty weeds, Wim ;D
Lori, I doubt anyone's appreciation of dandelions could be odder than mine-- every photo of yard and garden I edit has at least one dandelion leaf showing, and much of the time photos taken in the bush show them as well.... I wouldn't even consider eliminating T officinale as being possible!
I also sowed T pseudoroseum last year, from Wim's seed!, but later in the summer. Nice little plants by summer's end, hope they made it through the winter.. also sowed sowed albidum with no results :( think I have a few seeds left... Rick, pamiricum is one I remember coming across pics of--white flowers and entire leaves, I believe? haven't looked at Lori's link yet--the entire leaves and non-yellow flowers are the best features for making them non-weedy looking!
As self-declared Taraxaphile and member of the secret Defenders of the Dandelion sect, I'd just like to point you to a thread I started over at SRGC last year with various pictures of my Taraxaca (saves me reposting :)): http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=5916.0
My pamiricum doesn't do much and has produced one flower for the last 3 years...
While were busy talking weeds; here's a picture of Taraxacum albidum.
Nice, Wim! Hoping mine will flower for the first time this year!
I tell visitors to my garden to watch out for the roadside verges gradually changing colour from yellow to a mix of yellows, whites and pinks in 10 years from now :) Nice with a bit of diversity...
While were busy talking weeds; here's a picture of Taraxacum albidum.
Nice, Wim! Hoping mine will flower for the first time this year!
I tell visitors to my garden to watch out for the roadside verges gradually changing colour from yellow to a mix of yellows, whites and pinks in 10 years from now :) Nice with a bit of diversity...
That's what I think would be nice, too! I wonder though, if the new weeds would just squeeze out more natives and not the existing weeds...lol
Btw, here is what I saw today on my "garden walk". We had a heavy job finding snow patches with rotten snow to get a 12km skiing! Even the highest point in this area (1250m/4100ft) is almost bereft of snow.
Btw, here is what I saw today on my "garden walk". We had a heavy job finding snow patches with rotten snow to get a 12km skiing! Even the highest point in this area (1250m/4100ft) is almost bereft of snow.
I am so sad that you are lacking snow.....lol--if I could send some I would!
I see color is everywhere there, Panayoti! I especially like ... them all!
I wonder if what I have been growing as Iris humilis is indeed that. I grew it from seed from the NARGS seed ex. Listed as Iris humilis ex Siberia, the donor was a Stephen Bertrand, Ionia, IA.
John asked for them: here are the latest slug of pix, mostly from Denver Botanic Gardens, which is looking pretty spiffy right now if I don't say so! I think most are self explanatory (pix are labeled). Gentle rain last night, cool sunny days: I can barely stand it! The fruit trees have been blooming for weeks and weeks (even the cherries): the fourth perfect spring in a row. I shall have to move away for sure soon. The Phlox in the trough below is Phlox condensata, our high alpine with heavenly scented bloom that usually does not bloom until late June on the hills (two months later!): great to get a preview of the alpine spring...
Here's the flowers of Thlaspi alpestre. Not very showy but welcome in early spring.
I think its cute, especially with purple leaves, which I guess is just in spring while its cool? Growing Thlaspis has for me a similar feeling of naughtiness to growing Taraxacums--a common garden and field weed here is Thlaspi arvensis from Europe...
Here's the flowers of Thlaspi alpestre. Not very showy but welcome in early spring.
I think its cute, especially with purple leaves, which I guess is just in spring while its cool? Growing Thlaspis has for me a similar feeling of naughtiness to growing Taraxacums--a common garden and field weed here is Thlaspi arvensis from Europe...
The purple leaves are due to the bright sunshine and leaves not accustomed to it after months covered in snow - and cold nights.
I know Thlaspi arvense! When my uncle and I had our vegetable plot (many years ago) this was one of the weeds ;)
Many plants here, esp in spring, have some red or purple in the new leaves; somewhere long ago I read something about these pigments helping to draw heat, but I don't remember any details... Of course many plants in other circumstances produce red pigments in response to all sorts of stress..
The first day with temperatures above 15C and spring is here: 1) Hepatica nobilis grows wild in my garden and is actually a weed in one of my beds!! However, it has declined in other parts of the garden (possibly due to a dramatic decrease in a species of ant) 2) Petasitespalmatus (thanks to Cohan) 3) Tussilago - often taken for granted, but it has its beauty... 4) Crocus sieberi "Firefly" 5) Thlaspi alpestre - a weed that's not discouraged in one of my beds!
Stephen: I wish Hepatica were weeds for us! We grow quite a few (mostly pale lavender and pink or white): nothing gorgeous like yours! And I had no idea Petasites were so showy! We have P. japonicus at the Gardens which is not very showy, and P. frigidus in our mountains, which I believe is more green flowered. Love it!
Here are the latest--mostly from Denver Botanic Gardens which is having a banner year (very cool days and very light frost if any at night for many weeks, so plants are blooming forever! Just like Europe...) Usually we alternate arctic blasts with tropical heat and everything is seared and goes over right away. One could get spoiled.
I've been posting all these for John Weiser, who started this thread: I demand pix from him!
The first day with temperatures above 15C and spring is here: 1) Hepatica nobilis grows wild in my garden and is actually a weed in one of my beds!! However, it has declined in other parts of the garden (possibly due to a dramatic decrease in a species of ant) 2) Petasitespalmatus (thanks to Cohan) 3) Tussilago - often taken for granted, but it has its beauty... 4) Crocus sieberi "Firefly" 5) Thlaspi alpestre - a weed that's not discouraged in one of my beds!
Great stuff, Stephen! That Hepatica colour is wonderful! Glad the Petasites is flowering for you, they should be coming along in a few weeks here! I like the Thlaspi too, as when Trond showed it..
Back home! The birches, rowans and other trees, and a lot of shrubs have leafed out while we were on Easter Vaccation. Actually it was all green along the road when we came down from the mountains.
Here is one that immediately caught my eyes when we came home yesterday evening, Glaucidium palmatum.
Comments
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Wed, 04/13/2011 - 12:27pmLori, I like your little Alyssum wulfenianum but I assume it will grow bigger?
Here are two plants I pictured today when I did some tidying up!
Scilla rosenii. This year they are contemporary with S bifolia and siberica.
Saxifraga juniperifolia (I believe??) I suddenly discovered thisone that I had completely forgotten growing on a concrete slab.
John P. Weiser
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Wed, 04/13/2011 - 1:04pmHoy
Love the Scilla. What a lovely colony! :)
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Wed, 04/13/2011 - 3:06pmNice patch of Scilla! the Sax planted itself on concret? or you put it there?
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Wed, 04/13/2011 - 6:05pmTrond, those are flower rosettes forming on the ends of the stems of an adult plant - they are evergreen; it's a relatively short-lived, self-seeding perennial, and not particularly small (at least not in regular soil) - the plants get to about a foot across and about 6" high. It is notable here for how early and late it blooms and for repeat bloom through the season.
Here are some better photos of Alyssum wulfenianum:
Nice Scilla!
Mark McDonough
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Wed, 04/13/2011 - 6:35pmVery pretty, love the ice blue color, but I'm wondering if this really isn't Scilla rosenii; maybe a different Scilla species or Puschkinia scilloides (...or var. libanotica).
Scilla rosenii
http://www.augisbulbs.com/catalog.php?c=64 (scroll down)
http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2006/260406/log.html (scroll down)
http://homepage3.nifty.com/alm/gallery_lili6.htm
http://www.sciencephoto.com/images/download_lo_res.html?id=670084620
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Wed, 04/13/2011 - 6:41pmAssuming this really is what the seed was claimed to be, Limonium perplexum is remarkable hardy for a coastal Mediterranean species. (It is also apparently critically endangered in its very limited native range in Spain.)
Here it is after coming through the winter and a spring snowstorm... (it's nothing to write home about, particularly... just surprisingly hardy. ;))
It was ready to bloom in fall last year, in its first year from seed, but frost killed the flowers before they could open - a typical-looking Limonium flower spike.
http://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://bdb.cma.gva.es...
http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2072327730047134247GLrfmj
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Wed, 04/13/2011 - 7:42pmVery pretty, whatever they are!! A close-up photo directly into a flower may help to firm up the ID... from what I can make out on the flower detail photo, I don't think I see the fused ring of stamens that (I think) distinguishes Puschkinia and Chionodoxa from Scilla... is that (still) a valid distinction? I know the taxonomists have been messing around with these genera.
Puschkinia libanotica, below - note fused stamen ring:
That's a photo from a week ago last year... which was also a late spring, but this year is really late!
Amy Olmsted
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 4:56amThese were under snow just two days ago! The past couple of days the snow melted away very fast and now some roads are flooded.
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 11:23amI love retic Irises in general , and that's a lovely colour,Amy; I'll need to watch for some :)
I'm jealous of the coum, since I don't think its possible here...
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 1:09pmThanks John. It has increased well the last two years but not by seeding.
Cohan,
I planted the Sax nearby in a hollow concrete slab - it is a bigger plant a foot away but without flowers! It has somehow spread to the rim of the slab.
I do believe I planted these as S rosenii but I won't swear. I have Puschkinia and Chionodoxa too and those are different as Lori's pictures show.
Here is a close-up:
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 1:13pmThanks, Lori. I didn't know this Alyssum species. Your first picture showed something I thought would be 5cm!
Richard T. Rodich
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 5:56pmAlyssum wulfenianum, is known as the easiest true alyssum to grow here.
But that sure doesn't take away from its beauty!
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 8:47pmVery pretty, Amy! Ahhh, that's what we wait all winter for!!
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Fri, 04/15/2011 - 11:35pmA few shots from 3 days ago, before the fresh snow turned everything white again, showing the extent of our melt, so far..
The bare areas are either along paths which we shovelled all winter, or along spruce trees which keep the snow more shallow.. next to some of these bare spots, the snow was still knee deep, with another 15-20cm now on top....
The 'rock garden' views show the area where I have excavated my old overgrown rock garden from my teenage years which was untended most of the 25+ years I was away, soil was mounded and pots sunk for the winter, rocks piled around awaiting more work this year...
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sat, 04/16/2011 - 11:59pmAny plants surviving the 25 years you didn't tend them, Cohan?
WimB (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sun, 04/17/2011 - 11:11amSome plants which caught my eyes in the garden during the last week:
Haberlea rhodopensis 'Virginalis'
Taraxacum pseudoroseum
Viola cucullaria 'Red Giant'
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sun, 04/17/2011 - 3:24pmnot much--the whole thing became part of the natural environment here with native plants and shrubs...lol, plus some Irises and daylilies from a neighbouring bed spread over a large area...
One willow- a mid sized, about metre, metre and a half tall.. just a couple of stems; a Zigadenus elegans, which was not flowering over the years (that my mother noticed, anyway), but has since I have weeded around it; a couple of tiny plants of what I think are a Heuchera sp from B.C., and a couple of things from presumably dormant seed popped up in a cleared area-- a pale flowered Potentilla (also from B.C.--arguta?) and Androsace septentrionale... no traces of semps, opuntias etc...lol
Richard T. Rodich
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sun, 04/17/2011 - 6:58pmWim, I didn't realize Taraxacum pseudoroseum was so "bicolored". A very nice feature. I have Taraxacum pamiricum seed that I will be sowing shortly, but now I'd rather have pseudoroseum.
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sun, 04/17/2011 - 7:38pmBeauties, Wim!
Rick, I grew T. pseudoroseum from seed last year and the plants bloomed by the end of June, but I never got to see the darn things fully open! :( From my photos of half-closed flowers, it looks like they are bicolored... I hope they will be as showy as Wim's this year!
T. pamiricum looks nice, and with that foliage, you won't have to defend it from any visiting gardeners who might forget themselves and start weeding:
http://www.google.ca/images?client=safari&rls=en&q=Taraxacum%20pamiricum...
(Hmmm, this sudden - at least on my part -reverence for dandelions is a bit odd and ironic! ;))
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sun, 04/17/2011 - 8:30pmI also wanted to comment on your pretty weeds, Wim ;D
Lori, I doubt anyone's appreciation of dandelions could be odder than mine-- every photo of yard and garden I edit has at least one dandelion leaf showing, and much of the time photos taken in the bush show them as well.... I wouldn't even consider eliminating T officinale as being possible!
I also sowed T pseudoroseum last year, from Wim's seed!, but later in the summer. Nice little plants by summer's end, hope they made it through the winter.. also sowed sowed albidum with no results :( think I have a few seeds left...
Rick, pamiricum is one I remember coming across pics of--white flowers and entire leaves, I believe? haven't looked at Lori's link yet--the entire leaves and non-yellow flowers are the best features for making them non-weedy looking!
Stephen Barstow
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 5:06amAs self-declared Taraxaphile and member of the secret Defenders of the Dandelion sect, I'd just like to point you to a thread I started over at SRGC last year with various pictures of my Taraxaca (saves me reposting :)):
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=5916.0
My pamiricum doesn't do much and has produced one flower for the last 3 years...
WimB (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 7:13amWhile were busy talking weeds; here's a picture of Taraxacum albidum.
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:46amLove this one!
Speaking of T pamiricum, I think I remember it being from a warmer place? Will be interesting to see how it does for Rick...
Stephen Barstow
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 11:44amNice, Wim! Hoping mine will flower for the first time this year!
I tell visitors to my garden to watch out for the roadside verges gradually changing colour from yellow to a mix of yellows, whites and pinks in 10 years from now :) Nice with a bit of diversity...
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 11:52amThat's what I think would be nice, too! I wonder though, if the new weeds would just squeeze out more natives and not the existing weeds...lol
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 12:50pmI had Taraxacum pseudoroseum for two years but it flowered itself to death last year - would never stop producing flowers and died :(
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 12:57pmBtw, here is what I saw today on my "garden walk". We had a heavy job finding snow patches with rotten snow to get a 12km skiing! Even the highest point in this area (1250m/4100ft) is almost bereft of snow.
Panayoti Kelaidis
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 9:29pmSpring is galloping away in Colorado: lots in bloom!
Anemone blanda
Daphne x hendersonii 'Aymon Correvon' etc.
Ebracteola wilmanniae
Iris attica
Iris humilis
Iris scariosa
Lesquerella ex Penrose
Narcissus scaberulus
Pediocactus simpsonii ex Irish Canyon
Panayoti Kelaidis
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 9:32pmAnd MORE!
Phlox albomarginata
Quince
Ribes x gordonianum
Scilla hohenakeri
Thlaspi lilacina
Tulipa linifolia
Tulipa sp. chrysantha dwf.
Veronica bombycina v. bolgardaghensis
Veronica pseudocinerea
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:16pmI am so sad that you are lacking snow.....lol--if I could send some I would!
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:20pmGreat stuff Panayotis! ( a name shared by a nephew!)
Love the A blanda and P simpsonii especially..
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 5:18amYou both certainly have interesting plants, Wim and Panayotis!
Richard T. Rodich
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 10:09amI see color is everywhere there, Panayoti! I especially like ... them all!
I wonder if what I have been growing as Iris humilis is indeed that. I grew it from seed from the NARGS seed ex. Listed as Iris humilis ex Siberia, the donor was a Stephen Bertrand, Ionia, IA.
Here it is:
John P. Weiser
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 1:07pmPK
Very nice!! Keep them coming. :)
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Wed, 04/20/2011 - 2:08pmCan't help you with the iris, Rick! But it is worth growing!
Not much flowering here in the mountains yet except mogop (Pulsatilla vernalis) but here are some: (takes time to upload the pics)
Thlaspi alpestre
Salix lanata
Primula scandinavica - not yet in flower
And one for Lori - do you recognise it? -can I expect flower this summer?
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Wed, 04/20/2011 - 3:00pmthe Thlaspi looks cute-- I googled it, too-- I like this one!
I guess 'Lori's' is Oxytropis splendens? looking nice :)
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 04/21/2011 - 5:30amYes, Lori's seed!
Here's the flowers of Thlaspi alpestre. Not very showy but welcome in early spring.
Panayoti Kelaidis
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 04/21/2011 - 10:19amJohn asked for them: here are the latest slug of pix, mostly from Denver Botanic Gardens, which is looking pretty spiffy right now if I don't say so! I think most are self explanatory (pix are labeled). Gentle rain last night, cool sunny days: I can barely stand it! The fruit trees have been blooming for weeks and weeks (even the cherries): the fourth perfect spring in a row. I shall have to move away for sure soon. The Phlox in the trough below is Phlox condensata, our high alpine with heavenly scented bloom that usually does not bloom until late June on the hills (two months later!): great to get a preview of the alpine spring...
I did a short essay on Iris bucharica you might enjoy on my blog: http://prairiebreak.blogspot.com/2011/04/iris-bucharica-treasure-from-bokhara.html
The plicata iris is Iris lactea form Mongolia with Phlox bifida 'Betty Blake'
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 04/21/2011 - 3:17pmI think its cute, especially with purple leaves, which I guess is just in spring while its cool? Growing Thlaspis has for me a similar feeling of naughtiness to growing Taraxacums--a common garden and field weed here is Thlaspi arvensis from Europe...
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 04/21/2011 - 11:00pmThe purple leaves are due to the bright sunshine and leaves not accustomed to it after months covered in snow - and cold nights.
I know Thlaspi arvense! When my uncle and I had our vegetable plot (many years ago) this was one of the weeds ;)
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Thu, 04/21/2011 - 11:51pmMany plants here, esp in spring, have some red or purple in the new leaves; somewhere long ago I read something about these pigments helping to draw heat, but I don't remember any details... Of course many plants in other circumstances produce red pigments in response to all sorts of stress..
John P. Weiser
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Fri, 04/22/2011 - 6:55amPk
I'll be sure and ask more often if the results of my quires are always so pleasant!
Thank you for such a prompt responce! ;)
[size=14pt]Very Nice
Richard T. Rodich
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Fri, 04/22/2011 - 2:38pmThlaspi arvensis is an annual weed here in America, too.
the seed heads are nice for dried floral arrangements, though.
Stephen Barstow
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sun, 04/24/2011 - 3:12amThe first day with temperatures above 15C and spring is here:
1) Hepatica nobilis grows wild in my garden and is actually a weed in one of my beds!! However, it has declined in other parts of the garden (possibly due to a dramatic decrease in a species of ant)
2) Petasites palmatus (thanks to Cohan)
3) Tussilago - often taken for granted, but it has its beauty...
4) Crocus sieberi "Firefly"
5) Thlaspi alpestre - a weed that's not discouraged in one of my beds!
Panayoti Kelaidis
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sun, 04/24/2011 - 7:56amStephen: I wish Hepatica were weeds for us! We grow quite a few (mostly pale lavender and pink or white): nothing gorgeous like yours! And I had no idea Petasites were so showy! We have P. japonicus at the Gardens which is not very showy, and P. frigidus in our mountains, which I believe is more green flowered. Love it!
Here are the latest--mostly from Denver Botanic Gardens which is having a banner year (very cool days and very light frost if any at night for many weeks, so plants are blooming forever! Just like Europe...) Usually we alternate arctic blasts with tropical heat and everything is seared and goes over right away. One could get spoiled.
I've been posting all these for John Weiser, who started this thread: I demand pix from him!
Clematis fremontii
Anemone ranunculoides
Caltha palustris
Erigeron pinnatisectus
Erodium absinthoides
Fritillaria pallidiflora
Phlox grayi
Primula auricula
Sanguinaria canadensis 'Multiplex'
Vitaliana primuliflora
Amy Olmsted
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sun, 04/24/2011 - 6:16pmAt long last color in the gardens here! It does my heart good.
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sun, 04/24/2011 - 6:54pmGreat stuff, Stephen! That Hepatica colour is wonderful! Glad the Petasites is flowering for you, they should be coming along in a few weeks here!
I like the Thlaspi too, as when Trond showed it..
cohan (not verified)
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sun, 04/24/2011 - 6:55pmCongrats on all the colour, Amy! Is that Hepatica form native in your area? love them :)
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Sun, 04/24/2011 - 11:47pmMany desirable plants here!
PK, even if you wish for "weedy" Hepaticas, you seem to have more plants to care for than any ;)
Amy, I like the yellow Hellebore! Have tried to sow yellows and the first one flower now but the color doesn't match yours!
Trond Hoy
Re: What do you see on your garden walks?
Mon, 04/25/2011 - 10:11amBack home!
The birches, rowans and other trees, and a lot of shrubs have leafed out while we were on Easter Vaccation. Actually it was all green along the road when we came down from the mountains.
Here is one that immediately caught my eyes when we came home yesterday evening, Glaucidium palmatum.
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