1) Anemone, Aquilegia, Delphinium, and other Ranunculaceae

New Zealand Ranunculus

Submitted by Mark McD on Sun, 12/12/2010 - 09:48

I try to use restraint in cross-posting to our big sister the Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum (SRGC), reserving such actions to point to topics that are not otherwise covered or available here on NARGS (and vice-versa), but I believe NARGS forumists will be enthused to see photos of magnificent alpine New Zealand Ranunculus species, the most mesmerizing are R. haastii and the newly established R. acraeus.

Another great Delphinium

Submitted by Kelaidis on Fri, 05/28/2010 - 23:03

Almost everywhere in the West you will find a tiny, tuberous delphinium that can make a huge impact in spring. I have grown Delphinium nuttallii (which seems to be identical to D. nelsonii, D. bicolor, D. menziesii and others) for many years and it has been reproducing by seed in my blue gramma grass meadow. Due to our incredibly cool spring its flowers have lasted for nearly two months. It as the habit of bulbous plants: popping up, blooming and going dormant quickly...I hope I can encourage it to spread widely through the meadow where it's growing...

Delphinium andersonii

Submitted by Weiser on Fri, 05/21/2010 - 15:37

In the dry west one of the more common Delphiniums found in dry mountain foot hills is Delphinium andersonii. It starts to show green rosettes of foliage as early as March in the western Sierra foot hills at about the 5000' to 7000' elevations. By early May the 24"-30" wands are making their presence known. Their calling cards are, airy vertical wands studded in brilliant blue blossoms.

Anemone blanda

Submitted by Boland on Tue, 04/27/2010 - 17:10

Finally had a sunny day yesterday (cold and wet again today) and the first Anemone blanda opened...this is White Splendor...larger flowers than the other types and blooms a week earlier.

Hepatica

Submitted by Lori S. on Sat, 04/24/2010 - 23:17

Liverleafs are among the first flowers of spring here, and are justifiably popular. As you can see, the foliage can take quite a beating here in more open areas (even despite having snow cover last winter ???).
Here are a few, to get things started:
1 - 4) Hepatica transylvanica
5, 6) Hepatica nobilis (I find it very hard to capture the rich blue-purple of the flowers in photos - these are about as close as I've come.)