July 2013 in the Northern Hemisphere

[PaulM]

What a nice stand of naturalized(?) Kniphofias !

[Tim Ingram]

I was going to reply to Ashley about my Ferula and then saw how many more interesting plants have been mentioned since! The Ferula communis 'Glauca' is about the tallest form, easily reaching 12ft (4m) or more. It is quite distinct for its ochre-yellow (if you were a nurseryman you would say, orange) flowers, and wonderful amethyst flower stems. No, hardly an alpine (!) but when you collect umbellifers you have to have fennels and Bolax gummifera in your garden. I might trade them in for that beautiful white Dactylorhiza!

I am also really interested in Lesley's Hypericum kelleri and memories of Les Kreeger's list. I also had a few plants from him and he grew some amazing plants like Catananche caespitosa. I've always liked hypericums and am slowly building a collection of more and more.

[gerrit]

In a trogue some other fine plants.

1.Campanula raineri 'Alba'.
2.Campanula alsinoides

And in the rock garden

3 and 4. Campanula dolomitica.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Buddleja albiflora and Sideritis syriaca,

[Catwheazle]

 
Calopogon tuberosus and
Lilium marthagon

Bernd

[Lori S.]

And in the rock garden

3 and 4. Campanula dolomitica.

Beautiful plants, Gerrit and everyone else!
Gerrit, do you find Campanula dolomitica to be quite rapidly spreading?

[Maggi Young]

Beautiful plants, Gerrit and everyone else!
Gerrit, do you find Campanula dolomitica to be quite rapidly spreading?

I agree, Lori, some great plants!

I remember this thread about the possible invasiveness of this campanula : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=5613.0    - I think I'd take the risk! 

[Lori S.]

I was just wondering what behavior other people were seeing... I moved mine out of the rock garden and into regular soil where it is spreading quite rapidly (or continues to do this, I should say).  Sounds like Helen's plant behaves like mine.

[gerrit]

Beautiful plants, Gerrit and everyone else!
Gerrit, do you find Campanula dolomitica to be quite rapidly spreading?

Definitely, but I like it so very much, I have to live with its bad behaviour. I learned how. Put him on the top of a steep hill with many rocks and stones and he will intertwine with the rocks in a lovely way.

[Maggi Young]

Definitely, but I like it so very much, I have to live with its bad behaviour. I learned how. Put him on the top of a steep hill with many rocks and stones and he will intertwine with the rocks in a lovely way.

  That sounds like a good idea - I could do something like that.  Thanks Gerrit.

[ruweiss]

Lilium debile from Kamtschatka, it never sets seed. Maybe I need a plant
from another clone to be succesful.
Campanula fragilis, the hairy form from the Abruzzi Mts. It definitely dislikes
water from above, so I keep it in the Alpine house.
Campanula seraglio, in the same section like C. troegerae, choruhenis etc.
Campanula latifoia, it seems, that they enjoyed the cool and wet spring

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Rudi, that Campanula fragilis is absolutely stunning !! 

[ranunculus]

Campanula cochlearifolia alba in the garden.

CAMPANULA COCHLEARIFOLIA ALBA

[Tim Ingram]

Cliff - it does make your heart sing a little to see such a good garden plant as that. It is the alpine gardener's 'cottage garden plant' so to speak - and there are so many lovely campanulas.

These are a bit more exotic. Convolvulus sabatius from the Atlas Mtns. which looks as though it could be quite hardy but generally isn't, and Aloe aristata which looks as though it can't be, but is (down to at least -14°C in our experience). And finally the wonderful silver 'wire-netting' of Artemisia alba 'Canescens' - this dies completely back in winter and always surprises me when it re-emerges to look like this the next summer.

[ruweiss]

Luc, thank you for your friendly reply.
Tim, I am astonished about your experience with the hardiness of
Aloe aristata, think to look for one and try it myself.