Saxifraga 2014

[ruweiss]

Flowering of Saxifrages starts quite early in my garden
the pictures are from today

[krisderaeymaeker]

Flowering of Saxifrages starts quite early in my garden
the pictures are from today

Beautiful Rudi ! Here they also starting . This S. 'Cumulus ' looks very promising .
Also first flowers on Saxifraga 'Sissi ' ? (lost my label ) and on Saxifraga 'Verona '

[David Nicholson]

Nice start to the season.

[fixpix]

Wonderful!
Saxifraga climbs a few positions in my top every time I see new pictures...

[Luc Gilgemyn]

A couple from me :


Clockwise starting from top left : Sax. 'Coolock Kate' 'Mary Golds' and 'Lana' 


I love S. 'J.W. Goethe' in bud !

[David Nicholson]

Very nice Luc, I really ought to get my act together as far as Saxes are concerned. They look very happy in your tufa bed, do you leave them uncovered all year?

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Very nice Luc, I really ought to get my act together as far as Saxes are concerned. They look very happy in your tufa bed, do you leave them uncovered all year?

Thanks David.
Yes, they have to cope with all that nature throws at them !

[David Nicholson]

Thanks David.
Yes, they have to cope with all that nature throws at them !

Good to know Luc. Had they been here they would have been buried in around 4cm of hail stones an hour ago!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Good to know Luc. Had they been here they would have been buried in around 4cm of hail stones an hour ago!

oops.... it was plain rainwater here, David ! 

[fixpix]

Can someone explain to a real novice (=ME) does Saxifraga need to be growing on plain rocks?
I mean is this by its own choice, or a necessity?
Is it because it likes it, or because it's the only place where it doesn't have any competition from bigger, stronger plants?
I am trying to germinate a few kinds (and Androsace too) and I am wondering where I'm gonna plant them.
The thing is, we have very hot (35-40 C) and very dry without rains for months sometimes.
As my small flower garden is 10 km away and I visit maybe 2-3 times a week I am afraid they would dry out if I perch them on top of some rocks.
Would they be OK in a raised bed with nicely mixed grit in the soil?

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Can someone explain to a real novice (=ME) does Saxifraga need to be growing on plain rocks?
I mean is this by its own choice, or a necessity?
Is it because it likes it, or because it's the only place where it doesn't have any competition from bigger, stronger plants?
I am trying to germinate a few kinds (and Androsace too) and I am wondering where I'm gonna plant them.
The thing is, we have very hot (35-40 C) and very dry without rains for months sometimes.
As my small flower garden is 10 km away and I visit maybe 2-3 times a week I am afraid they would dry out if I perch them on top of some rocks.
Would they be OK in a raised bed with nicely mixed grit in the soil?

They would, fixpix, they would be ok in a gritty soil.
On tufa rock they tend to be more compact and as the rock holds water quite well, they can easilly cope with a drought once they are established (after about 1 growing year) But there's no objection in growing them in a gritty soil, they will do fine !

[fixpix]

Thank you, that's good news!

[ChrisB]

I've had this sax. Over 20 years now.  It took a long time to settle but once I'd removed a nearby daphne it's started to thrive.  This is its best yr ever for bloom.  Label said S.Prinz Hal when I bought it but open to suggestion for what really is as that name not in Plantfinder.

[Maggi Young]

What a cracker, Christine - I'd be very pleased with that.  Seems right to name too - Rob P. is out of stock of it right now, but has a photo :
https://pottertons.co.uk/pott/view_product.php?pid=1984  and another  pic :
http://www.uib.no/arboretet/artikler/2009/03/tidleg-vaarbloming-i-botanisk-hage-paa-milde

[David Nicholson]

I would be pleased with that too.