March 2014 in the Northern Hemisphere

[ebbie]

Ebbie, the setting of your ranunculus is superb.

Thank you, Ashley.

In my experience Townsendia condensata was always monocarpic for me and passed away
after flowering. It also hates overhead watering and after many negative attempts I keep these
beautiful plants under glass.
I like especially the form collected from Alberta, which was offered some years ago by the
AGS seed exchange

Yes, my Townsendia condensata always died after flowering, too. They are monocarpic or at least short-lived.
Rudi, your plants are especially beautiful. Mine were pure white and not so nice.

The low Townsendia are fascinating. Unfortunately, here too likely hold only under permanent protection from moisture. Although Townsendia rothrockii kept it here even a few years outdoors without protection.

[astragalus]

Townsendia montana seems much easier to keep, and a little more accepting of moisture at the wrong time.

[Mike Ireland]

Primula pedemontana in my tufa wall
Pulsatilla vulgaris pale lilac x 2

[ranunculus]

Beautiful images and plants, Mike.

[ChrisB]

Daphne mezereum in full bloom today. 

[shelagh]

Here you are a table setting fit for a banquet.  It's made up of the 6 vases of flowers entry from Saturdays East Lancs Show and a pot of Little Gem which were too uneven for the show bench.

From back to front Narcissus Little Gem
                              Hepatica x meadia Buiss form
                              Scilla melaina
                              Pieris Little Heath
                              Hepatica japonica
                              Corydalis Craigton Red
                              Cyclamen pseudoibericum

[Mike Ireland]

Corydalis solida seedling
Primula darialica
Primula marginata - petals spotted with farina, have I been careless with the label or have the blackbirds nicked another one?

[Tim Ingram]

Very nice P. marginata Mike. I'm pleased how well these are growing on our sand bed and love the variation in this plant - I don't think any I have are as strong coloured as that.

[David Nicholson]

Lovely little Primulas there Mike.

[Mike Ireland]

Lovely little Primulas there Mike.

Very nice P. marginata Mike. I'm pleased how well these are growing on our sand bed and love the variation in this plant - I don't think any I have are as strong coloured as that.

David - Tim
Have always had a soft spot for P. marginata forms.  Really like the dark blues.
They make wonderful patches in the garden, this one is about 30 years old.

[Anne Repnow]

Beautiful, Mike! It is so satisfying, when plants age well.

Here is a pic of my Magnolia 'Galaxy' (Magnolia liliiflora x sprengeri Diva 'Galaxy') - yesterday. It's not worth looking at after last night's frost... 

[Maggi Young]

Here is a pic of my Magnolia 'Galaxy' (Magnolia liliiflora x sprengeri Diva 'Galaxy') - yesterday. It's not worth looking at after last night's frost... 

If it is not too painful a question, Anne - when  such a magnolia has its flowers frosted, do they fall immediately or just hang there like old teabags?

[Anne Repnow]

  Old teabags... nice picture! The petals hang on for a few days and then fall down. Fortunately only the open flowers are affected, those in bud are not. So I am hoping for a nice if reduced display in a week or so.

Foto 1: Frost damaged magnolia petals and Omphalodes verna 'Alba'
Foto 2: Ranunculus ficaria 'Ken Aslet'

[Tim Ingram]

This plant is irresisitable on the sand bed at the moment! Callianthemum anemonoides. Who wouldn't be an alpine gardener?!

[ranunculus]

Beautiful, Tim ... I will try and get an image of my plant over the next few days.