March 2014 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Cyril L]

Judicious use of two fridges (not the food fridges!) can extend or delay flowering but you have to be careful. In general I don't leave them in for more than two days at a time. They may however go back inside after a night of fresh air.  Glad you like Lysithea Maggi. The plant shown is a cutting from a seedling I originally raised in 2003 from seed received from Michael Kammerlander collected ex Emmely. I don't like Emmely, it's too vigorous and untidy and not the best colour. It has however given rise to many f2 and f3 hybrids including Tess and Geist. Lysithea is compact for an Emmely seedling and after opening pale yellow, fades to near white.  One or two other people now have it including Aberconwy although it is not in their current list. ....
Paul

Ah! I see, dedicated plant fridges.  The food fridge would not be popular here.

Interesting that D. 'Emmely' (which I have grown and also don't like) has given rise to such fine seedlings as D. 'Tess', D. 'Geist' and G. 'Lysithea'.  I will be watching Aberconwy's list in future.

[David Nicholson]

Those gems were clearly waiting to welcome you home, Anne.
May I wish you ALL the VERY BEST with your recovery and future health? 

.... and very strongly seconded.

[johnralphcarpenter]

First Anemone to flower in the garden: Anemone apennina 'Albiflora'.

[David Nicholson]

Just before today's rains came, from the garden Ipheion (Tristagma) 'Alberto Costillo'

[Maggi Young]

Alberto is a Castillo, David.....
Ours are coming out too. Great plant.

[Giles]

Cherry blossom and crystal blue sky...
P. x subhirtella 'Autumnalis Rosea'

[johnralphcarpenter]

It's Camellia season. Camellia x williamsii 'Water Lily'.

[meanie]

Eccromocarpus scaber is reliably the first of my non bulbous plants to bloom. Started yesterday (8/3/2014) which is earlier than usual by a couple of weeks (last years freakily long winter excepted when it was nearer the end of April)............................


Salvia confertiflora blooming..........................


It has been under this open fronted (and to the side) shade structure all winter and remained in the green. That back wall does protect it from the north though....................

[johnralphcarpenter]

It's Camellia season.

Camellia reticulata 'Innovation'.

[Anne Repnow]

That Salvia confertiflora looks really well and promising! I must like its special place in front of the wooden fence.
And I do like the cherry blossoms against the wonderful blue sky.

Here is a little fella, enjoying the sunshine today: Hepatica nobilis var. japonica 'Purple Forest Hybrid'

[WimB]

Some plants that caught my eye today in the garden:

Adonis 'Hanazono'
Hyacinthella dalmatica
the darkest form of Hepatica nobilis I'm growing
Iris aucheri 'Shooting Star'
Shortia 'Leona'

[ruweiss]

Now flowering in the Alpine House:

    Dielsiocharis kotschyi
    Draba polytricha.
    Oxalis Ann Christie
    Oxalis Dark Eye
    Oxalis Ione Hecker

[Maggi Young]

I love that Oxalis 'Ann Christie'  - one I must try  to get.

[Philip Walker]

A small Soldanella
S. carpatica x pusilla

[meanie]

That Salvia confertiflora looks really well and promising! I must like its special place in front of the wooden fence.

I think that it appreciated it for the winter. I had to dig it up out of the main bed (I was expecting another nasty winter) and it sulked for a few days, but then just got on with it. These flowers started to bud late autumn and just marked time. The other flowers which were more advanced flowered deep into the winter, but those spikes blasted a few weeks ago (I suspect that the longer gaps between the still opening buds at the top offered them less protection).

Here is a little fella, enjoying the sunshine today: Hepatica nobilis var. japonica 'Purple Forest Hybrid'

I need to start some Hepatica. I hear they take shade well?