April 2014 in the Northern Hemisphere

[astragalus]

Is your tufa wall protected in any way during the winter?
The androsaces are certainly happy there.

[Mike Ireland]

Is your tufa wall protected in any way during the winter?
The androsaces are certainly happy there.

There is no protection for the wall.  If plants start to suffer in the winter months I may install a tempory winter cover.
So far all the plants have survived very well.

[meanie]

I put one of my Kalanchoe x houghtonii outdoors in a sheltered spot a few weeks ago. It spent the winter in the unheated greenhouse and was loaded with flower buds. First bloom is open and the colour is better than the pampered ones in my opinion.................




My "Old faithful", Salvia discolor is in full bloom....................


It should continue to perform like this deep into autumn.

[Zdenek]

Three androsace flowering on my tufa wall.
Androsace muscoidea breviscapa
Androsace muscoidea Schacht Form x 2
Androsace vandellii

Androsace muscoidea breviscapa is sometimes called A. robusta breviscapa, isn't it ?

[Maggi Young]

Androsace muscoidea breviscapa is sometimes called A. robusta breviscapa, isn't it ?

This is another plant that seems to be seen under many names. It  has often been seen on the show benches in the UK as Androsace muscoidea breviscapa   or Androsace muscoidea Breviscapa   - but the flora of Pakistan suggests, under the listing for Androsace villosa var. robusta f. breviscapa Knuth, l.c.
  = Androsace robusta ssp. robusta  that : "The species Androsace robusta has also been confused with and included in Androsace muscoidea by several authors (Handel-Mazzetti 1927, p. 163 and Gould 1982). The two taxa are quite distinct not only morphologically but also occupy to a greater extent different areas."

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=250081171 lists
Androsace muscoidea f. longiscapa Knuth, sensu Handel-Mazzetti
Androsace villosa var. robusta f. breviscapa Knuth
Androsace villosa var. robusta f. longiscapa Knuth
 as synonyms for Androsace robusta ssp. robusta YASIN J. NASIR

 http://www.tropicos.org/Name/100288641

Nothing is ever simple, is it? 

[Mike Ireland]

 

Androsace muscoidea breviscapa is sometimes called A. robusta breviscapa, isn't it ?

Wow Maggi,  pleased you answered that question as I have absolutely no idea.
What a good job we have ladies to look after us.

Mike

[astragalus]

It snowed last night so all the hellebores that were coming into bloom are now flat on the ground.  Hopefully it will malt rapidly today.  Winter really doesn't want to leave this year.

[Zdenek]

Thank you Maggi for your explanation. You are a good ghost of this Forum.

[ranunculus]

Images from the past few days … all taken in our small front garden here in Lancashire.

[ranunculus]

Some more ...

[ranunculus]

Some more ...

[ranunculus]

Some more … mainly from today ...

[ranunculus]

Final few ...

[Robert]

Viola stojanowii. It blooms almost all summer, despite our 38c heat.

[Chris Johnson]

Great series of images, Cliff. I particularly like #15 showing the layout and scale.