Saxifraga 2015.

[Giles]

'Beryl Bland'

[fixpix]

Very pretty Giles, I love it 

[Lesley Cox]

This is very nice indeed. If only we (in the SH) could obtain such plants....long, long sigh inserted here.

[adrian young]

S. Beryl Bland is a nice cultivar, its a pity it is not more available.
The nurserymen tell me that kabschia cv's with a tall flower stem
do not sell, can't understand this myself.
S. stribrnyi x S. columnaris, raised by Karel Lang

[adrian young]

David Walkey has named a new cultivar
S. Tysoe Carnival (S. Tysoe x S. Tysoe Splendour)
as you can see it is markedly two coloured
Opens Persil white and then turns pink, big flowers.

[Maggi Young]

Very pretty.

 The colour change may  go against its success as a show plant - I can think of listening to too many comments about such flowers - " they're showing pink, it's  well past its prime, it's going over"  when, in fact, such flowers may simply be in another stage of growth and be a long way off "going over". 
Like the way some plants turn pink when the flowers are fertilised - they're downgraded as being past it - not the sort of argument that would stand up if applied to a pregnant woman, I  guess!

I tend to view such plants as showing their  full glory.

[Maggi Young]

S. Beryl Bland is a nice cultivar, its a pity it is not more available.
The nurserymen tell me that kabschia cv's with a tall flower stem
do not sell, can't understand this myself.
S. stribrnyi x S. columnaris, raised by Karel Lang

It is a good plant - and the "real" Beryl Bland is a lovely person, too!  How odd that there is some reluctance to buy such plants - your pictures show just how attractive they are.
I suppose the preference is for the plants which make domes of flowers  like a "classic" cushion plant?  Fashion/popularity is a strange thing, and no mistake.

[adrian young]

Yes BB is a remarkable lady.
We are having a Silver Sax Day at WPY on 28th June,
she is our Guest of Honour

[adrian young]

Very pretty.

 The colour change may  go against its success as a show plant - I can think of listening to too many comments about such flowers - " they're showing pink, it's  well past its prime, it's going over"  when, in fact, such flowers may simply be in another stage of growth and be a long way off "going over". 
Like the way some plants turn pink when the flowers are fertilised

The world of Alpine plant shows is a bit of a mystery to me (and many others) just because a plant has two stages of flower colour
it is marked down, don't get it. Just like kabschia with flower stems are marked down compared to the cushions with sessile flowers.
Never mind I will still visit all the AGS spring shows just to see the remarkable plants, even if they are marked down.

[Tim Ingram]

Maggi - now there is a new criteria to judge a plant, to compare it to the 'bloom' of pregnancy I would say that that is a highly appropriate comparison that judges might take on board if they are truly impartial. It might actually result in plants being less judged and more admired?

[Maggi Young]

 - a consummation devoutly to be wished, Tim

[Maggi Young]

Quite right, Adrian - always worth  visiting the shows, even if one doesn't agree with the judges!

[ian mcdonald]

It is a good thing that our native saxifrages are not criticized for not being "perfect." I prefer to see them as they are in the wild and not as "cultured" exhibits.

[erf]

Hello
I am thinking on starting to grow saxifraga. Can anyone provide me with some beginners tips. Is it best to start from seeds? Where do I best buy seeds / plants. What time of year is it best to sow?
have anyone a "beginners guide to saxifraga cultivation".
As a gartener I know most about hardy orchids. I live in Denmark in clima zone 8.
Regards Erling

[David Nicholson]

Hello
have anyone a "beginners guide to saxifraga cultivation".

I've always found this very useful "Saxifrages from Scratch"-A Saxifrage Society Guide by Malcolm McGregor and obtainable from The Saxifrage Society.   http://www.saxifraga.org/publications/default.htm  The word "Scratch" may be translated as "from the beginning"