February 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Robert]

I have not been able to tend to garden for over 5 weeks. 

This generic Iris reticulata was looking good and brought good cheer. 

[vivienne Condon]

Anne, I feel for you, you wait all year for a special plant to flower and something takes it in minutes.
You were all on our news again tonight showing collapsed buildings from the weight of snow and freezing cold minus 20c. Cars running into each other slipping every where, people shovelling snow of their roof.

[TC]

Some dwarf Iris in flower.  They have been like this since the 3d Feb.  The same ones in pots only last about 10 days.  Moral.....plant outside in the ground and leave them alone !

[astragalus]

What a lovely combination.  It's nice to see something other than snow.

[John85]

TC
Please tell us what you use against the slugs.
Here the choice is more like 10 days in the greenhouse or no flowers outside !!!

[Irm]

Helleborus 'Pink Ice' 

[Irm]

and Eranthis 'Schwefelglanz'

[TC]

John 85
I don't use anything for slug control outside just now.  It's far too cold for them to survive.  Slugs and snails are active when the temp. reaches about 10°C.
My regime is to go out in the dark, usually 10pm, with a torch and bamboo skewer and produce slug kebabs.
I regularly examine pots inside and outside for any signs and also look for eggs, usually under the pots. I obviously miss some but I have no serious problem...famous last words !

[Maggi Young]

Helleborus 'Pink Ice' 

 Yes, that is worth a big smile, Irm!

[annew]

The sun makes everything really glow at this time of year. The Cyclamen coum make quite a statement en masse.

[Maggi Young]

Anne, just the loveliest pictures of spring glories, thank you!

[Matt T]

What an amazing patch of C.coum! How long has that taken to achieve, Anne?

[Tim Ingram]

Wonderful Anne. This is what gardening is all about! I enjoy seeing plants in individual detail but they don't really come to life until you put them together in the garden. Lovely to see and inspiring.

[Robert]

Today was a delightful day to "walk" the farm. Most of the land has never been cultivated. 75 years ago or more cattle were grazed here. The forbes are dominated by invasive non-native grasses and other weedy species. Over the past few years I have been working on restoring the native flora. Below are some of the results.

1.) Blue Dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum)  This is one of the many bulb species that are returning to the farm property. Some of the colonies are already getting quite large. Millions of seedling are coming up everywhere now.

2.) Rananculus canus - californicus  With good rainfall and proper land stewardship they can grow in masses.

3.) Snakeroot (Sanicula bipinnatifida)  This is a huge success. From only one colony 2 years ago they have seeded out to form 4 colonies in various locations. Selective hand weeding and land management "as with fire" has encouraged all of the natives on the farm.

4 & 5.) Dodecatheon hendersonii  There are thousands now where once there were only a few. The show is fantastic. I wish that I knew how to capture this sight with a photograph.

A new arrival is Saxifraga integrifolia. I never planted them, they just showed-up. I will try again to get a good photograph. There are about 10-15 plants this year. I am looking forward to more.

[Paul T]

Looks like you're having wonderful success, Robert.  Well done.