June 2015 in the Northern Hemisphere

[François Lambert]

Like this, even?

of course.  I have thousands of these in my lawn.

[johnw]

Like this, even?

Ah but that could well be 'Ian's Select'?

[Robert]

Like this, even?

Ralph,

One never knows. Someone could be inspired by the Dandelions in their lawn. Next thing they are growing Agoseris species, then other Asteraceae, then the most difficult of aplines.     

[meanie]

but I hope no-one ever doubts the posting of  commonly grown plants - after all there are readers of these pages who are complete newcomers to rock garden, alpine and woodland plants and it can only be a great advantage to them to see the whole range of plants available which can be used to beautify our gardens without undue difficulty or great expense!
Besides, even the most common plant can be a delight to see in a portrait or habitat photo!

I totally agree.
I once got told off on another forum for posting a photo of Arum maculatum because "it's a weed". Whilst I couldn't argue with that technically it's a weed that I grow from seed for the interesting (if slight) variety in shades and picotee edge. Sadly I lacked the courage to point out that she had posted a photo of Teasel under the title "one of my favourite plants"!!! The strength of this forum is that it is "inhabited" by knowledgeable people who are not looking to score points.
The downside of the forum is my rapidly expanding bulb collection from seed. Probably the main reason that I'm avoiding the Southern Hemisphere post for a while 

[Hoy]

Dandelions? Try to grow this one!

[Tim Ingram]

Prof. John Richards cut his scientific teeth on dandelions which shows great fortitude! How about Lactuca intricata, one of those irresistable plants that crops up in the Czech seedlists - how can you resist a spiny lettuce . I gave one of these to Peter Erskine when we visited his garden once and he thanked me for giving him some rabbit food! And then there is Cichorium spinosum and the beautiful pink dandelion Crepis incana. In a way the plant world plays with us and gives such huge opportunities to learn. One man's weed is another man's delight, which is easy for someone who is fascinated by umbellifers to say!

[Maggi Young]

Dandelions? Try to grow this one!

Taraxicum arcticum - as featured on the cover of this issue of IRG . eh? !! 

[meanie]

Dandelions? Try to grow this one!

I would happily try but Dandelions (and several other weeds) are a sore point. When I moved here the garden was full of Japanese Anenomes, Teasel, Aquilega, Primrose, Forget me Nots, Perriwinkle, Hemorcallis etc. Basically anything that was invasive or a prolific self seeder. The reason for this was that the previous gardeners are notoriously tight. So I set about getting shot of this lot and as huge clumps were dug out and put in bags for the dump I infilled from the compost heap. What a fool - they were that tight that even weeds and any seeds on them went on the compost heap. I get Ivy springing up everywhere now not to mention all the other previously listed nasties.

[Philip Walker]

Arisaema franchetianum-possibly
Digitalis thapsi
Lewisia 'Little Plum'
Parahebe cataractae

[Philip Walker]

Unkown Penstemon
Physoplexis comosa
A tiny Veronica

[Robert]

meanie,

To get back to you about Deppea splendens......

Unfortunately it is not a plant I am familiar with. At one time the University of California, Berkeley had quite the collection of Meso-American plants in their arboretum. Maybe they still do. It has been 10 years since I last visited their arboretum. 30-40 years ago there was much horticultural activity in the San Francisco Bay area. The climate for many plants is fantastic - no frost or very little frost during the winter, foggy cool days all summer. My understanding is that things have changed considerably in their horticultural world - but I do not know for sure.

Anyway, Deppea splendens seems a beauty. I look forward to your photographs when you get the seedlings to blooming age.

[Robert]

A few photographs from the garden.

1&2> Delphinium hanseni - One of our California native species. I enjoy growing Delphiniums. Many of our native species are 100% xeric as well as very heat tolerant - much easier to grow with our climatic conditions. Summer dormant.

3> Allium flavum - of some sort. Kind a like miniature fireworks.

4> Artemisia arbuscula getting ready to go out into the scree garden. Very dwarf and very silvery foliage. From seed - 9,000 feet (2,743 meters), Alpine county, California.

5> Eriogonum nudum var. dedectum -  a great plant! Still in bloom after many months. Dwarf and xeric.

[Robert]

1> Lilium pardalinum - A simple and easy-to-grow California species.

2> Lilium 'Whirling Dervish' - A strong L. pardalinum hybrid with flower power. A well established plant can have hundreds of flowers each season.

[johngennard]

Difficult to appreciate the spread of this saxifrage 'Tumbling Waters' but it measures 5ft.(150cms.) across.Quite different to the weldenia candida

[Maggi Young]

Glorious and pristine whites, both of them, John. I think your Weldenia  is W. candida?

You'd have a hard task to transport that Saxifraga to a show - but Bakewell is coming up - are you trying it?