April 2018 in Northern Hemisphere

[ArnoldT]

Robert:

The Korea quince if unpalatable off the tree.

Needs to be cooked and sweeten before even considering eating it.

The Koreans here slice it up and cover with honey to make a healthy tea.

One spoonful of the Quince honey mix in a cup of hot water.

I've not seen too many pollinators with apples, pears plums and quinces in bloom.

See the EU just posted a ban on one of the alleged bee killers.

[Robert]

This photograph was taken today, 29 April, at 6,800 feet (2,073 meters) in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The snow is beginning to melt from this meadow. The meadow is somewhat flooded with flowing water. Despite the swampy conditions, new sprouts are emerging everywhere. Deciduous shrubs are sprouting on the perimeter of the meadow. Herbaceous perennial species are sprouting even in the swampy soup in the middle of the meadow. Many annuals that sprouted with the first autumn rainfall are awaking from their winter sleep.

[Hoy]

Spring blooming, Jomfruland, Norway. Spring is a bit late but welcome!




Hepatica nobilis. A bit late for most of them.

[Hoy]

Cochlearia officinalis.






Native Viola tricolor, very common and very variable.

[Hoy]

The island is famous for the spring blooming of Anemone nemorosa.

[Robert]

Hi Trond,

It looks like spring weather has finally arrived in your region. I like the Viola species. The last photograph looks like a cultivated Viola that has escaped its domestic home. 

Nice scenes of the expansive coast. It looks like it could go on that way forever. 

[Hoy]

Robert, the spring comes and disappear! Now it is cold and rainy, barely above freezing!

The viola is Viola tricolor, a common native. It is very showy but variable. Some colonies are better than other.

[Leena]

Some pictures from last Monday from my garden. Snowdrops are still flowering as are Crocus, Hepatica nobilis has been flowering for the past week, Corydalis is now at it's best, most Hellebores are now starting to flower. It is such a good time of year for me!

[Leena]

Erythronium sibiricum
Leucojum vernum
Early Helleborus niger finishing flowering
Helleborus multifidus has also been an early one

[Gabriela]

Lovely pictures Leena! It is such a wonderful time We are at the same stage almost, the Corydalis are flowering, Helleborus, Anemone... although it got so warm (25C+ yesterday) it feels like summer and the spring flowers will fade fast.
I love the depth of your pictures not possible in smaller gardens.

[ashley]

Lovely pictures Leena! It is such a wonderful time We are at the same stage almost, the Corydalis are flowering, Helleborus, Anemone... although it got so warm (25C+ yesterday) it feels like summer and the spring flowers will fade fast.
I love the depth of your pictures not possible in smaller gardens.

Yes beautiful.  That's a remarkably deep red corydalis (C. solida?) behind your Crocus herbertii in the second photo Leena.  Is it a named cultivar?

[David Nicholson]

It is lovely to see your garden now that your Spring has arrived Leena.

[Leena]

Thank you.  I think also here the spring flowers will be over fast this year, but Hellebores are good in that way that they stay longer than other spring flowers.

Yes beautiful.  That's a remarkably deep red corydalis (C. solida?) behind your Crocus herbertii in the second photo Leena.  Is it a named cultivar?

Ashley, yes you are right.  There are two corydalis there. On the left there is C.kuznetsovii x solida 'Cherry Lady' (from Augis bulbs), very intense colour and a sterile hybrid. On the right there is bigger C.solida 'Royal Red (from Janis Ruksans).  I have bought named red cultivars so that someday I could have lots of red ones from seeds, but so far most of my seedlings are either pink or muddy blueish. I should weed out all the blueish ones..

[David Nicholson]

Ah yes Augis Bulbs does anyone know if Eugenijus Dambrauskas is likely to be selling again?

[ashley]

Thanks Leena.  Both look wonderful.  Perhaps your more 'continental' climate also intensifies the colour.