May in the Northern Hemisphere

[shelagh]

Brian is posting here for the first time.  He says 3 quite fresh looking ferns. But no 3 pan Fern class at Saturday's Show. They might not have got a sticker (of any colour) but the public could have seen them.

From L to R Polystichum divisilobum plumosum densum, Cryptogramma crispa and Asplenium trichomanes.

[Lampwick]

All relatively young plants, except the Salix, hence the mediocre pictures. 

[Lampwick]

And the Salix. . .

[Sally]

Arturo,
The garden is at about 2400 feet elevation, USDA Zone 5ish. The last frost date is around May 1 and first frost generally occurs sometime between the third week of September and the second week of October.  Summer daytime high temperatures range from the 80s to 100 degrees Fahrenheit and night-time temperatures are 45-65 degrees.  Average annual precipitation for this area is around 14 inches. The north slope holds snow a long time and the soil is deep so I don't supply much extra water. 

Perhaps someone more knowledgeable about Cypripediums will have an idea about your possibility of success growing them.  They are such beautiful plants; I wish you luck. I can't claim any skill; they receive benign neglect!

Sally
South of Lewiston, Idaho

[hamparstum]

Sally,
     Thank you so much for your information. My place is slightly higher ( about 2650 ft asl) and considerably more wetter :about 24 inches almost all rain and restricted to fall and winter, which could be considered equivalent of standing snow ( water wise but not temperature protection wise). With your benign neglect procedure it would sound as if they are fairly drought resistant or at least adapted to summer dryness. Although I will search for other advice, with what you provided it seems that I might succeed in growing those here. Thank you again. Arturo

[Leucogenes]

...a small plant that I particularly like...Helichrysum frigidum (Castroviejoa frigida) from Corsica.

[Roma]

An exciting new plant in my garden - Verbascum phoeniceum x epixanthinum
Verbascum epixanthinum flowered in 2016.  Last year I noticed seedlings growing in the paths between the raised beds.   I didn't look too closely and thought they were V. epixanthinum.  I potted a few up and took them to plant sales where nobody was interested.  One plant was growing in a bed so I left it.  A few days ago I noticed the buds on it were purple and after a closer look at the leaves I realised it must be a hybrid.  The first flower opened yesterday.  A purple V. phoeniceum was growing close by so I assume it is the other parent. 

[Roma]

Verbascum epixanthinum leaves

Flowering starting

Spike elongated (on the left)

Verbascum phoeniceum - flowers shrivelled after a hot day today

[ian mcdonald]

Roma, your pink Verbascum is a plant worthy of any border.

[Roma]

Thanks, Ian.  And to think I nearly pulled it out

[Yann]

Yann,
I guess this is a Silene species - perhaps Silene uniflora.

Gerd

Gerd i think you find it, i've checked in a key flora and it matchs. Thanks

[astragalus]

Cypripedium montanum (I believe..correct me if I'm wrong) blooming in my garden now:


Sally
South of Lewiston, Idaho

It's obviously very happy in your conditions.

[kris]

after a long drought some rain today. Three pictures from the garden.
1.Allium karataviense
2.Clematis columbiniana tenuiloba
3.Erigeron compactus

[Leucogenes]

Fantastic...kris. I find the Erigeron compactus particularly beautiful in combination with the Townsendia (if I see it correctly 😊). And the number of flowers on your clematis is remarkable and amazing. My admiration.

Thomas

[Leucogenes]

I agree with your wife Thomas  In any case you must be naturally inclined towards order

I've only seen Silene dinarica in pictures unfortunately.. Piatra Craiului is not that easily accessible like Bucegi Mts.; it needs a trip allocated specially. There are many other treasures there.

Gabriela

I must rectify myself. This Silene dinarica is not from the Munții Piatra Craiului. The seeds were collected at Munții Făgăraș

Since I am not sure whether my seedlings will survive the current heat wave, I bought two larger specimens from botanical friends today.

I hope to present the beautiful purple flowers next year.

Thomas