May in the Northern Hemisphere

[Yann]

and not far the coast it's orchid's festival

Ophrys aranifera, aranifera x insectifera

I can see Ralph and Arthur's house in my lens 

[johnralphcarpenter]

I can see Ralph and Arthur's house in my lens 

 

[Leucogenes]

Hi Robert

I am absolutely thrilled with the Eriogonum prattenianum. Not only the woolly grey foliage is beautiful. I find the loose growth of your copy particularly interesting.

At my time E. ovalifolium var. nivale and also E. umbellatum flowers. However, I can't tell what kind of variation it is... maybe you can say it.

Thomas

[Robert]

This is the sole survivor after a field vole party last winter. Up here in the mountains the snow has just disappeared. And in stead of a great display of flowering Pulsatilla vernalis we found a damaged meadow.

Trond,

The photographs look like the vole damage we would get at the farm. It is hard to earn a living farming with armies of voles running around.

How often is there vole damage as you pictured? Do you think that the winter snowfall, cold temperatures, or the length of time with snow on the ground were contributing factors?

Hi Robert

I am absolutely thrilled with the Eriogonum prattenianum. Not only the woolly grey foliage is beautiful. I find the loose growth of your copy particularly interesting.

At my time E. ovalifolium var. nivale and also E. umbellatum flowers. However, I can't tell what kind of variation it is... maybe you can say it.

Thomas

Thomas,

There are at least 25 varieties of Eriogonum umbellatum in California. Your plant is certainly nicely grown!  I like your Eriogonum ovalifolium var. nivale too. I just have pink flowering forms at this time.

Yes, I am thrilled with Eriogonum prattenianum too.    It is even better in person! It was the only one to germinate from seed I gathered several years ago. I plan on trying more in the future. 

More nice looking plants from our garden.



Clarkia concinna ssp. concinna is one of a number of Clarkias blooming for us at this time.



It is Collinsia time. Collinsia heterophylla var. heterophylla



Collinsia tinctoria



Dichelostemma multiflorum - grown from seed gathered on Peavine Ridge. I like this one. 



Silene laciniata ssp. californica - They have been blooming for some time now and will continue to bloom on and off all summer into the autumn.

[Robert]

Allium unifolium in our front garden. A common species, but I would not be without it in our garden. 



Stipa lemmonii var. lemmonii - grow from seed gathered near Riverton, El Dorado County, California. I like many of our California native bunch grasses. This is the first season for this one to bloom. I like to let them seed about in the garden here and there. It looks very natural. Elymus multisetus is seeding around our garden now. If the seedlings are in good locations I leave them to grow. 

[kris]

Two saxifrages from the garden
1.Saxifraga oppositifolia
2. Saxifraga Kabschia sp

[meanie]

Robert - Collinsia tinctoria is a gem!

[Robert]

Robert - Collinsia tinctoria is a gem!

meanie,

I agree, Collinsia tinctoria is a real gem. They are even better when they seed themselves around the garden without my effort. Not yet with this species, however Collinsia heterophylla is seedling around a bit now.

[Diane Whitehead]

Those little tinctoria faces belong in a children's movie.  I'm surprised Walt Disney
never used them.

[Graham Catlow]

Gentian acaulis. It never flowers profusely but is always stunning.

[Maggi Young]

Those little tinctoria faces belong in a children's movie.  I'm surprised Walt Disney
never used them.

I see what you mean- do we know any  animated film-makers we can give the suggestion ?!

[Maggi Young]

Gentian acaulis. It never flowers profusely but is always stunning.

Looks pretty good to me, Graham!

[Graham Catlow]

Looks pretty good to me, Graham!

Thanks Maggi.

[Robert]

Hi Thomas,

Eriogonum prattenianum var. prattenianum photographed this morning on Peavine Ridge, 11 May. Clearly the plant I am cultivating is not as dense. I love it anyway! 

By the way, it and many other Eriogonum species look close to dead during the wintertime. I actually like this too. 

[Leucogenes]

(Attachment Link)

Hi Thomas,

Eriogonum prattenianum var. prattenianum photographed this morning on Peavine Ridge, 11 May. Clearly the plant I am cultivating is not as dense. I love it anyway! 

By the way, it and many other Eriogonum species look close to dead during the wintertime. I actually like this too. 

Hi Robert

thank you for the beautiful photo of Eriogonum prattenianum var. prattenianum from the wilderness. Personally, I like the habit of your specimen even more. Congratulations.

I show two pictures of Eriogonum kennedyi. It's new in my Alpinum. The origin... California, Ventura County, 2645 meters. I hope I can keep it alive. It is permanently covered against water from above. I find this species particularly delicate.

Thomas