February 2019 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Johan K.]

Some Carnivorous plants in flower.

Pinguicula esseriana

Pinguicula gracilis

Pinguicula 'Tina'

[jomowi]

Iris unguicularis ‘Mary Barnard’ AGM and I. unguicularis ‘Peloponnese Snow’

[Gail]

Particularly rich colour on the Mary Barnard, very nice. My Peloponnese Snow hasn't deigned to flower yet.

[jomowi]

Particularly rich colour on the Mary Barnard, very nice. My Peloponnese Snow hasn't deigned to flower yet.

Gail, I bought my 'Peloponnese Snow' in 2015 and this is the first flower.  'Mary Barnard' has done exceptionally well this year compared with other years.  I'm thinking it is probably down to the hot summer we had last year? 

[Gail]

I bought my 'Peloponnese Snow' from Edrom Nurseries at the end of 2017 so it sounds as though I've still got a while to wait then.
Fingers crossed for some more hot summers.

[ruweiss]

In spite of frosty nights, the day temperatures rised to unusual temperatures up to
+ 18°C, a chance for for the early geophytes to show their beauty. It was a pleasure
to walk outdoors. The forecast says,that this weather gets colder again at Tuesday.

[ruweiss]

More pictures:

[Gail]

Lovely Rudi, my crocus were attracting lots of honey bees today but I don't have anything like the number there. Is that an old orchard where the Eranthis are growing?

[David Nicholson]

I bought my 'Peloponnese Snow' from Edrom Nurseries at the end of 2017 so it sounds as though I've still got a while to wait then.
Fingers crossed for some more hot summers.

Same problem with me, different supplier

[jomowi]

I bought my 'Peloponnese Snow' from Edrom Nurseries at the end of 2017 so it sounds as though I've still got a while to wait then.
Fingers crossed for some more hot summers.

Gail, you are in a warmer part of the UK than I am, so maybe you won't have to wait as long.  I should have said in my original post that I give it (and any early flowering subject) a couple of feeds of high potash in mid-late summer which should encourage flower formation. There is another flower bud on 'Peloponnese Snow' to come, but the growth habit is far less vigorous than that of 'Mary Barnard' and other Iris unguicularis clones.  Maureen.

[Hannelore]

Spring is really starting:







Hannelore

[Steve Garvie]

Iris unguicularis Peloponnese Snow. Pot grown in a sunny south-facing frame.

[ruweiss]

Lovely Rudi, my crocus were attracting lots of honey bees today but I don't have anything like the number there. Is that an old orchard where the Eranthis are growing?

The Eranthis and the Crocus grow in old and rather neglected orchards near our meadow garden. It is amazing to see
how the Crocus sow themselves around and different shades of blue appear there.

[Robert]

19 February 2019
0430 UTC



Today was clear and cool in our part of Northern California. The spring flowers are holding up well despite the wind and the rain over the past week or so.

Iris reticulata ‘Harmony’ and Cyclamen coum. Cyclamen coum has been blooming for more than a month now. It seeds about the garden easily.



Iris reticulata ‘Harmony’ is the most durable reticulata type Iris in our garden. Other species and forms have been short lived, however ‘Harmony’ is slowly increasing and hopefully will be a long lasting asset to our garden.



Pseudotrillium rivale coming up through Cyclamen hederifolium foliage.

Pseudotrillium rivale and Trillium angustipetalum thrive in our Sacramento, California garden. Now that they are setting seed, I gather the seed and sow it each season to spread them around and hopefully get some interesting variation.



It is that time of year. The early forms of Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii are in full bloom now. The late blooming selections will be blooming in about a month. A full month or more of Dodecatheon hendersonii in flower does not hurt my feelings at all.



These are among my favorite of the early spring bloomers. The species has a good color range, white through deep magenta. I actively breed for superior forms. The first batch of hybrids will most likely bloom next year.

[Robert]

The first Erythronium multiscapidium flower to open this season.

My Erythronium collection is finally starting to get established in our Sacramento garden with many other species emerging from the ground now. I am extremely pleased that they survived the move from the Placerville farm. Breeding for tolerance to our climatic conditions is a prime goal. This is still a few years away as the other species get established in our garden.

In addition, I grow many selections of Erythronium multiscapidium from my personal accessions from various sites in California. Intraspecific hybrids are in the works with the first batch of seedling scheduled to bloom in a year or two.



This may be a lavender form of Geissorhiza inflexa. They are very lovely and will be worked into the garden soon.

Now it is time to prepare for the next snowstorm at the farm.