My Bit of Heaven - by Kristl Walek

[Kristl Walek]

I'll end tonight's posts with a few alvar pictures. You might recall my mention last year of the huge masses of Saxifraga virginiensis that grow on seasonally-wet areas of this limestone alvar.

These are views of *SMALL* portions of that mass--there are thousands of plants carpeting the landscape in spring here.

And the yellow one can see in the rear of the mass of Early Saxifraga is Early Buttercup (Ranunculus fascicularis).

[Lvandelft]

Very interesting pictures again Kristl! Polygala paucifolia and Ranunculus fascicularis are totally new to me.
Saxifraga virginalis is now and then seen in rock gardens in Europe, but gives no idea that it is so beautiful when growing
in such drifts.
I acquired this spring a plant as Uvularia sessilifolia and now I know that it is the true one!

[annew]

Anne,
Graham and I talked about your question today---and agree that 99.9% of the plants we have seen growing in the woods are single-stemmed. One occasion one can see a two or three stemmed plant, but normally out of it's ordinary habitat and receiving dissimilar conditions (at the side of the road, by itself, in more light) instead of in the woods.
[/quote]
Very interesting. I wonder whether they inhibit each other by some sort of root secretions, or whether the plants are very short lived?

[Kristl Walek]

After a stressful week with my Nova Scotia property purchase repeatedly dying and being revived; the deal finally closed today, with moving date of July 29th.

In between, I almost reverted to staying in Ontario; but it appears that the east coast is where I am intended to be.

The provincial flower of Ontario is Trillium grandiflorum ... and Epigaea repens for Nova Scotia.

In the time I have remaining, I will continue with the Ontario natives I did not show you last year. After July 29th; I will focus on Nova Scotia plants and habitats.

[Brian Ellis]

Congratulations Kristl, how on earth do you decide what plants to take with you

[admin]

Try that now. Blank page removed

[Staale]

Congratulations, Kristl! A distressing period ahead for you with all the practialities connected to moving, I'm sure, but Nova Scotia seems like a wonderful place to be.

[Kristl Walek]

I am going to do another test of sorts---it seems to me that at some point I managed to post ONE picture, but anything past one would not work. So it may be that your own cute animal tests may not be totally indicative of a fix...

This time I will try two or three...

[Kristl Walek]

It's a rare year when one sees the Striped Maple, Acer pensylvanicum hanging
heavy with flowers.

Beautiful new foliage and emerging catkins of Betula pumila.

The roses of Larix laricina.

The double bells of Lonicera canadensis turn into double fused red berries.

A floriferous clone of Sambucus pubens in the woods.

[Kristl Walek]

Most of the early-blooming woody species are white-flowered and often
difficult to distinguish; certainly from a distance.

Here are most of the native Ontario Prunus species.

The closely related Prunus americana and nigra bloom at the same time on bare branches. The deep red calyx of P. nigra makes a lovely contrast to the white petals.

[Kristl Walek]

Amelanchier species integrade and hybridize freely, often making identification difficult.

Seed is also difficult to grab; as the birds will clean away the delicious fruit in fast order.

Amelanchier laevis I showed you from my trip to Nova Scotia---is here in Ontario as well as A. sanguinea.

A. spicata (Dwarf Serviceberry) is a denizen of the hot, dry alvars here.

The range of the very hardy Shepherdia canadensis extends to the Arctic; the tiny yellow flowers are insignificant but give an overall yellowish hue to the plant as the foliage is emerging.

[Kristl Walek]

A trip was made to the bog to again see Rhododendron canadense and to photograph R. groenlandicum, Andromeda and some of the Vacciniums.

V. corymbosum has lovely red and green spring foliage; wonderful with the pink and white bells.

Aronia melanocarpa in a wet area and the early flowers of the elegant Viburnum lantanoides (alnifolium).

[arisaema]

Congratulations with finding a new home and garden, and best of luck with the move, I hope it goes smoothly! Lovely pictures as always. Does Amelachier spicata usually stay this short? Both various A.'s and Aronia are among the more common hedging plants here, the former are also widely naturalized - and they are stunning in flower.

[Paul T]

Beautiful, as always, Kristl.  Love that Rhododendron groenlandicum, amongst other things.

[Maggi Young]

Kristl, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have your wonderful photos back again 
We are learning so much about the local plants.... terrific thread!!