April 2019 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Gabriela]

"Gabriela,
Spring is well advanced here in the lowlands (Sacramento Valley) of California.

From what I see, it appears that the snow has just melted in your area. You grow some interesting plants, things that most likely would not be very happy in our hot, dry summer climate. It is a pleasure to see such plants. For me it is a bit of a vicarious gardening experience. Thank you for sharing the photographs."

Robert - yes, it's been quite a long winter here this year, and now we have a cool early spring. You also grow interesting species that I'm happy to see pictures with, knowing that I would most probably not grow.
But it is possible that with careful positioning and grown from seeds, some species may survive in our climate and vice-versa, you may never know until you try!

In any case, just so you know, this year I have seedlings of Calochortus tolmiei and C. leichtlinii. I got seeds and I wanted to test the germination, so I said why not sow a full pot? Maybe in few years you will see me posting Calochortus flowers

[Robert]

"Gabriela,

In any case, just so you know, this year I have seedlings of Calochortus tolmiei and C. leichtlinii. I got seeds and I wanted to test the germination, so I said why not sow a full pot? Maybe in few years you will see me posting Calochortus flowers

Very 

I hope this is a successful venture! 

I see Calochortus leichtlinii all the time in our portion of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. They have a bit of an altitude range. Winters (temperature range) can be pretty chilly at the upper end of its altitude range and somewhat mild at the lower end of its range. They are always found in site that are very hot and dry during the summer.

It will be great if you have success and we will hopefully see future photographs of blooming plants. 

[Gabriela]

Very 
I hope this is a successful venture! 

I see Calochortus leichtlinii all the time in our portion of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. They have a bit of an altitude range. Winters (temperature range) can be pretty chilly at the upper end of its altitude range and somewhat mild at the lower end of its range. They are always found in site that are very hot and dry during the summer.

It will be great if you have success and we will hopefully see future photographs of blooming plants. 

Thank you Robert. Even if I won't be successful to see them flowering I'm happy to grow them for a while at least - same like with other species.
There is always something to be learned from the process.

[ArnoldT]

This Fritillaria imperialis has been in the same spot for 30 years.

Flowers beneath a Medlar tree.

Looks to be spreading a bit.

[Robert]

A few scenes from our Sacramento, California garden before I get busy again.



The garden actually looks great, however this is the best that I can do with the camera.



One of my best deciduous azalea hybrids. It is part of a grex that we call 'Tatiana'. Its growth is very compact, about 1 meter in 20 years. Very floriferous!



Another one of my hybrid azaleas. Nothing to get excited about, but I keep it anyway. I no longer have space to breed azaleas, so all the azalea breeding lines in our garden are a dead end. This does not bother me, I have plenty of other creative breeding projects to work on. 



Dichelostemma capitatum is blooming throughout our garden. Populations representing different ecotypes will often bloom at different times. This extends to blooming season over a 2 month period.

[Gerdk]

What a pleasant sight - and a lemon tree!!! 

Gerd

[Hoy]

This Fritillaria imperialis has been in the same spot for 30 years.

Flowers beneath a Medlar tree.

Looks to be spreading a bit.

Nice. Mine gets smaller and smaller every year so I have to plant new ones. Is it planted deep?

[Hoy]

A few scenes from our Sacramento, California garden before I get busy again.


The garden actually looks great, however this is the best that I can do with the camera.

It really looks great, Robert! You didn't do bad with the camera either

[Hoy]

Contrast to Roberts California garden: Central south Norway, between 1000 and 1300m. The winter still rules!



Looking south.




Looking north.




Looking down. A freeze dried Russula from last fall.




The only "flowers" with colour: Cladonia bellidiflora among Flavocetraria sp.




A few small trickles are open.

[Gail]

Warm and sunny here today which coincided with a day off work and the arrival of two boxfuls of plant indulgences - mostly primulas...

[Rick R.]

In any case, just so you know, this year I have seedlings of Calochortus tolmiei and C. leichtlinii. I got seeds and I wanted to test the germination, so I said why not sow a full pot? Maybe in few years you will see me posting Calochortus flowers

Good Luck!  I have also germinated many seeds of various Calochortus species, but wasn't willing to coddle them over winter, and they resided in my "pot box" outside that seems to be a half zone warmer than my normal winter.  Never had any of them survive a winter.  Claude Barr tried very hard with Calochortus, and even with heavy mulches, wasn't successful.  He surmised that the bulbs couldn't tolerate freezing temperatures.

[ArnoldT]

Hoy:

It was planted so long ago I can't recall.

It gets much leaf litter every year.

Under a medlar and near    some large European beeches, I never remove any leaf litter in that spot.. I can have a peak at the bulb tomorrow to see something about the dept.

[kris]

we are having very nice spring here. last week there were still some nights below freezing but now temperature at teens in the day time.
Here are two pictures taken yesterday .
1.Bulbocodium vernum
2.Puschkinia scilloides

[Leucogenes]

Hello Krish



Great plants... Pushkinia scilloides germinated successfully with me.  Your photo makes me happy for the future...

[Hoy]

Hoy:

It was planted so long ago I can't recall.

It gets much leaf litter every year.

Under a medlar and near    some large European beeches, I never remove any leaf litter in that spot.. I can have a peak at the bulb tomorrow to see something about the dept.

Thanks Arnold. I suppose I ave to feed them more! The soil is a bit lean but good for small bulbs.