March 2020 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Gabriela]

Wow - that's a beautiful sight from Nova Scotia Gordon! Spring is on its way in Ontario as well.

Well, we can see what can be done about that Gabriela 

Thanks Trond I'll also see maybe I can do better about the native ones.

[Leena]

My first small C.coum is flowering! it is grown from seed ex seeds from 2016, and has been planted in the ground for two year now, and survived. I have covered it with dry leaves during cold nights, I don't think it could have survived -13C when in bud otherwise (without snow).
In the background there is G.lagodechianus.
Trillium nivale was also sown in summer 2016 from fresh seeds, and the seedlings are now going to flower for the first time.

[Carolyn]

Some cardamines this morning - in sunshine, for once!
C quinquefolia - this is the first time that I have seen this flower well. Usually some creature - pheasant? wood pigeon? vole? pecks off all the flower buds! A spreader, but what a delight.
C pentaphylla - always beautiful, a clumper, does not rampage everywhere.
C kitaibeli - often described as white, but really there is a touch of cream in the flowers.
C heptaphylla - usually slightly later, this one is just starting and is pure white.

[Carolyn]

And lastly Cardamine  glandulifera, which I was told would take a while to settle and make a nice display. Well,it must  be 5 yrs at least and only ever a couple of flowers. No sign of buds yet. Is it destined for the compost heap? Mmmm.
Does anyone else have experience with this plant?

[Carolyn]

Corydalis malkensis is at last seeding around the garden, here with Anemone blanda.


Helionopsis japonica is a super plant - and easy to propagate too, from leaf cuttings.


Erythronium dens-canis makes a nice combination with a dark leaf primula.


I love these wee puschkinias,  with the darker blue down the middle of each petal.

[Gail]

Helionopsis japonica is a super plant - and easy to propagate too, from leaf cuttings.

I wouldn't have thought of that. Has anyone ever tried Erythronium from leaf cuttings??

[Gabriela]

Inspiring spring images Carolyn!

My first small C.coum is flowering! it is grown from seed ex seeds from 2016, and has been planted in the ground for two year now, and survived. I have covered it with dry leaves during cold nights, I don't think it could have survived -13C when in bud otherwise (without snow).
In the background there is G.lagodechianus.
Trillium nivale was also sown in summer 2016 from fresh seeds, and the seedlings are now going to flower for the first time.

Congrats Leena!
I have few C. coum leaves in the garden, I'll watch them closely, who knows...

[Maggi Young]

I wouldn't have thought of that. Has anyone ever tried Erythronium from leaf cuttings??

No, we  haven't - I think we'll try this  season though! More  in  hope than expectation - with bulbs it  seems  unlikely.  May be  possible  to  get  some  growth, but  would  it  make  a  bulb to live  on?

[Gail]

with bulbs it  seems  unlikely. 

but Eucomis do quite readily.

[Carolyn]

I will rush out and sacrifice some erythronium leaves tomorrow! You are right, Gail, I have had great success with eucomis from leaf cuttings.
By the way, leaf cuttings work for Ypsilindra too  - they are similar in to Helionopsis.

[Carolyn]

Now a couple of shrubs from today:
First, one of my very favourites - Stachyurus 'Joy Forever'. I planted it in front of a holly tree, so that the pale flowers would shine out against a dark background

[Leena]

And lastly Cardamine  glandulifera, which I was told would take a while to settle and make a nice display. Well,it must  be 5 yrs at least and only ever a couple of flowers. No sign of buds yet. Is it destined for the compost heap? Mmmm.
Does anyone else have experience with this plant?

I have had it now for maybe six or seven years, and it doesn't form so thick mat of leaves as yours but flowers every spring (until some rabbits eat it, this has happened now twice). But I don't know why yours don't flower..

You have so nice spring garden!

[Leena]

I have few C. coum leaves in the garden, I'll watch them closely, who knows...

Mine showed the flower bud already in January and I was worried about it, because we didn't have any snow this year, but it has survived so far and started to flower last week.

[ashley]

Some cardamines this morning ...

Lovely to see these Carolyn.  Thank you.

[Carolyn]

I have had it now for maybe six or seven years, and it doesn't form so thick mat of leaves as yours but flowers every spring (until some rabbits eat it, this has happened now twice). But I don't know why yours don't flower..

You have so nice spring garden!

Thank you,  Leena.
I wonder if some sulphate of potash might encourage the cardamine to flower next year?