April 2020 in the Northern Hemisphere

[shelagh]

Some seedlings from our own seed of Narcissus rupicola.
Two Omphalodes, Cappadocia and Starry eyes.
The plant whose name I can never remember Pachyphragma is a wonderful early spring flowerer and has been out for weeks.
Pieris japonica Polar Passion is a new acquisition and has put up one flower spike so far. I hope for better things next year.

[shelagh]

Pulsatilla vulgaris is a wonderful colour.
Ramonda nathaliae JCA686 is budding up nicely unfortunately I don't think the shows will be back on in time.
A RAnunculus that has been at the bottom of the garden for several years.
Ranunculus Brazen Hussy a terrible thug but easy to spot and weed out.
Rhodothamnus Casablanca just put up its first flower but look at the buds.

[shelagh]

This picture of the rocky corner in the front shows you how colourful it can be with self sown seedlings.
Trillium kurabayashi still looking good,  it was on the bench at Kendal..
Trillium sessile californicum just come through and put up its flowers. I sold some pots of seedlings from this at Kendal.
And last but not least some colourful Tulips in the raised bed.

[David Nicholson]

Aethionema 'Warley Rose'



A. 'Warley Rubra'

[ian mcdonald]

Boredom has set in with not being able to visit the countryside. My colleague who I often meet on site has taken to macro photos of flies in his garden. I have been out in the garden in a cold wind and taken some photos of the regular birds. The most interesting part was watching two peacock butterflies mating. Something I have not seen in peacock behavior before. The male? walked slowly round the female? for about twenty minutes, opening and closing his wings. The female? remained still with her wings closed. After a while they mated then the male flew off. I saw a goldcrest, a sparrow hawk and heard a greenfich and a chaffinch as well as the regular garden birds. A grey squirrel was on the bird feeder.





Saxifraga cespitosa.



S. granulata.



Peacock displaying to female.

[ian mcdonald]

Mating successful.

[Leena]

Yesterday was sunny and the warmest day this spring so far, +12C. First Hepaticas start to open, and slowly Hellebores also open.
The yellow one in the foreground was early coming up, but no frost damage. It was grown from 'Jade Tiger' seeds. Adonis amurensis has some damage from frost in it's flowers. This is the best time of the year.
In the second picture all the green "grass" is Tulipa sylvestris, it is a plant for a big garden. It spreads so vigorously.

[Gabriela]

Yesterday was sunny and the warmest day this spring so far, +12C. First Hepaticas start to open, and slowly Hellebores also open.
The yellow one in the foreground was early coming up, but no frost damage. It was grown from 'Jade Tiger' seeds. Adonis amurensis has some damage from frost in it's flowers. This is the best time of the year.
In the second picture all the green "grass" is Tulipa sylvestris, it is a plant for a big garden. It spreads so vigorously.

I totally agree Leena - despite all, this is indeed the best time of the year Maybe, we from cold climates, can appreciate it more I think.
Warm here as well, a bit colder temp. to arrive but nothing too bad. Helleborus are also starting, Hepatica and the buds of the peonies and other species are at their best. Adonis seedlings of last year are also up and shining
Paeonia tenuifolia (I received a quite large clump as a gift)

Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Winter Moonbeam'

Mukdenia rossii

Rhodiola sachalinensis

[Gail]

It doesn't have the stunning beauty of 'Flore Pleno' but still an interesting plant, Sanguinaria canadensis 'Star'.

[Yann]

Lovely foliage, i should think to buy new roots this autumn.

Nothing special here but as many of you i like Erythronium tuolumnense 'Pagoda'
Iris lutescens, i've several late form all with deep blue.

[Mike Ireland]

Lewisia tweedyi, slightly more pink on petal edge on photos 3 & 4.
Cassiope wardii.  If anyone could name the very dwarf shrub(Australian I think) behind the cassiope I would be grateful. 20 year old specimen, label long gone.

[Maggi Young]

Seems to be  a  good  year  for  Lewisia tweedyi!

 I think your  lost  name  wee  shrub might  be  Trochocarpa thymifolia - Tasmanian endemic.

[Mike Ireland]

Seems to be  a  good  year  for  Lewisia tweedyi!

 I think your  lost  name  wee  shrub might  be  Trochocarpa thymifolia - Tasmanian endemic.

Yes Maggie all lewisia seem to be doing well this year.
Two more photos of the dwarf shrub, as this is very short & upright in growth with very very tiny white flowers pointing upwards, it does not fit with photos on the internet show hanging red flowers.
More help please.

[Maggi Young]

Oh yes, on your  closer  pix I  see  it  is not  Trochocarpa. Back to the  drawing  board -  now  I'm thinking   Cyathodes  colensoi  synonym  Leucopogen colensoi - and  on checking the  name  I find  it  may now  be   Acrothamnus colensoi!! So many  nameds  for  a  cute  wee  shrub!

[Mike Ireland]

Oh yes, on your  closer  pix I  see  it  is not  Trochocarpa. Back to the  drawing  board -  now  I'm thinking   Cyathodes  colensoi  synonym  Leucopogen colensoi - and  on checking the  name  I find  it  may now  be   Acrothamnus colensoi!! So many  nameds  for  a  cute  wee  shrub!

Maggie you are a genius.  Have checked Dwarf Shrubs by H E Bawden & the description fits perfectly.  Thanks.