Flowers and foliage June 2008

[johnw]

Magnar & Kristl

Here is a shot of Norris Point in western Newfoundland, a tad windy there as the trees might suggest!  We saw the Smilacina there and there were acres of it. I'm sorry I didn't photograph the whole scene.  Very smart foliage. I don't see the var crassum listed as being in Nfld but the book, A Traveller's Guide to The Wildflowers of Newfoundland Canada shows what they say is a "much smaller plant (3-4 inches high) similar to or a stunted version of S. stellata" ... "has only two flowers". Not terribly scientific and these were bigger than that and had more than two flowers per stalk (see berries). Do you think this is var. crassum?

We collected seed but the germination was quite poor.  I'd be a bit cautious if it decides it's at home in your gardens.

johnw

[johanneshoeller]

Paul, the names of my shown pics:
Campanula cochlearifolia,
Aruncus dioicus (not Polygonum alpinum)
C. rubra
Edraianthus from Kroatia (graminifolius?), the first flowering seedling- on tufa
Bletilla spec.

[Paul T]

Thanks Hans.  The "C. rubra" is what exactly?  It looks a bit like a small orchid perhaps?  I love that Bletilla.... wish we could get some of the other Bletilla here in Aus.

[Anthony Darby]

Cephelanthera rubra is the Red Helleborine Paul. A lovely rare orchid.

[Paul T]

Anthony,

Thanks.  Would never have guessed THAT name, that's for sure.   So many of the terrestrial orchids you guys get over there (over there being anywhere outside of Australia!  ) are so desirable.  Hopefully someone has done some importing somewhere along the line and they'll turn up eventually.  I just love them!!!!!

[Kristl Walek]

Here is a shot of Norris Point in western Newfoundland, a tad windy there as the trees might suggest!  We saw the Smilacina there and there were acres of it. I'm sorry I didn't photograph the whole scene.  Very smart foliage. I don't see the var crassum listed as being in Nfld but the book, A Traveller's Guide to The Wildflowers of Newfoundland Canada shows what they say is a "much smaller plant (3-4 inches high) similar to or a stunted version of S. stellata" ... "has only two flowers". Not terribly scientific and these were bigger than that and had more than two flowers per stalk (see berries). Do you think this is var. crassum?

John,
The plants you show do not have the congested leaves that the variety has. I suspect that your plants are probably the species, just dwarfed because of the environment. Out in the alvars here, in hot, dry and little soil, they look very similar.

I am trying to think what other species might be out there?  M. dilatatum?  I don't know this species---would have to do research.


Maybe Todd Boland will see this post and comment---he made a post on Dave's garden about this dwarf form, saying:

"This is the non-invasive, dwarf version of the regular Star-flowered False Solomon's-Seal. It is native to coastal areas from Newfoundland to northern Maine. It prefers full sun and is often under a foot tall so could be used in a rock-garden setting."

And he has a picture of the plant posted at:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/67356/

I still can't get over how unlike the species it is---and why would the variety be non-invasive, when the species is so highly invasive?

[Maggi Young]

Well, if Todd does happen to read this today, 23rd June, then I'll take the chance to wish him a very Happy Birthday!

[johnw]

Kristl - Wow, that is one very nice Smilacina Todd posted on that website. So now I have to wonder which Smilacina is the 3-4" one mentioned in the book.  The books also mentions S. trifoliata.


I'll see him next week and try to photograph any at Oxen Pond BG if it's there. Also ask about this super dwarf one as well.


Are you selling seed of v. crassum?


johnw

[Kristl Walek]

John,
It wouldn't be M. trifoliata--which first of all, only grows in moist to wet, acid boggy sites---I photographed it at Alfred Bog in "My Bit Of Heaven" thread when I went to see the Rhododendron canadense in bloom. It's a tiny, wee plant.

I only have one small piece of the var. crassum---one would need a large colony to be able to offer the seed. I'll be bringing it with me when I move to Nova Scotia, so a piece of it has your name on it.

[johnw]

Kristl - Wow, that is one very nice Smilacina Todd posted on that website. So now I have to wonder which Smilacina is the 3-4" one mentioned in the book.  The books also mentions S. trifoliata.


I'll see him next week and try to photograph any at Oxen Pond BG if it's there. Also ask about this super dwarf one as well.


Are you selling seed of v. crassum?


johnw

Kristl - I should have said the only other species of Smilacina in the book is trifoliata, any entirely different beast.

How imminent is your move east?  Any scouting trips beforehand?

johnw

[Lvandelft]

Some more plants flowering here.
The Thalictrum was a bit difficult to photograph, because it's
almost 3 m.
It's remarkably that it is still standing upright, after the heavy winds we had on Sunday.

Gazania linearis             
Leucanthemum Sunny Side Up           
Lilium Red Twinkle   
Astilboides tabularis bl.       
Thalictrum Elin           

[WimB]

Finally some sun and some plants that start to flower because they were waiting for it...

1 Armeria trojana
2 Cortusa matthioli var. pekinensis
3 Hemerocallis & Sisyrinchium striatum
4 Primula florindae

[Magnar]

Lvandelft: Gazania linearis,, lovely plant that I would love to grow, but I'm afraid its not hardy here.

Wim B: Last week I got a plant of Armeria trojana. Nice to see what the flowers look like.

And... can anybody please explain what the difference is between Corthusa matthioli and the var. pekinensis.

[Kristl Walek]

How imminent is your move east?  Any scouting trips beforehand?

John,
As imminent as "I don't have a clue" and the uncertainty is driving me to distraction. There have been no nibbles on my property for a while. The plan has been that as soon as I have a buyer here, I get on that plane to Halifax to find something. As it is a buyers market in NS and I have some good connections there  I think it can be done as simply as that.

[Anastasia]

I too have not so understood, than differs Corthusa matthioli and the var. pekinensis? 

I ask to excuse - it is compelled to show some old photos because the camera is spoiled, the son has fallen down in the river together сним when tried to make good picture Caltha.

But time of flowering and blooming of leaves corresponds to June.   

Probably of you these plants are not interesting to many, but at us a zone of risky agriculture and gardening. 

1. Paradisea liliastrum
2. Gladiolus imbricatus
4. Asfodelus albus
5. Dictamnus albus
6. Dictamnus dasycarpum