Robert's and Jasmin's Garden Paradise

[Robert]

Thomas, Leena

This morning, 21 November, it is rainy and cool. Some much-needed precipitation has fallen and more is forecasted during the coming week. Today I head up to our Placerville farm to get some work done. Apples need to be picked and water lines need to be drained. Several nights of killing frost have already occurred up the hill at our farm. Picking apples in the rain is nothing new for me. The apples will help keep us fed all winter until about 1 April.

I have some specific comments for each of you, however this will have to wait until I get back from the farm.

[Robert]

Hi Thomas,

I hope that this past growing season went well for you. As I remember some sort of Derecho or intense storm system moved northward from southern Europe through Eastern Europe. From my understanding there was widespread flooding in some areas. Hopefully your home and garden were out of this zone.

Pictured below are two Eriogonum species that I am likely to encounter during my survey of the Tells Peak region. You likely already have these species in your collection, however there are some details concerning these species that I thought you might find interesting.



Pictured above is a superlative specimen of Eriogonum incanum growing along the route to Tells Peak. Eriogonum incanum is a very common, yet highly variable species. Most specimens of this species that I observe in the wild do not flower as profusely as this specimen. In addition, the plant habit of the pictured specimen is superb. Many plants in the wild can be scraggly; likely not very attractive in a garden setting. There is also considerable variation in the coloration of the foliage. I personally enjoy the intensely silver leaf forms of this species. In some locations, the range of Eriogonum incanum and Eriogonum marifolium var. marifolium overlap. At these sites hybrids occur. Creating hybrids in a garden setting is easy as both species are dioecious; obligate cross-pollination will occur if a male plant of one species is isolated with a female plant of the other species. I have tested this breeding technique with these two species and it works. Unfortunately, I did not find the native hybrids very interesting or with characteristics of horticultural significance. In addition to date, I have not found any natural hybrids of this cross with horticultural significance. This, of course, is high subjective, someone else might see things differently. In the future I hope recreate this cross in our garden and take the best plant to the F2 generation. Maybe they just need to be worked with in a more sustained manner.



Eriogonum lobbii is another common species in our region. This species, too, can exhibit a good degree of genetic variability. I enjoy the intensely silver leaf forms of this species as pictured above. In our region, this species is found primarily at the highest elevations of the Crystal Range. I have found populations at lower elevations. The low elevation populations of this species may possess horticultural significant characteristics. It will be worth my effort to investigate these low elevation populations in greater detail.



Off the topic of Eriogonum…..

Penstemon heterodoxus var. cephalophorus is a species I am likely to encounter in the Tells Peak region. This high elevation species performs surprisingly well in our low elevation Sacramento garden. Past accessions of this species have bloomed reliably each season and the intensity of the flower pigmentation is maintained reasonably well in our hot, low elevation garden. I believe there is considerable room for improvement with this species. It is an attractive species worthy of use in a garden setting.

[Robert]

Hi Leena,

Both Primula (Dodecatheon) jeffreyi and Primula (Dodecatheon) tetrandra can be found in the Tells Peak region. Both species have been extremely difficult to please in our hot Sacramento garden. Our native low elevation species, Primula (Dodecatheon) clevelandii and P. hendersonii, are extremely easy to please in our Sacramento garden. I am working with both species intensely to bring out their best horticultural characteristics. I have grown other Primula (Dodecatheon) species, however with our new circumstances I will now remain focused on our local native species. Despite the challenges I will continue trialing new accessions of Primula (Dodecatheon) jeffreyi and P. tetrandra. Something workable might turn up if I continue the effort.



Pictured is Primula (Dodecatheon) jeffreyi growing near the Tells Peak region. It is such a beautiful species. As I remember, you grow this species in your garden. If you ever feel inclined to share your progress with this species, I would greatly enjoy learning about your continued experiences with this species.



Pictured is Primula (Dodecatheon) tetradra growing in its native habitat in the Crystal Range of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I have always found this species growing with “wet feet” (their roots in the water – a very hydric environment). Despite the hydric conditions, the soil is very gritty with excellent aeration. In addition, the organic content of the soil is also generally, both not always, very high.



Pictured is Highland Lake from the summit of Tells Peak. Hydric environments near and surrounding the lake are prime habitats for Primula (Dodecatheon) tetrandra. I have a good amount of climatic data for this area. Summers are relatively dry and the daytime temperatures cool. Frost can occur during the summer months. Winters are long and snow can persists from October to early July. Needless to say, the growing season is very short. This might be similar to what you experience in Southern Finland.

[Leucogenes]

Hello Robert

Thank you very much for your detailed reply.

We had relatively pleasant weather this year. The spring brought sufficient rainfall... a blessing for the water table.
We have been spared flooding...especially as my house and garden are on a small hill. Other regions in Europe have been badly affected.

The two Eriogonum species shown are not part of my collection, which is smaller than you assume...;-)

Eriogonum lobbii in particular is really a little beauty that I've never heard of before... great. Of course, the name "lobbii" immediately sets my alarm bells ringing, because I immediately remember one of the most magical small plants I love...Lupinus lepidus var lobbii. Apparently "lobbii" is an indication of particularly beautiful species.

It's amazing that the genus Eriogonum produces seed in your garden and even hybrids. There are only a few fans of these species here...and everyone I know reports that they have never been able to harvest seeds. The same is true of the genus Acantholimon, for example...almost never seeds in captivity. A mystery of botany that is both fascinating and frustrating.

I may receive some seeds of Eriogonum flavum from BG Cheyenne/WY soon and hope to establish another species in my garden.🤞

The Penstemon is also wonderful.
So I look forward to further reports on your upcoming excursions in the mountains and experiments in the garden.

All the best for Jasmin and you
Thomas

[Leena]

Pictured is Primula (Dodecatheon) tetradra growing in its native habitat in the Crystal Range of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I have always found this species growing with “wet feet” (their roots in the water – a very hydric environment). Despite the hydric conditions, the soil is very gritty with excellent aeration. In addition, the organic content of the soil is also generally, both not always, very high.

Pictured is Highland Lake from the summit of Tells Peak. Hydric environments near and surrounding the lake are prime habitats for Primula (Dodecatheon) tetrandra. I have a good amount of climatic data for this area. Summers are relatively dry and the daytime temperatures cool. Frost can occur during the summer months. Winters are long and snow can persists from October to early July. Needless to say, the growing season is very short. This might be similar to what you experience in Southern Finland.

Hi Robert,
thank you for the pictures. D.tetrandra does sound like it could do well here also and it looks lovely. I especially like how you show the natural environment for the plants.
About D.jeffrey, you remembered correctly that I had sown it and are growing it, but unfortunately I sowed D.meadia the same year, and the seedlings got mixed up, and I don't know which one is which.  I have tried to read the descriptions to identify them with no success. Couple years ago I sowed D.meadea again, and now these new plants are growing in a different place and when they flower, I can compare to my older plants and hopefully then identify which one is D.jeffreyi.

[Robert]

Hi Thomas,

I will email you with some information that I think will interest you in the near future. In the mean time, here are a few more photographs that you might enjoy.

Pictured is Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii. I took this photograph at an elevation of ~ 9,000 ft. (2,743 meters) near the summit of the Red Peak Stock Trail (central portion of the Crystal Range, south of Tells Peak). I almost always encounter this species at very high elevations. Sonora Pass is another location where I encounter this species, however it is a fairly common species in the Sierra Nevada Mountains at very high elevations. I have never had success cultivating this species. It seems to be very demanding, but of what? I will continue to attempt to grow this species. Unfortunately, gathering seed is challenging. This species produces plenty of viable seed, however the ripe seeds quickly dehisce and are scattered. Timing has to be perfect which is not always possible.



Pictured is Lupinus lepidus var. sellulus. This photograph was also taken on the Red Peak Stock Trail, however at a much lower elevation. This variety is very common in summertime-dry meadows throughout the Crystal Range. A number of years ago I grew this variety to blooming age at our Placerville farm. After the single specimen bloomed, the plant went into decline and never bloomed again. Eventually, the specimen died. So far, it has been impossible to grow in our Sacramento garden. In Sacramento, the air and water are full of xenobiotics making the cultivation of many species very difficult.



Calochortus minimus is another species frequently seen in the Crystal Range. Here it is growing with Micranthes bryophora. This photograph was also taken on the Red Peak Stock Trail. In our region Calochortus minimus can be found growing over a wide altitude range. Although tricky to please, this tiny species is well worth the effort to cultivate. I have much more success with the low elevation forms of this species in our Sacramento garden.



I enjoy growing daisy-like plants in our Sacramento garden. Erigeron coulteri is a species I hope to encounter in the Tells Peak Region. This photograph was taken on the Red Peak Stock Trail.



Juniperus grandis along the Red Peak Stock Trail. If I gardened in the mountains it would be nice to have a specimen like this in the garden. This is definitely a daydream. Despite all the gardening challenges, I enjoy our Sacramento garden immensely. 

[Mariette]

Robert, the native annuals You grow are really enchanting! Having a soft spot for plants of character, I especially like the monkeyflowers. Many of Your Californian annuals should do well in Europe if only they would be better known. The mediterranean climate should suit them especially well.

It´s interesting to see Heuchera micrantha growing in situ - now I don´t wonder anymore why so many heucheras refuse to grow under the conditions in my garden. I sowed Heuchera pulchella several times, but never successfully. Do heuchera need to be sown from fresh seed?

I hope Jasmin´s health will allow for the intended trips next year! Seeing plants growing in nature is my favourite pastime, and there is so much to be learnt by seeing under which conditions they grow there!

[Robert]

Mariette,

I have had mixed results with old Heuchera seed. I some instances I have had reasonable germination, in other instances no germination at all. Fresh seed (less than a year old) kept dry and refrigerated has given me excellent germination. The tiny seeds seem to need light for germination. I surface sow the seeds, however I do cover the seeds with pumice grit. With this light covering of grit adequate light seems to reach the seeds for germination. The grit also seems to keep the young germinating seeds from being washed around by heavy rain or watering, thus they avoid unnecessary damage. I have never stratified the seeds – I just sow the seeds in the autumn and leave the seed pans out all winter. They germinate when they are ready in the spring.

It has been a long time since Jasmin has accompanied me on an outing to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. These days I am blessed that she can keep the plants watered and the garden looked after while I am off on an outing. It can be a fair amount of work and responsibility, especially during hot, dry weather and there are young seedlings that need critical attention. Except for Jasmin, I prefer to do my botanical fieldwork by myself. It is much easier to remain focused and move at my own pace – this can be extremely fast or extremely slow depending on the situation.

Jasmin and I are in the process of responding to your last message. You will hear from us soon.

[Robert]

As I plan for my summer survey of the Tells Peak region, winter is a good time to review the flora of the region and prioritize my objectives. From a botanical perspective, the whole Tells Peak region is quite interesting. Pictured is Lake No. 3 and Red Peak. Red Peak is a few miles south of Tells Peak and part of the chain of peaks that make up the Crystal Range.



The summit ridge of the Crystal Range appears desolate and devoid of much plant life. Although this area is difficult to traverse, these high alpine slopes are habitat for many unique plant species.



The Leland Lakes Basin is rarely visited and rarely explored botanically. Many exceptional plant species are found in this basin.



I am especially interested in our native Viola species. Viola macloskeyi is found throughout North America, however regional ecotypes possess adaptive characteristics useful for horticulture in our part of California.



Viola bakeri is commonly found Viola species on the western slope of the Crystal Range. This species is found in coniferous forests over a fairly broad altitude range in our region. Low altitude forms of this species are fairly easy to cultivate in our low elevation Sacramento Valley garden.