Robert's and Jasmin's Garden Paradise

[Robert]

Thank you Ian. Jasmin and I enjoy our garden too. Given our climatic conditions, we have found it helpful to approach gardening in a way that is as harmonious and complementary as possible given all the variables we have to contend with. Our method of gardening is working well for us. I hope some of our postings are at least interesting to others and perhaps even helpful.

Yesterday, 13 March, I was up at our El Dorado County farm, elevation 1,500 feet (457 meters). The temperature was 38 F (3.3 C). A combination of rain and snow was falling. On 10 March the high temperature at our farm was 75 F (23.9 C). In Pollock Pines, elevation 4,000 feet (1,219 meters), there is now 15.95 inches of snow (40.5 cm). There was no snow on 10 March. There is a saying around here that it always “snows on the dogwoods”. The native dogwoods are not blooming yet. This type of warm-cold/stormy weather is very typical during the spring in our area. Despite climatic changes in our region, it will likely “snow on the dogwood” this year.



Erythronium oregonum is beginning to bloom in our garden.



Pictured: Erythronium oregonum

Many Erythronium species thrive in our garden. We have been working with them for many years now. There have been some set backs, however we currently have a pipeline of new species and our own hybrids at various stages of development. A number of species grow in our general region, so we have a large gene pool to work with to develop new varieties that thrive in our garden.



I enjoy growing breeding my own violas and pansies varieties. I learn a great deal breeding these plants that extends beyond common bedding type violas and pansies…..



Pictured is Viola sheltonii RMB1059. This species and most of our local California native Viola species have proven to be extremely difficult to maintain. To date, cultivation in the open garden has not been possible. However from observations and knowledge gained from growing and breeding simple, common violas and pansies a great deal of progress is been made finding and creating forms of California native Viola species that thrive in our garden. It might seem hard to believe, but the Viola pictured represents a major step forward with Viola sheltonii. This specimen returns consistently each season and sets viable seed. The next step is to create a whole genetically variable breeding population to work with.



This Narcissus Jetfire hybrid has flaws and is much larger than what I would like, however it also has many attributes that I enjoy. A much smaller version, without the flaws, would be an asset to our garden. Progress with this project has been slow. In the mean time, I enjoy all these plants.

[Robert]

In general, I am pleased with the overall evolution and composition of our back yard garden, however my impression and intuitive feeling is that there are still missing elements throughout the seasons. Each season I experiment with different plants or alter how I incorporate California native annuals. This year I have used Nemophila menziesii var. menziesii differently, scattered about rather than congested together in groups. I am pleased with the results, however additional elements still need to be added to the garden.



Cardamine californica is an early blooming California native perennial species. In the Sierra Nevada Mountain foothills I have observed this species blooming as early as 1 January. The flowers are generally white, to white flushed with pink, however I have observed pink forms in their native habitat. My intent is to eventually incorporate this species into our garden. A number of cultural challenges need to be overcome before this species can be successfully included into our garden. I enjoy challenging projects. For me the whole process, start to finish, will be fulfilling even with many setbacks.



Our Sweetwater Creek strain of Erythronium multiscapideum is our latest blooming form of this species. It spreads abundantly and vigorously, however it tends to be shy flowering. New inter and intra specific hybrids are in various stages of development and evaluation.



Erythronium oregonum is still blooming in our garden.



Some forms of this species have very attractive mottled foliage. Breeding Erythronium species with attractive foliage is another goal with this group of plants.

[Robert]

Parts of our Sacramento garden are still looking good as it moves into its next phase of blooming plants. The blue flowering racemes of Camassia leichtlinii ssp. suksdorfii are the focal point of this part of the garden at this time.



Our local native annual Foothill Poppy, Eschscholzia caespitosa, seeds itself around the garden abundantly each season without help on my part. This species blooms for many weeks each spring season.



Parts of our cinder block garden are looking good. Eschscholzia caespitosa comes into bloom, as the Narcissus species are finishing. The evergreen perennial Silver Bush Lupine, Lupinus albifrons var. albifrons, is an anchor for this part of the garden. The silvery foliage looks great all year and the species is extremely drought tolerant, needing no irrigation during the hot summer months. The flowers of this species are very showy.

Dipterostemon capitatus ssp. capitatus and Triteleia laxa are also blooming at this time. The South African species, Moraea aristata, works well in this landscape scheme too.



I have been working Heuchera rubescens into our back yard garden scheme too. This accession, RMB 1012, is a relatively low elevation form, found at an elevation of 5,617 ft. The relatively small foliage and clouds of white and pink flowers fit perfectly with their garden companions.



Other than a few Cabbage White butterflies, this Sylvan Hairstreak is the first butterfly to show up in our garden this season.

[Robert]

Silver Bush Lupine, Lupinus albifrons var. albifrons, has a large range throughout California and Southern Oregon. The large and numerous inflorescences consist of many pea-shaped lavender-blue flowers with a yellow or white spot on the banner. Most forms of this species are very attractive, however good forms are exceptional in both overall plant habit as well as the quality of the inflorescence. There are 8 recognized botanical varieties of this species in California. One variety, Lupinus albifrons var. collinus is a noteworthy prostrate form of this species. Lupinus albifrons thrives in our Sacramento garden. It is completely drought tolerant and unaffected by the extreme heat of our long hot summers.



We grow a number of California native Iris species in our garden. I prefer the wild Iris species to the hybrids. This is highly subjective, however the wild native Iris species “look right” in our garden. Pictured is Iris macrosiphon.



Iris marcosiphon is highly variable throughout its range. This form came from El Dorado County, California. We also grow inky-blue flowering forms of this species from Colusa County, California. These needed to be moved this past year and will likely start blooming again next year.



Pictured is an exceptional form of Iris bracteata from the Siskiyou Mountains of Northwestern California.



Pictured is Primula hendersonii RMB 941. This seed accession was acquired in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in El Dorado County, California, at an elevation of 5,105 feet (1,556 meters). This form of Primula hendersonii is compact in growth compared to the lower elevation forms of this species. They consistently bloom 45 to 60 days later in the season than our early blooming Colusa County forms of this species. This extends the blooming season of this species greatly in our garden. This high elevation population is likely much more cold hardy than lower elevation forms of this species. Much more research needs to be done in this regard. This population fits they type species, however it is also quite different in a number of horticulturally significant characteristics. It is definitely a unique ecotype.