April 2024 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Robert]

Calochortus luteus is coming into bloom now. It is a fine species. The next generation of plants and hybrids will likely bloom next year. This species is highly variable, so there are many possibilities with this species.



Erythranthe guttata is a short-lived perennial species. I am working on developing a line of plants that are strongly perennial, and bloom profusely. Profusely blooming plants is easy, developing plants that will reliably live for more than 2 to 3 years is proving to be challenging.



My primary goal is to create plants that are practical garden plants. Triteleia ixioides ssp. scabra and Erythranthe guttata preform extremely well in a garden setting.



Diplacus pictus and Erthranthe guttata are thriving in our garden.



Triteleia hyacinthina and Iris hartwegii ssp. hartwegii are also thriving in our garden.

[Maggi Young]

Yes it is Maggie, it has been in the same large pot for about 35 years. As you can see its about twice the size of the pot.

good grief! That's a big one - doesn't seem to mind being potbound, does it - and it surely is at that size!!

[Mike Ireland]

Cassiope wardii
Dicentra cuccularia
Still cool & damp so the plants are lasting in flower for so much longer.

[Gabriela]

good grief! That's a big one - doesn't seem to mind being potbound, does it - and it surely is at that size!!

Yes, truly impressive those containers, both the Cassiope and the Haberlea!

[Gabriela]

Calochortus luteus is coming into bloom now. It is a fine species. The next generation of plants and hybrids will likely bloom next year. This species is highly variable, so there are many possibilities with this species.

I find all Calochortus very attractive Robert, unfortunately I never managed to keep the seedlings I started from seeds, no matter the species.
On the other hand I can grow Erythranthe guttata with no problem. Like you say it flowers profusely, so I don't mind it is short lived. Here it acts as an annual or if the winter is mild, like a short lived perennial.

From cold we jumped directly to warm weather, actually a bit too warm. It is the stage when Corydalis malkensis and solida start to fade to make space for the next wave, Lathyrus, Primulas and also  Epimediums are starting to flower.

I took this picture to remember that this red C. solida is fragrant; usually the purple ones are fragrant.

Pulsatilla ex. styriaca pink with its usual second wave of flowers.

Epimedium hybrid

[Robert]

Hi Gabriela,

Thank you for the information regarding the performance of Erythranthe guttata in your Ontario garden. I find such information useful for some of my projects. Here in our part of California, Erythranthe guttata appears to respond, to a certain extent, to the number of snow cover days each season. The species is quite common in the Sierra Nevada Mountains up to ~ 4,000 feet elevation. To date, I have never recorded this species above ~ 5,000 feet elevation. The number of snow cover days climbs quickly between the 4 k and 5 k feet elevation levels. I am sure that there are other factors involved. There is plenty for me to consider.

As usual, your garden is looking very beautiful.    The mix of plant species is very different from our selection here in California. I enjoy seeing different plant species, especially used very effectively and beautifully. Even if I could grow some of the species here in our part of California, there are practical limits to the number of plant species I can grow. In general, I just try to do the best I can with the plants that are close at hand. This includes Calochortus. For the most part they grow very well here in our part of California.

[ruweiss]

Some photos from last month:

[Gabriela]

Some photos from last month:

Your Haberlea is looking very happy Rudi. I know is a tough plant but somehow I have a very small division that refuses to grow (not to mention I already lost another small plant I purchased two years ago). It is planted in the ground so this may be the problem?
I notice your plants grow among tufa blocks.

[Gabriela]

Few from May, before it ends New in the rockery: Degenia velebitica and Polygala chamaebuxus




Primulas had a  good start this spring: Primula veris 'Sunset Shades' and  a new polyantha 'Violet Victorians'.

[ruweiss]

Gabriela, the Haberleas were a gift from a good friend and grow since more than 20 years
between the tufa blocks in a northern position. When the temperatures get too high in summer
the leaves shrivel, but recover when it gets cooler and moister again. Friends who traveled widely
in the Balkan told me, that this the normal behaviour at their home places. Ramonda species sow
themselves easily on tufa, but I found no seedlings of Haberlea species until now.
A Ramonda myconii seedling even grows out of a crack at a railway sleeper, situated in semi shade.