Flowers and Foliage August 2008

[art600]

Arthur your unknown Saxifraga (#10) is Saxifraga candelabra!

Hans

Thank you for the identification.

[Blue-bellied Frog]

Pictures taken yesterday morning.
The Echinacea was found two weeks ago in a garden center named as Echinacea Magnus

[Maggi Young]

Great plants, Bernard.....  and that Iris is the biggest I have seen! Extraordinary! 

[derekb]

Just one from me today,
Eucomis montana

[Maggi Young]

Aren't Eucomis flowers lovely? I am sad to think of all those folks who never bend down to study their plants closely, or who cannot enjoy the wonderful digital photos that we can see here to appreciate the intricacy of the flowers. 

[Gerdk]

Yes, Gerd, I have seen it in the wild, so it's in poor soil and full sun...in fact, in very little soil at all...the largest patch is on top of one of the big pieces of limestone in my rock garden, where nothing else will grow (just a few cm of soil on the top of the rock.) The second little drift is wedged in a wide crevice.

The location is about 90cm? high and exposed-- no shelter from rain or anything else---and there is barely a day it has not rained since winter. Some of the foliage is looked very chlorotic right now (yellow), and it does have me worried, especially since they are blooming almost too well.

I only got one single seed pod this spring from many plants (and good bloom). Perhaps I will get more now...?

Thank you Kristl,
It seems I have to improve the drainage for better results. Are you sure that Viola pedata tolerates lime? Did it grow naturally in limestone areas?
It is stated often that it needs limefree soil and additional Fe fertilizer was recommended.

Gerd

[Blue-bellied Frog]

Maggi, this Iris has a 12 cm radius.
Two natives.

Aster umbellatus plant
 Aster umbellatus ombelle
 Spiraea latifolia macro

[Maggi Young]

Interesting Spiraea latifolia, too..... and the Aster.... lots of good plants.... keep them coming, Bernard!

[Kristl Walek]

Are you sure that Viola pedata tolerates lime? Did it grow naturally in limestone areas?
It is stated often that it needs limefree soil and additional Fe fertilizer was recommended.

Gerd,
I believe a somewhat acid pH is preferred---but not necessary. It is fairly widespread--native to 33 of the states in the USA--and in some states it is present everywhere in the state----so cannot be too picky about it's soil PH.

I think the well-drained environment is more important than any other factor.

Where I saw it was in the eastern USA, on the dry banks along the roads, growing in gravel, which I would guess was limestone. Also, I know anything that is common on prairies (which this species is) would be more than tolerant of lime.

I planted it in the rock garden because I didn't have anywhere else suitable where it wouldn't get eaten up by the big guys. So, I did not even think about the soil PH when I planted the seedlings.

Gerd, take a look at the Viola pedata faces on this page, if you have not seen it before.

http://www.plantbuzz.com/RockGard/pedata/pedata_faces.htm

[Blue-bellied Frog]

OK, Maggi, others natives.
Pictures of sterile and fertile flower for Epilobidiun angustifolium.
Eriophotum is very good for dried flower. I actually have three dried stems 10 years old, and they look like the first day.

[Gerdk]

.
Gerd, take a look at the Viola pedata faces on this page, if you have not seen it before.
http://www.plantbuzz.com/RockGard/pedata/pedata_faces.htm

Very informative, thank you Kristl.

Gerd

[annew]

Is the Spiraea herbaceous or shrubby, Bernard?

[Blue-bellied Frog]

Anne, this Spiraea is shrubby and comes in different colors, from white to pink.
Now, a beautyfull annual weed.

[Paul T]

Bernard,

Beautiful impatiens, and I too love that Spiraea.  Looks like the flowers on the latter are quite large?

[Blue-bellied Frog]

Paul, the max. flower length is 2,5 cm.
Now, a native shrub. Flowers should be very little, I did not saw anyone.
Nemopanthus mucronatus