Flowering Now - April 2009

[Sinchets]

Two violas in the garden. Viola grisebachii- 1st flower on a plant barely 1cm tall, and Viola schariensis.

[ChrisB]

So sweet, Simon! 

[Paddy Tobin]

Simon, all lovely but the shade of blue on V. grisebachii is beautiful.

Paddy

[Sinchets]

The flower on the Viola grisebachii has been waiting since February to open- and I'm quite happy with the result. 

[Lesley Cox]

Stunning pictures to start off April in the NH. "Oh to be in England...." and all that.

Jo, how COULD you. Any winter is too long unless one is a skier.

A whole photo essay Cliff, for Pulsatilla vernalis. We've yet to see yours in seed. Won't be long.

A great thrill to see Adonis cyllenaea. I've not been able to bring it through the first winter, either potted on or left in the seed pot. Not too cold, not too wet, so don't know what the problem has been. On the other hand, a single seedling of A. pyrenaica has stayed in growth since it germinated 18 months ago and is putting out new leaves now, in autumn. The seed was one of 5 from the AGS and took 2 years to germinate.

I hope we see that Phlox bryoides when it's fully in bloom. And Chionohebe pulvinaris like that would stop the traffic here. 

[Lesley Cox]

Ashley, that's very kind of you, thanks. Seed of Muscari pallens would be very welcome. Even when mine was at its height, it only made 2 or 3 seeds (though all the same clone so maybe not surprising) and they fell or were birded away before I could get them. You have my address I think? 

[Lori S.]

Well, it's not yet in bloom... I'm pushing things in my desperation for winter to end... but, with the latest snow melt,  a bud has emerged on Caltha leptosepala !  (A good sign, despite the fact that they are no where near as lovely when subjected to my tender loving neglect as they are in the mountains). 

Buds too on Schivereckia podolica, which I see, in googling just now, has become a rare plant in Europe... oh my.  Buds continuing to develop on Saxifraga sancta var. macedonica, and on the drabas (the ones the rabbits didn't munch, at any rate).

[Hristo]

Some happy troops in the open garden;
Scilla greilheuberi
Pulmonaria sp.
Musari neglectum

[Pauli]

Hello,

after a few years it seems save to say, that Helleborus thibetanus is hardy here in Upper Austria!

[Gerdk]

Herbert,
H. thibetanus obviously enjoys your conditions. Is it flowering so late there?

Gerd

[Sinchets]

Another Viola species in the garden. This one germinated from a packet of Viola declinata seed I bought many years ago. After an eternity of producing only cleistogamous seedpods it has finally flowered. Also Tulipa praestans, Muscari chalusicum and a Gagea (bought as G.praetermissa).

[maggiepie]

Simon, your violas are beautiful, especially V. grisebachii , can't find out much information about it though.
How long is an eternity?
I have several violas that so far have only produced cleistogamous seedpods, it is very disappointing to see buds form and then turn into pods, espcially as the seeds were from Japan and I have no idea what they are, and really, REALLY want to see flowers.

[Sinchets]

Simon, your violas are beautiful, especially V. grisebachii , can't find out much information about it though. How long is an eternity?

hi Maggie- I just checked- I bought the seed as V.grisebachii, but I think it may have been a typo for V.grisebachiana.
For the other Viola my eternity was 5 years in my garden in England doing nothing but producing seedpods- it never selfseeded there, but I collected seed and brought it to Bulgaria. Last year, in its 1st year, it did the same thing and produced only seedpods- this year it has flowered. Here it seems to be selfseeding, so I am wondering if it likes the heat. I'd love to know which one it is, as it did come up from a packet of Viola declinata seeds.

[Gerdk]

I'd love to know which one it is, as it did come up from a packet of Viola declinata seeds.

Simon, It isn't declinata for sure because this belongs to the section Melanium (pansies). It seems to be a relative of odorata-alba etc. (section Viola subsection Viola). Determination is difficult when in an early stage.
Nevertheless a nice specimen.

Gerd

[Pauli]

Hello Gerd,

I have to admit that I am a little bit lazy with my pictures - it is 9 days old.
As we have some kind of heat wave now it is already going over . 22C today

Regards

Herbert