Plants flowering in the open rock garden.June '09

[ranunculus]

Sorry Simon - only one plant in a six inch pot, so little chance yet for it produce suckers - though, in all honesty, it doesn't SEEM likely. The flowers are certainly identical.

[Sinchets]

Thanks again, Cliff. It's not the same suckering as Cerastium, but it did surprise me whenit started doing it- not something I expected from a Dianthus.
Flowering now:
Monardella odoratissima ssp glauca X liniodes
Peganum harmala
Cirsium candelabrum

[Rodger Whitlock]

Peganum harmala

The use of seeds of Peganum harmala  is documented in Emboden's book "Narcotic Plants", 1972, rev. ed 1979. Emboden says the seeds are also the source of the dye "Turkey red" used as the fundamental color of Turkish carpets.

Definitely a plant "for the gardens of the curious", also for gardens of economic plants.

From what Emboden has to say, it's one of those plants filled with an assortment of alkaloids and indoles. Not something to fool around with, in case anyone reading is inclined to experimentation with altered states of consciousness.

[Lesley Cox]

Apart from the flowers, it's rather like French tarragon.

[Sinchets]

It does have great foliage, but is maybe better in a hot, dry spot than in any kind of french dressing 

[Sinchets]

Flowering now:
Digitalis parviflora
Clarkia dudleyana
Linum tenuifolium (collected locally)

[Paul T]

Simon,

Love that Digitalis.  Any chance of a closer pic to show the flowers?  I love the combination in that pic of the Digitalis and the spikey grassy background.  

[Lori S.]

1) Lewisia 'George Henley'
2) Alyssum tortuosum
3) Gypsophila nana
4) Oxytropis splendens - starting to bloom
5) Sedum hispanicum v. minus 'Aureum'
6) Silene falcata

[Paul T]

Lori,

I love the Oxytropis splendens.  It looks like it must be so fuzzy.  Great leaves, and flowers!  Thanks for the pics.

[Sinchets]

Some lovely plants, Lori. I see whatyou meant now about the O.splendens- mine really does look different to yours- maybe another imposter 
Paul, this is the best closeup I can get . The Digitalis parviflora is growing in front of Festuca mairei. this was grown from bought seed so I am not sure if it is true- but at least it isn't ryegrass!
Also flowering- what I believe to be Nepeta parnassica (3rd time lucky!)

[Paul T]

Simon,

Thanks for the further pic of the Digitalis parviflora.  What a cool colour, something I just don't associate with foxgloves.    I like the fact it looks to have more densely packed smaller flowers too...... making it even more desirable to me.  Thanks again for the followup pic. 

[Sinchets]

No problem, Paul. It was listed as 'Milk Chocolate' by the seed company, but as far as I can see from other pics it is no different to the straight species. Have you seen D.cariensis before? It's another good dwarf but more on the lines of D.laevigata or D.ferruginea.

[Paul T]

Simon,

Not I've ever seen a species Digitalis in real life.   So were all the 'Milk Chocolate' the same?  Looks like a good name for it.  While some hate brown, I just think it is a wonderfully unusual colour in a flower and would love it. 

[ViggoU]

Hello!

Here are some images from the Artic-Alpine Botanical garden in Tromsø from earlier this month. Enjoy

1. Dryas octopetala
2. Polemonium boreale
3. Gentiana angulosa (or G. verna angulosa if U prefer that)
4. Gentiana clusii
5. Meconopsis punicea in bud
6. Meconopsis quintuplinervia
7. Rhododendron wardii
8. Saxifraga marginata
9. Part of the Sax-collection
10. More of the Sax-collection

[johnw]

re: the Tromsø photos

Jaw-dropping!

johnw