Crevice Gardening ......in defence of rock.....

[astragalus]

Two in bud in the crevice gardens.  Too early for flowers, still getting frost.  You can see a few rain drops on the furry leaves of the Astragalus loanus.  This will be the first flowering of the astragalus.  It also has beautiful seed pods.

Daphne velenovskyi 'Balkan Rose'

[astragalus]

A few days later and the astragalus is blooming with many buds still to open.
1.Astragalus loanus
2.Veronica thymoides v pseudocinerea
3,Phlox pulvinata
All are in the crevice garden on the back of the cliff which is steep, so they get two-way drainage.  All my western phlox have started blooming (P, condensata, P.hoodii, P.kelseyi, P.nana, P.pungens and P.pulvinata).

[Maggi Young]

That Astragalus is  a little gem, Anne.  I do hope you get a bumper year of flower with all your fabulous phlox.

[astragalus]

Maggi, the western phlox are always the first and they have started to bloom, but in general, the garden is way behind this year.  The Magnolia soulangeana is blooming on schedule but the flowers have been hit with frost and not looking great. 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

A few days later and the astragalus is blooming with many buds still to open.
1.Astragalus loanus
2.Veronica thymoides v pseudocinerea
3,Phlox pulvinata
All are in the crevice garden on the back of the cliff which is steep, so they get two-way drainage.  All my western phlox have started blooming (P, condensata, P.hoodii, P.kelseyi, P.nana, P.pungens and P.pulvinata).

Fabulous Astragalus, Anne !! Awesome !
I never succeed to grow them out here !     Too wet I suppose !

[astragalus]

Thanks, Luc.  This is the first time I've bloomed this one.  My mix is very, very fast draining but this one has the added benefit of being planted in a steeply sloping site.  That seems to have been the difference because I've lost the others which were planted in flatter places.  It's a xeric plant and too much wet is usually fatal.

[krisderaeymaeker]

Two in bud in the crevice gardens.  Too early for flowers, still getting frost.  You can see a few rain drops on the furry leaves of the Astragalus loanus.  This will be the first flowering of the astragalus.  It also has beautiful seed pods.

Great plant Anne ! I once try it here but as Luc already told ....I suppose it is to wet here . But sure I want to try it again ...
Here an update from my crevice ......I did not see the Saxifraga flowering this year because I was in Peru in March.... 
So I start this update by mid april.
Two forms of Androsace muscoidea .
And the first flower on Paraquilegia .

[krisderaeymaeker]

One week ago ..........Androsace mariae  and Pulsatilla albana .

[astragalus]

Kris, all are wonderful plants and so nicely sited.  The foliage on Paraquilegia is outstanding, but I don't think it will grow here.  Please be sure and post pictures of your yellow Astragalus vulneraria when it blooms.  I'm sure that it's my mystery astragalus.

[Lori S.]

I don't know why Paraquilegia wouldn't grow there, Anne, when it is hardy here in much harsher conditions. 

[astragalus]

Much too dry, I think.  Has your Astragalus loanus started budding yet?  It's gorgeous in bloom, the first time it's bloomed here.

[Lori S.]

Much too dry, I think.  Has your Astragalus loanus started budding yet?  It's gorgeous in bloom, the first time it's bloomed here.

Well, I'm just speculating, but it looks like your area normally gets more than twice the annual precipitation here (~40 inches vs. 16 - and a good proportion of ours runs off as snowmelt while the ground is still frozen).  I've only had one plant of Paraquilegia sp.(possible garden hybrid) and only since 2010, but given my "survival of the fittest" conditions, it must be pretty tough.  If you haven't grown it before, maybe it's worth a try?       My brief experience with it doesn't present a great example but it does spectacularly in Stephanie F.'s garden here in Calgary (what doesn't?  ), forming large clumps, blooming extravagantly and self-seeding happily!
 
No, my Astragalus loanus is just starting to put out new leaves - no sign of buds yet.  It bloomed near the end of May last year.  The second, wimpy seedling is looking committed to survival now - perhaps it will bloom this year.  We're under snow again here, and may be until mid-week - last snowfall, I hope?

[astragalus]

Lori, I wasn't thinking so much of hardiness as I was of the conditions here - unreliable snow cover, humidity and summer mugs, full sun, wind and summer drought in a garden that can't be watered.  That's asking a lot of an alpine.  i never even considered trying it, but maybe someday.
Astragalus loanus is turning out to be a beauty.  It survived the summer mugs for two years, I'm hoping it will make seed pods this summer.  The leaves are covered with fine silver hairs and the flowers are huge.  Astragalus detritalis is just starting to bloom now, a nice hot pink.

[Tim Ingram]

Astragalus loanus really is special Anne - I am really envious having tried to grow some of these amazing legumes and like Kris and Luc with very limited success. They are worth any effort when you succeed with a plant like that! I have good hopes of Astragalus utahensis which has grown well in a pot in the past and maybe can gradually learn more of what they need. A proper crevice and tufa/hypertufa garden beckons!

[Maggi Young]

You must have a look at the show photos from Nairn and Glasgow, Tim, to see Sam Sutherland's  Astragalus utahensis - a big plant full of flowers. It will give you hope