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

[Lori S.]

Here's Astragalus gilviflorus from some time ago... it met its demise by rabbit.  (Edit: Oops, no, that's not right.  I'm wronging maligning rabbits - it was actually killed when ants burrowed under it.)

And a couple of Linum cariense in the season before their untimely exits... 
 
Anyway...   

Here's Astragalus loanus, forming buds.  Ditto for Eritrichium howardii with one flower open:
 

[Paul Cumbleton]

After a tip from colleagues at Kew, we found at Wisley that Linums grow (and flower) much better and live a bit longer if you feed them more regularly than you might typically do for most alpines. Seems they are rather greedy! So a weekly liquid feed (low nitrogen, high potash) right through the growing season is what we did.

Paul

[astragalus]

Thanks for the tip, Paul.  They're worth an extra bit of effort.

[astragalus]

Nice pictures, Lori.  The Astragalus loanus looks great, you'll have a lot of flowers.  So far, my plant is developing a seed pod, but only one despite the copious flowering.

[ebbie]

Your Astragalus are a show!

Concerning Linum cariense I think that it is simply too wet outdoors. My plant I have for now 6 years and it makes no problems and blooms every year rich. But there is protected of the rain in my alpine house.

[Lori S.]

Wow! 
Certainly not too wet here (with 16" annual precipitation)... I'll try to remember the feeding tip!

[astragalus]

Your Astragalus are a show!

Concerning Linum cariense I think that it is simply too wet outdoors. My plant I have for now 6 years and it makes no problems and blooms every year rich. But there is protected from the rain in my alpine house.

Ebbie, your linum is wonderful.  I know there are some people who apparently shun yellow in the garden, but oh, what they are missing.

[astragalus]

Lori, I just checked this morning and there are now 3 pods on the Astragalus loanus.  Life is good.

[ebbie]

Ebbie, your linum is wonderful.  I know there are some people who apparently shun yellow in the garden, but oh, what they are missing.

Yes, I agree with you. That glossy yellow of Linum cariense is also particularly beautiful.

[krisderaeymaeker]

After a tip from colleagues at Kew, we found at Wisley that Linums grow (and flower) much better and live a bit longer if you feed them more regularly than you might typically do for most alpines. Seems they are rather greedy! So a weekly liquid feed (low nitrogen, high potash) right through the growing season is what we did.
Paul

Very interesting Paul , many thanks for the tip !

[krisderaeymaeker]

Your Astragalus are a show!
Concerning Linum cariense I think that it is simply too wet outdoors. My plant I have for now 6 years and it makes no problems and blooms every year rich. But there is protected of the rain in my alpine house.

    Great Linum Eberhard ! 

[krisderaeymaeker]

Nice pictures, Lori.  The Astragalus loanus looks great, you'll have a lot of flowers.

I agree with Anne . Al nice and healthy looking plants . They look also very natural Lori .

[astragalus]

Rain and humidity and it's only May, yuk!  Keeping a careful eye on the pods of Astragalus loanus and hoping the weather will dry up soon so they don't rot.
More plants in the crevice beds every day.

      Penstemon davidsonii menziesii v microphyllus
      Penstemon spatulatus

[astragalus]

These are great crevice "filler" plants, just easy doers that act as connectors.  I'll put in more of them little by little and they won't interfere because they are not planted in long crevices where they could run.  Since these crevices are finite, time will tell if the plants will be successful long term.  The crevices are deep but not particularly wide.  Just another ongoing experiment.  My garden seems to be full of those.

1. Veronica oltensis
2. Erigeron scopulinus
3. Globularia repens 'nana'

[astragalus]

Another really nice crevice plant that seems happy.

1. Arenaria tetraquetra