March 2010 Northern Hemisphere

[JPB]

Mark, the plant on my first picture is an excepionally nice one. Normally, they look more like the ones on your pictures. Still beautiful!

I don't think it is hardy. It doesn't go further north than the South of France with little or no frost. I'll try it out once i have enough cloned plants.

Hans

[TheOnionMan]

It's hard to follow Han's eye-opening Coris photos and Klaas' Dionysia, but here's a modest start to spring here in New England, northeastern USA.

After a brief spell of several days above freezing, the glacier-like layer of icy snow has retreated from parts of the yard and garden.  Things are showing their noses above the soil.  Here are three things that are starting to bloom.

1. Expanding flowers last weekend among intermittant sun and snow squalls are some snowdrops, however they're first true floral debut was yesterday, March 2nd, 2010.

2. The whipcord-like branches of Jasminum nudiflorum have shown yellow buds for many weeks through February, and are finally expanding slightly.  It is one of the only Jasminum species hardy here.  Today it is cold and snowing again, so the buds will "hang tight" for a while longer yet.

3.  The third is a surprise, but as the snow receded off clumps of Houstonia caerulea, there were a few small flowers huddled close to the bun of foliage.  See this thread for more about this wonderful little native plant:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4790.0

[TheOnionMan]

Thank you Mark,

Again, I would like to invite everyone who has pictures of Dionysia in the wild to share those on my website to make it
an even bigger feast for you and others....

Regards, Klaas.

Klaas, your photo of Dionysia iranshahrii hurt my eyes    What a weedy thing!  Seriously though, I hope to one day see in person such plants miraculously springing from sheer rock walls.  On your Dionysia site, it was also interesting to see Viola species that can grow the same way, clinging to vertical cliffs.  I must go check out your other web site links.

[Lesley Cox]

What a super plant is the Coris monspeliensis. I've never heard of it and certainly have nothing so fine in my living room. I guess it comes from a similar regieon to Aphyllanthes monspeliensis? That's one of my favourite plants.

My own Houstonia caerulea has totally died, the whole mat of it and no sign of self-sown seedlings, so I hope Helen can find a little seed for me later.

[johnw]

Spring colour on a trough grown Diapensia lapponica. Seven months of red.

And Muscari muscarimi from JJA seed. This one is not as fragrant as M. macrocarpon.

johnw

[ruweiss]

We poor gardeners (and also other people) suffer from an usually long lasting winter.
Spring showed himself for a short time about one week ago, but yesterday winter came
back with lots of snow, day temperatures just above freezing, icy wind and the forecast
for tonight is -7° to -13°C !
Most of the photos were taken in our meadow garden 10 days ago. The Cyclamen coum
 sow themselves and spread over the meadow. We started about 15 years ago with
4 - 5 plants, raised from turkish seeds. Now we have a lot of them and we wonder how they
like these conditions.
Galanthus Sam Arnott grows in the rockgarden and we noted some specimen with unusual
4 petals.
Our only hope is, that the return of winter will not do too much harm to the poor plants.

[LucS]

The first flowers in the rockgarden: Adonis amurensis started just after the snow in February and is well developed by now.

[Lesley Cox]

It is just wonderful to see all these spring flowers as we enter the tired, dog-end o summer and gradually goint to autumn with maples and sorbus already colouring. (Would anyone like some seed of the white berried Sorbus koehneana?)

Rudi, I'm surprised your lovely Eranthis haven't seeded into the little field through the fence.

[Lesley Cox]

John, the Diapensia colour is very fine. There are apparently a few plants in the trough. Are the little ones at the front of the image, seedlings?

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Superb display Rudy !!! Hard to imagine that everything has turned to white again ?? 

Wonderful Adonis LucS, but I've said it before, it needs dividing... 

[Ragged Robin]

A breath of Spring flowering is so welcome in the Alps where there is still no sign of any. Rudi your meadow looks so, so beautiful - a tapestry of little gems.  Wishing them and you more Spring-like weather...this winter goes on....and on...


John I love the deep wine colour of your Diapensia against that wonderful grey stone.

LucS your Adonis amurensis is to die for, what a glorious plant.

[krisderaeymaeker]

Today in flower :  Saxifraga 'Coolock Kate' (very young plant) 

[Ragged Robin]

A great photo Kris of a youthful beauty    the colour is gorgeous.

[Michael J Campbell]

Pulsatilla slavica

[krisderaeymaeker]

A great photo Kris of a youthful beauty    the colour is gorgeous.

Thanks for the nice comment Robin 
I like strong colors en therefore I am happy with this one.