April 2010 - Northern Hemisphere- Flowering now.

[Panu]

The first flower opened today

[Ragged Robin]

How lovely Paul, so worth waiting for!

[Ragged Robin]

Looking from ant's way.

A great Snowdrop study Olga - gigantic from an ant's view!

[Gail]

Looking from ant's way.

A great Snowdrop study Olga - gigantic from an ant's view!

Agree - Olga the ant's eye view is wonderful!

[Thomas Huber]

"Wonderful" doesn't hit it - this photo is really amazing, Olga!!! 

[Paddy Tobin]

Think of how long it took Olga to dig a hole in which to stand so that she could look up at that snowdrop.

We appreciate all your digging (and photography), Olga.

Paddy

[Lampwick]

Trillium hibbersonii.
I acquired this in 1998 from Jack Drake; and I grow it in a shady trough in Melcourt composted pine bark, with about 20% added sharp builders sand. I’ve often found it a difficult plant to photograph, as its flowers usually face downwards, but this year it obliged me by holding its blooms more upwards facing.
With me it grows to a height of about 4cm. with the flowers being about 2½cm. across.
Perhaps someone more knowledgeable than I am could tell me what this little charmer should rightly be called!
Should it rightly be called Trillium ovatum var. hibbersonii, or can I keep it labelled as I bought it; and let it retain its specific status? 

 

[Lesley Cox]

I believe T. hibbersonii is correct, but of course I'm always open to being corrected.

[Lvandelft]

Prunus Pandora

FYI regarding parentage: http://www.keele.ac.uk/university/nathist/trees/cherries/prunus%20pandora.htm

Thanks Mark, I needed half an hour to understand what you meant with FYI though 
There are already too many shortcuts in Dutch, so cannot keep up with those in a strange language 

Before I acquired this Prunus I first read some reviews to find out if it would be suitable
for the place I wanted to plant it.
Found out that it was rated as excellent in Boskoop in 1990 and should like our sandy soil.
At the same time I bought Prunus x Hally Jolivette, but am still not convinced if I like it.
It probably does not like my place 

[TheOnionMan]

Thanks Mark, I needed half an hour to understand what you meant with FYI though  
There are already too many shortcuts in Dutch, so cannot keep up with those in a strange language  

Luit, sorry about that, I broke one of my own rules, that is to avoid using acronyms as much as possible.

Your Prunus shows tremendous "flower-power", so it looks to be truly enjoying your garden, a lovely shrub.

[Lvandelft]

Mark, last year I acquired P. kurilense (or nipponicum?) which flowers as powerful as Pandora, but it's still rather small and as difficult
to make pictures when windy.

[Olga Bondareva]

Robin, Gail, Thomas, Paddy thank you!

Think of how long it took Olga to dig a hole in which to stand so that she could look up at that snowdrop.

  This clump of nivalis grows in a big digged pot. I just put the pot up on the pedestal.

[Olga Bondareva]

Crocuses in volcanic dust. 

[Gerry Webster]

Sanguinaria canadensis 'Multiplex'

With Erythronium leaves.

[Graham Catlow]

Olga - I must join the others in saying what amazing photos you produce, please continue to post them.

A few from my garden this week:

A spring border - Fritillaria imperialis 'lutea', Narcissus 'Thalia' underplanted with Pulmonaria 'Blue Ensign'
Allium karataviense with a bubble of mercury (todays rain really). This is my favourite Allium, its leaves look great at this time, its flower is impressive and then its seed heads continue the effect. Three for the price of one.
Euphorbia myrsinites
Anemone blanda spreading as the years pass and self seeding throughout the garden.

Graham