May 2010 in the Northern Hemisphere

[David Nicholson]

Nice selection Graham. I particularly liked Lewisia 'John's Special' do you know it's history?

[Graham Catlow]

Thanks David,
I'm afraid I don't know anything about the history of the Lewisia. I would be interested if anyone else does.
I bought it 3 years ago from a SRGC Glasgow show from the members sales tables.

Graham

[cohan]

Some from today

Pinguicula grandiflora
Lewisia 'Johns Special'
Penstemon serratus
Allium karataviense, Pulsatilla with seed heads, Tulip 'Queen of the night' and in the background almost ready Iris 'Black Swan'
Allium karataviense and Pulsatilla 'Blaue Glocke' seed heads

Graham

really nice planting of Pinguicula, and great show on the Penstemon

[David Nicholson]

Just Googled it and it is on Ian Christie's List maybe he knows who originally raised it. Could it possibly be one of Ashwood Nurseries raising?

[Maggi Young]

Lewisia John's Special was raised at Inshriach on Speyside and named  by/for John Lawson, who took over the nursery when Jack Drake retired.

[Graham Catlow]

Thanks Maggi,

I visited the nursery a couple of years ago On A WEDNESDAY - they were closed  as it seems they are every Wednesday.
Fortunately I was in the area anyway so it wasn't a wasted trip.
Not managed to get back YET!
Famous for its Tea Room and CAKES

Graham

[David Nicholson]

Thanks Maggi, it's a cracking colour.

[Maggi Young]

It is a great colour and a good strong plant.
John is retired now, of course..... I didn't know the new owner was continuing the wednesday closing.... it was always a pest ! 

[Graham Catlow]

Thanks Cohan!

Maggi how do you get those blue quote boxes that people use??

Graham

[Maggi Young]

Thanks Cohan!

Maggi how do you get those blue quote boxes that people use??

Graham

 I click on the "quote" button at  the top of the post I wish to quote and the whole thing is donne automatically. Or you can copy the text you wish to quote and clik on the yellow-square-speech-bubble icon( second left in the second row of icons above the text box) and paste the comment in between the sets of square brackets that appear .  

Thus:

yellow-square-speech-bubble icon

[Graham Catlow]

Thanks Maggi,
I can do that now.
Graham

[Lesley Cox]

Arisaema, I think you Primula IS x garryade 'Guinivere.' It looks just right to me. A lovely strong and healthy clump too.

Diane, maybe the lush growth of other plants around your Meconopsis has helped, keeping it cool and the soil damp while soaking up any excess moisture and so keeping it well drained. Isn't it thrilling when a long term failure suddenly is successful?

[Lvandelft]

Maggi and Landelft - Thank you for identifying my "oddity". So it's an Ornithogalum. The bulbs must look very similar because I chose the individual bulbs myself.

          Thanks again.

             Graeme

Today I saw in a tulip field near the road where we were cycling some Ornithogalum nutans.
In tulips it’s not such a problem, there are mostly just a few of these growing in a field.
I noticed that in Narcissus fields there are sometimes many more visible after flowering of Narcissus.

Ornithogalum nutans and close-up
for comparising:
Ornithogalum umbellatum

[WimB]

Two shade lovers flowering here for the first time today:

Ramonda myconi 'Alba'
and Polygonatum roseum

[Regelian]

Wim,

the P. roseum has long been on my wish list.  Did you raise it from seed?  Wonderful colour!

I am currently attempting Ramonda from seed with little success.