Northern hemisphere June 2010

[David Nicholson]

Some lovely stuff there Luc. Well done with the Meconopsis, I've never managed to grow one here. What are you feeding your Allium karataviense with, I've had the normal pinkish form for about three years and it still has only one flower? Loved the Campanulas too, I loose all mine (except portenschlagiana!!) to slugs and snails.

David - I thought it was impossible to grow Meconopsis in Devon too - but 3rd time lucky this year I've overwintered 'Slieve Donard' obtained from Rosemoor in good large pots [ex-Hugh Nunn, I think] into 2nd year. Flowers started opening a few days ago on a stately fower spike. Secret for me seems to be wind shelter from the SW gales (planted behind a deciduous Azaelia between evergreen shrubs) as much as dappled light (not sense shade), and an acid open soil with very old composted Leylandii shreddings mixed in with abandon. Let's hope I can keep it going   - may never live up to the show these put on in more Northerly climes but I'll gladly keep them anyway !

Thanks for the tips Kim. I must say I haven't tried a bought plant my attempts have been with seed.

[Maggi Young]

Perhaps a large parasol for the meconopsis and an electric fan to keep them cool, Luc?  

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Sounds good Maggi - maybe I'll need the same for myself...

Thanks for the kind words Graham and Paddy - glad you like the pix ! 

[Maggi Young]

Sounds good Maggi - maybe I'll need the same for myself...

I was thinking it would be pleasant for Rita, Luc, where you could bring her a cool drink.....

[Luc Gilgemyn]

She always does bring me a cool drink Maggi - I can't complain..    and then we share it...

[David Nicholson]

She always does bring me a cool drink Maggi - I can't complain..    and then we share it...

You old smoothie you

[Lvandelft]

Nice collection Luc! and a lot of them would be excellent to fill some troughs over here 

[angie]

Luc some lovely plants there i do love your Ramonda... Good luck with your Meconopsis, keep telling it its still in Scotland it might believe you.
I shall post some pictures of my Meconopsis soon .
Angie

[Olga Bondareva]

Luc,
How many beautiful plants! I like Meconopsis, white Ramonda and phlox.

Dodecatheon dentatum


Polygonatum hookerii


Meconopsis punicea




Edraianthus serpyllifolius


Pinus mugo Fruhlingsgold

[Lesley Cox]

Ah the promise!

johnw

And that little slice of heaven a promise of so much more to come.

Maggi, gorgeous bluebells but perhaps Cumbria's not a good place to be today. What is it about our modern society that makes people go so totally, obscenely off the rails.

[Regelian]

Olga,

your fotography never seases to amaze me.  Thanks so much for sharing all of these wonderful plant portraits.  You have a rare talent for composition.

Jamie

[Philip MacDougall]

I've had 3 bulbs of this species for 5 years, every spring I've feared I'll find that big soggy hole so typical of where last years Arisaema bulb was. They don't offset readily. The year before last I finally had flowers of both genders, the resulting seed was much smaller than any other Arisaema I'm familiar with. Combine that with a 2 year germination cycle and a lot can happen to a flat in that time. Last month while cleaning I absentmindedly put another flat on top, sure enough everything germinated. I only noticed the etiolated seedlings on Tuesday. How annoyed would I have been had I missed them another week. Anyway Arisaema elephas in the garden, hope there is lots of foliage variability in the seedlings.

[johnw]

#1 Glaucidium braving the cold spring weather there (Forsythia still out!) and a good frost outside St. John's the night before.

Three Salix at Oxen Pond Botanics on Wednesday. 2 & 3 are S. vestita, 4 is S. reticulata.  #5 & 6 are in the new crevice garden 5, 6 & 7.
 
johnw

[Regelian]

John,

the crevice garden has that certain architectural coolness.  Quite striking.  Plants ain't bad, either.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

The crevice feature looks excellent John and the Glaucidium seems in great condition !