February 2011 - Northern Hemisphere

[LucS]

In the rockgarden spring is definitely coming with this adonis amurensis.

[Paul T]

Wow Luc, great clump of them.  I always wonder if they look so spectacular in real life, or whether the emphasis in a photo makes them stronger.  I often see photos of things I take in my garden and see all sorts of details and beauty that I don't see in the garden when viewing them...... I'm wondering how much of this happens with Adonis?

[alpinelover]

Very nice, Luc, that's for sure. This is a close-up from Adonis amurensis ‘Fukujukai’.

[LucS]

Wow Luc, great clump of them.  I always wonder if they look so spectacular in real life, or whether the emphasis in a photo makes them stronger.  I often see photos of things I take in my garden and see all sorts of details and beauty that I don't see in the garden when viewing them...... I'm wondering how much of this happens with Adonis?

The whole clump measures about 20x30 cm. The plant looks a lot better when the flowers are higher en fully open.

[Lesley Cox]

A superb clump Luc. Paul the Adonis is quite as fine in the flesh, so to speak but in your and my climate, tends to elongate over-quickly so that the very tight clumps such as that above, are quite fleeting and they certainly don't look as good when the foliage is expanded and maturing.

[johnw]

Hebe latifolius.

And a Grevillea that only Maggi seems to recall the name of.

johnw

[Lesley Cox]

Well done with the Hebe in your climate John, and so early in the year!

[Maggi Young]

And a Grevillea that only Maggi seems to recall the name of.

Really? News to me....... though at the moment I'm having a little trouble rememberingmy own name.... must be the weather. ( cold and wet)
......wasn't it pictured inthe Forum recently, though?

[Paul T]

By the look of the leaves I'd be guessing it is a Grevillea rosmarinifolia cultivar?  Are the leaves spikey?

[Pascal B]

Another Asarum species from Taiwan in flower, given the corona and the shape of the calyx tube it seems closest to Asarum macranthum. The spotted leaf in the back is of Asarum taipingshanianum

[cohan]

This is as good as the 'foliage' gets this time of year! Shots near my house/driveway..
Shots from Jan 11, though nothing much is changed--we are alternating several days of -20 or colder with several days above freezing....
edit: full album , with some shots of Alhambra Road, a name some seed recipients might recognise   looks different this time of year, who'd know there are some interesting plants there??
https://picasaweb.google.com/cactuscactus/January112011#

[ian mcenery]

Here is my Primula Tantallon starting to flower. I have just taken off the "winter snow" from its bed

[johngennard]

Ian,what sought of conditions and aspect does your 'Tantallon'enjoy.I didn't think it would survive outside in this part of the country.I have several in pots and would love to try them in the open garden.

[ian mcenery]

Ian,what sought of conditions and aspect does your 'Tantallon'enjoy.I didn't think it would survive outside in this part of the country.I have several in pots and would love to try them in the open garden.

John I have them in the "open garden" ie where there is no protection and these are not yet flowering but they are subject to lifting by frost. The ones shown are in a cold and draughty spot at the side of my house where most of the light is reflected. They grow in what I call my Himalayan bed which is a fancy name for a raised bed specifically to deal with the issues of summer heat and winter wet. I tried to emulate the conditions in which I found them growing in Bhutan ie good light, never above 20C or so and high temperature for only short times as well as summer moisture. In summer this bed is always the coolest part of my garden and in winter - Dec to Feb - I cover with fleece. I removed it today and Tantallon was flowering. I also grow whitei, calderiana and a number of others but this one seems the easiest at least at present

[Hoy]

Ian, this is one of the prettiest primulas I have seen!
Your cold and draughty side of the house, is that the north side?