April 2011 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Hoy]

Hoy, Thats a great clump of Glaucidium palmatum, mine only has three flowers on it. Hope one day it looks as good as yours.

Angie

Thanks, Angie
Had to struggle with slugs for some years but now the plant seems to be immune

[Graham Catlow]

My Gentians are at their best just now. There is no better blue.
I have patches in a variety of places.

Gentiana acaulis 1,2&3
Gentiana cashmeriana
Alpine trough - Gentiana acaulis, G. verna, Primula farinosa (I hope), Anemone narcissiflora, (not flowered since I planted it three years ago), and Soldanella alpina, (finished flowering).

[Luc Gilgemyn]

 
Superb gentians Graham !

[Armin]

I agree Luc

Luit,
the magnolia Lois is pretty nice. Hope it sets more flowers next year.

[Graham Catlow]

Thanks Luc and Armin

[Lesley Cox]

The two Phlox names are the same plant, definitely but there does seem to be confusion about the name. I also bought it as 'Daniel's Cushion' and was later told by ?someone? that it should be 'McDaniel's Cushion.'
I bought it in the south of England in 1981 and the nurseryman told me it was named by his friend, as 'Daniel's Cushion' because he, the nurseryman - can't remember his name - had a small son called Daniel who persisted in sitting on it or something silly like that. But it could have just been a story told to make the plant seem more interesting.

[Graham Catlow]

The two Phlox names are the same plant, definitely but there does seem to be confusion about the name. I also bought it as 'Daniel's Cushion' and was later told by ?someone? that it should be 'McDaniel's Cushion.'
I bought it in the south of England in 1981 and the nurseryman told me it was named by his friend, as 'Daniel's Cushion' because he, the nurseryman - can't remember his name - had a small son called Daniel who persisted in sitting on it or something silly like that. But it could have just been a story told to make the plant seem more interesting.

I thought as much.
An interesting story - thanks Lesley

[Lvandelft]

WOW Graham, that's exactly how I like to see Gentiana in the garden! 

[Houseslippers]

Wonderful troughs as always, Graham, and what superb Gentians!

[Lvandelft]

Some lovely things about just now.

Luit - the Laythrus look great in a mass planting.

I once planted one Lathyrus Alboroseus, but oversaw the seedlings some years I'm afraid

The Phlox looks good too. I see you call it 'Daniel's' Cushion which is what I bought mine as but I kept seeing it as 'McDaniels Cushion' so changed it. I wonder if the Scots are trying to claim it and added the Mc. Or are they two different plants?

I see that the Plantfinder now gives McDaniels Cushion, but am not sure if this was so several years ago.
Nice story Lesley! I love these storys and think that many plants have one.
Do you know the little book :
Who Does Your Garden Grow, by Alex Pankhurst , 1992 ? It is wonderful to read!
If not you should try to get it. It will not cost a fortune and is really a bedside book!

[Brian Ellis]

Do you know the little book :
Who Does Your Garden Grow, by Alex Pankhurst , 1992 ? It is wonderful to read!
If not you should try to get it. It will not cost a fortune and is really a bedside book!

She has a very pretty cottage garden in Dedham around a white clapperboard cottage Luit.

[Maggi Young]

Graham, you should be VERY pleased with how well those Gentians are doing for you.... lots of us green with envy at that display!

[Maggi Young]

Luit, there is a great deal in t your garden that is looking very good indeed.... about the only thing we have out at the same time as yours here is the Anemone ranunculoides... there are a lot of things behind, it seems, even though the erythroniums and corydalis have sped past at speed.

[Lampwick]

My Gentians are at their best just now. There is no better blue.
I have patches in a variety of places.

I wish I could grow Gentiana acaulis as you do Graham, but I can’t…I can only drool over my keyboard as I admire them! Beautiful!
 

[Graham Catlow]

Thanks for your kind words, Luit, Tony, Maggi and John.