Alpine Gifts

[Ragged Robin]

Last year I was given the gift of precious Alpine seeds collected by Hans Hoeller in the Austrian Alps at 1700 metres.  These tiny little Dianthus spec.small are the first to flower and I feel a real sense of delight that they are flowering so well in his memory.  Now they are strong enough they will have a permanent home in my Open Alpine Rockery. 

[Brian Ellis]

How nice Robin, the best plants are those that have memories attached

[Ragged Robin]

So true Brian, watching them grow is double the pleasure!

[Maggi Young]

I am constantly  delighted to learn of the scale of swapping and gifting of plant material around Forum Members... it is one of the greatest joys of this place. To see such healthy plants from collected seed from a late and sorely lamented member,  Hans Hoeller, doing so well and giving Robin such pleasure is truly the icing on the Forum cake.

Most gardeners will know the added pleasure of having a plant given by a friend in their gardens, we are so fortunate here to have the added excitiemnt and poignancy of gifts from across the world in our gardens from wonderful friends we may never have the chance to meet in person, but who, nonetheless, become so important in our gardening lives.

[David Nicholson]

I have a small collection of forms of Primula auricula I've grown from seed Hans sent to me. They are planted out now in a small bed I think of as "Hans' Patch". Such a lovely and generous man.

[Ragged Robin]

David, are any of them still in flower?  It would be lovely to see them.

Yes, I think I shall have a Hans' patch as well to join my Thomas's bank of cyclamen, Tony G's slope of Crocuses and others that I hope to see soon when we go to the Alps.  Maggi has expressed so well everything to do with sharing through this Forum and the joy it brings.

[David Nicholson]

David, are any of them still in flower?  It would be lovely to see them.

They should flower next year for the first time Robin.

[Lesley Cox]

The foliage of yours Robin, looks like D. glacialis. I have it from HH too, by way of Thomas H. Several others include saxifraga species and Campanula waldsteinniana, doing well in a trough.

[annew]

Here is one of the gentians that flowered this year from seed sent to me by Lesley - thanks, Lesley!

[Lesley Cox]

I'd totally forgotten about that Anne. Pleased some at least are coming on nicely. Why did I send G. acaulis? Though the one I have is a very free flowerer.

[Ragged Robin]

Lesleys's gentian looks very much at home with you Anne - such a fabulous colour - how long did it take to flower from seed?

Thanks for your Dianthus glacialis ID Lesley - another from the same area that was much taller in flower is below

[Lesley Cox]

I could be a form of D. alpinus, not sure. I meant to mention that if your previous one IS glacialis, save the seed as it is quite short-lived.

[Ragged Robin]

Phew! Have done 

[annew]

You sent me seeds of your white one with greeny-blue stripes, and seeds of the blue as well. I think that was 3 yrs ago? The white one hasn't flowered yet.