I lied. Sorry!

Mark Akimoff

In a post I just published I called this gentleman Dr. Bulb. That's only part of his story. He is an all round plantsman, and his nursery, Illhahe Rare Plants, sells a wide range of rock garden, alpine and xeric and native perennials in addition to his rare bulbs. Nothing like stuffing people into a box! I shared a few pictures of his bulbs I photographed last April, but now just random shots around his nursery and garden--pretty much randomly, alas. Before you check out the treasures in his garden, see what HE has to say about next Sunday's symposium--there's some surprises! Click HERE.

A few random shots around his garden and nursery...starting what USED to be Hutchinsia alpina, then it was, Pritzelago alpina and now (or should I say for the time being...) it's Hornungia alpina.

A South American Berberis--B. x stenophylla 'Irwinii' (a cross between B. darwinii and B. empetrifolia)

A wonderful white combo including a compact Iberis taurica (above) and Arenaria montana below.

Daphne x transatlantica 'Eternal Fragrance' above Silene x robotii 'Rollie's Favorite' below

Clematis coactilis?

A new bed planted to pitcher plants

Raised bed full of all manner of treasures

Viola cotyledon? Oooo Lala! in an alpine house...

Arenaria alfacarensis

Lewisia tweedyi

Edraianthus jugoslavicus

Sedum spathulifolium

Darlingtonia californica

Scilla (Hyacinthoides?) vicentina

Calochortus uniflorus

A bulb house full of treasure!

 More goodies--as you'll see if you clicked on Mark's blog, he's bringing  two large flats filled with 64 plant gems that will be shared among attendees of the Symposium though a free raffle. Be there or miss out!

Dr. Bulb comes to town (better not miss him!)

Erythronium caucasicum

This is not just ANY dogtooth violet: this is the endemic gem from the Caucasus--which blooms weeks before other species in the genus and is cuter than a bug's ear. Alas, few visitors come to my garden in March when this blooms--but I don't care. I grow dozens of strange bulbs for my own delight--most of them purchased from Dr. Bulb--who I shall introduce you to in a bit.

                        Fritillaria pyreneica                                      Fritillaria crassifolia

Dr. Bulb probably grows the largest number of Fritillaria species of anyone in the U.S.A. If you are lucky enough to get this list (in time) as I have, you will find your garden boasting more and more species--I reckon I have a few dozen kinds by now myself...of course, not everyone has a taste for dark, brooding Frits: my buddy Bill Adams thinks they're stupid. But then again, he doesn't like lilies either. Sheeesh! How can you not love lilies? (He makes an exception for Erythroniums--go figure!)

Iris hyrcana

Not just another reticulata!

Dr. Bulb (Mark Akimoff)

And here he is! I was lucky to meet him in his native habitat (Illhahe rare bulbs q.v.) in April, 2024. And you can meet him in person at the Rocky Mountain Chapter of N.A.R.G.S. Symposium in 11 days 

The day I visited, Paeonia brownii was blooming in one of his frames--a plant I've often seen in nature, but NOT in gardens!

I believe this is Calochortus elegans, one of the "Cat's ear" mariposas. To DIE for!

I believe that's Gladiolus tristis--from the West Cape, but just LOOK at all the treasures!

An incredible Moraea setifolia--if only it were cold hardy!

 And finally an Onco cross 'Peresh'

Stay tuned: there's more. And do sign up for the Symposium! Every speaker is spectacular!

Queen of campanulas: from Greece of course!

Campanula incurva

At what point do we declare something a winner? I have grown dozens of campanulas in my day--and I think I love each and every species I've tried. But one has gradually risen to the top in my estimation. 

The flowers are comparatively enormous--very similar to Canterbury Bells (C. medium) only covering a mound of pleasant foliage rather than on a rather gawky biennial stalk.

Here it is at Denver Botanic Gardens' Rock Alpine Garden: it seems to like to grow just about anywhere...sun or shade. It can grow flat on open ground or on a steep slope or crevice.

Here it is trying to take over my new crevice garden at home....

It is incredibly long blooming: you can see the buds coming on and many have passed. Where happy it can bloom for four or five months...

Here is a fine colony at Mike Kintgen's home garden.. I have a hunch many of these are self sown seedlings. The literature says this is monocarpic:  I've had plants that have bloomed three years in succession. Everywhere I've grown it, it seeds around gently so you never seem to lose it altogether...a charming trait. Many of my favorite campanulas are long gone...                                                                                                                            

I end on my favorite planting of this species, when I had it on the side of the waterfall in my garden. I have not seen this in the wild (it's largely restricted to north-central Greece.)  There are only a handful of records of it on I-Naturalist, mostly not far from the coast half way between Athens and Thessalonica. I suspect that in nature it's a chasmophyte, like so many Greek campanulas. High on my list to look for my next trip to my ancestral land.

Meanwhile, I can relish it at home. Look for it on exchanges this winter--lots of wise rock gardeners know and love this plant which is prodigal of seed and beauty.                            

Fantastic symposium in a few weeks! Time to sign up...

 

Rocky Mountain Chapter 

of the North American Rock Garden Society

Symposium, November 9, 2025

Mitchell Hall, Denver Botanic Gardens

[For my PERSONAL take on it, scroll to the bottom*]

Adam Black

Adam Black is Director of Horticulture and Plant Conservation at Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories and Arboretum in Charlotte, NC. He is a lifelong plant enthusiast with a passion for the rare, unusual and esoteric, and combines his experience in the fields of botany and horticulture by promoting diverse landscapes of underutilized species while also collaborating with various botanic gardens, universities and governmental agencies in documenting and collecting imperiled taxa for the purposes of research and conservation. In addition to extensive familiarity of the southern US flora, he has been involved in field work and plant explorations in New Caledonia, Taiwan, The Philippines, Mexico, South Africa and beyond. Plant Exploration: The Passion and the Insanity Bringing plants into cultivation can serve many purposes, including the benefits of increasing urban landscape biodiversity as well as preserving the genetics of species of conservation concern in safe sites. Plant exploration has many ethical, legal, natural, and physical challenges to navigate, but ultimately it is a necessary endeavor that seems to be taken on only by a small collaborative group of the most passionate, adventurous plant nerds who bridge the gap between the fields of botany and horticulture. Join one of these geeks as he chronicles the various exhilarating adventures, unexpected complications, and comical situations he has encountered in both far-flung regions of the world as well as the surprisingly under-explored regions of the US where there are still adventures to be had and significant plant discoveries to be made.

Morgan Cannon

Morgan Cannon is the Northern Colorado Project Coordinator for the National Forest Foundation, based in Estes Park, Colorado. She manages post-fire recovery projects including reforestation, cone collection, and watershed health initiatives across the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. With a background in native plant propagation, seed collection, and alpine restoration, Morgan has worked on ecological projects throughout the Mountain West. These have included long term monitoring projects and hands-on restoration work in the desert southwest (Grand Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, and Canyonlands National Park) and throughout the southern Rockies. In Grand Teton National Park, she led native plant greenhouse operations, coordinated seed collection and propagation, and monitored high-elevation and sagebrush steppe ecosystems. Passionate about connecting people to conservation through plants, Morgan continues to collaborate with agencies, nonprofits, and volunteers to help build resilient landscapes throughout the Rockies. "Plants in Cool Places": This presentation explores ongoing plant conservation work in Grand Teton National Park, from the sagebrush steppe to the park’s highest alpine ecosystems. Morgan will share insights from monitoring intact and disturbed sagebrush habitats, as well as a re-piloted program focused on sensitive alpine plants and whitebark pine (a keystone species in the region). By examining how these unique sites respond to disturbance and climate pressures, this work helps inform broader strategies for climate adaptation and ecosystem resilience across the Mountain West.

Laura Swain

Laura Swain is a horticulturist at the Denver Botanic Gardens where she specializes in arid-adapted native plant collections, including North American Steppe, Dryland Mesa and Sacred Earth gardens. Laura is incredibly passionate about creating resilient landscapes for the future. She works at the intersection of ecology and horticulture – building human-friendly habitats with a focus in plant-pollinator interactions and low maintenance inputs. Her stewardship practice involves studying plant communities in situ, elevating native species, and highlighting their form and function in the urban ecosystem. When she’s not in the gardens, she’s usually climbing mountains with a big backpack. 

Mark Akimoff

Mark Akimoff is the owner of Illahe Rare Plants, a specialty nursery grower of flower bulbs, geophytes, alpines and rock garden plants from around the world. Over his 25-year career as a professional horticulturist, Mark has worked in many sectors of the industry, from plant propagation at botanical gardens to Historical Garden management, large scale wetlands, riparian and environmental restoration projects for government, and teaching horticulture at the Community College level. He holds a bachelor's degree in Horticultural Science from Oregon State University and studied biotechnology at Montana State University. While his personal interest in plants runs wide, a particular fondness for rock gardens and alpine plants often has him exploring the high country for wildflowers. At the nursery in Salem, Oregon Mark trials many different dryland and xeric plants to better help gardeners adapt gardens to changing climate conditions we are seeing especially in the drought stricken Western North America. The flower bulb catalog that is published every summer, offers an amazing array of diverse geophytes from around the world and one of the largest collections of Fritillaria in North America. With a passion for travel and photography, Mark loves to share pictures of his botanical adventures with garden clubs and groups. Check out the website to see the amazing array of plants that he grows at illahe rare plants online at www.illaherareplants.com 

Fall Symposium - Annual Meeting 8 am - 5 pm Denver Botanic Gardens Mitchell Hall

Symposium Schedule 8:00 Meet and Greet Coffee and treats available 8:30 Business meeting 9:00 Announcements and Introduction 9:15 Adam Black 10:30 Morgan Cannon 11:15-12:30 Lunch 12:30 Announcements 12:45 Laura Swain 2:00 Mark Akimoff 3:00  After Symposium Reception  5:00- (TBD) 

 Members $20 w/o box lunch $35 w/box lunch Non-Members $30 w/o box lunch Optional box lunch: Choose one with your ticket booking. All options come with Boulder kettle chips, fresh whole fruit, and gourmet cookie. Sandwiches also include chef select cold salad. Available before midnight Saturday, November 8th. All-Natural Turkey with Swiss Sandwich House Roasted Beef with Cheddar Sandwich Albacore Tuna Salad Sandwich Mediterranean Roasted Tofu Sandwich Southwestern Salad Plant & Seed Sales 

Mike Barbour will be selling a variety of hard-to-find treasures. Kelly Grummons will be selling a variety of cacti and succulents. Justin and Christin Ruiz of Desert Blooms are selling water-wise plant selections. Alan Bradshaw of ALPLAINS will have a nice selection of seed for sale. RMC purchased two flats of Alpine treasures from Mark Akimoff, and we will be selling these Illhahe-grown plants at the back of Mitchell Hall. Special Pricing for New Members New members joining during the Symposium membership drive receive a discounted ticket price: The cost of the Symposium ($30), the introductory membership ($20), and the box lunch ($15) -- All for $45 – a $65.00 value. Online registration is open. Pay with credit/debit card of PayPal (see below)

*My personal take on it. In these strange times when so much is changing in unpleasant ways, it is a good idea to touch bases with reality. These symposia always rock (and not just because of the "rock garden" society), but because a number of us arm-wrestle to pick speakers who are special in many ways. Firstly, they must keep me awake [I sleep through 87% of most presentations.] I dare you to find me nodding off EVEN ONCE with this lineup. I have heard three of them before: they're riveting. The fourth I have been assured is dazzling. All four speakers dance in the ecotone between Civilization and Nature--that vital zone where some are blessed to reside. While most do not. Come join us as we step one step closer to harmonizing Humanity and the Wild World--the essence of rock gardening

Click here to sign up! https://rmc-nargs.org/events/rmc-symposium/

Friends of many years in China

Hylotelephium (Sedum) spectabile

First of all, let me acknowledge the enormous privilege of travelling to Central China with the International Dendrological Society (IDS). I have been on trips with rock gardeners, perennial garden enthusiasts, cactus and succulent lovers--you name it. The IDS leaders and participants possessed a special passion, and a level of expertise that was humbling. As the season progresses, and as I sift through the hundreds (thousands?) of images I captured, I hope to do justice to the extraordinary woody plant richness we encountered in future blog posts. But why not start out with some old friends--what friend is as old and familiar as 'Indian Chief', 'Autumn Joy' or the other selections of what we all knew as Sedum spectabile for decades?

We saw this again and again in the QinLong and Daba mountains of Central China in September of this year--looking pretty much identical to what's sold at your local garden center.

If anything, the color was even a tad brighter in the wild populations than the older selections in gardens, like 'Indian Chief'. Although this is not a rare or otherwise "choice" plant for plant snobs, most any serious perennial gardener must have one tucked somewhere. I have several--although the annoying mule deer that think my garden is theirs love to chomp off the flowers. Have I ever told you how fond I am of venison?

Esther Kraak and Buddleja davidii

Even more widespread and abundant than the formerly Sedum, the common butterfly bush of our gardens originates precisely in these mountains of Central China. Here one of the very knowledgeable participants from Netherlands is showing off a bouquet she plucked along a trail we followed. The next frame shows these close up.

Of course, this Buddleja has a reputation for being terribly weedy in Maritime climates. We don't have any issues with it seeding in Colorado (that I know of) and some years it doesn't even die down very

far. Unfortunately it does need regular water to grow and bloom well. Oh well! You can't do everything.

I was charmed looking at the flowers up close.

We saw this gorgeous pine everywhere in Central China. I recall finding it quite a few times in Yunnan as well--I-Naturalist indicates that most of its range goes from Shanxi to Yunnan--with a fascinating concentration in Taiwan as well. I first saw this around the turn of the Millennium in a private garden in Moscow (Idaho), I was so charmed I made sure we obtained one for Plantasia, where we now have a superb specimen 30 or more feet tall that produces the relatively huge cones with delicious seed. We found people harvesting seed of this in Daba the Shan range.

A wildcrafter on the Daba Shan range demonstrating how the pine seed is extracted from the cone.

Adrian Bloom

I first met Adrian when he was on a lecture tour to the USA. I recall I drove him to Mount Goliath and we wandered down the trail surrounded with ancient Bristlecone pines (Pinus aristata). What a pleasure to spend two and half weeks with a Horticulture hero (and a friend of many years).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Okay. Fall doesn't suck as much as I thought. Thank you crocuses!

Crocus speciosus* 

I know, I know: I've heard the litany "Fall is my FAVORITE season, so mellow, so soft, so gentle... the trees are even more colorful than Spring!" Fiddlesticks. Fall means Winter, which REALLY Sucks. Fall means damn leaves all over the place for weeks and months. It means it gets dark really early and stays dark late. Fall means cleanup and and and--then what? But then the corps de Ballet of Crocus speciosus begins their dance. In a prior post, with lots of better pictures of this, I suggested they reminded me of  Gluck's dance of the blessed spirits--which fortuitously was playing on our local NPR classical station this morning on my way to work. If you didn't click on the FIRST link, the second will take you to the Gluck--which I suggest playing as a background to these pictures (and perhaps on through Fall and the rest of your life). [I've added a special treat at the end the first 70 people who read this missed!**)

Crocus pulchellus

 

In cultivation this is usually much paler than C. speciosus, but I noticed that when I looked it up on I-Naturalist, a lot of the photos showed plants as dark and otherwise very similar to its more easterly cousin. This species is centered mostly on the Balkans, especially Greece.

We once had a wonderful colony of this at Denver Botanic Gardens that has diminished due to other plants encroaching, perhaps. But I am thrilled to have re-created that colony at the base of one of my rock gardens...I will do what I can to help these persist and spread. These are my autumnal balm, after all...

Colchicum boissierri

Now for a little story (I do have a lot of those, don't I?) I obtained this in 2006 (almost 20 years ago) from Jane McGary. It is either C. procurrens or C. boissieri (I purchased both from her that year--and in any case--they are now synonymized under the latter name. For a "stoloniferous" plant, it's not sending stolons out very fast! I took this one sunny day a week or so ago.

Same plant yesterday--under slightly overcase skies. A lot more flowers. Which is why gardening is so gratifying and fun. The garden changes from minute to minute as light shifts, and let's not talk about weeks, months or years.

A lot of colchicums bloomed last month while I was gallivanting around China, Washington D.C., Las Vegas and Dallas (to name the places I remember) so I missed even seeing them. I have had a half dozen or so crocuses also bloom. But there are always a few more waiting in the wings, to come out and do their dance and cheer me up. I have to admit, it's been a refulgent fall so far. I'm reconsidering.

*If you hadn't realized it by now, I'm a big fan of I-Naturalist (you can even follow my posts on that website at the bottom of my Blog Posts!). But I want to register a HUGE complaint about the Website. All sorts of idiots are posting their GARDEN pictures on the site--which really diminishes its usefulness in my opinion. Check out Crocus speciosus--which seems to have two major concentrations of distribution. The wild ones ring the Black Sea, while all the Northern and Western European are garden plants (and a few yahoos in the USA). I would LOVE it if the Garden photos were a DIFFERENT  COLOR so you knew they weren't wild. I realize the Man/Nature dichotomy is perhaps imaginary--but I'm not quite ready to subsume Mother Nature into the Anthropocene altogether yet. End of another rant. I rant a lot in autumn.

**Special treat:

Crocus speciosus and Impatiens cv.

When Nick Snakenberg, my colleague of many years saw that I'd posted on Crocus speciosus he whipped out his phone and showed me this picture he'd taken recently in his garden. I asked him to share it with me so I could post it here. Nick is our curator of Orchids at DBG, as well as supervising our extraordinary conservatory and most of the greenhouses. Some day [when perhaps I'm a tad more worthy] he may even let me visit his garden--which I have a hunch is a pretty good one!