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| Daphne x schytleri (left) Daphne x susannae 'Anton Fahdrich' (on right) |
I suppose when these two monster daphnes are in full bloom like this in late April and May, I can declare my rock garden to have come into full bloom. By the way--I mistakenly published the THIRD installment of this years plants before THIS one--and nearly two hundred visitors have checked the other two installments thus far, no one seemed to notice a big chunk of the alphabet was missing! With the glaring omission of "Iris" (which I shall do last), the parade will conclude with the last part of the alphabet appropriately last...This parade is really a way to keep up my spirits in the dead of winter--the temperature as I type this is -6F (that's =21C): to be fair, we're supposed to warm up to near freezing tomorrow and 52 by Tuesday!
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| Daphne alpina |
White isn't as fetching perhaps in daphnes--but this one is getting some character in its form.
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| Daphne arbuscula 'Radicans' |
I lost a branch of this last month: a month away without watering took its toll--even in November!
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| Datura wrightii |
One of the plants left over from my predecessors: there were a few daturas in the garden when we came here--and they still pop up and occasionally come back from the roots!
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| Delosperma 'Fire Spinner' |
Hard to beat this one!
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| Delosperma 'Flame' |
This one beats Fire Spinner, if any do. It may be the ultimate delosperma--which I am thrilled to FINALLY have in my garden. David Salman produced this--representing a cross with
D. dyeri, which I'm afraid it leaves in the dust. I wish I knew what the other parent was (I wonder if David knows?)...Plant Select is promoting this confusingly as
Delosperma 'Red Mountain Flame': which has led to confusion with the clone of PURE
D. dyeri. I tried to obtain 'Flame' several times, and ended up with plain 'Red Mountain' instead--which thrilled me no end, he said sarcastically. Of course, one wants both!
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| Delosperma cooperi (from Oxbow) and Salvia daghestanica |
I'm proud of this cool combo: strangely enough, no one seems to have picked up the Oxbow cooperi--which is at least one and maybe two USDA zones hardier than typical
cooperi. The dying foliage on the right is
Colchicum boissieri--shown blooming in the PREVIOUS pageant!
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| Delosperma 'Topsz' |
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| Delphinium pylzowii |
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| Delosperma 'Tiffendell' and Dianthus erinaceus |
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| Dicentra formosa 'Purity' |
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| Dictamnus albus 'Purpureus' |
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| Draba bruniifolia (dwarf, ex Toros Dag) |
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| Draba bryoides v. imbricata |
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| Draba dedeana |
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| Draba polytricha |
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| Echinocereus weedinii |
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| Echium vulgare |
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| Eremostachys laciniata |
It's been given a new generic, but I'm sticking to this one for now...
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| Erigeron flagellaris |
The mat is about 12 feet across--spreading like wildfire with runners. Fortunately, I needed to cover some ground there!
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| Erodium cf. cheilanthum |
I struggle to grow plants that should be easy--but one genus that really loves my garden is
Erodium: several are minor weeds, and even the challenging sorts form big mats and bloom nonstop. Strangely neglected by most local gardeners.
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| Erodium rupestre |
It's hard to pick my favorite erodium: they love us and we love them! This may be it, however...
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| Erythronium 'Pagoda' |
I know I should have removed the dang stick.
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| Euphorbia epithymioides |
The old "
polychroma" performs from early spring as it emerges to summer and then again in the fall with great fall color. Common isn't a bad thing!
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| Fritillaria michaelovskyi |
I have been thrilled at how this has adapted to my dry garden.
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| Fritillaria sp. |
Planted years ago, this comes back reliably...only I lost the label and can't be sure which of four or five species on my list for this bed it might be.
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| Fritillaria pontica? |
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| Probably Fumana procumbens |
Who will grow these little things if not us? Although never a mass of bloom, there are usually a few flowers on this little sunrose from Spring to early winter. Wouldn't want to be without it!
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| Galanthus elwesii (Hackenbrry giant form) |
Almost twice the size of my other elwesii, I have grown this for decades...
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| And here is one fully opened. |
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| Galanthus nivalis 'Viridapice' is probably the fastest spreader of any in the genus for us. |
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| Galtonia candicans in a border |
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| Gentiana acaulis |
One of four big plantings I put in the fall of 2015--they bloomed wonderfully their first spring. Wonder how many flowers I'll get THIS year (thank you
Edelweiss Perennials for growing these so well!)
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| Gentiana acaulis 'Albocaerulea' |
ALMOST as stunning as the blue form...Urs is selling this at
Edelweiss perennials as well--do check his fabulous nursery out. I have put a link in at the nursery's name!
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| I love this sloped meadow in my rock garden--here in late June |
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Glaucium hybrids have swamped my garden (in a good way)
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| Helianthus maximiliani 'Lemon Yellow' |
Another of David's stellar selections--this pale form of Maximilian daisies always brightens up the late growing season.
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| Helleborus niger |
For years (to be honest, decades) I struggled to grow the Christmas rose well. Now I have perhaps a dozen big clumps that bloom their heads off silly for months. There's something to be said for persistence!
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| Heuchera bracteata |
I've always thought this was the homeliest
Heuchera--but grown in a trough like this, I've changed my mind.
When will Spring be back?!
ReplyDeleteThe worst part is technically it is not even winter yet.
DeleteI always feel that this week is the nadir, and henceforward we (and the sun) are marching towards spring, James!
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