Alpine plants – Botanically Inclined

Plants that did make sense to have in my small garden

A dwarf, big flowered blue columbine: Aquilegia discolor, most probably a cross (from Seedex as A. saximontana)

: Aquilegia discolor cross

True that if we would grow only ‘reasonable’ plants, our gardens would lack all spontaneity and wonder. But because I can now easily enjoy them in containers, and not worry about their relocation, I think a bit of praise is warranted.

On the other side of the container, a tiny hardy ginger: Roscoea tibetica (from Lost Horizons) – very precious, after the bad winter we had, who knows if I will get to see the other Roscoeas from the garden.

: Roscoea tibetica

From another container, the most fragrant, fringed Dianthus I know: Dianthus petraeus (from wild collected seeds in the Carpathian Mts.) Too bad I cannot insert a ‘scratch patch’ with its perfume.

: Dianthus petraeus

A rock jasmine: Androsace sarmentosa – a small piece I saved from an old plant, I hope it will thrive again (or set seeds, or better both).

: Androsace sarmentosa

and more are on their way to flower…

The Plant Gold Rush continues with the most precious of finds: the alpine golden nuggets. We found them at Wrightman Alpines during their open house last Sunday. It had been a while since I was lucky to admire their Saxifrages in flower, so we made another trip that turned out into a photography extravaganza. Many ‘golden nuggets’ were either in flower or at their best foliage; we took advantage of our most kind hosts, Irene and Harvey Wrightman, and poked around every corner of their wonderful rockery garden and nursery. Even for a plant connoisseur the richness of plant species they have can be a bit overwhelming to digest, so I’ll take it slow and there’ll be more to come…

Paeonia suffruticosa ssp. rockii

At this time of the year, after admiring the most impressive clumps of Paeonia suffruticosa spp. rockii, the best would be to explore the rock gardens around the house before heading into the hoop houses (although being very detailed people we did the other way around).

Enjoy a few images from Wrightman Alpines Nursery rock gardens

Rock crevices with lots of ‘plant golden nuggets’

Rock crevice garden with an incorporated trough

Chaenorrhinum glareosum – Nevada dwarf snapdragon (from Sierra Nevada, Spain)

A glorious Asperula suberosa

Polygala major and Jurinella moschus var. moschus

Polygala major and right – Jurinella moschus var. moschus

Penstemon fruticosus var. serratus ‘Holly’

A small crevice dweller – Androsace globifera

Asyneuma limonifolium ssp. limonifolium

Irene was very happy about this cactuses growing in the alvar type rock

Irene was very happy about these cacti growing in the alvar type rock

Aquilegia scopulorum x A. coerulea

Rarely seen Oncocyclus susiana (syn. Iris susiana)

Of course, we came home very grateful and with a few gifted golden nuggets; to show off just one of them:

Scutellaria orientalis ssp. pinnatifida – a very floriferous and bright Scutellaria (from Turkey at 2500 m)

The wonderful day spent among the plethora of alpine species (native and non-natives) brought to my mind a few places we traveled to and I wrote about – see the Botanical Trailblazers page. Gold mines full of ‘golden nuggets’ await to be discovered almost everywhere – start exploring!