With the first snowdrops in bloom spring is undeniably in the air. It is an exciting time with renewed hope and we all think about new plants to add in the garden. Some people plan well ahead about what to grow from seeds, but others maybe purchase seeds and plants on the impulse of the […]
Many articles have been published regarding the relationship between the intra/interspecific variation of floral organs and the primary pollinators, and not only for Aquilegia. So, it seems a bit superfluous to repeat that the length of the nectary spurs in Aquilegia species is an adaptation that has evolved to match the feeding structures of their […]
Today, few species from the sunny, wind swept rocky hills of Dobrogea region (Romania). There are no plans to collect there again soon, so I suggest to take advantage while possible. From the ‘to try again’ list: Paronychia cephalotes. Interesting, showy and not often cultivated, the seedlings are not difficult to grow; I even enjoy […]
Some of the newly sown seeds are starting to germinate! Warm germinators sown in February and grown under lights indoors, can be acclimatized outdoors in April/early May and in many cases planted in the ground by June. At least that’s my method, and I recommend it to those from a cold climate. The young seedlings […]
Do you wonder about your Fritillaria seeds/seedlings/young bulbs? Wonder no more. With many thanks to a very impatient grower, we can have a look at Fritillaria recurva little bulbs. Also, at my germinating seeds of Fritillaria atropurpurea. The one-year old bulbs were found at the bottom of the pot. Fritillaria seeds are adapted to wind […]
By tradition in February I start the so called ‘warm sowings’: species that will germinate at room temperature. The seedlings are grown under lights indoors and by April/early May can already be acclimatize outdoors; in most cases, they are planted in the ground shortly after. It is also a time when warm germinating species are […]
The bitteroot seeds I sown a month ago have sprouted. I looked at the little seedlings and thought about their story; the story of spetlem, from a time when the species wasn’t even yet described! An excerpt from an article recounting the discovery of the species during the Lewis and Clark expedition, available here: http://www.lewis-clark.org/article/311. […]
Let’s indulge in few ‘exotic’ late June flowers today. Roscoea species, regardless if they come with small or larger flowers, always bring a ‘tropical’ look to our cold climate gardens. They are not difficult to grow from seeds, only require patience and I’m happy that more local customers have taken advantage of the seeds offered. […]
For those who didn’t follow the story from the beginning, please see these links: Homework for today: Rubus chamaemorus germination – December, 2019 Preliminary results on Rubus chamaemorus germination – update 1 (Jan. 10, 2020) Lot#2 has been eliminated (the seeds were damaged during the endocarp removal). Lot#1 – the first signs of germination appeared […]
“All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today” – with this being said (I don’t remember by whom), the Friday’s seeds series starts again. Rosa family is extremely large and diverse, with many ornamental species. Equally diverse are the fruits and seeds. Apart from the well-known species with fleshy fruits […]
The June garden review (in progress) it is a good occasion to update the info on Sisyrinchium mucronatum (Slender blue-eyed grass). Seeds offered as S. montanum for a couple of years were probably a mixture of both species (please see the note on the S. montanum page). When the light blue, delicate flowers start swaying […]
January 10, 2020 The first post on R. chamaemorus (December 2019): HERE First, a simple, short presentation of the Rubus fruit so that we understand the photos. The fruit is an aggregate of drupes. Each drupe presents a fleshy part (intended as a reward for dispersers) and a ‘pyrene’ in which the seed is protected […]
For those who don’t know it yet…the devil is in the details, sometimes. Updated to: sowing in”late fall-winter” (for those in cold climates, zone 6 and below) Sowing in late fall – early winter – what is different than fall sowing? Most important is to consider that seeds must enter the cold cycle well imbibed […]
Before the year’s end, here’s a bit more about Corydalis solida and the likes (other tuberous species). This is probably a repeat of what I have previously mentioned, but it is good to recap. Corydalis solida and the likes (C. caucasica, C. cava, C. malkensis…) are promiscuous species, cross-pollinating freely, which means that growing them […]
OK, few pictures of sunny spring days will do good for a dark and rainy (icy for some) late December. Regular readers here will observe that there is a new one added to the collection! More, including tubers pictures and how to easily grow them (yes, I will repeat it many times), next time. All […]
It may become a tradition to publish revised notes on Aconitum germination around Christmas time every year; it only depends if new species will be available for trial-outs! My thanks to those making this study possible. Read HERE the starting notes on Aconitum germination. Again, Aconitum comprises many species which are (in general) difficulty to […]
