Little March

It is March 1st and the flowering snowdrops announce an early spring. Another confirmation comes from the first Iris reticulata, Eranthis, the well-developed buds of Helleborus, Adonis and Corydalis, as well as chipmunks running around. Setbacks are to be expected for sure, but what’s done is done, or better said, what’s flowering is flowering, and we cannot turn them back.

In Romania, Moldova, and with variations in other South Eastern regions (Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia, SE Serbia), March 1st is traditionally celebrated and named Martisor (Romania). Here’s a short wiki stub for those willing to read more, and I’ll explain a bit about it.
The word Mărțișor, Mărţişug or Marţ, Martenitza (Bulgarian), comes from the name of the month, March – Martie (Romanian) and Mart (Bulgarian) literally meaning “little March”.

The origin of the tradition is not clear with many researchers pointing to the relation with the ancient New Year’s celebration on the first of March and the god Mars (Martius), which was not only the god of war but also the god of agriculture.

The Mărțișor  tradition is actually a celebration of the passage from the winter into spring, which coincides with the start of a new agricultural season. The white and red string is in fact the most important element. In rural areas, red and white strings were often tied to tree branches, fences and at the house for good luck and prosperity in the coming spring.

Most often, the white and red strings have various trinkets attached to it: good luck bearers like coins, a 4-leafed clover, a horseshoe, a snowdrop or other flowers, ladybugs, butterflies, little figurines, and so on. They are gifted to women and children, depending on the region, and weared most often as a broch (also as a pendant or bracelet) with wishes for a beautiful spring and good luck.

Snowdrops made from metal, glass or ceramic and attached to the white and red string are most often used given their association with the beginning of spring :-)

All in all, this beautiful tradition is announcing the start of spring and, of course, of the new gardening season! People are starting seeds at this time, prepare the beds (where possible), clean and repair their utensils. 

So, today I wish you all a Happy ‘little March’ and a most beautiful spring!

 

 

Lobelia kalmii and other Seeds

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Moist seeds speaking, Caulophyllum thalictroides inventory has been replenished. I know it seems there is a lot of time left until the temperatures will start to plunge, but there are other things to take into consideration, like some seeds starting to germinate (Asarum seeds emerge their radicles at some point in November) or being sold out (Medeola virginiana, Trillium flexipes).

Dry seeds speaking, the inventory has been replenished for:
Campanula rotundifolia (still flowering, on-going collection)
Drosera linearis
Pinguicula vulgaris and
Primula mistassinica

For those who like to plan their orders, next to follow next week from the native species side: Houstonia canadensis, Clinopodum arkansanum, Gillenia trifoliata and maybe Delphinium exaltatum. Stay tuned…

Lobelia kalmii, Kalm’s Lobelia

And a short plant portrait for a new offering – Lobelia kalmii, Kalm’s Lobelia

A bit similar in look to the previously offered Lobelia spicata, Lobelia kalmii is a small size, floriferous and delicate looking plant with blue/lavender flowers that can be found in moist places such as sandy, gravely meadows, fens, tamarack (larix) swamps. It is also common growing in rock crevices and among boulders on the rocky shores of Lake Huron.

Looks like a perfect species to incorporate in the moist side of a rockery, or any other slightly moist garden location (edge of a border, ponds, waterfalls….). It may be delicate looking, just like Campanula rotundifolia, but perfectly cold hardy.

It is easy to grow from seeds and flowering in the second year after sowing in my garden. I just kept the seedlings with too much shade and they got elongated, but otherwise it is an easy going species (beware acidic substrates though).

The species and common names honor Pehr (Peter) Kalm, a Swedish-Finnish botanist, explorer and naturalist, student of Carl Linnaeus, who undertook the exploration of Northern N. American regions around 1748. Linnaeus will cite Kalm for about 90 species, many of them new, also naming the genus Kalmia in his honor.

At the end of the season, it is difficult to differentiate L. kalmii from L. spicata when they are found growing in the same locations. I suspect that last year, at least part of the seeds offered as L. spicata were from L. kalmii, so those who purchased seeds please get in touch to learn how to differentiate them after flowering: Contact form. 

On BotanyCa seeds and costs

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We will soon mark the beginning of the summer seeds season with various Helleborus, Asarum canadense, Sanguinaria, Jeffersonia diphylla, Stylophorum diphyllum, and few other species.
The summer sale begins tomorrow, June 29 – lasting until July 15. Another post will follow with more details.

The costs have greatly increased for everything lately and I know that everyone is trying to keep their expenses low, especially on non-essential items.
For those species collected in the wild and the moist packed seeds there may be small cost increases in the fall, depending also on the quantity of seeds available, but otherwise the seeds prices on BotanyCa Shop will remain affordable for everyone and in line with our initial goal: that more people are able to find good quality & affordable seeds for many species, especially of North American native plants.

It is troubling to find on the web offerings of seeds for various native species at what I would call ‘speculative’ costs, especially for species with hydrophilic seeds which we all know by now will germinate poorly, or not at all, if kept dry (a subject which has been emphasized a lot on this blog, some would say maybe in excess). Many North American spring wildflowers are included in this  category actually.

I will not name names, but this is going on since last year, so everyone should know that there are various Etsy sellers and no less an Ontario based! Seed company asking, for example:

21.76 CAD for 10 seeds of Uvularia grandiflora, respectively
6.99 CAD for 5 seeds of Uvularia grandiflora!

One can also purchase 10 seeds of “GREAT WHITE TRILLIUM Grandiflorum” for 7.99 CAD and
Asarum canadense 10 s – 7 CAD

Never mind that these species have hydrophilic seeds, all will be well if you “Obtain a planting container that has holes in the bottom for excess water to drain….”

I pondered if to write about this or not, but the thought of people being scammed by unscrupulous sellers, resulted in this rather unpleasant post. Plus, there is one more angle to this….

That’s all I’ll say ‘in public’, and I would like to emphasize, once again, that our seeds are intended for gardeners and small size specialized plant nurseries, and not for reselling!
Therefore, starting this year, in the eventuality that I consider necessary, we’ll reserve the right to refuse certain orders.

Spread the word about this situation, as a favor to your friends and all other people thinking to purchase seeds of native species this season and stay tuned…

July flowers and seeds report

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As we enter the second part of July, the drought is still here, give or take a few ‘rain drops’. But life goes on, plants are flowering and fruits/seeds mature day by day.

A few species have been flowering since the beginning of the month and I want to particularly mention, the tall and gorgeously floriferous Delphinium fissum and its white counterpart Delphinium albiflorum. Not only they have a long flowering period, they are also great food sources for a variety of pollinators, especially the bumble bees are very fond on them (make a note for the fall seeds wish list ;)
Both species are rhizomatous Delphiniums and won’t flower too fast from seeds but they get better and better as the time goes by.

Delphinium fissum

Delphinium fissum flowers close-up

Delphinium albiflorum (4)

Delphinium albiflorum, July 2022

Angelica capitellata, a tall NA western native, also deserves a note because I think it makes for a great garden plant. Mainly absent from cultivation, I had the chance to obtain and offer seeds a few years ago, so here it is, first time to flower! It was very exciting to see the first ‘buttons’ showing up. Due to the tight round balls of white flowers has received common names like: Ranger’s button, Button parsley or Woolyhead parsnip. It grows well in average garden soil in full sun to part-shade. Hopefully a few more other people managed to grow it as well.

Angelica capitellata, Ranger’s button

Angelica capitellata 2022

Angelica capitellata, Ranger’s button

Aconitum kirinense

Other species from the  tall & beautiful category in July are Aconitum kirinense and Acanthus hungaricus. As I was placing the pictures in the gallery I realized these ‘tall & beautiful’ share another commonality: they were all grown from seeds!
Of course many other species are flowering or just beginning to flower: Scabiosa, Sidalcea, various Gallardia and Echinacea are providing a lot of colors at this time. I am just trying to point at species that are not usually found in the trade.  We’ll talk about few others next time.

Fruits & Seeds wise, it is a bit quiet now but Hydrastis canadensis fruits are getting ‘red & ready’ one by one, Hydrophyllum virginianum seeds are gradually maturing, as well as Primula japonica and Primula frondosa capsules. The first peony capsule of P. anomala var. veitchii just opened yesterday; more to follow shortly…

Tuesday exotica

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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. Mature plants can be quite expensive when available and I consider that younger tubers will adapt better when planted in the ground.
I gave advice about planting them in this post: Contractile roots – a journey to the center of the earth?.

The tiny R. tibetica fo. atropurpurea fits better in a rockery nook or a container planting. The plant shown below close to Hepatica acutiloba is the result of a ‘location’ experiment; the Hepatica leaf is good for size scale!.

Clockwise: Roscoea scillifolia fo. atropurpurea (small but striking dark purple flowers), striped Roscoea cautleyoides form, Roscoea cautleyoides ‘Kew Beauty’ (flowers of a delicious creamy color) and the tiny Roscoea tibetica fo. atropurpurea ex. B-15 (seeds offered some years)

Here’s a better look at R. tibetica fo. atropurpurea:

Fruits and seeds platter

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Almost ready to be served; many more to come!

Aristolochia steupii

*Hydrastis canadensis not for sale, we need more plants first!

Early June garden walk

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Let’s have a short garden walk. We will soon talk again about seeds and seedlings….
The species shown here have something in common: they all have been grown from seeds by myself or friends who gifted them to me.

Click to open the gallery to see the names.

Iris tectorum ‘Album’

Aquilegia nigricans

Paeonia rockii pink

Capnoides sempervirens1

Erinus alpinus

Pseudofumaria lutea

Primula pulverulenta hybrid

Dianthus superbus ssp. sajanense

Sowing seeds = Exercising hope

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Like all respectable seeds/plant addict I already started sowing and will continue to do so well into the New Year.

Same like weeding, I feel sowing seeds will easily get you into meditation mood; quietly filling pots and laying out the little ‘beads’ on top, covering, watering; automated like motions….
A large part of the seeds will germinate but only some of the seedlings will get to ‘adulthood’ and even fewer will get to be planted in the garden. This is good. Otherwise, we won’t be able to continue the ‘exercise’.

Full tray with sowings almost ready to go outside: Aconitum spp., Penstemons, Zizia, Leptarrhena, Romanzoffia…to mention just a few

That’s what I came to believe this is all about: the hopeful expectation of seeing the tiny, green sprouts showing up one day; managing to grow the actual plants is secondary. If it happens, fine, but even if does not, we will gladly continue, year after year to repeat the process. It is like exercising hope.

By exercising, one always gets better. See what I’m getting at? :) Keep exercising hope!

Seeds of Aconitum moldavicum and Aconitum cf. kusnezoffii are available now for those interested: moist packed after a short period of dry keeping. To maximize the chances of germination this coming spring you can also treat them with GA3.

 

Rainbows in the Spring II

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Spring has arrived; officially. We know that it will arrive, eventually…Except for snowdrops and few early crocus not much is moving.

Few of the newly planted Iris reticulata hybrids have started to flower though (protected at times with a light fleece). They are early and certainly a bit affected by the weather.
All the result of hard working Canadian Iris breeder Alan McMurtrie; learn more about them on his website: http://www.reticulatas.com/

Iris reticulata ‘Chameleon’ (a slight mistake with the bulbs apparently)

There is hope that more of his wonderful hybrids will became available in Canada. They are all hardy, cheerful signs of spring and even slightly fragrant; the ‘North Star’ is very fragrant!

Iris reticulata ‘North Star’

And, close your eyes and imagine sea waves rolling gently towards the shoreline.

Iris reticulata ‘Sea Breeze’

There will be more :)

* The related post I wrote a few years ago (see below), explains the title – Rainbows in the spring.

Growing Syneilesis aconitifolia from seeds

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Growing Syneilesis from seeds is a straightforward process if the fruits are OK.
The problem of empty fruits it is most likely due to repeated clonal propagation. Syneilesis it is mostly propagated by division which is a much faster method of propagation; however, we end up with large populations having the same genotype.
Syneilesis has bisexual tubular florets (featured image), fertile (according with Flora of China) but like most Compositae it needs cross pollination in order to set seeds. So, in order to obtain a good seed set it is necessary to have in the garden a few plants that were grown from seeds.

For now we will have to contend with the few seeds packets I manage to select from the fruits kindly provided by my friends.
It is really not worth the time selecting those few packets, but I like to do it when I can because not all people have access to buy plants. Their only chance of having this species (and others) in their garden is to grow it from seeds.

Syneilesis is a warm germinator (room temperature) and it can be started indoors under lights or outdoors as soon as the frost danger is gone; the ‘seeds’ germinate in about 10-15 days.

Syneilesis aconitifolia seedlings; they have only one cotyledon and may remain at this stage during their first season.

 

They seem like not growing much in this phase but in fact they grow up good size roots – for this reason it is best not to use very small/short pots for sowing.

After transplanting the seedlings usually go dormant for a while and sometimes put up a true leaf in late summer/fall. Some remain dormant and will grow the true leaves only in the next season.
It is possible that some seedlings will form true leaves right away just like Podophyllums do. This behaviour can be seen in other rhizome forming species as well.
The temperatures and water regime may also have a role in the growth pattern.

Syneilesis aconitifolia seedling showing the first true leaf

I will end with a few pictures from one of the donors’ wonderful garden. The pictures were also kindly donated, so please respect the copyright.

Syneilesis is by definition a foliage plant and you can observe how well it looks in this rich, textural composition with other shade/part shade species.

Syneilesis aconitifolia – late spring; when emerging the leaves are hairy

Syneilesis aconitifolia – summer

Syneilesis aconitifolia – late fall

Compositae (Asteraceae): seeds, achenes and cypselae

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Call them as you wish

Initially I wrote a short post for Growing Syneilesis from seeds for the germination page, and then I thought, wait a minute, it is not the only Compositae with fruits/seeds related problems.
So, I wrote a longer post on the subject and then thought, who’s going to read all this? Finally, I wrote another shorter post, and there will be more flower pictures later.

I think everyone knows that in Compositae (Asteraceae) what seems to be a single flower is actually a cluster – a composite of smaller flowers (florets), usually called a head which contains disk and/or ray flowers; both types can be bisexual or unisexual.
And, many species require cross-pollination in order to set seeds; the pollen has a special presentation mechanism which prevents self-pollination (I will talk more about this for Syneilesis).

Probably many are also aware that what we call ‘seeds’ in Asteraceae are actually fruits. In simple botanical terms they are single-seeded nuts. Scientifically, they have been called achenes by some and cypselae by others (see note).

So, we don’t see, collect and sow the actual seeds, but the whole fruits.
It is often a deceptive situation because copious amount of fruits are formed but most of them are seedless (cypsela is a very good name to illustrate that) – like it often happens in the case of Syneilesis aconitifolia. Another example, from my garden this time, is Achillea ageratifolia ssp. serbica.

Syneilesis aconitifolia – lots of empty fruits

Achillea ageratifolia ssp. serbica, flowering very well last summer, alas just lots of empty cypsalae were formed

Conclusion:

If we call them fruits or seeds is not that important; I myself call them ‘seeds’. The important thing is to understand the distinction and be able to assess the situation when it comes to sowing, namely if you are really sowing ‘seeds’ or just ‘fluff’ (e.g., empty fruits).

This is why it is always a good idea to carefully check the fruits for many species of this family; take a note on Aster spp. and Solidago, Anaphalis, but not only.
Often is easy to select the good ones (which are plump) when observed with the naked eye; sometimes with the use of a magnifier – and a lot of time…The smaller they are, the harder is to distinguish the good ones.
For large quantities of fruits the cut method can be used by selecting samples.

Anthemis carpatica ssp. pyrethriformis – selected good and empty cypselae using a magnifiyng glass

Sowing seedless fruits, no matter what we call them, and no matter the plant family, will never result in germination.
Read about Linnaea borealis and Acer triflorum.

Note: “Fruits of composites have been called “achenes” because they resemble true achenes. Achenes are dry, hard, single-seeded fruits derived from unicarpellate, superior ovaries. Ovaries of composites are bicarpellate and inferior. Fruits derived from ovaries of composites are called cypselae “ – Flora of North America

cypsela – from the Greek kypselé, a box, hollow vessel


 

 

To autumn – the lusty song of fruits and flowers

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Images from out in the woods, from the garden and even along the margins of the roads, all reflecting the harmony of colours, shapes and textures that autumn brings, were flashing through my mind when cleaning fruits today.  Such an easy way to go into a lyrical mood…(I’ll keep it short ;)

“O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stained
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof…
………………………………………
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers”.

                                           W. Blake – To Autumn

Euonymus obovatus and Arisaema

Arisaema flavum

Solidago canadensis -Rhus

Scabiosa caucasica

Colchicum

Cornus sericea

Cimicifuga racemosa

Polygonatum pubescens

Rosa

 

The Last Adventure

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Not so long ago I was wishing Harvey Wrightman and his family all the best in their new adventure of relocating the Wrightman Alpine Nursery from Ontario to St. Andrews. With great sadness I found out yesterday that Harvey passed away.

His passion and skill to growing alpine plants from all over the world were absolutely unique, at least for the Canadian plant world. I will always remember the visits to their open-house nursery day, which were akin to the alpine gardens of renown Botanical Gardens.

We wish him farewell in this, alas, last adventure, and we offer our deepest condolences to his family which continues the alpine plants tradition. He will be greatly missed.

Images from the nursery and rock garden at the Ontario location and also plants grown by Harvey are shown below in few previous posts.

Alpine Golden Nuggets from Wrightman Nursery

And then there were the Saxifrages…

Wrightman Alpines Nursery – Hello to a New Adventure!

harvey-grown-saxifraga

Test –Viola nephrophylla

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A test post to see if the subscribers notification glitch, kindly ‘provided’ by the last Jetpack update has been fixed.

Yesterday, I found the little, large flowered Viola nephrophylla flowering – autumn denial or maybe just a test as well?

viola-nephrophylla1

Viola nephrophylla – Northern bog violet

This North American Viola, commonly called Northern bog violet, not only that is very easy to grow but also adapts splendid to garden cultivation, in a moist place; you don’t really need to have a bog.

Awaiting for the hummingbird

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September Wildlife Wednesday

September – the hummers are more visible and feeding more often trying to fatten up before the flight back to their winter homes. Although they are ‘punctual’ for their meals they are hard to catch on camera though; it seems they are picky on the daily menu: Hibiscus, Delphinium, Kniphofia, Phlox…. They are fun to watch but so frustrating to photograph!

In waiting for the hummingbird, I will show first more pictures of swallowtails and the hummingbird moth, all captured while feeding one afternoon on Vernonia – Ironweed (probably V. noveboracensis). It was quite crowded! I don’t have this plant in the garden, so it is on top of my wish list (there are seeds, no worry… :)

giant-swallowtail

Giant swallowtail – Papilio cresphontes; said to be the largest butterfly found in Canada

eastern-black-swallowtail

Eastern black swallowtail – Papilio polyxenes (there are a few subspecies, but let’s not go into details here)

The Hummingbird clearwing moth behaves like the hummingbirds, showing around the garden at the same time for the feeding. According with wiki, this moth is considered to be a hummingbird mimic and is frequently mistaken for it! It collects nectar from a variety of species, using a long proboscis. I’ve also seen it on Phlox and Monarda, and it seems to prefer purple and red flowers.

hummingbird-clearwing-moth

Hummingbird clearwing – Hemaris thysbe

And since we’ve waited for the hummingbird, here it is my best shot taken yesterday just by pure chance. The female of the Ruby-throated (Archilochus colubris) or Black-chinned hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri), I cannot tell for sure; feeding on a Delphinium.

Hummingbird-on-delphinium

As always, there is much more to read and many beautiful pictures with birds and other pollinators for this Wildlife Wednesday meme, at Tina’s wildlife friendly Blog!

 

The reproductive syndrome and Iris dichotoma

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Iris dichotoma flowers, the Vesper Iris, formerly Pardanthopsis, open ‘religiously’ in the afternoon around 4 pm. By late evening, they are already withered. Nonetheless they are beautiful and it is exciting to watch. It makes you wonder – why the short period of flowering?

Iris dichotoma2

According with an article from the Journal of Experimental Botany: “flower opening and closure are traits of a reproductive syndrome, as it allows pollen removal/and or pollination”. Although a peculiar species, the vesper iris is not given as an example in the study.

Iris dichotoma

Iris dichotoma – first year flowering from seeds; super easy to grow

Those interested can read about the mechanism of opening and closure, carbohydrate metabolism, hormonal regulation and more here – Flower opening and closure: a review, Wouter G. van Doorn, Uulke van Meeteren.

Note on Vesper
In many Christian denominations, vespers is the name used for the evening prayer service. From Greek ‘hespera’ and Latin ‘vesper’ = evening.