flowering surprises

Kathleen Sayce ksayce@willapabay.org
Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:49:30 PDT
There are two surprises in my garden this year. One is a small clump of Anemone blanda, blue flowered, cheerfully flowering in a gravel entry area. I've planted this one at least four times in other areas, with no success at survival past the first season. It was quite unexpected to see them this week. I have not been able to figure out why I have so little success with this plant. If neglect works, I intend to leave this small clump alone. 

The second surprise is a clump of narcissus seedlings that have finally flowered, and turned out to be Narcissus bulbocodium, most likely from 'Golden Bells,' which was planted years ago in another location, many yards away. The original clump never really thrived, but this little self sown clump is doing very well. 

Not unexpected, but still nice to see: Iris unguicularis, flowering from seedlings, seeds from SIGNA. 

A small yellow-flowered Sisyrinchium relative, Solenomelus peduculatus, from Mary Sue, gave me a few plants and flowers last year, and to my surprise, at least one plant survived the winter and is growing strongly. 

In the cold frame:
Dozens of new Pacific Coast iris seedlings are coming up now, including at least one seedling in a pot I managed to knock over, which had only 5 seeds, PCI Dracularity, from Debby Cole. 
Lilies, many from PBS, have also started appearing in cold frame pots, including L. maritimum, L. pardalinum. 
Crinum bulbocodium seedlings, seeds from Ken Hixson, are starting their second year, and are growing strongly. A second Crinum has a few seedlings, but something likes the leaves too much, so it's inside a mesh cover, and I can't read the label yet. I suspect voles keep chewing the leaves down. 
Lycoris seeds from Jim Waddick have recently started to appear above the soil line in their pots, too. 
Amaryllis seedlings, seeds from Mike Mace, are doing so well I need to separate them into larger pots later this summer. . 
Some Cyclamen coum seedlings are up, but  Cyc. graecum seeds are sulking.

Given the long, wet cool winter we are coming out of, I'm very pleased with the survivors.  

Kathleen

Kathleen Sayce
PNW Coast, WHZ 8, dryish cool summers & mild wet winters






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