GardenWeek Virtual Visits April 11, 2000

Editor's Journal: Stonecrop

At 39 degrees and drizzling it does not seem like we are making much progress towards spring. And remnants of the freak snow storm of just two days ago are all around with daffodils blooming in the snow! After following the progress of many species of Primula as they bloomed in the Pit and Alpine Houses, we can now find them blooming outdoors. But the biggest surprise of all is a pair of Drabas in full bloom--but outdoors near the bottom of the Cliff Garden rather than under the protection of glass.

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Across the pond the Daffodils and Petasites are blooming in the snow while the Gunnera remains snug in its box.
Across the Pond
Narcissus in the Snow
The grass is green and the Narcissus ŒFebruary Goldı are in full bloom--in the snow.
The Petasites flowers seen on April 4 are fading and the leaves are getting larger--in the snow.
Petasites japonicus var. giganteus
Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'
The wispy leaves are just emerging from the ground. What will it look like later in the summer? Probably like it looked on May 31 or July 5 of last year!
Not just Pit and Alpine House residents, this Primula marginata is blooming outdoors in a trough by the potting shed.
Primula marginata
Primula vulgaris
The pale yellow English Primrose blooms with similarly colored Daffodils.
No longer dark green with white edges as seen on November 8 and as recently as December 10, this grass is now beige with a paler beige edge and is not yet showing signs of new growth. In front are the dark green leaves of Scilla campanulata--Spanish Bluebells.
Sasa veitchii and Scilla campanulata
Puschkinia scilloides var. libanotica
The striped Squill is just that--the star-shaped pale icey blue flowers have a darker blue stripe down the center of each petal. A member of the Liliaceae family, the many large masses of this plant in the Woodland are as attention getting as they were last week.
Hacquetia epipactis seen on April 4 and Corydalis solida, just one of many species of Corydalis at Stonecrop.
Hacquetia and Corydalis
Draba imbricata
Extraordinary Drabas are not unusual at Stonecrop--just see the previous page or March 21--but what makes these plants noteworthy is that they are growing not in the Alpine House, but OUTDOORS in a crevice in the rocks near the bottom of the Cliff Garden.
Stonecrop--Under Glass

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December 6 1999 November 8 1999 October 11 1999 September 14 1999

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