|
Blooming in the Pit House, a European native and not surprisingly a member of the Leguminosae family, with vibrant blue flowers and Wisteria-like leaves
|
| |
Lathyrus vernus 'Blue'
| |
| |
Lathyrus vernus 'Blue'
|
|
The flowers form a dense mass of blue above a dense mass of green leaves--all of which is under a foot high.
|
|
Not under glass at all, but in the Flower Garden with Muscari armeniacum, this Lathyrus vernus f. roseus is shown here to compare its pink and purple flowers with the cultivar above.
|
| |
Lathyrus and Muscari
| |
| |
Lathyrus vernus f. roseus
|
|
A close-up of the Lathyrus to the left shows the range of colors on the Pea-like flowers of this short perennial.
|
|
And moving on to the Alpine House, a Greek native and member of the Rubiaceae family with small star-like flowers on very long tubes. The genus name is from "asper" meaning rough in reference to the leaves.
|
| |
Asperula arcadiensis
| |
| |
Lewisia cotyledon
|
|
The Lewisia shown on April 11 is now in full bloom and is looking most festive with its pink petals edged and striped with lighter pink and contrasted with bright yellow stamens. A member of the Portulaceae family.
|
The Clematis turn up everywhere at Stonecrop. C. armandii and C. balearica were spectacular in the Conservatory on December 6 and March 7 respectively and now this C. cartmanii cultivar is just covered with glistening white flowers in the Alpine House.
|
| |
Clematis x cartmanii 'Little Joe'
| |
| |
Ixia 'Venus'
|
|
Not an Alpine at all, but blooming in the Conservatory, this brilliant magenta Ixia, whose flowers are carried on long wiry stems and petals are dusted with yellow pollen, is shown here simply to complement the pink Lewisia above.
|
|
Although I'm not sure this Watsonia's glow is the color of a peach, it is still noteworthy.
|
| |
Watsonia 'Peach Glow'
| |
| |
Kalanchoe pumila
|
|
Bright pink flowers above a mound of silvery succulent foliage on this Madagascar native.
|
|
Back in the Alpine House, this truly amazing Calceolaria--a far cry from the florist's type--had just one--but perfect--flower. A member of the Scrophulariaceae family from the Strait of Magellan, the genus, with about 200 species, is from the word "calceolus" meaning slipper.
|
| |
Calceolaria uniflora var. darwinii
| |
| |
Primula auricula 'Sheila'
|
|
How lucky Sheila was to have such a fine auricula named after her. See also 'Tawny Owl' on April 11.
|
|
Back in the Conservatory, a pot of the brilliant orange Ornithogalum blooming on a window sill.
|
| |
Ornithogalum dubium
| |
| |
Lachenalia pallida
|
|
Always space to show another Lachenalia--seen here in front of the reddish foliage of Loropoetalum chinensis var. rubrum 'Blush.' To see others shown previously, just enter "Lachenalia" in the search field at the top of the page.
|
April 4)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)