What's blooming this week

Jane McGary janemcgary@earthlink.net
Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:25:41 PDT
I returned from the flowering desert of Chile on October 9 to find 
that the fall rains had set in early in the Portland, Oregon area. In 
the garden all the larger colchicums are in full bloom, and on the 
rock garden Cyclamen graecum looks lovely (and is far enough away 
from the scarlet zauschneria [Epilobium canum]). Sternbergia lutea 
and S. sicula are opening in the rock garden as well.

In the bulb house the flowering is also mostly Colchicum species, 
large and small, and the first Sternbergias. The fall scillas now 
known as Prospero are mostly over, but Prospero autumnalis still is 
in bloom. Narcissus miniatus, a recent gift from a generous PBS 
member, is up and in flower. Two species of Biarum, B. bovei and B. 
tenuiflorum, popped up, leaf and spathe, and look charming. The first 
crocus, C. pulchellus, is in full bloom.

Soon lilies and peonies will arrive for planting in the new border, 
and I have a box of Siberian and Pacific Coast irises to plant today. 
I'd hoped for a few dry weeks to catch up on my office work and rest 
a bit, but fall planting season is obviously upon us.

Jane McGary
Portland, Oregon, USA




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