> Jamie Vande Cologne Germany Zone 8 > > I'm sure a few of you are even further behind as we are in northern > Europe, weatherwise, but I can confirm that the snow is finally fading > into a chilly memory in Germany. Cologne is always one of the mildest > spot in the country, but we had one of the longest freezes I know of, > over 3 months with hard ground. More typical is 3 weeks! > > As it is, I have finally reached the Narcissus phase of the season and > Pipit, Jetfire and a stray classic trumpet of unknown origin are > finally gracing the stage. The lawn has come into its own, with > Chinodoxa, Scilla and N. bulbocodium just opening, Frittilaria > imperialis has brocken the ground, along with F. persica, F. melagris > and quite a few pots of now unknown seedlings (a thieving magpie has > built the markers into its nest!). If it wasn't for the typical > spatulate leaves, I wouldn't even know the genus. Such are the > tribulations of gardening. Who knows what all those thread-leaved > kids are. Certainly some Alliums, but maybe Romulea, Ornithogalum, > etc., etc. > > Some of you will remember my curious super-large G. nivalis that > appeared in my drift. Looks to be a new form, only really > distinguished by its extreme size (3x larger than normal) plus > somewhat longer pedicel and considering its leaves are larger as well, > I am hedging the hope that it may prove to be a tetraploid. (certainly > an after effect of Chernobl!) I found some more interesting forms in > the lawn, all coming from a bag of bulbs I purchased on the market in > the last Autumn. I was told they were G. nivalis, but they have the > typical hour-glass (some eyed) markings and explicate glaucus leaves. > Possibly G. plicatus var. byzanthius or a hybrid. Lots of variation > with one yellow form! I am fascinated and may just be forced to > become a Galanthophile. Isn't it great 'discovering' a new genus? > > Now blooming in the shade are C. coum and C. heradifolium. One going > out, the other coming in to bloom, with Arum maculatum and Anemone > blanda popping up between. Lots of Paeonia seedlings are up and need > transplanting to the seedling bed. Some of the older ones should hit > their maiden bloom this season. Exciting. > > Ciao, > > j.