Dear Friends,
Yes the Winter Aconites have been blooming here for over a
week as the weather suddenly went from deep cold to spring-mild (not
really spring, but "spring-mild"). The overnight low was almost 50
with light rain. Sounds like spring, doesn't it?

The Aconites continue to bloom, but so have the many other
early Spring bulbs at least started: various crocus from sieberi to
"tommies". I do love these especially when they seed around a bit and
show a range of shades from palest blue-violet to deeper colors akin
to 'Ruby Giant'.

Staying on aconites for a bit.....

Last Saturday I was able to go to a couple Open Houses at two
large nurseries. At 'Pine Knot Nursery', fellow PBSer John Lonsdale
had pots of the semi-double Winter Aconite for sale so I had to pick
one up. This looks like a good double, but John says it has retained
enough of the reproductive parts to seed lightly near by - a bonus.
It is pictured on his web site.

http://edgewoodgardens.net/Plants_album/…

Very nice.

At the same Open House I also picked up a collected Galanthus
nivalis 'Croatian Orchard'. This is a small plant in all parts. It
has proven very vigorous there, clumps up and seeds about nicely. I
have high hopes. It doesn't seem to be pictured on the web anywhere,
sorry.

I also visited Plant Delights Nursery where I purchased a
plant labelled "Gladiolus communis ssp. byzantinus 'Cruentus'". This
should not have been, but was a new name to me. It is apparently
larger than most plants grown under the name of Gladiolus communis
and has deeply colored flowers. It is apparently more common in
southern gardens. It should not be confused with the name Gladiolus
cruentus which refers to an African species. I am hoping it will
prove as good in the garden as other G. communis forms, but I am
wondering if any PBS growers have tried this in the colder climates
of Zone 4, 5 or 6 ?

I should also mention that Adonis amurensis is in bloom this
week too - at least one clump. Another smaller clump blooms later for
some reason (deeper snow cover/). Barely passing for 'bulbous', this
is a great early blooming perennial for colder climates. Large
yellow flowers and finely cut deep green foliage. Very garden worthy.

Appreciate any comments on the Gladiolus. Thanks Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +
_______________________________________________
pbs mailing list
pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/