Lachenalia contaminata
In my last posting Jessica of Rusty Duck asked about the fragrance of a Freesia I had posted. The question made me check not only the fragrance of that flower (it had a hint of fragrance) but also to check the scent of a number of other flowers that are flowering right now. I realized that in many cases I had been presuming that I knew the fragrance of a flower merely because I had checked on the scent emanating from other flowers in that genus. I should have known better. I’ve been growing a number of Lachenalias. Partly because the seeds were readily available through the PBS bulb exchange and I love exploring with new plants. And then they multiplied like little horticultural rabbits. One of the biggest flowered of the Lachenalia that I have also has an amazing fragrance, which I had totally missed until now. Think baby powder. Very sweet smell. This particular Lachenalia got its species name from the red dots that ‘contaminate’ the stems. Actually it just makes them more interesting.
Lachenalia contaminata
This is what the Lachenalia corner of the greenhouse looks like right now.
Lachenalias in the greenhouse, L. contaminata in center and left, L. splendida on right
Here’s a closeup of of the Lachenalia splendida. No scent but quite pretty in its own right.
Lachenalia splendida
Also in flower right now is a a Geissorhiza which I don’t think I’ve shared until now. It has a number of pretty mauve flowers on each stem, much like a small Freesia.
Geissorhiza inaequalis
And let me close, before returning to the garden to get some of those rapidly growing weeds, with another shot of the Spiloxene in the greenhouse.
Spiloxene capensis
It’s another South African native, also called the Peacock Flower for it’s colorfully marked star-like flowers.
Belated Garden Blogger’s Bloom Post for March 2016
Corydalis solida ‘Gunite’
It is way past the normal mid-months sharing of what’s in bloom for Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day. My only excuse is that I was in Florida taking pictures of all kinds of birds. Meanwhile Maryland had warm enough temperatures that many things accelerated right through their bloom cycle while I was gone. Today we are back to cold and intermittent snow, but I did get some pictures yesterday before the weather changed. Given the hour and lateness of the posting I will try to focus on just a few of the unusual flowers and you can assume that the daffodils, crocuses, Glory of the Snow, Leucojeum, Hellebores, etc. are all doing their spectacular thing.
One group of flowers that is really shining right now is the Corydalis solida.
Corydalis solida ‘Decipiens’
Corydalis solida ‘Beth Evans’
Close by is the first of the Erythroniums
Erythronium dens-canis ‘Rose Queen’
The Hepaticas are well into bloom now, though they seem to be staggered in time. Some are ready and others just poking through.
Hepatica nobilis ‘Pink’
Hepatica nobilis large form blue shade (single flower)
One of my favorite spring ephemerals are the Jeffersonia, both the Korean and American types.
Jeffersonia dubia
We also have a new snowdrop with very exotic markings that came to us from Lithuania last year.
Galanthus ‘Dionysus’
The same source, Augis Bulbs, also sent us a big flowered little tulip (i.e., big flower for a dwarf tulip)
Tulipa hissarica
I have to spend some time with the Adonis as they continue to fascinate me. For the first time we have Adonis vernalis (also from Augis Bulbs).
Adonis vernalis
The foliage is quite different from the ferny foliage of the other Adonis that we have. Note how even when the flowers are gone the Adonis amurensis ‘Fukujukai’ makes a very pretty clump.
Adonis amurensis ‘Fukujukai’ flower clump
The Adonis amurensis ‘Sandanzaki’ continues to flower and to give a sense of it’s flowering habit let me share the picture of both the overall plant and then the individual flower which began opening almost a month ago.
Adonis amurensis ‘Sandansaki’ flower clump
Adonis amurensis ‘Sandanzaki’ near end of triple bloom showing the full lion’s mane
Adonis amurensis ‘Sandansaki’ bud still starting it’s second stage
We also have the last part of the flowering of another unusual Adonis that mostly flowered while I was in Florida.
Adonis amurensis ‘Beni Nadeshiko’
There are a couple of nice Drabas flowering in the troughs right now.
Draba aizoides
Draba acaulis
Also in the small trough is the first bud for a pasque flower
Pulsatilla patens in the small trough
Well, there is more on the outside but let me finish up with a few plants from the greenhouse. The Spiloxene is pretty special right now.
Spiloxene capensis
And there are a couple of other related South African plants flowering too.
Gladiolus tristis
Freesia grandiflora
And last but not least is the first Ferraria that inspired me to grow these ultra curled flowers.
Ferraria ferrariola
Joyful Moments
Eranthis pinnatifida opening
My granddaughter raised a question in a video-chat dinnertime conversation the other night which was something along the lines of ‘what would you be doing when you are happiest?’ For me it is somewhere between lying on the grass in the warm sun contemplating the leaves overhead and the discovery of ‘new’ plants that are the result of what I planted last year and have completely forgotten about. The latter has been happening a lot lately. Either because I forget more than I used to or I was really busy planting last year. Day after day I am finding delightful new additions to our garden and it makes it really rewarding to explore the yard as though it were a new place each day. Last week it was Scolliopus biglovii (how’s that for a mouthful), a Christmas present from last year that I had quite forgotten about. Probably no flowering this year, but still a nice surprise.
Foetid Adders Tongue (Scoliopus bigelovii)
And now this week the Eranthis pinnatifida.
Eranthis pinnatifida
I discovered this little gem in an issue of the International Rock Gardener that focused entirely on Eranthis. I hadn’t any idea there were so many variations of the Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) which we have grown for forty years. We imported the Eranthis pinnatifida from England last year. At the same time I ordered a creamy yellow cultivar of Eranthis hyemalis from Lithuania and that was visible for the first time this week as well.
Eranthis hyemalis ‘Schwefelglanz’
Yet another new arrival this week was a rather unusual Fritillaria that we also obtained from Augis’ bulbs.
Fritillaria stenanthera ‘Ihnatshai’
This promises to be a very interesting flower as it opens up.
The small species Iris are also showing up in the Monument bed just now.
Iris danfordiae
And then there are the three yellow flavors of Adonis — plain, special, and extra-special.
Adonis amurensis
Adonis amurensis ‘Fukujukai’
Adonis amurensis ‘Sandanzaki’
In the greenhouse the Ferrarias are continuing to open up. Here are three flavors of Ferraria crispa.
Ferraria crispa
Ferraria crispa ssp.nortierii
Ferraria crispa
The wonderful Scilla peruviana has flowered extravagantly and earned a spot inside the house.
Scilla peruviana in pot
Also in the house right now is a pot of Freesia.
Freesia leichtlinii
And soon to be arriving is this Tulbaghia that is just opening up.
Tulbaghia simmleri
I was busy photographing the water droplets on the Aeonium in the greenhouse when a surprising visitor popped in front of my lens.
Waterdrops on Aeonium
Jumping Spider (Sitticus pubescens?)
I’m just guessing at the species from web photos. There are a lot of spiders in the world. Anyway, that was another joyful moment…