This wonderful Cyp pubescens specimen is in my opinion a model plant for this species. It has five shoots each with a large, perfectly-shaped flower with magnificent color. The shoots are all tall and lean, and very sturdy, not leaning over holding the weight of the flowers. The flowers are also very fragrant. In the future this will grow into a fantastic specimen plant.
Paph Magic Lantern is a cross between Paph delenatii, a Vietnamese species with delicate pink and white flowers, and Paph micranthum, a Chinese/Vietnamese species famous for its huge inflated pouch. The result is a perfectly round flower in soft pink shades with intricate staminode and tepal markings. This flower has great promise, having nearly perfect shape and coloring in a first-bloom seedling. The flower size will improve as the plant ages as well, but this young plant, having a leafspan of about 8", has a flower about 3.5" in diameter. It also has a second bud forming. Paph Magic Lantern makes a fantastic houseplant and is also a good choice for beginner Paph growers, who often are eager to delve into section Parvisepalum but lack the experience to grow and flower many of the species successfully. This is a very easy plant to grow.
This plant is widely called Utah columbine. It is an uncommon alpine species that I was fortunate enough to be able to source this year. Very pretty pastel blue and creamy yellow tones, attractive blue leaves, what more could you ask for?
Lilium philadelphicum, also known as the western wood lily, western red lily, wood lily and wild tiger lily, is by far the most spectacular of the native Lily Family members of my area and the only native member of the genus Lilium. It is, of course, an endangered species as a result of over-picking and habitat destruction. A little bit more temperamental than garden lilies, this plant will thrive in a sandy soil, which I have found is the key to its cultivation. It also prefers a lightly shaded location, but will tolerate full sun if kept moist consistently. It is a dainty plant that only grows to about 16" high, and it has large 4" flowers that really pop out. While it is perhaps not as impressive as the huge OT (Orienpet) or Oriental liles that grow to over 4 feet tall and smell amazing, I still think it is a fantastic plant and am proud to call it native. These usually don't bloom for another couple of weeks, but this guy is early as I just bought it this year. More will be pictured as they open.
This is Phrag. Eric Young 'Rocket Fire' 4N x Rosy Charm 4N. The 4N stands for "tetraploid" which means that each cell in the plant has four sets of chromosomes. Normally plants have 2N, or two sets of chromosomes (diploid). By doubling the number of chromosomes, there is more genetic material to work with which means that there is more potential for dramatic coloring and better form. These crosses are superior to diploid crosses in general. I bought this plant yesterday at my society meeting.
It's a cool, rainy day and so many of the perennials in the garden are opening their blooms. Dwarf bearded iris (Iris pumila) is a plant that I highly recommend to anyone with a sunny border or rock garden. They come in a variety of colors. This plant grows only to about 6 inches tall max., and it will very quickly form nice clumps that can be divided every 2 years. I bought one plant and after 3 years I divided it into five large pieces and several smaller ones (this was 2 years ago). Then I traded off the smaller ones at the spring perennial exchange held by the EHS, and kept the larger ones. Last year I divided the largest piece again and traded the smaller pieces. This year it doesn't look like I'll have any extra pieces, but I'm sure I will next year. In one of my sunny borders I have four of my five existing clumps, which will put on quite a show this year; these are the first blooms to appear. As you can see these flower a few weeks before other irises (here irises flower in early-mid June).
Meconopsis, or blue Himalayan poppies, are one of my favorite perennials. It doesn't get any bluer than this. In case you have yet to see one in person, the photo doesn't lie: they are true sky blue. The unfortunate thing about these magnificent plants is that they tend to be monocarpic in my climate, meaning they die after they flower. In cooler, more humid climates, they will live for 20 or more years, flowering year after year. The M. x sheldonii that I pictured in bloom last year I had bought the year before, and it died after it flowered. This new one I recently purchased in flower, and I am going to plant it in full shade, in the coolest spot in my garden, to see if I can get it to survive. I also bought a smaller M. grandis that should bloom next year.
Dodecatheon 'Aphrodite' is a recently-introduced cultivar of shooting star (I believe it is a hybrid between meadia and pulchellum or something like that) which has much larger flowers and is more vigorous than any of the species. This plant here is something I had previously never seen before: a hybrid between 'Aphrodite' and meadia. I just bought it last week. Hybrid Dodecatheons are rarely offered! This one so far lacks the large size of the 'Aphrodite' parent, but perhaps that will change as it ages. It is a pretty robust plant, has attractive leaves, and the flowers somehow seem more dainty and colorful than meadia. I'm happy!
I have been lucky enough over the past few days to acquire a number of plants that I've been eyeing for the past few years. I will be showing them off over the next few days.
