Saturday, May 31, 2008

Spring Plants in Bloom

Perennials big and small: From the large rubbery leaves of Bergenia cordifolia to the delicate blooms of Gentiana verna, there are many perennials to appreciate in our northern climate right now.

I grew these Bergenia from seed. They are now about three years old and this is their first really nice blooming season. This perennial flower is very hardy and evergreen, keeping its leaves under the snow. If you have a space for one, you should get one. Or get lots of them!

Pink creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) combines well with the blue grape hyacinths (Muscari armeniacum) in the sloped rock garden.

A gardener friend gave me this little spring gentian (Gentiana verna) last year. It fits in well among my sloped rock bed full of short perennials. The flowers are starting to get a bit past their prime in this picture. It's a pity I didn't get a picture a few days ago.

The blooms close at night and open in morning sun. It is planted in full sun and is supposedly hardy to zone 4, but our good snowcover probably makes it tolerate our -45 degrees C winter temperatures. This is an absolutely beautiful rock garden plant. I'd like to multiply this plant, but I'm not sure on the best method -- seed, division, cuttings? I'll try to collect seeds when they ripen as a first option.

These may not look anything like the lush ones we saw in Victoria, but this rockcress (Aubrieta deltoidea) is currently in bloom.

Yellow Trumpet Daffodils:

6 comments:

Clayton said...

Hi Ho!

You have a great display. We have been very dry and so the main flower display has been from the fruit trees.
Rain came today and it is very timely.

Cicero Sings said...

That Bergenia looks very interesting. Maybe I can talk D into a trip to the nursery to look for some!

Anonymous said...

I do love gentians but sadly they always die on me. Your phlox is attractive - a lovely vibrant pink, very cheerful.

Vancouver Isle Doug said...

Nice job on the gardens and thanks for sharing. Of course I am way ahead of you here in Victoria, the Daffodil and Heather blooms long gone, but I think some of your pictures can help me identify some things in my garden. I posted some recent garden pics on my blog, check them out. Maybe you can tell me what that bush is that is covered with the VERY fragrant white flowers?? LOL! I do want to plant some Grape Hyacinth this fall. An idea I heard about but have yet to try is to plant them in a band across the lawn so that when in bloom it looks like a blue river of water across the yard. Sounds interesting.

Amy said...

I have to say "ditto" to the bergenia. I bought three plants last year and I'm very happy with them. I love your carpets of pink creeping phlox!

Vancouver Isle Doug said...

Thanks for the comment on my blog. I found out what the fragrant shrub is - it IS a Mock Orange, Choisya 'Aztec Pearl' I do believe. I thought there were three but upon close inspection I see one of them has different leaves, but still smells fantastic!! Thanks for the tip!