 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
NEWS
 |
Lilium canadense |
NEWS:
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR 2008:
*
Please check back often for updates.
The following are some events that we will be participating at this
year:
ALPINES MONT ECHO
WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE FOLLOWING EVENTS FOR 2008
MARCH 28-30 TH NARGS EASTERN WINTER STUDY WEEKEND HOSTED BY THE BERKSHIRE CHAPTER AND TITLED: ROCK GARDENING FOR THE FUTURE. FOR DETAILS GO TO WWW.NARGS.ORG
APRIL 26 TH STONECROP SALE EVENT . HELD AT THE FAMOUS STONECROP GARDENS IN NEW YORK .
MAY 11 TH RARE AND UNUSUAL PLANT SALE SPONSORED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE EXPERIMENTAL FARM IN OTTAWA . FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 613 230 3276.
MAY 17 TH TRADE SECRETS- A RARE PLANT AND GARDEN ANTIQUES SALE IN CONNECTICUT . SPONSORED BY THE WOMAN'S SUPPORT SERVICES.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION GO TO WWW.TRADESECRETSCT.COM
JUNE 1 ST ‘IN THE GARDEN….. AU JARDIN'. OUR VERY OWN SPECIAL OPEN
HOUSE EVENT. SUNDAY FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM. WWW.ALPINEMTECHO.COM
JUNE 12-15 TH NARGS NATIONAL MEETING HOSTED BY OTTAWA CHAPTER. FOR MORE DETAILS GO TO WWW.OVRGHS.CA
STONECROP SALE EVENT
Stonecrop Gardens is once again hosting a spring plant sale event of rare alpines. Due to the success of last year's event we have encouraged more growers to participate. Please find attached a file that describes all the participants. We hope that more choice will encourage more alpine plant enthusiasts to attend this great event. Please take note of time and place:
Date: April 26th, 2007
Time: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
at Stonecrop Gardens
81 Stonecrop Lane
Cold Spring , New York .
We hope that you will pass this information along to your membership.
Maria
Galletti
www.alpinemtecho.com
NURSERIES PARTICIPATING AT THE STONECROP GARDENS SALE EVENT APRIL 26TH
Alpines Mont Echo -Specialist of choice Alpine and Rock Garden plants with an emphasis on Primulas, Saxifrages, Campanulas, Woodland Plants and Dwarf Shrubs.
Carol's Collectibles- A small nursery in Northeast Connecticut specializing in unusual and hard to find rhododendrons, dwarf conifers, perennials and rock garden plants.
Evermay Nursery -A micro nursery specializing in Alpine plants and Primula species, and hybrids hardy for the Northeast.
Les Plantons A & P. - A family-owned nursery specialising in dwarf and unusual conifers and shrubs, many suitable for troughs and small rock gardens and grown for northern gardens.
Wrightman Alpines -Grower and Supplier of Alpine Plants
Arctic-Alpine Willows of Newfoundland and Labrador
Pushing the Hardiness Limit-Daphnes in a Quebec Winter
Encrusted
Saxifragas or "How I Became a Sax Maniac"
THE ROCK GARDEN-Construction and Maintenance
Simulated Stone Troughs of Hypertufa
Build a Trough Garden the Easy Way
Tufa
-Encrusted Saxifragas or
"How I became a Sax Maniac"
It is spring and we are busy at the nursery. The gardens
are spectacular, as alpine gardens usually are at that time of year.
Every day I walk by the cold frames and one of them attracts my attention
more than any other even for awhile distracting me from my work. Spikes
rise higher and higher from a wonderful array of rosettes in tiny pots,
almost hiding the leaves completely under a cloud of pink, white and
often spotted blossoms. I bend down to take a closer look, smell their
delicate perfume, and I am in love.
The genus Saxifraga with its 480 plus species of perennials and annuals
consists of 15 sections. From houseplants and exotic woodland species
to the very popular Kabschias and my favorites the Encrusted or Ligulatae.
This large genus is complex and varied enough to attract the novice
and satisfy the avid collector. The best species are excellent plants
for the rock garden, raised bed, dry wall and alpine house.
The Encrusted or Silver saxifrages are so called because of the calcareous
deposits on their leaves. They have lime-secreting pores called hydathodes
that give them a silvery encrusted look. In general the leaves are thick
and leathery and usually smooth. Their shape varies from linear to spatulate
or spoon-shaped and their margins may be smooth, notched, crenulate
or serrate. The flowers are born in panicles some of which can have
several hundred flowers.
Most of the Ligulatae saxes are evergreen and perennial. With the exception
of S. longifolia and S. florulenta, they form cushions or mats consisting
of many rosettes. Every year the older larger rosettes flower and then
die off leaving the smaller ones to grow on and increase the size of
the cushion. S. longifolia and S. florulenta are monocarpic and produce
one rosette that can take up to five years to flower and then the plant
dies.
Encrusted saxifrages are easy to grow and lend themselves well to cultivation
in varied situations such as raised beds, troughs, rock gardens, crevices
and in tufa.. All species are alpine and subalpine which usually grow
on rocky ledges often facing north to north-east (partial or almost
full shade). In the garden they should be growing in well drained but
not dry conditions, ideally in alkaline soil, though they can tolerate
a certain amount of acidity. A little limestone dressing helps. They
should also be protected from the hot afternoon sun.
The Silvers are notorious cross-pollinators even in nature, so starting
them from seed can be disappointing. Garden collected seed often doesn't
come true to the original. It is easier to propagate them either by
division or cuttings, which can be taken any time, but preferably in
the spring after flowering. Remove a rosette, clean the base and insert
it in a mix of coarse sand with a little peat to retain some moisture.
Keep an eye on them and don't let them dry out. Wait for signs of new
growth, then transplant them carefully protecting the new roots.
Many pages can be written describing all the species, subspecies and
hybrids but I would like to write about a few of my favorites, list
sources and books to read and let you decide on your own which ones
you want to grow.
Here are some of my favorites:
Saxifraga paniculata: ( A native of Quebec) With its
numerous hybrids and cultivars tops my list of favorites for many reasons.
They are easy to grow, come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and are beautiful
enough to satisfy even the most discerning eyes.
Some cultivars are:
S. ‘Minutifolia’: Tiny blue-grey heavily
encrusted rosettes that spread slowly because of their size but look
wonderful against a stone in a trough.
S. ‘Rosea’: A fast spreading form of paniculata
with a red tinge at the bottom of the leaf and beautiful deep pink flowers.
S. ‘Punctata’ and S. ‘Punctatissima’:
two beautiful forms that are worth growing just for their densely red
and pink spotted petals.
S. ‘Cockscomb’: A curious and interesting
plant with leaves whose centers are raised and highly encrusted, giving
the appearance of a cockscomb.
Also worthy of mention:
S. ‘Labradorica’: (sin. Minima glauca)
A pretty cultivar with blue-grey rounded leaf-rosettes with the reverse
flushed red.
S. ‘Dr.Clay’: one of the most encrusted
of this group.
Next:
S. callosa, S. hostii and their subspecies,
and the magnificent S. ‘Tumbling Waters’,
an S. longifolia hybrid. These silvers, with their
long graceful leaves, large rosettes, and often tremendous plumes or
dramatic spikes of flowers, add another dimension to the rock garden
or trough.
Finally:
S. cochlearis and S. cochlearis ‘Minor’:
for their spoon-shaped leaves and hard mounds.
Last but not least:
S. ‘Southside Seedling’: My favorite S.
cotyledon cultivar. It bears masses of white flowers and is heavily
blotched and spotted with dull crimson. It is reputedly the most marked
hybrid of its type!
These round out my favorite Silver saxifrages. They are worth growing
for their form, flowers or the simple beauty of their rosettes.
This article is co-authored by Robert Leclerc and Maria Galletti
Alpines Mont Echo has
the largest selection (over 40 different species & cultivars) of
encrusted saxifrages in North America.
Resources:
SAXIFRAGES: A Gardener’s Guide to the Genus,
by Winton Harding
SILVER SAXIFRAGES: A guide to Encrusted Saxifrages for Gardeners and
Botanists,
by Beryl Bland
THE SAXIFRAGE SOCIETY: www.saxifraga.org
Arctic-Alpine Willows of Newfoundland and Labrador
The province of Newfoundland and Labrador boast 33 native willows ( Salix spp.); three grow only in Labrador , while ten are recorded in Newfoundland alone. What I find fascinating, and what draws me there time and again, is the region's great diversity of arctic-alpine willows. Newfoundland 's geographic location, its climate, and its diverse and distinct topography make it a treasure trove for these and other great alpine plants. Unlike the tree or shrub species of the genus Salix , which prefer moist conditions in bogs or wetlands, these willows prefer dry, exposed sites. They are found mostly on the West Coast and the Great Northern Peninsula of insular Newfoundland, where there is a confluence of unique geological formations and landscape characteristics; in the Long Mountain Range, which stretches the length of the peninsula and is the northernmost extension of the Appalachian Mountains, with the highest peak being the Lewis Hills and the second highest, Gros Morne Mountain; on windswept coastal headlands, notably the Pointe Riche Peninsula; and on moonscape limestone barrens such as Cape Norman and several serpentine areas, most famously the Tablelands of Gros Morne National Park. One can often view many of these willows growing by roadsides.
Within the arctic-alpine species there is considerable variation. They hybridize readily and can often be difficult to identify either as a species or a hybrid. These apparent similarities, as in the case of S. arctica , S. cordifolia , S. glauca , and S. arctophila , create some confusion; surprisingly, however, I have often observed at least six different species growing almost side by side at a single site, without any evidence of hybridization.
Several of these arctic-alpine species are rare, a few are considered endemic, and many are lime-lovers, often seen in calcareous barrens. Some, such as Salix reticulata , S. vestita , S. arctica , and S. uva-ursi , are widespread and often grow in diverse habitats. Though they all deserve to be mentioned for their individual characteristics and unique qualities, I will concentrate on the particular species I have discovered and observed on my numerous trips to Newfoundland and Labrador , and specifically those I have propagated and cultivated.
The most common, and my favorite, is Salix vestita , also known as the Rock Willow or Roundleaf Willow, an upright miniature with a thick, gnarled trunk and branchlets. Its leaves are highly textured, similar to S. reticulata , but with undersides coated with dense, white, silky down. Its most remarkable feature is its distinct flower-bud hues, which range from vivid red to flaming orange to muted yellow. It is found in limestone barrens and poor gravelly soils, often in close proximity to Cypripedium pubescens f. planipetalum , the exquisite dwarf yellow ladyslipper found throughout western Newfoundland , usually peering through low coniferous and grassy thickets. Normally no more than 15 cm (6 inches) high, S. vestita can reach 40 cm (14 inches) in more protected, moist sites. On my last trip I was fortunate to see a fastigiated form.
Salix reticulata , one of the better-known arctic-alpine willows, is closely related to S. vestita yet quite different in habit and often found in dissimilar habitats. S. reticulata is mat-forming, with trailing stems and leaves that are glossy and heavily impressed with venation. Highly variable in form and leaf shape, the Net-vein Willow is found growing in moist yet exposed calcareous sites in soils with a substantial peaty base, often in close proximity to Diapensia lapponica , Betula pumila , Saxifraga oppositifolia, the miniature Primula laurentiana , or P. egaliksensis .
In Labrador I have seen S. reticulata growing in boreal conditions. Forms vary from the tiniest pads of round or pointed revolute leaves to more robust forms with large oval or circular leaves. The catkins are purplish-brown and slender, growing on top of the previous year's shoots. In my garden I grow various forms from Newfoundland and one from Alaska . There is a definite distinction between the plants, the Alaskan form being more vigorous and robust.
While several of these arctic-alpine willows are widespread throughout Newfoundland and Labrador , there are a few rare ones, including Salix jejuna , the Barrens Willow, Salix herbacea , the Snowbed Willow, and Salix calcicola . Salix jejuna is not only rare but also an endemic of western Newfoundland, found in only a handful of sites, notably in the Cape Norman calcareous barrens and Strait of Belle Isle. I was able to locate it only after several trips, but what a find! This jewel of a shrub forms small mats where its red-brown stems root as they crawl and secondary branchlets often shoot up from underground; it is characterized by diminutive spoon-shaped leaves, which are lustrous with distinct venation. On my most recent trip, in late August 2004, I found not only some plants in bloom, but also some with distinctly recurved leaves that almost seemed variegated. Because of its rarity, this willow is now a protected species.
Salix herbacea is rare because it has a distinct habitat. It is called the Snowbed Willow because it grows on mountaintops under late snowbeds. This enchanting herbaceous willow is distinguished by its round leaves with crenation or teeth on their margins. Stoloniferous in habit, it branches from underground with only the tops of the branchlets surfacing. The catkins are tiny and colorful, borne on the tips of new shoots. This particular willow has eluded me, though I have climbed all the high mountains in the Western Peninsula . This leaves me yet to explore Labrador 's Mealy Mountains and Brigg Island near Emily's Harbour. However, my hunch is that I have a much better chance of finding it on Mt. Washington in New Hampshire .
Salix calcicola , the Limestone Willow, is much more accessible, inhabiting limestone barrens and coastal headlands such as the Pointe Riche Peninsula . A subspecies of S. lanata , it is quite variable in stature. In wet, stony areas it is an upright shrub forming small thickets, but in harsh habitats it is extremely ground-hugging. Its characteristic qualities are the fleecy juvenile leaves and the large candle-like catkins. Like S. jejuna it is an early bloomer, and by late August to early September most of the seed has dispersed.
Salix arctica , widely variable, is one of the few arctic-alpine willows found on serpentine areas and mountaintops, a habitat also preferred by S. arctophila . S. arctica is a prostrate shrub with somewhat ascending or aerial branchlets, robust catkins, and large variable leaves, gray-green and hairy when young, turning leathery at maturity.
In contrast, the Bearberry Willow, Salix uva-ursi , forms mostly flat compact mats with shiny, tiny, pointed, mouse-ear-like leaves. It is less variable than S. arctica , easily recognized by its slender, pointed leaves and reddish-purple, slender catkins. Found throughout Newfoundland and Labrador , it is undiscriminating in its choice of habitats, which include exposed wet or dry rocks, calcareous sites, coastal areas, mountaintops, and snowbeds. It's a favorite of mine for its miniature stature and perky silhouette.
Salix candida , otherwise known as the Hoary or Sageleaf Willow, is not one of the refined arctic-alpines, but its starved miniature forms are quite fetching. Common throughout the Great Western Peninsula and Labrador on exposed dry or wet sites and on limestone barrens, it often can be seen growing by the roadside. This willow can reach up to 3 meters (10 feet), though I have seldom come across such large specimens. It is a willow that can easily be spotted, since the whole shrub has a white downy texture, from the white fleeciness of the leaves to the gray shades of the trunk and branches.
I propagate arctic-alpine willows mostly from cuttings, the easiest method with fast results and sure identification of species. Propagating from seed is limiting because fresh fertile seed (see below) is required. I usually take cuttings early or late in the season before leaf emergence or after leaves have fallen. Semi-woody cuttings work best, though with Salix vestita younger cuttings root better. For my rooting medium I use equal parts of sifted, well-composted bark and fine perlite. I provide moisture and some heat.
I also like to propagate willows from seed, though. It is exciting to grow on the little seedlings of these fine dwarf shrubs and observe the degree of variation among them. When I am collecting seeds and cuttings from the wild it is usually quite late in the season, which means time is limited for strong growth. To safeguard my collection I follow this procedure: I strike (place in the rooting medium) half my cuttings for immediate rooting, and put the other half in the refrigerator wrapped in sphagnum moss and placed in a sealable plastic bag. In January, after they have undergone a dormancy period, I strike them as well. I find I have a better success rate combining the two rooting techniques. I follow the same rule with seeds. I sow half the seed upon my return, and as a safeguard I put the other half in slightly moistened vermiculite in a sealable plastic bag and place it in the refrigerator. In January or February I sow the second batch of seed. Germination is often good from both sowings, but there is always a certain amount of loss from damping off in the seedlings from the first sowing.
Arctic-alpine willows are great for the small rock garden, crevices, raised beds, or troughs. For the rock gardener, their ground-hugging habit, unique and varied flowers and fruits, distinct and attractive leaf shapes, and ethereal textures make them an essential addition to the garden. They prefer an open site with plenty of air movement, which is what they are used to in nature. The soil should be moisture-retentive yet well drained. In areas where summers are very hot, a northern exposure or some afternoon shade is advisable. A dusting of limestone in the soil for the lime-lovers is desirable, although in my experience the calciphiles can tolerate some soil acidity. An occasional feeding of bone meal or any other slow-release fertilizer is sufficient.
Resources:
http://www.nfalpines.homestead.com/index.html
http://www.mun.ca/biology/delta/arcticf/sal/index.htm
DAPHNES IN MY GARDEN
My recent trip to the eastern USA to search out and purchase plants of one of my favourite families of shrubs, Daphnes, prompted me to write an article for the Daphne Society about the Daphnes that I grow in my gardens and, in particular, how they have fared in the harshest last two winters here in Quebec. One of the aims of the Daphne Society is to establish hardiness tolerance of many of its species and hybrids to the North American climates and this is accomplished by the invaluable experiences of its many members.
For some of you who are not familiar with these plants, I would like to introduce them to you. Daphnes are shrubs of varying habit that belong to the Thymelaeaceae family. There are over 50 species in the genus, originating mostly from Asia and Europe . These beautiful shrubs, very little-known or under-utilized by gardeners, possess many great qualities that make them excellent additions to rock gardens, woodland, and/or shady areas in a garden.
Historically, the Daphne is associated with the mythological Greek gods. According to legend, the beautiful wood nymph Daphne, trying to escape the persistent attention of the sun god Apollo, was rescued by Zeus by being transformed into a small tree, hence Daphne laureola.
Daphnes are either deciduous or evergreen, but in colder areas evergreen species can be semi-deciduous. Varying considerably in habit, they range from ground hugging dwarfs to upright forms that can reach up to 3 meters high in nature.
They are spring or winter flowering depending on their habitat. In nature they are found in mountainous regions-i.e. screes, alpine meadows and rock crevices or in woodlands.
Their leaves are characterized by a tough, glossy, leathery texture and their flowers are mainly tubular in shape, varying in colours from greenish-white, pink, purple, yellow or orange. Daphnes are distinguished for their fragrance as well, again, varying in scent from strong to spicy-lemon to subtle and a few having no scent at all.
Another interesting feature is that many produce fruit in the form of fleshy berries in diverse colors of red, orange, yellow, and black. The fruits and plants are generally considered poisonous to animals and humans alike. They are spring or winter flowering and mostly come from mountainous regions or woodlands.
Daphnes are generally easy to cultivate, requiring a well drained compost. They are tolerant of alkaline or acid conditions, with the exception of some Asiatic species that would prefer more acidic soils. Feeding occasionally with bone meal or leaf mold, in cases where the plants are in scree conditions, is beneficial.
Hardiness of Daphnes is quite complex, taking into account many variables such as species, summer and winter climatic conditions, location in garden, etc. This prompts many enthusiasts to write about their experiences of growing Daphnes in their gardens.
The following is an account of the Daphnes in my gardens with brief notes explaining garden conditions such as soils and exposure to the elements. A few of these plants are over 5 years with the oldest, Daphne cneorum “Ruby Glow,” being 10 years old. Many are as new in the gardens as a couple of months.
In the woodland garden:
Daphne girardii (D. feddei ) planted in a sunny outcrop ledge (very little depth in soil) but gets afternoon shade, has morphed itself into a dwarf round-shape tree. Has not flowered yet! The flowers being a soft yellow and fruit orange.
Daphne blagayana : Receives mostly shade with some afternoon sun. It has shown some new growth on the two shoots that are growing on opposite direction. I had mentioned on a previous article that I intended to move it to a slightly sunnier spot but have not yet done so. Cream and very fragrant blooms.
Crevice Garden :
Daphne arbuscula Siskiyou form: This is my best plant. It has become the source of numerous stock plants for the nursery. Because of the constant trimming it has because a very tight specimen with constant lush foliage. Its deep pink flowers far surpass that of the new Czech ‘Muran' clone. It should be mentioned that the crevice garden has only coarse gravelly sand as its substrate.
Daphne domini: The most floriferous of all my Daphnes that provides me with an enormous amount of seedlings from seed that falls and germinates around the plant. Though the pink flowers that do not open are not very exciting the orange fruit gives a beautiful display.
Shrub Berm:
Daphne oleiodes. The small rooted cutting made it through last year's very harsh winter and has shown excellent new growth. The berm consists of mostly gravel with about 25% content of peat and black soil.
Daphne cneorum v. variegatum: A very compact plant that puts on an incredible show of brilliant pink blooms in May. It comes through the winter with no problem and never has any dieback.
Daphne x burkwoodii ‘Lavenerii': Growing close by to D. cneorum v. variegatum , it is another very hardy Daphne for us. It looses some leaves over winter and the heavy snow has slightly pushed its trunk down towards the ground but I find it the most elegant and best bloom performer from all the Burkwoodii clones. It is at the moment going through its 2 nd and better flush of color than the spring one.
Raised Bed:
Daphne arbuscula Muran's clone #4: Going through its 3 rd season it is still very small in stature, but it has developed a very thick trunk. Its dark buds open to pale pink flowers with a certain frostiness to them. It is at the moment going through a second flush of bloom.
Daphne mezereum f. Alba: The original plant developed SDS (sudden death syndrome) at the end of last year after 7 years of excellent performance to the point of almost becoming a weed. We have harvested many plants and a new generation is growing in its place now.
Daphne x eschmanii: I am not sure if that is what I have, but it came labelled that way. An aggressively robust upright shrub to the point of being coarse. It has to be trimmed back severely to contain it. A very carefree and easy upright shrub. Its pink flowers are very fragrant but quite conspicuous among its lush foliage. It receives heavy snow loads every winter from the roof of the garage, but it comes through unscathed.
Ericaceous Garden :
Daphne cneorum: This Daphne does not like its location. It don't think it gets enough sun, the soil is too moist, it is often crowded out by an aggressive Pulmonaria x Calibur shade and often gets grazed by deer that come into this garden from the neighbouring woods late in the season. Though healthy looking, it is fighting to survive.
Daphne ‘Briggs Moonlight': This poor little plant finally gave up. In all fairness to the plant I would have to say that the conditions were far from ideal because newly rooted cuttings in a cold frame came through last winter without a problem.
Daphne cneorum pygmaea alba: It grows almost prostrate and receives more sun than D. cneorum, not a terrific bloomer, but often sends out a second flush later in the season. It is a healthy specimen, but would do much better in a more drained site.
Peat Bed- Section facing west:
Daphne cneorum ? ‘Ruby Glow' This plant has been in this bed since its inception. In the beginning it overwintered very well and bloomed profusely. In the last 3 to 4 years it has suffered plenty from winter kill. It faces west and often there is not enough snow cover to protect it from winter winds. This spring we cut it back drastically and it now has terrific new lush growth, is more compact, and I hope it will perform better next year. The reason there is a question mark on the name is that I am not sure whether it is as labelled or is D. eximia. I purchased Daphne eximia to compare the two plants.
Saxifrage Bed-North facing:
Daphne alpina & Daphne ‘ Lawrence Crocker': Both plants are two-year-old plantings of small rooted cuttings. In this location, again, there is very little organic material. It is quite protected and there is good snow accumulation. The site is bright, but there is no direct hot sun. It is where I grow many of my Encrusted saxifrages , many tufa plantings and troughs plantings of Porphyrion saxifrages , Ramondas and Jankaea heldreichii .
They are slow growing little shrubs with good healthy new growth. D. ‘Lawrence Crocker' actually bloomed this year.
Scree Garden :
Daphne ‘Lela Haines': A very floriferous and long lived little Daphne. Our form is totally prostrate. This year it even set seed.
The following list of Daphnes were planted last Fall in a desperate attempt to move some rooted stock out into the gardens before the cold weather arrived. They were all planted in scree conditions. They overwintered beautifully.
Daphne x hendersonii ‘Ernst Hauser'(D. petraea x D. cneorum): one-year-old rooted cutting
Daphne laureola ssp. phillipii: two-year-old rooted cutting
Daphne retusa: one-year-old rooted cutting
Daphne mezereum ‘Bowles Variety': two-year-old seedling
Daphne x burkwoodii‘Carol Mackie'(D. caucasica x D. cneorum): two-year-old rooted cutting.
The ensuing ones did not fare as well:
Daphne x burkwoodii ‘Sommerset': A three year old plant seemed that it had died but now new growth is showing from the bottom of its trunk.
Daphne x transatlantica ‘Jim's Pride'(D. caucasica x D.collina) : A two-gallon plant just did not make it. It was maybe too big and planted out too late in the season, therefore it had no time to establish itself well. White flowers with a sweet scent to them.
Daphne retusa: A small plant that also perished last winter.
Daphne sericea ‘Compact Form': Three-year-old trough plant also died. Could very well have dried out before winter set in.
My trip to the US was very fruitful and I came back with mostly good size specimens of the following Daphnes :
D. x whiteorum ‘Kilmeston'(D. petraea ‘Grandiflora x D. jasminea)
D. x susannae ‘ Lawrence Crocker'( D. arbuscula x D. collina)
D. x napolitana
D. cneorum ‘Eximia'
D. kamtschatica
D. x sussanae ‘Tichmore'(D. collina x D. arbuscula)
D. x sussanae ‘Cheriton' (D. arbuscula x D.collina)
D. ‘Briggs Moonlight' (a good size with several branches)
D. x rossetii ( D. laureola ssp. phillipii x D. cneorum)
D. retusa
D. caucasica (the species form)
D. genkwa
D. genkwa Hackenberry Group
D. genkwa Large Flowered Form
D x napolitana (D. collina x D. cneorum)
D. x rollsdorfii ‘ Arnold Cihlarz' (D. collina x D. petraea)
They were all planted upon arrival in various areas of the scree garden. The exceptions were the D . genkwas and D. kamtchatica where they were placed in a shadier protected site with richer soil.
Last but not least of my newest plantings in the garden this year has been Daphne jasminea Delphi Form . A small cutting that had a spattering of flowers was planted early in the season in the crevice garden. It likes where it is so much so that it is at the moment showing a full flush of new flowers. It will be interesting to see how it will cope in my winters. There are still several different forms waiting in the cold frames ready to be planted, but they will have to wait for next year.
I encourage all of you to grow these charming shrubs in your garden. I would start with some of the species in the Cneorum Group such as D. Cneorum and its various forms, D. striata, D. arbuscula, and D. juliae. These are mountain species from Europe, are evergreen, low in stature, and fragrant with pink flowers. Ideal plants for the rock garden.
To learn more about Daphnes I highly recommend becoming a member of the Daphne Society. Its newsletters are full of very informative articles on how to grow these mythical and enchanting plants.
References:
The Smaller Daphnes by AGS Publications Ltd.
Daphnes by Blackthorn Nursery by Robin White.
Resources:
The Daphne Society
185 8 th Street , Bethpage ,
NY, 11714
USA
PUSHING THE HARDINESS LIMIT-DAPHNES IN A QUEBEC
WINTER
Last winter in Quebec held the record of being the coldest in 50 years, according to the meteorologists.
Being practically a neophyte lover of Daphnes I don't have a large collection planted in my gardens as yet, but among the small selection there are some choice ones and last winter proved to be a challenge not only for the Daphnes but for my collection of Rhododendrons as well that could be considered borderline for Zone 4b.
The temperature several times dropped to –45 deg C with wind chill factors dropping it even lower. Although we often have good snow coverage, last winter it average only to 30-45cm. You would think not particularly deep protection for many plants to withstand such low temps. Several shrubs and climbers suffered did suffer under these conditions. Daphnes on the other hand managed very well and many I feel benefited from the cold.
A single stemmed Daphne girardii seedling that I planted late last spring in the exposed ledge of my woodland garden came through with flying colors and is multi-branched now and quite robust.
A young plant of Daphne x hendersonii ‘Ernst Hauser' that I obtained from Rick Lupp is planted in a trough and partially plunged in my Saxifraga garden came through unscathed and this year managed to take some cuttings though presently it has suffered slightly from too much sun. I plan to move it in a shadier spot where it will not suffer from too much dryness. Daphne cneorum variegatum and D. x burkwoodii ‘Lavenerii' are interplanted among troughs in a small trough garden very much in the open, did not suffer at all. This is a particularly exposed area and windy and where often the dear have a path in the winter. Talking about deer, non of my daphnes have ever been broused by them. Taking cuttings from both these specimens have made them fuller in habit and D. ‘Lavenerii' is still blooming sporadically.
My pathetic little D. ‘Briggs Moonlight' that I thought was progressing well but slowly did get affected by the cold and only one leafy branch remains but in all respect for the plant it is planted in too much shade, in the shadiest spot of my ericaceous garden. One more Daphne that I have to move!
Daphne x eschmanii has become a huge monster on my raised bed and it definitely needs to be moved but how? Does anyone have some suggestions? Daphne domini ( previously D. kosaninii) never seizes to amaze me. This year it was the most floriferous and later every bloom turned into an orange berry which they fall around the plant and germinate in the spring. No bird or insect eats them. This and Daphne arbuscula Siskiyou form with brilliant pink flowers are planted in my crevice garden where there is only gravely sand as soil. D. arbuscula in three years has developed into an incredibly healthy and compact specimen. Up to last year because of its youth blooms were few, but this year the plants was very floriferous and I suspect, besides the cold treatment it received last winter, it also benefited from the numerous cuttings I took last summer. A small plant of the new clones from Josef Halda is planted in my raised bed and is progressing well but slow. One of my favorite daphnes, D. ‘Leila Haines' totally obscured under Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium' in my scree garden is always a good doer and rewards me with plenty of blooms every year. I must definitely move to a more prominent position or into a trough! I layered a few branches a few years back with good success. Daphne cneorum ‘Ruby Glow' , my first and oldest daphne took quite a beating this winter. Half the plant was burned from the winter winds which I clipped away. I should have cut the whole plant back but it would have looked unsightly at the time when many tours are visiting the gardens. I wonder if I can clip it back in the fall?
Several other Daphnes in clay pots, as well as my selling stock, overwintered in coldframes and came through well.
This year I have build two new gardens for Primula auriculas and associated plants and I think I will plant many Daphnes, which I was unsure of their hardiness before, among them. The thought excites me but will the time allow me? By the way, most all of my Rhododendrons and Azaleas passed the test, bloomed profusely and have grown so much that I enlarged the garden so that I can space them out more.
Le cinquième anniversaire de la Société m'amène à me commémorer ce qui fût pour moi deux des évènements très importants de sa courte histoire.D'abord les longues discussions excitantes avec Michel André Otis qui résulta dans l'établissement de notre société bilingue de plantes alpines.Ensuite la construction d'un jardin de crevasses à l'entrée de l'Alpinum du Jardin Botanique de Montréal exécuté par le bien connu explorateur botanique contemporain et extraordinaire auteur;Josef Halda.
Cet article cependant se concentre principalement sur la grande amitié qui s'est développé entre Josef et moi et subséquemment le voyage botanique de ma vie, de loin, le sommet du Mont Olympe.
Le Mont Olympe ,sis dans le nord de la Grèce, est renommé mondialement pour deux raisons: c'est bien sûr la demeure légendaire des Dieux Grecs, et dans le monde végétal il se distingue par sa flore alpine unique.C'est sur lee tard dans son histoire que l'on réalisa son caractre végétal distinctif à cause de sa situation géographique isolé.Bien que faisant partie de la chaîne montagneuse des Pindus, le masif olympien est séparé à l'est par les plaines de Macédoine et à l'ouest il surgit abruptement de la mer Égée.Plusieurs plantes qui y ont évolué sont devenues des endémiques propre à cette montagne.
Mitikas, ''The Beak'' à 2917 m. est le sommet le plus élevé de Grèce et le second en importance dans la chaine des Pindus.Ce sommet majestueux est constitué d'une série d'entonnoirs crevassés et de bandes horizontales qui forment une série de terrasses abruptes.Dans les ravins profonds en haute altitude la neige s'attarde jusqu'à la mi-été et la flore alpine est observé idéalement à la mi-juin.
L'approche la plus populaire et facile pour atteindre le sommet passe par Prionia à 1100 m. pour ensuite se diriger vers Agapitos Spilios (Refuge A).Le Refuge A, à 2100 m. est perché majestueusement sur un affleurement rocheux ceinturé d'imposants pins des Balkans.Notre expédition débuta à ce refuge où mnous rencontrâmes Josef et sa femme Jarmilla Haldova après une randonnée épuisante de 5.5 heures.La montée nous permit d'observer plusieurs plantes superbes et les nombreuses plantes d'éboulis et d'alpines de haute altitude que je décrirai plus loin dans cet article furent observées à des altitudes variant entre 2300 et 2900 m; les endémiques les plus légendaires se retrouvant autour du refuge.
Nul doute que Jankaea heldreichii est l'endémique la plus reconnu et le plus précieux bijou de ces montagnes. Lorsque je disais que le Mont Olympe est reconnu pour sa flore distincte,j'aurais du dire qu'auprès des amateurs de plantes alpines c'est spécialement pour ce ''locataire'' que la montagne est fameuse.C'est une espèce protégée que Stavros le propriétaire du refuge défend ardemment. Le Jankaea est remarquable par ses rosettes texturées incroyablement soyeuses et ses grandes fleurs , comme celles des violettes, bleu lilas translucide.
Sur le sentier on est tombé par hasard sur Chamaecytisus hirsutus var. demissus. Ce cultivar botanique que l'on retrouve uniquement sur le mont Olympe, au port tapissant, a des feuilles grisâtres fortement laineuses et de grosses fleurs de ''pois'' jaune à la carène orange brûlée à maturité.Il rappelle de près un autre genêt miniature de choix, Chamaecytisus pygmaeus.
Bien que pas une endémique ,Viola delphinantha, se retrouve principalement sur le mont Olympe.Une de trois violettes subarbustives, cette habitante des crevasses en affleurements calcaires se ressème dans les moindres fissures rocheuses les plus profondes et étroites à proximité du refuge A.Les tiges grêles supportent des fleurs aux longs éperons lilas rosé.Son aire de répartition en altitude se situe entre 1500 et 2200 m.
Campanula oreadum est une autre de ces endémiques superbes. C'est une plante de crevasses aux rosettes hirsutes vert-bleuté et aux clochettes foncées bleu-pourprées de proportions démesurées.Elles étaient en pleine floraison autour du refuge A mais plus haut en altitude,au-dessus de la limite des arbres. la saison n'était pas assez avancé pour l'observer.Daphne oleoides était courant en habitats plus herbeux et dans les sous-bois clairsemés de notre randonnée.Ces buissons bas vert-grisâtre aux fleurs odorantes blanc crémeux et aux baies oranges se reconnaissent facilement. Lorsque les plantes se retrouvaient en situations très exposées celles-ci avaient l'air nanifiées avec leurs troncs épais et noueux.
Après une bonne nuit de sommeil (les lumières s'éteignent très tôt dans les dortoirs communautaires du refuge ) l'ascension vers le sommet s'entama très tôt le matin suivant.Le but fixé est d'atteindre Mitikas avant que les nuages et la brume l'enveloppe. Lorsque ceci survient, la température devient hasardeuse, occasionnant des orages violents et une visibilité réduite à nulle. Plusieurs alpinistes ont perdu la vie sur le mont Olympe.Nous étions à 40 m. du sommet lorsque les nuages firent leur apparition.La mission fût abandonnée et avec elle la possibilité de trouver Omphalodes luciliae et l'on opta plutot pour un goûter bien mérité préparé par les employés attentionnés du refuge.
Au cours de notre descente les éboulis non stabilisé et les moraines furent visité.C'est dans cet habitat typique que fleurit dès la fonte des neiges un impressionnant bouton d'or Ranunculus brevifolius qui n'est pas sans rappeler un Aconit d'hiver (Eranthis).
Quant à l'Ayssum handelii, ses tapis grisâtres et ses ombelles jaunes démesurées cherchaient refuge près des plus grosses pierres calcaires.La Viola striis-notata est une minuscule endémique très charmante aux grandes fleurs rose clair qui semblent pratiquement saupoudrées de sucre et légèrement marqué de jaune alors que ses pétales supérieurs sont retroussé vers l'arrière tel les oreilles d'un chat.Avec ses feuilles grises feutrées également ''enrobé de sucre'' cet habitante des éboulis instables que l'on retrouve au-dessus de 2400 m. a des tiges tel des ficelles qui émergent des rochers.Veronica thessalica est une des plantes d'éboulis les plus apparentes à cause de ses têtes florales d'un bleu électrique.Cet alpine des hauts sommets aux tapis denses vert foncé développe ses meilleures couleurs en altitude plus élevéeet se retrouvait là où le terrain d'éboulis était stabilisé.Le Saxifraga sempervivum, autre habitant endémique vivement coloré des éboulis, a des tiges florales particulières, velue et brillamment colorée de rouge violacé contrastant avec le coussin solide de rosettes serrées gris argenté.On le retrouvait principalement niché près de gros rochers ou sous des surplombs rocheux à l'abri du soleil et de la chaleur intense.On a trouvé aussi d'autres représentants plus habituels des éboulis, incluant le minuscule Aethionema saxatile, la Cardamine carnosa, un joli cresson comestible ainsi que Draba athoa et Arabis bryoides.
Nous traversâmes d'autres moraines alpines lors de la descente des zones d'éboulis, là où la neige s'attardait encore et où l'humidité disponible était bien évidente et où les carex prédominaient.C'est ici que l'on a pu apprécié une tapisserie colorée de Viola doerfleri; les blancs purs et les roses pastel de Saxifraga scardica et de Saxifraga spruneri var. deorum, les jaunes éclatants de différentes Ranunculus ssp. mais entre toutes les alpines de moraine la plus remarquable était Gentiana verna var. balcanica.Plus compacte et plus courte que ses proches de l'Europe de l'Ouest, elle a des fleurs du plus intense bleu foncé et des calices presques noirs.
Bien sûr notre aventure ne se termina pas avec le Mont Olympe; la finale fût une visite à la seconde montagne grecque la plus fameuse, le Mont Parnasse; mais ca c'est une autre histoire...
Approximately 5 years ago my dear friend Michel-André Otis, a horticulturist at the Montreal Botanic Gardens, came for a visit and brought me this small seedling of Stellera chamaejasme . He had managed to germinate just a couple of seedlings and had brought me one “for insurance”, as he put it. At the time, my concern was not to lose this tiny plant so I immediately planted it in my new tufa garden on a raised bed that is facing Northeast. It established quickly and to-date has developed into a robust clump with over 100 stems.
By mid-June as all the stems have well emerged from dormancy and have reached their proper height each one is topped with dark pink buds that open to daphne-like white flowers. It is quite a site! The fragrance is quite faint so to appreciate its scent I have to climb up at the edge of the raised bed and reach over to it. Sadly it has never set seed. It towers over all its tiny neighbors, at 38 cm. tall. This garden is mostly planted with cushion alpines which made me think, early on, that maybe I made the wrong decision in choosing this particular site but there are two very specific reasons it will stay where it is. One is that its taproot needs the depth that a raised bed can offer and two I would have to undo the whole tufa garden to get at it.
Another interesting observation I made a couple of years ago. In early spring as the snow melts away from the bed I have to do some damage control due to vole tunneling. As voles tunnel they decimate anything on their path so to my horror one such spring a very pronounced tunnel had stopped right where Stellera chamaejasme should be with the surface soil quite disturbed. In a panic I dug deeper around the label expecting to see the crown turned to mulch. To my great surprise the crown was intact which made me suspect that the plant might be poisonous. Further reading about this enchanting Daphne relative confirmed my suspicions.
In its importance in my gardens it is one of my most treasured plants right next to Viola delphinanta, Jankaea heldreichii, Cypripedium calceolus v. planipetalum, Clematis tenuiloba, and Salix jejuna.
|
|||||
|
Copyright © 2000, Alpines Mont Echo. All rights reserved.