tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140635057929964972024-03-13T13:40:32.929-07:00A not so simple gardengeranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.comBlogger243125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-5510551566177506872024-02-14T17:27:00.000-08:002024-02-14T17:27:42.396-08:00Up Into the Mountains-Gong Shan and nearby<p> On this day we travelled into the heart of the Lisu autonomous prefecture, from where our driver whom we called Xiao Han, came from. We stayed in a hotel in Cao Dian (the place with the nice orchids in the lobby and cool wood carvings) where masses of roosters crowing woke us up the next morning along with a garbage truck going around the neighborhood with loud music. We then went to the Gongshan area then went up into nearby BiLuoXueShan (BiLuo Snow Mountain) and then came back down to Xiao Han's place to have a wonderful home cooked meal. Going up I found a rather cryptic impatiens species with small flowers and reddish leaves, evidently an annual sort. We also crossed our most challenging avalanche. It was so scary to me that I suggested we go back down the mountain but since Xiao Han was determined to get past it, we got out of the car and walked rather than ride near the edge of the road where a steep dropoff was. The 20 or 30 feet of dangling road fence that got broke by the rocks obviously didnt make me feel any better. But Xiao Han made it through as did we by foot after we moved a few rocks to make it easier and more than a few prayers were said. We did the same thing when we came back down the mountain. I did find that the highest altitude we got to on the mountain (around 3,700 meters or 12,000 feet) made me feel not well after two forays from the van. On the first foray we tramped around a rhododendron patch interwoven with an impatiens species and lots of other things including a Nomocharis species that is quite localized and threatened by the grazing that occurs in that area, so yeah, we had to watch out for cow patties too. No problems there other than typical feeling weird at high altitude. Then we drove a little further and I suggested we stop where there was a little mini valley that seemed to keep the cows out and which had a small creek running through it. This spot revealed many treasures, including the first meconopsis I have seen in habitat. They were in seed, along with a primula species, so I did not get to see the no doubt magnificent flowers they must have had earlier in the year. There was an amazing Apiaceae of some sort, along with Melanoseris, Saxifraga, Geranium, and other wonderful things. After some wondering around I started feeling anxious, a tightness in my chest (not painful but at my age any weird feeling in the chest can be a cause for concern), and very fatigued. I told the two guys I was going back to the van since I felt ill and Grace was already in the van, not wanting to venture out into the mud as it had rained that day. The guys came back too and I said we need to get to a lower elevation, I could barely speak and Grace told me I looked pale. When we got down two or three hundred meters I started to feel normal again. To this day I am not sure what it was, could it have been a panic attack or, more likely, low oxygen levels that made me feel ill? My lung capacity is not quite what it should be for reasons unknown other than I have some minor scarring in the lower left lung which could be from a previous respiratory infection, or so I have been told. I've never smoked (although both of my parents did and I was exposed to too much of that as a child), but I have been exposed to a lot of dirt and dust in my gardening life and when I worked at the new York Botanical Garden, so these days if I am working with particularly dusty stuff like sand or wood chips for mulching, or am spraying deer repellant or any pesticide, I wear an N95 mask for protection. The long time readers of my blog know I got to 14,000 feet some years ago on Horseshoe Mountain in Colorado and while I felt a bit strange it was not scary like this 12,000 feet lower elevation in China was. Another odd thing is that sometimes as we drove we hit 4000 meters and I was fine just sitting in the vehicle. Granted we didn't stay at that height very long nor was I moving so I think it has something to do with time and exertion at high altitude that isn't good for me. I was advised to walk and move slowly which can be hard when there are so many neat plants to see. </p><p>After we came down the mountain we had to cool off the car brakes in the nearest village with a hose, and then we got to visit Xiao Han's village where his lovely wife cooked up a wonderful dinner for us. Grace helped with the cooking and we got to meet one of his sons, the other son was away studying in a boarding school. I took a walk around the village and saw some interesting things like Camellia azalea, a summer blooming rare species which has been used to create summer blooming camellia hybrids in China. While plants of this species are not uncommon in cultivation in Yunnan, seed seems to be impossible to find and the plant itself is a rather recent discovery with a very limited range much further to the east in Guangdong. It is not at all hardy so one has to wonder what could result from crossing it with hardier C japonica types or C oleifera, maybe a camellia that flowers in summer but is winter hardy to USDA Z6? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCg8LGBYMJcVlfo829KHhauhqRyiteAi8t4kOHdTu8w8vOqblCylKOCSs61vJOXzV7QSY-wPYb3wJiiGZmwKepKBk0fdP7MBkuYfhu5KEu6AiRjdXgnC75SbuRK8TOBJatu0NSEmuDtJ1DzHByXBhbx80BnKEaT9klKPVBVhUe2QkB37X7kSJC0ljtIys/s4032/IMG_4973.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCg8LGBYMJcVlfo829KHhauhqRyiteAi8t4kOHdTu8w8vOqblCylKOCSs61vJOXzV7QSY-wPYb3wJiiGZmwKepKBk0fdP7MBkuYfhu5KEu6AiRjdXgnC75SbuRK8TOBJatu0NSEmuDtJ1DzHByXBhbx80BnKEaT9klKPVBVhUe2QkB37X7kSJC0ljtIys/w480-h640/IMG_4973.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Fallen bright red rose hips lower on the mountain </span><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FQJkZNB0Z0-mdx1u2pGf1Ca90aHw-pGNApPwqD5SXJNOLT_qJk3ZBIzinRb0LVInm8tFg0fcCcamwfpwl9EJLfTCZnfG7ROmEh6O7_MXmhftXUmzLYhwUN65W-0EL2jOQ2QXKpdI8rWLHFzMQrmbZOyb84xCgd6Fqonk5rEucKOKzhL5bh4M4UJpYQ4/s4032/IMG_4974.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FQJkZNB0Z0-mdx1u2pGf1Ca90aHw-pGNApPwqD5SXJNOLT_qJk3ZBIzinRb0LVInm8tFg0fcCcamwfpwl9EJLfTCZnfG7ROmEh6O7_MXmhftXUmzLYhwUN65W-0EL2jOQ2QXKpdI8rWLHFzMQrmbZOyb84xCgd6Fqonk5rEucKOKzhL5bh4M4UJpYQ4/w480-h640/IMG_4974.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Looking up the eroded slope the rose species that produced the colorful hips was <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> readily </span>spotted</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLcQcfTj_imudPbgmb1ZibY5Lw81L93UnU7VHYxugolDNFV1BxmgZ08y4JagtBOm_dYuz1WRGSJ7QtaKJNfq9VKWUYX-0mhjkhrDzchs5iiPLMXt6pZ2qM3GnkuhGeqjHzv3h0BxxhpqkLefeD70F2hyphenhyphenVurDhvwDO2IFV755V7E6N4CljK70-Y-2Ilzc/s4032/IMG_4975.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLcQcfTj_imudPbgmb1ZibY5Lw81L93UnU7VHYxugolDNFV1BxmgZ08y4JagtBOm_dYuz1WRGSJ7QtaKJNfq9VKWUYX-0mhjkhrDzchs5iiPLMXt6pZ2qM3GnkuhGeqjHzv3h0BxxhpqkLefeD70F2hyphenhyphenVurDhvwDO2IFV755V7E6N4CljK70-Y-2Ilzc/w480-h640/IMG_4975.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A curious blue flower, maybe a species of Swertia? </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07_WpSgSOuU-hu1u70JfnSg4l-URxGaLWI0VWibUeDCvAgn3w_ZcKPSFv1eIDvr4UB-FwS2oPKJaYqz6NUFyDbl_dgU07Ivc_tj__o-OHlbEqtzIbiqZgn6h6c6OU4pwm7rRYWjQp4STJvFSlo9u_OnwdzAOmyNr1V65ChWV5W_LNINluXLhc3H08VvA/s4032/IMG_4978.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07_WpSgSOuU-hu1u70JfnSg4l-URxGaLWI0VWibUeDCvAgn3w_ZcKPSFv1eIDvr4UB-FwS2oPKJaYqz6NUFyDbl_dgU07Ivc_tj__o-OHlbEqtzIbiqZgn6h6c6OU4pwm7rRYWjQp4STJvFSlo9u_OnwdzAOmyNr1V65ChWV5W_LNINluXLhc3H08VvA/w480-h640/IMG_4978.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another Lycopodium species with sporangia</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rjztNjdXWAtYBOu3Z4C4bNN1B05u2hDHIJFg7zHolIZL64CuseXaQTXy_YQ-PqSSfFuJXwRdb7Y7oOLt8kvPuUC5LQqv3gTdaH6dZG2l5CoDwcRMhaIInFe-bqPC4MwXgCRTZAZp0LP-oYK-ALcmn1825M9V0SfXIULSq27pBOn96GWoz9gIRvHn9AQ/s4032/IMG_4983.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rjztNjdXWAtYBOu3Z4C4bNN1B05u2hDHIJFg7zHolIZL64CuseXaQTXy_YQ-PqSSfFuJXwRdb7Y7oOLt8kvPuUC5LQqv3gTdaH6dZG2l5CoDwcRMhaIInFe-bqPC4MwXgCRTZAZp0LP-oYK-ALcmn1825M9V0SfXIULSq27pBOn96GWoz9gIRvHn9AQ/w480-h640/IMG_4983.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our first view of the landslide</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzfLQoB3j20ZV8uao3l98XWA9-hM0gqVSQC9QaKZ_mRSF6f3v-JetfujGGD9dJRF0UVcTAzyvgwYfMEh2SPNMA4F0axpxK5ThhGJD84OUKnfHwyznJdB5GUSOXseyWOKNDFAw9Plgus8sgywxlRJfAWosa4Vuug-qJzPlmEEeBdfz05LVX8QNbhDpRuM/s4032/IMG_4984.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzfLQoB3j20ZV8uao3l98XWA9-hM0gqVSQC9QaKZ_mRSF6f3v-JetfujGGD9dJRF0UVcTAzyvgwYfMEh2SPNMA4F0axpxK5ThhGJD84OUKnfHwyznJdB5GUSOXseyWOKNDFAw9Plgus8sgywxlRJfAWosa4Vuug-qJzPlmEEeBdfz05LVX8QNbhDpRuM/w480-h640/IMG_4984.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The red leaved annual impatiens that seemed to only grow on this mountain</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkWI-LdLqcNJpbEHBsqmJE6QVhQeMXIWdTYdxGEZ-oIVY0lAQKkEW7mqIX9-K_-h7OjOSjJ0P3zm7prVXYA6pmRx-QAg2Luk6A76hXrDgQ-_z5415KG8fRlTdchRU4xRkMBTcjt3Ptm48NGZfQZxON3LNrNsivDD2REoDQowwj_bOIlgAvO6yK1gJ5DY/s4032/IMG_4985.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkWI-LdLqcNJpbEHBsqmJE6QVhQeMXIWdTYdxGEZ-oIVY0lAQKkEW7mqIX9-K_-h7OjOSjJ0P3zm7prVXYA6pmRx-QAg2Luk6A76hXrDgQ-_z5415KG8fRlTdchRU4xRkMBTcjt3Ptm48NGZfQZxON3LNrNsivDD2REoDQowwj_bOIlgAvO6yK1gJ5DY/w480-h640/IMG_4985.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was raining at times but the small flowers were like little jewels in the gloom</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzpmw9M7EWbsGyTtKVY2NVQ5COlZwEB3b9E2WUnHdYJMhLXw1-tO8JEb_xf4__mwNOEMPvh0qCODTrjmbt1F7Aue8dSMahgA9PU3UQvmR5xEWmdZsGGZcEBE0QWLDxsJFvuiGe3X9esQSOglVf2NkWNfoQka8oHrPGUq9qdOO-4NwXcwtdpgOuVtEI4Y/s4032/IMG_4990.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzpmw9M7EWbsGyTtKVY2NVQ5COlZwEB3b9E2WUnHdYJMhLXw1-tO8JEb_xf4__mwNOEMPvh0qCODTrjmbt1F7Aue8dSMahgA9PU3UQvmR5xEWmdZsGGZcEBE0QWLDxsJFvuiGe3X9esQSOglVf2NkWNfoQka8oHrPGUq9qdOO-4NwXcwtdpgOuVtEI4Y/w480-h640/IMG_4990.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwY_qI7ClAskCp8-bCbpViXXDKr5Py3NK8_qHlfZ-FCVwF8t4vl2FmmCoPH65e9inIwDRAHs6wEM4KUeYfdih9WiOI1lkVji3CbLtgwdKjqLfbSuVGQzc24iZ5x96nuZZEg8VU3QS3iGlfpyugpOLUOXCQER8589y2NATaI219UPHfPryU55aifEPNps/s4032/IMG_4993.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwY_qI7ClAskCp8-bCbpViXXDKr5Py3NK8_qHlfZ-FCVwF8t4vl2FmmCoPH65e9inIwDRAHs6wEM4KUeYfdih9WiOI1lkVji3CbLtgwdKjqLfbSuVGQzc24iZ5x96nuZZEg8VU3QS3iGlfpyugpOLUOXCQER8589y2NATaI219UPHfPryU55aifEPNps/w480-h640/IMG_4993.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There was some variation in both leaf and flower color as one examined more plants of the Impatiens sp. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipazcY5HD7x8Olg2TVCN4qVykIfyeua5Pi6YhgCcqvV1v9Gk7xwoWOPIWd6Tdydk6HTM5pKlbGt3P9PNQuNqfT2_b2ub-9c3BJNtSDlPT4eP3Sj5i9aaqGuN0sqEf_Lw5rj_QAgVnbY6pB7yoCC7nZSJQQqSkAqIJ8u2IW2gEUMu4AfKs5ulWAm3e_sco/s4032/IMG_4996.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipazcY5HD7x8Olg2TVCN4qVykIfyeua5Pi6YhgCcqvV1v9Gk7xwoWOPIWd6Tdydk6HTM5pKlbGt3P9PNQuNqfT2_b2ub-9c3BJNtSDlPT4eP3Sj5i9aaqGuN0sqEf_Lw5rj_QAgVnbY6pB7yoCC7nZSJQQqSkAqIJ8u2IW2gEUMu4AfKs5ulWAm3e_sco/w480-h640/IMG_4996.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We arrive at 3,700 meters in the rhodendron patch where cows graze and trample things</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhCUQ7xybyijt2RPf6FkNYDnGYhyphenhyphenUYW3DA56jlGQgWzi0Qf-Ovq4IOr8OQNWKBp_m2LfdE-uqK0ZnGC5Vm-pHax449ddXNmXH2kWmMQjfNGgW3AWjpWCLXDuFBvOBNKtUJiVsWl7aIUU4OXSklmdzEHobrJkc2eUI45eWGejIpEg-KOMsdrBpI6RF1ZQ/s4032/IMG_4997.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhCUQ7xybyijt2RPf6FkNYDnGYhyphenhyphenUYW3DA56jlGQgWzi0Qf-Ovq4IOr8OQNWKBp_m2LfdE-uqK0ZnGC5Vm-pHax449ddXNmXH2kWmMQjfNGgW3AWjpWCLXDuFBvOBNKtUJiVsWl7aIUU4OXSklmdzEHobrJkc2eUI45eWGejIpEg-KOMsdrBpI6RF1ZQ/w480-h640/IMG_4997.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Despite the cows there was a lot of diversity, no doubt a lot of it protected by the tangle of different rhododendron and other shrubby species. Here a Polygatum sp grows that looks similar to what we have in our woodlands. </div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPclCjmERcsgYOe5-bEaHOVtUb8Cj8Y0nxiOwdNzZvV1KYUlCGFe-HKLyoizy3DvrMh9FLH3jckqEwXK0UysAGLjjusPngYAkIp-cb0hMWeb77JOrvFsNESQt-PRgH2IAmG5pzRIZu9l2hEiRG6CQiCDhiPx9LBUspMQcRh1x9OAsFiyUa8b3Aw_cMGlM/s4032/IMG_4999.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPclCjmERcsgYOe5-bEaHOVtUb8Cj8Y0nxiOwdNzZvV1KYUlCGFe-HKLyoizy3DvrMh9FLH3jckqEwXK0UysAGLjjusPngYAkIp-cb0hMWeb77JOrvFsNESQt-PRgH2IAmG5pzRIZu9l2hEiRG6CQiCDhiPx9LBUspMQcRh1x9OAsFiyUa8b3Aw_cMGlM/w480-h640/IMG_4999.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was a species of Primula</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgU0JT5iNeQyPHagaGeo_Cbb1Y2VyCcnhWS9aLMuuPjZ8xbTW5vvabNxkOQaLvKeGu9b3oD_sJVCTsDjgi2X4lfKwcjayWf24706WV3_KN2ArcgkuLZWL7wTQPEuUj-MbybFTJXX9VrGLkkNVwzP49yQozHkVWKnrHYh3KK1k_Td9oVA2NmlEjEDaCU0/s4032/IMG_5001.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgU0JT5iNeQyPHagaGeo_Cbb1Y2VyCcnhWS9aLMuuPjZ8xbTW5vvabNxkOQaLvKeGu9b3oD_sJVCTsDjgi2X4lfKwcjayWf24706WV3_KN2ArcgkuLZWL7wTQPEuUj-MbybFTJXX9VrGLkkNVwzP49yQozHkVWKnrHYh3KK1k_Td9oVA2NmlEjEDaCU0/w480-h640/IMG_5001.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An Asteraceae, perhaps a species of Ligularia?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVw106lB0sMtbF9SKRHfHfjMBBgwzz1sVvSRkNd94BG63nV6Kmq_ACmcMCEDusztz-oVCxBsOK28NCT-CjdndDUG7608UgCqmjh6_5bk-6aGRboKPGelN5IXn26cy7eAkbQUo3gN1fAFFIUgzhtiixpTryFLFkgxboVgb0ICKjPAzwgdhapRDhpVA13Y/s4032/IMG_5004.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVw106lB0sMtbF9SKRHfHfjMBBgwzz1sVvSRkNd94BG63nV6Kmq_ACmcMCEDusztz-oVCxBsOK28NCT-CjdndDUG7608UgCqmjh6_5bk-6aGRboKPGelN5IXn26cy7eAkbQUo3gN1fAFFIUgzhtiixpTryFLFkgxboVgb0ICKjPAzwgdhapRDhpVA13Y/w480-h640/IMG_5004.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yet another mystery Arisaema. This one must be very cold hardy. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-4Z4L10xm74Vrc9UCihHbHEjk26H5X8VXEe_sO-XUEwQyD4Q1i0Cb0XN02-S_BPY7C_wxvc_mBBlXcWx6uDMZw_bvICzV3cE4h1r6VDCHnrdHalkskStUvAIIqHOqE2nYP9cr9kdWZtDWlADzcwUM-cX2eSJtoHIrum7fuTgQc7ISnteljujjFsarF8/s4032/IMG_5005.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-4Z4L10xm74Vrc9UCihHbHEjk26H5X8VXEe_sO-XUEwQyD4Q1i0Cb0XN02-S_BPY7C_wxvc_mBBlXcWx6uDMZw_bvICzV3cE4h1r6VDCHnrdHalkskStUvAIIqHOqE2nYP9cr9kdWZtDWlADzcwUM-cX2eSJtoHIrum7fuTgQc7ISnteljujjFsarF8/w480-h640/IMG_5005.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Ranunculus species? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jIFeOym1SpqEZRtmjmS94qJrFc6IWFbiNHXRbRjymRrUm9yz4kqxH7iJ4jqMEzhjflzj8W-uFRxoNJziH2pdyWUqtyR_cFBhtfSmf1UzTIvS-Q4EV3QLpAdRlRsGofgaQAcJ8EDhAk5XILAz1R70h0-eWDxx2DtKu6nSsdBi_qVF2_tvQY-RxlBY7ss/s4032/IMG_5010.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jIFeOym1SpqEZRtmjmS94qJrFc6IWFbiNHXRbRjymRrUm9yz4kqxH7iJ4jqMEzhjflzj8W-uFRxoNJziH2pdyWUqtyR_cFBhtfSmf1UzTIvS-Q4EV3QLpAdRlRsGofgaQAcJ8EDhAk5XILAz1R70h0-eWDxx2DtKu6nSsdBi_qVF2_tvQY-RxlBY7ss/w480-h640/IMG_5010.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Very pretty but a hemiparasite, most likely a species of Pedicularis which is very diverse in China. This might be P.oxycarpa. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JStyyTg_jotlG-WoxCf0LUoRaO0f3PYXmz-wjjfczD9B9_GN8v26ZpLN4dcijWERdk_w0RT4AkE9S3Gea8EgYFWR7GLMSgXqFnXZ1C9ssGPpc-Oek4cxi8YWLbETZU3c8jIn3bFG1HkIqNlDrZNunRKdYKm0n5VVIbpAyFMafsF2X8t8XAw1Y9qbLik/s4032/IMG_5011.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JStyyTg_jotlG-WoxCf0LUoRaO0f3PYXmz-wjjfczD9B9_GN8v26ZpLN4dcijWERdk_w0RT4AkE9S3Gea8EgYFWR7GLMSgXqFnXZ1C9ssGPpc-Oek4cxi8YWLbETZU3c8jIn3bFG1HkIqNlDrZNunRKdYKm0n5VVIbpAyFMafsF2X8t8XAw1Y9qbLik/w480-h640/IMG_5011.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Persicaria or Polygonatum species that was quite common. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzNTYbWJm1nfdReK4HItRyO_f3EufxTiguO7_Lo2o6sXohJVlnM_8oSSmgdgDeAW3excXB2yz1UNKHwgpszkFik0EACh-GnJqlKN0ZjyR-Ea_BFrK4l7aPNRPj9WEUDEKlLZVzwZzsaSwJfGluAD8AL6ts-vWb2PBNDuEzUG-Uh6pxbL_3iNQesHgYvw/s4032/IMG_5013.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzNTYbWJm1nfdReK4HItRyO_f3EufxTiguO7_Lo2o6sXohJVlnM_8oSSmgdgDeAW3excXB2yz1UNKHwgpszkFik0EACh-GnJqlKN0ZjyR-Ea_BFrK4l7aPNRPj9WEUDEKlLZVzwZzsaSwJfGluAD8AL6ts-vWb2PBNDuEzUG-Uh6pxbL_3iNQesHgYvw/w480-h640/IMG_5013.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Impatiens species that must be quite cold hardy. It can grow fairly tall and its spreading rhizomes wove themselves tightly into the mass of roots below</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxjUYFE1Mp2kDa9PcCWKfJPTd28i57IhWrzfa5YoBWod2nRk9xu9oJHWGjQF0zcsfHh7tpp6W2b7aeG0enoP7cduooATgqGMOpyJ02bwzfiCxQoCer3nf03h_j24-_RF2Q5oeK-VFjbxQLyWjEAcXIrJ_cmxAtfd0KxEkVQ9KfE9Ua40ajjFR45IlQ3Y/s4032/IMG_5014.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxjUYFE1Mp2kDa9PcCWKfJPTd28i57IhWrzfa5YoBWod2nRk9xu9oJHWGjQF0zcsfHh7tpp6W2b7aeG0enoP7cduooATgqGMOpyJ02bwzfiCxQoCer3nf03h_j24-_RF2Q5oeK-VFjbxQLyWjEAcXIrJ_cmxAtfd0KxEkVQ9KfE9Ua40ajjFR45IlQ3Y/w480-h640/IMG_5014.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seedheads of a clematis species that were not quite mature</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpKU6C17ZsqQ9ugPQynCHoYSxc7XUu1ZLGllnaDRCgjIulY2dhOHtEIMaylG40efaJU-bi8l0DYTbc5LriDyptzBszLnJ38L848JpiQKJT6h3jF6CiEI0eERytoac0s390E5QzQGAwAX4sPhFJ-97VjWF0Tc-Ut2RVLzRU2RnNjeMKiG_x0xRE-_K_K8/s4032/IMG_5015.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpKU6C17ZsqQ9ugPQynCHoYSxc7XUu1ZLGllnaDRCgjIulY2dhOHtEIMaylG40efaJU-bi8l0DYTbc5LriDyptzBszLnJ38L848JpiQKJT6h3jF6CiEI0eERytoac0s390E5QzQGAwAX4sPhFJ-97VjWF0Tc-Ut2RVLzRU2RnNjeMKiG_x0xRE-_K_K8/w480-h640/IMG_5015.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A species of Crawfordia I think</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jxipRh4OOEiIi0SZua5AGL07uSvgUCgJrCuvU_GZYPQRhCwhnr7YWqrvRNE_Sgw-J-OV7-HtqkzJI4ZN9yBh1rl0bwB5erZqKVSKhjfhlJFn_Yw-66HE-xfLYE_7FhLIvupdR91X5dXDy231POtxmJz8vu92KjnwDHLM_-tDol1ZdDEuXyne1C9QvAo/s4032/IMG_5017.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jxipRh4OOEiIi0SZua5AGL07uSvgUCgJrCuvU_GZYPQRhCwhnr7YWqrvRNE_Sgw-J-OV7-HtqkzJI4ZN9yBh1rl0bwB5erZqKVSKhjfhlJFn_Yw-66HE-xfLYE_7FhLIvupdR91X5dXDy231POtxmJz8vu92KjnwDHLM_-tDol1ZdDEuXyne1C9QvAo/w480-h640/IMG_5017.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aepcjsmVKLlMF6GFlU92uoL3S9U__0msT7BGlFCxe70rOR9yGhDKMzmeuY0hLId3ENhLMcWzBJGAlgjZ7COcVpItJ1CZjVh_UTIlBHJ76_JWePXBtCd4Zj2_EJRmYIH1lTwVHQeW_HoLzlvMhyehA8g9T1JiTluDtwrNSaHSKcH10aUPenq3blgB2pg/s4032/IMG_5018.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aepcjsmVKLlMF6GFlU92uoL3S9U__0msT7BGlFCxe70rOR9yGhDKMzmeuY0hLId3ENhLMcWzBJGAlgjZ7COcVpItJ1CZjVh_UTIlBHJ76_JWePXBtCd4Zj2_EJRmYIH1lTwVHQeW_HoLzlvMhyehA8g9T1JiTluDtwrNSaHSKcH10aUPenq3blgB2pg/w480-h640/IMG_5018.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another Corydalis species, this one tended to not be as well branched as other yellow species we saw on the trip, but beautiful as almost all of its genus are. And in China this genus is vast indeed. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfh9rwTxqomt-s9CAsGEpLyLV6jp0rC21KVSrZBdEXg8dDlvA83ZUNMex9ht7-fg38NMMUc5NOO1HwWEIAwyUwyDYpFOgbCIs6j30Cf11Om2KKb9jpvX-BFZjD5JE567d1-jyx9PaQ2x43zJ884mTCOuCDZxaFULlhM906IP00QuXJ5Y7R5nnFEzqQiw/s4032/IMG_5022.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfh9rwTxqomt-s9CAsGEpLyLV6jp0rC21KVSrZBdEXg8dDlvA83ZUNMex9ht7-fg38NMMUc5NOO1HwWEIAwyUwyDYpFOgbCIs6j30Cf11Om2KKb9jpvX-BFZjD5JE567d1-jyx9PaQ2x43zJ884mTCOuCDZxaFULlhM906IP00QuXJ5Y7R5nnFEzqQiw/w480-h640/IMG_5022.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More arisaemas hiding among the ferns. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl26S79sUbVuZ9yva4XKr_QBEoBvQR3DQLwvZsfpuWIf9bialYQhVdmAkBgARlQNw5PMlXYt2V2SRe_D5dpspidDtYEy3dh3Htkb_H87kIY4yvUjI8nLcN4layt48N94bubtWkwv_9hWoFqQNo4qM1dksyCDX594DoMVRnxaIVPbGi8kE178cJ3SHVfTk/s4032/IMG_5023.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl26S79sUbVuZ9yva4XKr_QBEoBvQR3DQLwvZsfpuWIf9bialYQhVdmAkBgARlQNw5PMlXYt2V2SRe_D5dpspidDtYEy3dh3Htkb_H87kIY4yvUjI8nLcN4layt48N94bubtWkwv_9hWoFqQNo4qM1dksyCDX594DoMVRnxaIVPbGi8kE178cJ3SHVfTk/w480-h640/IMG_5023.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm guessing a Ligularia but maybe something else entirely</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-GcECmDXzBwWBQCp_CoEO4BntHJnbrosAOz_0XEnhGMHoWjvjlrHQ0VNOTkMJGJoFj5WXrRKEJjUnuJQP7daq0TZUOQn5gIueR0-FCzVctlWRAKgdSMD9tPjoR8Hzf5ZvIpt4tauDP_Nm1XKdtxRBT5KQk3yOkNjSErQhBG9-QH4t1Y56-fRpjP-mr0/s4032/IMG_5024.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-GcECmDXzBwWBQCp_CoEO4BntHJnbrosAOz_0XEnhGMHoWjvjlrHQ0VNOTkMJGJoFj5WXrRKEJjUnuJQP7daq0TZUOQn5gIueR0-FCzVctlWRAKgdSMD9tPjoR8Hzf5ZvIpt4tauDP_Nm1XKdtxRBT5KQk3yOkNjSErQhBG9-QH4t1Y56-fRpjP-mr0/w480-h640/IMG_5024.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A cute little Disporum I think along with many other botanical mysteries</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzR9aBjSuvyayiEk3jpYiO_jc062hfGttIuZaC25Uykl7gi-OCU3gvMEtEabFnhfDBA5dyOLduSGhoKsHlJ202WMC93jhQXvWKy2mAbIs-Ij0w1wjIlLHgaj8zF04UXUdlJImihc-_4bjlvlc8wcdUKX7uRgz1DLZxsXVq47lO_AibbSpCbetSfyjy1o/s4032/IMG_5025.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzR9aBjSuvyayiEk3jpYiO_jc062hfGttIuZaC25Uykl7gi-OCU3gvMEtEabFnhfDBA5dyOLduSGhoKsHlJ202WMC93jhQXvWKy2mAbIs-Ij0w1wjIlLHgaj8zF04UXUdlJImihc-_4bjlvlc8wcdUKX7uRgz1DLZxsXVq47lO_AibbSpCbetSfyjy1o/w480-h640/IMG_5025.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sorbus species also grew with the rhododendrons</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIj93c0VFS34mmCVuoJiKznmJUIe2Iep4Lx1qLU7jvq2h7lOzWTvTWxe8PvMn16AbWHmjPVFP4w24XNIdcwT-ZqUD2ngqKIvkf-Qs1Qj00bKTCXC4nwxANI27LQ2Z4U8R8jH0oO_4rUp9BDYmljotEdBIDT2Lvf20_O_BYuRbbxLckB4dPKW-0Ms9gjd4/s4032/IMG_5026.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIj93c0VFS34mmCVuoJiKznmJUIe2Iep4Lx1qLU7jvq2h7lOzWTvTWxe8PvMn16AbWHmjPVFP4w24XNIdcwT-ZqUD2ngqKIvkf-Qs1Qj00bKTCXC4nwxANI27LQ2Z4U8R8jH0oO_4rUp9BDYmljotEdBIDT2Lvf20_O_BYuRbbxLckB4dPKW-0Ms9gjd4/w480-h640/IMG_5026.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The sorbus fruits must be a quite pretty red when fully ripe and most sorbus also have nice fall foliage color</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYNQlhtTdtD5l70b3KyMAho1rFjr7UrUX4BOoGKqLYaLosWA8E6Za23FHmldRTgo8S2jV6oQCNM20CTiZYWcp2BPMUHqQ36hPCzwTtptbXM3mtyfODK3uMm__GXZ0TaDitmUZnJROHuG9kRPTpqt_066CW-doFG4dAB3tATM0blI11TUsGmBUGpGJvXs/s4032/IMG_5029.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYNQlhtTdtD5l70b3KyMAho1rFjr7UrUX4BOoGKqLYaLosWA8E6Za23FHmldRTgo8S2jV6oQCNM20CTiZYWcp2BPMUHqQ36hPCzwTtptbXM3mtyfODK3uMm__GXZ0TaDitmUZnJROHuG9kRPTpqt_066CW-doFG4dAB3tATM0blI11TUsGmBUGpGJvXs/w480-h640/IMG_5029.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm guessing its a gentiana species of some sort, probably not one of the prettiest ones</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QaIB8GD8VEXwvQAfHVmnH4hnwFIFxtqvKzmce9Q9dvxF1zW-LjrXNWcYiZkhVwYDrQTGKCGyJTLicBCguTsJNY5CWfw75Do2qyhPqhq3LN_1PBWPROAMvzQ_oiWNNYxDTfUoQqnXTvHVpom8PoH0RnY3SzoSWWF4dnW9yvobVQNl2YUtSoZemdhzU3Y/s4032/IMG_5035.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QaIB8GD8VEXwvQAfHVmnH4hnwFIFxtqvKzmce9Q9dvxF1zW-LjrXNWcYiZkhVwYDrQTGKCGyJTLicBCguTsJNY5CWfw75Do2qyhPqhq3LN_1PBWPROAMvzQ_oiWNNYxDTfUoQqnXTvHVpom8PoH0RnY3SzoSWWF4dnW9yvobVQNl2YUtSoZemdhzU3Y/w480-h640/IMG_5035.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The persicaria or polygonatum species can look quite beautiful in a mass</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1CU-A2WH1TqFkeHcScOKlc3FVzRfpT4PWQfDEWoTK2ksWeEuvQkv65nENdAPE2I77m4fPTayDNzizrLIDN0H3T7r2HXq8_GdPfk5OPgYGkYmWdmXIV2GlgfbkzHUzAfc7mneJ4uKwdbwG77PrTQnJeNCIE8Wpvy0YLm-2stGYAqjWPuJ-khq-oa88qg/s4032/IMG_5038.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1CU-A2WH1TqFkeHcScOKlc3FVzRfpT4PWQfDEWoTK2ksWeEuvQkv65nENdAPE2I77m4fPTayDNzizrLIDN0H3T7r2HXq8_GdPfk5OPgYGkYmWdmXIV2GlgfbkzHUzAfc7mneJ4uKwdbwG77PrTQnJeNCIE8Wpvy0YLm-2stGYAqjWPuJ-khq-oa88qg/w480-h640/IMG_5038.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Saxifraga species most likely</div>\<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkk6__zJzwHYjr_YkfMH4BE6KW2Ds9Vv717MZAX20NOQYUX8GCn4_cpH__k9XaaFsg7a2s6tdQCgkdRi9waD5oAXDRh_V4O8CGbB9JgSDLfsoy4L-6US1AlGcLbQLMmV4wTw85kVIZ7-o0VAVwO2usQK34wrhc5n4KxSjQHZjhew0WTXe1HpqlW_NldqY/s4032/IMG_5040.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkk6__zJzwHYjr_YkfMH4BE6KW2Ds9Vv717MZAX20NOQYUX8GCn4_cpH__k9XaaFsg7a2s6tdQCgkdRi9waD5oAXDRh_V4O8CGbB9JgSDLfsoy4L-6US1AlGcLbQLMmV4wTw85kVIZ7-o0VAVwO2usQK34wrhc5n4KxSjQHZjhew0WTXe1HpqlW_NldqY/w480-h640/IMG_5040.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The mini valley we next decided to explore. In South Africa it would be a mini kloof. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-UeYWmGcCSgarIpLi8l9oAARN1RjJVpuuCW9_QlbhfqB2ISC7b7MrPCtKPk0WCGX7AkBs22l8m8k_hdC24pVXm0XE8o13To212tzl9sV9PPdf5vGWV1p44WIWySYEipR2OtLz9Imyu7WHFeCZF9ky9NDtsgJa4WfGXhpxJPdUPU2LXL3Hm3-BLLGgpU/s4032/IMG_5042.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-UeYWmGcCSgarIpLi8l9oAARN1RjJVpuuCW9_QlbhfqB2ISC7b7MrPCtKPk0WCGX7AkBs22l8m8k_hdC24pVXm0XE8o13To212tzl9sV9PPdf5vGWV1p44WIWySYEipR2OtLz9Imyu7WHFeCZF9ky9NDtsgJa4WfGXhpxJPdUPU2LXL3Hm3-BLLGgpU/w480-h640/IMG_5042.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Awesome tiny things, maybe a species of Saxifraga?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNvPStWLL5y-aR_7OklFDh7MWddX0kWHGzbWujUQYRxkTbK1I2aXpxPofBS8_4SQYaJkptsycFUjNRak-TRzI4V0wR44encL4VtUjh3ML2Zco7iqWRuVQwK6iREso_A9yq6nX9giRys0j0L5pfeBV11LEmIPwVvNV5PVdPe3N8ejmxrqYVd9zMmoZOOw/s4032/IMG_5045.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNvPStWLL5y-aR_7OklFDh7MWddX0kWHGzbWujUQYRxkTbK1I2aXpxPofBS8_4SQYaJkptsycFUjNRak-TRzI4V0wR44encL4VtUjh3ML2Zco7iqWRuVQwK6iREso_A9yq6nX9giRys0j0L5pfeBV11LEmIPwVvNV5PVdPe3N8ejmxrqYVd9zMmoZOOw/w480-h640/IMG_5045.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This yellow saxifraga has cute tiny red spots on the petals</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhSMD7-Cai1o5bf8ugX-KTCVQ3F6ioPoy3lOlqiqLseojnBnMUh-Ai1_AxvMcdol0QC5BelLzvIWGP58i5Uz_74fECkvobPaEPI51COV8sFE3eKZl9EXzcZiRgnDsPrtu_1_s_x_BWx4Ogue36X9nsZfB8zP50ZpnmmNTn5BoaVu9eKCnKMBjRD2DWEg/s4032/IMG_5048.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhSMD7-Cai1o5bf8ugX-KTCVQ3F6ioPoy3lOlqiqLseojnBnMUh-Ai1_AxvMcdol0QC5BelLzvIWGP58i5Uz_74fECkvobPaEPI51COV8sFE3eKZl9EXzcZiRgnDsPrtu_1_s_x_BWx4Ogue36X9nsZfB8zP50ZpnmmNTn5BoaVu9eKCnKMBjRD2DWEg/w480-h640/IMG_5048.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Geraniums are found on nearly all continents but China is rich in species</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmO_95ofX2okq_ecMvxvdLKM7PjdjP9T9het2OUY9eg_g6nWjg4VuFKhzFfTiY8EMURyLpBPEX2Ud8uim9x9t9_xiHLLqTnBfA3q-oHv4mCu_BqqD4drNvhlB2I11y8441kDpI1OItDPqb5N_B8haQ3BXv9IY344yDPnbJlfuGL6qp2CMRbYT6Qv0Mvy4/s4032/IMG_5049.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmO_95ofX2okq_ecMvxvdLKM7PjdjP9T9het2OUY9eg_g6nWjg4VuFKhzFfTiY8EMURyLpBPEX2Ud8uim9x9t9_xiHLLqTnBfA3q-oHv4mCu_BqqD4drNvhlB2I11y8441kDpI1OItDPqb5N_B8haQ3BXv9IY344yDPnbJlfuGL6qp2CMRbYT6Qv0Mvy4/w480-h640/IMG_5049.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This aconitum doesnt win an award for flower color but was interesting nonetheless</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZzmzu9XiZE9ZBeEFgSF1bJKAQ3fFXr5SfW51RE2Q91UazQbKqqxiJylHkpK2uTNMp4rWXx5J_l9AGsOeaoAE64Nid-TbnBdSLKVFtcolCk_PXZyF2IUdglqLe47Xmh0SYuzyexj9A-n1Zd4Dj98lTMCOghkUZYeNXZAN3PYBfv2WFQb2vFYwnbzGMtM/s4032/IMG_5050.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZzmzu9XiZE9ZBeEFgSF1bJKAQ3fFXr5SfW51RE2Q91UazQbKqqxiJylHkpK2uTNMp4rWXx5J_l9AGsOeaoAE64Nid-TbnBdSLKVFtcolCk_PXZyF2IUdglqLe47Xmh0SYuzyexj9A-n1Zd4Dj98lTMCOghkUZYeNXZAN3PYBfv2WFQb2vFYwnbzGMtM/w480-h640/IMG_5050.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Geranium sp foliage</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07C9FSwcKSZEwLLHOu0rTA1pCFVwr-hZF06Znn2DABC_6tcE88tJ8q8Zz_wGCEi9rF-sYasxCFVjuDN3Iwsuk6fpyH5fk_4iU8i_rbVaxuLwnpK1yMaOClpySyyHKa1UgLq6e3h3Mqv4npSVHHciAHTdJfBfe2aA5N1FZNSmssEfTUymdfpbR0pDfP_k/s4032/IMG_5051.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07C9FSwcKSZEwLLHOu0rTA1pCFVwr-hZF06Znn2DABC_6tcE88tJ8q8Zz_wGCEi9rF-sYasxCFVjuDN3Iwsuk6fpyH5fk_4iU8i_rbVaxuLwnpK1yMaOClpySyyHKa1UgLq6e3h3Mqv4npSVHHciAHTdJfBfe2aA5N1FZNSmssEfTUymdfpbR0pDfP_k/w480-h640/IMG_5051.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Primula in seed with friends</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4UamnJnnU4QKlEKcC48Xtr9ZwXZMrG9CwbFsADBSB9dg9boOW4mpevtM-VHINlwtISl_dZRIMddVMt0jHG9EWCqII51Uvmf_2oFMKTK4mfAU0hyPvD__CfMhjYtHACH2fK7UIw44FO5vpJspW2o5QGVNhk8o4T9C1cxz7gmQaoNfqNzTYtNY9d3hNSs/s4032/IMG_5055.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4UamnJnnU4QKlEKcC48Xtr9ZwXZMrG9CwbFsADBSB9dg9boOW4mpevtM-VHINlwtISl_dZRIMddVMt0jHG9EWCqII51Uvmf_2oFMKTK4mfAU0hyPvD__CfMhjYtHACH2fK7UIw44FO5vpJspW2o5QGVNhk8o4T9C1cxz7gmQaoNfqNzTYtNY9d3hNSs/w480-h640/IMG_5055.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The nodding flowers of Geranium sp. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvXGZW-PoLI0gjGQcQTU5lEpfGc20sv2FPkrxwtCy7KIsr0ViQpwuTcqBs7BdtnF_A0AW7dsgs8evYPcHT5aCdnCxSdoCMb54yZ2LefK6hXldzP2Qx7PacN2LPa11VGIz4V0vrNY6zCv5mNAATKXIkmpMfsXzle9a9Sp-g_WvAPCampqdHDN46cXCgwc/s4032/IMG_5056.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvXGZW-PoLI0gjGQcQTU5lEpfGc20sv2FPkrxwtCy7KIsr0ViQpwuTcqBs7BdtnF_A0AW7dsgs8evYPcHT5aCdnCxSdoCMb54yZ2LefK6hXldzP2Qx7PacN2LPa11VGIz4V0vrNY6zCv5mNAATKXIkmpMfsXzle9a9Sp-g_WvAPCampqdHDN46cXCgwc/w480-h640/IMG_5056.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An astilbe or aruncus species? </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0HMWoEMoAAgGGok9DJQbvvFMs8njpfDZXwSR39J7SwRvTErJg2JErxdJdCNclcZOOjUUyZlipyw1pPTlu7Ni9kOemDLXda1Vj9JIAQGCiBz4of_3pgtyOTBdH-ubYYZkAkDwpjSpSvHDJPmkgFWqjRnY1v2IiGkf3wktohUL9LGLhf3lARCDTeuTTOQ/s4032/IMG_5060.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0HMWoEMoAAgGGok9DJQbvvFMs8njpfDZXwSR39J7SwRvTErJg2JErxdJdCNclcZOOjUUyZlipyw1pPTlu7Ni9kOemDLXda1Vj9JIAQGCiBz4of_3pgtyOTBdH-ubYYZkAkDwpjSpSvHDJPmkgFWqjRnY1v2IiGkf3wktohUL9LGLhf3lARCDTeuTTOQ/w480-h640/IMG_5060.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maianthemum species? </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgi0BBoKrisn54bvms9aemVPtVBc0UHhyphenhyphenJtoyURhWRu4tcoozVpLrfocCkpbq8OG5j8XVRI2q3ViVTuB1ogsryyEtntZRvTEl34qqGZoSq_rv4S2atHqYK1DhSJJsqM0zFbwpOdjU22e8U3JvYi4gzTgPya25LKqDqkak6hMPj7BB2cq1cRiivVLWCUk4/s4032/IMG_5061.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgi0BBoKrisn54bvms9aemVPtVBc0UHhyphenhyphenJtoyURhWRu4tcoozVpLrfocCkpbq8OG5j8XVRI2q3ViVTuB1ogsryyEtntZRvTEl34qqGZoSq_rv4S2atHqYK1DhSJJsqM0zFbwpOdjU22e8U3JvYi4gzTgPya25LKqDqkak6hMPj7BB2cq1cRiivVLWCUk4/w480-h640/IMG_5061.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of a couple of sedges I saw in China with ornamental flowers, a rarity in the family</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2B_uUjfePpFnOJMWUbOwtStk_Vby9GC53UzhOwQei1mdGw4F6Lw22ppHc_cSE78rhaW2KO3OHXZkRmSTtawHVK3-sUl9yYWZUeJF2sEbpwXTb-Y1nbE9v3scrwD305JDxJ76gbFQRlAue4ZjYk1VTBuGm9wZwwDgZM8RK3j5u2WledV8O7NUAN2VDf24/s4032/IMG_5068.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2B_uUjfePpFnOJMWUbOwtStk_Vby9GC53UzhOwQei1mdGw4F6Lw22ppHc_cSE78rhaW2KO3OHXZkRmSTtawHVK3-sUl9yYWZUeJF2sEbpwXTb-Y1nbE9v3scrwD305JDxJ76gbFQRlAue4ZjYk1VTBuGm9wZwwDgZM8RK3j5u2WledV8O7NUAN2VDf24/w480-h640/IMG_5068.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Melanoseris species</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVh_8bJhfGE8LjOCcwTy1K2hQCp9Byd6eRFmw5Eetbn_5z6hKqL0sSySpwSsl0Yi77Od6iS19qfhkYcTff134nWdHKD4pZpvubUs_hxfjx6C6Q1V5iWFayg0MjDQKvsV5Jqpbu70H4e5Tky7wtNHh5uVGPdqJlMyE6gpeMm-U2d9n7Omp_0Pw9Bix6eEM/s4032/IMG_5070.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVh_8bJhfGE8LjOCcwTy1K2hQCp9Byd6eRFmw5Eetbn_5z6hKqL0sSySpwSsl0Yi77Od6iS19qfhkYcTff134nWdHKD4pZpvubUs_hxfjx6C6Q1V5iWFayg0MjDQKvsV5Jqpbu70H4e5Tky7wtNHh5uVGPdqJlMyE6gpeMm-U2d9n7Omp_0Pw9Bix6eEM/w480-h640/IMG_5070.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A closer view </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivc2XEngv8wraGtcEx1z6P5pUaUFM4GrciarnfO4AphtWUiTRFtZzxUrrUujYluBzZP1Diz3gsb7Q0zN5F7JeBORUaoaQ_nCQ-3CEbIKUT3jsG8iSYF6wpPT5W6Z08967unZqJq6BvOTImdu4h8iPyxbsesSjNRNjEAzKo2FPIAs15V0RZxPvfN5iwlxo/s4032/IMG_5073.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivc2XEngv8wraGtcEx1z6P5pUaUFM4GrciarnfO4AphtWUiTRFtZzxUrrUujYluBzZP1Diz3gsb7Q0zN5F7JeBORUaoaQ_nCQ-3CEbIKUT3jsG8iSYF6wpPT5W6Z08967unZqJq6BvOTImdu4h8iPyxbsesSjNRNjEAzKo2FPIAs15V0RZxPvfN5iwlxo/w480-h640/IMG_5073.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even at this height there are roses</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYskYluesyHD6nKqxx2mzY_7AAI5An_3XErQ1oz8dNkmZfTdjBc6_oeIC-U9uHtFsxm-GmSHCzrWSJgA8xB1IadzurdVOj6sBJiVtZr697G2ObG0hF6IQpaJkiAaQUenkQLDODgtLCz99hmsbmlKvCKrA4wAiLaSq31mBisaC6WmEkUKDLFMCQao_Bc18/s4032/IMG_5074.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYskYluesyHD6nKqxx2mzY_7AAI5An_3XErQ1oz8dNkmZfTdjBc6_oeIC-U9uHtFsxm-GmSHCzrWSJgA8xB1IadzurdVOj6sBJiVtZr697G2ObG0hF6IQpaJkiAaQUenkQLDODgtLCz99hmsbmlKvCKrA4wAiLaSq31mBisaC6WmEkUKDLFMCQao_Bc18/w480-h640/IMG_5074.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That pretty yellow saxifrage again</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZJy-4KnA2-ugxalK832sk4n536xcbEe5iL9C-y3mgX4dKtOMhHEXXL-FJY1QRT98MIRr4ED3y4OqH4rnLPBMo3xgLT8iI0-FgAZTImP6L4csHsDNMMoAhbK47m-CcIV4bc02f9ne1TGdEUiR5-FVaBzguXENjTu-3ev8CVIFLT3BUWba011sbCRI5S8/s4032/IMG_5078.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZJy-4KnA2-ugxalK832sk4n536xcbEe5iL9C-y3mgX4dKtOMhHEXXL-FJY1QRT98MIRr4ED3y4OqH4rnLPBMo3xgLT8iI0-FgAZTImP6L4csHsDNMMoAhbK47m-CcIV4bc02f9ne1TGdEUiR5-FVaBzguXENjTu-3ev8CVIFLT3BUWba011sbCRI5S8/w480-h640/IMG_5078.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Either a species of Trollius or Caltha in seed</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzbEZtNQ65Yc1rN61eEftxuchyiXQ9ywYkxlvuriYtiijowzMc8Ryyj9n3GvnSj6uGjE5OFniSTBgItY0MfNbLrwE8fJOYTZUxxu0Or2Qq95J0xIKpK0sbYOnAfmXJCYfg7q1r_H_Hk3WC2IMalBYeYi1ELDzrebEQMzv6qXvCXsKFAWPzmhuSanOMsE/s4032/IMG_5080.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzbEZtNQ65Yc1rN61eEftxuchyiXQ9ywYkxlvuriYtiijowzMc8Ryyj9n3GvnSj6uGjE5OFniSTBgItY0MfNbLrwE8fJOYTZUxxu0Or2Qq95J0xIKpK0sbYOnAfmXJCYfg7q1r_H_Hk3WC2IMalBYeYi1ELDzrebEQMzv6qXvCXsKFAWPzmhuSanOMsE/w480-h640/IMG_5080.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More yellow Corydalis sp. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDs4RLzmwaU0e4USZyHDgxeufelcGycBu0QjJewBI6cfgnwd3aORhg7DWQSjXJ7451a-WSKpoAsYDGOiXjnFCnE16Eizeua7mRs3F9UzJ9_5SM87m3MZkTwpaSWra8f5zEwNAkGyaavbD1LXKZ4szfy7qgwZ7_mv1xXZGh23RAk-yY1uPQGsqbaOHQyk/s4032/IMG_5082.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDs4RLzmwaU0e4USZyHDgxeufelcGycBu0QjJewBI6cfgnwd3aORhg7DWQSjXJ7451a-WSKpoAsYDGOiXjnFCnE16Eizeua7mRs3F9UzJ9_5SM87m3MZkTwpaSWra8f5zEwNAkGyaavbD1LXKZ4szfy7qgwZ7_mv1xXZGh23RAk-yY1uPQGsqbaOHQyk/w480-h640/IMG_5082.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwmLSIqCoIK-S_CKB-ikZy3dsO_Fkt8OsDpcpuzKhPYP1Nx0FZGTFKESUahjf4Vl_RwbVdg2eOSTSi1rengt4xapUKEg9T3f4GCbGCAPaur4hnlC65irLDfwsIG_Q2QMZeFVMyUADiXTdpaRbD_NMrdqykZtN24olEbSjJXv0rrgcP_AB2Y-X01zNxWQ/s4032/IMG_5086.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwmLSIqCoIK-S_CKB-ikZy3dsO_Fkt8OsDpcpuzKhPYP1Nx0FZGTFKESUahjf4Vl_RwbVdg2eOSTSi1rengt4xapUKEg9T3f4GCbGCAPaur4hnlC65irLDfwsIG_Q2QMZeFVMyUADiXTdpaRbD_NMrdqykZtN24olEbSjJXv0rrgcP_AB2Y-X01zNxWQ/w480-h640/IMG_5086.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A crucifer, probably Cardamine, in seed. The Chinese species tend to be much showier in flower than our small white flowered woodland species here in the USA</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUA5OPnKczpEONnOKv2KAIdh1tXpNDzRjRpfqltkgDq9V283DKqZuuE8_TMoLDlmVRLc3blog-FSgDWFPDN0CrYdEcBnwJ9HeTk5YxC07MDbxHPwlxYiQ7z5OX4G5fpnHr9A5nvVhUVh41jHU4IMdIl838RG-h3vBiGayW9OrM-DMRQyiqVB7T84_b3E/s4032/IMG_5088.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUA5OPnKczpEONnOKv2KAIdh1tXpNDzRjRpfqltkgDq9V283DKqZuuE8_TMoLDlmVRLc3blog-FSgDWFPDN0CrYdEcBnwJ9HeTk5YxC07MDbxHPwlxYiQ7z5OX4G5fpnHr9A5nvVhUVh41jHU4IMdIl838RG-h3vBiGayW9OrM-DMRQyiqVB7T84_b3E/w480-h640/IMG_5088.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The holy grail, an actual meconopsis in the wild!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVn_LK99voAgpd2iSGn5WhlUcpA6u8yS3-MGz86r-iIiO4jS_TQapcKiE9411TVGK1qhYuwHrI_Q3sea7G8BEzkrEi7DsoqrgO2raTRyAnnOG-h9jWMsx_ZVD6lbtjxb7iykPqsiJF30CDGMk9XT0AAzmxFdDKVw5KoVVjA931-uWF7i6jClaLx437faI/s4032/IMG_5091.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVn_LK99voAgpd2iSGn5WhlUcpA6u8yS3-MGz86r-iIiO4jS_TQapcKiE9411TVGK1qhYuwHrI_Q3sea7G8BEzkrEi7DsoqrgO2raTRyAnnOG-h9jWMsx_ZVD6lbtjxb7iykPqsiJF30CDGMk9XT0AAzmxFdDKVw5KoVVjA931-uWF7i6jClaLx437faI/w480-h640/IMG_5091.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yijia found this enormous and stunning Apiaceae. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEec7VT2A082SIqfcJeNG3MCaU_5LhvQFwC6We1wRKWDIB4CLJxvrYQcUETn-krE4-gws9fMZi2bmYSEVy183ZP04KK5IiYv86nT5rK4YOjb8N9qj2EEXxBow0Ll2P3vLMJYJPeRrT9tt5YSgne-mQcccT0wQzSdzMOLR7ZJ5SrcEAfXnyA91-VVwOC6U/s4032/IMG_5092.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEec7VT2A082SIqfcJeNG3MCaU_5LhvQFwC6We1wRKWDIB4CLJxvrYQcUETn-krE4-gws9fMZi2bmYSEVy183ZP04KK5IiYv86nT5rK4YOjb8N9qj2EEXxBow0Ll2P3vLMJYJPeRrT9tt5YSgne-mQcccT0wQzSdzMOLR7ZJ5SrcEAfXnyA91-VVwOC6U/w480-h640/IMG_5092.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsfF2_GYfKR-xEGbDKKq8Jn2Hbp9r-HXHSly9Y7x0vTQquVUF5STjwJ-fApVmhngbM5E6kRvEohOsJe7t4X_AhkF9OP4TAkfP_f-oWXJSNBjTMJERsAzGMvmScGnOfkKwVVI2xIi41tr8QGxI8ZJaZpLzcDha5TDGw_XVyw8VJwel_l0XeFba3mBdyBg/s4032/IMG_5094.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsfF2_GYfKR-xEGbDKKq8Jn2Hbp9r-HXHSly9Y7x0vTQquVUF5STjwJ-fApVmhngbM5E6kRvEohOsJe7t4X_AhkF9OP4TAkfP_f-oWXJSNBjTMJERsAzGMvmScGnOfkKwVVI2xIi41tr8QGxI8ZJaZpLzcDha5TDGw_XVyw8VJwel_l0XeFba3mBdyBg/w480-h640/IMG_5094.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were a few fresh flowers among the masses of Trollius/Caltha species</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiec74tmTEUnvUEMPzyxKRZBt0Mxug0BXgLqQxGzf_09c4kQJtIikQQqGZYJiGJBRQpEurDoOWyeKTBYaa2W97mYAqzoojKR55ZcJt5_RT6HanE_Sb4qMbQ0RewpITOkk0NWAsbvjwK5aOUkW6BtpDKJoVtLRsi3Sf6vIk3hpv3kBs3LSF8Ht4p0_7Y7cA/s4032/IMG_5097.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiec74tmTEUnvUEMPzyxKRZBt0Mxug0BXgLqQxGzf_09c4kQJtIikQQqGZYJiGJBRQpEurDoOWyeKTBYaa2W97mYAqzoojKR55ZcJt5_RT6HanE_Sb4qMbQ0RewpITOkk0NWAsbvjwK5aOUkW6BtpDKJoVtLRsi3Sf6vIk3hpv3kBs3LSF8Ht4p0_7Y7cA/w480-h640/IMG_5097.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rubus or raspberries are also very diverse in China</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDllEZ4V4bAsLah057nmeSeZDpmWgOTaYoTpGOEu_bqdSg8Zt6R9tDtoq2S7FbJ2F_UvuhnZAcTEHy4HbnxkYPRh7T8kY-_TKACT4wUVtNYg_drbP6YU4DhQ8ie048xm3Lq7YObYeDof-DP1G9_T3WU61bITZFQLZKvWy1RFmS4fxRiHvzi8b0o_9ibs/s4032/IMG_5099.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDllEZ4V4bAsLah057nmeSeZDpmWgOTaYoTpGOEu_bqdSg8Zt6R9tDtoq2S7FbJ2F_UvuhnZAcTEHy4HbnxkYPRh7T8kY-_TKACT4wUVtNYg_drbP6YU4DhQ8ie048xm3Lq7YObYeDof-DP1G9_T3WU61bITZFQLZKvWy1RFmS4fxRiHvzi8b0o_9ibs/w480-h640/IMG_5099.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Geranium species with masses of not quite ripe seed</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1C54HoycFki9ml2o_Ccm64aSxPlQ6vcMeZVbalR9UWxSWzgTA3dg8q7IccCwtY7VP4aB91QkPzq_ZjWehfnzLOba85Mi54hKwNAZWWenxdtpgbHlYZ5j0rVTft00-OPZlD27Rb8mloPvqwAloNd7B32H-Ln4RB1KUxHtPdxhlHqB8vEvldI6HdEWy-jA/s4032/IMG_5102.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1C54HoycFki9ml2o_Ccm64aSxPlQ6vcMeZVbalR9UWxSWzgTA3dg8q7IccCwtY7VP4aB91QkPzq_ZjWehfnzLOba85Mi54hKwNAZWWenxdtpgbHlYZ5j0rVTft00-OPZlD27Rb8mloPvqwAloNd7B32H-Ln4RB1KUxHtPdxhlHqB8vEvldI6HdEWy-jA/w480-h640/IMG_5102.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So much going on in this little patch. </div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYM8sD4qVu0BzBX6SiHmueeJAc2a02QxMNMbV5agg4I3PIQ6Xh51E5_4JHR-p27jyzrzGDlbiKNRIX9oHZ3IprR9YfB-yWyMXiyVNlFtMIAIGzPb4oFVsi9wLE8XTazJ2PMdTYQpS3tDk_0QsAXc3t6y-LmHBXOPfezTgp9n58uHzr9DccOiyiPFmUSk/s4032/IMG_5103.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYM8sD4qVu0BzBX6SiHmueeJAc2a02QxMNMbV5agg4I3PIQ6Xh51E5_4JHR-p27jyzrzGDlbiKNRIX9oHZ3IprR9YfB-yWyMXiyVNlFtMIAIGzPb4oFVsi9wLE8XTazJ2PMdTYQpS3tDk_0QsAXc3t6y-LmHBXOPfezTgp9n58uHzr9DccOiyiPFmUSk/w480-h640/IMG_5103.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A dwarf rhododendron? Nice habit whatever it is. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjucY2PZdO3H-i2LnpTZ1mcRjIXkPyYMOaRwxhnRoElFvigj_7rjyROoY3lZQM5pGhUbqVUPrOG-uda3IH0sUhu7myJExA-vWgULs5jbvw6wwG_uweHZ_-d06zYie1iF81k0T3AHiy0nUWvrF1Oe0GsfuzqwS015Ns2o8dwAWgaz1wIs_dDeMB2Ew-BqA/s4032/IMG_5105.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjucY2PZdO3H-i2LnpTZ1mcRjIXkPyYMOaRwxhnRoElFvigj_7rjyROoY3lZQM5pGhUbqVUPrOG-uda3IH0sUhu7myJExA-vWgULs5jbvw6wwG_uweHZ_-d06zYie1iF81k0T3AHiy0nUWvrF1Oe0GsfuzqwS015Ns2o8dwAWgaz1wIs_dDeMB2Ew-BqA/w480-h640/IMG_5105.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A less exciting but still impressive Apiaceae</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLABlFFNy_Gs2E5TWUTtZ2CSfTVU1pstwBmXvtPKEJWOcqgV4UCjTzV0NNHGlF1T9bfI9GF4rHqPWks8hU5Xt3kqE047IKp40njKy8UaNA1YY11w93XpsmH2IX6yme3q2zHl9z2Z9hJUpYjtuzOl041daNJqehN2haXN6_sazsFRzFzWPY2bxbq76a2g/s4032/IMG_5106.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLABlFFNy_Gs2E5TWUTtZ2CSfTVU1pstwBmXvtPKEJWOcqgV4UCjTzV0NNHGlF1T9bfI9GF4rHqPWks8hU5Xt3kqE047IKp40njKy8UaNA1YY11w93XpsmH2IX6yme3q2zHl9z2Z9hJUpYjtuzOl041daNJqehN2haXN6_sazsFRzFzWPY2bxbq76a2g/s320/IMG_5106.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOIyy8tXSZPltN1pIOdSQo44Ba41IiCWZ1KvVlcx83VbONKBZaSgRz7r8QqjG5lO8kJ5N0n2s_1gspAIUUDc9ZsY9K2c2xyKJzZ8yJ7DYLDYVpfQ0-EgENPEudBEjB4jNl1YZWzzFSOjboQUx9E72tENWohqgTh3WPN6fs_-BcekNHjr1k8Ot5bC8jaI/s4032/IMG_5107.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOIyy8tXSZPltN1pIOdSQo44Ba41IiCWZ1KvVlcx83VbONKBZaSgRz7r8QqjG5lO8kJ5N0n2s_1gspAIUUDc9ZsY9K2c2xyKJzZ8yJ7DYLDYVpfQ0-EgENPEudBEjB4jNl1YZWzzFSOjboQUx9E72tENWohqgTh3WPN6fs_-BcekNHjr1k8Ot5bC8jaI/s320/IMG_5107.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1g4u_YDD_ygIxTCcFzpkUHiVMd_f8-zg4eZlTke-77apXTto4vPQTcay8ScfwIOISbzaOgrku_4ByM5KBi7CSosQ0ezlGaj-1ZL7llcxHQ6bm9yb_R8ak_b2M0WvRsnDYNH-IFWlqtdtK6rPVy17bm-tPfxBBSetrRmxNA2vnwk7IeppWgd3cIaKEwI8/s4032/IMG_5130.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1g4u_YDD_ygIxTCcFzpkUHiVMd_f8-zg4eZlTke-77apXTto4vPQTcay8ScfwIOISbzaOgrku_4ByM5KBi7CSosQ0ezlGaj-1ZL7llcxHQ6bm9yb_R8ak_b2M0WvRsnDYNH-IFWlqtdtK6rPVy17bm-tPfxBBSetrRmxNA2vnwk7IeppWgd3cIaKEwI8/s320/IMG_5130.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHT2Yl1Hsr_cYDCg4_1P6jR1oR0_sBFlIBNvwfuujCw29-wpeB_H_QRJyzV1-N7ZpL0n_e3ZTwrCG4FyoROgghwNzE4wk2Txdd6GIfJbex9B3u5Hj45pbGepTjTgxynEjKLwFKTs-j5R2j-yhapR8O5xUTe2pXUzZcKNQkmu7Zp4u3i9gTxP-e0esui9c/s4032/IMG_5133.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHT2Yl1Hsr_cYDCg4_1P6jR1oR0_sBFlIBNvwfuujCw29-wpeB_H_QRJyzV1-N7ZpL0n_e3ZTwrCG4FyoROgghwNzE4wk2Txdd6GIfJbex9B3u5Hj45pbGepTjTgxynEjKLwFKTs-j5R2j-yhapR8O5xUTe2pXUzZcKNQkmu7Zp4u3i9gTxP-e0esui9c/w480-h640/IMG_5133.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we come back down the mountain a rather scraggly orange raspberry showed up</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFD-HcLD_AQeDASawo44Cjt3OiagkAEv_JAM6IRc_xNIsY3MCZn_fwudu-zWihqc5c74JTjQGRNfgVbiazU-Z2d7lDVfGbxnBohCzoNrnOOt2iulXFlF_j5styu7ZGKZ5Fy1hzJINuI5rZYMZFSfN-EbdJt4ZjzHg2LKZBKuyGGBIyHIb2bsww9ChMGqs/s4032/IMG_5134.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFD-HcLD_AQeDASawo44Cjt3OiagkAEv_JAM6IRc_xNIsY3MCZn_fwudu-zWihqc5c74JTjQGRNfgVbiazU-Z2d7lDVfGbxnBohCzoNrnOOt2iulXFlF_j5styu7ZGKZ5Fy1hzJINuI5rZYMZFSfN-EbdJt4ZjzHg2LKZBKuyGGBIyHIb2bsww9ChMGqs/w480-h640/IMG_5134.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some trees, usually out of reach, were thick with lichens and epiphytes </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYEBzSwKfIUIrf0t5zXitFAshItdYf-exP7dO0-yDnS8kiReAe0yopoRfvlaOWt8wb25dnXwHqjvRk1eO9n4VhABJBTeW02dxIo6czSB5KhPNLqOOeS9tNkRf4zamJMyFprxdtDsJW83uiVfqQglfHIa6yXf1hRKshRpBL2mHxK1D1ObuN0-jCiuapVc/s4032/IMG_5135.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYEBzSwKfIUIrf0t5zXitFAshItdYf-exP7dO0-yDnS8kiReAe0yopoRfvlaOWt8wb25dnXwHqjvRk1eO9n4VhABJBTeW02dxIo6czSB5KhPNLqOOeS9tNkRf4zamJMyFprxdtDsJW83uiVfqQglfHIa6yXf1hRKshRpBL2mHxK1D1ObuN0-jCiuapVc/w480-h640/IMG_5135.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All manner of things were growing in this tree near the edge of a cliff</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKe76zXm4tS-tf1dYqhmNNSs4bXNElb3hUKDbyy8AcGccxuNQ1sFwUA2BeX1Tr1HvYrBOAuDbizj8XC3nIzD40v-fVgt6-fcGAQSW7O9we1t0BbIThtqvwyecr7wi-mYlbDh2fjXRY5_-bT_-Vy3EVdE0-gF4sxIBc9sQmL1-kW4o2vvxEa11WfJQznEI/s4032/IMG_5140.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKe76zXm4tS-tf1dYqhmNNSs4bXNElb3hUKDbyy8AcGccxuNQ1sFwUA2BeX1Tr1HvYrBOAuDbizj8XC3nIzD40v-fVgt6-fcGAQSW7O9we1t0BbIThtqvwyecr7wi-mYlbDh2fjXRY5_-bT_-Vy3EVdE0-gF4sxIBc9sQmL1-kW4o2vvxEa11WfJQznEI/w480-h640/IMG_5140.HEIC" width="480" /></a>\</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anaphalis sp, a white everlasting not dissimilar to some we have here </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2Cy5nd6qesWTuZDHqI7tY91mVRTt3vHbFC13imxr62aI7gTWBNs6ELj5CMnOuFOpHUxBHtLG5pRrVAkNBq5rMM6WaIIgZm0p8BsKykpfqB_gmtIYmJFEPkZNjdBbwEDRHuGjOjlnpZQZWY8BBns2RIsM8kPHdPuUeFkAJXGuwioEAgJRmGFNyflz23o/s4032/IMG_5141.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2Cy5nd6qesWTuZDHqI7tY91mVRTt3vHbFC13imxr62aI7gTWBNs6ELj5CMnOuFOpHUxBHtLG5pRrVAkNBq5rMM6WaIIgZm0p8BsKykpfqB_gmtIYmJFEPkZNjdBbwEDRHuGjOjlnpZQZWY8BBns2RIsM8kPHdPuUeFkAJXGuwioEAgJRmGFNyflz23o/w480-h640/IMG_5141.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More of the small impatiens species, these had darker flowers than the first ones we saw</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCx2pMltY125BbXfA1lgYOVS7vf0eXa8EwELxG3rG5YcHJ7shEyAhQWzekxe4UElHH9BO6KJ3azhc30v9Sp87a1sXbtMwesJLj8D8IwmpSbnY8MeszhqwkHF4a_GnidSnvMxgBu0w1aJ45mRh9Nfk-OuW3T1MMA3vTM_CpUMWEvbVbRVx_86eArqiLdxk/s4032/IMG_5142.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCx2pMltY125BbXfA1lgYOVS7vf0eXa8EwELxG3rG5YcHJ7shEyAhQWzekxe4UElHH9BO6KJ3azhc30v9Sp87a1sXbtMwesJLj8D8IwmpSbnY8MeszhqwkHF4a_GnidSnvMxgBu0w1aJ45mRh9Nfk-OuW3T1MMA3vTM_CpUMWEvbVbRVx_86eArqiLdxk/w480-h640/IMG_5142.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NPIJgyXuXytTR8RKxHfBZaNziDlQ0zAhae3OxCLw17SrnaoNlB2cow5XcBuIxF-55zVldDvMClAfW0OZdngbF0mHgrSwf52b3p0uNefwDuxxR_5YZQOLP6KPASWqAlV4rnreL9_8QM75fX4tQJJHxv_aPEBXrFU6ewckOdSk06eJcIDBlXFYdoD54uo/s4032/IMG_5144.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NPIJgyXuXytTR8RKxHfBZaNziDlQ0zAhae3OxCLw17SrnaoNlB2cow5XcBuIxF-55zVldDvMClAfW0OZdngbF0mHgrSwf52b3p0uNefwDuxxR_5YZQOLP6KPASWqAlV4rnreL9_8QM75fX4tQJJHxv_aPEBXrFU6ewckOdSk06eJcIDBlXFYdoD54uo/w480-h640/IMG_5144.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hypericum is an ubiquitous genus in China, they are nearly everywhere that is still wild</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfKykfugTdLhKrF-Ym-Wh_dbhiQGOnax5HN6c7dO5QutOdFcbCjSB_XHEGrfSG0LoAJeU2geXEExr6XjIxIvZfnLlVVcLRFI0i_I0yciUznusJk0KrgOrmHfwxoEEXb_pFQb5Adn5-XgI40D8heZe_AKIiKub1pMn0tzgLbBkFjfZXOT8L3OAIhRMFZQ/s4032/IMG_5146.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfKykfugTdLhKrF-Ym-Wh_dbhiQGOnax5HN6c7dO5QutOdFcbCjSB_XHEGrfSG0LoAJeU2geXEExr6XjIxIvZfnLlVVcLRFI0i_I0yciUznusJk0KrgOrmHfwxoEEXb_pFQb5Adn5-XgI40D8heZe_AKIiKub1pMn0tzgLbBkFjfZXOT8L3OAIhRMFZQ/w480-h640/IMG_5146.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before this trip I did not know that Mimulus grew in China. This could easily be mistaken for one of our western US species, and it liked moist areas near creeks.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBy6CFRkNmCLke0Q_VqSGQG6pgr4c7MdYnTvMmxJWf2PoaujKY_Wz5jAXLXaDPd6j4v1wii0doLxPvPh857dRuKgnpa9EqWdz68GMKQquIr0vl_uG8Ply9kMba0A9vUI4jOV6CqAfBWbRq5e_C0gm8OAvwWiF3vffa6-dlkU5GgIf1d9ae24rAChWYE8/s4032/IMG_5148.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBy6CFRkNmCLke0Q_VqSGQG6pgr4c7MdYnTvMmxJWf2PoaujKY_Wz5jAXLXaDPd6j4v1wii0doLxPvPh857dRuKgnpa9EqWdz68GMKQquIr0vl_uG8Ply9kMba0A9vUI4jOV6CqAfBWbRq5e_C0gm8OAvwWiF3vffa6-dlkU5GgIf1d9ae24rAChWYE8/w480-h640/IMG_5148.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Always nice views</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_oG9ltOSXRvsHORumiIKRNCZgBw2YDxhVXT28_vIWoLj_daazuqQL8J7EGOr3N3-oKK3FUkV5sgh5PSw9ofT19aPk2kiATP2vfTs9QJUKMLJd2EQB1iCRoDpd4cF4-9BdAbcSMEdZnx60XSHN64aBt5mihhqIcmWcIH4_c_A7RQzGI4sBv7ELwPYWq4/s4032/IMG_5153.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_oG9ltOSXRvsHORumiIKRNCZgBw2YDxhVXT28_vIWoLj_daazuqQL8J7EGOr3N3-oKK3FUkV5sgh5PSw9ofT19aPk2kiATP2vfTs9QJUKMLJd2EQB1iCRoDpd4cF4-9BdAbcSMEdZnx60XSHN64aBt5mihhqIcmWcIH4_c_A7RQzGI4sBv7ELwPYWq4/w480-h640/IMG_5153.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh look, its another one of those red hipped rose bushes </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSnpMOa9Z7Cp-SGy-1iP6iMfKh305hhBIppkFRMfzfODodIUsPbYcrCHZxAguS-K0_vfxqM4qw4X9lqY0HzYLLZQ1l-uNnxs9Rs4vv3mvut7INZRzgcsZKD-OWOogjDw2OG0KQKI4uRpi2kVyJDaeVmV-mWHInhxsU5Z_GJPThAUYqalZ6vXbzLqiwZ4/s4032/IMG_5159.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSnpMOa9Z7Cp-SGy-1iP6iMfKh305hhBIppkFRMfzfODodIUsPbYcrCHZxAguS-K0_vfxqM4qw4X9lqY0HzYLLZQ1l-uNnxs9Rs4vv3mvut7INZRzgcsZKD-OWOogjDw2OG0KQKI4uRpi2kVyJDaeVmV-mWHInhxsU5Z_GJPThAUYqalZ6vXbzLqiwZ4/w480-h640/IMG_5159.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This little dandelion like species, maybe a Microseris sp, would look fine in a rock garden</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9waBCnRPWlkU2FG7XhC4DHqIGcuc-bL5tT5_H15IIbARRRpCguLCcaxR6Uk6khbewKfXaeqng20HBL-IkREg4gkanV03w6txjUylwk0Oq9eFpkhcTqHpsV35-C_Tbhyphenhyphen6jHapSXSO9EOPhpUHRBo8qgKwpPYITcc1SbY9lB3RDkmYF3IIW7J8CwYkIJM/s4032/IMG_5160.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9waBCnRPWlkU2FG7XhC4DHqIGcuc-bL5tT5_H15IIbARRRpCguLCcaxR6Uk6khbewKfXaeqng20HBL-IkREg4gkanV03w6txjUylwk0Oq9eFpkhcTqHpsV35-C_Tbhyphenhyphen6jHapSXSO9EOPhpUHRBo8qgKwpPYITcc1SbY9lB3RDkmYF3IIW7J8CwYkIJM/w480-h640/IMG_5160.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A large tree lower down not far from where people live had interesting fruits. Perhaps it is a hawthorne or other relative of such or do some sorbus have entire leaves? </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZE79t5GaNSrtUvqlGeypOxPqrYn3VYtTxTJCgrAVs8CjlKJYBfkjmSYIoE1MRKcTIQS9kMz5iDnl4Cpg6D-TZPlPY6sbDfogrrYzzjGyJB9MhT4Mcazll3vAwq-e_0L5vR2pty-6URFB-kY8jGarRIxcf8v9adq3BGzcKdN_z5Sn39LhvbMvUcKdr04/s4032/IMG_5161.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZE79t5GaNSrtUvqlGeypOxPqrYn3VYtTxTJCgrAVs8CjlKJYBfkjmSYIoE1MRKcTIQS9kMz5iDnl4Cpg6D-TZPlPY6sbDfogrrYzzjGyJB9MhT4Mcazll3vAwq-e_0L5vR2pty-6URFB-kY8jGarRIxcf8v9adq3BGzcKdN_z5Sn39LhvbMvUcKdr04/w480-h640/IMG_5161.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fruits of said plant</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4j_4k0rlVdiCY3C2EvPjUC4eSnyr1CYkSeYAHbmE0vKdLatHYewgNnDjlFw8XqSybH8HXjOINwH1MCekdDfKuyzuYVbqPUMLVlsViJlPDrglGR0Iml54YJT7bn5lv0cElBYbWsvnTSDrnVTqgX4f4MC5bOFyPfafV4qET6nLVBs4y6diWqGLluMVPsOI/s4032/IMG_5163.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4j_4k0rlVdiCY3C2EvPjUC4eSnyr1CYkSeYAHbmE0vKdLatHYewgNnDjlFw8XqSybH8HXjOINwH1MCekdDfKuyzuYVbqPUMLVlsViJlPDrglGR0Iml54YJT7bn5lv0cElBYbWsvnTSDrnVTqgX4f4MC5bOFyPfafV4qET6nLVBs4y6diWqGLluMVPsOI/w480-h640/IMG_5163.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A tree which had aeschynanthus among other things growing on it. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinautKWCtjcVFKl26vQXywWfhwtklg9vDr3DFazAttR_TQLxpJ0hAj8GmjGstJqn24WXbcljwhXzVJ5unBTSZf5eVGUWYJmYPE4MpDo2eED7pRGbdDVcVV1Fax41-LXyVPmtBnMsiR8gFl9SE0QcKE20UONXzu034pQSZiklsMNimlKpVGOuX_LU4YXSg/s4032/IMG_5165.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinautKWCtjcVFKl26vQXywWfhwtklg9vDr3DFazAttR_TQLxpJ0hAj8GmjGstJqn24WXbcljwhXzVJ5unBTSZf5eVGUWYJmYPE4MpDo2eED7pRGbdDVcVV1Fax41-LXyVPmtBnMsiR8gFl9SE0QcKE20UONXzu034pQSZiklsMNimlKpVGOuX_LU4YXSg/w480-h640/IMG_5165.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gotta cool the brakes off, luckily the villagers in the area all know each other and are happy to lend a hose for the effort</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQopjNULVzZ0hJ7UCjLulodBIyjrwohyuW459ngA8sbl9XLncG_ZEYWEF4sAbJKxFXUgEdR9xyvTtoyRJiWiozJh91XYVj4RGFZWNUnQFrcsd0LVnVE37c3Mx8IdxjBrNbqoUs-xJFiZwoqjQ8-zaEEPHvwGBJUDkv1EtkPw7rUeVmZ2SD3zuwfK6z24/s4032/IMG_5170.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQopjNULVzZ0hJ7UCjLulodBIyjrwohyuW459ngA8sbl9XLncG_ZEYWEF4sAbJKxFXUgEdR9xyvTtoyRJiWiozJh91XYVj4RGFZWNUnQFrcsd0LVnVE37c3Mx8IdxjBrNbqoUs-xJFiZwoqjQ8-zaEEPHvwGBJUDkv1EtkPw7rUeVmZ2SD3zuwfK6z24/w480-h640/IMG_5170.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Xiao Han had a nice place above a store his wife manages, they moved here a few years ago when the government built new housing for local people. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFRXIJ1yEcA8Ezb-lFXr_3_2Fh19FqEKsLwHWkqthjqymBtxTvd9VEUA2j-MuBfMGTbepBchfDtEzHUvV6WFo6ZMwhq7s72bHuHfrRO9JkrtHk7ElUnLTtdmUDOodR6qthhCwW5nukejOcT4pSvWEFtdUW4G1AMi22PtPhd0X2Q-xRDYiAigqBernZoo/s4032/IMG_5171.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFRXIJ1yEcA8Ezb-lFXr_3_2Fh19FqEKsLwHWkqthjqymBtxTvd9VEUA2j-MuBfMGTbepBchfDtEzHUvV6WFo6ZMwhq7s72bHuHfrRO9JkrtHk7ElUnLTtdmUDOodR6qthhCwW5nukejOcT4pSvWEFtdUW4G1AMi22PtPhd0X2Q-xRDYiAigqBernZoo/w480-h640/IMG_5171.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This huge photo is of a famous bend in the local river</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzzS6FSfRY00ataGHSgBouhPxFqWEet9BHr6OYPS0H9r0s4ae0l2ERcaSQzrqKjWKtoX5tpYOB-zKfbf-EjARbQhY0CvNnRxZn42bB05o49cbi16G8jM8Mm5TLsnoQLPDFmKliFiDEuLk0KnWLbeXHZDoFDNmjerq0SYdULJ5C01g6tl7p0V9swPh0dQ/s4032/IMG_5173.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzzS6FSfRY00ataGHSgBouhPxFqWEet9BHr6OYPS0H9r0s4ae0l2ERcaSQzrqKjWKtoX5tpYOB-zKfbf-EjARbQhY0CvNnRxZn42bB05o49cbi16G8jM8Mm5TLsnoQLPDFmKliFiDEuLk0KnWLbeXHZDoFDNmjerq0SYdULJ5C01g6tl7p0V9swPh0dQ/w480-h640/IMG_5173.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Took a little walk before dinner and near a stream I spot another Impatiens arguta. I love this species and its a good one that is grown in gardens and it can take cold winters if mulched. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerEGkHgbuLdd-HBqNStH5c2NDzLpjv69d8XmPW6D52ilCvBljdjkYRQrmjEc9VBmaa4cvG_LCIgxghfGY7vsJ6s0UT0OEBRJg0MyNq0D5a_vKpSbK9DGuKQM5TzQnsQLQ43_DYVAbuU2PyB-WZSQRtGOwxzpYfHjQV4TL4Q1031ioJkFa6YbsaTQbnys/s4032/IMG_5174.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerEGkHgbuLdd-HBqNStH5c2NDzLpjv69d8XmPW6D52ilCvBljdjkYRQrmjEc9VBmaa4cvG_LCIgxghfGY7vsJ6s0UT0OEBRJg0MyNq0D5a_vKpSbK9DGuKQM5TzQnsQLQ43_DYVAbuU2PyB-WZSQRtGOwxzpYfHjQV4TL4Q1031ioJkFa6YbsaTQbnys/w480-h640/IMG_5174.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yet another mystery gesneriad with a long green seed pod</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMdhs0XGcokfqLzgGV_L2LnrlOKmjesAR1zADtSpSAbowRnBPP84svEPjpaj49JETym0OAChHM0laxWLNwSNGwbLji8EJwA6Hv6-xNMqOx_jgXbgHxYLIeWmvKiheBDsfjVKevPeC2MH2NU1cyMw1_8sHOLFQMrnytcOGpkqcwaMSZxiaBhnk1bc1t3M/s4032/IMG_5177.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMdhs0XGcokfqLzgGV_L2LnrlOKmjesAR1zADtSpSAbowRnBPP84svEPjpaj49JETym0OAChHM0laxWLNwSNGwbLji8EJwA6Hv6-xNMqOx_jgXbgHxYLIeWmvKiheBDsfjVKevPeC2MH2NU1cyMw1_8sHOLFQMrnytcOGpkqcwaMSZxiaBhnk1bc1t3M/w480-h640/IMG_5177.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Quite a few dendrobiums (and begonias) could be seen around the village</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh798FVE5o96Yrw5fAeq9PBWMnk-CVTRkX4YBU_cJkkdHUlfHMlIxZxHI4vRA8_vkiKUiVvTXcjMJLeTSFBEHQdBohgLGWHiwrv2_cr3ZvbHjgml9Ba0EzUXR0PSw8PA_umMPGQ6vAtOZzo8Z9eo21QuPSppPwaw8TskZkBiXIu3HP6ctC3N48H7kbOkEg/s4032/IMG_5181.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh798FVE5o96Yrw5fAeq9PBWMnk-CVTRkX4YBU_cJkkdHUlfHMlIxZxHI4vRA8_vkiKUiVvTXcjMJLeTSFBEHQdBohgLGWHiwrv2_cr3ZvbHjgml9Ba0EzUXR0PSw8PA_umMPGQ6vAtOZzo8Z9eo21QuPSppPwaw8TskZkBiXIu3HP6ctC3N48H7kbOkEg/w480-h640/IMG_5181.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The very special summer flowering Camellia azalea. This one is the true species. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJV_hxVZuLflkigeVjYtQTl4Qz40DB5xn4-NpWSCjHYIWGyK4y7bpIHAtyI9zzUo5cRyChOgxNrDzvYH4JgIbSObPGa50knc3kpW9sOdbAlm3JdtzJ9cybdyZ2eeaxljhPJzypmbP_J0NpGnVA46LJxLv_SPvFgbXfJdT2sVvg1gFqlZaCohxq9sU65Q8/s4032/IMG_5182.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJV_hxVZuLflkigeVjYtQTl4Qz40DB5xn4-NpWSCjHYIWGyK4y7bpIHAtyI9zzUo5cRyChOgxNrDzvYH4JgIbSObPGa50knc3kpW9sOdbAlm3JdtzJ9cybdyZ2eeaxljhPJzypmbP_J0NpGnVA46LJxLv_SPvFgbXfJdT2sVvg1gFqlZaCohxq9sU65Q8/w480-h640/IMG_5182.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A closer view. The flowers can vary in petal width among different clones I am told</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn1xak9C3tKRplWnGkzEDpd9wqi1XdH03VZZNj906t06Q2Q_SVb2Rug_dBKCmY9DVU3rMWPHalTU-rlDaf3E0gntaIG3d6LbZV0XhTkVSn_FD-EvWBBzVyVbyPSM1ZnqaUdR-CpO5YEEK-bpZ2ZaGGpu0abvzDGfZ9YLsDlalxNG6T3GsGgUKbJnnc3U/s4032/IMG_5184.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn1xak9C3tKRplWnGkzEDpd9wqi1XdH03VZZNj906t06Q2Q_SVb2Rug_dBKCmY9DVU3rMWPHalTU-rlDaf3E0gntaIG3d6LbZV0XhTkVSn_FD-EvWBBzVyVbyPSM1ZnqaUdR-CpO5YEEK-bpZ2ZaGGpu0abvzDGfZ9YLsDlalxNG6T3GsGgUKbJnnc3U/w480-h640/IMG_5184.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Xiao Han's wife, her son, and Grace get dinner ready</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-t6V6wIf_2Pxc_2F0WPMtW_NqytYhAbJrj9TN_7s2eBbgIZV-XbKm7xQ2V6fVUFTNYCnf10yMFCbWIB3CQJBxuJp7G5cV5mha-PDhxF9xiw0UVOccw2DDJlkPaajz6iY9Hl5aInG48TWy0So5MWKmF_Ue7s0Syi04Ia1C81KMHVKQZyn1DHHNo1kHfls/s4032/IMG_5185.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-t6V6wIf_2Pxc_2F0WPMtW_NqytYhAbJrj9TN_7s2eBbgIZV-XbKm7xQ2V6fVUFTNYCnf10yMFCbWIB3CQJBxuJp7G5cV5mha-PDhxF9xiw0UVOccw2DDJlkPaajz6iY9Hl5aInG48TWy0So5MWKmF_Ue7s0Syi04Ia1C81KMHVKQZyn1DHHNo1kHfls/w480-h640/IMG_5185.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There is nothing better when travelling to have an authentic experience with local people. I've read that some travellers find China to not be very welcoming but in my own experience that is not true. I'm sure it helps that my wife is Chinese and speaks the language (I'd be lost otherwise and rather few Chinese know much English, especially in remote areas like this) but we have had only good experiences with the kind people we met in our journeys. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4KYSO9C_CUth5vZ1jNatHF3wLFmGvgxY79KOjxBBkf92P-vrO5amtgrobvLRVt0F8eqPZ8NsUHB9ya7MJdS-Psv6EM_wsdhJH5ZsltDZGq4pBkC0NSSOtlU2V4YbeUTff-hly3g7I9bnDzqR6q3doJgXiN1gVI1KZsnJ7k_Uu64uewJt8nm7e2de-_0/s4032/IMG_5186.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4KYSO9C_CUth5vZ1jNatHF3wLFmGvgxY79KOjxBBkf92P-vrO5amtgrobvLRVt0F8eqPZ8NsUHB9ya7MJdS-Psv6EM_wsdhJH5ZsltDZGq4pBkC0NSSOtlU2V4YbeUTff-hly3g7I9bnDzqR6q3doJgXiN1gVI1KZsnJ7k_Uu64uewJt8nm7e2de-_0/w480-h640/IMG_5186.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrWq8Y_LPr9Q3Tr6lCn6QChYIUiSE5svToXZHsS5iqWe51VSmEJMShLZ7XMPBO_IazkO2rsv6Kh3oYSQL7C1yVMEX3x6p9YadJDJxrwIMi_RhjhpeyJG2KAuV0xniMarBKzUGFJ36jCkhOGnC1af_Ey4Zbm9GGTtsLx9OREtjvR6l80YCG5cvkPpKoVM/s4032/IMG_5189.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrWq8Y_LPr9Q3Tr6lCn6QChYIUiSE5svToXZHsS5iqWe51VSmEJMShLZ7XMPBO_IazkO2rsv6Kh3oYSQL7C1yVMEX3x6p9YadJDJxrwIMi_RhjhpeyJG2KAuV0xniMarBKzUGFJ36jCkhOGnC1af_Ey4Zbm9GGTtsLx9OREtjvR6l80YCG5cvkPpKoVM/w480-h640/IMG_5189.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chinese food varies a lot by region and I really liked the food we had in Yunnan. And it doesn't get better than homemade of course. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvFJ5CXqPIGHNb7L6baJHtT_vW97soSPL45jRhDr3yWj5lvB_iRxsKVUXFKCVpeUhpYIscz4gBFm7jSb54HePb4B_Fr2sMo3KodMaVGHWGLg-NeLyWDtr3AJP_xtAE7IHb3D6VWCLQjAyuroPqliCIn3admiOjAhCv-PckwlEqdIPwidj2k-WmiINovI/s4032/IMG_5190.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvFJ5CXqPIGHNb7L6baJHtT_vW97soSPL45jRhDr3yWj5lvB_iRxsKVUXFKCVpeUhpYIscz4gBFm7jSb54HePb4B_Fr2sMo3KodMaVGHWGLg-NeLyWDtr3AJP_xtAE7IHb3D6VWCLQjAyuroPqliCIn3admiOjAhCv-PckwlEqdIPwidj2k-WmiINovI/w480-h640/IMG_5190.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chicken, veggies and rice. Works for me. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlpN5c5_YMwych-XkAQQJPj190jEgR7sQYNCa-Nbl-VtuHfRB_bMb10iSun41VspavfoQ1v2tQhLQa2ltc33iDUiGz_B36mEEpWyseHp1U5wbU08jDfHaFOmu-VaGE1MGIYewIfbuqaZ1afiqV84-HdJuNWWflpNRbnpQeUXkcfBYigLtBRSJpA0Tk3o/s2532/IMG_5110.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2532" data-original-width="1170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlpN5c5_YMwych-XkAQQJPj190jEgR7sQYNCa-Nbl-VtuHfRB_bMb10iSun41VspavfoQ1v2tQhLQa2ltc33iDUiGz_B36mEEpWyseHp1U5wbU08jDfHaFOmu-VaGE1MGIYewIfbuqaZ1afiqV84-HdJuNWWflpNRbnpQeUXkcfBYigLtBRSJpA0Tk3o/w296-h640/IMG_5110.PNG" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The iphone has a handy altimeter app that let me know just how high I was when I got ill. I'll keep that in mind next time. </div><br /><p><br /></p><p> </p>geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-40063201671324968892024-01-29T17:37:00.000-08:002024-01-29T17:37:57.500-08:00To Pianma and then north<p> Our goal was to get to a small town, Pianma, on the border of Yunnan and Burma, then travel north towards the Tibetan border town of Dechen (Deqin). Along the way to Pianma and back there are forests with all kinds of neat plants, both lower elevation subtropical things and higher elevation alpine flora. It must be absolutely breathtaking in spring, especially given all the different rhododendron species we saw, but there was plenty of interest to see in August as well. We saw a few new impatiens species, a wonderful tall yellow corydalis full of flowers and seeds, another gesneriad with purple flowers, a pink flowered Luculia that I would have never seen if the landslide didnt bring it down into the road, and other neat things. Speaking of landslides, they were common in the area and some roads were closed off so we had to find an alternative route or just wait a while. For some reason I was not particularly anxious, even though I am certainly not a risk taker in most cases. I think I should have been anxious though, the landslides were frequent enough and many contained rocks of a size that could do real damage if it came down on a passing car. We drove around them in most cases, our driver was familiar with them as he lives in the general area and landslides during the rainy summer season in particular are a fact of life in this area. So are earthquakes but thankfully we did not experience any. </p><p>Pianma itself was a small town with not much of note other than a rather cool museum dedicated to the Flying Tigers who played an important role in supplying China with weapons to fight the Japanese invasion during WW2. It included a plane that presumably was rebuilt from one of the several that crashed during the operation, and there were other displays in there as well. </p><p>We then looked for a hotel and Pianma didn't look very promising in that regard. But we heard there was a nice hotel in the woods a bit out of town, and a woman came to lead us to the hotel. In our car there was much talk in Chinese which I didnt understand, and when we arrived at the hotel there were two policemen that came up from Pianma to make sure we were checked in where we were supposed to be. I've encountered this before, it seems to be something they do when one is near a border with another country. And these two young guys were very nice, and apparently I was the first American they ever saw. My wife later explained to me that she was very relieved to see them as the chatter in the car on the way to the hotel was about stories of Chinese being kidnapped and taken to Burma for organ harvesting and was the lady really leading us to the hotel or otherwise. I certainly hope that the rumors of organ harvesting in Burma is not the case and from what I could see the border area looks pretty secure from the Chinese side so I doubt people just come in from across the border to snatch Chinese citizens for nefarious purposes. I have read of organized crime in Burma that targets Chinese people with scam calls, but that's about all I have ever heard of. So in the end we ended up at my favorite hotel on the trip, for a very reasonable price, and we were in no danger at all, and best of all when we left to resume our journey we had all of our organs with us. </p><p>One of the things really l liked about this hotel was that it was the only place in China where I got to see a vast number of moths. There was a beautiful pool with rocks and lotus and bright lights that attracted moths from the nearby woods and I got to see some gorgeous subtropical and semi temperate species. Apparently in the morning one of the cleaning staff just sweeps up any moths that dont fly away and dumps them in the trash, but to me they were one of the really cool things to see at this particular hotel. The rooms were fine and the place was once some rich persons oversized home but then was turned into a hotel. Because there were not a lot of guests, we didn't have to deal with smoke in our rooms which is a common issue in hotels in China. Non smoking in China often means they air out the room and spray some deodorant but real nonsmoking hotels in China where the nonsmoking rule is enforced are still fairly rare. I'm sure they will be more common in the future, it took a long time to make it happen here in the USA after all. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYQ4TGtyBQMn5hiBlLXCxpeoZYT4rbWyA2E0jbltLRhyl_Ebsth4BdG5oSPer8JpJAgb9uEtkizUcIrURcCztYcn3QY-Y1baKBFtOyKSdqYfWExVFYHhFGqi-NtqR-pNqS4mMb-diy-CZBqQyaNkf7eYWnDWhsJPGh57AR9S1UHHZbYztMCXi4BnTc6I/s4032/71427087120__AC2F93C1-A115-4FE8-8D37-D8A7C9A99364.fullsizerender.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYQ4TGtyBQMn5hiBlLXCxpeoZYT4rbWyA2E0jbltLRhyl_Ebsth4BdG5oSPer8JpJAgb9uEtkizUcIrURcCztYcn3QY-Y1baKBFtOyKSdqYfWExVFYHhFGqi-NtqR-pNqS4mMb-diy-CZBqQyaNkf7eYWnDWhsJPGh57AR9S1UHHZbYztMCXi4BnTc6I/w480-h640/71427087120__AC2F93C1-A115-4FE8-8D37-D8A7C9A99364.fullsizerender.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Breakfast in the hotel we stayed in with the cool wood carvings. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAfrf5PL0BHC1NQPHUcLwU4nVwny2l_LTsNI4iQHMJy2jtPobO7ndFzfud4i6qXF3w6KTuARaCNO_-uh3uuO-409J0hnKRcEFQXEw88ao0o_VwEwENbOlv7AdzoyLe4pdSmF9JsFVcf0JRKxCvxzsQ-jPe77VF6l7WnrutbnIWBVqmYgZeF6WTtMdKhs/s4032/IMG_4408.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAfrf5PL0BHC1NQPHUcLwU4nVwny2l_LTsNI4iQHMJy2jtPobO7ndFzfud4i6qXF3w6KTuARaCNO_-uh3uuO-409J0hnKRcEFQXEw88ao0o_VwEwENbOlv7AdzoyLe4pdSmF9JsFVcf0JRKxCvxzsQ-jPe77VF6l7WnrutbnIWBVqmYgZeF6WTtMdKhs/w480-h640/IMG_4408.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were some interesting plants around a pool that was less interesting at this particular hotel. This was a species of Cornus flowering at an odd time of year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZtbpiuj6orrzL-DVFkzY0Dz2-GNMJ8rkEH8ydGqPxnXywSdlZ_j64erm5yNxi6Oq1pPPfzjFGmOCg8dRgd2xD0yTwIEjBKTkgfMK_3nYeJvEM8wN0JoiTQfv7Tuw7_gVjlImUL__a2iZKf69cDi_X90helrkqSfrV3HzCBnAjMDjTQd2hp5c-7R9_gI/s4032/IMG_4410.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZtbpiuj6orrzL-DVFkzY0Dz2-GNMJ8rkEH8ydGqPxnXywSdlZ_j64erm5yNxi6Oq1pPPfzjFGmOCg8dRgd2xD0yTwIEjBKTkgfMK_3nYeJvEM8wN0JoiTQfv7Tuw7_gVjlImUL__a2iZKf69cDi_X90helrkqSfrV3HzCBnAjMDjTQd2hp5c-7R9_gI/w480-h640/IMG_4410.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> This gorgeous magnolia species with a huge flower is probably native to the area. <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Would love to have seen it fully open.</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0eE5nBXhzPCB9mmu2EqQ9-_CkalaSEBu7x62BpG3s3yzgwkY07QPtpGXpOZwULimFNc17WwMSCludlMFeQQgkhvCdP5DAE1Zrto_WwZL5WPOrahr9MbDTBqDb-PRO-CxGN8W1CjqpLJ-nqm0X55v4L4IIg28fegA_sFCk0RnJCkWmtiWtktg7eHUyiQ/s4032/IMG_4412.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0eE5nBXhzPCB9mmu2EqQ9-_CkalaSEBu7x62BpG3s3yzgwkY07QPtpGXpOZwULimFNc17WwMSCludlMFeQQgkhvCdP5DAE1Zrto_WwZL5WPOrahr9MbDTBqDb-PRO-CxGN8W1CjqpLJ-nqm0X55v4L4IIg28fegA_sFCk0RnJCkWmtiWtktg7eHUyiQ/w480-h640/IMG_4412.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Naturally they had a species of Hedychium, looks like some I have grown from seed at home and protect with a winter wood chip mulch. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7Bj2jHg0ATE1_I4-T2pecRlzKnDDeDif2ekF2gUfJem_WyqNl0tKv2zztCe8-y-j3zazXjTYAk6V9n7Vg_JQSMhyphenhyphenPIbWxsZzA8rFQE3jHAiVeM-t8TZ2mZ8Brf-jvVYP161VUv450mN8WgHd8NK5tgc09pqhBlZVIddXDfpU9JPbWMV5U1EQLOP1eSg/s4032/IMG_4416.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7Bj2jHg0ATE1_I4-T2pecRlzKnDDeDif2ekF2gUfJem_WyqNl0tKv2zztCe8-y-j3zazXjTYAk6V9n7Vg_JQSMhyphenhyphenPIbWxsZzA8rFQE3jHAiVeM-t8TZ2mZ8Brf-jvVYP161VUv450mN8WgHd8NK5tgc09pqhBlZVIddXDfpU9JPbWMV5U1EQLOP1eSg/w480-h640/IMG_4416.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The pool and plantings</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4j8fogquIqVG3uHxwwe99QSbfIbiK3TJeaw8SVXEMXh3dqoGWMjHEmOINDmlLRTHkuuO9zFL19Owgw9v9ykbh3caNtJBRvbasHNwGXz7ywjkskn_Ig_OR3ZWhEbUgkLt4uWfwWZQX_tXfW39C93rX2GCHMwLLelX8ag6v6SYYRteSH8CNI4fS2wp2Q4/s4032/IMG_4418.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4j8fogquIqVG3uHxwwe99QSbfIbiK3TJeaw8SVXEMXh3dqoGWMjHEmOINDmlLRTHkuuO9zFL19Owgw9v9ykbh3caNtJBRvbasHNwGXz7ywjkskn_Ig_OR3ZWhEbUgkLt4uWfwWZQX_tXfW39C93rX2GCHMwLLelX8ag6v6SYYRteSH8CNI4fS2wp2Q4/w480-h640/IMG_4418.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another cool wooden carving, this one presumably of the Buddha. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBigxMBR4VJNxNAZj94gMypdTe76vdd72vny_Y7-VIORAXNC0QmZRd1ARZoocEQfCVhdCHwOSW54O_cdVUaj31wSEmKE722XeFe37kOVxeeqj_CP7UEXtOVfCcPBk-J1YsLo6oEYieUEo2noTMLBFY6I7r8futH_MWbJWJG4W8BC59cxd21IiyUZ5pfE/s4032/IMG_4419.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBigxMBR4VJNxNAZj94gMypdTe76vdd72vny_Y7-VIORAXNC0QmZRd1ARZoocEQfCVhdCHwOSW54O_cdVUaj31wSEmKE722XeFe37kOVxeeqj_CP7UEXtOVfCcPBk-J1YsLo6oEYieUEo2noTMLBFY6I7r8futH_MWbJWJG4W8BC59cxd21IiyUZ5pfE/w480-h640/IMG_4419.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I saw a lot of this plant at subtropical elevations, at first I thought it might be an Epimedium species but it could also be a seedling Aruncus as well. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWl_Lc4vg0QWzmQIV5DlY8OnrCKypvgHjmozNgoin9vauny9XvDkJKGc__0taD98mDrV2J-hz3S3Obkrh1gLOgbfFVTIvWvgvUeWVf4QsZ6eN_pSEkPXAT-WKjeDTEp4My2IYGSCVwUiXuOnZgYH4bXjgI_yP1TnTyP2zSh9-JTOdWn1u0TDXw93W7oJA/s4032/IMG_4430.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWl_Lc4vg0QWzmQIV5DlY8OnrCKypvgHjmozNgoin9vauny9XvDkJKGc__0taD98mDrV2J-hz3S3Obkrh1gLOgbfFVTIvWvgvUeWVf4QsZ6eN_pSEkPXAT-WKjeDTEp4My2IYGSCVwUiXuOnZgYH4bXjgI_yP1TnTyP2zSh9-JTOdWn1u0TDXw93W7oJA/w480-h640/IMG_4430.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Everywhere we went there seemed to be Buddliea species</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eHR8Kcrqj2JEkzpEq-fzqs0GZQSkhEZzRvkIrwRhyDOT9srRw-yps57PN_fGIYjFg2BB_KPI8ji6V8qjvBmrFYjKs4cf_e4ldaRU0p6r7pomxSSebpt18jvSqf4KfCH2GKopuv4S84DeEoWuwrQmm-mA1KTEZMlVQOrXXHTG_gz3IKEGist4mkpjPsM/s4032/IMG_4433.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eHR8Kcrqj2JEkzpEq-fzqs0GZQSkhEZzRvkIrwRhyDOT9srRw-yps57PN_fGIYjFg2BB_KPI8ji6V8qjvBmrFYjKs4cf_e4ldaRU0p6r7pomxSSebpt18jvSqf4KfCH2GKopuv4S84DeEoWuwrQmm-mA1KTEZMlVQOrXXHTG_gz3IKEGist4mkpjPsM/w480-h640/IMG_4433.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And of course Arisaema as well. The genus is poorly represented in the US with maybe two species, but is very diverse in this part of China. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWhPLMCq5R_W9eLLhi9W06wM_RQeA4I-7C6gjpmVGy_gERSHPbTpk5q5WIUFuGp6bfM2vhZW2aax7V6LhBr4_I5ocQJgQNLUuhdwyxNqd-MXLQVdeyRSsLMYgIcRvcz0twG_X21Y4jNereDxfteXIVuKTYgYUaukPi5TplXC4UJTi98qNypZUuLMlPKo/s4032/IMG_4435.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWhPLMCq5R_W9eLLhi9W06wM_RQeA4I-7C6gjpmVGy_gERSHPbTpk5q5WIUFuGp6bfM2vhZW2aax7V6LhBr4_I5ocQJgQNLUuhdwyxNqd-MXLQVdeyRSsLMYgIcRvcz0twG_X21Y4jNereDxfteXIVuKTYgYUaukPi5TplXC4UJTi98qNypZUuLMlPKo/w480-h640/IMG_4435.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you like ferns, and who doesnt, you will find plenty of diversity in China. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpiHLvYRIaE2NY6BKxD8kuIv3s7_Do14G6D1fCV_Ti9STEmf88pY7ACxdbPAIHeW1NA9itUJcipXgRSHZjMa6p8ATpnNSyIsL-JOyktuyJsZ6YwIGM9Mqj-fSjopcpO01kLtmw9ew7WiDDsxYCGsoh3AwgpKsZiHWd5fdel3rFQ8NAh58tjPydrMlpbg/s4032/IMG_4438.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpiHLvYRIaE2NY6BKxD8kuIv3s7_Do14G6D1fCV_Ti9STEmf88pY7ACxdbPAIHeW1NA9itUJcipXgRSHZjMa6p8ATpnNSyIsL-JOyktuyJsZ6YwIGM9Mqj-fSjopcpO01kLtmw9ew7WiDDsxYCGsoh3AwgpKsZiHWd5fdel3rFQ8NAh58tjPydrMlpbg/w480-h640/IMG_4438.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This breathtaking impatiens grew near the road, it appeared to be an annual species that propagates from seed. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEs0gvAvyjtjHw5j6SoDRH9bF1rEPW2nmQgN5hIQyZ0K7-EweOcVqUr1JJwGEk6uaiT3fKSrlK6ewkiDxZKjrmYbfFwamMcqE6QIEg134_9J9nsLLN8LaRSyIESXbDSnHwhmA2UVeJyvRigOM39iTnQ9dfvhBhfMmZeYEyUcQ_6xJ_uPPyMZqu5XyJJc/s4032/IMG_4442.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEs0gvAvyjtjHw5j6SoDRH9bF1rEPW2nmQgN5hIQyZ0K7-EweOcVqUr1JJwGEk6uaiT3fKSrlK6ewkiDxZKjrmYbfFwamMcqE6QIEg134_9J9nsLLN8LaRSyIESXbDSnHwhmA2UVeJyvRigOM39iTnQ9dfvhBhfMmZeYEyUcQ_6xJ_uPPyMZqu5XyJJc/w480-h640/IMG_4442.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love a mystery, and here is another one. Probably a species of Buddliea but there is a lot to learn about the diverse flora of Yunnan, especially for a first time visitor like myself. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZfNKVHW1IfCNhJZ7vl1jS-sIbXMsxjHRCPVdQiwWsnYe4eFDaW0wkehFuFKGrCPZHm3vwHdlKvecQHOQ4yjpky6YwTMLbEeuS3xoqFrm3HkBt0mdCPTuei9vzdrYp_-oKM0hb-42GJbMpkbSWk63finrjAdS6UZ5iEcDq7Qfo7Rvl9nIIlQocT0_gxw/s4032/IMG_4444.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZfNKVHW1IfCNhJZ7vl1jS-sIbXMsxjHRCPVdQiwWsnYe4eFDaW0wkehFuFKGrCPZHm3vwHdlKvecQHOQ4yjpky6YwTMLbEeuS3xoqFrm3HkBt0mdCPTuei9vzdrYp_-oKM0hb-42GJbMpkbSWk63finrjAdS6UZ5iEcDq7Qfo7Rvl9nIIlQocT0_gxw/w480-h640/IMG_4444.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A nice shrub, perhaps a species of Stewartia? </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZzmLC7tGy0YXSXUYmmQasP2AZF12oo4Tzt_RbVr2psK3wFe2OFK5bHpBMDzSfHkeMsuSTZ7I7xMx-m791_QQm-xnr3_bc_F86I3Y2-L28CrtMcvkVKMmEAM-x40yiG-bBf9-WyeshI299vr58bcUD2Jo_5K1rAs4hPH2YU-ctpzMbXIdouCD2zbq3PY/s4032/IMG_4446.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZzmLC7tGy0YXSXUYmmQasP2AZF12oo4Tzt_RbVr2psK3wFe2OFK5bHpBMDzSfHkeMsuSTZ7I7xMx-m791_QQm-xnr3_bc_F86I3Y2-L28CrtMcvkVKMmEAM-x40yiG-bBf9-WyeshI299vr58bcUD2Jo_5K1rAs4hPH2YU-ctpzMbXIdouCD2zbq3PY/w480-h640/IMG_4446.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cool to find a label on a tree </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyrt4G8TahSwBxNge0G0hF6bGh-KYtKKoKMnjyZgqoLvv6lJZEKyPcIXir4mV_YjFcBMxl3rPrtHrqiLHI-PcblpQGAOajJsAxaJgGeFFcFMImD2hlPP9lByPtQg7n0c_2d-dWPLvJLkZ0a9sm3yOHQMHC0S1iIY6LOxixfh5mXKDR0gSRA46FKsleYk/s4032/IMG_4447.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyrt4G8TahSwBxNge0G0hF6bGh-KYtKKoKMnjyZgqoLvv6lJZEKyPcIXir4mV_YjFcBMxl3rPrtHrqiLHI-PcblpQGAOajJsAxaJgGeFFcFMImD2hlPP9lByPtQg7n0c_2d-dWPLvJLkZ0a9sm3yOHQMHC0S1iIY6LOxixfh5mXKDR0gSRA46FKsleYk/w480-h640/IMG_4447.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A better view of the tree, must be impressive when in bloom</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsDz_TQSV0ij2G_gf4Yth0Ss_sCMBEHkcDgI4zeoWqDzJBB5OJ-4fJsxUiUhw3itdfKiVqimDeVjMry1_YY5uArmXD-lclWxUUYVyX6lq9M1qbdgEwNK-nfj2ambR0wRC_Jj0kJjMeNfLTUUtQEe6xMESuN-6Xn4IHU0sQ8vixNcLHbVr1k53wQu-734/s4032/IMG_4458.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsDz_TQSV0ij2G_gf4Yth0Ss_sCMBEHkcDgI4zeoWqDzJBB5OJ-4fJsxUiUhw3itdfKiVqimDeVjMry1_YY5uArmXD-lclWxUUYVyX6lq9M1qbdgEwNK-nfj2ambR0wRC_Jj0kJjMeNfLTUUtQEe6xMESuN-6Xn4IHU0sQ8vixNcLHbVr1k53wQu-734/w480-h640/IMG_4458.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We stopped along the road to view this lovely Abelia species with huge white flowers</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNgzrf9dW2jPB1NNMv2ifnwQQ6XABQ16FBRGKU8Zd-XV07YPT-nnxn1224EtixuW-rMYW4ob1EtiJ9cqjUjPAunHw86BNnnHeaJzx504ra1ygbMeiH2yN9tn0xZ3JqsAlJUQYdX0UGgHHOGfOPhQA5K8HP-QrQO6_gjSXV8M00ZZESytWFFPS3RpZgB8/s4032/IMG_4465.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNgzrf9dW2jPB1NNMv2ifnwQQ6XABQ16FBRGKU8Zd-XV07YPT-nnxn1224EtixuW-rMYW4ob1EtiJ9cqjUjPAunHw86BNnnHeaJzx504ra1ygbMeiH2yN9tn0xZ3JqsAlJUQYdX0UGgHHOGfOPhQA5K8HP-QrQO6_gjSXV8M00ZZESytWFFPS3RpZgB8/w480-h640/IMG_4465.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nearby grew a fairly low growing Thalictrum with bright yellow flowers. Very cool, no petals but the stamens were brightly colored and the foliage lovely. Some were in seed as well. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZsHeseApwjiE01s9JcXyEBKT3lX5SE0ol6qUmh9wnVc2VW9N7i1vzLSCrGjMR2lOOEAVogodqo1ezRckK34j38-ebbjS_kaP_dWiCBmWLcYarAFUcGkVcbyVugZCLEdqZxi2-64bVjBw3AukUZBKh4-66SMfnoJe5FUduO23sCjkMCff1AdEN9qbkeY/s4032/IMG_4469.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZsHeseApwjiE01s9JcXyEBKT3lX5SE0ol6qUmh9wnVc2VW9N7i1vzLSCrGjMR2lOOEAVogodqo1ezRckK34j38-ebbjS_kaP_dWiCBmWLcYarAFUcGkVcbyVugZCLEdqZxi2-64bVjBw3AukUZBKh4-66SMfnoJe5FUduO23sCjkMCff1AdEN9qbkeY/w480-h640/IMG_4469.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A yellow flowered Sedum. Sedums are pretty common among rocks in China. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG24nF05-PRgNvIB85kWJBzs2bMDkhyphenhyphen4zd58Yg6iECS3u7w-3Glr3koU9mmjLgdCjHmz8rJ2u7OuG-TYXHK2dm1uWq2jUAZo6V1mx4N0JDi_il-u1nNv3qhn_p1J0MwVg8ooqzA6gmebeaZ2XZrLTS1HevhIpBUDBPC3MoVG0dQSjMrzC5SRzfP_tmdY/s4032/IMG_4470.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG24nF05-PRgNvIB85kWJBzs2bMDkhyphenhyphen4zd58Yg6iECS3u7w-3Glr3koU9mmjLgdCjHmz8rJ2u7OuG-TYXHK2dm1uWq2jUAZo6V1mx4N0JDi_il-u1nNv3qhn_p1J0MwVg8ooqzA6gmebeaZ2XZrLTS1HevhIpBUDBPC3MoVG0dQSjMrzC5SRzfP_tmdY/w480-h640/IMG_4470.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This beauty shocked me, it looks like a Ceropegia species that one might find in South Africa, definitely not something I expected to see in China. It was a vine with very nice flowers. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllWoI6wIledr4Vq7NsGb1klgOd2PzJ7K0cNxh46VzY_tDCrJqv5KyQbiLWDn4MQyfht3M3OIz04YD_SrHodhyNalsz5dHGJ3nJ-I_zHcE6Y8-Aa-6OIEISnSJauaVY0ojaymhika3TYJ6dRWVsFNmT8ZDei2qyKUx7G0hsFzmzwp0nZGw-ONjfE0L9lw/s4032/IMG_4472.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllWoI6wIledr4Vq7NsGb1klgOd2PzJ7K0cNxh46VzY_tDCrJqv5KyQbiLWDn4MQyfht3M3OIz04YD_SrHodhyNalsz5dHGJ3nJ-I_zHcE6Y8-Aa-6OIEISnSJauaVY0ojaymhika3TYJ6dRWVsFNmT8ZDei2qyKUx7G0hsFzmzwp0nZGw-ONjfE0L9lw/w480-h640/IMG_4472.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A closer view of the extraordinary flowers</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSjOnsk1NCEL3ucHsiKc32R5-0AgUDT481G9TFqiwvX84Z3dn6wyFzC-7ErmUzUSIM58wZf_1BAF8VuH6w4_nJFpksWSXq2HUZk-G-1NFZtgUub1bFvN1zBLVwXb4XFVHHbj5vjs_NtSisu-O-62NBWynu8fdK4H1u3aHY_F1uEpoiUtEpmaSD7qdCUw/s4032/IMG_4490.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSjOnsk1NCEL3ucHsiKc32R5-0AgUDT481G9TFqiwvX84Z3dn6wyFzC-7ErmUzUSIM58wZf_1BAF8VuH6w4_nJFpksWSXq2HUZk-G-1NFZtgUub1bFvN1zBLVwXb4XFVHHbj5vjs_NtSisu-O-62NBWynu8fdK4H1u3aHY_F1uEpoiUtEpmaSD7qdCUw/w480-h640/IMG_4490.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hypericum spp are everywhere in this area but this one was unusual in that it was a small creeping plant, not a decent sized shrub as most are</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSD3KskKkoF7ZJAFlyV1IqZll7Uvz6JAF94pqnAFMK9RdwYPxMG3yE7jRF9th7JLRxChTt9SScIcDDjXW-5qSrsjeKbqHgrxlNkSCRJilzJc0FYnj-PTk78X-ACqkNRdThaiFSddGJTdp2T_CX7XRFLwYxCMFAJpP0GTWbYZZ-LDZtLXx-k4wXyICwkc4/s4032/IMG_4493.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSD3KskKkoF7ZJAFlyV1IqZll7Uvz6JAF94pqnAFMK9RdwYPxMG3yE7jRF9th7JLRxChTt9SScIcDDjXW-5qSrsjeKbqHgrxlNkSCRJilzJc0FYnj-PTk78X-ACqkNRdThaiFSddGJTdp2T_CX7XRFLwYxCMFAJpP0GTWbYZZ-LDZtLXx-k4wXyICwkc4/w480-h640/IMG_4493.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A slogan carved into the vegetation, I have no idea what it says</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYu47r3snW5X08aXWowogmh2MsnRaytx7mq7Cg4PvJseGWUB6zLg9BHsk9cR9GoT34A42_7rFg-4X8GiOSxQU5tPGfNov6R6U7JvK0sbuGgxAoLXvI1NG_HbEiUkqmIbuzTCX3uC0jVnNcV3gjmS2OBCYUX3e-qDjpLcohCfqtly7iKUE-xzq9gmafEM/s4032/IMG_4497.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYu47r3snW5X08aXWowogmh2MsnRaytx7mq7Cg4PvJseGWUB6zLg9BHsk9cR9GoT34A42_7rFg-4X8GiOSxQU5tPGfNov6R6U7JvK0sbuGgxAoLXvI1NG_HbEiUkqmIbuzTCX3uC0jVnNcV3gjmS2OBCYUX3e-qDjpLcohCfqtly7iKUE-xzq9gmafEM/w480-h640/IMG_4497.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Corn and other food crops are everywhere in China, often in most unexpected places. They can be on the side of the road between it and a river, on top of a steep slope where one wonders who goes up and down to plant and harvest it, and often even in cities people grow pots of herbs and vegetables on rooftops and other suitable spots. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipVukwgEzT47pwa4tWfRaFbirhcd77hzDarRbWnYtdHiRQZvbsLREaw4N2FVk8s4d1F-4aiVpMQ1edHpqtoeisiB47TatggMWBvNjY_6fH2cPX1ZRbnr9q2fm_egODS3ywhDXgbgy2XA2nEN8JbvNkl-AkMFlP9HBBF_QkcGy25y2Vzy9iusg3aBm5yU/s4032/IMG_4502.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipVukwgEzT47pwa4tWfRaFbirhcd77hzDarRbWnYtdHiRQZvbsLREaw4N2FVk8s4d1F-4aiVpMQ1edHpqtoeisiB47TatggMWBvNjY_6fH2cPX1ZRbnr9q2fm_egODS3ywhDXgbgy2XA2nEN8JbvNkl-AkMFlP9HBBF_QkcGy25y2Vzy9iusg3aBm5yU/w480-h640/IMG_4502.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The views, especially of the several river valleys that go through this area, are the stuff of dreams</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbbK-FOE6OUufVBydFX28dK5Zh1YDwux3300OkbAndWWZgw6COuYbiXpkgfWVj5Du1ZTcmbsjTHG16gPz_0dxWaXDNoMpXmiVTlc2kU6EuQd8x5olGPMGem4IinT8g9rbbOF2KbTVOqjhqblhszoEJt_9fimJ-5DOCSelJkAh9P3ditqZG5kHo9YFwAo/s4032/IMG_4506.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbbK-FOE6OUufVBydFX28dK5Zh1YDwux3300OkbAndWWZgw6COuYbiXpkgfWVj5Du1ZTcmbsjTHG16gPz_0dxWaXDNoMpXmiVTlc2kU6EuQd8x5olGPMGem4IinT8g9rbbOF2KbTVOqjhqblhszoEJt_9fimJ-5DOCSelJkAh9P3ditqZG5kHo9YFwAo/w480-h640/IMG_4506.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then there is the stuff of nightmares, frequent rock slides. One good thing I noticed is that of the many landslides I saw, none caused actual road damage, but it would be wise to not be there when they actually happen.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvdo7ozISq9Lh42Y0GsNaUUZibjViSuAADwwxYwkoAi8mNotYGyVxdEG6r3UA4tGctJ4hcHNCrEpGLLotBIMI9u7QeMdoHtP5OXlF6sNKtY-c-PbkNmt1Xk_GfjDBRda3CaVQZw7ZDG4z46c2zmdqGxeEWc3dYdDtJiq5Veg06LNVMVHrmo_fKeidqUw/s4032/IMG_4512.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvdo7ozISq9Lh42Y0GsNaUUZibjViSuAADwwxYwkoAi8mNotYGyVxdEG6r3UA4tGctJ4hcHNCrEpGLLotBIMI9u7QeMdoHtP5OXlF6sNKtY-c-PbkNmt1Xk_GfjDBRda3CaVQZw7ZDG4z46c2zmdqGxeEWc3dYdDtJiq5Veg06LNVMVHrmo_fKeidqUw/w480-h640/IMG_4512.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There was a bit of a tree/landslide issue here so we had to find another way to go</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIbgfZd0wHk7Nxkcp6w7iszAFBKcAx4QdG5G19bFhCenAHVU3NdY9ND6uZg1CA_fBg6nTVAS-_0GaDBnXsY1lACAjtEmJ09pvchn_tsrSFkZZX8uyYJZVRXvyfP-AMpuUAB4J6qM8fy0fDRJs6VDARBi6AsMyBorjTBz_jCYCq9abvNhqMKSa681hMds/s4032/IMG_4518.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIbgfZd0wHk7Nxkcp6w7iszAFBKcAx4QdG5G19bFhCenAHVU3NdY9ND6uZg1CA_fBg6nTVAS-_0GaDBnXsY1lACAjtEmJ09pvchn_tsrSFkZZX8uyYJZVRXvyfP-AMpuUAB4J6qM8fy0fDRJs6VDARBi6AsMyBorjTBz_jCYCq9abvNhqMKSa681hMds/w480-h640/IMG_4518.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rookie landslide, in comparison to others, just sand. But if that whole slope came down it could be pretty awful. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskQvMJivybbQ9fL-AB0oKMMC0riMlDTMdih5n8fpCvFrCdI1olYUJHw_tQxP1Oh_P4r-4JkZ_ceuO1lzlNm4ukSDclhwMpGn9Q2qJ-fj0Kv0XSzV5T7QU6UdIkq7kJ7mlsfmrYOVNqyq8okgD0vQVSvZwtqp0Fsd_472Wucb2bUtRgq8baer4Nu5P2Oo/s4032/IMG_4519.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskQvMJivybbQ9fL-AB0oKMMC0riMlDTMdih5n8fpCvFrCdI1olYUJHw_tQxP1Oh_P4r-4JkZ_ceuO1lzlNm4ukSDclhwMpGn9Q2qJ-fj0Kv0XSzV5T7QU6UdIkq7kJ7mlsfmrYOVNqyq8okgD0vQVSvZwtqp0Fsd_472Wucb2bUtRgq8baer4Nu5P2Oo/w480-h640/IMG_4519.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another tree or two on the road, rather interesting but I could not figure out the species nor genus</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjzNr9lRg9hMRLp_6LNe3-Lfl_Uh5GwKkp8OACHMTtbnBtfiBBFPTzapZvoTn_2VkGkHTFcqzThYWjt0hrqyhL8Uuu6CPSOA7P42Ow_z8Lvm2aqxiPcuqrHwGP2_qV2vNOb7IGVAm5kkOA0VBUL4il1oqTVWBOiHtKi2LGAKDRIcF_CLz9UvdD-dyTbg/s4032/IMG_4520.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjzNr9lRg9hMRLp_6LNe3-Lfl_Uh5GwKkp8OACHMTtbnBtfiBBFPTzapZvoTn_2VkGkHTFcqzThYWjt0hrqyhL8Uuu6CPSOA7P42Ow_z8Lvm2aqxiPcuqrHwGP2_qV2vNOb7IGVAm5kkOA0VBUL4il1oqTVWBOiHtKi2LGAKDRIcF_CLz9UvdD-dyTbg/w480-h640/IMG_4520.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then there was this magnificent thing, a pink Luculia species which I would not have seen had it not been brought down by a small landslide. It was full of flowers and also nearly ripe seedpods. A real treasure to come across. </div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRnCyS2qR3p16ibeCWkMI03d8Roy9rjq1z-DF5gioH_AuzlNJYDKXRB67Ni8i1J6JsSuziNqn8k5fyw7EyNt5la2BQYlu8JUqZ00q2pMqXss9fe3GSG1F9iNV516QEhEZyjJIGVznlEDfY9k32hVEyDaAb3i0SizgYtwZnEgnK1BHDc6Q6bPSEMoWtPY/s4032/IMG_4524.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRnCyS2qR3p16ibeCWkMI03d8Roy9rjq1z-DF5gioH_AuzlNJYDKXRB67Ni8i1J6JsSuziNqn8k5fyw7EyNt5la2BQYlu8JUqZ00q2pMqXss9fe3GSG1F9iNV516QEhEZyjJIGVznlEDfY9k32hVEyDaAb3i0SizgYtwZnEgnK1BHDc6Q6bPSEMoWtPY/w480-h640/IMG_4524.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was a pretty bad landslide but we got past it</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3yc26SSeA73q9Jj4sSQ0zY-3gNCKe4_Qvp8F8-a6HeTOB7wszo69JJhlJ6vu6cdUSQYAaqWGyZmhosDXnU1zABk3VSOMwPVZ6mXmxNqsyEDYizMCtlu4PySACh3rVGjmyjFzndfjb47b9FqdQghuPrq-K3Xt5uvZZjeOJTUkBcjl1aBrPkkTi2r20v4/s4032/IMG_4527.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3yc26SSeA73q9Jj4sSQ0zY-3gNCKe4_Qvp8F8-a6HeTOB7wszo69JJhlJ6vu6cdUSQYAaqWGyZmhosDXnU1zABk3VSOMwPVZ6mXmxNqsyEDYizMCtlu4PySACh3rVGjmyjFzndfjb47b9FqdQghuPrq-K3Xt5uvZZjeOJTUkBcjl1aBrPkkTi2r20v4/w480-h640/IMG_4527.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Impatiens arguta, a favorite species of mine that I grow in my gardens as a hardy perennial with some winter mulch for protection. Oddly of my plants which consist of three clones, two purple and one white, only the white one sets seed. So I suspect the other clones are hybrids of some sort. These were clearly species arguta and some did have seed pods. They were also smaller than the plants in my gardens but that could also be an environmental influence, plants often grow bigger in a garden where they are weeded and fertilized. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAKD400h8kjK7QAfYtHs1m-YVPgNo8axBgatoeKI4CMfI_ZILmmsrAgFmhQ0MLKH2nq_VI_CgEWfKxX2eZv6p7JMqMfSdXee10gTxUHlGMasqNKgRRPCv4cEE51_WcrctOltoHwIaJ3eooJZV5JBQMTTDXsv24ELGc2OrvOiOmAnL7StstZMnJlAMRcM/s4032/IMG_4531.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAKD400h8kjK7QAfYtHs1m-YVPgNo8axBgatoeKI4CMfI_ZILmmsrAgFmhQ0MLKH2nq_VI_CgEWfKxX2eZv6p7JMqMfSdXee10gTxUHlGMasqNKgRRPCv4cEE51_WcrctOltoHwIaJ3eooJZV5JBQMTTDXsv24ELGc2OrvOiOmAnL7StstZMnJlAMRcM/w480-h640/IMG_4531.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A lovely gesneriad, something along the lines of the former Chirita genus. Some had spotted leaves. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLDyeRwnmlksFOvL36QKqBT7RovxOzdgjKjwEQg49dC-92nbPPRircQiiiHPHXrVeXplHfqPNlX0Xn_LYp5i2JO3p2F6Yho2dAAEEVgqao20Si30gTcRQnjKFcUQUn4sGOj4HeAPVEvDQYl5UDfs14YZq_Ir5YUcuIEol7lljtWc-mNmbD3-OHLcS82E/s4032/IMG_4533.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLDyeRwnmlksFOvL36QKqBT7RovxOzdgjKjwEQg49dC-92nbPPRircQiiiHPHXrVeXplHfqPNlX0Xn_LYp5i2JO3p2F6Yho2dAAEEVgqao20Si30gTcRQnjKFcUQUn4sGOj4HeAPVEvDQYl5UDfs14YZq_Ir5YUcuIEol7lljtWc-mNmbD3-OHLcS82E/w480-h640/IMG_4533.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nicely spotted leaves</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzTDiv-QcQrMYfY12ePBZCDRONqIjPSrNFRAt-NXqby9WUIaoAe0sO9znuIbwLJ8T2FfE5G8eUHIZ4RHnXjc59wzW156Hz6KuPXwcBzvexccKZzrLPC2YznFsfSSZ9AOa8ODkner-j7yH86ZmIobtfi8kYkBipRcG9WbC5DtXZT9vkkevqht2uion6Q4/s4032/IMG_4537.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzTDiv-QcQrMYfY12ePBZCDRONqIjPSrNFRAt-NXqby9WUIaoAe0sO9znuIbwLJ8T2FfE5G8eUHIZ4RHnXjc59wzW156Hz6KuPXwcBzvexccKZzrLPC2YznFsfSSZ9AOa8ODkner-j7yH86ZmIobtfi8kYkBipRcG9WbC5DtXZT9vkkevqht2uion6Q4/w480-h640/IMG_4537.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Spotted leaves and flower</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1UkfNKx3ESFslMh3x5hQfqfKJXU6GnLCHlD0qZyrQrqg_pN-5WX2SBrDiGOaTTKdRrI4blw6Tu0MwUNiQHqmVY7qMTQDIRbRv-1Zd-NjUBVKR5mMKfLVPIJQCqhYXkLe98n8um4uV-eq2oNVcUywRQaezLdq8SsVii-Z_-MlWWMMWB-PisBb_bficA0/s4032/IMG_4540.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1UkfNKx3ESFslMh3x5hQfqfKJXU6GnLCHlD0qZyrQrqg_pN-5WX2SBrDiGOaTTKdRrI4blw6Tu0MwUNiQHqmVY7qMTQDIRbRv-1Zd-NjUBVKR5mMKfLVPIJQCqhYXkLe98n8um4uV-eq2oNVcUywRQaezLdq8SsVii-Z_-MlWWMMWB-PisBb_bficA0/w480-h640/IMG_4540.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This gesneriad tended to form colonies by seeding onto the mossy rocks nearby</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NK-xPVIOfFngyPNx-hjAeFDM1_GZ0FL5m1y-cIWQqELka9AqDZmwiSCeZHPHkFyyhIjZs5Q6qtWp-s0g9c7Yd5Z79lOa4Jz69XRqcGhWrK4P-Un81NgL8nuue32lfLSAvgKAzbq6FDxut-rrfE_C008F2LSOe1HA3maIhQYNTL9WNUK25quUjR5DcM8/s4032/IMG_4544.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NK-xPVIOfFngyPNx-hjAeFDM1_GZ0FL5m1y-cIWQqELka9AqDZmwiSCeZHPHkFyyhIjZs5Q6qtWp-s0g9c7Yd5Z79lOa4Jz69XRqcGhWrK4P-Un81NgL8nuue32lfLSAvgKAzbq6FDxut-rrfE_C008F2LSOe1HA3maIhQYNTL9WNUK25quUjR5DcM8/w480-h640/IMG_4544.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A beautiful fern, maybe a species of Adiantum?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPrNshdkR986m8ooisQdfHflqnyEd50spV4BloQZ67_e95PgyooLIpZw3dYll2XbTzFXF0O6HyoxzHTBDtHBbbFp3fQIbX6sgU8DQFU_hdJIB1iTZOAc_234WueKABEogl6e14rd-i9PWI6XFTNgkozmh6AAu4w0SNDAH5tJg2_JqFTgJryP4SJdufkE/s4032/IMG_4545.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPrNshdkR986m8ooisQdfHflqnyEd50spV4BloQZ67_e95PgyooLIpZw3dYll2XbTzFXF0O6HyoxzHTBDtHBbbFp3fQIbX6sgU8DQFU_hdJIB1iTZOAc_234WueKABEogl6e14rd-i9PWI6XFTNgkozmh6AAu4w0SNDAH5tJg2_JqFTgJryP4SJdufkE/w480-h640/IMG_4545.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More neat views</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEysuABytZhTSoG060l5w1q7UtU-8J-PpW1vTgJAVPfh3dW0p51ZVCLnhtVkfD56n62KwEAnMUe1FCA5SWD7gNE15pfBhByj-mqfGB3g_pC1ZVKY3xnm4RXIrbvYKpWTc7c_CxMVjWNMVVwpP2dh5q6tVwAoDJNTwfkN978_Dl3LC_cbbxM7OR32wZ0Vg/s4032/IMG_4546.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEysuABytZhTSoG060l5w1q7UtU-8J-PpW1vTgJAVPfh3dW0p51ZVCLnhtVkfD56n62KwEAnMUe1FCA5SWD7gNE15pfBhByj-mqfGB3g_pC1ZVKY3xnm4RXIrbvYKpWTc7c_CxMVjWNMVVwpP2dh5q6tVwAoDJNTwfkN978_Dl3LC_cbbxM7OR32wZ0Vg/w480-h640/IMG_4546.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More hedychiums in flower</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJngqcAfn1Bqym25TGQv_B6aVrn2BUSuotFXE5Z-g__cBw7a0gxa6OmGODfnXbxGRr5lTu8iayK1amdLpkdx6jbsbfI2uP1p0_9mm3_y1KyjdDpfCqg4wDrgAP145_qYWDNGGx1Ud-4UVR3sbUN2pkmFG5AXWlcsmzP_hqC-K4wFKSsT9JjvY0MZRxgU/s4032/IMG_4548.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJngqcAfn1Bqym25TGQv_B6aVrn2BUSuotFXE5Z-g__cBw7a0gxa6OmGODfnXbxGRr5lTu8iayK1amdLpkdx6jbsbfI2uP1p0_9mm3_y1KyjdDpfCqg4wDrgAP145_qYWDNGGx1Ud-4UVR3sbUN2pkmFG5AXWlcsmzP_hqC-K4wFKSsT9JjvY0MZRxgU/w480-h640/IMG_4548.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A thornless rubus species, similar to R henryi but the fruits are different</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkG5YScvHVoE62yu5HBElOfpaFr2FDoNPMNPFeFVjZvIVniddinOy5Q00yDcVAL9_t6dEWAQIA4duer05WWjL4ailyIhTm42NkV_3b_-Vz-PEODDYX_FPwMxplUFvPptN6cE_7NqcuFI7IHmOpXA2wOEb-INdrN4VdQ_nAEoVSvWeRDgqnAD9mytHhC0/s4032/IMG_4549.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkG5YScvHVoE62yu5HBElOfpaFr2FDoNPMNPFeFVjZvIVniddinOy5Q00yDcVAL9_t6dEWAQIA4duer05WWjL4ailyIhTm42NkV_3b_-Vz-PEODDYX_FPwMxplUFvPptN6cE_7NqcuFI7IHmOpXA2wOEb-INdrN4VdQ_nAEoVSvWeRDgqnAD9mytHhC0/w480-h640/IMG_4549.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More of the thorneless Rubus</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEHalieA1iM1t0Sn8uMArJQNQweFAPCT5yGrheNze7pMlXDqWoAG57xVYYoqr_a1wRPVBxJ26WRoookd3EVW8WFA-QHOPmJxBbl52q3hjl2jGoBGoW4Fjx_mA6R_a-F4iGwpLuncx3b4yD7hCZtv2RyHQyr5mDhlMsvONPueOSYnpsU0kOJFVVzbDUVI/s4032/IMG_4560.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEHalieA1iM1t0Sn8uMArJQNQweFAPCT5yGrheNze7pMlXDqWoAG57xVYYoqr_a1wRPVBxJ26WRoookd3EVW8WFA-QHOPmJxBbl52q3hjl2jGoBGoW4Fjx_mA6R_a-F4iGwpLuncx3b4yD7hCZtv2RyHQyr5mDhlMsvONPueOSYnpsU0kOJFVVzbDUVI/w480-h640/IMG_4560.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A large leaved rhododendron. There were many species in this area</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyk3JXaeveaZcNdV3wFkcSm4ShrOgGclru1cND8GflB2dHOW4a0IYvtd-wDoqH5FCiYCUjwkDKNrunIboLV06MLjgW561WHOWQCQEYF-u17wgLdz8ppE4sXg3jjj8IOU38VIQ3sFqKqsoNzgi1pNKy9abcNJ0PXjVsTgZTZk9qT5_XlrF0NUIzg80rfg/s4032/IMG_4564.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyk3JXaeveaZcNdV3wFkcSm4ShrOgGclru1cND8GflB2dHOW4a0IYvtd-wDoqH5FCiYCUjwkDKNrunIboLV06MLjgW561WHOWQCQEYF-u17wgLdz8ppE4sXg3jjj8IOU38VIQ3sFqKqsoNzgi1pNKy9abcNJ0PXjVsTgZTZk9qT5_XlrF0NUIzg80rfg/w480-h640/IMG_4564.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More rhododendrons </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQi9-QnOb2hgcKgkJkxKzEdsN1L8faG346DAM5SJWGQ7eB9LDRnRcIYuo02dWWKF2CQFwns0xqnQDQuSjfh61FF_V0CP_jMQ8ydP5xJoGrYYzrtfYwC-idY5qlZhwTHuk7wGnY0muTRIrvrcECFyLe4v9m1Ah_q_czzIg_kpkkAacsCDctDr0ukAcbJE/s4032/IMG_4569.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQi9-QnOb2hgcKgkJkxKzEdsN1L8faG346DAM5SJWGQ7eB9LDRnRcIYuo02dWWKF2CQFwns0xqnQDQuSjfh61FF_V0CP_jMQ8ydP5xJoGrYYzrtfYwC-idY5qlZhwTHuk7wGnY0muTRIrvrcECFyLe4v9m1Ah_q_czzIg_kpkkAacsCDctDr0ukAcbJE/w480-h640/IMG_4569.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Took a walk deeper into the woods, luckily no snakes but it was lightly raining. No leeches either but we did find one near the end of our trip. </div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVem6KDAD8_7PTugQPWUw3ak9ZqzVCgoD6VWMSBMG6mNwgZwadJeI45_EWYvCrXZ5Ig99avxAYmgTcA4LUEr4g165yA4TO11eiMoHzKWSQ3iKs6vv870CyogxhrJhxZtzsWBW4gTcHCY1RYWw2IjLhWRkxoO2Z1GDNLOhqdAR8ip6-M3g6_Ogm7ORFKg/s4032/IMG_4572.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVem6KDAD8_7PTugQPWUw3ak9ZqzVCgoD6VWMSBMG6mNwgZwadJeI45_EWYvCrXZ5Ig99avxAYmgTcA4LUEr4g165yA4TO11eiMoHzKWSQ3iKs6vv870CyogxhrJhxZtzsWBW4gTcHCY1RYWw2IjLhWRkxoO2Z1GDNLOhqdAR8ip6-M3g6_Ogm7ORFKg/w480-h640/IMG_4572.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A wonderful Rubus species, this did have a few thorns but the fruits were delicious!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtKKcjm6eGmmyM9TlCBzjAAMQRZQFOs4unAVQzm7ZyquSL_sxcIu3GY6kX8c87FhVCL-ZgovkfBRESIJSglPJaqdy9ORfOi6cNjbwHfy7HbUJkWGG7oeF8m_5GmuWjAWh8W28PiV8lr_ssDcbrd2lh9oqQdaeMsp7A4iXg1Uvk9Diyllj8mQl0bWtYkg/s4032/IMG_4574.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtKKcjm6eGmmyM9TlCBzjAAMQRZQFOs4unAVQzm7ZyquSL_sxcIu3GY6kX8c87FhVCL-ZgovkfBRESIJSglPJaqdy9ORfOi6cNjbwHfy7HbUJkWGG7oeF8m_5GmuWjAWh8W28PiV8lr_ssDcbrd2lh9oqQdaeMsp7A4iXg1Uvk9Diyllj8mQl0bWtYkg/w480-h640/IMG_4574.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An interesting bush with brilliant blue berries with tiny seeds. I assume it is in the Ericaceae. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDC5RLBXuODTlZ2D_jlf29sHnHT6cZYR5ktqdpRlBIfc0yLjWkuJpSqMXt-6FN-E98_UbBgSWShdp3WeFwVaJfS0Pu9FlOsXqTK58nwYhGzT_WKcpprOD6TTXliAQ19lAfdgTYUEIx-TepkSHB6A_iIJyuJpBwf0dtTwhp9vjRgcLIF384aVuo0XP2bVI/s4032/IMG_4579.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDC5RLBXuODTlZ2D_jlf29sHnHT6cZYR5ktqdpRlBIfc0yLjWkuJpSqMXt-6FN-E98_UbBgSWShdp3WeFwVaJfS0Pu9FlOsXqTK58nwYhGzT_WKcpprOD6TTXliAQ19lAfdgTYUEIx-TepkSHB6A_iIJyuJpBwf0dtTwhp9vjRgcLIF384aVuo0XP2bVI/w480-h640/IMG_4579.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An Aruncus in flower</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpRJlgrquUzkGrRarsK3enXSQQ4z8-RTMQNtSpeAd-WSc07VGLvuKRILZo-E_cA5rNUCjHClyc6-yrpX_ySD3HogQPkvZ4mS0xDVAy_2n1HKdmiKk84T_-N5Ie2p4-A-B95ia-mOsEqboD8GjSvVVpr0n774Jx7MwdHXp467Spj-_KxerGbOIQA57SV8/s4032/IMG_4580.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpRJlgrquUzkGrRarsK3enXSQQ4z8-RTMQNtSpeAd-WSc07VGLvuKRILZo-E_cA5rNUCjHClyc6-yrpX_ySD3HogQPkvZ4mS0xDVAy_2n1HKdmiKk84T_-N5Ie2p4-A-B95ia-mOsEqboD8GjSvVVpr0n774Jx7MwdHXp467Spj-_KxerGbOIQA57SV8/w480-h640/IMG_4580.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A species of Spirea with nice pink flower clusters</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtbQaIvqHoam_0E3-CQVBLnGEWHQIELha1SM6tFBYuKLWw9PtPMIXD3EHA75F3vCKVKQdBpl4kClAtTpwflp7lIKI3eGYdduL8F3IxQN1Q9fkZFdtrnKcSkBAjB6apqueS0UqcWXZbIVeyaVLb90Xc2vJQyyVuor-npHuRWOYziwXAFE4gmGDvhWzZg4/s4032/IMG_4584.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtbQaIvqHoam_0E3-CQVBLnGEWHQIELha1SM6tFBYuKLWw9PtPMIXD3EHA75F3vCKVKQdBpl4kClAtTpwflp7lIKI3eGYdduL8F3IxQN1Q9fkZFdtrnKcSkBAjB6apqueS0UqcWXZbIVeyaVLb90Xc2vJQyyVuor-npHuRWOYziwXAFE4gmGDvhWzZg4/w480-h640/IMG_4584.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Found more of the Polygala shrub, this may be P. arillata. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdavQ0QnB4eSXJxXUZV9bxigW2mkXeR2k9OI7UXv-1kCeCCFsbnGWy_yCLuFCWgN70JEyX2QIlMEuNVZyV1z8Tk3z6N_GJe6ZjUK6eFpepEvRc-sY6kh95lT6TfYM8E_14QIz8meeRvXkkmGYynaH0ZcU7D7TGGyZK0bI2jUJ2iFOhtwWoREq_QUuvO0/s4032/IMG_4586.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdavQ0QnB4eSXJxXUZV9bxigW2mkXeR2k9OI7UXv-1kCeCCFsbnGWy_yCLuFCWgN70JEyX2QIlMEuNVZyV1z8Tk3z6N_GJe6ZjUK6eFpepEvRc-sY6kh95lT6TfYM8E_14QIz8meeRvXkkmGYynaH0ZcU7D7TGGyZK0bI2jUJ2iFOhtwWoREq_QUuvO0/w480-h640/IMG_4586.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An interesting and pretty sedge species with white flowers</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvCZl8qVoCsI20gZoOIUSHm-7D2OPCUSmQ417Gm-hWnGCOuOX0pNbh-ItCEwXUfw9NiSdLTvjIJgb6NJQXC_sqVPwUU7Korche6LoPI_2fAl7OF_YUgWf0hAf8F97lWCWae2IhbfujjVcDE1YivFX4ToySFfX9Rfe-WWzFOu0egFuPiB4DYT-RhrlYno/s4032/IMG_4589.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvCZl8qVoCsI20gZoOIUSHm-7D2OPCUSmQ417Gm-hWnGCOuOX0pNbh-ItCEwXUfw9NiSdLTvjIJgb6NJQXC_sqVPwUU7Korche6LoPI_2fAl7OF_YUgWf0hAf8F97lWCWae2IhbfujjVcDE1YivFX4ToySFfX9Rfe-WWzFOu0egFuPiB4DYT-RhrlYno/w480-h640/IMG_4589.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Polygonum or Persicaria species</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PfURiKjroPNHAIsB9RsJi5YE1vqarTI9__OkeGp6P9YqRm3USknfpTC7GdyAP9DoI098QEDQz9v5OfBQPmn4qKRi8UCqXMhIDff-EVmUHEyiZnxCFs1VShvgApivrK2nCmjo5B8lGtobSy5ctDCN-Po_ZnY7oS7zfPKeSsH33GYbo8xf-exrWc1mI2M/s4032/IMG_4590.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PfURiKjroPNHAIsB9RsJi5YE1vqarTI9__OkeGp6P9YqRm3USknfpTC7GdyAP9DoI098QEDQz9v5OfBQPmn4qKRi8UCqXMhIDff-EVmUHEyiZnxCFs1VShvgApivrK2nCmjo5B8lGtobSy5ctDCN-Po_ZnY7oS7zfPKeSsH33GYbo8xf-exrWc1mI2M/w480-h640/IMG_4590.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Waterfall</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCbPWUkkcnjGgq-kuqFSust2GPgub42nfQ-yYNlntPN-_mD1glu0zbA-UtYnziTdRt-iwWd3kDCNmr9Ph5mjBh14VWcav5Mw5F1vTiGFtkvW8yo-B6IJTJfH3GAEn-igYazxzKKoJnQxxIeFwW4r1CLWBxAugDg3GTympi2IlzRmxegEfB8YEkbeGZIU/s4032/IMG_4592.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCbPWUkkcnjGgq-kuqFSust2GPgub42nfQ-yYNlntPN-_mD1glu0zbA-UtYnziTdRt-iwWd3kDCNmr9Ph5mjBh14VWcav5Mw5F1vTiGFtkvW8yo-B6IJTJfH3GAEn-igYazxzKKoJnQxxIeFwW4r1CLWBxAugDg3GTympi2IlzRmxegEfB8YEkbeGZIU/w480-h640/IMG_4592.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A species of everlasting, maybe Anaphalis</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbDgmG6rDE1FCwqgHvsc9Q8qLQZiPvNi7A4YP3MnsJd2zQcTtTb6fbUtKpTfA1eduF9cQuufl4rFFVPY96lTweVuR-xdga03nYjsUZ9uGt3x7IPWf7Xyr84AfkKe2ohEh3HlC3itj-RYc7oZjAuygOLfveIF66gsZvaNcoB6oA0bouzZZfPyrvGadCAA/s4032/IMG_4595.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbDgmG6rDE1FCwqgHvsc9Q8qLQZiPvNi7A4YP3MnsJd2zQcTtTb6fbUtKpTfA1eduF9cQuufl4rFFVPY96lTweVuR-xdga03nYjsUZ9uGt3x7IPWf7Xyr84AfkKe2ohEh3HlC3itj-RYc7oZjAuygOLfveIF66gsZvaNcoB6oA0bouzZZfPyrvGadCAA/w480-h640/IMG_4595.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Persicaria sp</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4GdgeEC2HuEUzhcFEVub7L8z0b-PXA28saejv6GaVxv50TD6k6xr89Zt4q8_5hFDknmZVteqHxMG7-DrrclWGTi21Zat77wRjZIzuuwVrzi6h0ywoLzMqqAUqsiaJmDKdG8qf04lEUTTYL0uJsDYjL0SjbStGLZDU2j2vWjKOQXdrj70HkTflfVP-Mo/s4032/IMG_4597.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4GdgeEC2HuEUzhcFEVub7L8z0b-PXA28saejv6GaVxv50TD6k6xr89Zt4q8_5hFDknmZVteqHxMG7-DrrclWGTi21Zat77wRjZIzuuwVrzi6h0ywoLzMqqAUqsiaJmDKdG8qf04lEUTTYL0uJsDYjL0SjbStGLZDU2j2vWjKOQXdrj70HkTflfVP-Mo/w480-h640/IMG_4597.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Halenia sp and probably coltsfoot leaves</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyG7XyWh1H37cnjATK27JY3cUNbi4P1xx93AqcJJz144CyHUK4vIvMX52VGAc6RMFhzo4xZjG_jyTJ3L7HTll42PBOsg4LgQApPMQqLhoc_XfnTXG7UBQyQD1UtpDoev0QnqhnUYJB3wcR9at6MXaXOKqFlNji7pmE93UrqitTchYO6nelaO8E4IwHYA8/s4032/IMG_4598.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyG7XyWh1H37cnjATK27JY3cUNbi4P1xx93AqcJJz144CyHUK4vIvMX52VGAc6RMFhzo4xZjG_jyTJ3L7HTll42PBOsg4LgQApPMQqLhoc_XfnTXG7UBQyQD1UtpDoev0QnqhnUYJB3wcR9at6MXaXOKqFlNji7pmE93UrqitTchYO6nelaO8E4IwHYA8/w480-h640/IMG_4598.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Halenia sp. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9JcdqctXqmmDsJrUfVN1rbYJWQh9hl2V8JatKd-33zV_jCvJuIPwY9mfiP7W2wX9a6fbzJkGguOCJjumQTmtlpcgMG1C0urjSqqzIEsfCxJZMH_Eij_sYa6CSt8jo3UZiXmZg67QiC1HaJmxcfuHuSVkU0CthFjEoObauOAMAxnO-sdKp3rGRxfXwZE/s4032/IMG_4607.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9JcdqctXqmmDsJrUfVN1rbYJWQh9hl2V8JatKd-33zV_jCvJuIPwY9mfiP7W2wX9a6fbzJkGguOCJjumQTmtlpcgMG1C0urjSqqzIEsfCxJZMH_Eij_sYa6CSt8jo3UZiXmZg67QiC1HaJmxcfuHuSVkU0CthFjEoObauOAMAxnO-sdKp3rGRxfXwZE/w480-h640/IMG_4607.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Orchid, maybe Malaxis sp</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRErzqr5q3cHAPk84Jg1QnXdW7DCSuEg3lQXZTMOgh3FxRiLcXS7IVMtWvOUOiPk_kKVjtoIOHeMaH3Guij1hpPx7ewJCbZjETnWymTu35hlVYQql2AUAt76C_PmUB1i1gZCmPI4yk-5sAV2D_4Oau4k9W9I7kKujIkW0B3iUUovD-a75Y8Bm491ggsU/s4032/IMG_4610.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRErzqr5q3cHAPk84Jg1QnXdW7DCSuEg3lQXZTMOgh3FxRiLcXS7IVMtWvOUOiPk_kKVjtoIOHeMaH3Guij1hpPx7ewJCbZjETnWymTu35hlVYQql2AUAt76C_PmUB1i1gZCmPI4yk-5sAV2D_4Oau4k9W9I7kKujIkW0B3iUUovD-a75Y8Bm491ggsU/w480-h640/IMG_4610.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Arisaema sp, maybe lobatum, in fruit</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ahJpmuIE2hGndREaWi5D3rcVV46KPKXXxccotI52jCol8DO9qb4DQ9YLaShmYqs9jC3YhK0TCGBNVdZ-BZgkSdkv_iv8XFq0Fv6fXC7qboJ4AqFxVM54Plt0YRZ_6s6YqM8C41VfuXvnsvJkJBSTopJxiBYclt0nL20X294FZraHbM1IA9LgR0gAbGk/s4032/IMG_4611.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ahJpmuIE2hGndREaWi5D3rcVV46KPKXXxccotI52jCol8DO9qb4DQ9YLaShmYqs9jC3YhK0TCGBNVdZ-BZgkSdkv_iv8XFq0Fv6fXC7qboJ4AqFxVM54Plt0YRZ_6s6YqM8C41VfuXvnsvJkJBSTopJxiBYclt0nL20X294FZraHbM1IA9LgR0gAbGk/w480-h640/IMG_4611.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rocks provide perfect places for seedling rhododendrons and other treasures</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwz4uBYjzrKYkmqHZRB-8XV2PLxp2v3ueBPhHossyAA2K0votFE0KtYhO8nREXYuMOm0W8-XdoGUQ39ijNceXC-rw5ZE7EYJXD9OM4upFsdd_iTpevag69iHKnFnJI4VKsNfTwGMaDkA8h24ixQ438yuME_9PyuMZ7jVhDC3FRfl21LJIfEp4kvuuiN8/s4032/IMG_4614.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwz4uBYjzrKYkmqHZRB-8XV2PLxp2v3ueBPhHossyAA2K0votFE0KtYhO8nREXYuMOm0W8-XdoGUQ39ijNceXC-rw5ZE7EYJXD9OM4upFsdd_iTpevag69iHKnFnJI4VKsNfTwGMaDkA8h24ixQ438yuME_9PyuMZ7jVhDC3FRfl21LJIfEp4kvuuiN8/w480-h640/IMG_4614.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fern on a rock</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqZoVkCIriPvFIPAlBGutNmLnCku9pCTFpd2dudI6qPpugITsHs00USiiVixShof4giE2iG3-KgnyE7wdOtnbSRSAURkFKNRNpg0880DXtAHLboU-CEjYMr1Vs2ki29J07FCKIttT8qsYULVTeYd-rzKm0pM90cUMRzR_MDVel22IB8K7tcnHXTCwqE0/s4032/IMG_4617.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqZoVkCIriPvFIPAlBGutNmLnCku9pCTFpd2dudI6qPpugITsHs00USiiVixShof4giE2iG3-KgnyE7wdOtnbSRSAURkFKNRNpg0880DXtAHLboU-CEjYMr1Vs2ki29J07FCKIttT8qsYULVTeYd-rzKm0pM90cUMRzR_MDVel22IB8K7tcnHXTCwqE0/w480-h640/IMG_4617.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mosses and a tiny leaved rhodendron (?) on the rocks</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaf-JuqJidj99zz0gpnVXz2ikprVbwXZg8zKv841Wvq98UUZUvsvBrkak4mk_cIuV9G8mergx5uVTRzqroAsssHCwotvbHhaDG6Bn8c3EwbcmcM916rtTCkWhkNRVuwBET9l5_g4GQUcs9hTpgquE7lMCC4PaOeTxZcY7y-UkG7Kw1L5WoYvKYo1LEkyA/s4032/IMG_4623.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaf-JuqJidj99zz0gpnVXz2ikprVbwXZg8zKv841Wvq98UUZUvsvBrkak4mk_cIuV9G8mergx5uVTRzqroAsssHCwotvbHhaDG6Bn8c3EwbcmcM916rtTCkWhkNRVuwBET9l5_g4GQUcs9hTpgquE7lMCC4PaOeTxZcY7y-UkG7Kw1L5WoYvKYo1LEkyA/w480-h640/IMG_4623.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Goodyera sp</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ms415VvsYrSgm_8jidVB-l4MSqioli6NVNxyfjRafnXbItrcbXpoZTJNAVKnmJCrYCzOvoFickUjsfulXxXY1xXr2TBbxaso1EXDhXhmoY1RZ3JGeJ57O6XHZG5yofRrKZVg6ydwghddI3ggq1PxN8D6nkLg88hoRgQ8Vown7aDedaziOdM1wo0o3M0/s4032/IMG_4624.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ms415VvsYrSgm_8jidVB-l4MSqioli6NVNxyfjRafnXbItrcbXpoZTJNAVKnmJCrYCzOvoFickUjsfulXxXY1xXr2TBbxaso1EXDhXhmoY1RZ3JGeJ57O6XHZG5yofRrKZVg6ydwghddI3ggq1PxN8D6nkLg88hoRgQ8Vown7aDedaziOdM1wo0o3M0/w480-h640/IMG_4624.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More ferns on rocks</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmleJsv-VWzWUiBKyZ3UePtcvXSlc5O4eVND52ThoutKPkWZcJ5drtHe55FkwHKsX7BZSGiZFMEkSQIT1o4T0ggUENTpEheJwVeVl3HXjm5MeBSvJEY1OTaI7SbPMtFOuOr06cGMrds3HfahCDROQ9812ucvZbKFTZWSwfoK7wPWIjmaToSsx1Lr6WLA/s4032/IMG_4627.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmleJsv-VWzWUiBKyZ3UePtcvXSlc5O4eVND52ThoutKPkWZcJ5drtHe55FkwHKsX7BZSGiZFMEkSQIT1o4T0ggUENTpEheJwVeVl3HXjm5MeBSvJEY1OTaI7SbPMtFOuOr06cGMrds3HfahCDROQ9812ucvZbKFTZWSwfoK7wPWIjmaToSsx1Lr6WLA/w480-h640/IMG_4627.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yet more cool ferns</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRm0Y6shwVAUsGnHOucwwo4l0Ot4Bz8T6pnAZq2F-UHlGaAixCxmXbBA6iQyvrAXYXJpLvEzfUrvs9NLbgaJ-OLesbUicpMP5OCRFJBR1uVZ-1pSqPvoazQgF6MsCw-tIgonQlDriHwi0s3aCM74TOCWHbqiaYS3dstz6ze2UD7IAgZGpBPw7rf-tSDHw/s4032/IMG_4633.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRm0Y6shwVAUsGnHOucwwo4l0Ot4Bz8T6pnAZq2F-UHlGaAixCxmXbBA6iQyvrAXYXJpLvEzfUrvs9NLbgaJ-OLesbUicpMP5OCRFJBR1uVZ-1pSqPvoazQgF6MsCw-tIgonQlDriHwi0s3aCM74TOCWHbqiaYS3dstz6ze2UD7IAgZGpBPw7rf-tSDHw/w480-h640/IMG_4633.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A mossy rock becomes a nursery bed for all kinds of cool plants</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCYN-j9NUI0Nv2RQud6rb4tXeO_9HKjDEkUZplx1fPXE6kKU8dOEc1wOdrMm1wcoLuswLcO3fYOgpWcaJN4g9HOXqS2s2dppOqeAvwffFw2vzXSkE9LOBwDPhAFvVyvoBc6rkNVA0UO2hagSI7v8sjAdKwJpmYT5V5C0TyXO3qvrcYqzMtkAkX77GlH0/s4032/IMG_4634.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCYN-j9NUI0Nv2RQud6rb4tXeO_9HKjDEkUZplx1fPXE6kKU8dOEc1wOdrMm1wcoLuswLcO3fYOgpWcaJN4g9HOXqS2s2dppOqeAvwffFw2vzXSkE9LOBwDPhAFvVyvoBc6rkNVA0UO2hagSI7v8sjAdKwJpmYT5V5C0TyXO3qvrcYqzMtkAkX77GlH0/w480-h640/IMG_4634.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Persicaria sp</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Y3dV08Q-p1OROytlJno3z_CEo7rMRVbjjhi6IxMY3YprPNQulcUL75zcPHAhL9kzcqFp4D_sbzALl06ek_hHnSTRrOb3KYuWhQ27ChL6wYNGBskY6V_g3R2L0im_mnpNFgcOGLH5XaCq5vdsDoo4F6vPtYgs8SKgbi0tovnP2eMcLH1M5DjscfQnHto/s4032/IMG_4637.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Y3dV08Q-p1OROytlJno3z_CEo7rMRVbjjhi6IxMY3YprPNQulcUL75zcPHAhL9kzcqFp4D_sbzALl06ek_hHnSTRrOb3KYuWhQ27ChL6wYNGBskY6V_g3R2L0im_mnpNFgcOGLH5XaCq5vdsDoo4F6vPtYgs8SKgbi0tovnP2eMcLH1M5DjscfQnHto/w480-h640/IMG_4637.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Buddliea sp</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieU1p6IG6yMIpcsiY-h2qo6DAxGt0wScFAWY5Hqkq8uFGon3DRrQW3HIHDjlbhhBV_UPmpRqPTGiePvZGiuxmsOwPkrMtb4kwE3eBWYKw-iHzL5HJk_uTvKjIgY2MPXm7MoIyUBJlJu1lFXRiajU1eJ5Zn_mvlJlfjI9Twzj2Q5bZh-J5xqbGXPbeI5fo/s4032/IMG_4641.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieU1p6IG6yMIpcsiY-h2qo6DAxGt0wScFAWY5Hqkq8uFGon3DRrQW3HIHDjlbhhBV_UPmpRqPTGiePvZGiuxmsOwPkrMtb4kwE3eBWYKw-iHzL5HJk_uTvKjIgY2MPXm7MoIyUBJlJu1lFXRiajU1eJ5Zn_mvlJlfjI9Twzj2Q5bZh-J5xqbGXPbeI5fo/w480-h640/IMG_4641.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Goodyera, Fragaria and company on the rocks</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZe0wfiLfa252pQnDpHKS-bYxQC7yJWENFcyIYpueCC8JQepWEUDAmKtZHaI8OaCRdpPQlnn8EflKgITZ6h4jeIbZnV_Ciu4fE7SBPHZ4n6AkVF8jhh8JAoSXE3tGB445JNgFz_KVjjn5o5shPUAbO23FAGyeLcSwwA186D3p6uABkm6ABeubUEvhVoY/s4032/IMG_4645.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZe0wfiLfa252pQnDpHKS-bYxQC7yJWENFcyIYpueCC8JQepWEUDAmKtZHaI8OaCRdpPQlnn8EflKgITZ6h4jeIbZnV_Ciu4fE7SBPHZ4n6AkVF8jhh8JAoSXE3tGB445JNgFz_KVjjn5o5shPUAbO23FAGyeLcSwwA186D3p6uABkm6ABeubUEvhVoY/w480-h640/IMG_4645.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Goodyera in flower</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZN3wD-qsPqy0liEE2zzMk4qrEz8B3nkLM5gY8wiBjA2TtkhZgdbQ0253RSfY5hnwI6mg3Eqcsh-lDG-BZQiNczDGr-HkO7nSn2YjieEXiluey8SZvK6nP-EMihtN7YUsfgYS1741F2yp4aB_JjsLfXXS0WSyEi24Fqor-HeXewu-8KCpIvz4IumAeLss/s4032/IMG_4647.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZN3wD-qsPqy0liEE2zzMk4qrEz8B3nkLM5gY8wiBjA2TtkhZgdbQ0253RSfY5hnwI6mg3Eqcsh-lDG-BZQiNczDGr-HkO7nSn2YjieEXiluey8SZvK6nP-EMihtN7YUsfgYS1741F2yp4aB_JjsLfXXS0WSyEi24Fqor-HeXewu-8KCpIvz4IumAeLss/w480-h640/IMG_4647.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Apiaceae of some sort</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprMn0nZ0f9-mYMK6HH3DwPg6dvbaCx4ihoWvt_wphZW30TDwHapzLrcLpUNU2Ie5GH4xOThrJyL4Ue5pfk60RRk_79VRIk7eoqtMpM1zDH1Cky-bxfPOebEC86Qq75YFYwhCQbmeYCFBT1jVi6UggW7dgm30y6fets4cAjT_aloSBRSTwCJAzahj6H98/s4032/IMG_4649.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprMn0nZ0f9-mYMK6HH3DwPg6dvbaCx4ihoWvt_wphZW30TDwHapzLrcLpUNU2Ie5GH4xOThrJyL4Ue5pfk60RRk_79VRIk7eoqtMpM1zDH1Cky-bxfPOebEC86Qq75YFYwhCQbmeYCFBT1jVi6UggW7dgm30y6fets4cAjT_aloSBRSTwCJAzahj6H98/w480-h640/IMG_4649.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Polygonatum sp</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUtBgy5NhA2PEm-PRQuTg696sQndhV8TnRGu6dZTvsyoWD5forPQws0LwaXNwxL_SqB6JbeEqM9pZYMdXGjhNlwlTlG5DxNu7v47fG9zhuEHri4DgM7x5Y0IdTI6jjIdMo4SCqvsJLrxZ0ljHi_9Z4v6i145QH6zHdnDsF3c8-KmnA0Do4cmsxgwKBUA/s4032/IMG_4650.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUtBgy5NhA2PEm-PRQuTg696sQndhV8TnRGu6dZTvsyoWD5forPQws0LwaXNwxL_SqB6JbeEqM9pZYMdXGjhNlwlTlG5DxNu7v47fG9zhuEHri4DgM7x5Y0IdTI6jjIdMo4SCqvsJLrxZ0ljHi_9Z4v6i145QH6zHdnDsF3c8-KmnA0Do4cmsxgwKBUA/w480-h640/IMG_4650.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Impatiens sp</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdgwq97N4TgRFp1vzai7j2XzrLNyhee3PeKcK_lzUG2vUFtxIiXTEDZOC064FRgsDoEip22d9fWPgO0rfl2zOCaq-fMvnexagFhH7XgyydE9pYd6BVRzpwGWtCEgAGupS37kbFLQyukYCBZPtotMhuIMHm9pVstvaB3U_DJXuX0nX_uKLJ2hSKduoshU/s4032/IMG_4652.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdgwq97N4TgRFp1vzai7j2XzrLNyhee3PeKcK_lzUG2vUFtxIiXTEDZOC064FRgsDoEip22d9fWPgO0rfl2zOCaq-fMvnexagFhH7XgyydE9pYd6BVRzpwGWtCEgAGupS37kbFLQyukYCBZPtotMhuIMHm9pVstvaB3U_DJXuX0nX_uKLJ2hSKduoshU/w480-h640/IMG_4652.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Buddliea in seed</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBATCBkubv2UOSuhZZfhox9F2wPjNoBYd6Ypt-T-TDBgyV8txJL1FP2jtKfoPrYelXwqiRoT0Xmy0lAWPttCNs-5tFf1imK_NonbnNO3-ovFgVY_VezzX8Hlzm_DZBHOsbu9SiVESc58LDHBaj69Pojcfgy2DEjteWnkAOX6ly_7d0c1VOc6c65tgh2gI/s4032/IMG_4656.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBATCBkubv2UOSuhZZfhox9F2wPjNoBYd6Ypt-T-TDBgyV8txJL1FP2jtKfoPrYelXwqiRoT0Xmy0lAWPttCNs-5tFf1imK_NonbnNO3-ovFgVY_VezzX8Hlzm_DZBHOsbu9SiVESc58LDHBaj69Pojcfgy2DEjteWnkAOX6ly_7d0c1VOc6c65tgh2gI/w480-h640/IMG_4656.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More impatiens, as you can guess I am greatly enamored with this genus</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OSeuTLAgE54uY_VkamlK4hBEvs5JLkNSXgXXdXCkbjx8ULcPNNDNVC5Gjc-HNoyg2rsn3zxhHR2704HVK4ahetAxqHNfap29cofcJ_2T9re2EdbHaWIuXKT159MPJkP_roGHodtNkDICjTf8ALvdC5sOtLVjXj9_Ccg3XZsOAOU-YIAz8tlqBvGFoqU/s4032/IMG_4659.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OSeuTLAgE54uY_VkamlK4hBEvs5JLkNSXgXXdXCkbjx8ULcPNNDNVC5Gjc-HNoyg2rsn3zxhHR2704HVK4ahetAxqHNfap29cofcJ_2T9re2EdbHaWIuXKT159MPJkP_roGHodtNkDICjTf8ALvdC5sOtLVjXj9_Ccg3XZsOAOU-YIAz8tlqBvGFoqU/w480-h640/IMG_4659.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A magnificent corydalis, tall with bright yellow flowers and seeds</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbthqY8LXbr4jpjalKZYTv81_OGVhwbEs0w6F3-KztaVZzv3Vm0-ihX45PjeM8rqNtSJG5SrrnhtZE_LeMgXtxh3jwXndd2_fBSIdEKEPaDM18J6Ee_721anUUGv-RsI17zsK04Ou8npM9h2A4qH9QcFHpyN-41BYjleoKuAbGAmMOPnk_o5x8axH7CnI/s4032/IMG_4663.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbthqY8LXbr4jpjalKZYTv81_OGVhwbEs0w6F3-KztaVZzv3Vm0-ihX45PjeM8rqNtSJG5SrrnhtZE_LeMgXtxh3jwXndd2_fBSIdEKEPaDM18J6Ee_721anUUGv-RsI17zsK04Ou8npM9h2A4qH9QcFHpyN-41BYjleoKuAbGAmMOPnk_o5x8axH7CnI/w480-h640/IMG_4663.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Closer view of the corydalis</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Zt64sU7TCLqD59KLChBjw66CaANQN5sTE6WcvxtMqLdA78I9hSVzWeSaNKCgpDEeFxxDgDiN2WPtDr4lR02H6F3okFjM9tBW-iniaNTM43ODXbIhh59Ki9bIog1lTcqVYK2CLw1INQeTi_U755eqhOzFKulKHS6h_8nvlQ_Zvk5epmbk2gByECbc3VU/s4032/IMG_4670.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Zt64sU7TCLqD59KLChBjw66CaANQN5sTE6WcvxtMqLdA78I9hSVzWeSaNKCgpDEeFxxDgDiN2WPtDr4lR02H6F3okFjM9tBW-iniaNTM43ODXbIhh59Ki9bIog1lTcqVYK2CLw1INQeTi_U755eqhOzFKulKHS6h_8nvlQ_Zvk5epmbk2gByECbc3VU/w480-h640/IMG_4670.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Power lines snake their way through the mountains even in these remote areas. I give China an A+ when it comes to infrastructure, roads and power reach deep into places that were hardy accessible in past decades</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYphrIDvUCsQYFl-QimbAHLPZf-wq4vDaTJg5G2nQJc8hPasveC_zemomEPbyhhGJr5lLUVsGoHl8Hnb3SJ3oh-_FLG8qyEruQYb1qPErGPPc3PPxybxTkGpYCEecRloIXDdVuvqoG34TN7xn5V7YvPv1GNsIk2Ji9ZnV1jtTW7vKKhe7PaIaAieHp0e0/s4032/IMG_4676.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYphrIDvUCsQYFl-QimbAHLPZf-wq4vDaTJg5G2nQJc8hPasveC_zemomEPbyhhGJr5lLUVsGoHl8Hnb3SJ3oh-_FLG8qyEruQYb1qPErGPPc3PPxybxTkGpYCEecRloIXDdVuvqoG34TN7xn5V7YvPv1GNsIk2Ji9ZnV1jtTW7vKKhe7PaIaAieHp0e0/w480-h640/IMG_4676.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The clouds always add to the beauty of the views</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWj5nMpFYvxNfFjtO3yyqOQCd6JqsXY1iDt31dy3UysK-oMuDGLGMlpg3dT1ASXuB8rtbd7-uDRgC1aMZj_Z_8Z9VqserG88QkfTNaU_nkUjVSVsQTivR6FCBDFGpm3O0M8kk2NzEuAxB_lIhNLKxc8fs7xooVKZh9bBqTDwYs0DwUy-en8nXJvJW01g/s4032/IMG_4680.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWj5nMpFYvxNfFjtO3yyqOQCd6JqsXY1iDt31dy3UysK-oMuDGLGMlpg3dT1ASXuB8rtbd7-uDRgC1aMZj_Z_8Z9VqserG88QkfTNaU_nkUjVSVsQTivR6FCBDFGpm3O0M8kk2NzEuAxB_lIhNLKxc8fs7xooVKZh9bBqTDwYs0DwUy-en8nXJvJW01g/w480-h640/IMG_4680.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Satyrium, probably S nepalense, was not uncommon in this area. Small but very showy. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquTb4ocj-i8ijEme18nWK-LxxR66eYiKbi8-k3j0ggQKYM71sY1yzHS4PQGO754ha8rXMvVp1Z3ydL-AMAEKdm4Wo6KoJyRkoChZR4gkDF87wld9CDWQ0F0OhG3iAK5gwS55ZKsLph4xBrkRcIcncAkIMKD5EA7oRmyCE04WuxBR3UinaT_JsOlQmfzI/s4032/IMG_4688.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquTb4ocj-i8ijEme18nWK-LxxR66eYiKbi8-k3j0ggQKYM71sY1yzHS4PQGO754ha8rXMvVp1Z3ydL-AMAEKdm4Wo6KoJyRkoChZR4gkDF87wld9CDWQ0F0OhG3iAK5gwS55ZKsLph4xBrkRcIcncAkIMKD5EA7oRmyCE04WuxBR3UinaT_JsOlQmfzI/w480-h640/IMG_4688.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A whole group of S nepalense not far from the road</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrsxBvCzAkE8PQH2q_Hfg9HU8FHkEnUGyFcFq7RuOpKEGmI_ekqGJjnotfbCfbonyvv3Z4mgj1PDezcz_wVu6YJhw7Bq1HlrwNkhaR5eUqjI-TD-0G5n77AeJN-DG7pNIjt1eGlQTBi-WxsY3ajU9ZOUKfST6vgD7-rXgVjyD3KjD8Mb-nM8R7YppWn8/s4032/IMG_4693.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrsxBvCzAkE8PQH2q_Hfg9HU8FHkEnUGyFcFq7RuOpKEGmI_ekqGJjnotfbCfbonyvv3Z4mgj1PDezcz_wVu6YJhw7Bq1HlrwNkhaR5eUqjI-TD-0G5n77AeJN-DG7pNIjt1eGlQTBi-WxsY3ajU9ZOUKfST6vgD7-rXgVjyD3KjD8Mb-nM8R7YppWn8/w480-h640/IMG_4693.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A picturesque conifer that had epiphytic rhododendrons and other things growing among its branches near the trunk</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTYPxGWKNgeJO4z9XqdeiZD6NhpcHO3fgBfjkhOOZyudlUwPV2B-Cj99AMTPuaLKHjuDUfBXt7lVA4FSz_OjZHkYUl6vQl4zOQMMGDF5ISXm73kUpZsL0HCbPMX14y62QxN0KkfH9LULbCLI3cVs21ji3IhYiOOsuQ1kMzjg6GVhXLV_ZMqCGZbOGNeI/s4032/IMG_4698.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTYPxGWKNgeJO4z9XqdeiZD6NhpcHO3fgBfjkhOOZyudlUwPV2B-Cj99AMTPuaLKHjuDUfBXt7lVA4FSz_OjZHkYUl6vQl4zOQMMGDF5ISXm73kUpZsL0HCbPMX14y62QxN0KkfH9LULbCLI3cVs21ji3IhYiOOsuQ1kMzjg6GVhXLV_ZMqCGZbOGNeI/w480-h640/IMG_4698.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More of that pretty blue berried ericad bush</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2Oj1BqRpaYK5pQm0iaZwOq3B8LtwqbBLbPpCIfZUzNzbyTvhAjxXvEGzF371ahTeebnIbgJjdEWY62falmeU8l_OVm6OtbEPToOb74M7xBhHfGvVpLWtxYmPEKbloYR3Yrxcnq181H6rd2Ol3XXdBWYGNcBDr713ZqVkjuLdiYL3OK3YxpcP_RpsjD8/s4032/IMG_4704.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2Oj1BqRpaYK5pQm0iaZwOq3B8LtwqbBLbPpCIfZUzNzbyTvhAjxXvEGzF371ahTeebnIbgJjdEWY62falmeU8l_OVm6OtbEPToOb74M7xBhHfGvVpLWtxYmPEKbloYR3Yrxcnq181H6rd2Ol3XXdBWYGNcBDr713ZqVkjuLdiYL3OK3YxpcP_RpsjD8/w480-h640/IMG_4704.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally something I recognize as I grew it some years ago. Leycesteria formosa. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaCkeqZlrj8ugFyWXBXDSIqjAS_qX7qcP2K7zJVyso8F5ynbYhmP0_3mHb866CNth7M7_KCuGQbaFd_guhRtLIcaRVFQ0AfnzppyhpWFWdWRAG80OaMQSFHJpHhuE_mCBtw-3XA1F5JJyxGuGH4zAQlxdFNNHHnqBifmuPZZyIq4QDVo0m3S0H8_eFUk/s4032/IMG_4707.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaCkeqZlrj8ugFyWXBXDSIqjAS_qX7qcP2K7zJVyso8F5ynbYhmP0_3mHb866CNth7M7_KCuGQbaFd_guhRtLIcaRVFQ0AfnzppyhpWFWdWRAG80OaMQSFHJpHhuE_mCBtw-3XA1F5JJyxGuGH4zAQlxdFNNHHnqBifmuPZZyIq4QDVo0m3S0H8_eFUk/w480-h640/IMG_4707.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">L. formosa has edible fruits filled with tiny seeds but I didnt try to eat them. The bracts are a nice touch which add to its attractiveness. </div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiw7Y8Df8YpbMIZYI_kKI364miEYaSl77iaOpMmMCs2o6AxZwDfrbSQqgXJ9nOEBYlyEDHrJlSLLZR2OK5RTpDqA6wIQ8cKHQm8sGxGnF7_tHl3qceqb7tN1INs1OwCPneo-qVqfjtdKTjHSFoc2HIIvntXh6RZPKwyo1JvLz6uR17V4CvL0vn_210vc/s4032/IMG_4711.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiw7Y8Df8YpbMIZYI_kKI364miEYaSl77iaOpMmMCs2o6AxZwDfrbSQqgXJ9nOEBYlyEDHrJlSLLZR2OK5RTpDqA6wIQ8cKHQm8sGxGnF7_tHl3qceqb7tN1INs1OwCPneo-qVqfjtdKTjHSFoc2HIIvntXh6RZPKwyo1JvLz6uR17V4CvL0vn_210vc/w480-h640/IMG_4711.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some buddlieas can become small trees</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcP1JV9dgOJYG0F5n_21_UBLRGabSaMz49zQoU7VTi6OanY14Uf17jDGouXNj3tteVQ0cmztnqIz9kv7F3TI2yN_C36u-KgApPoNgzSXNmD1OrWeRSjylt-QYbn38XHVLpkCFBoSYn4qqa3QLFDElyD0eZo1Xgm_nccQQ5m6UxP0YO3pnQ7fBKpWtuxM/s4032/IMG_4715.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcP1JV9dgOJYG0F5n_21_UBLRGabSaMz49zQoU7VTi6OanY14Uf17jDGouXNj3tteVQ0cmztnqIz9kv7F3TI2yN_C36u-KgApPoNgzSXNmD1OrWeRSjylt-QYbn38XHVLpkCFBoSYn4qqa3QLFDElyD0eZo1Xgm_nccQQ5m6UxP0YO3pnQ7fBKpWtuxM/w480-h640/IMG_4715.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A more typical shrub type hypericum species with very nice large flowers</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGknd4U_7dzzmnMUUjSc1jT0XkXjuubw_lmLcBfNuOyILukSShj1PjZYW9Z8a6-gzsJ5ioQICbMsKWXorCul7tmDQt83tdjHT5qkVEvqUAd1nEyFiD7so23PZ1ZSK3FbHVyVhkcXidA-b8-lZsml0kN9xXgLIbYe4WFpUprh5IDYpGlFVhdxnCIevv3jY/s4032/IMG_4720.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGknd4U_7dzzmnMUUjSc1jT0XkXjuubw_lmLcBfNuOyILukSShj1PjZYW9Z8a6-gzsJ5ioQICbMsKWXorCul7tmDQt83tdjHT5qkVEvqUAd1nEyFiD7so23PZ1ZSK3FbHVyVhkcXidA-b8-lZsml0kN9xXgLIbYe4WFpUprh5IDYpGlFVhdxnCIevv3jY/w480-h640/IMG_4720.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A lycopod trailing down off of a rock. Cool to think these plants have been around since long before the dinosaurs</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexlEjREb9jAT4QUet_yEYESwPLv-sfEfXhZTmYpDDeAjT0ufKOj8SC8GLNeKQNy2wOktk0eEKsyT9wi4voVCt87ZTAp6AkQrjU3cbvB2Zbe0XlgEKJ-sGvkW2AGKfz9GrsyR-2wavYKqN8UVVghVjaXWhHR1HG1-jSZUpseuoHWCxpFa4tFT-CEbIHmU/s4032/IMG_4723.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexlEjREb9jAT4QUet_yEYESwPLv-sfEfXhZTmYpDDeAjT0ufKOj8SC8GLNeKQNy2wOktk0eEKsyT9wi4voVCt87ZTAp6AkQrjU3cbvB2Zbe0XlgEKJ-sGvkW2AGKfz9GrsyR-2wavYKqN8UVVghVjaXWhHR1HG1-jSZUpseuoHWCxpFa4tFT-CEbIHmU/w480-h640/IMG_4723.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What is it? If I had to guess, its probably some kind of gesneriad. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgdln4iNnxQKKgRxyBSmSMhBCMg9DHHzDGhZ8G7_Y_8ojUhABeV8Lfe-XsbsklWBGxJDFWg9naQzAHvTFk_jBJPteF3eWrT6_ToAJOO2dsCvo6BifYWt7lIOaTRSJjliUEceP_ahyhL42s9SvDKf7bnDam5O3zroU5sanHqTAz9s7gvQ1rzqFzMVwAwQ/s4032/IMG_4751.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgdln4iNnxQKKgRxyBSmSMhBCMg9DHHzDGhZ8G7_Y_8ojUhABeV8Lfe-XsbsklWBGxJDFWg9naQzAHvTFk_jBJPteF3eWrT6_ToAJOO2dsCvo6BifYWt7lIOaTRSJjliUEceP_ahyhL42s9SvDKf7bnDam5O3zroU5sanHqTAz9s7gvQ1rzqFzMVwAwQ/w480-h640/IMG_4751.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A male moth at the hotel we stopped at, related to our native polyphemus moth</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoBMZIJTaocWIWnbCAef5fYBISMFpR8tnARfwllM6AjUbWEgm_gX3IW2pkB9v723XaVyOucJU_JPmabChQ8mlJip81BdWllT120f_qu08UkrvNrcYn9gAzXcknNLLOJPCzzKwliwOCHlzuptbKsAJ3AzxMbcQQpW3A57AliXm6_-ytkvTJkmem7rwfv8/s4032/IMG_4757.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoBMZIJTaocWIWnbCAef5fYBISMFpR8tnARfwllM6AjUbWEgm_gX3IW2pkB9v723XaVyOucJU_JPmabChQ8mlJip81BdWllT120f_qu08UkrvNrcYn9gAzXcknNLLOJPCzzKwliwOCHlzuptbKsAJ3AzxMbcQQpW3A57AliXm6_-ytkvTJkmem7rwfv8/w480-h640/IMG_4757.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A male Actias dubernardi. Exquisite relative of our luna moth.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWTXpBSJ-pgqwLJtU2bGS5TXvOPciVM6Y4wn3u5Dq2cCu9Ah7vuxdIktOeRfh01QTBWoBYtEnREE5fHRhrpeg86GFUf29XxadV0F_wou-nloXLLHwkZrsXlORJXkisM1a3wXCsLOPLrRHgmLnJ5VL7fIGzD-APJpGuRMF9Zr0xz5P3Jp5AjL97rBvr1k/s4032/IMG_4758.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWTXpBSJ-pgqwLJtU2bGS5TXvOPciVM6Y4wn3u5Dq2cCu9Ah7vuxdIktOeRfh01QTBWoBYtEnREE5fHRhrpeg86GFUf29XxadV0F_wou-nloXLLHwkZrsXlORJXkisM1a3wXCsLOPLrRHgmLnJ5VL7fIGzD-APJpGuRMF9Zr0xz5P3Jp5AjL97rBvr1k/w480-h640/IMG_4758.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of the beetles here were massive</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwlVqtOfO-lbSYvu6oLz55tF_Aw1ShhXD8NWUb1-8bKisLdpD7ReKWHzybj_AjfbSnZ5Vf_dQlinyuhzL6nyn5zluGa-WNfN_90Z8w1QNOEWZrJxAuJ-8MpylqQH2GCQq49aqjT7B8WI1vHoc3wFg2o8S2jEGPnWmmjrt1vFiWUsUVs2PPioq6-sMurQ/s4032/IMG_4761.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwlVqtOfO-lbSYvu6oLz55tF_Aw1ShhXD8NWUb1-8bKisLdpD7ReKWHzybj_AjfbSnZ5Vf_dQlinyuhzL6nyn5zluGa-WNfN_90Z8w1QNOEWZrJxAuJ-8MpylqQH2GCQq49aqjT7B8WI1vHoc3wFg2o8S2jEGPnWmmjrt1vFiWUsUVs2PPioq6-sMurQ/w480-h640/IMG_4761.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A stunning saturnid moth, there were several of these to be seen that night</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOeKmF_lNjH5I60aj5hP-AHnBUYospvgVjUY3FeW9krDgLTlLDfBqNuZj8MhFsurDnBDibJU-UK9AOsAFK9Mk8E4ETcPXp-22607pfmSxBXE0GZay5BcMSqh_XT7LL0WyyiUghahn53WWZ25HyyWXNocfPp3Zj3KWfTY2P5fIvtQf9TNeXHNXzMeZvsM/s4032/IMG_4763.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOeKmF_lNjH5I60aj5hP-AHnBUYospvgVjUY3FeW9krDgLTlLDfBqNuZj8MhFsurDnBDibJU-UK9AOsAFK9Mk8E4ETcPXp-22607pfmSxBXE0GZay5BcMSqh_XT7LL0WyyiUghahn53WWZ25HyyWXNocfPp3Zj3KWfTY2P5fIvtQf9TNeXHNXzMeZvsM/w480-h640/IMG_4763.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The wing patterns were mesmerizing</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJHjZXU1XI06OLueaegsTHSxn0qSQ8W7y4Im1xYVCkuBjv-NOWhCfzvpSi5hYe3Ko8uloKe3_bke1qn0yiXWbT52Ct5jE4czRrHpW_WNqL5QsUb8t90oyK_c11QRXE0jgVLUZiz5Pwq8GC2Ivvuzl0EZ-nk24EB_DYKtJKBqN9X6o3MYAwAWPQtvM5fI/s4032/IMG_4769.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJHjZXU1XI06OLueaegsTHSxn0qSQ8W7y4Im1xYVCkuBjv-NOWhCfzvpSi5hYe3Ko8uloKe3_bke1qn0yiXWbT52Ct5jE4czRrHpW_WNqL5QsUb8t90oyK_c11QRXE0jgVLUZiz5Pwq8GC2Ivvuzl0EZ-nk24EB_DYKtJKBqN9X6o3MYAwAWPQtvM5fI/w480-h640/IMG_4769.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No idea what species but it was a pretty color combination</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAEsduQc8MJHmRCQm1dxE_2eca3GUFN2_K4WlgYcjH1KniGz7jk7gukMhbE3FEKnmIxylUUWYqttGHBn6x_VSEVS5yegP57xTYiZJHNY-l3hbsxlY57MRbKlX3JuugKdV96aQzmg0ow-Xt46EJubLs2G4NBme3CNlTO3zYpSFro5bcerTga1Wp_JfFhA/s4032/IMG_4771.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAEsduQc8MJHmRCQm1dxE_2eca3GUFN2_K4WlgYcjH1KniGz7jk7gukMhbE3FEKnmIxylUUWYqttGHBn6x_VSEVS5yegP57xTYiZJHNY-l3hbsxlY57MRbKlX3JuugKdV96aQzmg0ow-Xt46EJubLs2G4NBme3CNlTO3zYpSFro5bcerTga1Wp_JfFhA/w480-h640/IMG_4771.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The hotel lobby</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNzyqnQPTx7nrlDmcEE6k3x49Dh8rxRoTtcVv3srgUffXV7CFSFPRe0OOK8ZE3AL7H-TrSE5Y9oZ8Y35FUV0XHl4Pb3m_fJ7V_wI05Bx1cu6sXfVa5yAyJfRP6Zdz-GLjm5cM-6k0Zr2R5-4uQzhXQzJJtjp4Rf1dqaiCYkjJ95fuhrqGCrvbRokPFIY/s4032/IMG_4774.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNzyqnQPTx7nrlDmcEE6k3x49Dh8rxRoTtcVv3srgUffXV7CFSFPRe0OOK8ZE3AL7H-TrSE5Y9oZ8Y35FUV0XHl4Pb3m_fJ7V_wI05Bx1cu6sXfVa5yAyJfRP6Zdz-GLjm5cM-6k0Zr2R5-4uQzhXQzJJtjp4Rf1dqaiCYkjJ95fuhrqGCrvbRokPFIY/w480-h640/IMG_4774.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another moth, maybe a geometrid sort? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-Q_GvQ1jCPOStgzBxlMBGjrNwZwzj8ciz0Vlt9YeNn9UJj-aR7St5AiYqo4CvwdTKDwmsd0-LQpHmDaLspFYhvzJhK1tmsMxDraip9WTjsrzf6Oum-ZYKPxbLJ89Pj4AHiK4Zws44R1Og-NdQno7sA_qlvAgv86f1HvH2dPVyoIiQ2abhhvAfA5hY6M/s4032/IMG_4785.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-Q_GvQ1jCPOStgzBxlMBGjrNwZwzj8ciz0Vlt9YeNn9UJj-aR7St5AiYqo4CvwdTKDwmsd0-LQpHmDaLspFYhvzJhK1tmsMxDraip9WTjsrzf6Oum-ZYKPxbLJ89Pj4AHiK4Zws44R1Og-NdQno7sA_qlvAgv86f1HvH2dPVyoIiQ2abhhvAfA5hY6M/w480-h640/IMG_4785.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another winged beauty</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsctf6ifYWX-LIJ9eg4VvcCIE9NDc6TFbonBc_khRHhUX4GtehgPWmvaM-ALWRwxzRN824ajJH6R4O4DXfYFHJ0E5jZWlBV0IvB_RDhI2xcIlttub-4lyRrl5p52unBBmCRH__j8QzPZN2HJiF6QR6D_YsLJP_5Pce4g9m6J9kJrEm0dAPPjG42gm_a7M/s4032/IMG_4791.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsctf6ifYWX-LIJ9eg4VvcCIE9NDc6TFbonBc_khRHhUX4GtehgPWmvaM-ALWRwxzRN824ajJH6R4O4DXfYFHJ0E5jZWlBV0IvB_RDhI2xcIlttub-4lyRrl5p52unBBmCRH__j8QzPZN2HJiF6QR6D_YsLJP_5Pce4g9m6J9kJrEm0dAPPjG42gm_a7M/w640-h480/IMG_4791.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The large saturnid moth, probably a species of Saturnia. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqJryTxVjpx7p37dldkHDSHca_HI9Lhs0GPRQtbnkkSiddL7P0teuQVX-waxELprs93WidEElW0c69nxyjwezoLX6IyWweOSWMHNUfxA_UU0zpvo7M3jYeiOY7Mw_2ZGPdJF5wbl_yEuyW6zRDDZzXOBp0LOiJnUitBOsb3ALMqYzkLoFuBuIx3COjW0/s4032/IMG_4797.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqJryTxVjpx7p37dldkHDSHca_HI9Lhs0GPRQtbnkkSiddL7P0teuQVX-waxELprs93WidEElW0c69nxyjwezoLX6IyWweOSWMHNUfxA_UU0zpvo7M3jYeiOY7Mw_2ZGPdJF5wbl_yEuyW6zRDDZzXOBp0LOiJnUitBOsb3ALMqYzkLoFuBuIx3COjW0/w640-h480/IMG_4797.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is probably an underwing moth, Catacola sp. We have plenty of them in the USA but none of our species have blue colors on their back wings</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Jru8cSppjCZzYWY38uht8OqH0YJGCGg7smDo1zebq_9fj1mXreb1JvJLvfojvyzkPnF-O_W0G5_81ck7hbh4a66Q16QbXQYTNsVGIFP7eVvNfg3iEA3De2rPCVsYPZepl21RGsIvLSO27w35s8Z_oeOaWfEWtdfCh55-9Z6pNDRZ5CTeWGGaAi5daHU/s4032/IMG_4806.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Jru8cSppjCZzYWY38uht8OqH0YJGCGg7smDo1zebq_9fj1mXreb1JvJLvfojvyzkPnF-O_W0G5_81ck7hbh4a66Q16QbXQYTNsVGIFP7eVvNfg3iEA3De2rPCVsYPZepl21RGsIvLSO27w35s8Z_oeOaWfEWtdfCh55-9Z6pNDRZ5CTeWGGaAi5daHU/w480-h640/IMG_4806.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A male saturnid, probably a Loepa species</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15TvLIrkIp_2XJQKTtjROHAIW87ttWZ7pNV-UW0gTXOYQeBWFBWmExqT2nvImseqhzFn21FBQ9DUjiawzIUaxDdySpujMVbkiP3td3Z-43Cd5GqPM7HAzErLZqHZvzKmrXvYe_6KKwPVpX_DTV62XPtE4LhPC55dl27DOJ4nntRg7jqOQtSxO0rXNXUc/s4032/IMG_4811.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15TvLIrkIp_2XJQKTtjROHAIW87ttWZ7pNV-UW0gTXOYQeBWFBWmExqT2nvImseqhzFn21FBQ9DUjiawzIUaxDdySpujMVbkiP3td3Z-43Cd5GqPM7HAzErLZqHZvzKmrXvYe_6KKwPVpX_DTV62XPtE4LhPC55dl27DOJ4nntRg7jqOQtSxO0rXNXUc/w480-h640/IMG_4811.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No idea what this medium sized moth is but the colors were great. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JrknMUDq6NoS3NEhNk063twNhqaTAxbs9sSjcHoQteDkY6SWlsPH1ZAPmjsPRcfzcIz1rVR7hsAM2kkS-dVnL5uNg3TevSzQDeXWlWIowsT8azdcBSkmq9fxQQ1AbDf0-52aJPjcpcUioNUhcKmbErz88ay2kp-Hhb7HwNcmbhFJCRAJwaTBm6ScVVU/s4032/IMG_4817.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JrknMUDq6NoS3NEhNk063twNhqaTAxbs9sSjcHoQteDkY6SWlsPH1ZAPmjsPRcfzcIz1rVR7hsAM2kkS-dVnL5uNg3TevSzQDeXWlWIowsT8azdcBSkmq9fxQQ1AbDf0-52aJPjcpcUioNUhcKmbErz88ay2kp-Hhb7HwNcmbhFJCRAJwaTBm6ScVVU/w480-h640/IMG_4817.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Like I said the beetles were huge</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbHOONJs4b6Keu3xlOmX2vVdun6f5HBYyvqSN9o9wqfPGQx28q368HyCFjylsK3nJa7TOD_rh6gzS-SAJhK3Q35R1QkZIcluX6YWayNRL7VmoEfg3x5JXwwE_S5zlGdowVmajKJibAKvupG7eKAaUlWXx_vDVFd07pq-RXhyDGKmXoq6RZxRo-b647Ro/s4032/IMG_4820.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbHOONJs4b6Keu3xlOmX2vVdun6f5HBYyvqSN9o9wqfPGQx28q368HyCFjylsK3nJa7TOD_rh6gzS-SAJhK3Q35R1QkZIcluX6YWayNRL7VmoEfg3x5JXwwE_S5zlGdowVmajKJibAKvupG7eKAaUlWXx_vDVFd07pq-RXhyDGKmXoq6RZxRo-b647Ro/w640-h480/IMG_4820.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another saturnid moth in the grass</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham0ujU_fiTNJdRjTB9rgVTw5RupYeV5nzeGrV2Bg1oLyl2HiQMRwsCE27QU4cKvp2oMN2_EccFLJkhlLP6LYd3A9L1AzLSgAsvejnVBhlBp6lin9HqKtjTzWTkAuAYUZNTv_YrVL9Psx6iyIH-xvg_7Aizapar-OwFuuyQmG05FlqmGgP9a2ddiOYjVo/s4032/IMG_4836.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham0ujU_fiTNJdRjTB9rgVTw5RupYeV5nzeGrV2Bg1oLyl2HiQMRwsCE27QU4cKvp2oMN2_EccFLJkhlLP6LYd3A9L1AzLSgAsvejnVBhlBp6lin9HqKtjTzWTkAuAYUZNTv_YrVL9Psx6iyIH-xvg_7Aizapar-OwFuuyQmG05FlqmGgP9a2ddiOYjVo/w480-h640/IMG_4836.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A little green moth</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRdWwHAkZYn9CMSVPFyaSN1qvf_NqGKWpA2CggAYVYStP4wtNr1MlGhhqtzsjAj4e6uqVM980xwCUntKUQnionkukfdiy3qpSmBIrhsbCfWt96lTodzfKN_b2HXdwrW__KCmg_oJcZvGq6GQ45uJDr6m-CGG4CKw1-ZOysMCtATNmOmht4jALeuEF-7E/s4032/IMG_4837.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRdWwHAkZYn9CMSVPFyaSN1qvf_NqGKWpA2CggAYVYStP4wtNr1MlGhhqtzsjAj4e6uqVM980xwCUntKUQnionkukfdiy3qpSmBIrhsbCfWt96lTodzfKN_b2HXdwrW__KCmg_oJcZvGq6GQ45uJDr6m-CGG4CKw1-ZOysMCtATNmOmht4jALeuEF-7E/w480-h640/IMG_4837.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Like the gold fringes on this one</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMF3etNfNl49srAfBLuEzSsxiJZ-N8SrkRm3a8E_0FIg416w1OI3DGWzBYJVLT6MICuGCiq8gk2MspM_GcbWXUfc9w7xVtcbK-alKn5wqVHmKI805GocrKvPtDozMxlsaLG0os1wOJ8PwMYgkjYHnTb_fwQT5CQlgNdjj4bmRcebHZdOcqFLhZvmWt2o/s4032/IMG_4844.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMF3etNfNl49srAfBLuEzSsxiJZ-N8SrkRm3a8E_0FIg416w1OI3DGWzBYJVLT6MICuGCiq8gk2MspM_GcbWXUfc9w7xVtcbK-alKn5wqVHmKI805GocrKvPtDozMxlsaLG0os1wOJ8PwMYgkjYHnTb_fwQT5CQlgNdjj4bmRcebHZdOcqFLhZvmWt2o/w480-h640/IMG_4844.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I did like this water garden</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAyf4j224s9kwym7lAeZ4vjsZxJWGSW-fWvU0FB0E91IboL02d72punnG92VxJyKYz3vtV9QnxYKEgqHyQ8ib3hM4xHiuqaNlEEQwiSbL6WiGXXQsEfiDO_wAQAOcYZprcZcRN0vkuOQkDfnMcZ0_1mRNBcEisdFcBTO0fIllCtbc14AKDbuOZ1bSqS0/s4032/IMG_4850.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAyf4j224s9kwym7lAeZ4vjsZxJWGSW-fWvU0FB0E91IboL02d72punnG92VxJyKYz3vtV9QnxYKEgqHyQ8ib3hM4xHiuqaNlEEQwiSbL6WiGXXQsEfiDO_wAQAOcYZprcZcRN0vkuOQkDfnMcZ0_1mRNBcEisdFcBTO0fIllCtbc14AKDbuOZ1bSqS0/w480-h640/IMG_4850.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An ornamental non native, Podranea ricasoliana, native to southern Africa. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTi7Dcb_miyHhdCTgQYtxwFSWzgSXZ5m5BppWZr44yq779eU5-ZWLxCDdSZZg084eyRIs4neDMwcU93e0eR0sQ7fEP_A5bGaZ7_h7j1xu65ib_HPRd-7F7wjdqyONJ3MYn31vwsjYeaq1CqMDG73JCTkD8TRIXkTE7eYbX_nvLjfWxjuzW0dgPLWlcdD4/s4032/IMG_4851.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTi7Dcb_miyHhdCTgQYtxwFSWzgSXZ5m5BppWZr44yq779eU5-ZWLxCDdSZZg084eyRIs4neDMwcU93e0eR0sQ7fEP_A5bGaZ7_h7j1xu65ib_HPRd-7F7wjdqyONJ3MYn31vwsjYeaq1CqMDG73JCTkD8TRIXkTE7eYbX_nvLjfWxjuzW0dgPLWlcdD4/w480-h640/IMG_4851.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Breakfast before hitting the road again. I really like the noodle soups in Yunnan. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2trPEg0Krs1C7Z2w3OCTLRVbWDiI4yizoMsihG3Ib9bHsq3uHw7E3gz8hun4k_kHiT2BPo1KAxbOBgElkkGA6S1J6DC1dX7tj2Xk5hhMDlP_Qcdak4-vrL0mNx69tEwPeE1WQ11bkqXDt_eRqVOnRdA331-S8MqVxCMZaklkZxUygkMEEeyiew9D5Yj8/s4032/IMG_4854.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2trPEg0Krs1C7Z2w3OCTLRVbWDiI4yizoMsihG3Ib9bHsq3uHw7E3gz8hun4k_kHiT2BPo1KAxbOBgElkkGA6S1J6DC1dX7tj2Xk5hhMDlP_Qcdak4-vrL0mNx69tEwPeE1WQ11bkqXDt_eRqVOnRdA331-S8MqVxCMZaklkZxUygkMEEeyiew9D5Yj8/w480-h640/IMG_4854.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We went back to Pianma to see the museum. The title doesnt make sense, as the British were allied with China during WW2 so I think its a mistranslation</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPlqvVLQQA1bQudE9KN8FoF1NRzyJL_8o7EtBc2bLXBqdfKbl4hzMNhOMtxhPi08FXQ_jk0mUaUQyH3L8NMx3V7H3vzyCx_WjJGkc4He9HpeegBl7WNrqFl1mdB75KsRLAF4k-gPECc0899AUKTT6faYuhv1uukXPPEFvEub0IGvfvKd6wfQzcfPE9QA/s4032/IMG_4857.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPlqvVLQQA1bQudE9KN8FoF1NRzyJL_8o7EtBc2bLXBqdfKbl4hzMNhOMtxhPi08FXQ_jk0mUaUQyH3L8NMx3V7H3vzyCx_WjJGkc4He9HpeegBl7WNrqFl1mdB75KsRLAF4k-gPECc0899AUKTT6faYuhv1uukXPPEFvEub0IGvfvKd6wfQzcfPE9QA/w480-h640/IMG_4857.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A reconstructed Flying Tiger airplane</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTf7KW_22YDSdiXSqbjcrQhcRNCTOJhkE6Ti1aLvxvRtv-UTzr7_EmxoLBBtBu7vGeAg6SsXpZK1vt3YZZnG3alBvMgC7652svAaUN8TQz52Cc-ICOwhXHrkxT1PvEKLdCX-AMJNE2RMRSSWLzuSIYSvrFPmlHLm-_3BfLp1EpAe1jlBP6PjT7rJ1Ocz8/s4032/IMG_4864.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTf7KW_22YDSdiXSqbjcrQhcRNCTOJhkE6Ti1aLvxvRtv-UTzr7_EmxoLBBtBu7vGeAg6SsXpZK1vt3YZZnG3alBvMgC7652svAaUN8TQz52Cc-ICOwhXHrkxT1PvEKLdCX-AMJNE2RMRSSWLzuSIYSvrFPmlHLm-_3BfLp1EpAe1jlBP6PjT7rJ1Ocz8/w480-h640/IMG_4864.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some artifacts found at a crash site presumably</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3HS4KQ8l5pB755VzYC26nr0JW78JwTAteK1mFqNd9Z7tJOy33IZYx2Py2KnqJ6yF8yWT7JqStBO622JHLQzf30AWloP7luZo40uomh1ji41NnprJE3sbJBUM-DJLRIpvDmub4QSbAifc6CpK-Sr2v3iiOsJS4XxRjDcPkNFfJ6JBpMF5w2-fDKsozio/s4032/IMG_4865.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3HS4KQ8l5pB755VzYC26nr0JW78JwTAteK1mFqNd9Z7tJOy33IZYx2Py2KnqJ6yF8yWT7JqStBO622JHLQzf30AWloP7luZo40uomh1ji41NnprJE3sbJBUM-DJLRIpvDmub4QSbAifc6CpK-Sr2v3iiOsJS4XxRjDcPkNFfJ6JBpMF5w2-fDKsozio/w480-h640/IMG_4865.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I assume these are crash sites of some of the Flying Tigers but dont know for sure</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkVtqxmBdxH6U2bWpTyZNUF5SpK3X6a8Fyuw8CSPySZG5KGmrLvyGFrabEraDRIujml0aNjfJXgee8gyFXCwd8xrltUt2uuB8xz2A5UdH_ieLurj3cOqaD3X-hp8jBAl6ztItaphBI32OGw1mZbSBCkn0K-oLeawtuef17_R0YMUL1O86xvegRH4KoA8/s4032/IMG_4866.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkVtqxmBdxH6U2bWpTyZNUF5SpK3X6a8Fyuw8CSPySZG5KGmrLvyGFrabEraDRIujml0aNjfJXgee8gyFXCwd8xrltUt2uuB8xz2A5UdH_ieLurj3cOqaD3X-hp8jBAl6ztItaphBI32OGw1mZbSBCkn0K-oLeawtuef17_R0YMUL1O86xvegRH4KoA8/w480-h640/IMG_4866.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This probably depicts the routes the Flying Tigers took to supply China with weapons it needed to fight the invading Japanese armies. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPvwQWjTkhqmrj-hfDcqcOQGkgXriS0DLs3PSxU1TFOAql_m9UtmHlKmSMY2pZnK_ekmtZG6SQOj2doDVVf4AdVADcxKzIIsyAIOtnoe2otIzvBMPdXdzbsF5xfAJdu01-1czO-gucadDCIQIXVozRsyGvLG5fpolkHTlYUyC34ITV8N1y9CfvNiT_Qc/s4032/IMG_4868.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPvwQWjTkhqmrj-hfDcqcOQGkgXriS0DLs3PSxU1TFOAql_m9UtmHlKmSMY2pZnK_ekmtZG6SQOj2doDVVf4AdVADcxKzIIsyAIOtnoe2otIzvBMPdXdzbsF5xfAJdu01-1czO-gucadDCIQIXVozRsyGvLG5fpolkHTlYUyC34ITV8N1y9CfvNiT_Qc/w480-h640/IMG_4868.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back on the road, heading north again,and finding a nicely textured rhododendron seedling on the rocks. </div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSBJRNfFaeCgClQC-1BPvZPhINbhyphenhyphenIK4Idzwp1F-GKd0eh5fTg3IZYePE9kwkYiZ_S-cfF3peDQVM9_LqKIUveghqlk1g3BLgs5yGOPIOe1a5Hst-7CPP8NXADDnMOKaqo6LRIOp51ciNTBzqdgcDjZNUWdoG84hRUJQvQtPqBwAsxsywtOfJzzG3Kfc/s4032/IMG_4880.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSBJRNfFaeCgClQC-1BPvZPhINbhyphenhyphenIK4Idzwp1F-GKd0eh5fTg3IZYePE9kwkYiZ_S-cfF3peDQVM9_LqKIUveghqlk1g3BLgs5yGOPIOe1a5Hst-7CPP8NXADDnMOKaqo6LRIOp51ciNTBzqdgcDjZNUWdoG84hRUJQvQtPqBwAsxsywtOfJzzG3Kfc/w480-h640/IMG_4880.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not too far from a police checkpoint we got out to look at the flowers, this is a pretty geranium species with flowers bending in the rain</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIAX0986RlDVIra0y1lPvaKix9hMUBCIV13cjCWzg5ytiIrDrGn5M2LQvutF87wIhBdglqDyEhKFGRd183fB0-IKv8PwLpsrxjkGDF0rv2Y8zdfbbnj-AsglDdwvjtvExxF_Ea_mvRwgN3KLNANThNL3Yi6Q1FQhNNcfpH5u3wXDumaIp_XXbignNKfw/s4032/IMG_4884.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIAX0986RlDVIra0y1lPvaKix9hMUBCIV13cjCWzg5ytiIrDrGn5M2LQvutF87wIhBdglqDyEhKFGRd183fB0-IKv8PwLpsrxjkGDF0rv2Y8zdfbbnj-AsglDdwvjtvExxF_Ea_mvRwgN3KLNANThNL3Yi6Q1FQhNNcfpH5u3wXDumaIp_XXbignNKfw/w480-h640/IMG_4884.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course I love all things in the Geraniaceae</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAGvv4Tkvvje-vI3840sWK3JjJSqrtgA8aeL7GHVlKqH4u_5l9cR0f4rxRZ1l953oiEil-H32bDrEScnj5GAHSmNmVSjfOUSOhpjr7i-CIqYff1pWlj6rY7Jv8aFACdhYkhNHvFyrVpHkNbcBFUTVXTWAN2LStCtdnrYndxRjVlXer90YdY2P8y6Bfcw/s4032/IMG_4891.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAGvv4Tkvvje-vI3840sWK3JjJSqrtgA8aeL7GHVlKqH4u_5l9cR0f4rxRZ1l953oiEil-H32bDrEScnj5GAHSmNmVSjfOUSOhpjr7i-CIqYff1pWlj6rY7Jv8aFACdhYkhNHvFyrVpHkNbcBFUTVXTWAN2LStCtdnrYndxRjVlXer90YdY2P8y6Bfcw/w480-h640/IMG_4891.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Potentilla species. This area had a flora that was a bit more alpine than where we were before</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQ2IApnPKEEF3vxq59EAsJ380OObNgVyFbSUqZWS0TBVZ7pR7G62hRnI0k8DEqk-CPWe9kY9Z410jxRnpBQoIYs9KimQKRcngw9Sn4KtrdGfJ3O2r9G-fS7oj5F2DGZ1GtA6WwW4JF7_u-P8q_2-3eM11hJNxiEFjictugg7F5_ILP_pz1_ZH0Be-pcE/s4032/IMG_4892.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQ2IApnPKEEF3vxq59EAsJ380OObNgVyFbSUqZWS0TBVZ7pR7G62hRnI0k8DEqk-CPWe9kY9Z410jxRnpBQoIYs9KimQKRcngw9Sn4KtrdGfJ3O2r9G-fS7oj5F2DGZ1GtA6WwW4JF7_u-P8q_2-3eM11hJNxiEFjictugg7F5_ILP_pz1_ZH0Be-pcE/w480-h640/IMG_4892.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This Anaphalis species was quite showy, it reminds me of some distant relatives that grow in the western Cape fynbos in South Africa</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiG2N9HZEWfsyk7GUUmvpqVPgm4_uJAblVCHQGBTv247f7uxh1-QZA2_FgSB_-sx8UnTDi9duSw45sAKEHTCgAvdM5DSIhss8-6cyP5Fa2zIsb1Y9ZRbg7akGQkUp9L_ygxZNAS-MFCE1Smjy-gkDycOpng_8j1sfLfnzpnRn6U8SNxfGWCvcCyMnDZWk/s4032/IMG_4893.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiG2N9HZEWfsyk7GUUmvpqVPgm4_uJAblVCHQGBTv247f7uxh1-QZA2_FgSB_-sx8UnTDi9duSw45sAKEHTCgAvdM5DSIhss8-6cyP5Fa2zIsb1Y9ZRbg7akGQkUp9L_ygxZNAS-MFCE1Smjy-gkDycOpng_8j1sfLfnzpnRn6U8SNxfGWCvcCyMnDZWk/w480-h640/IMG_4893.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As above but with a species of Erigeron daisy I think</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2JU5yEf8-sBUqtk4XJxyVce_fPfvOy8OXVdFwtKOiri0bEkx8FMF6tHfvtwCdI0ACFJwaheNoQm7lH_ur7lpfnE_hi9IvIx31cyfWsSKQLCgDWtRei7zlkNbteE5ASSPexUoSfaRl4Q-Ak7wcZ_WxLoy13g1yZN8F2EbNmEvxt4xHgTx1cwrBYXbxXc/s4032/IMG_4895.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2JU5yEf8-sBUqtk4XJxyVce_fPfvOy8OXVdFwtKOiri0bEkx8FMF6tHfvtwCdI0ACFJwaheNoQm7lH_ur7lpfnE_hi9IvIx31cyfWsSKQLCgDWtRei7zlkNbteE5ASSPexUoSfaRl4Q-Ak7wcZ_WxLoy13g1yZN8F2EbNmEvxt4xHgTx1cwrBYXbxXc/w480-h640/IMG_4895.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nice views as always</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8N0WeCJPyZxb5cPvew_e88L_gAwD5E40yL5lhIqVIJW3beys2lDmgGxsUIfviM5GGUZBzNuloPpTsvJiXwiYyylKikRRYUr7qPRhqgJAXD7le_nMk4XZFPEdRheNW8m2i8hCgMLMo7ivc7fY3-ODt4zrIgYU7xG0hEdweo-CmBySqqoCEHqYM-wLNog/s4032/IMG_4900.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8N0WeCJPyZxb5cPvew_e88L_gAwD5E40yL5lhIqVIJW3beys2lDmgGxsUIfviM5GGUZBzNuloPpTsvJiXwiYyylKikRRYUr7qPRhqgJAXD7le_nMk4XZFPEdRheNW8m2i8hCgMLMo7ivc7fY3-ODt4zrIgYU7xG0hEdweo-CmBySqqoCEHqYM-wLNog/w480-h640/IMG_4900.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More Persicaria species, they vary in attractiveness but this one was on the better side. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUZymGnGY6Zgn3z_H0W4unuoOFsFQf-nvC9Kal526ynhFNtlai5n-Wj0_NfKReUqyBus8Ht4N-ucqTmeq1OmRc21oNCL5fHXcSxAX18Ug6Ob3ObGlrhFGDPvMGYVanhBpsRFYdMI0T0kp9_MIbHUA1mPAe9BsFuAY-zBwgkCgawtchl4cyVxj2o8ZeVY/s4032/IMG_4905.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUZymGnGY6Zgn3z_H0W4unuoOFsFQf-nvC9Kal526ynhFNtlai5n-Wj0_NfKReUqyBus8Ht4N-ucqTmeq1OmRc21oNCL5fHXcSxAX18Ug6Ob3ObGlrhFGDPvMGYVanhBpsRFYdMI0T0kp9_MIbHUA1mPAe9BsFuAY-zBwgkCgawtchl4cyVxj2o8ZeVY/w480-h640/IMG_4905.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You know your getting higher up in altitude when you find this little Saxifraga species. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9JNAMf-Viw6PfKmEl6h0-NwsV5Uk239_vaPvcTwVzh5dazq-Wse7BGqPftc5U0p1EdFglJc-tlTpOj0jqvlwnVFu4C58jZQqND2Trp6Cb_uavV4rRCMhSI6zKAnNGz8_YDkwcjQyD7nCdF_j8QEnSCkjBoEFg1kj95LrdRViB1MbQrtUZEQtuhdIhxE/s4032/IMG_4909.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9JNAMf-Viw6PfKmEl6h0-NwsV5Uk239_vaPvcTwVzh5dazq-Wse7BGqPftc5U0p1EdFglJc-tlTpOj0jqvlwnVFu4C58jZQqND2Trp6Cb_uavV4rRCMhSI6zKAnNGz8_YDkwcjQyD7nCdF_j8QEnSCkjBoEFg1kj95LrdRViB1MbQrtUZEQtuhdIhxE/w480-h640/IMG_4909.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Cotoneaster species</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqNxBM2n_2IIB3eKK0WiUYzBPhjSlSBTj7_gwkXvJ4YtWUP-vG020s87fpr6LK9Kh_EsLW_5cDFcb16g8LclZPgC-9SvBM6hjIekuUhwosyrCMhD0c36tqoTXoaCPQ5-MB_6gNwzhNI3BVGdGim0weFLb3RocgaO-JUKfEpw7gBXkiSv1tidXA4U8l1M/s4032/IMG_4912.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqNxBM2n_2IIB3eKK0WiUYzBPhjSlSBTj7_gwkXvJ4YtWUP-vG020s87fpr6LK9Kh_EsLW_5cDFcb16g8LclZPgC-9SvBM6hjIekuUhwosyrCMhD0c36tqoTXoaCPQ5-MB_6gNwzhNI3BVGdGim0weFLb3RocgaO-JUKfEpw7gBXkiSv1tidXA4U8l1M/w480-h640/IMG_4912.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They were diffcult to photograph but this is a colony of Saxifraga stolonifera. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRCghkH7WQLcHbGzQEITA4EC-_HjVFdsl50nbsYMDYn9WjiesxJbq_y23YCP-Lw0RZLi9hGfHWoRFdqXkbWt7PRo_G9477Ff8NgGNWl7jqxHcN8ejoSGM9uL1RnX8Yen4Aj__aiVlLhPmGWsBCQk2DdGlJV_a9o5QM6QTz_iBaMe7uk1QTlki1Z-EJcY/s4032/IMG_4915.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRCghkH7WQLcHbGzQEITA4EC-_HjVFdsl50nbsYMDYn9WjiesxJbq_y23YCP-Lw0RZLi9hGfHWoRFdqXkbWt7PRo_G9477Ff8NgGNWl7jqxHcN8ejoSGM9uL1RnX8Yen4Aj__aiVlLhPmGWsBCQk2DdGlJV_a9o5QM6QTz_iBaMe7uk1QTlki1Z-EJcY/w480-h640/IMG_4915.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we go down in elevation we see another stunning Hedychium in full bloom</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlosY0MLG88AK_sD4j_aS5ZzzvpeOs4QXo7GWmg3dKa8SD6vyI-5cxKAXZ-TWR3q7zfjUST3-7yjykTNW6dfiLJ-7k7-ONO39BswpQQh30PQQctNcy0-Q5yhoVHgltC8D3zxz6wMb4ZN-QyLH4qyVVzqameW3fKtZubLn02fHy_LsTg3HYrw1wu4_Hb4/s4032/IMG_4918.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlosY0MLG88AK_sD4j_aS5ZzzvpeOs4QXo7GWmg3dKa8SD6vyI-5cxKAXZ-TWR3q7zfjUST3-7yjykTNW6dfiLJ-7k7-ONO39BswpQQh30PQQctNcy0-Q5yhoVHgltC8D3zxz6wMb4ZN-QyLH4qyVVzqameW3fKtZubLn02fHy_LsTg3HYrw1wu4_Hb4/w480-h640/IMG_4918.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another hard to photograph species, this is Adenophora, maybe A capillaris. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsGAMwcXqNnQ6htvM6nF46pOW5_ORNEahRdT3igj0RfI2VvHn6zvzPD17CHZ-q-w9SEO7X0te48ZumUkFOpE9zikTun0ZE5MPHw9Ym1lPi2mOmhDG28mFM5jxATyRhQlLHAagjioryhe3xNUy_37Zrq5-jP0KT7cyb0YrmguffX5NnKJ8QVAO9wfs8qM/s4032/IMG_4930.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsGAMwcXqNnQ6htvM6nF46pOW5_ORNEahRdT3igj0RfI2VvHn6zvzPD17CHZ-q-w9SEO7X0te48ZumUkFOpE9zikTun0ZE5MPHw9Ym1lPi2mOmhDG28mFM5jxATyRhQlLHAagjioryhe3xNUy_37Zrq5-jP0KT7cyb0YrmguffX5NnKJ8QVAO9wfs8qM/w480-h640/IMG_4930.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had to pull over at a nice rest stop due to avalanches, so I took a photo of a very pretty but fast moving butterfly</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCSHwRAumVCnQnOWWXIjp_8CxA7k2mAjtnO6Ctfh1m_SRkI3ZAbW1FK-gDPgRaQFKcY3Kb5fS_cD0K8MwcseB2GDqC4VFri4Rm9VJArHvBW_Dih2z_4CykEzoahecTdu3IbiWEguIR_JUtej-lJy8TwU2shOul0BiESjsjHO7UKk0j2JkaEDcF_p7vhc/s4032/IMG_4933.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCSHwRAumVCnQnOWWXIjp_8CxA7k2mAjtnO6Ctfh1m_SRkI3ZAbW1FK-gDPgRaQFKcY3Kb5fS_cD0K8MwcseB2GDqC4VFri4Rm9VJArHvBW_Dih2z_4CykEzoahecTdu3IbiWEguIR_JUtej-lJy8TwU2shOul0BiESjsjHO7UKk0j2JkaEDcF_p7vhc/w480-h640/IMG_4933.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A close relative of our Monarch butterfly, one of the many Milkweed butterflies of Asia</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETbgQiziJyRay_HGBVfPwqMsrr3kdsh948LmfhW8PJZJBF1PMbhQS0Z2REmJO71L4VHOilNfc4BLwBT8K8rwy1qFrWLwTcevk-lpzeIecseAmTCwT2FeoQlCEQ_DBzTLIuRFp-PIqFRtthmmirOI4Tm75NjyPy9XBKNJvolgd0B3yEUZj6LVg64oB1vM/s4032/IMG_4939.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETbgQiziJyRay_HGBVfPwqMsrr3kdsh948LmfhW8PJZJBF1PMbhQS0Z2REmJO71L4VHOilNfc4BLwBT8K8rwy1qFrWLwTcevk-lpzeIecseAmTCwT2FeoQlCEQ_DBzTLIuRFp-PIqFRtthmmirOI4Tm75NjyPy9XBKNJvolgd0B3yEUZj6LVg64oB1vM/w480-h640/IMG_4939.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back on the road by one of several rivers that emerge in Tibet and provide China and southeast Asia with water. They were all flowing fast due to good summer rains, and they were carrying a lot of sediment down from the highlands</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2IphXdC6FHVt8eYFTQd2jEeFpOXYA8usOqEtUNztBXGObsoCMmEC5KEOMTrIkIxUUGBYOhVCY3duTYAHpNhjzJAoa4-9mU2_LZ79srv-iwf0LGcwZ8-zwJpyM-2_xcfXYGSg_6vg4rLfd1t0C6IcLQ49qbuAVU6OstzVQ50GmiCXexP3K4tOZcQRS4Y/s4032/IMG_4942.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2IphXdC6FHVt8eYFTQd2jEeFpOXYA8usOqEtUNztBXGObsoCMmEC5KEOMTrIkIxUUGBYOhVCY3duTYAHpNhjzJAoa4-9mU2_LZ79srv-iwf0LGcwZ8-zwJpyM-2_xcfXYGSg_6vg4rLfd1t0C6IcLQ49qbuAVU6OstzVQ50GmiCXexP3K4tOZcQRS4Y/w480-h640/IMG_4942.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think this waterfall was some sort of artificial creation to get rid of excess water from the local area</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidepJ1wANu4IxZ0UP9woV8jxqXlzAHjBeJQq8TzCzQJ4wWZJcnfq_bGdNBvefXhTs47OyY5YlUCKp9Y5y2TapjM1svYmaQ7lK49FRdkhu76UeUITOSop6r1c4UeFNI-ln8_wAQhxko3DwvjE1bjMJUzLTqXYtPmPl79lUVQgjj3PxWJXonCkH7y9sGtpM/s4032/IMG_4943.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidepJ1wANu4IxZ0UP9woV8jxqXlzAHjBeJQq8TzCzQJ4wWZJcnfq_bGdNBvefXhTs47OyY5YlUCKp9Y5y2TapjM1svYmaQ7lK49FRdkhu76UeUITOSop6r1c4UeFNI-ln8_wAQhxko3DwvjE1bjMJUzLTqXYtPmPl79lUVQgjj3PxWJXonCkH7y9sGtpM/w480-h640/IMG_4943.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This small town we went into must be subtropical if Thunbergia grows here</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYgqeVCPGG4hCa7wAHZSgGzndiN540A3ejwyJ-GHYstQc0YRYoA7J9kkcNgeMOVO3R7PIVnGlU34EerUlL5idWULtfgVaUY79-TzoekWIQF2HDSmM2WDbylrjN4MOSOtpTiq0NCII5un1g7nPaNdra3eAF4oruNGycwYjKDxrFLDZ2EGd7p7IzBIhWDY/s4032/IMG_4953.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYgqeVCPGG4hCa7wAHZSgGzndiN540A3ejwyJ-GHYstQc0YRYoA7J9kkcNgeMOVO3R7PIVnGlU34EerUlL5idWULtfgVaUY79-TzoekWIQF2HDSmM2WDbylrjN4MOSOtpTiq0NCII5un1g7nPaNdra3eAF4oruNGycwYjKDxrFLDZ2EGd7p7IzBIhWDY/w480-h640/IMG_4953.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have planters of petunias in the summer not far from our house that the city puts up every year. But I rather prefer when you can have cymbidium orchids as permanent street plantings, even if they have to be placed on trees. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71KHaLuZpm6d2Q70-L6CT9cIQotSqqgwkXBaAI8injf3XTCNTckip_PSmG5Yk1AtSV_c57Z0XFLZageIwswPemaDYKSpzpM1JPJhIfeMus37A-36KCDCe_ZviNP_Bxuq55c58Ew8EnnI2oxS02mS-OtpnVRCkASLDrJw3uGSC818WPrRDdnWbzxabFAA/s4032/IMG_4954.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71KHaLuZpm6d2Q70-L6CT9cIQotSqqgwkXBaAI8injf3XTCNTckip_PSmG5Yk1AtSV_c57Z0XFLZageIwswPemaDYKSpzpM1JPJhIfeMus37A-36KCDCe_ZviNP_Bxuq55c58Ew8EnnI2oxS02mS-OtpnVRCkASLDrJw3uGSC818WPrRDdnWbzxabFAA/w480-h640/IMG_4954.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Each seed pod of this cymbidium will produce hundreds of thousands if not millions of seeds when mature</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NO4sU6ZH-1L8dHPnwiRmQJku2EqXHGbJBixG9UTUyKIvUJrXNqVtRoc6sf-L5GY7trdIxjL98kkvSwk_S0tRP7OsPEf229S24i0jOYEneEfoFHRsnTtJIMZZVJF1lkT3xln3Jg9gju8DQAbSg7N-uWPY952uE0SuMbkZg_0nUT2YBiPBmPiK-Zclj4g/s4032/IMG_4959.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NO4sU6ZH-1L8dHPnwiRmQJku2EqXHGbJBixG9UTUyKIvUJrXNqVtRoc6sf-L5GY7trdIxjL98kkvSwk_S0tRP7OsPEf229S24i0jOYEneEfoFHRsnTtJIMZZVJF1lkT3xln3Jg9gju8DQAbSg7N-uWPY952uE0SuMbkZg_0nUT2YBiPBmPiK-Zclj4g/w480-h640/IMG_4959.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When in China, get used to the chickens that appear in all sorts of places. Chicken tastes better there too, its usually very fresh and its not plumped up with salt water like our supermarket chicken is. It may be a bit chewier but it tastes better. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfVHqFIoykU10pJXS9cUUcoYMa1XyUn3EYQ3okrGtYWHQ8ZIl622nF3PWIqEdOJHkpmXCMAvUhTonWcOOAv5WbRA9pedaX5yVY_3-vyENND-M1zTXn5BnIHNFg7QEaMcfvqQ3Ea8xU-AgMOfE71cgJJ-3vAtgEs-bIJDis7F2N0bi8sd-Rk4Y6rVBWPY/s4032/IMG_4962.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfVHqFIoykU10pJXS9cUUcoYMa1XyUn3EYQ3okrGtYWHQ8ZIl622nF3PWIqEdOJHkpmXCMAvUhTonWcOOAv5WbRA9pedaX5yVY_3-vyENND-M1zTXn5BnIHNFg7QEaMcfvqQ3Ea8xU-AgMOfE71cgJJ-3vAtgEs-bIJDis7F2N0bi8sd-Rk4Y6rVBWPY/w480-h640/IMG_4962.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Buddlieas in various forms are everywhere</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0nE0NQ0VAp79v-TcBQGktu7kMpUaNclGJSXC1z55QnRuEMYzvPgoQjEj_Y1JaIDMFaqaU-7E8TZdIKYFDYd9bQ52hnKQ_4ADeeynz8GIyha6q-bnB4xCRkNsTkLqvE01fuuqqTKiv8cwc05bfRZkA82Wwl5HWKWCx4gGqXFAt_YIS8DtI6eBsxhRJLQ/s4032/IMG_4966.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0nE0NQ0VAp79v-TcBQGktu7kMpUaNclGJSXC1z55QnRuEMYzvPgoQjEj_Y1JaIDMFaqaU-7E8TZdIKYFDYd9bQ52hnKQ_4ADeeynz8GIyha6q-bnB4xCRkNsTkLqvE01fuuqqTKiv8cwc05bfRZkA82Wwl5HWKWCx4gGqXFAt_YIS8DtI6eBsxhRJLQ/w480-h640/IMG_4966.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was a local attraction with the hole in the rock on the ridge. Note the corn tassels, like I said, they grow food everywhere in China. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFOoMKcte7duLgUAEMuqwT3h6sZxJ-wm6Mr2GanWrz3yvnYyt0wtp1nHhfmCDX7vLpeDho0ukkxYyGZJpgF71D6md8a7y_CQigxn1LATzCf7q-i_yETalW8rn0SwaCKoCHkIr_AqDYRynfQPIXZ1yl4fBuJqT_aMRx7nsFZ0hxDb3GtKHeya-FM2xLUk/s4032/IMG_4971.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFOoMKcte7duLgUAEMuqwT3h6sZxJ-wm6Mr2GanWrz3yvnYyt0wtp1nHhfmCDX7vLpeDho0ukkxYyGZJpgF71D6md8a7y_CQigxn1LATzCf7q-i_yETalW8rn0SwaCKoCHkIr_AqDYRynfQPIXZ1yl4fBuJqT_aMRx7nsFZ0hxDb3GtKHeya-FM2xLUk/w480-h640/IMG_4971.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And finally a parting view as we travel along a river towards our next destination</div><br /><p><br /></p>geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-19713997170538988952024-01-11T17:24:00.000-08:002024-01-11T17:24:39.649-08:00Dali and the CangshanDali is a city in western Yunnan that has a pleasant all year climate due to its altitude which is roughly 2000 meters. It is spring like more or less year round, not too hot and not too cold. We flew in to Kunming then took a train to Dali. The train station is in the new city which is larger and pretty much the same as any other Chinese city but not as big. Our accomodations were in the old city however, so we took a taxi to get there. The old city is far more charming than the new, smaller buildings, streets full of restuarants and other businesses and folks having dinner outside sometimes. Its quite lively with tourists, but again the tourists were pretty much all Chinese from what I could tell. I'm sure there were more "laowai" tourists in the past and I suppose there will be again one day. Our friend has another friend who has basically a bed and breakfast sort of place at her home and it was quite nice and different, reminding me in some ways more of California than China. One opens a gate after going through some back alleys and inside is a lovely small yard with roses and an Osmanthus fragrans (Gui hua) tree and a pear tree. Sadly I cannot smell the fragrance of this particular species, which must be genetic, as it is held in much esteem by Chinese for that fragrance. Roses line a fence and in a small bed near the kitchen, and there is also a rooftop garden with lavender and other plants, including some familiar South African species like Felicia aethiopica.
The next day we were off to Cangshan, which is a mountain range to the west of the city which has a few different access points where one can either hike or take cable cars up. We did the cable car and then decided to walk down. It was quite a walk, my iphone told me I walked 6 miles that day and indeed my feet were sore. So sore I asked my wife to just bring me food rather than to go out that night but I did go afterwards with her and Yijia to get a foot massage. It was well worth it.
The flora on the mountain was amazing and we didnt go to the very top, that would have been another cable car or hike. Still I got to see treasures like a tiny roscoea, a beautiful little blue cyanotis sp (again something I am familiar with from visits to South Africa but didnt know existed in Asia), a stunning red flowered bush (a species of Colquhunia) and a lovely Thalictrum among others.
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Below is a cool fern in the garden in the place we stayed at
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Osmanthus fragrans known as Gui Hua in Mandarin
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Euryops sp is a commonly seen daisy along roadsides (where it is frequently planted) and was in the garden. It is a South African species that likes the cool air at this altitude
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A beautiful rose in the garden. Nicely fragrant too.
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Hydrangea plantings. Not among my favorite flowers but they appeal to many and are long lasting. I do like the roses on the fence.
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These yellow lycoris, possibly L aurea, were quite spectacular near the entrance to one of the Cangshan cable cars.
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Yijia and Grace as we get ready to go up the cable car
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View looking back towards Erhai Lake which is itself an attraction we will have to explore next time.
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We could see the plants below the cable car of course. This photo shows a giant attractive fern with leaves that divide into five parts. We would see this fern elsewhere on our trip too.
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The first of several impatiens I would find on this trip, a genus I find interesting and also apparently have a good eye for spotting. This species had rather small white flowers and was just begining to set seed pods.
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As we began our walk down the path went along a stream bed and here I saw Impatiens arguta for the first time in habitat. I would see it again as well. I grow this species in our gardens in New York but the 2 clones I have do not set seed so I wonder if they are hybrid or are self sterile. Both came from a friend in California, one grows more upright and hates our summer heat, the other looks similar to what I saw on the trip but of course in a garden they grow larger. Both forms are hardy with a winter wood chip mulch.
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A tiny species of Roscoea, a group of hardy gingers, grows on this mountain.
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I can't read Chinese characters but there was some interesting writing on one of the rocks near the path
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Ferns are abundant and varied in Chinese forests.
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A white flowered lysmachia species and more roscoea made for a pretty sight
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A closeup of a brilliant blue cyanotis species. It was a small plant that surprised me, as I am used to seeing them in the highveld in South Africa on trips there but did not know this genus extends into Asia.
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A closer view of the white Lysmachia species. Quite a showy species indeed.
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This begonia species was not uncommon in this area. The flowers tended to be on the small side but still it was attractive as just about all begonias are.
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This species of Colquhounia is much more attractive and early blooming than C. coccinea which I grow by the house and protect in winter. I wish it had seed on it but alas there were none. It should be introduced into cultivation, it might be hardy and certainly would have merit with those showy flowers in late August, a time when the garden is often in a bit of a lull before the cooler weather of September comes.
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Colquhounia species-a better view of the plant. It sort of reminded me of a showy butterfly bush (buddleia) but of course its in a completely different family, the mint family (Lamiaceae).
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A view of the pretty much unreachable mainly coniferous forest nearby. Slopes are steep here.
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A Codonopsis species often can be a surprisewith its large blue flowers that appear suddenly, but they are on a slender vine that twines its way through other kinds of plants.
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At one point we came across a giant replica of a Chinese chess board, or at least I think it was. Interesting and photogenic but of course I prefer to look at the plants.
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A species of rose with a few fruits.
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A bright yellow creeping lysmachia species.
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We didnt see a lot of butterflies and it was still harder to catch a photo of one.
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Another attractive fern species.
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An arisaema species among some ferns.
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I think this is actual Kudzu (Pueraria montana) or something related to it. I have to admit it was quite pretty in bloom and though strong growing it did not show the smother everything else for miles habit it has in our southern states of the US. Perhaps it is a less vigorous variant or species or more likely its native predators keep it in check in its natural habitat.
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A beautiful white anemone, probably A hupahensis, which I have seen in more abundance in a part of Sichuan on an earlier trip.
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Apios carnea shows its pretty flowers but gives no hint of its potential in cultivation. I can speak to the latter, having recieved seed from a collector some years ago. I still protect the roots of my plant each winter which grows rapidly up a large rhododendron bush come spring and is festooned with long trusses of flowers in early September. A very showy vine, far more attractive than either of our two native species of Apios. It doesnt bloom for long, at least not in New York, and it requires hand pollination to set more seed. I assume a bird of some sort must pollinate it in its native habitat.
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Another Impatiens arguta. This species was not rare on our trip and I did see plants with seed pods so I know that wild populations set seed unlike what is in cultivation. Actually now that I think about it, there is one form that does seed around, a white form that I also acquired from California. It is hardy in zone 7a with or without mulch, though I always protect a couple of plants just in case we have a bad winter.
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We came across a group of guys with horses carrying stuff up the path. Both were getting a good workout.
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Legumes of all kinds abound in China and this region was no exception. Here I hold what I think is a species of Indogifera. Quite nice.
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Even nicer was this robust Thalictrum species. Tall with light purple flowers, it leaned out towards the light from the mass of other plants around it.
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A closer veiw of the Thalictrum.
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A bush near the stream bed with purple berries. No idea of the genus.
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Another nice indogifera sp, this one with a shorter pink inflorescence.
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A shrub that somehow seems like I should know what it is but I don't. It forms a three winged seed pod.
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The pretty blue dwarf cyanotis species. Doesnt appear to form tubers like its relatives in Africa.
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A dainty flower of some kind of cucurbit. Not a family that the word "dainty" gets used often in descriptions thereof.
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A white flowered aster species.
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The white aster shrub, it looks as though it does not die back to the ground in winter like most asters do.
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Looking up towards a ridgetop.
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A pretty purple corydalis that grew near the path.
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A pale form of Impatiens arguta or a related species perhaps.A very pretty legume, maybe a species of Desmodium, it also had silvery foliage.
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A very pretty legume, maybe a species of Desmodium, it also had silvery foliage.
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A species of Vigna, not unlike its relatives in Africa.
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Yet another nice legume, maybe an indogifera, maybe not, but pretty nonetheless Another view of same
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Another view of same
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A Berberis species in fruit.
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A gesneriad, possibly a species of Raphiocarpus, quite ornamental.
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A small fern hangs from a rock.
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A closer view of the flowers of the possible Raphiocarpus species.
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Fern sori on the back of a fern frond. The sori are filled with spores which are the reproductive structures of ferns. They arent hard to germinate in most fern species but it does require a little bit of knowledge about how to do so.
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A begonia species in flower among other plants.
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A near white Adenophora species. This genus is not uncommon in China and reminds me of Campanula to which it is related.
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Parochetus communis, a blue flowered creeping legume species found in the highlands of east Africa and in east Asia.
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A Hedychium species that was difficult to photograph because it always grew in inaccessible places, often near a sharp drop so one best not get to close to it.
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A Buddleia species, one of many we would see in Yunnan.
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A closer view of the Buddeia flower spike.
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A spirea with pink flowers, it grew near an old cemetery that was near the path as we got closer to the bottom of the mountain.
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Osbeckia chinensis, a pretty herbaceous member of the Melastomaceae.
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A paler form of Osbeckia in bud
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A darker form of Osbeckia in bud
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Murdannia species and a Sanguisorba sp in flower. Murdannia is another genus I have seen before in Malawi and also have grown. This species was hard to photograph but is quite pretty with mostly basal leaves and flowers in shades of purple.
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A fairly tall perennial species of Impatiens with large leaves and flowers
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Another impatiens, maybe a different color form of arguta or perhaps something else.
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A different, probably annual, impatiens species with nicely marked pink flowers. It grew not far from the end of the path, and was in seed.
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A closer view of the annual impatiens flower.
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Time for a serious foot massage after the long trek down the mountain, but first the feet need to be soaked in a herbal solution of some sort.
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A colorful map of the area including Erhai lake, in a restaurant near where we were staying in the old city of Dali.
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The rooftop garden where we were staying had quite a few plants in containers.
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Felicia aethiopica, a well known plant from South Africa, growing here on a rooftop in Dali.
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Lavender spills over the edge of the rooftop garden.
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Waterlilies do well in tubs here, it will never be too cold for them here. Nor will it be very hot either, its a place of eternal spring climate, except at higher elevations where actual winter does happen.
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Plumbago auriculata, another South African species, grows very well in Yunnan.
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Its a near perfect climate in Dali for roses and this one shows it, look at all those color changing flowers on what I think is one plant.
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The kitchen at the place we stayed. Windows always open to the garden and lots of cool fresh air.
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Can't really read most of what is on the chalkboard in the kitchen but it gives off California vibes somehow.
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Our travel companions at a nice dinner.
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Driving out of Dali on our way towards Burma we came across a pink form of Hibiscus paramutabilis. I have grown the red eyed white form from Plant Delights which is perfectly hardy in New York, but voles ate the roots a couple of years ago and killed it. Seedlings coming up near the mother plant will bloom next year and are hopefully true, and it also hybridized readily with H. syriacus near one of our property borders where a stand of the latter is present on the neighbor's property. I had never seen the pink form before and Plant Delights no longer sells it or the white form for that matter, so it was a real treat to find it in Yunnan. It was the only plant of this species we saw on this trip.
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A view of the rather large bush of Hibiscus paramutabilis.
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The large flower and leaves of H paramutabilis are more attractive to me than H. syriacus. Hybrids between them are intermediate in appearance and vigorous too.
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One of the great rivers that emerge in Tibet and flow south or east. This might be the Salween or Mekong, not sure as I dont recall a sign. We would see others later on and all were chock full of sediment from the summer rains eroding away soil in the highlands.
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A species of Taxus, probably T. chinensis, growing at an old former hotel iirc.
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In the lobby of a hotel on our journey towards Burma there were wooden sculptures that were quite exquisite.
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This tiger sculpture was quite impressive.
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Also impressive was this nice cymbidium clump in full bloom on the lobby desk. Its probably one of the warmer growing Cymbidium hybrids.
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Not quite sure what this wooden sculpture represents but I like it.
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Finally we arrived in a pine forest that was obviously planted as a source of wood. Athough we did not see any, it was obvious that sheep or some other ruminant animal grazed in this forest as well. Here a small species of Arisaema is in leaf.
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More of those cool giant ferns with five parted fronds.
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Small orchids of two species had taken root on some of the pine trees. Not sure of this species as it was not in flower nor immediately recognizable to myself.
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Another arisaema in leaf.
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On another tree a species of Bulbophyllum was growing along with a fern. This area would experience at least some winter frost so any epiphytic orchids here must be more frost tolerant than usual.
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Parochetus communis in flower, there were many plants of it on the forest floor but very few flowers at this time of year.
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This could be something in the Gentianaceae but its hard to tell without flowers.
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A nice species of what I think was Stewartia. Only saw one tree in flower and no seedlings nearby, probably the sheep ate them.
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This arisaema was in fruit. Luckily arisaema are not eaten by grazing animals so they are actually favored by the animals eliminating much of the competition.
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This arisaema had a beautifully silver patterned leaf.
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I don't usually see a lot of wild animals on my trips to China so it was nice to see this toad looking quite content in its habitat.
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Polygala is a favorite genus of mine, they are found worldwide but few species are actually in cultivation. Even rarer to see, at least for me, was a shrub/small tree sized member of this family of plants. Not sure of the genus, that will require more research.
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Like all things in the Polygalaceae, the seeds are tricky to spot as they often appear in a fading flower and drop off with the flower. This one had seeds that had an aril on them, so presumably some insect carries them into the soil.
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A flower of the Polygalaceae shrub. They appear to open for a short time but even the fruits are colorful.
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Cool, more silver marked arisaema leaves! Bridget W, are you reading this? :)
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Persicaria species, the genus is diverse and abundant especially as one goes higher up. Many form mats and just about all are colorful in flower and often have appealing foliage as well. What I think is a species of Stellaria is also seen with white flowers.
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There was an unusual narrow leaved arisaema in this forest. This one appears to be going dormant but many others were still quite green.
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A Rodhea species growing among some bushes. Didnt see a lot of them so don't know if it was something the sheep would eat and it got lucky to be out of reach or just wasnt common there.
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A young narrow leaved Arisaema sp.
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Yet more of the massive fern with five parted fronds. You can guess I really like this one.
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After some thought and observation, I realized that these little ferns are probably the juvenile form of the much bigger five parted frond species.
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The narrow leaved arisaema species, this time with a seed head. Later on, probably in September, these berries will turn red and the seeds will eventually be dispersed.
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More of the narrow leaved arisaema species.
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And after another day of botanizing, a nice bowl of typical Yunnan noodle soup awaits.
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geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-78580328223986330212024-01-02T17:40:00.000-08:002024-01-02T17:40:57.494-08:00China part 2-TianjinWe spent the first part of our vacation in China in Tianjin, my wife's home town. Well its a city to be exact, one of the megacities of China and is not very far from Beijing. The good part was getting to see family and eating way more than a person should. The bad part is we both got covid soon after arrival, no doubt from eating out at restaurants every evening which we dont normally do back home. Fortunately we procured some paxlovid from home and a couple of pills from a relative to complete the 5 day course for each of us. We forgot to bring test kits but the antigen test kits are readily available in China and were delivered quickly to the hotel we stayed at. Since we were staying in a good international hotel the breakfast was good and had a lot of choices and relatives kept sending us food while we recouperated mostly in our room. Only three relatives also caught covid (they all had it right after the lockdown ended) but their cases were thankfully very mild and over in a day or two without paxlovid, which was very hard to get if not impossible at the time we were in China. I suspect we got a variant of what everyone in China got after lockdown ended which is why the relatives, many of whom are older, did not get sick or if they did it was very minor. Mine started with gastrointestinal stuff which was followed later on by the typical sinus headache and fever, while Grace got more of the coughing along with the headache and fever and some throat irritation. Paxlovid ended all of it in 3 doses (1 and a half days, its taken twice a day) but for me paxlovid worsened the gastro effects. I was glad when the five day period was up and we both tested negative for covid afterwards.
Horticulturally there are a few things to note in Tianjin. First there are greenbelts all along major roads, this is common in the cities of China. And in those greenbelts besides trees and shrubs there are flowering things like roses and various annuals and perennials. We also went to a park nearby which had lotus in both pinks and white along with waterlilies too.
The city has a nice skyline at night, which we spent a lot of time viewing during our covid bout. We were fortunate to be in a decent hotel, in a city that has decent hospitals if they were needed (which thankfully was not the case) and we could go out with our masks for short walks when we felt able to do so. After we recovered we were able to take longer walks and get ready for the next adventure which was to travel to Yunnan.
Below is a photo of one of the cousins two dogs. They were quite old and one has passed by now. They had collars on to keep them from biting their skin to relieve itching I think. They also tended to be quite grumpy with each other, vying for the cousin's attention and frequent treats.
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Then the food fest began, this evening we went to a restaurant that served Beijing duck. And while we can get pretty good stuff here in New York in Chinatowns like Flushing, its never quite as good as in China itself.
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We were in three different rooms in the hotel during our stay, moving from one to another to find the best rooms free of smoking smells that we could. This is one area where China needs to up its game, "no smoking" more often than not means they open the windows and spray some air freshner in the room. Or the guy next door is smoking in a non smoking floor. Smoking is very common among Chinese males in particular and they tend to not obey the no smoking signs in hotels, which themselves are to varying degrees pretty lenient about enforcing no smoking rules. However this particular hotel was better than usual due to the fact that it was an international one of a well known chain so the smokers hid it in their rooms for the most part. The daily price for the room and the breakfast was a steal to be honest, somewhere around 70 dollars a night or so as I recall. Here is one view we had out of one of the rooms.
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I'm not always a fan of all Chinese food and found the noodle soups of Yunnan much more to my liking than a lot of northern Chinese food (with the exception of Beijing duck but one shouldnt eat that every day either). However there was often a pretty good dessert of taro with a raspberry or similar sauce on it which was one of the better sweet things to eat in China. Its got nothing on a really good cannoli or chocolate chip cookie but it probably is a lot healthier to eat.
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There was a tv tower of some sort that looked impressive by day and even more so at night. Here is a view from another hotel where the fam was having another huge meal, and the sun turned blood red as evening progressed. In general we were lucky as far as air quality went, there were a couple of days where the AQI index was not good but nothing that was noticible which was a good thing.
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That same hotel had a good restaurant and some interesting huge ball thing over the lobby.
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Then while visiting one of the cousins I noticed my stomach getting riled up. I thought all the rich food was the cause but alas it was not. When Grace started having throat problems and coughing and a fever, we ordered the antigen tests. Yup, covid, her first time and my second despite both of us having four vaccinations by that point. We left too soon to get the updated booster, which I got this past November. Grace is taking her chances, she gets more significant post vaccine malaise than I do and so far doesnt want to get the booster, and I honestly don't know if it matters much after we both got covid in China. BTW that second line shows really fast, you dont have to wait 15 minutes to see it in spite of most test kit instructions.
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So now we weren't even sure if we could get to Yunnan, also our friend's mom was in the hospital for an issue at the same time but fortunately we got better and his mom's medical issue also resolved well. So during covid we mostly stayed in our room and went to eat breakfast each morning, and as we got better took short walks around the hotel with masks on. This rather colorful track was behind the hotel not far from a fenced lake.
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In front of the hotel there were double flowered pomegranate trees, some with fruits. If they are out there all year then they must be pretty cold hardy versions.
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Verbena dissecta is a plant I grow in my gardens but I have only seen it in purple and white forms. The hotel had a really nice mass of them near a fountain in those colors but also in pinks and other subtle shades. Very pretty.
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The roses often were of a color changing sort that opened up yellow and eventually ends up as red, sort of like Rosa "Mutabilis" but as double tea rose form. They were common in greenbelts and park gardens.
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I couldnt resist taking a photo of this little menace that as of this fall has also arrived in our area of NY. Yep, its the dreaded spotted latern fly in its native range, a sidewalk in Tianjin. I did not see large numbers of them there, presumably something keeps them in check. I also heard from a plantsman in Pennsylvania that they appeared in large numbers early on but in later years seemed to disappear as our native predators learned to eat them.
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Portulaca umbraticola resembles purslane but with much larger flowers was planted in large beds along one of the walkways. I love when flowers come in multiple colors, it keeps the eye interested as it searches for another 'different" one. They are ideal for the drier and generally pretty hot summers of Tianjin.
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When we were better we went to a park that had some interesting plants, roses and crepe myrtles among them. This rose appears to be of rugosa heritage.
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This was an attempt to make a large bonsai I think of some sort with a bush that I didnt recognize in the same park.
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And always there are roses nearby, tea roses in this case.
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In the park there were these enormous fake flower things which were quite impressive.
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A night view of that cool tv tower from our hotel. Almost looks like a flashlight shining downwards.
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Back at the hotel we had a view in our last room of the back of the hotel property facing towards the fenced lake and forest. We also found this interesting sign near the lobby.
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Then one day we went to a park by a large lake, it had lots of places to walk. What surprised me was how few ducks and swans were there but I also admired the lotus plantings. Good place for tourist photos too. By the way there were very few non Chinese tourists throughout our trip, nothing like what we would have seen on previous trips. However we did not encounter any problems so I guess the lack of foreign tourists was more of a problem in travelling there due to the airlines that have to avoid flying over Russian airspace and post covid travel jitters. For those few like us that went there, prices were very good and we found that everyone we dealt with to be quite hospitable.
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A night view of the Tianjin skyline.
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One of our last places we visited was a small museum with dinosaur skeletons among other things. Lots of school age kids were there from the area.
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On our last evening in Tianjin we went to a nice hotel dinner with a cousin and aunt, they had good Chinese and Western food.
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geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-67717308452233306262024-01-01T17:36:00.000-08:002024-01-01T17:36:48.575-08:00A Trip to China in August part 1-The Journey BeginsIn early August we arrived in Beijing to be met by our friend Yijia, who took us back to his place for a nice lunch and then we were off to a drive to the hills north of Beijing to see some flowers. It was a beautiful day, sunny and the air was good too. One of our first finds was a cute gesneriad, Dorcoceras hygrometrica, formerly Boea hygrometica. The flowers resemble those of a species African violet but it is far hardier, growing in a climate which does experience quite cold winters. It always seemed to be present on near verticle rock surfaces where it could find some thin soil and a crack or two to grow in. Some plants bore long twisted pods which contained the typical minute seeds that it shares with most members of its family. It was not uncommon in the area so long as some moisture was available with some moss or thin soil to grow in.
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We also found Begonia grandis in shaded areas, this species is commonly known in the US as the "hardy begonia" and indeed any from this particular area would have to be quite winter hardy indeed.
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Then there was a cute hanging pink flowered shrublet whose name I have not yet figured out. It appears to be a rather small species, possibly related to lilacs and privet, and which also favored slopes as did the gesneriad we saw.
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A small thing with three leaflets appeared to be a species of Pinella, with a single green flower at the end of a relatively long stem. It showed no sign of making arial bulbils as is the habit of at least one species in cultivation which makes it a bit of a pest. The ones that dont have that habit are well behaved odd little perennials for those of us who have interesting gardens full of botanical treasures rather than just what the big box stores and typical nurseries offer.
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There are always species of Viola anywhere one goes in China and one of the two species we found on this day was very typical in appearance. I was left to wonder what its flower might look like when it does bloom.
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We found an area with gritty sandy soil which was colonized by species that preferred a sunny and drier spot. I think these were rosettes of a species of Rehmannia but I can't be sure.
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Nearby grew what I think is the wild form of Dianthus chinensis, the ancestor of some larger flowered colorful annuals or short lived perennials grown in both Europe and the USA. I failed to get a good closeup of the flowers with my iphone but I got a better photo of the entire plant. It had formed seeds and was still in flower so it must flower for quite a long time.
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Not far away in a rockier spot grew more of the Dorcoceras hygrometrica, along with a nice delicate species of selaginella.
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Also nearby was a beautiful specimen of a fern I had seen before on an earlier trip to China. It may be a species of Lepisorus.
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And then there was what looked to be an iris on the rocks. Indeed it was an iris, most likely Iris domestica, the former Belcamda. I didnt see any open flowers which was a shame, as I would like to see if they vary from the orange sort that is common in gardens here in the USA. It is an indestructible perennial, at least where deer don't find it, and I have yet to see an actual wild deer in China. They do exist there I am sure, but not in the wildly overpopulated numbers that we have here in the USA where they cause great damage our native flora and forests.
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Ferns never get boring in China, they are very diverse and found in all kinds of habitats. This one is probably Cheilanthes argentea. A smaller species, it is one of the resurrection ferns that can dry out and then uncurl and turn green when the rains arrive.
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Focus could be better, but the yellow flower below is a species of Patrina, which are not uncommon in this area.
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A Stylophorum species, maybe S. lasiocarpum had bright yellow flowers. Not as large flowered as our native species it nonetheless caught my attention as it grew among the rocks.
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Look close and you will see a budding Allium species in the photo below. Which one, who knows?
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One of many Thalictrums we would see in China grew here too. Without flowers it would be impossible to identify which one it was, but few are unimpressive in bloom and all have attractive foliage.
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In a drier area of course grit grew another viola species with distinct foliage. It was making seeds but probably flowered in spring as most do.
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Nearby grew a bright yellow flowered sedum, another genus that is not uncommon in China.
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And of course there are always more interesting ferns, often interspersed with selaginella as well.
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As we got near the top of one of the mountains, we got a stunning view of the area. No smog today, it was an incredibly beautiful sight to see.
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We met a lady Yijia knew in a village, she had a new house that the government built and was keen to show us her vegetable garden. One of the remarkable things to me was how in any part of China that I have seen, there are always plots of vegetables or grains wherever there are people, even in containers on building terraces and rooftops. She had a better spot to grow them, the soil was good and her vegetable garden was doing a lot better than ours was doing at home in New York.
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Not far away grew a rather rambuncus Asclepiad species, maybe a species of Cynanchum. The flowers were attractive but the overly vigorous vining habit and the fact that is is likely toxic would make it a poor horticultural choice.
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We drove on a bit further and found Clematis heraclefolia in bloom. I've grown this one before and its a pleasing upright perennial with small but pretty blue flowers.
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We walked up a path in a grassy area and another small white flowered clematis was in bloom. Not sure of the species, it resembles some that I grow but was a lot shorter and larger and fewer flowered and bloomed later.
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Quite a few Barnardia japonica were in bloom, including an unusual white flowered form. I grow the pink one at home where it is a fast multiplier and very easy in the garden with flowers at an odd time of year for a bulbous plant.
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A hard to photograph Sanguisorba species was also in bloom.
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An Echinops species grew in an open area not far from trees.
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And if you have ever wondered what Platycodon grandiflorus looks like in the wild, well it was here too. I actually have not yet grown this species although it is common in cultivation and readily available in the US.
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A beautiful scutellaria species had a single spike of bright blue flowers, it was the only one I saw in bloom.
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And we finally got a better shot of the little Pinella species we saw earlier, this time showing the dark inner surface of the spathe.
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Finally after a long day we went to a good hotpot restaurant in the outskirts of Beijing. My wife Grace and Yijia are in this photo, and the food was quite delicious.
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geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-42132391928310422272024-01-01T15:42:00.000-08:002024-01-01T15:42:34.034-08:00Took a few photos today on Thanksgiving. Mice have been active in the garage, they sneak in from outside and were eating corms of some moraeas and oxalis so war it is. Four mice have been dispatched of in the last couple of days and both glue and snap traps are in strategic positions to deter further rodent depredations. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9txlgyXhYdQOeXv-daOg8MD0WE1yedtoLF5k80yvxnhNWlQyiXLu9CE8FG1uzwoleZdsGwf006SHsa-Ya_pbCCdA62BYLmy64J4491ZqJ17-g9Tvuc-7BSBLQ1J1X17j-_0H_TBTLJAblNh8VCzQHC0qjM-OjuDBSqiwad5w0_sF7KFuqeNypEwhHDE/s4032/IMG_6281.HEIC" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9txlgyXhYdQOeXv-daOg8MD0WE1yedtoLF5k80yvxnhNWlQyiXLu9CE8FG1uzwoleZdsGwf006SHsa-Ya_pbCCdA62BYLmy64J4491ZqJ17-g9Tvuc-7BSBLQ1J1X17j-_0H_TBTLJAblNh8VCzQHC0qjM-OjuDBSqiwad5w0_sF7KFuqeNypEwhHDE/s400/IMG_6281.HEIC"/></a></div>
Mousetraps baited with peanut butter and/or placed in pots near or where the vermin have struck. The moraeas they ate were from a packet of hybrid seeds that I got and were on their third year of growth so that was a loss that was particularly annoying.
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These nerines and amarines were cut before frost, the amarines did not yeild seed but the white Nerine bowdenii did a few weeks after this photo was taken. They have been planted on the surface in a pot of mainly promix with some perlite. They first form a root and a small bulb, then a leaf will eventually emerge.
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Winter growing Nerine humilis blooms along with one of many winter growing oxalis from South Africa under lights in the garage. Some sunlight reaches some of the plant shelves during sunny days as well. Temperatures tend to be cool which favor these winter growers, although a cool greenhouse would be even better.
geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-4191201736640419392023-07-22T11:06:00.000-07:002023-07-22T11:06:30.117-07:00A Few Interesting Plants in the Gardens YesterdayI have been growing an innteresting solidago species that I got years ago from a garden in Denver, Colorado. It is much less vigorous here so its spreading tendencies are not a problem, perhaps because it also in near a short Monarda species that also spreads from thin underground rhizomes. Its grey green leaves indicate it is a plant from a semi-arid sunny habitat and we certainly dont have that kind of climate here in New York (well at least not most of the time). It is short and has attractive yellow flowers and I havent ever seen a seedling appear. I like it, its less aggressive than most other solidago species I have tried in the gardens and it blooms earlier than most. Behind it some Gladiolus "Carolina Primrose" can be seen, this is a hardy form of the very variable G dalenii (or perhaps a primary hybrid of it, though it comes true from seed), actually G dalenii in just about every form I have grown is hardy here.
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This next plant isnt gonna win any prizes for stunning beauty, but its is not often seen and is an indigenous US plant. Napaea dioca is in the Malvaceae, a family with often very big showy flowers. Still it has a certain gracefulness about it, even if it is a plant that grows taller than I am. Its small white flowers give away its family identity, and I think they are supposed to be dioeceous (separate male and female plants) but I think my plant has both male and female flowers on the same plant as it does make seed I think. I'll pay closer attention this year to see if I am correct about that. Its leaves are fairly attractive and it doesnt ask for much, growing in a spot under high shade from hemlocks but where it does get good sun much of the day. That area got really dry last summer, this summer the rains seem to never cease and it is doing fine regardless.
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Another Malvaceae member is this hybrid of the common Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus, with Hibiscus paramutabilis. I brought a white with red eye H. paramutabilis (Shanghai Red Eye, they also had a pure pink I didnt get) from Plant Delights nursery many years ago and it survived without any winter issues against the house for almost a decade. Then it died this year, evidentally from voles which dug into the ground and ate the roots. It dropped lots of seeds from its very unfriendly pods (they contain irritating hairs inside making seed harvest difficult) but it also has crossed with a stand of H. syriacus in the neighbors to the north side of the border. The hybrid offspring are obvious since their leaves are much bigger than H syriacus and they also appear to be fertile. A seed made its way onto my side between two Tibetan peach trees (Prunus mira) that I grew from seed from their homeland gifted to me by a friend. I was going to get rid of it but it grows fast when cut back and I decided to let it stay as it is pretty attractive. The flowers and leaves are both bigger than H syriacus and it flowers for a long time. Meanwhile I have allowed some seedlings to grow near where the original H paramutabilis was and am hoping they are selfs rather than hybrids but I won't know for sure until they flower. That may be later this summer or certainly by next summer. It seems that one cannot find H paramutablilis for sale any more, Plant Delights hasnt offered it again in many years and no one else seems to grow it. Pity because it is a nice plant that is hardier than I thought it would be (it never suffered even twig dieback in 9 winters here) and it has large flowers in good numbers.
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In a planter a silver leaved beauty I grew from seed gathered in the highveld of South Africa is blooming for the first time. Its a species of what used to be called Vernonia, but in South Africa I think all species in that genus are reassigned to new genera. In SA the plant grows more upright. I did plant one out last winter but it didnt survive, or at least the roots did but it never resprouted. Perhaps with a good wood chip mulch it might make it in the garden as gerberas do. First I will propagate more then try them out with wood chip winter protection but will also try to get seed if the others flower as a backup as it is probably self incompatible (most, but not all, Asteraceae tend to be self
incompatible so more than one clone is needed for viable seed set).
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In a large pot I have Matalea reticulata in bloom. This genus of vining milkweeds often has interesting flowers, these green flat flowers are no exception. They arent very large but are attractive and odd. I got the seed off of ebay from someone in Texas, where it grows naturally. I see a plant or two that I set in the gardens last fall that also appear to have survived the winter but they arent big and more data is needed to determine if it is really winter hardy here.
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I went on a bit of an Ecuagenera orchid binge last year and also got a few interesting bromeliads. Pitcairnea alata arrived as a plant with multiple offsets on long runners, and it flowered this year. The photo below is a second flowering. This genus is usually terrestrial, but this one I think is an epiphyte. Most have really showy flowers but are unaccountably scarce in cultivation. I also grow P aff ringens which I grew from seed given to me some years ago, its also easy and red flowered. As for the orchids I got from Ecuagenera, many like cooler conditions and are fussy about water quality, or at least the ones I tend to like so I have lost a fair number, but also some have thrived better than expected. Their plants are usually of good quality and size but will need time to readjust after the long trip from Ecuador to here, via their place in Apopka, Florida. Their prices are good, although orchids are very expensive compared to most other plants, at least these species sorts are and their prices are going up like everything else these days. They will be cheaper than any US supplier and the plant will be larger at least half of the time if not more. The caveat is that not all will survive unless you live in an area with a perfect climate for them. They do have warmth tolerant species and hybrids too and they also run several sales a year. Online ordering from them is very easy and their shipping is good and quick once the plants are ready for shipment (that will take a bit of time for preparation and getting the paperwork done which they take care of, no worries at your end about import permits, CITES documents, they take care of all of that which is great).
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Meanwhile several different crocosmia are in bloom now, most unnamed hybrids. This one is one of a mix I got from The Lily Garden in Maine. Its quite showy in its second or third year as are all the others.
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Of course the rains dont bother the daylilies and they are growing with renewed vigor after the June drought ended. Other plants dont like such heavy and frequent rains, for example I found some rot in a couple of kniphofias. In that case I clean out the rotted crowns to allow more air to reach the living crowns and allow what is left to dry faster to slow down or stop the rot. I don't think In I have ever seen a daylily rot from too much rain though. Some were stunted by the earlier drought but others within easy reach of the hose did fine this year. The large orange flowered one in the first photo is an unnamed seedling from Manatawny Creek Daylilies which reminds me a lot of Tuscawilla Tigress in flower. I also grow TT, and although it is an old one it is very showy and vigorous. By now I have at least three clumps of it and its vivid orange flowers never disappoint. The unnamed seedling may have no relation to TT but it reminds me of it.
The last photo is of a group of daylilies from Grace Gardens, the taller one is August Sentinel which I like a lot for both the flower form and tall stems. The bright orange one is Seneca Brave and the purplish pink one is Seneca Drums. All were bred by the owners Tom and Kathy Rood. Tom still runs the nursery after Kathy sadly passed away a couple of years ago. We didnt get a chance to visit this year but did go last year, he had some Mennonite folks helping him with digging the daylilies for customers. Its a lovely place to visit, right next to Fox Run winery which has a cafe for lunch as well when doing a winery run up the west side of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York. On our last visit I made sure to pick up several of their introductions as one never knows how long they might be available as nurseries come and go. Hopefully Tom will one day have family or a buyer continue the nursery when that becomes necessary. But the truth is that most nurseries only last about 15 years on average and its not often that a new owner continues running it successfully unless its younger family that has also been working there. There are a few exceptions I can think of where the nursery changed hands and continued on but even then it wont be exactly the same. So I am glad that Grace and I have been to their place several times over the years and we now have quite a few of their New York bred or tested daylilies in our gardens too.
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geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-39154110839679588862023-07-09T18:36:00.001-07:002023-07-09T18:36:46.005-07:00A Rainy July Day in the GardensThis has been a strange year weatherwise but that can be said about many places in the world these days. An El Nino is forming and we started with a nice cool and sunny but dry spring into late June when the heat and humidity and rain came back in droves. The heat hasnt been as bad as some other places, mostly still in the 80s but we have hit the low 90s and the humidity amplies the discomfort. Nonetheless there is much color in the garden now, just as there was earlier in the season, only the cast of plants has changed. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5923GBn6Fk7bEXH1LNIKA6iqQRrgBd77rhP1iOKShMUCiJnTNBmM1nGZiY7p75LzYMJs9Gl4mAXjzmPc4sGoNj1-A8i0C_usPD6uxHSd_MzEXorYPliMgrbWPEFTI7Glnckum-IpmUoFKYwDEesfkaU8s7jfsiN5zmB9m7Yii3kt8y1oGWkYY14m6xYM/s4032/IMG_2938.HEIC" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5923GBn6Fk7bEXH1LNIKA6iqQRrgBd77rhP1iOKShMUCiJnTNBmM1nGZiY7p75LzYMJs9Gl4mAXjzmPc4sGoNj1-A8i0C_usPD6uxHSd_MzEXorYPliMgrbWPEFTI7Glnckum-IpmUoFKYwDEesfkaU8s7jfsiN5zmB9m7Yii3kt8y1oGWkYY14m6xYM/s320/IMG_2938.HEIC"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXynjz7Sc09fvo03HR0-fWFHmbzxKszuLGOAjuWs6KfesWcPCpJ1dWi8EbUTRtj1l0Blso-_5VB0lMvaYP9Otm4BlFsT8IT6L0BqqC8tGibg-2fu3v6Q-pCbssVsTQ6p_xh8EVsublFAseKOkqPGncLoeACXZER0ntb8TeQvIeY9cm52DGaP3fnxMhMhQ/s4032/IMG_2939.HEIC" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXynjz7Sc09fvo03HR0-fWFHmbzxKszuLGOAjuWs6KfesWcPCpJ1dWi8EbUTRtj1l0Blso-_5VB0lMvaYP9Otm4BlFsT8IT6L0BqqC8tGibg-2fu3v6Q-pCbssVsTQ6p_xh8EVsublFAseKOkqPGncLoeACXZER0ntb8TeQvIeY9cm52DGaP3fnxMhMhQ/s320/IMG_2939.HEIC"/></a></div>
This simple daylily is a form of H. fulva grown from seeds that were harvested by Bjornar Olsen in Anhui Province, China. I grew a handful of plants and this is the first to flower. I figure that it is a diploid form of this usually (in cultivation) triploid species. Hopefully it doesnt run like the triploid version but it will need more time in the ground for me to assess that.
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Never did figure out for sure what this awesome black flowered daylily is. I got it from Bridget W who probably got it from Manatawny Creek Daylilies. In some years the flowers are mared with yellow streaks from thrips but this year it has done really well. I sometimes spray the emerging scapes of daylilies to reduce aphid and thrip issues which can be a problem when you have a lot of daylilies. I didnt get around to all of them and the drought was hard on the bed of daylilies in one corner of the property where I need to hook up two hoses to reach so not all of them have done well this year. But this tall beauty is within easy reach of the hose and really is looking good this year.
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One of my more interesting seedlings, this one has both stipples and stripes. This is its second flower which also shows stripes as did the first so it may be stable in this one. I will keep it, I actually dont have any striped daylilies in my collection though I do have some with stipples.
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The waterlilies are looking great and the rainstorms are washing the annoying aphids off their leaves. However I notice some of them have rhizomes which float to the top of the water in summer. I guess the pots I put them in were too small but I did not expect them to rise up like that. I first saw this last year and if I recall correctly, they sink back down come fall. If not I will tie rocks to them and sink them anyway. We now have a sprinker and camera system which has thwarted the raccoons from eating the flowers and herons from eating the fish, thanks to our son in law who is good with such things.
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The absolutely breath taking Gladiolus decorus is blooming now. Its a shy bloomer in my experience but a good grower. I got seeds thanks to a kind lady in Malawi some years ago and when I took apart my pot of corms this spring I had so many I was able to make five large pots of them with numerous corms in each. Its a shame the tropical African gladioli are not better represented in cultivation, some such as this species are really quite exquisite and not hard to grow.
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Galtonia (or Ornithogalum or whatever genus they assign it to these days) candicans is in full bloom now. Quite hardy and this particular one is really good at making a nice clump, as they dont always do that in my past experience. They make easy to grow black seeds, especially if hand pollinated, and they are easily sprouted and the first year bulbs kept dry in their pot inside for winter in a cool location. They can be grown in pots for another year to get larger or put in the ground that spring. I have never seen it self sow unlike many other hardy South African plants that I grow.
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Its the season of lilies, and this is one of the orientpet sorts. It is quite fragrant and an easy grower as orientpets tend to be.
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The agapanthus, gladioli, and crocosmia are lighting up the South African garden with color. Offspring of Gladiolus Ruby Papilio often are much like the parent, and there are other hybrids of mine in all sorts of colors as well as some I got from the usual bulb sources. These agapanthus were grown from seed and get some wood chip mulch for winter but dont need a very deep covering such as gerberas prefer here in New York (USDA z7/6 border). Crocosmia Pauls Best Yellow is a nice one and I have unnamed red ones as well in various spots. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1Caj_gag35knfLwqQhNtn9GqYemFz8NlZzbuCY-2E9yUIjOq3sVyot-rDoLKbwvDvob7ZIghhcXu7HTHGX7ZwwR6VQBr0MSRUEsdVhSPp2KfCVN7bpI9Ad8btfzaMGMep26BshUmacMff7G7LBfNGM4rFNveG2mSQ8DHybI9S_YiLupmsLIi9Yt02FQ/s4032/IMG_3184.HEIC" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1Caj_gag35knfLwqQhNtn9GqYemFz8NlZzbuCY-2E9yUIjOq3sVyot-rDoLKbwvDvob7ZIghhcXu7HTHGX7ZwwR6VQBr0MSRUEsdVhSPp2KfCVN7bpI9Ad8btfzaMGMep26BshUmacMff7G7LBfNGM4rFNveG2mSQ8DHybI9S_YiLupmsLIi9Yt02FQ/s320/IMG_3184.HEIC"/></a></div>
My wife really liked this daylily, Laughing Giraffe, when we went to a daylily nursery (I think it was Grace Gardens in Penn Yann, NY) and it has proven to be a good doer.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtOaDj4CRlXZsuQB9xfqgvRchFqaj8m27McWWKJUHFuk18-ZvanszKPa24SIkIEbr5X7wYktNwfySjm2cy7zvdkjzExEX3hD7K5cRch-db3Pf_FJYfThI-Mk4aVf86V_CmNOJG1auTtP7sNdgb5Pyu2pS6fn32bR11u7plL8FtbFhAOFAl4rRSgfI9dU/s4032/IMG_3218.HEIC" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtOaDj4CRlXZsuQB9xfqgvRchFqaj8m27McWWKJUHFuk18-ZvanszKPa24SIkIEbr5X7wYktNwfySjm2cy7zvdkjzExEX3hD7K5cRch-db3Pf_FJYfThI-Mk4aVf86V_CmNOJG1auTtP7sNdgb5Pyu2pS6fn32bR11u7plL8FtbFhAOFAl4rRSgfI9dU/s320/IMG_3218.HEIC"/></a></div>
Zantedeschia albomaculata is the hardiest of the genus and even resows here. I have it in both spotted and unspotted leaf forms. They are pretty much indestructible other than the flowers sometimes being attacked by Japanese beeetles. This year they started opening before the beetles appeared so the beetles are a bit late to the party. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdnuLzThOpPpPvN8jxCgnoQQ0E7r-RqB3qhPbIsCtWS_CGdDTiRDcGpPx0KR4ZuHDZP8VH02nVRLnvLWFSdlhzxtHtQjtV6GT9FSR8qIrR0AuSz24RbffLcmXBH1XJ18lJpA7vZWUQlr2wugV1P063KdgBn2IcYwFow1_-8M-B_UuEsvW9gixTyELSSY/s4032/IMG_3211.HEIC" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdnuLzThOpPpPvN8jxCgnoQQ0E7r-RqB3qhPbIsCtWS_CGdDTiRDcGpPx0KR4ZuHDZP8VH02nVRLnvLWFSdlhzxtHtQjtV6GT9FSR8qIrR0AuSz24RbffLcmXBH1XJ18lJpA7vZWUQlr2wugV1P063KdgBn2IcYwFow1_-8M-B_UuEsvW9gixTyELSSY/s320/IMG_3211.HEIC"/></a></div>
Agapanthus Ever Twilight was a gift from the breeder who arranged to have two each of five varieties shipped to me. Quinton does his breeding in South Africa but these are available in Europe and the USA. It is one of a series that were bred to rebloom, something I have never seen an agapanthus do before. This one has attractive bicolored flowers, here even the buds look good. I gave them winter mulch as they were not bred for hardiness and it worked for most of them. This is their first blooming the year after I got them and I will be able to assess how well they rebloom here in New York, and report my findings to Quinton. Last year was not the best of summers to establish them as it was exceptionally dry but now that they are settled in they are growing well and most are coming into bloom now or will be.
geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-7111685630824251182022-12-01T17:52:00.001-08:002022-12-03T08:23:34.819-08:00<p> The South African Garden in Fall</p><p>While South African plants are in pretty much every garden on the property, there is a special garden reserved for South African plants (and occasional interlopers from elsewhere) in the fenced back gardens area. Here grow many species of plants grown from seeds from South Africa, either collected by myself or from other sources like Panayoti's earlier SA seed hunting expeditions or Silverhill Seeds. Matt Prinsloo of Bulbomads is another good source and there are some things coming along from him that will mature next year in the South African garden and in other gardens as time goes on.</p><p>Our spring was normal in 2022 more or less, but after June the rains just stopped until September with one or two exceptions. Thus it was an unusually dry summer so I had to hand water frequently with the hoses I have. There were days I watered from morning till evening to soak the parched soil so I wouldnt actually lose some plants. Fortunately most of the South African species can take drought and some do better with it than with too much rain. Still I prioritized making sure that certain species got generous waterings such as Hesperantha coccinea, since I know it grows in and along streams from what I saw when I was last in South Africa before covid hit and our world changed. </p><p>Speaking of hesperantha, it comes in pinks, reds and whites and while it wasnt their best year for me, we did get some nice autumn flowers from them. They begin to flower in September and keep going until frost gets severe enough to knock them back. I protect the corm/rhizomes with a wood chip mulch and that allows them to come through even cold winters. Voles may thin them out at times, they are one rodent pest that I have a hard time keeping in check when they do appear. </p><p><br /><br /></p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXi5IkzXvM_4gj5dabQkmEmk1zFHG94gAv42dYHzxLv822Oq6aFFb4Zwsk-FBreupq5lsIAtw1neyieMRdkF0-qzmZY2WwSUpHFlvK8XOpL3xLkfNzZSQeI-H9pV1LyVEzUF4xph8VMbBLqp0uome3lOABAD4MhFhIGtXaHJoJNiWA2hrofk03kV7L" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXi5IkzXvM_4gj5dabQkmEmk1zFHG94gAv42dYHzxLv822Oq6aFFb4Zwsk-FBreupq5lsIAtw1neyieMRdkF0-qzmZY2WwSUpHFlvK8XOpL3xLkfNzZSQeI-H9pV1LyVEzUF4xph8VMbBLqp0uome3lOABAD4MhFhIGtXaHJoJNiWA2hrofk03kV7L=w640-h562" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Hesperantha coccinea, a pink cultivar</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Gladiolus "Lucky Star" has been hardy here so far and one bloomed later than usual. I havent gotten it to set seed yet but if it could it would make for some interesting new hybrids as it itself is an unusual gladiolus cross. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOLttfUYmh81LrOiy_HszPb_1JbyIXtrRalPUS_g9Rp-9-bqsYNk5BdZvpcI8t7a4PexcuIZLb4FFY04TgZyb2PmN0-akOZV0eg2ubqMgP5bVzmWZ4W0Hw1tRB8b9YT2Vce4BUX1zHDNptaQvP04Mao-V7qaDNKeBrg3r4uSsGphhCoDh2m4x6-RDY" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOLttfUYmh81LrOiy_HszPb_1JbyIXtrRalPUS_g9Rp-9-bqsYNk5BdZvpcI8t7a4PexcuIZLb4FFY04TgZyb2PmN0-akOZV0eg2ubqMgP5bVzmWZ4W0Hw1tRB8b9YT2Vce4BUX1zHDNptaQvP04Mao-V7qaDNKeBrg3r4uSsGphhCoDh2m4x6-RDY=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gladiolus "Lucky Star"<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Nemesia fruticosa never fails to delight in fall as it flowers more vigorously than ever. It sometimes survives a mild winter here and in any case will freely come up from seed in any place where competition is not too tough. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI9iUcRKsO9d8Mf12_3FlMxB2MxeGcU9r7RXmZ62-x79s-D3w_P4jUDrYb2mIXKPpQ5nMMh7Tk15HcKD8QUoktDaW535wLDaWwpuJwmTp-Yjq_uzlrRu7iNTELbERV_a5PmMmTyHWeLclcuxmvLucDJxyPhtZd6F5QHOgUhyZMDH2Njs97Cr9Vc-2O" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI9iUcRKsO9d8Mf12_3FlMxB2MxeGcU9r7RXmZ62-x79s-D3w_P4jUDrYb2mIXKPpQ5nMMh7Tk15HcKD8QUoktDaW535wLDaWwpuJwmTp-Yjq_uzlrRu7iNTELbERV_a5PmMmTyHWeLclcuxmvLucDJxyPhtZd6F5QHOgUhyZMDH2Njs97Cr9Vc-2O=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfJuvxy5vXi7mMszPOEh7-As6RLoDs1wcwXCh2PBpyjEYoTFhrR2-J2RP5w9JJyomWj5vyIhM6oKmk9RZg0clGWf9eumI9KDa4GgoOL1ZhVyO1xoXkTepT35rDS321yWzYUrEjtZMgCTx4Vd2F4aWmUXB2nQVwT_TAIj00G5UnJvS-wMdDFjSlaMKV" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfJuvxy5vXi7mMszPOEh7-As6RLoDs1wcwXCh2PBpyjEYoTFhrR2-J2RP5w9JJyomWj5vyIhM6oKmk9RZg0clGWf9eumI9KDa4GgoOL1ZhVyO1xoXkTepT35rDS321yWzYUrEjtZMgCTx4Vd2F4aWmUXB2nQVwT_TAIj00G5UnJvS-wMdDFjSlaMKV=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br />A late Osteospermum jucundum shows off its lovely purple daisies. They also come in white as well and will gently self sow. Harsh winters can damage the mats that the plants form but they recover well and after a mild winter those mats are overflowing with big daisies come spring. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgTzvZ9FiKIkpP2pTdO4fCR4R0hD2km7ZfiJuQvSo9bkvgx4WueABsDOf2v4UAi_bFswCjMDJcMSUHADlMLsVX_BLNIKtlqIKYq3b_qF5dItEReBEBZ4SNKFmCieHne62m5-WCCA9TrvnMXlR2X5vHEdY9cBC_wJqO9u4iN1o8taHFqyv5CHr6boLK" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgTzvZ9FiKIkpP2pTdO4fCR4R0hD2km7ZfiJuQvSo9bkvgx4WueABsDOf2v4UAi_bFswCjMDJcMSUHADlMLsVX_BLNIKtlqIKYq3b_qF5dItEReBEBZ4SNKFmCieHne62m5-WCCA9TrvnMXlR2X5vHEdY9cBC_wJqO9u4iN1o8taHFqyv5CHr6boLK=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br />A nice white selago species also is in the photo above, it usually dies out during winter but I can keep it going from cuttings and it sometimes self sows. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A yellow phygelius, probably Moonraker, really took off this year and has made quite a large patch. It flowers more vigorously than the red wild form I grew from seeds I got long ago from Panayoti. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQXSjOvSBvLSv9BoGi5cl8SqbKM8wNk93OVC2ntcwWzwmIqDjsKiD3Zh0oBji-N_HXIJGo3yg-jU82Kj81UAC9nUz6Ni2zgJHjFB0BnEWlJa9C7XW_ZaB18x3oVR4Hn_J56xunkcFisCP-MG0A3jGM4aYqKwJ59Q8_WeOQt9N_HxrdJ0lHNVrD4Qox" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQXSjOvSBvLSv9BoGi5cl8SqbKM8wNk93OVC2ntcwWzwmIqDjsKiD3Zh0oBji-N_HXIJGo3yg-jU82Kj81UAC9nUz6Ni2zgJHjFB0BnEWlJa9C7XW_ZaB18x3oVR4Hn_J56xunkcFisCP-MG0A3jGM4aYqKwJ59Q8_WeOQt9N_HxrdJ0lHNVrD4Qox=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A very free flowering yellow senecio species, name unknown, makes a mass of flowers among leaves of agapanthus plants which poke through the sprawling mass of yellow daisies. It appears to be hardy and also self sows as do most senecios. It will flower earlier but it is in fall when it is at its best. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsnZdU5URSCARcvWpT4NEGKaoWHpTZGaG79YLz-qPkSC-k8MZf07ngVv7sPvTiKGxV5eKHyskL0Wol3y6h9aczTjn8aK2DF23LRf1XPPRzl0g7dfQACvQKZ40F6jYmIll6ni3h1B4qwYmhqZbCMFS9cGghgZIbraYelT0Axg-IQTvRvf5x7o2OKJuy" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsnZdU5URSCARcvWpT4NEGKaoWHpTZGaG79YLz-qPkSC-k8MZf07ngVv7sPvTiKGxV5eKHyskL0Wol3y6h9aczTjn8aK2DF23LRf1XPPRzl0g7dfQACvQKZ40F6jYmIll6ni3h1B4qwYmhqZbCMFS9cGghgZIbraYelT0Axg-IQTvRvf5x7o2OKJuy=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnPk32TSXajU1AW4V5q_QYPSNUeQzGOGT9jhCmswEq6dOeit8R-6UP5lBbPIlPe_dB3Y2Bt74PUpxbD-JwfTJ2yD3jz6O72eWu4YEwiswXVsfyHRvOAoDRcUVyEIeP3SAWSqZ0uAbZhAMbZf5O6jKeJp8EG6OWRNvOPSZkjFBrDPVz5due-WfHZxeu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnPk32TSXajU1AW4V5q_QYPSNUeQzGOGT9jhCmswEq6dOeit8R-6UP5lBbPIlPe_dB3Y2Bt74PUpxbD-JwfTJ2yD3jz6O72eWu4YEwiswXVsfyHRvOAoDRcUVyEIeP3SAWSqZ0uAbZhAMbZf5O6jKeJp8EG6OWRNvOPSZkjFBrDPVz5due-WfHZxeu=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">The red phygelius threw a few brightly colored flowers but the patch of it is really too big, its probably three meters wide by now. The one shown below is a seedling from that patch, also to e seen are some late flowers of Berkheya cirsiifolia. Both are perfectly hardy here in New York. </blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK6IdPgON6JDuFFp8ShbQT22dsvqvHGge6U_k1NBxXftlJX8UIHBkwabfgAZbgbZl-9sb2lLw37Um5AaEPIrlhlodmpbo8BN6zpP9KAbIfr49UoQXne8nRmNX53khTAihfyz78gUCbNFqXtV0macbz_GAQ_a3Vuc20tt4DNHJfqG06x0RiNwrZlmiE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK6IdPgON6JDuFFp8ShbQT22dsvqvHGge6U_k1NBxXftlJX8UIHBkwabfgAZbgbZl-9sb2lLw37Um5AaEPIrlhlodmpbo8BN6zpP9KAbIfr49UoQXne8nRmNX53khTAihfyz78gUCbNFqXtV0macbz_GAQ_a3Vuc20tt4DNHJfqG06x0RiNwrZlmiE=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"> These gorgeous white flowered Nerine bowdenii came from a friend in the UK. They always bloom just before frost threatens and frost did take them out a few days later. We need earlier blooming Nerine bowdenii selections, if there is such a thing. The bulbs are pretty hardy and get a light mulch for winter but I am not sure if they even need it. Behind the nerine can be seen the wonderful grey foliage of Helichrysum splendidum. Last winter was hard on them so I cut them back pretty harshly but they grew back with a vengeance. Milder winters result in no dieback on the helichrysum and after such a winter yellow flowers appear and seed is produced. They can grow quite huge as well if winter isnt cold enough to check their growth. </p></blockquote><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh63NwrSAmxOSWD8KmPxPpkQgJlg6HxL-k5IR2omSOiOVtYQxQsgMJj-I-MuG9K52rlTHS63d4ecZuT_BYfcvzir_j2B_wagJTYZVTBTZyiyVFaE9G-rYbnMDi_eAXEm3Q-yC7lF8WmwAFB_zyLXE9h9dLfSkOelnwwib1XJrRgqF9EBWxzTihSNywH" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh63NwrSAmxOSWD8KmPxPpkQgJlg6HxL-k5IR2omSOiOVtYQxQsgMJj-I-MuG9K52rlTHS63d4ecZuT_BYfcvzir_j2B_wagJTYZVTBTZyiyVFaE9G-rYbnMDi_eAXEm3Q-yC7lF8WmwAFB_zyLXE9h9dLfSkOelnwwib1XJrRgqF9EBWxzTihSNywH=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">The glory of the fall in the South African garden is surely these two plants of Kniphofia multiflora. Huge spikes which tower above my 5'10" frame erupt into brilliant magnificence. I do give it a generous wood chip mulch for winter but its so worth it. Perhaps it would survive anyway but I refuse to risk it as I like it too much to risk losing it. I cut the flower spikes just before frost to bring inside so that some seed can be produced, and I have gotten some seed over the years from the two seed grown clones crossing. I have planted some in the front yard and at least two or three should be large enough to flower next year provided they get through the winter. Of course I did cover them up already so as to increase their chances. </blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgB-Piv0CU5QXbwDidNpW-oZFycskPUhI7HW5FGtMZjNmzj4mGQ1qea2bxzAo8zZLMHWL8Zcsg5nCJBErkjzyIS6BMyhNNXna0We1mQfxwT_ki5oML2Ot8s5FF_0PvfPEhqa2T8ZtKhtuMH_CJr8Vm91BLbX1rKYafCYCYpRQcJjzM4XClrGKk85jJn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgB-Piv0CU5QXbwDidNpW-oZFycskPUhI7HW5FGtMZjNmzj4mGQ1qea2bxzAo8zZLMHWL8Zcsg5nCJBErkjzyIS6BMyhNNXna0We1mQfxwT_ki5oML2Ot8s5FF_0PvfPEhqa2T8ZtKhtuMH_CJr8Vm91BLbX1rKYafCYCYpRQcJjzM4XClrGKk85jJn=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p>geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-83771838389158382662021-02-01T19:05:00.002-08:002021-07-07T16:35:35.130-07:00<p> Daylilies Part II</p><p>As July moves on, different daylilies come and go in flower. Some will bloom for a very long time, others concentrate all their efforts into two or three weeks, but I will have flowers straight into September with the varieties I grow. I like to think of daylilies as "happy flowers", they don't ask for much but always seem eager to please. As a plant nerd who will sometimes go to extraordinary lengths to grow challenging plants that I really like, it is quite nice to grow some plants that give so much for minimal effort on my part. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OWLHsFfYiDo/YBXZRHwkNdI/AAAAAAACW1s/0JL_aQGukkANVMd8mqZF50o-yZa7Y0hRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s657/daymarpastel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OWLHsFfYiDo/YBXZRHwkNdI/AAAAAAACW1s/0JL_aQGukkANVMd8mqZF50o-yZa7Y0hRgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daymarpastel.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>This seedling from Marietta has a great big polychrome flower with nice ruffling. Its not the most floriferous plant but each bloom is eagerly anticipated. Smells good too. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Gh26jxFTTY/YBXgIFIfGTI/AAAAAAACW14/24rn28b8d28Iacw41yQrKxeHbnRq15jkACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daygalex.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Gh26jxFTTY/YBXgIFIfGTI/AAAAAAACW14/24rn28b8d28Iacw41yQrKxeHbnRq15jkACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daygalex.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Galaxy Explosion is from Obannon Springs as are most of the plants in the front section of the older bed. It is one I brought sight unseen and am glad I did. It produces lots of colorful small/medium sized "spider"/star shaped dark centered burnt orange flowers over a very long period of time. Flowers well above the foliage, another plus. It could make a good plant in the right spot in a perennial border. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UqrkiDMsYQE/YBXoiviS_yI/AAAAAAACW2Q/HugPpM-cPAEzUR2xCzbIlpai0VTIgn83gCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daysg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UqrkiDMsYQE/YBXoiviS_yI/AAAAAAACW2Q/HugPpM-cPAEzUR2xCzbIlpai0VTIgn83gCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daysg.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Small Gesture has lots of double pink flowers with a darker center. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I14sR-JDP4w/YBXpzrfatKI/AAAAAAACW2g/pMA7Kn9Qf8scgmYTjn5PEiLy-yl4LlXyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daybw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I14sR-JDP4w/YBXpzrfatKI/AAAAAAACW2g/pMA7Kn9Qf8scgmYTjn5PEiLy-yl4LlXyQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daybw.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Brown Witch is one of the few brown flowered daylilies. Brown would seem to be an ugly color for a flower but in person it actually is pretty nice, at least the sort of golden browns that daylilies come in. A good performer and fairly tall. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NPEkq7vacOs/YBXqPz4iK1I/AAAAAAACW2o/jEyLt9vFcOoS_83nB44dnrCsb-6QOdjEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daygw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NPEkq7vacOs/YBXqPz4iK1I/AAAAAAACW2o/jEyLt9vFcOoS_83nB44dnrCsb-6QOdjEQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daygw.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Grey Witch is similar in form, height and bloom period to Brown Witch. Also a sort of indescribable color, more of a muted purple shade. These spider flowered sorts do blend better in a garden with other plants than the daylilies with big round ("bagel") flowers or ones with extreme ruffled edges ("chicken fat"). Both of the witches are in the newer main bed near the deck. Many plants in that bed are late bloomers I got from Manatawny but when I extended the bed I added quite a few more from mail orders including both of the above. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1y8BbFjQYUE/YBXsF6XaQtI/AAAAAAACW20/rOpiQPgujFMbmTb2s5aJiNKoCf2stWELwCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daybdyy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1y8BbFjQYUE/YBXsF6XaQtI/AAAAAAACW20/rOpiQPgujFMbmTb2s5aJiNKoCf2stWELwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daybdyy.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Ok this is not in my garden, but at a nursery, CT Daylilies, that I paid a visit to in July. It is an example of a "bearded" or "sculpted" daylily. Not my cup of tea at all but I do find it fascinating how much human selection can change a simple wildflower in a few generations. And its good that there are folks breeding all kinds of new flower forms. Who knows what this flower form might lead to in the future? People go nuts over cristate growing succulents so why not a flower with such an odd form? There's lots of room for different preferences, diversity is one of the things that makes gardens interesting. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-51FSdgI8PUM/YBXuCE-85BI/AAAAAAACW3A/dpvYNPluSGgE5yQKg6mWOLmhGTKxk-W-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayctd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-51FSdgI8PUM/YBXuCE-85BI/AAAAAAACW3A/dpvYNPluSGgE5yQKg6mWOLmhGTKxk-W-gCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayctd.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>There were a lot of really cutting edge newer sorts of daylilies at CT daylilies and they were not inexpensive. But when I later compared prices to other online nurseries, and also considered the fact that the owner put a lot of extra effort into growing them in pots (which means less transplant shock) and that they were robust plants I realized they were actually priced quite fairly for what they are. So naturally I left with four new ones for my gardens. As can be seen they all have some unusual features. One has a huge flat red flower (Greatful Red) , two others have patterns (Pattern Master-bitone, Nick of Time (purple) that are hard to find (and an active area of breeding at CT daylilies and among other breeders--we can expect daylilies that have kaleidoscope like patterns in coming years) and one is stippled (Spots Before My Eyes-tiny dots of color on a lighter background) and a tetraploid (even less tetraploid stippled sorts than the few diploid ones). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w57rfZhpBCQ/YBXvyRJpTLI/AAAAAAACW3M/TpntcbYwXzE9Ql-eqzyzWHf50Sl9b9k6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayctpt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w57rfZhpBCQ/YBXvyRJpTLI/AAAAAAACW3M/TpntcbYwXzE9Ql-eqzyzWHf50Sl9b9k6QCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayctpt.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>This gorgeous monster at CT daylilies was one of their seedlings and was going home with one of the workers. Now this is something different and indicative of some rather far out daylilies to come in future years. Many, if not all, with this kind of concentric ring pattern have crimped petals but this one is relatively flat and is definitely an advancement from the first ones with this kind of pattern. Not a perfect form yet but certainly nice enough that I would happily grow it if I could. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v6uKB1rq1IY/YBXxgl9vLYI/AAAAAAACW3Y/tTurbrca5ywJ7afrDor1Fzth7FPs3FCbACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daymj.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v6uKB1rq1IY/YBXxgl9vLYI/AAAAAAACW3Y/tTurbrca5ywJ7afrDor1Fzth7FPs3FCbACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daymj.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Miss Jessie is an old spider form. I've had it for years and it came from the old house to this one in 2012. Tough and reliable, its a good and inexpensive one. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tV5RAjm0Uv8/YBX0eIKJEiI/AAAAAAACW3k/JVS6vlHcaSUAURf-kC2-4yF4Frkr2VsuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daypsd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tV5RAjm0Uv8/YBX0eIKJEiI/AAAAAAACW3k/JVS6vlHcaSUAURf-kC2-4yF4Frkr2VsuwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daypsd.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />One of my better seedlings, this one has nicely shaped purple flowers with darker veining. It blooms for a long time too. If I were to change anything about it, I'd like the flowers to be on taller stems. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f1qJUJnJ6CE/YBX1OU_Kp1I/AAAAAAACW3s/VrQQKnMPLgUaeGskrKKg71T7F3Sv3bmPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayllb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f1qJUJnJ6CE/YBX1OU_Kp1I/AAAAAAACW3s/VrQQKnMPLgUaeGskrKKg71T7F3Sv3bmPwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayllb.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> This old classic, Lullaby Baby, looks even better in person. Its a polychrome tending towards white, but each flower is perfectly shaped and the smallish size is well proportioned to the plant. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9EiDPzptC4/YBX3kIfFdLI/AAAAAAACW34/CJBr4d0DGQARlVe51HnBQYFeMhW9alx0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daymf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9EiDPzptC4/YBX3kIfFdLI/AAAAAAACW34/CJBr4d0DGQARlVe51HnBQYFeMhW9alx0ACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daymf.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Muffet's Little Friend is an odd sort, and is shown here at Grace Gardens. Its a smaller one with a wildflower look to it. I got it and was warned it does spread a bit like H fulva, the common orange daylily one sees everywhere. I like the small flowers and plant, though the flowers could be a little higher above the leaves. I put it in a location where it has some Iris fulva nearby (another spreader) and a walkway and the pool to keep it in bounds if that does become an issue. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yxKYI-Ig-Sg/YBX43YaJfbI/AAAAAAACW4E/fDonCsNw5IMhaG-mOSl3kRkRGfn7R7zUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daygg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yxKYI-Ig-Sg/YBX43YaJfbI/AAAAAAACW4E/fDonCsNw5IMhaG-mOSl3kRkRGfn7R7zUwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daygg.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Grace Gardens is quite a sight to behold when their large daylily field in in full bloom. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0stI0azdO7k/YBX5ozMWeiI/AAAAAAACW4U/-wBbCZUqeYgqycTzHPZ37fTxaF3jnPlFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daysp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0stI0azdO7k/YBX5ozMWeiI/AAAAAAACW4U/-wBbCZUqeYgqycTzHPZ37fTxaF3jnPlFwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daysp.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Santa's Pants at Grace Gardens. Of course I had to get this to bring home. What a pretty flower and quite distinctive too. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTbMOdX10H4/YBX6YA704CI/AAAAAAACW4c/mEryUWRvgI0zB39mE5jbIimnYDIheHvFACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayran.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTbMOdX10H4/YBX6YA704CI/AAAAAAACW4c/mEryUWRvgI0zB39mE5jbIimnYDIheHvFACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayran.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Our big three day getaway this past summer was to Ithaca when the virus was at a very low ebb and we got to see friends on Cayuga Lake for an outdoor distanced dinner. The most amazing rainbow we have ever seen appeared over the lake. So it was an amazing trip even though we did not dare eat in restaurants or other usual things we might do. But between the daylilies, stopping by at our friends place, walking the Cornell Botanical Gardens, and picking up Purity ice cream to eat elsewhere it was a good if short getaway, our only one during the pandemic. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-igalHWp7-zg/YBipYgGQuJI/AAAAAAACXIs/SkDujK7lEW0EZMg4KjodzR3W0BlAVhckwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_6492.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-igalHWp7-zg/YBipYgGQuJI/AAAAAAACXIs/SkDujK7lEW0EZMg4KjodzR3W0BlAVhckwCPcBGAsYHg/w480-h640/IMG_6492.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Rainbow Radiance was looking pretty good at Grace Gardens in spite of a thundershower that sent us scurrying back into the car for a bit. Got a division to take home. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lnh5Lp7DTRA/YBi1ZK2EyJI/AAAAAAACXMM/jFlHAoKqlkEaiNUGoM9R0iLez-jaBJcngCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayggctld.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lnh5Lp7DTRA/YBi1ZK2EyJI/AAAAAAACXMM/jFlHAoKqlkEaiNUGoM9R0iLez-jaBJcngCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayggctld.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The haul from Grace Gardens and another smaller daylily grower in nearby Cortland. They always look a little ragged after the ride and for a bit after planting as they focus on new root growth. Next growing season they will really take off. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPtPQfjngYs/YBi1cuH_wrI/AAAAAAACXMQ/DlFdVK506DUn1E84zyN-1Vt_Y2iXFdTXACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayathsg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPtPQfjngYs/YBi1cuH_wrI/AAAAAAACXMQ/DlFdVK506DUn1E84zyN-1Vt_Y2iXFdTXACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayathsg.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This one I got as Athalone seedling from Manatawny. It definitely has a more of a species look with its grassy foliage and simple but bright flowers. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rFl8i0lZU1c/YBi1e3edAPI/AAAAAAACXMU/nsoe5lJ90AA9tNmwMGzyneNCtxMooQPQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daydrose.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rFl8i0lZU1c/YBi1e3edAPI/AAAAAAACXMU/nsoe5lJ90AA9tNmwMGzyneNCtxMooQPQQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daydrose.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Another Manatawny no name seedling from my first of three visits out there so far. This one I call "Dusky Rose". Its an odd one, interesting pattern and not that tall Sets seeds readily. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1rZuNlYCeQ/YBi1g8NRdqI/AAAAAAACXMY/mitmlHFiyJYkcUqN-glurrm-dAABfuhoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayernest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1rZuNlYCeQ/YBi1g8NRdqI/AAAAAAACXMY/mitmlHFiyJYkcUqN-glurrm-dAABfuhoQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayernest.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ernest is my name so of course I have a daylily named as such. I cant say that I would have purchased it otherwise as the color is a bit washed out to me. But it does have lots of buds per stalk and is a good seed setter so it probably has value in breeding. And like most of them, almost no effort to take care of. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ANmjuUejazs/YBi1jbfJp0I/AAAAAAACXMc/N5hMPfO3TfAYL_3U3p1DpAUbNmvbIS3OwCLcBGAsYHQ/s657/dayglom2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ANmjuUejazs/YBi1jbfJp0I/AAAAAAACXMc/N5hMPfO3TfAYL_3U3p1DpAUbNmvbIS3OwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayglom2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yet another no name Manatawny seedling, this one I call "Glow". One of the oddest ones I have, small grower with lots of flowers of an unusual shape and with a big eye that really does seem to glow. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iN7LjZTKsLU/YBi1lxXNWBI/AAAAAAACXMg/EwiItvOg4JUMvWjd-ezJ--njtitnFym9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayjul13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iN7LjZTKsLU/YBi1lxXNWBI/AAAAAAACXMg/EwiItvOg4JUMvWjd-ezJ--njtitnFym9wCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayjul13.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Masses of bloom on July 13, 2020. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9amALG6LR_w/YBi1oTk2ZbI/AAAAAAACXMk/92mAn2VsGq8K4Wk0sxnWJLnovBk4n7pWACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daylbb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9amALG6LR_w/YBi1oTk2ZbI/AAAAAAACXMk/92mAn2VsGq8K4Wk0sxnWJLnovBk4n7pWACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daylbb.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A popular cultivar called Lavender Blue Baby. It has been used a lot in breeding and is worth growing on its own. It has taken time to clump up and put on a good display here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mNyNCaTna5Q/YBi1qeDkRlI/AAAAAAACXMo/P5l6VXuroOg1R8oDzZ1PUaNFUXiQFCXWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayoau.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mNyNCaTna5Q/YBi1qeDkRlI/AAAAAAACXMo/P5l6VXuroOg1R8oDzZ1PUaNFUXiQFCXWQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayoau.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>In its first year after the year I planted it, One Above You is living up to its name. Tall and with big bright yellow flowers. I really this one so far. Came from Willow Rock Garden via mailorder. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vpHVkPbpX2M/YBi1sST6gUI/AAAAAAACXMw/KH948fkuRdgB6L8Jd_fDbbclaX7jffaIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayourag.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vpHVkPbpX2M/YBi1sST6gUI/AAAAAAACXMw/KH948fkuRdgB6L8Jd_fDbbclaX7jffaIgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayourag.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>I think I have had Outrageous from my days at NYBG, but it really took off when we moved here and i planted it next to a compost pile. Guess it likes all those good nutrients. Its well named too, it one of the more distinctive ones that is easily recognized. Its also a fine example of a good showy garden plant that is an older variety, readily found, and inexpensive. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W377ds1BMVs/YBi1xJmamXI/AAAAAAACXM0/E0BhVieVFQkg424N8IaQQqsYsRVR2cWYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daypinkm2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W377ds1BMVs/YBi1xJmamXI/AAAAAAACXM0/E0BhVieVFQkg424N8IaQQqsYsRVR2cWYwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daypinkm2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>A Manatawny seedling I call "Pink Eye". It is a compact plant with good habits. I can only guess it didn't get registered because it isn't distinctive enough? It closely resembles Janice Brown in flower and plant size, and in my garden I don't have anything else exactly like it so far. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JmNn4GM--8c/YBi10rdW4PI/AAAAAAACXM4/aLWsBtK-8VIDjPnYNoz7WQItYz66UOvpACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daypoint.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JmNn4GM--8c/YBi10rdW4PI/AAAAAAACXM4/aLWsBtK-8VIDjPnYNoz7WQItYz66UOvpACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daypoint.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>I had to really hunt for Poinsettia, an old Stout cultivar. I have seen it in the perennial gardens at NYBG where several clumps of it are very impressive in full bloom with many flowers open at once. It is unaccountably scarce for reasons I don't understand. It has fantastic color and blooms for a long time. Perhaps it isn't the fastest to multiply for growers (?) or maybe everyone wants "bagels", but it is definitely worth having. I got a plant with four fans from Willow Creek and planted each fan in different spots in my back gardens. Three decided to bloom this year, this one being the most vigorous as it is right by the compost pile in full sun. I had to keep the gem squash leaves (I grow this South African squash variety right in the compost pile) from overrunning Poinsettia's foliage. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IMrUKqK8LTE/YBi8hfwUhfI/AAAAAAACXOA/DUuMZY60lvYfnQwa5GG0DGFfnZgsNzFiACLcBGAsYHQ/s876/daypointnybg.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="876" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IMrUKqK8LTE/YBi8hfwUhfI/AAAAAAACXOA/DUuMZY60lvYfnQwa5GG0DGFfnZgsNzFiACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/daypointnybg.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>This is what Poinsettia looks like in a garden when its happy. I took this photo at NYBG some years ago and have been on the hunt for it since. In coming years I hope my Poinsettia daylilies clump up like this. It also sets seeds readily and I put quite a few things pollen on them and will grow out seeds this coming year. <br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ew4NkEyztmM/YBi123Bmh3I/AAAAAAACXNA/HqD9didWmCgCM_vE9-NdzXthX7naS6DZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayrcps.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ew4NkEyztmM/YBi123Bmh3I/AAAAAAACXNA/HqD9didWmCgCM_vE9-NdzXthX7naS6DZgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayrcps.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Rocket City is another oldie but it is still grown in many gardens because its tough and very colorful. Not a plant for pastel borders, lol. I got mine from my friend Andrew who also worked at NYBG and also got plants from Greg and Mike. The white one in front of it is a seedling of mine. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p4k_lcZOPNo/YBi14-sQB2I/AAAAAAACXNE/6TIjyGKK_mopBnhyW8AMFQXlPtfncRKAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daysalsn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p4k_lcZOPNo/YBi14-sQB2I/AAAAAAACXNE/6TIjyGKK_mopBnhyW8AMFQXlPtfncRKAgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daysalsn.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Salmon Sheen is a very old variety. It is pretty compact, the flowers are nice and have an slight twist to the petals that works in its case. More folks should grow some of the older varieties so we don't lose them, both to preserve genetic diversity and to reduce the risk that we lose them forever. Not all are worthy of preservation but there are some unique and interesting sorts that really are easy going plants that are no trouble to care for. And reliable bloomers too. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iSKOxXymDo0/YBi18AGHcwI/AAAAAAACXNQ/MKEml8F0agA_pp6RpeYLgtzY_Zv0oQhjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daysdgnth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iSKOxXymDo0/YBi18AGHcwI/AAAAAAACXNQ/MKEml8F0agA_pp6RpeYLgtzY_Zv0oQhjQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daysdgnth.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This rather nice seedling of mine must have No Where to Hide in its background, the deeply colored veins is strongly suggestive of that. Very pretty flower but I need to move it to a spot with less competition to see what its full potential is. It certainly has a pretty face. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0K4ELfLTqRo/YBi1_6D9vUI/AAAAAAACXNU/oMzSp-zCu2sIPLTSg8J6StrF87XKNvZagCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daysdgpink.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0K4ELfLTqRo/YBi1_6D9vUI/AAAAAAACXNU/oMzSp-zCu2sIPLTSg8J6StrF87XKNvZagCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daysdgpink.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Pretty sure this big pink flower is a seedling from my random pollinations (or was it a bee?). I like what I see so far, so I will keep an eye on this one. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3wkxDJRtCE/YBi2CSlZcYI/AAAAAAACXNc/CFmowDK3dgMLqdWBmHiJP101Xs9k28QGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daysktus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3wkxDJRtCE/YBi2CSlZcYI/AAAAAAACXNc/CFmowDK3dgMLqdWBmHiJP101Xs9k28QGwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daysktus.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>In another garden near a patio Swallowtail Kite (foreground) and Up Against the Sun are growing into nice clumps. Both are good plants by a breeder (C Hanson) who appears to have a reputation for producing plants with good foliage habits and lots of flowers. I'd say he hit it right with these two. If I had to pick between them I would say Up Against the Sun is the better one as its a bit taller and the color attracts attention from far away. Swallowtail Kite might be the better choice for a garden with lots of pastel colored flowers though. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7DRKXnaQlAE/YBi2Fs3le0I/AAAAAAACXNg/3Y5K_kbK8cw6HUB4TbG9Q1205TeTw-jdACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayuasn1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7DRKXnaQlAE/YBi2Fs3le0I/AAAAAAACXNg/3Y5K_kbK8cw6HUB4TbG9Q1205TeTw-jdACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayuasn1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Up Against the Sun is a good name for these big bright orange flowers.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XNNVatnS21E/YBi2JLy3-KI/AAAAAAACXNo/3yfcupVqnPE5DZnLMuDv0huK17nsrClvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daywhtsdg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XNNVatnS21E/YBi2JLy3-KI/AAAAAAACXNo/3yfcupVqnPE5DZnLMuDv0huK17nsrClvQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daywhtsdg.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>A white flowered seedling of mine. I like it and its been a decent performer so far. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-8707486613037029102021-01-29T20:29:00.003-08:002021-01-30T13:51:46.235-08:00<p> Daylilies in the Gardens Part I</p><p>I find that daylilies (Hemerocallis) are sometimes looked down upon by some fellow plant nerds as they are almost too easy to grow, the foliage doesn't really look that great nor plays well with neighbors (other than more daylilies), and the flowers can be garishly loud in color. But in my view, points 1 and 3 are pluses and I don't really mind the foliage. Admittedly I also used to not think much of them until I worked at the New York Botanical Garden. Two fellow employees, Mike Ruggerio and Greg Piotrowski, gave me a few extras from their daylily breeding program. At first I only wanted ones that were fragrant, but over the years I have come to appreciate just about every kind of daylily form that is out there. Well I might need a few more years before I appreciate "bearded" daylilies, though I think its great that there are folks working on this new flower form. I do have a soft spot for some of the older cultivars, especially some of the ones bred by Arlow Stout. He worked at NYBG long before I did and is responsible for the bulk of early foundational breeding of hemerocallis from original species material. These older ones are often quite tall with many flowers of moderate size. They do look good in the back of a mixed perennial border as they are more subtle than the bold large flowered sorts. </p><p>Daylilies are easy to grow provided one can give them a lot of full sun, the more the better. Rust is a serious issue down south but not here where winter cold makes it survival impossible for more than a single season. There are some annoying insects that can trouble them, such as daylily leaf miners, daylily bud flies, and the ever miserable thrips. But the first two are easily controlled/exterminated with pesticides and the latter isn't a major problem most years. The biggest threat are the deer which have ruined so many gardens in the eastern US in recent years. They also are so numerous that they impact the very forests themselves, exterminating large numbers of native wildflowers such as trilliums, lilies, and native orchids and disrupting tree regeneration by eating tree seedlings. They will eat daylily foliage in spring when it emerges and also feast on the buds and flowers. The best defense is a fence (no shooting deer allowed in my area of NY) and that is what I put up around our back yard to deter them from my gardens. In the front gardens I use repellants (Liquid Fence) and plant less tasty things. However I did plant a lot of small daylily seedlings from crosses I made last year so I may end up putting a fence around at least part of the front yard where they are located so I can see the first flowers appear next summer. </p><p>Over the years I have acquired ever more daylilies, mainly from visits to local daylily nurseries or mail orders from other daylily nurseries further away. Visiting actual daylily nurseries is one of my favorite pastimes as there is no better way to select what you like than by seeing it in their fields. Hemerocallis colors often don't photograph particularly well, especially the pastel sorts, so seeing in the field is almost essential. When I order online, I do a lot of research first to see what people say about certain cultivars as well as if those cultivars have won any awards from the AHS (American Hemerocallis Society). Sometimes I will see a plant on a nursery visit that is not available or is a bit too expensive that I like. Those also can usually be found online if I decide I really have to have them. I also grow a number of unnamed seedlings from one of the nurseries I visit, Manatawny Creek, where they sell them for 5 dollars. Even though I know they are culls from a breeding program I have been quite happy with what I have purchased so far. Sometimes I think I can figure out what the "fault" might be but there are some that I cannot figure out why they were culled. Perhaps it is because there are so many registered named cultivars out there that it is really hard to come up with something truly distinctive these days worthy of registering. That doesn't stop a lot of folks from breeding daylilies though, nor registering many more each year. Its just too easy to breed them since the parts are obvious (no need for tiny paintbrushes nor tweezers here, fingers work just fine) and the seeds large and easy to germinate. I too have seedlings of my own that I keep, and a few are not even from seeds that I purposely set but from seeds that dropped and came up on their own. Sooner or later I will have to remove some to make room for others, as all serious daylily growers have to do. One simply cannot have the space, energy, nor lifespan required to grow them all. </p><p>Perhaps my favorite gardening activity is going outside on a summer morning, cup of tea in hand, to inspect the gardens. I thrive on surprises, and the daylilies don't disappoint. Each flower lasts but a day, but new ones open each morning and they usually are at their finest at that time. Seeing the first flower of a variety I have grown for a long time feels a bit like greeting an old friend, and watching the number of flowers build up over that particular plant's bloom period of anywhere from three weeks to three months is also satisfying. Some are bold in color, others come in quiet pastel shades, some are solid colors, others have bitones or patterns with multiple colors, some are small and graceful, some really large, some fragrant, some not, but all are welcome in my gardens. My smallest one is Pennysworth, an old cv with dainty simple yellow flowers borne over a long blooming period. The entire plant isn't much over a foot tall in my gardens and it would look perfectly at home in a rock garden. I have quite a few really tall ones too, some of which grow taller than myself (I am 5 foot 10, maybe 9 nowadays due to spine shrinkage that occurs in everyone as we get older--don't laugh it really is a thing according to my doctors). One of the tallest, and a fantastic back of the border plant, is the old Stout cv Autumn Minaret. It grows at least 6 feet tall and is a plant that gets better with the years. It forms clouds of simple soft toned bicolored flowers over several weeks on well branched flower stalks. It is one that I would definitely recommend for a large cottage garden or back of the border in a full sun situation. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0lwbl7Lu_pY/YBS5VwpfX5I/AAAAAAACWwk/vKLy0gU2PtcgbHqg16UKg29yzjj7XpRtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s657/daylilyhaul.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0lwbl7Lu_pY/YBS5VwpfX5I/AAAAAAACWwk/vKLy0gU2PtcgbHqg16UKg29yzjj7XpRtQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daylilyhaul.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A daylily haul after a visit to a daylily nursery. Usually they dig "liners" which are extra fans that are planted out and allowed to multiply to two or more fans. Sometimes a division is sliced off of a larger plant when liners arent available. Either way these are the quicker to establish in my garden than mail ordered ones which are vigorously washed of soil to meet agricultural inspection requirements. Both fresh dug plants/divisions and mail ordered plants will tend to sulk a bit their first season but that becomes a distant memory by their second year of establishment. </div><br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yx3VvA-v71E/YBS7QDBirdI/AAAAAAACWw0/q5NLqTRc3dUxiMuwd2b13h9N2Oyx6XSAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s657/daylilybigyellowmc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yx3VvA-v71E/YBS7QDBirdI/AAAAAAACWw0/q5NLqTRc3dUxiMuwd2b13h9N2Oyx6XSAgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daylilybigyellowmc.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">This big yellow flowered seedling from Manatawny Creek was purchased the summer before. Although it was blooming late in the season when I brought it, it turned out to be an early bloomer this year in my garden. Pluses that I see are nice huge flower on a pretty tall plant, flowers are borne well above the foliage, good fragrance, and good flower form. I am guessing the reasons for not registering it include the fact that it doesn't have a lot of buds per flower stem (a big thing among serious daylily addicts) and that there are already too many good yellow daylilies out there. Plus they rarely look as good in the seedling sales bed as they dont get additional watering nor coddling as they would in a regular garde, so in my experience they often get taller and better in my gardens. I have to factor that in when choosing plants. That takes a bit of guesswork, especially this past summer when most of the daylilies at Manatawny Creek were shorter than usual due to the very dry summer we had in the northeast. In my gardens however they do get some supplemental water if we get a prolonged dry spell. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--P4lbKNGu9c/YBS9xY9LWeI/AAAAAAACWxA/O0U_5AYzg_UeYIyQAs-DGOBMNvX8Y-41QCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daylilyearlyandoften.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--P4lbKNGu9c/YBS9xY9LWeI/AAAAAAACWxA/O0U_5AYzg_UeYIyQAs-DGOBMNvX8Y-41QCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daylilyearlyandoften.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>This one is Early and Often, a registered one I ordered online. It comes out of breeding with the (in)famous Stella de Oro. The latter is overused in landscapes across the US but actually is a good performer with nicely shaped golden flowers. It never quits blooming and Early and Often did inherit the reblooming trait. I like the flower shape and the fact it does throw flowers at odd times as well as during the main daylily bloom season here (July). <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qb_VEJLcrcc/YBS_ZwerepI/AAAAAAACWxM/nopMfVp23PEDnY-itoRPZN231Lwwr4yQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daylilywhatchamacallit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qb_VEJLcrcc/YBS_ZwerepI/AAAAAAACWxM/nopMfVp23PEDnY-itoRPZN231Lwwr4yQQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daylilywhatchamacallit.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Hemerocallis Whatchamacallit is an interesting one. I got it as a bonus plant from the breeder when I ordered a bunch of rather inexpensive daylilies from their site a few years ago. It is common practice among most daylily growers to include bonus plants of their choosing (though one can make a suggestions list) based on the amount of the order. I like surprises so I am always willing to try out something new. If I like it is stays, if not there will always be someone who is willing to take it off my hands for their gardens. I like Whatchamacallit a lot, its extremely floriferous, the orange color is bright, and it starts early in the season but blooms for a very long period of time. Its only fault is that the flowers don't open very wide. For some daylilies that are taller, a lily like flower form might not be a bad thing but for a fairly compact plant like this one with many flower that open at once a slightly flatter flower would be an improvement. Still Whatchamacallit is a keeper in my gardens as it can't be beat for reliability and generosity of flowers. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1zd4iUlePkk/YBTBbmhLJUI/AAAAAAACWxc/enk6u4eUnAIT5WMS2SslU_hJjgcnmSyfACLcBGAsYHQ/s657/daylilypatchearly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1zd4iUlePkk/YBTBbmhLJUI/AAAAAAACWxc/enk6u4eUnAIT5WMS2SslU_hJjgcnmSyfACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daylilypatchearly.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">I have two main daylily patches in the back gardens plus many more in rows or scattered among the various gardens. This is the older of the two, and here we see it early in the daylily season, June 27, 2020 to be specific. Early and Often and Whatchamacallit are already in full bloom but many others are also starting. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4XOxJbOSEQ/YBTCjR5GqEI/AAAAAAACWxo/3dhihyyCCjUWnovtpUwwsAZHQelkkmAhACLcBGAsYHQ/s657/daylilyredunknown.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4XOxJbOSEQ/YBTCjR5GqEI/AAAAAAACWxo/3dhihyyCCjUWnovtpUwwsAZHQelkkmAhACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daylilyredunknown.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">This bright red one came from a daylily grower at a farmers market in Connecticut. I got it a long time ago and have lost track of its name. Its one of the older, simpler flower form ones. I keep it because of its color, a very bright cranberry red. Its not a large growing plant nor does it have an especially long bloom period. But it is very attractive when in peak flower. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2_IkBL9VyiY/YBTDsiCZtlI/AAAAAAACWx0/DUUST43HFrUosApBCHQAv-DheVpN16XGACLcBGAsYHQ/s657/daylilymerlinsmoth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2_IkBL9VyiY/YBTDsiCZtlI/AAAAAAACWx0/DUUST43HFrUosApBCHQAv-DheVpN16XGACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daylilymerlinsmoth.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Merlin's Moth has a spectacularly colored flower. I got a division from Grace Gardens near Penn Yann NY. Whenever we go to visit Ithaca (where I spent 10 years at Cornell University) we make sure to visit Seneca Lake (for the wineries) and Grace Gardens. Its about an hour west of Ithaca and the drive is lovely in summer as one cruises up the western side of Seneca Lake, stopping at some of the numerous wineries to sample their wares. Grace Gardens is just north of Fox Run winery which is a good place to have a quick lunch as well as to get some wine to take home. Tom and Kathy Rood are the owners of Grace Gardens and are fun to chat with and walking among the hundreds (thousands) of daylilies is a real treat. Merlins' Moth is an older one that will need another year to get to clump size in the spot I put it in but the flower is pretty distinctive and borne well above the foliage. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AA1DWcErdys/YBTF-eXc3DI/AAAAAAACWyA/s-ggR79MWYYFsfvKre2a--7UvZh3jlXVACLcBGAsYHQ/s657/daylilysdgoryell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AA1DWcErdys/YBTF-eXc3DI/AAAAAAACWyA/s-ggR79MWYYFsfvKre2a--7UvZh3jlXVACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daylilysdgoryell.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">This pretty thing is a self sown seedling in the older daylily patch. I suspect one parent might be Fooled Me. I like it and will watch to see if it blooms again next year before moving it to a spot of its own. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZHL7Y2yBig/YBTHdqCg9DI/AAAAAAACWyM/Iu6QwPHRXMkqUUszdlKPJRwx0KRnyvEAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s657/daysdggstq.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZHL7Y2yBig/YBTHdqCg9DI/AAAAAAACWyM/Iu6QwPHRXMkqUUszdlKPJRwx0KRnyvEAwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daysdggstq.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">This is a seedling of a cross with God Save the Queen. I didn't make the cross, I brought the seeds from T's Flowers and Things some years ago and what resulted was this nice plant which appears to closely resemble GSTQ. Nice fancy flowers and plenty of them, but it does not bloom as long a period as some others. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q-oKM9RPdrM/YBTIj6aCYfI/AAAAAAACWyY/_fFrNoGZDgcsE9c4ndF4Ql_Moi1yLO5wACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/daymsdgph.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q-oKM9RPdrM/YBTIj6aCYfI/AAAAAAACWyY/_fFrNoGZDgcsE9c4ndF4Ql_Moi1yLO5wACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/daymsdgph.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">This is a seedling at Manatawny Creek in Oley, Pennsylvania. I really like this one even though the flowers are an odd color. There is something about the pattern and color combination that appeals to me. Plus the plant is vigorous (it already was a clump of several fans) and had many flower stalks on it. So for 5 dollars how could I resist? No name of course but my garden name for it is "Photogenic" as it does look good in photos as in life. I can't wait to see what it will look like next year when it is fully established. This past summer's daylily hauls necessitated creating a daylily strip along the back walkway to accommodate many of them. "Photogenic" is close to the deck where I can enjoy as I sip my tea and eat breakfast on a nice summer day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ip65a2qvAnc/YBTKYSLPQDI/AAAAAAACWyk/cd9Yzuw4f34bU4PRU9yY3iHXamcDIju9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s876/daymsdggfav.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="876" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ip65a2qvAnc/YBTKYSLPQDI/AAAAAAACWyk/cd9Yzuw4f34bU4PRU9yY3iHXamcDIju9gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/daymsdggfav.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Most likely this is a sibling of "Photogenic" and it was also a huge clump. I was not going to buy it initially but Grace really liked it so of course I got it. Happy wife happy life as they say. It still kept blooming for quite some time after it was planted near the deck so I imagine it will have many more flowers next year when its well established. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zcFnY9m-pOM/YBTLyQ-6yqI/AAAAAAACWyw/t-9MgJ-2vRYELbhnbBURFRVa3817JhIGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s657/daymsdgbriorange.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zcFnY9m-pOM/YBTLyQ-6yqI/AAAAAAACWyw/t-9MgJ-2vRYELbhnbBURFRVa3817JhIGgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daymsdgbriorange.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">This is another no name Manatawny special. It was a very small plant but as you can see its living a rough life in the seedling patch competing with weeds and enduring a prolonged drought at the nursery. But for five dollars I decided to give it a chance as the flower was a beautiful bright orange reddish color. Given the good spot I put it in, I anticipate the plant will look much better next year, and I already know the flower is top notch in form and color. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OPQOq79z3E8/YBTM8YV-KGI/AAAAAAACWy8/MGREbIxIoaUVk-CRH7gg14WqjdzvvUHqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s657/daygracemty.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OPQOq79z3E8/YBTM8YV-KGI/AAAAAAACWy8/MGREbIxIoaUVk-CRH7gg14WqjdzvvUHqgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daygracemty.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Whenever I go out to Manatawny, be it with my wife Grace or my friend Andrew, it always seems to be sunny and hotter than Hades. So Grace was smart to bring an umbrella for shade as her slightly obsessed husband roamed around the daylily field like a kid in the candy store. 2020 is not going to be a favorite year on anyone's list for an obvious reason but walking around a daylily field was one of the few fun and safe public activities one could engage in that summer. There are always some other folks there too but never a huge crowd so it was safe and everyone had their masks on hand just in case someone got too close. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-moZtbAzmqts/YBTOjiqpOhI/AAAAAAACWzI/NzxQMFidGLQzZJmaGFJGedtnUpdh8vPIACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daydarkbridg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-moZtbAzmqts/YBTOjiqpOhI/AAAAAAACWzI/NzxQMFidGLQzZJmaGFJGedtnUpdh8vPIACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daydarkbridg.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Daylilies can come with memories as is often the case with plants in one's garden. When I took my first trip out to Manatawny. I realized it was close to a facebook plant friend's place and I arranged to visit their place after leaving the nursery. Of course it was great fun to meet Bridget and her husband and tour the wonderful gardens. Bridget is one of those special generous folks that don't like to let their garden visitors leave empty handed. One of the plant treasures she insisted I take was a division of her darkest flowered daylily. She didn't recall the name at that time and I still don't know what it is but she wasn't kidding, it has a really dark flower. This photo was taken in my garden the year after I planted it on a damp morning. A wonderful example of the time honored tradition of "passalong" plants, I always remember that visit whenever I see it bloom. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j14f9h00Kk4/YBTQ1NaXeMI/AAAAAAACWzU/_2V23xkKjioEJZRu4AonxIxemm2buKlhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daysdgv.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j14f9h00Kk4/YBTQ1NaXeMI/AAAAAAACWzU/_2V23xkKjioEJZRu4AonxIxemm2buKlhwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daysdgv.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">One of my seedlings, no doubt with the distinctly veined flower of Nowhere To Hide in its ancestry. Real serious daylily hybridizers make deliberate crosses and use tags to keep track of their efforts, but I just play bumble bee between plants I like and often pollinate flower with pollen from more than one parent. This one came out rather nice but it does bloom lower down in the foliage than I like. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-me-az2rhy3I/YBTR-HSk3-I/AAAAAAACWzg/GKVC4D-2JdwMnUWdYLcJcNYvyqvkqcaxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daylmc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-me-az2rhy3I/YBTR-HSk3-I/AAAAAAACWzg/GKVC4D-2JdwMnUWdYLcJcNYvyqvkqcaxQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daylmc.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Milk Chocolate is one of the strangest colored daylilies. Its an old one and not the most vigorous grower in my gardens--but then again it has some serious competition right next to it. I grow it for its flower, which really does look like milk chocolate with a golden overlay of sorts. I really can't describe it any better and it also can vary a bit as the flower ages or temperatures change. Photos also can't quite capture it either so you just have to see it in person to understand. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cHCY-chqUx0/YBTS8bk6yKI/AAAAAAACWzs/U5QTMU2jWIkIfz9s83OORAWau_zOj-1NwCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayfrdmed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cHCY-chqUx0/YBTS8bk6yKI/AAAAAAACWzs/U5QTMU2jWIkIfz9s83OORAWau_zOj-1NwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayfrdmed.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Despite being divided from the mother plant when I purchased it at Manatawny Creek, Forever Redeemed managed to still pump out a few gorgeous flowers after planting in its new spot along the back walkway. It is the closest daylily to the deck on that side of the walk for obvious reasons. Its pretty tall, big, loud, and has great flower form. Can't wait to see it next year when it will look even better. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OOgkFVhOAw8/YBTT-3FJ4MI/AAAAAAACWz4/CKdLdScIYO4wYCEsy_CVb8VWP31XYzGtACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayphot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OOgkFVhOAw8/YBTT-3FJ4MI/AAAAAAACWz4/CKdLdScIYO4wYCEsy_CVb8VWP31XYzGtACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayphot.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">"Photogenic" (my garden name for this unnamed Manatawny seedling). Here one can see how nice and big the clump was shortly after I planted it. It kept blooming for a while despite transplant shock. It will be awesome next summer. Grace's favorite seedling is right next to it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BaUVAB6CyyM/YBTVtvrNv-I/AAAAAAACW0E/R3iGdfHJ3sEfJDyVm1-XfiYhvGXgMW07gCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daymdpur.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BaUVAB6CyyM/YBTVtvrNv-I/AAAAAAACW0E/R3iGdfHJ3sEfJDyVm1-XfiYhvGXgMW07gCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daymdpur.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Another Manatawny no name seedling shortly after being planted in my garden. Nice pattern and flower shape. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4GWMKNJz6K8/YBTWTsR0LlI/AAAAAAACW0M/szYDkBU16v8rjIryfnpyqhwEp4PfxFKoACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayblueye.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4GWMKNJz6K8/YBTWTsR0LlI/AAAAAAACW0M/szYDkBU16v8rjIryfnpyqhwEp4PfxFKoACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayblueye.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">This seedling wasn't the most vigorous unnamed seedling I got at Manatawny but it did have the most amazing blue eye. So "Blue Eye" is my garden name for now. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IxVQCieIQo0/YBTW99ZNcbI/AAAAAAACW0Y/zL_YVouiwlgOFwPx-7ac57c7bW6zMplogCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daymarsdg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IxVQCieIQo0/YBTW99ZNcbI/AAAAAAACW0Y/zL_YVouiwlgOFwPx-7ac57c7bW6zMplogCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daymarsdg.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">The large purple spider is a tall one I got from Marietta Gardens from a visit down south. I have family in Charlotte so one of my sisters and Grace came along on a ride out to Marietta. John Shooter was the only one there on that last visit and he apparently passed not very long after we visited, though his wife and daughter continue running the nursery from what I read. . I got some named sorts a a mix he put together of some seedlings. This is the best bloomer of all of them. Its only real fault is that it stems aren't the strongest in heavy winds, nor is it good pod setter if one wants seeds. Nonetheless it performs well and is really noticeable in bloom. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vBIZdymBZ0/YBTYq048h7I/AAAAAAACW0k/yEQC7f3vx28_kmINPYIejz9eWTRtiKqJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayobed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vBIZdymBZ0/YBTYq048h7I/AAAAAAACW0k/yEQC7f3vx28_kmINPYIejz9eWTRtiKqJgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayobed.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">By July 7th this past summer many more daylilies were in bloom in the older bed, providing a riot of color to look forward to each morning for weeks to come. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YqzGihl6Rlg/YBTZW419o1I/AAAAAAACW0s/y90gN63PRDQCDZdxZ31lE9Z3FmbObWoSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayps.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YqzGihl6Rlg/YBTZW419o1I/AAAAAAACW0s/y90gN63PRDQCDZdxZ31lE9Z3FmbObWoSQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayps.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>In a different location behind the waterlily pool the aptly named Primal Scream, well, screams for attention. Its a well known and popular cultivar among daylily lovers and deservedly so. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O16ablQQUhc/YBTaCNS3hfI/AAAAAAACW00/LK0DzwijK9AXOP5Vmqhajc7MRZCJAZ42gCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daymbo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O16ablQQUhc/YBTaCNS3hfI/AAAAAAACW00/LK0DzwijK9AXOP5Vmqhajc7MRZCJAZ42gCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daymbo.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The bright orange seedling from Manatawny shows her appreciation in my garden for being rescued from the weeds and drought this past summer. Five dollars and a dream....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GuvT8lS_hEk/YBTavEGTZAI/AAAAAAACW08/EEJ-wmX3gZYwMx5BNLjyRUcYZi2u03EOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/dayesfant.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GuvT8lS_hEk/YBTavEGTZAI/AAAAAAACW08/EEJ-wmX3gZYwMx5BNLjyRUcYZi2u03EOgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/dayesfant.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>Pale flowers with purple and yellow eyes of Escape Into Fantasy look wonderful in peak bloom. Got this one from O'bannon Springs via mail order. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zSwTafrc7Nw/YBTbjwHn7yI/AAAAAAACW1E/PuTWG9WU5KARKJgDQbEjJBCHk0sM6lrUACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daysdgtft.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zSwTafrc7Nw/YBTbjwHn7yI/AAAAAAACW1E/PuTWG9WU5KARKJgDQbEjJBCHk0sM6lrUACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daysdgtft.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>Not sure of this seedlings origin. Its either one of mine or from T's flowers and Things. Its got the ruffled edges that many daylily folks like. I prefer gentle ruffling but this one is still pretty cool. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rz0vFgLfRIo/YBTcIbNgBaI/AAAAAAACW1M/DMunsXf4IG8MulRUqwfho1M-PClHOMldQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daytrooper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rz0vFgLfRIo/YBTcIbNgBaI/AAAAAAACW1M/DMunsXf4IG8MulRUqwfho1M-PClHOMldQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daytrooper.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>Trooper is one I have had for many years. I got it from Marietta gardens in North Carolina. It moved with us to our present house from our former residence in 2012 and is one I would never be without. It's a good example of the need to see a daylily in the field to appreciate its virtues as I don't think it is particularly famous nor especially popular. But it is a bold plant, good reliable bloomer, and the big flowers are really beautiful. Its one I would highly recommend for a beginning daylily grower. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5JV5HR3oltU/YBTddLwRUkI/AAAAAAACW1Y/RRm2FQjkO6QqgVJrJpGt2rOZZm0FjTkMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/daygreg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5JV5HR3oltU/YBTddLwRUkI/AAAAAAACW1Y/RRm2FQjkO6QqgVJrJpGt2rOZZm0FjTkMgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/daygreg.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Got this unnamed seedling from Greg when we worked at the NYBG. I can't say its got any amazing traits other than a nice fragrance. But its reliable, vigorous, and pleasant to look at. And its one of the first ones I grew so there is the sentimental value factor to consider as well. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p></div>geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-51401603035424266322020-04-21T19:14:00.000-07:002020-04-21T19:14:44.316-07:00A Nice April Morning in a Time of Crisis<br />
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Its been a long while since I last posted, and now we are in the midst of a once in a century pandemic, which is something I hoped I would never have to experience in my lifetime. Yet we have no control over what fate may bring, and it was going to happen sooner or later. It could even be worse, but it is still pretty bad. And that has not been helped by our spectacularly inept president who utterly failed to comprehend and prepare for this, but sadly I am not surprised in the least. It has been largely left to the state governors and other local leaders to make the big decisions, so following cues from other nations dealing with the virus, most states are in various modes of shut down at this time. My school closed sometime after mid March and we try our best to keep our students working through on line education. In my and many other educator's view, it isn't a good substitute for in class instruction but it will have to do for now. Many folks in other professions are also working online and another very large group has simply been laid off or, like my wife, taken unpaid leave. All this is to maximize social distancing which is the only way to slow the viral spread until an effective medication(s) and ultimately, a vaccine, is available.<br />
I understand from the news, and what I hear from other plant minded folks, that many nurseries and seed sellers are doing very well this year. This of course applies to ones that are still open and especially for mail order nurseries. The big box stores are also doing a brisk business with folks stuck at home wanting to garden and/or do home improvement projects. The one thing that has been good about this generally horrible pandemic situation is that I have, like many others, been able to spend more time in the gardens when the weather is good. The weeds and the squirrels aren't so happy about that of course but I feel it is a godsend to have my gardens to keep me busy when I am not working online. <br />
I do miss the camaraderie of the various plant clubs and plant sales that normally happen during this time of the year. This is the time I would look forward to connecting again with other gardeners and to take trips to find wildflowers and visit nurseries as well as relatives and friends. This year all that must wait. My wife and daughter and myself remain in our house except for very occasional forays to get food or other essentials and those forays feel more like commando raid missions these days. The n95 masks are donned (we prepared ahead of most because we knew this storm was coming) along with googles and latex gloves, and I walk with a spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol for doors and other potential fomites that we may encounter. So its a major relief to be home in the gardens instead, where we are having an uncommonly beautiful and somewhat early spring after a very mild winter.<br />
Today I took some photos with my iphone of plants in the gardens before a cold front complete with the usual thunderstorms moved in. I figured I should put them on my too long dormant blog rather than up on facebook as a blog is an easier record to search through to find things than facebook is. I might have included a photo or two from the last two days as well.<br />
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Corydalis nobilis apparently is a a self sowing pest in some lucky gardens but not here. In fact I wish it would self sow as it is pretty awesome and blooms for a decent amount of time. </div>
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Lathryus vernus, the pink and white form. This is a very long lived plant that gets better with age. However this pink one has long lagged behind the purple one I got at the same time. Seedlings appear around the area where both plants are located but they all bloom purple so far. <br />
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Finally got this not commonly grown Japanese native to come up a second year and bloom. Pteridophyllum racemosum is a small plant that looks like a tiny fern until the delicate white flowers appear. I got three more plants from a Japanese nursery last year that I planted a few weeks ago after they came out of storage in the refigerator. They are nearby under chicken wire to discourage the rampaging tree rats and their smaller chipmunk cousins who would dig too often in the area where my most delicate woodlanders are. The chicken wire works but is annoying and somewhat unsightly, but squirrels and chipmunk digging can uproot or otherwise disturb small plants to the point of death. <br />
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The two photos above are of a western native plant, Vancouveria hexandra. It is much like its cousins in the genus epimedium and I wouldnt be surprised if the two genera were combined one day.<br />
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Tulipa clusiana comes in both white and yellow forms. They are graceful and look awesome in bud with their red tepal exteriors. Over time they form clumps so long as they are protected from deer and other vermin.<br />
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Got this cool PCI, Pacific Coast Iris by mailorder from Sequim Rare plants this spring. PCIs arent often seen in the eastern states as they have a reputation of being not hardy or finicky outside of the west coast where their ancestors are native. Well I suppose they are finicky compared to bearded iris but really the only major difference is that the PCIs are more sensitive to transplanting. They don't have the thick rhizomes of bearded iris which can survive for months out of the ground. In our climate PCIs are best moved in spring before the weather gets hot. I have a purple one I grew from seed and a gold brown one friends in town gave me that they have grown for years. But the PCIs come in many amazing colors and so I decided to take a chance and get some more. They may or may not prove to be hardy enough but I did place them in a location with good sun and soil amended with coarse sand and grit. This particular cv is called Clarification. </div>
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I literally have created a primrose path behind the waterlily pool in the back gardens. The primroses were grown from seed and have gotten bigger and better every year. I added an inexpensive blue one from a big box store and just added many more double flowered ones I got via mail order which I hope will take and do as well as the big single flowered ones have. </div>
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Tulipa vvedenskyi one of the nicest species tulips. The undulating leaves are barely below the rather large screaming red flowers. I don't think I could ever have too many of these. </div>
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Primula sieboldii has a cult like following in its native Japan where thousands of varieties have been named. Some are barely different from others but some are quite distinct. I would have to dig around to find the tag for the name on this double flowered one but havent had the inclination to do so. One of the members of the BNARGS chapter that I belong to is greatly enamored with this species and has built up a big collection of named sorts. They multiply of course so each spring he brings in carefully washed and bagged roots with names to the first chapter meeting and sells them for a very nominal amount to encourage others to grow them. Not all make it but I am getting better at establishing the tiny crowns and over time they will expand and multiply. Being in plant clubs is a valuable experience as there are often folks who grow things that one might never have thought much about. While I might have tried one or two varieties of this primrose I surely would not have hunted for many more than that. However, thanks to that club member's generosity, I have around a dozen or so different ones growing in my gardens now. In my experience the small washed crowns take at least one year to flower if not more but once they settle in they will slowly expand outwards forming a long lived circular clump. </div>
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This year the pink isnt quite as obvious in Taraxacum pseudoroseum, one of several in the genus that I grow. If the common T officinale werent so weedy it would be treasured but it gets removed with my hori knife the minute I find it. T. pseudoroseum comes from Russia and is quite cold hardy but while it sets plenty of seed it is not nearly as pesky as its common yellow flowered cousin. </div>
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Phlox divaricata is a not uncommon woodland plant in the eastern states but it is also an excellent garden plant. The shades of blue can vary and there are also white forms. </div>
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This oddball Japanese species came from a friends garden where it self sowed into wood chip paths in a woodland sort of garden. It is Chloranthus japonicus and it is quite showy in flower with its little brush like flowers en masse. Its another one of those plants that gets better with age as it grows bigger. The foliage isnt bad looking either. </div>
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Perhaps too gaudy for some gardeners, these double "peony flowered" tulips provide a nice bold splash of color.<br />
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Tulipa linarifolia is a small bright red tulip that can be had for a very reasonable price from the bulb sellers online. I really like it as it reminds me of some of the bright red South African romuleas that are unlikely to survive outdoors in our climate.<br />
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Tulip "Casa Grande" has attractive spotted leaves and proportionally large red flowers. I planted them in a few spots, mostly in one of my daylily beds. </div>
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What I think is Daphne rosemarifolia from Maoxian in Sichuan China is in bud. Of course plants in nature don't come with labels but when I first saw this growing on a mountain one August I knew it would make a cool garden plant. It yellow flowers (unusual in that they have five rather than four petals) lack the scent and wow factor of many of the pink rock garden daphne sorts but it does bloom throughout the growing season,remains compact, and will self sow a bit. It may be at its limit of hardiness here in Z6/7 as sometimes a branch or two will die back and I lost one plant that was transplanted not long before winter came. </div>
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Tulipa chrysantha in its equally beautiful soft yellow form.<br />
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This Tulipa linarifolia poses among a bunch of self sowing pansies that have been spreading in my gardens. The pansies mostly derive from a winter flowering mix from Chilterns and may have incorporated some viola genes into them as well. Here they may be in bud in winter but the flowers will be few and frost bitten but they get going early and come in wonderful colors and patterns. They bloom right up to hot weather in midsummer, set copious seeds and new ones come up in fall. The flowers are smaller than the pansies folks buy in the nurseries each spring but those pansies rarely last more than a few weeks and never seem to self sow in this area. <br />
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Winter pansies working their way through one garden. </div>
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A double form of Ranunculus ficaria, now Ficaria verna. The special forms of this species are getting hard to find as they are banned by some states since the wild form is quite invasive in wet areas. This double one does not seed and is hardly invasive, making a still tight clump after several years. </div>
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Yellow and red double tulips. Occasionally I find a tulip out of place and when that happens it is because squirrels and chipmunks sometimes bury bulbs in new places and forget to eat them.<br />
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A pink Ipheon. These do especially well after mild winters. </div>
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More Tulipa vvedenskyi with a lily shoot emerging in front of them<br />
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Anemone coronaria cvs are almost never grown here in NY even though the shrivelled tubers are readily available, even at Costco. This one has survived a couple of winters near a wall and is quite stunning. I planted a lot more of those cheap Costco ones early last spring and only a few survived the winter of the ones that came up last spring. I did the same again this year with an overnight soaking beforehand to plump up the tubers and many more are growing right now. They will flower later than this one but if any survive next winter they will probably flower earlier like this tough one has. </div>
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The darwin tulips are often called perennial tulips, and indeed they can be quite permanent if happy and protected from vermin. They are the classic tulip most people think of.<br />
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Paeonia caucasica was the name I got these seeds as several years ago. They bloom early and will self sow if the seeds are not gathered first. Peony seeds are big but easy to grow, if one remembers that they take a long time to germinate. One can plant the seeds when they are ready and not see a leaf for two years as the seedling forms a root the first year and the first leaf emerges the second year. Occasionally a seed will manage to do both by its first spring. But once they do so they are permanent residents of the garden. </div>
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Tulipa saxatilis comes from Crete but is a good plant in the garden. Soft lilac pink flowers have attractive yellow centers.<br />
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Those winter growing pansies look nice with some Anemone blanda.<br />
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This shiny wide open T linifolia flowr reveals a black center inside.<br />
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For me bluets (Houstonia caerulea) grow best in large pots or containers. They can do well in a garden but are easily outcompeted by larger plants and do poorly when the digging rodents disturb their delicate roots. When they flower few things rival their beauty. In the wild they are not uncommon in sandy areas along roadsides or in grassy areas.<br />
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Primula veris, the English cowslip, is an easy perennial here in NY. Not hard to grow from seed, it is usually yellow but there are now other color forms such as the orange one shown.<br />
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Some tough tenax mesh keeps the digging rodents out of these planters. They were ruthlessly attacked over the last couple of years but some of the many different seeds I planted in them managed to grow and now they thrive until I find places in the garden for them. Looks like there are a number of blue dwarf Aquilegia flabellata in there along with some Pusatulla and some dodecatheon as well.<br />
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Ipheon uniflora in its common blue form. Time favors this species too.<br />
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This unknown red Darwin tulip came with the house and there is a long bed of them along the front walk. When we brought the house we thought there presence meant no deer were in the neighborhood but sadly we were mistaken. They are in front so they dont benefit from the fence I put around the back but Liquid Fence sprayed at regular intervals keeps them safe from the hooved rats. With that protection they are very perennial here. </div>
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Phlox subulata is a native species that has given rise to many cultivars and selections. I got most of mine as small plants on sale from Santa Rosa Gardens and they have grown fast since then. They make good groundcovers in sunny areas and are especially good in sandy soil or on slopes. Rather non descript most of the year, this is the season they come into their magnificent glory. I have moved pieces of them around and that usually results in a mat of several colors as it is easy to mix them up but all is good in any case. </div>
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Narcissus are pretty much indestructible here. I know there is a fly whose larva can kill the bulbs but it seems to ignore mine so far. They have grown better with the years into larger clumps that will no doubt need to be divided and replanted for best results. Some are named varieties I got and others came in mixes, mostly from Brent and Beckys, Color Blends, and Scheepers during their fall sales.<br />
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Yeah I know the line of marching hyacinths is a bit strange but in one's own garden one is king. So I can do whatever I like and change it up later on if I wish. Passerbys often complement the front gardens and it appears I do have "regulars" who make it a point to drive or walk by to see the ever changing flower displays in our front gardens.<br />
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I don't keep track of the narcissus variety names but this nice clump is one of the tazetta hybrid types. Could be Avalanche or Geranium, not quite sure but they do smell amazing.<br />
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One of the tinier mini narcissus hybrids<br />
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Ipheon Alberto Castillo is the best white one out there. They look nice against the lacy foliage of Tanecetum huronense, a rare plant I grew from seeds from Gardens North which was a great source of some unusual seeds. <br />
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Euphorbia griffithii is a spectacular plant even before it blooms. Another plant I never see around here yet it is hardy and immune to mammalian vermin and insects.<br />
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Another happy narcissus presumably of the tazetta hybrid group.<br />
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Alyssoides utriculata is getting crowded out where it started in the back gardens by nearby kniphofias but I scattered some seeds out front and these took. The bright yellow flowers give way to rounded seed pods that set plenty of seed. Its another plant I would never have grown had I not gotten a packet of left over NARGS seed exchange seeds at my local Hudson Valley chapter a few years ago. I belong to the national society as well as two chapters, Hudson Valley and the Berkshire chapter. Going to meetings of the latter is quite a bit of a drive but very much worth it. I hope we can resume those meetings again some day soon.,<br />
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Opuntia compressa is native but I grew these from left over NARGS seeds. They have done well on a sand mound I made out front and set copious red fruits which I have to figure out a way of removing so I dont get a million seedlings. I grow several hardy opuntias and recently added even more. This one is the easiest and it is spectacular when in bloom, The pads shrivel for winter and start to plump up as spring warms up.<br />
<br />geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-38548175338166498082018-02-04T18:54:00.002-08:002018-02-08T16:11:58.477-08:00The Joys of JuneAs May comes to an end, the gardens are bursting with blooms everywhere, and June brings more of the same and many more new things. June may be the month with the most things in bloom, as winter/cool season annuals come into peak bloom, the first of the summer blooming bulbs begin, and many perennials are in season. Some of the relatively few shrubs that I have added, mostly grown from seed, also bloom in June. So this post is a really long one with lots of photos, and a number of plants are seen more than once as they continue developing in the period between the last week of May and the first few days of July that this post spans.<br />
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Delosperma nubigenum blooms only in spring but makes quite a show. It spreads by trailing branches and after a gentle winter it is looking great. As I write this, this particular plant has been hard hit by the wild swings of the current winter but as with most delospermas, any green bits that remain make a quick recovery. Plus all delospermas are easy to regenerate from seeds, and many self sow in sandy soils in my gardens. The spot of bright magenta is a Ruschia pulvinaris also in bloom.<br />
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Three more seed grown peonies come into bloom, these are also from the American Peony Society. This is their first bloom, many more will bloom next year and I imagine that even these plants will look a bit different as they get stronger. </div>
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A species rose I grew from seed looks rather nice, but its blooms are short lived. Not sure which one it is though.<br />
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I am pretty proud of this Lonicera hirsuta I grew from seed from Gardens North. It grows stronger each year but is not aggressive. The foliage is quite nice too. A blackberry that has grown way too vigorously competes with it for space on the chickenwire fence that was here when we got the property, but after we got less than impressive fruit in summer I cut the blackberry vines way back. <br />
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Delosperma dyeri does not always get through our winters, nor does it like the worst of summer heat and humidity, but this year it did well </div>
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Delosperma floribundum is a real winner, it self sows very well here and flowers from now through frost. It thrives best in well drained sunny areas like all delospermas, and it finds the cracks between bricks in a patio much to its liking. It can die out in very hard winters but soon comes back from seeds which reach blooming size quickly. After mild winters they not only survive, they don't have much dieback at all.<br />
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Near a corner in one of the back gardens, Conradina verticillata, the Cumberland Rosemary, begins to bloom. It roots as it goes, so rooted pieces are easy to lift and spread around. It is on the federal endangered species list but is often available from herb nurseries who don't know that. Just as well because the laws that restrict mailing such plants across state lines make it really hard for nurseries propagating them to sell them and be in compliance with a law that needs updating. It is one thing to disturb an endangered plant in its native habitat, but an entirely different thing when they are being propagated in nursery. I think that more gardens should showcase such plants, particularly ones like this that have a lot of horticultural value. It helps both to educate more gardeners so that they are more likely to advocate protecting the habitats where these plants are found and also allows ex situ conservation of these rare species. As is often the case, rarity in nature does not necessarily correspond with "difficult to grow". So long as it has a well drained soil, preferably with some sand added, in a sunny place it is easy to grow. A somewhat less vigorous white flowered form, "Snowflake" can also be found with a bit of searching. The dandelion seeds are from a deep purple leaved species, Taraxacum faeroense, aka T. rubrifolium. Its a small growing yellow flowered species which is not going to take over the garden. Aside from Taraxacum officinale, the common dandelion, most taraxacum species are not especially aggressive in my experience. I like them and am always looking for seeds of more odd ones to add to my gardens. A double flowered form of the Ragged Robin, Silene flos-cuculi "Jenny", makes quite a show in pink. It flowers for a decent amount of time, and can be propagated by cuttings as it makes little rosette offsets later in the season. They are probably best rooted in pots or a cold frame then placed in the garden. Unfortunately this cultivar does not set seed so it needs to be propagated asexually to keep it.<br />
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Osteospermum jucundum and "Avalanche" continue their spring show for quite a while. They will bloom off and on all summer but are at their best in June. A couple of bright purple Senecio macrocephalus bloom further back. This is one of a trio of hardy perennial South African purple senecios that do very well in my gardens. This one is very cold hardy and spreads by seed to make large colonies in favored locations. I had to remove some this year so that they would not overwhelm some of their smaller neighbors and to keep them in certain areas of the gardens where I want them to stay. A cute fern, Cheilanthes feei, loves this spot and, judging from the colony our friends in town have of it, it can spread slowly to make a decent sized mat. The fronds curl when dry or frozen, then open up when temperatures and moisture are conducive to growing. It likes as much sun as I can give it, this is not a woodland fern.<br />
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Penstemon is primarily a western USA genus which is not often seen in eastern gardens though many are adaptable if given sun and drainage. This is probably Penstemon murrayanus which I got through the NARGS seed exchange.<br />
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The exquisite little flowers of Virginia stocks, Malcomia maritima, make a showy splash of color wherever one drops the seeds. This is my first year growing them, and I have been pleased, they come into flower quickly, bloom for a decently long time, and resow. It remains to be seen how self sown seedling cope with winter, and if they don't survive, if new ones come up in spring.<br />
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Another delosperma, probably D ashtonii "Blut", has seeded itself into a crack. A similar colored but less floriferous species grows nearby, it, however, blooms all summer long. A tiny silver leaved Cotula shows off little yellow button flowers on thin stalks. I have seen it called Cotula hispida but I don't think that is a correct identification. It is quite hardy but its also easy to overwinter a few cuttings under lights just in case.<br />
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Delosperma nubigenum in another part of the garden blooms along with a mystery pink one. The hardy opuntia cactus will have to be trimmed someday, but for now it looks rather neat in its spot. Rigid leaves of two Hesperaloe parviflora, a hardy yucca relative, stick up behind another Conradina verticillata. Later they will bear red or yellow flowers, depending on the variety. Dictamus albus<br />
flowers in the background as do many Viola tricolor.<br />
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Aquilegia chrysantha and hybrids of it and some "clematis" flowered Aquilegia vulgaris provide a show of color in this area. I later had the conifer behind them removed to make more room for flowers.<br />
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Dianthus grationopolitanus, the Cheddar Pink, is a fine low growing pink. I have a nice colony of several plants that were grown from exchange seeds. If one stoops to get a whiff, the fragrance is worth the effort. </div>
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June brings the finest flowering of this native honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, but it will flower off and on later too. I planted a red and yellow one on this arbor. The yellow one is less vigorous than the red, but both are beautiful and loved by hummingbirds. They are a far better plant for this arbor than the Trumpet vine, Campsis radicans, that was there when we got the house. It needs a much larger space and I am still pulling out suckers from its long roots some years after getting rid of it. The lonicera isn't nearly as aggressive and makes more flowers. </div>
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What a pleasant surprise to find this lone Moraea huttonii flower amidst a monarda. I must have planted this hardy iris relative from the high Drakensberg of South Africa there and forgot about it.<br />
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The bearded iris are hitting their stride along the driveway. I planted a double row of them along one side to replace the hosta clumps I removed. Most came from Wild Iris Rows as a mix for a very good price, along with a few others I ordered individually. More than half bloomed their first spring, and that will only get better with each passing year. I also have a few at the front of the driveway (in the last iris photo) that came from one of my sister's gardens. She got a house with a lot of iris already there. She thinned them out and left them in a plastic garbage can which leaked, and I took some of them back with me to NY after a visiting her the spring before. Those varieties must be super tough as they thrived in clay soil and survived months sitting in the garbage can. Poncirus trifoliata, the hardy Japanese Orange, can be seen with the first iris. I grew those from seeds given to me by a friend.<br />
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This annual weedy geranium species looks good for a short while but I pulled it up before it seeded all over the place. Nonetheless I am sure it will be back, and its okay so long as it stays on the property boundaries.<br />
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The intersectional "Itoh" peony "Bartzella" is one of the older ones and probably still the best of the lot. They are crosses of tree peonies with herbaceous ones It is sterile as are the others though it makes large seedpods later on. I keep hoping I will find a seed one day as it is a ravishing beauty of a plant. I got mine in Costco, of all places for 30 dollars or thereabouts. It was more like a few hundred dollars when it first came out and it still isn't that common. Behind Bartzella the Sweet Williams, Dianthus barbatus, begin their month of bloom.<br />
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June is the favored month for the Orange River Lilies, Crinum bulbispermum to start blooming. All of mine are grown from seeds, a process that takes a few years to get flowering sized bulbs. This is the hardiest crinum species as far as I am aware. I protect some of the bulbs, especially newly planted young ones, with wood chip mulch just in case, but older bulbs should be quite hardy. I have heard of them being grown in Indiana, Kansas, and Missouri which certainly see some colder lows than we experience. They will rebloom on occasion during the summer or fall and produce copious amounts of large green round seeds. These seeds should be planted within a few week of harvest as they are not viable if they dry out. Planting is easy, just press them into a decent soil mix in a large pot, don't cover them. They send out a root which digs down into the soil to make a small bulb from which the first leaves will emerge. Bulbs younger than 2 years are best overwintered indoors in a cool dry location (or they can be kept in growth in a sunny windowsill or under lights). These are big plants with bold leaves of considerable interest on their own. Their only fault is that they don't have that powerful sweet fragrance that other, more tender, crinum species have. </div>
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Catanache caespitosa came from Wrightman Alpines during their annual visit to the Stonecrop Gardens Alpine Plant Sale. It has done well, staying low and not running all over the place. </div>
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The mild winter allowed this Cistus creticus to not suffer any dieback so this year it was spectacular. Its large blossoms come in this month only and the plant would double in size by the end of the year. As I write this the plant is looking stressed by the harsh winter we have endured, but I protect the base of the plant with wood chips which should see it through until I remove them in spring. It did make seeds so I can regrow it if it were to die out. I think it would be quite possible to breed hardier cistus hybrids using genotypes of several species from higher altitudes than what has generally been cultivated. The sticky fragrant foliage is also repulsive to deer and other mammals so that is another plus for this plant.<br />
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Malcomia maritima makes an interesting tapestry when sowed among the bricks.<br />
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This bird bath came with the house but I don't have time to worry about maintaining a bird bath, they can get their showers elsewhere. So we had Lin, our friend who knows everything about anything to do with a house, drill holes through the bottom so I could create this trough. I planted it with several drought resistant hardy species. The springs in the middle are from a Sedum species I collected in Taiwan, it is frost hardy but suffers from single digit lows. Delosperma congestum is a slow grower and among the hardiest of the delospermas, and the crassula like plant is something I got from Panayoti that he collected, I think, in central Asia somewhere. It is pretty tough. The Sempervivum is an ordinary one, but it is special to me since I got it from my maternal grandmother's house. She had it planted in a container and it is one of three plant species that I have that she grew in West Virginia. Sometimes a plant is worth keeping because of its association with loved ones no longer with us.<br />
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I wouldn't have planted this rhododendron where we found it but it does put on a nice show every spring. It also offers a bit of shade during the hotter days of summer for some container gardens in front of it. </div>
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Monarda bradburiana is about the earliest of them to flower and a big plus is that it does not get mildew like its taller, later flowering, relatives do. With pungent leaves as one would expect of a plant in the mint family, all Monarda are ignored by mammals but loved by hummingbirds.<br />
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Dictamnus albus is really hitting its stride in mid June.<br />
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Meanwhile in my school garden Oenothera speciosa "Siskiyou Pink" blooms its head off as it continues its invasion of a portion of one of the gardens there. It is low and spreads by underground roots, but its hard not to like such a pretty thug.<br />
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Allium moly is a vigorous yellow flowered onion that can be had from the Dutch bulb suppliers quite cheaply. I wonder why it is not seen more often, its beautiful and easy. Bulbs divide and multiply and it self sows too but not to the point of invasiveness. I planted some in my home gardens too, but these are in the school garden where they thrive with little care. They disappear underground soon after flowering. </div>
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A lone white Dutch Iris has persisted in the school garden for some years. They are not particularly reliable here from year to year in our climate as the foliage tries to come up early and can suffer during winter. </div>
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This iris came from a collection made in Tibet as I recall, and it is a handsome thing in full bloom. It is attacked by voles sometimes in winter but any pieces of rhizome left behind will recover and regrow. I think they like to bother it because the thick foliage provides a good hiding place for these worst of rodent vermin to do their harm in relative safety from predators.<br />
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I don't think I have ever seen a spuria iris in anyone else's gardens, but I grew these from SIGNA seeds. They are durable and pretty and need no care other than occasional weeding. I intend to move some to our home gardens one day, as the clumps are growing larger and could be divided. </div>
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Back at home, the wild form of the Corn Cockle, Agrostemma githago, begins to bloom. This cool season annual used to be a common weed of wheat fields in Europe but the advent of modern herbicides has pushed it close to extinction in some areas. Its flowers are not quite as showy as its relative A. milas since the sepals exceed the petals in length.<br />
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The Sweet Williams are supposed to be biennials, but more often they live for a few years. Self sown seeds come up in a wide array of colors and patterns. I like variation and this is one of my favorite flowers, as each plant seems to be different than all the others.<br />
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Cotula sp "Tiffendell" is another of Panayoti's collections from South Africa, in this case from the ski resort of the same name in the Drakensberg. It has done well and is especially happy when it self sows into the cracks in between bricks in the patio. There it is more resistant to dieback when hot humid weather arrives later in summer. Cold does not bother it.<br />
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Styrax americanus "Kankakee form" blooms with a cloud of hanging little five petaled flowers. I grew this from NARGS seeds and it is a delight. Slow growing, it comes from an isolated northernmost population of the species and is naturally dwarf. I wonder if it really should be considered a separate species as it is so small, but whatever its taxonomic status it clearly is a genetic outlier.<br />
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Diascia fetcainensis is the hardiest of the diascias, but it is prone to rot in hot humid summer weather unless it is in a gritty soil. Nonetheless often a piece or two survives and regrows with the advent of cooler weather. In June it is glorious and if the weather is favorable it will flower through the summer too.<br />
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Delosperma nubigenum is still looking nice in the raised rocky area of the South African garden. </div>
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A gladiolus grown from Silverhill Seeds and marked as an unknown species from high altitude blooms in a cold frame where it is protected from excess moisture. The Cape gladioli are winter growers by nature since this is when the rains fall, so most have gone dormant by late spring, but this species is one of the last to flower.<br />
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Cotula sp Tiffendell does superbly in the cracks between bricks. They get larger with each year and self sow. Flowers peak in June but can come throughout the summer. </div>
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By the weird little garden gnome that came with the property I planted a native Wisteria, W. frutescens. My wife overpruned it, thinking it was a weed the year before but I caught her in time before it completely disappeared. No problem, it rebounded quickly and the short flower clusters appear mainly in June. It is not nearly as rambunctious as its Asian cousin, so there is no danger of it swallowing whole trees. Kind of a pity because the Asian species, Wisteria japonica (and the similar W. sinensis) have longer flower clusters and come in more varieties, including a double flowered form. But they are much slower to reach flowering age and very aggressive plants.<br />
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Across a nearby walkway the attractive dark foliage and pretty flowers of Rosa glaucifolia complement each other. As with with many roses, June is the month of bloom for this species here. It is easy from seed, my plants came from leftover NARGS seeds. Later red fruits, aka "hips" are borne with the seeds inside. All rose hips are high in vitamin C and edible although I would not consider them wonderful eating as their texture is rather pithy and dry.<br />
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June is also when most Dianthus are at their peak. Here several species, all from leftover exchange seeds, begin to bloom. They are perennial so long as they have sun and good drainage. Their worst enemies are voles, especially in winter when voles rummage under the mats of foliage and eat portions of the plants. Keeping mulch away from them helps, dianthus don't like mulch and less cover is available to the voles so predators (or other measures) can keep them under control.<br />
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Corydalis ochroleuca (Pseudofumaria alba) is an easy to grow thing that will seed around when happy. It blooms all year except for the coldest parts of winter, but is at its best in June. This particular plant really likes its spot, but they can be short lived so keep the ground clear around it so seedlings can appear. In some situations it can be a bit of a thug, but it is valuable for both early and late flowers when not much else is in bloom, let alone the nice display in June. </div>
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Ranuculus repens flore-pleno came from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden years ago when I worked as summer intern there. Its a beautiful double buttercup that can make quite a show for a few weeks in June It has followed me and I let it loose in a bed on one corner of the property that is contained on two sides by a wall and the third by pavement. Behind it rhododendrons and other large shrubs mark the border. There it is kept in check by vigorous hellebores near the long wall, and and the tiny but prolific spreading Ixeris stolonifera which forms a lawn of a sort in open areas. It is stoloniferous so the stolons try to come down the steps but every now and then I pull some out. It is really a beautiful thing in bloom and pest free to boot, but one has to keep it in bounds. It does not spread by seed which in its case is a very good thing.<br />
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Rushia hamata comes from the high elevations in the northern and eastern Cape into Mpumalanga. It has tiny leaves and quite small but bright little flowers. More cold hardy than one might think, it came through last winter outside and in a cold frame without damage. As I write this I have seen signs of winter burn at the ends of the plants outside, but I am confident they will be fine and just need a trimming of any dead branches when spring finally gets here. Easy from seeds and cuttings.<br />
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Senecio sp Tiffendell is another awesome collection made by Panayoti Kelaidis. It is one of the three reliable hardy purple senecios I grow from high altitude areas of South Africa. It is unique in that it spreads by thin stolons unlike the other two. The flowers also have dark centers and are very pretty, and it is more likely to repeat bloom after June than the other two species. I have a nice patch of it in the South African garden and have introduced some plants into the front gardens where it can romp among many other plants not far from its cousins S. polyodon and S.macrocephalus.<br />
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Eumorphia sericea (or prostrata?) is a creeping species from the high Drakensberg that is quite frost resistant. It benefits from a bit of protection around the base in case of harsh winters but this past winter it didnt show any signs of dieback so they flowered very well. Small white daisies are born over a rather long period of several weeks with an occasional later one. It can be propagated by seeds and by cuttings or branches that root along the ground as they travel. The soft fine foliage is attractive too. </div>
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Aquilegia buergeriana is a very long flowering columbine. Some bloomed for several months which is not what aquilegias normally do. Its one of the smaller species with flowers that are rather subtly colored but it is a good doer in the garden. Once again I got this from leftover seeds from NARGS, as I probably would not have ordered it specifically. But as with many things, trying something new and unplanned can lead to good things, and I count this reliable little plant as a good thing indeed. </div>
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Every gardener has certain ideas about plants that they naturally like. The umbellifers (Apiaceae) contain a great many plants with nice foliage and flowers but so many are iterations of white lacy flowers above finely divided foliage. So its even more appealing when something different comes along, and Pimpinella major rosea brings that with its pink flowers. It does not bloom for long and I only wish that it had half the spreading ability of its better known cousin Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota). I haven't had it seed around yet even though I wish it would. </div>
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Geranium viscosissium comes from our western states and I think that is what this plant is. I forgot where I got it, probably as seed, but it self sows sparsely in a well drained sunny site. The flowers are not borne in great numbers but are pretty and do continue for many weeks.<br />
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Dianthus barbatus, the Sweet William, continues to get better and better looking as June progresses. One doesn't see them as often as one should for several reasons. First, they take two years to bloom (the so called "annual" versions offered by some seed vendors or in nurseries pale in comparison to the real thing) so they they are not likely to be offered by your local nursery. People are reluctant to buy something that doesn't have flowers on it and by the time it blooms it might be near the end of its life. I find they can survive more than two years though but that isn't guaranteed. They are also hard to patent because they are perfect the way they are and the variation within a population of them is a big part of that appeal. Breeders like to patent plants that are very uniform and predictable (I read that as "boring") and that need to be propagated by cuttings every year. But these are rarely propagated by cuttings (though its doable for a home gardener but not on a commercial scale) and they set abundant seed and are quite hardy plants. This reduces the appeal of Sweet Williams to both the wholesale and retail growers since they don't need to be brought anew by gardeners every year. They are super easy from seeds but again, so many gardeners are loathe (afraid even) to grow from seeds, which is a real shame. Growing from seeds is not hard in most cases and is considerably cheaper and often more rewarding than buying plants. Plus it opens up a whole new world of plants that cannot be found other than as seeds. Once Sweet Williams are established they will take care of resowing themselves, needing only an occasional thinning and weeding to keep them happy and blooming ever afterwards. And they will reward you with new colors and patterns every year.<br />
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By June I have hauled out all of the summer growing potted plants, many of which spent the winter dormant in the garage or other cool spots inside. I keep the plants that need light under lights during winter but it is nice to have plants that can be dried off for a long winter nap. These mainly Mexican oxalis species are easy to grow and wake quickly as soon as they go outside and get watered. Some bloom right away, others bloom all summer long, and all have attractive foliage. I have a large collection of both winter growing, summer dormant South African oxalis species as well as these summer or evergreen oxalis from Central and South America. There are a few oxalis such as O. lobata (perdicaria seems to be a light flowered form of lobata to me) from Chile that behave as winter growers, and there are several evergreen species that branch, some of them succulent, mainly from South America. While the genus has a very predictable flower shape, the colors vary and the foliage is one of their main attractions as well. There must be hundreds of species of oxalis. In fact the source of most of the plants shown below grows only oxalis. I rarely come across plantsmen who are that singly focused but I completely understand as one could spend a lifetime collecting them and never get bored of them nor ever get to grow every species. Some of the species shown below can survive outside with protective mulch in winter and probably are fine in the warmer parts of Zone 7 and south without protection. They do cross with each other and seedlings come up in other pots. Some of those seedlings are worth keeping but many serve as extras to try in the garden or just get rid of, as the bulbs tend to offset quite freely.<br />
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This hybrid delosperma was grown from seeds, possibly of Lavender Ice. Whatever it is it flowers for a long time and is one of the hardier ones.<br />
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This Packera (Senecio) species was something I collected down South in the sandhills region of Georgia or South Carolina one summer. It doesnt seem to travel like Packera aurea does, at least not so far. It has different foliage too, and grows much taller. It blooms for several weeks. Packera aurea is a lovely thing but it does wander by means of threadlike stolons so it has been exiled to one of the property borders, where I hope it will invade that particular neighbor's side and replace the garlic mustard and other weeds understory between some rather nice dogwoods and shrubs over there. I often go in there and weed myself but the easiest thing is to get a good groundcover going to suppress the weeds which send their seeds my way, and to help reduce the number of invasive Norway Maple saplings germinating every spring that threaten to become large trashy trees unless I keep them in check. </div>
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I got this Salvia lavendulifolia from Wrightman Alpines and it has done well. It looks like a smaller version of Sage (S. officinalis) to me, and has much the same preferences. It even blooms at about the same time. The distinctive round seed pods of Alyssoides utricularia can also be seen. It flowers earlier with masses of bright yellow flowers.<br />
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Asclepias viridis is one of the better behaved milkweeds, and the earliest to flower. Most of our native asclepias species are easily grown from seeds, but stratification seems to be needed for optimal germination. Young plants look rather miserable in pots so they are best set free in open ground in sunny spots as soon as it is practical to do so. This species has larger flowers than is usual, in fact it reminds me a bit of the related Pachycarpus species found in the grasslands of South Africa. Every one who can should grow some milkweeds for our Monarch butterflies as their numbers have decreased in recent years. There are a number of reasons why this is so, but one of them is that there are less milkweed plants for them to feed on especially in the agricultural areas of the midwest. That being said, I do protect some of my more choice milkweeds such as this from milkweed aphids, bugs and caterpillars but I also leave plenty for the monarchs to eat elsewhere in the gardens.<br />
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Nearby the A viridis a penstemon, probably P. barbatus or eatonii, blooms along with various delospermas. New pads are appearing on a hardy opuntia grown from seeds. Marauding mammals tend to not go near the cactus, I wonder why....</div>
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This ethereal thing is Silene virginica. I believe this came from Plant Delights as "Jackson's Valentine" and was supposed to be longer lived than typical S. virginica. Well it was by maybe a year but later rainy weather seemed not to suit it and I think it disappeared. Maybe it made some seeds before its demise, I will have to see what happens this spring . But I would try it again as I love the brilliant red flowers. And sometimes a plant will do better in a different site since an element of luck is involved in gardening even when everything else is accounted for.<br />
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There are dianthus in many spots in my gardens. I do have some plants that I got from Santa Rosa Gardens of newer varieties that I got during one of their amazing sales but I have to say that nothing beats the ones I grow from seeds like the ones below. A plant of Epimedium wushanense can be seen nearby but I will move it to a shadier spot. There are some small arborvitae trees on the other side of the brick walkway that send roots into this area and that may also be a factor affecting the epimediums. I may very well get rid of the arborvitae soon as I need that corner for expansion of the South African garden anyway. </div>
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In the South African garden Senecio sp Tiffendell continues its show. The closeup shows the dark eyes very well.<br />
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This diascia continues blooming for a long while, favoring cooler weather as they all do.<br />
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Elsewhere Hirpicium armeroides opens white daisies in the sunshine. It must be close relative of gazania as even the seeds bear a resemblence to gazania seeds. It can slowly develop into a mat, and flowers off and on. It is hardier than most gazanias, being found naturally in the high Drakensberg.<br />
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And speaking of hardy gazanias, the toughest of them all is G. linearis. Usually yellow, sometimes with patterns near the base, it can cross with more typical ganzanias to produce hybrids of intermediate hardiness. Gazanias all love sunshine and dry days, they abhore hot wet weather.<br />
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By mid June the annual Shirley poppies (Papaver rhoeas) and nigella are beginning to peak.<br />
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Senecio macrocephalus has an allotted section out front to itself but it does get around to various other spots. I remove the excess plants but wait till after they flower as they are so pretty.<br />
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A closer look at the Cistus creticus flowers.<br />
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Digitalis purpurea is a great plant for difficult areas as it is vermin proof and quite showy in bloom. Easy from seeds which can be started in pots and then set into the ground, or just scattered in spring where one wants them to grow. Last year a promising display was thwarted soon afterwards by a fungus of some sort due to a prolonged rainy spell and crowded plants. I thinned whatever the fungus didn't and the resulting plants came back strong and set plenty of seed for another generation. They are biennial although there are strains that flower the first year if started early. These are the older sorts which won't flower till their second year, but I have had some plants survive another year or two. Plants don't read garden books.<br />
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Antirrhinum majus, the snapdragon, is another plant not on the menu of mammalian vermin and it can flower from June through frost. In mild winters plants survive and bloom early, in harder winters they may die or be cut back severely and so need more time to recover and bloom. They also self sow.<br />
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Iris fulva is one of the Lousiana Iris species which has been used to create yet another colorful class of iris hybrids. Generally water loving sorts, they do fine in ordinary garden soil. The coppery red flowers are certainly different than most iris. The seeds of this group of iris have a corky covering that can be peeled off when planting the seeds. Most probably this covering serves to help them disperse by floating in water along rivers and other bodies of water in their native habitats. </div>
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Chionanthus pygmaeus is an endangered plant from central Florida. I got my plant in a trade with another plantsman who grew his from seeds in another state. I think my plant is a female since I didn't see any pollen and they come in different genders unlike most flowering plants. It is a miniature version of its more widely grown cousin C. virginicus and thus more suited to my tastes as I usually don't like woody plants that overwhelm everything around them. I added coarse sand to the spot it grows in as it occurs in sandy soils in its native habitat, where it is threatened with development as are so many plants in Florida and elsewhere.<br />
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In the front garden hot pink Silene armeria, also known as None So Pretty, bloom in the foreground. I have the standard form and a very pale pink, almost white form known as "Aphrodite". Both self seed readily and are winter annuals which bloom en mass in June, with some plants sprouting and blooming later as well. I also grow the very closely related S. orientalis, which is barely distinguishable by a slightly more rounded flower head and a bit less of a tendency to self sow everywhere. The purple swathe behind that is the main colony of Senecio macrocephalus, a tough South African daisy that doesnt mind the sometimes mucky heavy soil in part of the front garden. It also grows equally well in the areas I have amended with coarse sand. </div>
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Closer to the walkway a ribbon of self sown Shirley Poppies add to the riot of color, and a plant of Osteospermum "Avalanche" is covered with large white daisies.<br />
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Crinum bulbispermum blooms along the front walk as does a form of Tradescantia virginiana with reddish violet flowers. The flowers of the tradescantia need to be removed afterwards to minimize self seeding since it is fairly difficult to dig up once they get established. A kniphofia that is probably a hybrid of the two species nearby is sending up spikes.<br />
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A closer look at the Senecio macrocephalus patch in peak bloom. White spires of Ornithogalum magnum rise above them. Its a rather nice bulb that I got from Scheepers I think. I saw they did not carry it this year, wonder why as it is easy and critter proof. Oriental poppies (Papaver orientale) and Shirley Poppies in reds provide more color closer to the street.<br />
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A closer look at the Osteospermum "Avalanche". A dwarf yellow yarrow (Achillea) from Santa Rosa gardens is flowering nearby as is Silene armeria and a Dutch Iris.<br />
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Senecio polyodon is the third species of hardy perennial purple South African senecios that I grow and the first that was introduced to cultivation in the US. Panayoti collected seed of it back in the 1990s and I have kept it going since from the original seed collection. As with any Asteraceae it is self infertile so its important to keep a few plants around and to store seed as a backup in case the plants are lost or dwindle to a single individual. It has smaller flowers than the other two species but grows a bit taller and flowers for a longer period of time than S. macrocephalus. It can hybridize with macrocephalus but I rouge out the hybrids along with any macrocephalus that encroach into polyodon's allotted area. It self sows but is not as strong a self sower as either of the other two species. In nature it is found at high altitudes in wet areas so it doesnt mind the heavy soil in this spot.<br />
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Here nice specimens of seed grown Crinum bulbispermum that come from the Free State in South Africa put on a bold display with Senecio polyodon and Ornithogalum magnum behind them.<br />
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I planted seeds of Antirrhinum species I got from the exchanges and got a variety of colors on lower growing plants in this area. These might be A. hispanicum or hybrids thereof, whatever they are I like them.<br />
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A closer view from above of Senecio macrocephalus. It has the thickest and largest basal leaves of the three purple perennial senecio species I currently grow.<br />
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Agrostemma milas, the cultivated Corn Cockle, is a graceful winter annual with large flowers in pink or white, Its really quite a gorgeous thing with an airy appearance.<br />
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The bold Verbascum bombyciferum came through the winter fine and was about to flower before collapsing into a pile of mush when some prolonged rain came afterwards. I picked it up at Annies Annuals in California the summer before on a trip along with the Silene asterias behind it. Saliva greggi "Furman's Red" survived the mild winter with no dieback or leaf loss and came into flower quickly. It would not quit flowering until frost. I have planted other verbascums grown from seed elsewhere in the front which I expect to do better than this plant did. Two hardy datura inoxia (wrightii) plants can be seen along the street. They are quite tough and will begin to bloom soon afterwards.<br />
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For a short while in June Senecio macrocephalus makes quite a show.<br />
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Self sown Shirley poppies are everywhere in the gardens. When they are past their prime and the seeds begin to ripen I pull up the plants and tear them apart and scatter them around to ensure that more will arise in future years. </div>
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This long lived rare form of the naturalized roadside weed Lotus corniculatus, aka Bird's foot trefoil is a sparse bloomer compared to the single flowered version. Like the common dandelion, Bird's foot trefoil would be a coveted garden plant if it were not so common. It grows to perfection in sun blasted dry roadsides that are mowed to keep other plants from outcompeting it. This double form which I brought from Oliver's Nursery in Connecticut is hard to find and most certainly will not take over the garden. I have to work to keep neighbors from competing with it as it dislikes competition. It will flower more abundantly if the weather is especially clear and sunny in June. I haven't yet tried to propagate it but most likely division would be the way to go as I have never seen it set seeds.<br />
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A closer look at Ornithogalum magnum amid the senecios. It flowers for a long time compared to most other spring bulbs. Plenty of seeds are set but I haven't noticed self sowing yet, but would welcome it should it happen one day.<br />
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An area not far from the road has a handful of different thyme plants whih are mostly blooming at this time of year. I added coarse sand to this area and have to keep taller plants from overrunning the thyme. In hot wet weather patches of some of these varieties tend to die out. Thyme likes dry and sunny conditions. Another dwarf yarrow, this time in reddish orange, from Santa Rosa flowers nearby.<br />
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A closer look at None So Pretty, Silene armeria, with Shirley poppies along the front walk.<br />
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A trollius I grew from seeds and forgot about came into bloom. Hard to miss it when it does so.<br />
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Kniphofia pauciflora is very rare in its coastal habitat and should not be as cold hardy as it is. I do give it protection but a little mulch is all it needs for winter. It is more delicate than most of its relatives, and tends to bloom on and off from now through summer.<br />
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This old cabbage flowered rose came with the property and looks splendid for about one week in June. Some days I think of removing it as it is an ugly lanky shrub prone to black spot when not in bloom but I have to admit the flowers are quite pretty. However the newer "English" roses have the same lovely flower type on plants that repeat bloom unlike this one. </div>
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Poppies and the Packera nearby the rose.<br />
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Delospermas can be so vivid in full sunshine when their flowers open wide.<br />
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Another NARGS seed cast off, this Edrianthus is not hard to grow. Not sure of which species it is, I know it is not the absolute best of them but is is a forgiving thing.<br />
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Seed grown Kniphofia come into bloom. These came from wild collected seeds and show variation, I think they are K. caulescens but kniphofias are sometimes hard to identify and may hybridize even in their natural habitats.<br />
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In the back the foxgloves continue their show along with various other flowers.<br />
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Penstemon digitalis is a tough eastern species which is not uncommon in fields not far from here. I grew these from seed and lost track of what they were until they bloomed. Knowing their vigorous nature I waited until they were seeding and removed them. I cast the plants onto the other side of the driveway where they can compete with other vigorous flowers along a neighbor's wooden rail fence.<br />
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The kniphofia that I suppose is a hybrid between northiae and caulescens is in full bloom. Around it rise the spikes of what I think is K. caulescens that is derived from seeds I got a long time ago from one of the German botanical gardens.<br />
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More kniphofia, in this case from South African seeds but probably also K caulescens, bloom in another area of the front garden. Pink Phuopsis stylosa forms a groudcover in front of them. </div>
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Larkspurs (Consolida ajacis) come into peak bloom near the end of June. Most of mine are the old fashioned single forms. I much prefer them to the double forms that seem to be the only ones that seed suppliers offer. I have a few of them too, mostly in the hopes that they will cross with the singles to widen the color palette.<br />
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The sand bed, which is basically a pile of sand, out front is planted with young hardy opuntias and surrounded by a blaze of colorful annuals. Some perennials such as the white daisy Tanecetum corymbosum add to the display.<br />
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Some pale "Aphrodite" Silene armeria can be seen among the usual hot pink ones.<br />
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I got my first Geranium sanguineum album from Midge Riggs many years ago. She was a well known member of our local rock garden club who passed away not so long ago. Her plants live on in the gardens of others as is usually the case for most good gardeners after we depart this world. To give away a plant is to both keep it (in case it is lost, someone else may be able to return it) and it is a reminder of that person. I look at many plants in my gardens and collections and the first thing that often comes to mind is who gave it to me. I am old enough to have outlived a few of these fine folks whom I am grateful to have known but their memories live on in my gardens and those of other gardeners.<br />
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Helichrysum splendidum is the toughest of the hardy South African helichrysums and the least likely to be bothered by warm summer weather. In harsh winters there is dieback, so the plants need to be pruned afterwards but after a mild winter dieback is minimal and they can get huge. This massive plant spills over a wall near the garage, full of buds which will soon become bright yellow mini strawflowers. Not far away next to the house the variegated Arundo donax "Peppermint Stick" rises once again from its winter dormancy. It will grow almost two stories tall by the end of summer. It is a very attractive grass but not for small gardens. I had to hack out chunks of rhizome last year to keep it from encroaching on neighbors, though it doesnt run as far and fast as the plain green form. The latter can be a weed in some areas of the world. It flowers very late so I have not seen seedlings so far, which is a good thing. <br />
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In the back the rhododendron has finished blooming but kniphofias, the Packera I collected down south, Crinum bulbispermu, Silene armeria in typical and near white forms, and a small species of Hebenstretia that Panayoti collected many years ago bloom away. The latter is a delicate plant with slender spikes of interesting white marked with orange flowers. It survives mild winters but not harsh ones here, and resows if happy.<br />
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A closer look at the hebenstretia. A curious fact is that I have no problems germinating it from stored seeds but I seem to have terrible luck getting any other species to germinate from what appear to be good seeds I have gotten elsewhere. <br />
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The mystery Packera is really looking good in this photo with a backdrop of Kniphofia caulescens and a yellow snapdragon.<br />
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A closer look at Alyssoides utriculata. A few flowers remain but by now most have turned into round seed pods. It does self sow and individual plants appear to be perennial.<br />
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Marshallia is an American genus of mainly swamp loving daisies, all of which have very pretty pin cushion flowers in shades of purple or white. Many are quite rare but all are easy to grow in the garden and from seeds if you can find them. This one is M. grandiflora, next to it the Chinese Impatiens omeiana in one of its various forms rises from its winter slumber. The wonderful patterned foliage belongs to Asarum takaoi, one of the smaller woodland gingers from Japan. It is much denser growing than most of them and is easy to divide once it clumps up. A Begonia cucullata var. arenicola is emerging against the wall. This is a form of the common begonia that comes from Argentina and possesses a certain degree of cold hardiness. It can survive mild winters in protected locations here but won't make it through normal to harsh winters. However it seeds prolifically and the tiny seedlings grow quickly in warm weather to become vigorous plants with masses of white flowers. Later I had many of them coming up in the spaces between the slate on the patio closest to the house where many potted plants sit out the summer. It comes up in pots too from dropped seeds so am constantly weeding them out of pots that are brought indoors for winter. Still I like having it around and it is easy to remove where it is not wanted.<br />
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In a certain spot in the South African garden I dumped a lot of excess potting soil when repotting many South African winter growing oxalis and bulbs and mixed in some coarse sand with it. Many oxalis species came up that fall and looked good until the more serious frosts of late December got to them so I covered it with a couple of inches or so of wood chips I removed them in spring and some of the oxalis resprouted. This one is O. bifurcata, which in a pot grows long stems with pink flowers. It remains to be seen how it will do under the more challenging conditions outside but it did come up again in the fall after a summer dormancy later in the year.<br />
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Asclepias purpurea is a really nice milkweed that is best grown from seed. It doesnt wander all over the place like A. syriaca and flowers much earlier. It is sometimes seen in nuseries and seed is available online although it often seems to sell out quickly. This plant flowered very nicely but flopped over a few days later, so I had to stake it up. I am not sure what happened, either the wind knocked it too hard or perhaps one of the hooved mammalian vermin got over the mesh fence and pushed it over. It did fine afterwards and even made a fat seed pod, which itself is interesting as I thought Asclepias were not self fertile. Apparently some are as this is the only blooming plant I have of this species.<br />
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Oenothera is a genus with many very nice flowering plants with most of them native to the Americas with quite a number of them found in the US. This one is O. missourensis, which I grew from NARGS seeds that I think I actually did request this time. It makes short stems with huge bowl shaped lemon yellow fragrant flowers which are at their best in June. O. missouriensis is native to the central states of the US as one would suspect from the name and it is a long lived reliable and tough perennial. There is a silver leafed form which I got seed of recently which I am eager to grow. Large four winged seed pods will form at the base of the flower and when they mature and dry the seeds can be picked out from them. It does not make huge quantities of seeds like most other Oenothera that I have grown.<br />
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The bright orange wallflower is a western native species, Erysimum capitatum I think. It looks nice in this spot with some self sown bachelor buttons (Centaurea cyanus)<br />
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This dwarf scabiosa is from left over NARGS seeds. It might be a dwarf form of Scabiosa caucasica. A bright blue Linum. probably L. lewisii is a wispy thing with thin stems with pretty flowers at the ends.<br />
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Amsonia is a genus of nearly indestructible long lived perennials which all bloom in spring in various shades of blue to white. This one is A. tabernaemontana. They can seed around but the clumps do not run, but get thicker with each passing year. The seeds require stratification to germinate and the plants need decent sun and well drained soils. Most are native to the US with a few outliers in Eurasia. They can hybridize and it can be difficult to reliably identify certain species of them. Most have neat foliage that turns a nice shade of yellow before the plants die back for winter.<br />
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By the end of June the old fashioned rose is passing its prime but the flowers around it carry on a wild display of color and form.<br />
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In the South African garden a white form of Oxalis depressa, one of the few summer growing South African oxalis species, emerges and begins its summer long flowering period. This clone came from the late Charles Craib who collected and introduced a large number of pelargoniums, succulents, and bulbs to cultivation. I have the pink form as well and they can cross to yeild seeds; individual plants tend to be self sterile. This species appears to be hardy but is at risk from digging small mammals like voles and chipmunks. I keep backups in pots which go out on the patio for summer and are dried off for wintering indoors in the cool garage.<br />
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Helichrysum splendidum in the South African garden is coming into bloom.<br />
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The lacy leaved plant is South Africa's only indigenous wormwood, Artemesia afra. It can grow robustly, especially after a mild winter when little dieback occurs. The leaves are fragrant and are used medicinally in South Africa. It is self fertile and can spread by means of small seeds dispersed in fall, although early frosts sometimes prevent seed maturation here. Unlike the far more aggressive Mugwort, Artemesia vulgaris, this species does not run. If they die back in winter I cut them back in early spring till I see some green wood, and sometimes I whack them back if they get too vigorous. I recently moved a few to the front gardens as they are unappealing to deer and trouble free once established.<br />
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Poppies come into bloom behind Gerbera jamesonii.<br />
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Eumorpha sericea (or prostrata) continues blooming through the end of the month. It spreads out and can be rooted from ground layered stems or cuttings can be taken. </div>
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The hardy opuntias are quite showy in bloom but I did remove this vigorous plant afterwards as it was overrunning other plants. I cast it over the mesh fence into an area between a wooden lathe fence behind which a hideously large Euonymous alata grows (but the neighbor probably has no idea its an invasive species on her side) and the mesh fence I put to keep deer out. It has survived there through the winter so far so I will probably add some course sand around it so it can stay over there where it won't crowd out smaller cacti, delospermas, and lewisias nearby.<br />
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Barberton daisies, Gerbera jamesonii, are really lovely and bloom off and on all summer. They need a thick mulch to survive winters and more than one clone is needed for seed set.<br />
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Midge Rigg's Geranium sanguineum album is in a couple of other spots in my gardens besides the massive plant in the front garden.<br />
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Hypoxis hirsuta is a native plant but there are many more species of hypoxis in southern and eastern Africa than here in the US. The related genus Rhodohypoxis only grows in South Africa and Lesotho, so I planted a few next to the hypoxis in the hopes they might cross one day. There are naturally (and man made) hybrids between South African hypoxis and Rhodohypoxis so its worth a try. I planted out most of my rhodohypoxis this summer and protected them with wood chips. We shall see how they weathered this current harsh winter soon, but they are also readily grown in pots which can be kept dry and cool for winter indoors.<br />
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I got rid of the hostas I found on this property as they were too inviting to the neighborhood deer, but I also added a few in the fenced back gardens. This is one of the minature ones, I think I got it from Oliver's Nursery.<br />
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Martagon lilies (Lilium martagon) are odd in that they bloom early and tend to go dormant in summer here. They take two years to show leaves from seeds and are slow to build up size but are good in semishaded areas.<br />
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Hirpicium armeroides and Gazania krebisiana both like sunshine and good drainage.<br />
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The hardiest of Gazanias, G. linearis, has linear foliage as would be expected. It is from the high Drakensberg.<br />
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Phygelius aequalis is one of two species in this genus. I am not really sure how the two species differ, but they cross readily and numerous cultivars are available in the US and Europe of this fine South African plant. This one is descended from wild collected seeds brought back by Panayoti some years ago. Phygelius grows near mountain streams in the Drakensberg so our wet winters do not bother it. In cold winters it will die back to the base but resprouts quickly once the weather warms up. Once they begin to flower they continue until frost. Since the winter preceeding this photograph was mild, minimal dieback occurred so this particular couple of plants grew enormous this year in the South African garden. Sunbirds pollinate them in South Africa but our native hummingbirds are well suited for the job here. The seeds are small and take quite a while to mature in pods that somewhat resemble a larger version of what some penstemon pods look like. They are also easily propagated by cuttings and division of older clumps. The only problem I have ever seen with them is that occasionally a few stems may wilt and die off during hot summer weather, but I have not seen it kill an entire plant yet. I cut out any such stems as soon as I see them wilt.<br />
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As June comes to a close, Senecio macrocephalus seed heads begin to mature The seeds will sprout immediately if it rains, so some thinning is a good idea. Even after harvesting many seeds from this patch plenty remain to ensure its continued presence in this garden. Self sown seedlings that sprout this summer can reach flowering size by the following spring if given enough space to grow.<br />
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Tulbaghia violaceae comes in lavender and white, this is a clump with both but the white ones are blooming now. I do protect them with a lot of wood chips for winter as they are very much worth having outside. They flower all summer long and the onion flavored leaves prevent any pests from bothering them. I grew quite a few selections from the Alpine Garden Society and Scottish Rock Garden Club, as well as from Silverhill Seeds and have of course lost track of what they are. They hybridize anyway so its not always easy to be sure of what comes up from seed anyway. They also make great pot plants and I have some in pots. They go out for summer onto the patio, then inside where they sit at the base of the light setups for winter growing stuff in the garage and get an occasional watering, just enough to keep the leaves green. They cannot be totally dried off in pots for winter in my experience.<br />
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A closer look reveals that there is one odd flower here with double the usual number of petals. </div>
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By the end of June the Kniphofia caulescens that came from an Index Semimum of a German botanical garden (I think it was Bonn, but it could also have been Munchen) is in full bloom. This is one tough kniphofia which survived being hit with herbicide in a plot where I had them when I worked at NYBG, then when I moved them out of there to home they did fine despite competition from Norway Maple roots and being more shaded than optimal, and they have thrived through both harsh and mild winters at this house without needing protection. They flower only once a year but make quite a show. The only maintenance required is cutting off the battered foliage at the end of winter to improve the plants appearance. They make seeds and also are easily divided. A late stage inflorescence of what I think is a hybrid of this selection with K northiae is visible in the foreground.<br />
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Zingiber mioga is quite hardy, and the only hardy member of its genus as far as I am aware. This plant is a selection I got from Far Reaches Farm which has darker than normal flowers in August, which is when this species blooms. I gave it some winter protection until I am sure that it is as hardy as the normal yellow flowered one that I have a patch of (well actually two patches). The normal form is nearby, lining one side of the driveway opposite from the bearded irises where hostas once existed until I removed them. An annual daisy that came in a Chiltern's mix blooms along with some other annuals nearby. I have to remove some of this daisy after they bloom as they seed around too much but a few plants are nice to have around at this time of year. Silene armeria "Aprodite' blooms nearby. </div>
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This is one of the best of my seed collections, a dianthus from the upper Taroko Gorge in Taiwan along the road to Hehuanshan. It grows naturally along roadsides and in rocky areas in open areas in coniferous forest. Some would call it Dianthus superbus but it is distinct from that more widespread taxon which is taller and leggier in my experience both growing seed from Japan and seeing plants in Sichuan Province in China. It may be Dianthus pygmaeus or Dianthus (superbus var) taiwanensis, but whatever it is its a magnificent thing when in full bloom. It forms thick clumps bearing lavender fringed petaled flowers in June, with sparser reblooming aferwards. Plants can bloom their first year from seed, and they appear hardy in our climate. Like other dianthus in my gardens they do self sow.<br />
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Another rhodohypoxis that was planted out the fall before. I tested a couple of them outside and then put almost all the rest outside later this summer.<br />
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Linaria reticulata is another delightful small growing cool season annual. Its screaming magenta and yellow flowers are produced for a good month or so and there is always a plant blooming somewhere until frost. It is not as likely to resow well as L.marrocanna so its good to save a few seeds in case.<br />
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This brick patio is now a "crevice" garden, the latest fad in rock gardening. Most of what is growing here was self sown, though I have added a few things as well. I make good use of my hori knife to weed between the bricks and sometimes to plant new things in the "crevices". It is apparent to me that certain plants do far better in this environment than in the open garden, perhaps because they naturally occur on rocky cliffs in crevices. While the bricks probably heat up in summer, the roots can go deep to reach cooler soil, and in winter the bricks probably buffer against extreme cold. Some South African helichrysums do especially well here, including H. basalticum and H. foetidum. This winter I see apparent hybrids between them which is good since the first species is both more cold hardy and longer lived than the biennial H foetidum. Cotula sp Tiffendell, originally grown from seeds I collected with Panayoti from Lake Hendrick Park in Denver, has found a home here. It persists in the walled garden above but really thrives best in the crevices where its yellow button like flowers appear all season long. But they are at their best in June.<br />
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Helichrysum foetidum is the larger leaved plant below, it will flower in yellow or red/pink then set seeds and die later on. H. basalticum makes little silver leaved tufts from which decumbent stems spread outwards before flowering. A Delosperma floribundum has also found a home in the crevices. The winter before was so mild that there was no damage to either helichrysum species, at least in this patio. The current winter is harsher and there is some foliar damage but both species will continue to do fine from what I can see. They both self sow abundantly here and some need to be removed to ensure that individual plants have enough room to grow well. </div>
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Berkheya purpurea begins its long season of bloom. This amethyst colored thistle daisy come from South Africa as do most members of the genus. It was the first to come into cultivation in the US and is arguable the easiest one as well. It is cold hardy, can flower the first year from seeds, and will self sow if happy (and more than one clone is grown as it is self sterile). Its main bloom period is late June but there are always plants of it in flower on this property somewhere until near frost. Harvesting and cleaning seeds from berkheyas is a labor intensive b*ch because they are prickly and the spined sepals partially curve upwards as the seeds mature so one has to prod the "cup" with tongs or a stick to get the seeds to release after harvesting the dried seed bearing stems. Then cleaning presents similar problems, there are broken spines to watch for. I blow on the seeds on a piece of paper to separate the lighter chaff and hollow infertile seeds from the heavier fertile seeds.<br />
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I got this bright blue echium from leftover NARGS seeds but thought it was gentanoides but it turned out to be the more common Viper's Bugloss, E. vulgare. It is a pretty biennial but I removed it after flowering because it produces masses of seeds and it is another prickly plant that can be difficult to remove without gloves. I should have suspected something when the rosettes sailed through winter without trouble, as the most choice echiums are not supposed to be winter hardy here (with the exception of the lovely red flowered ones from Russia and Europe). In a wild garden this E. vulgare would be a good bee plant, all it needs is sun and a fairly dry position. It finds that along certain stretches of Interstate 81 down in West Virginia and Virginia where it thrives among other roadside weeds. </div>
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Linaria purpurea is one of those English garden things I did not quite understand what all the fuss was about. There are a few different color forms and the first year I grew them out front they looked so miserable I pulled them out and made some comment on facebook about them. But a plantsman whose expertise I trust assured me that they are worth growing so I tried again, as seed is always freely available from the various rock garden seed exchanges. This time the result was much better, the individual flowers are still tiny but a well grown plant looks quite nice with substantial numbers of these flowers on ever lengthening spikes for a long period of time. They probably look best in cool summer climates but I like these enough to want to keep them around and try the other color forms too.<br />
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Cone flowers belong to the genus Echinacea. This is a genus with no "dogs" in the whole lot so any species is worth growing. They do hybridize readily and there are some really beautiful named hybrids between the single yellow species E. paradoxa and E. purpurea. I grow a few of those too and they do well here, but I have read and heard that they do not fare so well in warmer climates. In my sister's garden in North Carolina she finds them to be short lived, maybe because of the heat or perhaps because of the clay soils or some combination of both. The species are tougher and here they thrive, this one being E. laevigata, a rare species from a few eastern states. There are two issues echinacea can have here, one is that deer will occasionally eat the flowers (so spraying with Liquid Fence or some other repellent is necessary in unfenced areas) and there is a mite (eriophyid mites) which distorts the inner florets so that the central cone has ugly spikes sticking out. The mites can be controlled by cutting off affected flowers and disposing of them in the garbage. I think an acaride might work too but if used one should make sure that the acaricide is specific to mites and not insects as bees and butterflies are frequent visitors to echinacea flowers.<br />
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Spigelia marilandica is a native of the southeastern states which makes a superb garden plant. The unique red and yellow flowers appear mainly in late June. The plants appear long lived and can be grown from cuttings. Seed is set but they are ejected from the pods when ripe so it is hard to collect them. They are also not particularly easy to germinate and so far I have not found any self sown plants. This plant is a selection from Plant Delights called "Little Redhead". It is a bit more compact than the typical form. Around it rise Impatiens omeiana and what may be Impatiens qingchengshanica, a pink flowered species of uncertain identity with a long back spur. A pyrola I collected somewhere seems to have established and even is blooming at the edge of the photograph. They are considered difficult to cultivate but I took care to make sure there was plenty of woodland duff with it and also added peat moss and coarse sand to the spot I put it in. Impatiens bicolor seedlings are coming up against the house and have already been thinned once by this time to keep them from overwhelming what is in front of them.<br />
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The white form of Impatiens arguta, which I got from "Mr Impatiens" Derick Pitman, the authority on all things Impatiens, has done well outdoors in this spot. I do protect it with a generous wood chip mulch in winter, so far it came through two winters. It has white flowers all summer long, but can get spider mites in hot dry weather so an acarcide may be needed in such weather if the mites appear. Other than that all it needs is good moist soil and some shade. Unlike the lavendar flowered form of this species this one sets plenty of seeds. I suspect the lavender form I have may be a hybrid as it grows similar to the white but I got literally one seed off my plants of it this year. All of these perennial impatiens do best in cool summer and fall weather.<br />
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I have a thing for impatiens as they are beautiful and very varied and there are numerous species, many of which are still not in cultivation and some still to be discovered. These are seedlings of Impatiens namchabarwensis, the Tibetan blue impatiens that I have written about in previous blog posts. It has some allotted areas where it can predominate over other annual impatiens such as I bicolor, balfourii, and glandulifera which I remove if they invade this area. All three grow taller than namchabarwensis so I keep the competition down by pulling them out which is easy in the case of annual impatiens. They have shallow roots and don't usually break if pulled so excess plants are not a problem to remove or relocate for any of them. I namchabarwensis will begin blooming soon, and continue until frost, but it will be at its best when summer cools down in September. A hepatica with mottled leaves from West Virginia nestles amongst the impatiens. The impatiens will provide some shade for the hepaticas and also serve as indicator plants to let me know when watering is needed as as impatiens wilt quite readily when the soil is too dry.<br />
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Aquilegia chrysantha is the tallest species I grow and one of the longest flowering ones too. It comes from the southwestern mountains but finds New York to its liking. It also flowers late, from June into July. There are some crosses in this group, probably with the red flowered western A. formosa. All are beautiful plants.<br />
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This oddity came up from a bunch of old refrigerated seeds I mixed together and threw onto the ground near the driveway. I think it is Cerinthe minor, an annual from Europe. The leaves and peculiar flowers are interesting and I hope it resows so I can see more this coming June.<br />
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Late June and its still a riot out front. Larkspurs are at their very best. They dont flower for long but are so easy to grow by the sow and forget method. The only significant issue they have, other than overcrowding when they self sow, is a powdery mildew that strikes when the weather is unusually wet and the plants are too close together. Thinning them helps reduce this problem as does cooperation from Mother Nature in regards to the weather--dry and sunny is better.<br />
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The ploegbreker, Erythrina zeyheri, emerges well after danger of frost. It is the only species of Erythrina that is totally herbaceous, the rest are shrubs or trees. It forms a massive lignotuber which accounts for the name "plow breaker" in Afrikaans as it is well known to farmers in the highveld where it is found. In nature it tends to prefer areas that are moist in summer and dry in winter. Here I protect the tuber by planting it fairly deep and then using a thick mulch of wood chips to prevent deep freezing during winter. Not all plants will flower and I do not know why some flower and others do not. Which ones of the three I have outside will bloom in any year seems to be a random event. The bright red flowers appear only in early summer and if hand pollinated a few long string beans will set, each containing a single large brown seed, rarely more when mature. Tony Avent of Plant Delights once wrote that this did not survive in North Carolina but I suspect that may be due to the summer heat more than their winters. It comes from an area where summer temperatures only occasionally get above the 80s Fand nights are cooler than the days. Its large leaves are susceptible to spider mites in hot dry weather so an acaricide may be needed then, or just hit the leaves with water from a hose.<br />
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In the South African garden Senecio species Tiffendell is setting seeds. It is a better repeat bloomer than the other two perennial purple senecios. </div>
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Meanwhile in the school garden Pelargonium luridum comes into bloom, as it has for several years now. These grow right against the wall with no other protection. Only one clone is present so no seeeds set but I hope to remedy that one day with other clones I am growing from seeds. This species is quite common in the summer rainfall areas of South Africa and continues up the mountains into at least Tanzania if not further north. It is frost hardy if the tuberous roots are protected from deep freezing, which can be accomplished by planting against a warm wall or covering them with a protective mulch in winter.<br />
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Nearby the P. luridum plants, a single plant of Melianthus villosus resprouts again from the roots. It has flowered once in several years in this spot, but the leaves are interesting and smell like peanut butter. It always surprises my students when I let them smell the leaves. Nearby a Fuchsia magellanica begins its long blooming season. It also dies back every year but comes back stronger than ever the following spring.<br />
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I got this Ixia hybrid, Yellow Emperor, from a friend to try in the garden. It was nice but I don't think it will survive long term here, even with winter protection. But there is only one way to find out for sure.<br />
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As June comes to a close and July is about to begin, the first hybrid daylilies begin to bloom. These are seedlings from crosses I made with "Pennysworth", the smallest daylily cultivar I know of. They are not as small as that cultivar and the colors are not amazing, but perhaps the F2 seeds will produce something more interesting. If one could get plants and flowers the size of "Pennysworth" but in different colors they would be perfect for rock gardens and planters.<br />
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Berkheya cirsiifolia is even more prickly than B. purpurea but still very much worth having. Its white flowers appear mainly in late June but a few might be seen later in summer. It can also self sow when happy. Behind some B. radula can be seen, they have yellow flowers on a less prickly plant. I have a white flowered plant which is either B. radula or a hybrid between it and B. cirsiifolia.<br />
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A closeup of Helichrysum splendidum in full bloom. </div>
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A close cousin of Helichrysum splendidum, this species is from Silverhill but I lost track of which one it is. It is equally hardy if not more so but does not grow as vigorously as H. splendidum. It looks a bit more like a weird decumbent rosemary plant.<br />
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This hardy opuntia has nice orange centers in the flowers.<br />
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Dierama species and hybrids grow well in the UK and Ireland, but these South African plants are rarely seen outside of the Pacific northwest here in the US. But they are often hardy with a little help from a winter mulch and very long lived. They are best grown from seeds, which are readily available from Silverhill and Chilterns and Plant World Seeds in the UK as well as the rock garden society seed exchanges. They are best kept inside for their first winter and not dried off completely then. Plant them deep their second or third year and mulch well in winter. The foliage is evergreen in mild climates but dies back here or is damaged and best cut back in spring. The purple, pink, red, burgundy, or white flowers are hard to photograph but exquisitely graceful as they dangle in the slightest breeze.<br />
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The beginning of July means the daylily season is getting into high gear. This one is a seedling that I grew. They are easy to cross and grow from seeds, even the uglier ones are not bad looking but it is rare to get a plant notably better than what has already been produced by others.<br />
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On the slate patio a big pot of Hymenocallis harrisiana comes into bloom. The bulbs have filled the pot and need to be replanted next spring as the pot is actually bulging from all the bulbs in there. Hymenocallis open in the evening and emit a powerful fragrance which attracts hawk moths to pollinate them. They are dried off for their winter rest indoors.<br />
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Not far away a flashy pink hippeastrum hybrid is blooming. I got it from Jerry Barad's greenhouse when the last plants that weren't sold at the auction and raffle last July or before that needed to go. So I went up there a couple more times with my friend Andrew while Tom Cowell let us go through and take what we could. There were lots of cacti, haworthias, sansevierias, and a clivia and some hippeastrums among assorted large vines, agaves and succulents still in the center beds. I have a large number of plants that Jerry has given me over the years and now even more from the raffle event. I took what I could handle, barely, from the greenhouse as its days were numbered after he passed away. He would be pleased to know that so many people from all over are growing his plants, let alone the several botanical gardens he bequeathed a large number of impressive specimens to. This hippeastrum hasn't even been repotted since I got it but it decided to impress me with these huge bright pink flowers. It will get repotted this coming spring, its a worthy reminder of the many annual visits I made over the years to see two of my favorite people, Jerry and Bea Barad.<br />
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Sometimes you try something that looks good in its little pot and come up with a winner. I would describe Scutellaria scordifolia "Mongolian Skies" as such a plant. It has the most wonderful dark blue flowers and slowly grows into a low growing mat. So far it thrives in its spot and I hope it is as long lived as it is beautiful.<br />
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A dierama species rises above some annual umbellifer whose name I have forgotten, but it keeps coming back from seed every year. Bright orange Asclepias tuberosa,, the Butterfly weed, can be seen in full bloom too.<br />
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The ploegbreker begins to bloom in the front near the house. Its an event when this comes into flower.<br />
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A less flashy scutellaria, S. ovata from Enchanter's Garden (now Wood Thrush Native Nursery since they moved from Hinton WV where I visited them a couple of times to their new location not that far away in Floyd. Virginia) thrives in shale barren habitats in WV and Va and and likes this spot in soil amended with coarse sand. Its leaves are pretty too, and it is not invasive in the least.<br />
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Back on the patio a potted crinum comes into bloom. It may be Crinum macowanii, I'd have to check the tag next time it blooms. Crinum flowers do not last long but they often repeat bloom during the summer and most have a nice fragrance. <br />
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A "spider" form hemerocallis, or daylily, comes into bloom. It resembles "Kindly Light" an old one and might be it or something else. I think this one came from Greg Petrowski when he was giving away extras from the breeding beds he was working with when I also worked at NYBG. They no longer breed daylilies but still have a collection of mostly older varieties there, including some of the original Stout cultivars. When we moved I dug up all the daylilies I had, many of which had no names, and brought them here. I planted some along the chickenwire fence of the original vegetable garden on the property (now the strip of lawn between that garden and a walled garden is the vegetable garden but the daylilies occupy the part by the fence, and some in the original vegetable garden. I also obtained more daylilies, many from seedlings of mine that grew in the school gardens, some from Andrew that he potted up when he moved and could no longer have a proper garden, and some new ones from Marietta Gardens and Obannon Springs and made a special bed for them on the other side of the original vegetable garden. I added a few to the flower beds as well. In July they really strut their stuff.<br />
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Helichrysum basalticum comes into bloom as July begins.<br />
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The pale cream flowers of Kniphofia brachystachya soon turn black, making it an interesting rather than lovely subject. Its leaves are grassier looking than most, and it is easy to grow and flower. Clumps are readily divided and plenty of seed is set by this rather low growing species.<br />
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This is a very late blooming iris that I am pretty sure is I. giganticaerulea. I must have grown it from SIGNA seeds, and the seeds have that corky covering characteristic of the Lousiana iris group. Its quite showy and tall, does fine in the garden and probably would love being by water even better.<br />
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A single plant of Berkheya cirsiifolia is far from the rest in another garden, behind it Lunaria annua "Corfu Blue" seedpods begin to form. A small kniphofia, most likely K. hirsuta blooms just behind it.<br />
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Hesperaloe is a commonly planted thing in Arizona and is native to the southwestern deserts and Mexico, but it is completely cold hardy. Place it in a sunny spot in gritty soil and eventually it will flower. Typically the flowers are red, but I also have a yellow form. They are not the speediest of growers in our climate but are easily grown from seeds and plants are available from places like High Country Gardens.<br />
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By the beginning of July the seeds of Crinum bulbispermum are nearing maturity. These pods will break open eventually, yielding several big round green seeds each. The flower stalks naturally lay down on the ground as the seeds develop. In nature water might roll them some distance from the parent plants.<br />
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Helichrysum foetidum comes into bloom in its red/rose pink colored form. It will bloom for several weeks.<br />
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In the bird bath trough garden, the recently planted Delosperma congestum sends out a later than usual flower.<br />
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In what was called a koi pond when we got the house, the waterlilies begin to bloom. The "koi" are just goldfish, a few of them might even be slightly fancy, but when they get big racoons and or herons seem to get them. They subsist with an occasional supplementary feeding in the murky waters of this rectangular pond. It leaked soon after we got the house so I drained and cleaned it and a guy from my school redid the concrete and plaster and added the lining I brought online. I should cut the lining where it flops over the edge of a couple of walls but I havent done so, as I like the added protection from the elements it provides for the two exposed walls of the pond. One waterlily was already in the pond when we got here, but I have added several new ones from Texas Water Lilies. I plant then in big pots of mucky soil and put a rock or two on top of the rhizome so they don't float and then sink the pot slowly to the bottom. They are totally hardy, stopping all growth only when they freeze then they resume growth quickly from where they left off when it warms up in spring. The only pest that I have seen are aphids that can get on the leaves but I saw them only once and hosing them off seemed to help, probably by allowing the goldfish to get to them.<br />
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Phlox grayi is a western species that makes a nice compact plant in gritty soil in a sunny spot. I don't know how long it will persist here but I hope it is for a good while. Got this from High Country Gardens. Nearby Ruschia hamata grows and Cuphea glutinosa is in flower on the other side.<br />
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Cuphea glutinosa came from Plant Delights and is not hardy here most of the time but it readily comes up from self sown seeds. It blooms all summer long.<br />
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Crassula sp, probably setosa in one of its myriad forms, is a hardy species from the Drakensberg. It turns red in winter and seems to fall apart but it quickly reroots in spring, turning green and making lots of small white flowers. Best in gritty soils and sun with attention to keeping nearby plants from outcompeting it.<br />
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These Phlox paniculata plants are derived from some I collected on top of East River Mountain in Bluefield WV some years ago. They bloom and produce plenty of seeds which are ejected when ripe. Swallotail butterflies love this plant as do hawkmoths.<br />
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Iris ensata, the Japanese Iris, does best in wet areas. I really need to move this one, it does fine in this spot but the large flowers get caught in the chicken wire nearby. They do fine in good garden soils as long as they don't get dry for too long.<br />
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Another look at a dierama.<br />
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This kniphofia, probably hirsuta, blooms in front of Artemesia afra in the South African garden.<br />
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The daylily season is underway as we move into July, this one is probably Lullaby Baby, a very nice older variety.<br />
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Another kniphofia in the South African garden, maybe K. linearifolia, comes into bloom while Zantedeschia rehmanii blooms further behind it.<br />
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Crocosmia "Paul's Best Yellow" is indeed the best yellow one I have seen. It is not that tall but quite bold. I got it from Far Reaches Farms which carries a good selection of crocosmias. Even more varieties are available in the UK where most of the active hybridizing in this genus has gone on.<br />
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Temperatures begin to climb as June ends and July begins, and that suits Musa basjoo just fine. It grew back rapidly from the roots again this year, with many new offsets too. It gets really big and I may need to move it from so near the house. It likes the protected spot but it will probably do fine elsewhere as it is self mulching and quite hardy. I just don't want to contemplate the prospect of actually having to dig it out (surely a major task even in early spring which would be the best time to tackle it) and also I have no idea where else to put it.<br />
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The ploegbreaker is at peak now.<br />
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Nearby Zantedeschia albomaculata comes into bloom. I collected this years ago near Nottingham Road in the Natal midlands, and it seems to be the hardiest of calla lilies. It is easily grown from seeds and multiplies from tubers.<br />
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Wahlenbergia undulata begins its long season of bloom. Mild winters favor the survival of the wandering thin rhizomes, but they are quick from seeds as well. Tiny seeds are produced in abundance and the plants recover quickly when it warms up.<br />
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Phlox maculata is quite pretty, well all phlox are actually, but it is hard to find the true species. It does have one fault though, it sometime falls prey to powdery mildew soon after flowering especially if the weather is wet. It is not as aggressive as Phlox paniculata.<br />
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A closer look at the odd flowers of Kniphofia brachystachya.<br />
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Tritonia disticha is hardy, but the flowers are fleeting and delicate. Clumpsform over time as the small corms multiply The seeds are also easy to gather and grow.<br />
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Hemerocallis "No Where to Hide" is a cool one with dark veining from Marietta gardens.<br />
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Sisyrinchium palmifolium needs protection through our winters but rewards the effort with big yellow flowers in clusters. It is a better garden plant than our native sisyrinchiums and not so quick to spread.<br />
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Helichrysum basalticum again. They are coming up everywhere in patio crevices from self sown seeds.<br />
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<br />geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-88629650845543363362018-01-01T19:02:00.003-08:002018-01-01T19:04:21.782-08:00May continued....By the middle of May even more things come into bloom, the pace is never faster than between now and the end of June.<br />
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A peony seedling flowers for the first time, it is one of four that flowered from a batch of seeds from the American Peony Society. Most are lactiflora hybrids and I anticipate many more blooming next year in a variety of colors and forms.<br />
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Matthiola incana alba from left over NARGS seeds has amazingly fragrant white flowers, here a "winter" flowering pansy from Chilterns blooms beneath it. The Matthiola appears to be the wild form of stock which is more often seen as a cut flower around here. Unlike its cut flower derivations, the wild form seems tougher, blooming its second year but appearing to be perennial. This winter will be harsher than last so it remains to be seen how they will fare but they set lots of seeds so I anticipate more will sprout this coming spring.<br />
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Aquilegia caerulea and hybrids thereof come into bloom, it is their second blooming season here.<br />
This is the mountain columbine of Colorado, these seeds came from NARGS and some variations appeared which is expected when different aquilegias grow together as they often hybridize. There are quite a few other species near them so it will become a lovely mix of many mongrels in the future.<br />
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Elsewhere another aquilegia flowers, this one is probably a white form of A vulgaris.<br />
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Jasminum parkeri had the most flowers ever this May since I have had it. No doubt the mild winter helped, it is evergreen but can suffer somewhat in very cold winters. I've had this plant for a while and it moved with us to this house, but it really took off when it got here. After flowering I cut it back as it was beginning to encroach on neighbors and it also suckers so that has to be watched. It is not too fast growing however so it takes a while for it to get to a decent size from a small plant.<br />
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Paeonia veitchii is another now you see it now you don't flower. Although the blooms are short lived, the foliage is rather interesting for a peony.<br />
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This is probably a pink form of Aquilegia flabellata var pumila, a rather small growing one from Japan that is usually blue and white but always reliable.<br />
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This low growing penstemon species puts on a nice show, its one of many I grow from seed.<br />
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In the sand bed (read sand pile) out front a western Eriogonum species comes into bloom. It likes this spot where its roots can go deep and tap actual soil below if it wants, but it can keep its crown dry as many western plants seem to like.<br />
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Salvia greggii (I think this is "Furman's Red" not only survived the mild winter, it kept its foliage so it was quick to begin blooming again. It will flower all year and become quite stunning later on. Different selections of Salvia greggii and its hybrids with microphylla (x jamensis) vary in winter hardiness here. They often die back and resprout, and survival can be assisted with a winter mulch that is removed in early April. Any of them give a lot of color and are easily propagated from seeds and cuttings.<br />
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This Artemesia sp came without a specific name, but I think it was from one of the Czech collectors. Maybe I will get the name later on but it likes the base of the sand pile. It does well in well drained soils too. The flowers should be cut off after it blooms or even before as the silvery leaves are the main attraction, though I like the flowers too.<br />
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This aquilegia hybrid must have come from some seeds I planted, it is a vigorous plant with double flowers of a sort.<br />
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The aquilegia was between two of three azaleas planted in front of the porch by the previous owners. Later I took out the white azalea as I don't like how the flowers fade and turn a dirty brown against the light green foliage. Plus white and orange don't mix well, especially with the white porch behind them. Over time I will replace some of the woodies that I have removed with more choice things, but I doubt I will let the garden get as overgrown as it was when we arrived. There were many huge bushes here which looked pretty in spring but the for the rest of the growing season were not interesting. I also know that it is easy to plant too many woody plants and then end up with not enough sun to grow the annuals and perennials that I like so much so I have to keep that in mind and edit as I go along from year to year.<br />
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Speaking of editing, the Phuopsis stylosa I moved to the front from where it is planted out back has grown vigorously, forming a green mat of foliage that will soon be studded with pink flowers. I have a light pink clone from Wave Hill and also darker pink clones I grew from SRGC seeds. I like the latter better and for this species it seems two or more clones are needed to set seed. It might make a useful lawn substitute as well. Behind it against the house there are two double flowered azaleas flanking a crepe myrtle. The latter will flower later in summer and after flowering it got a good cut back. I like crepe myrtles but I don't like where this one was planted by the former owners. I would prefer to move it to the property boundaries where it could grow to its full potential and not block our living room window. One day I will propagate or move it.<br />
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Crinum "Super Ellen" awakens from her long slumber under a wood chip mulch. Reputed to be as hardy or nearly as hardy as C. bulbispermum, "Super Ellen" has large pink flowers in summer. So far I have not been able to set seeds on it but some supposedly have had limited success.<br />
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The planter out front came with the property but I redid it to make it into a mini rock garden. Two eriogonums are in bloom, one the same as the species in the sand pile and the other a smaller yellow flowered species.<br />
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In the back gardens seed grown Dictamnus albus, the Gas Plant, is peaking. It will make star shaped seed pods that will audibly expel the seeds when ripe. This is an easy to grow and long lived perennial that is rarely seen since it takes a while to germinate and grow to flowering size. It will never look good in a nursery pot but if the seeds are put in ziplocks and moist vermiculite or sphagnum and refrigerated they eventually will sprout. They can then be planted into pots and grown on until they are big enough to put into the ground. No pest bothers them although I have read that brushing against the foliage can cause photodermatitis in susceptible individuals. So far I have not had that problem. It also gives off VOCs (volatile organic compounds--my APES students should know what that is, lol) that can cause a lit match to flame if put close to the plant on a still hot summer evening. I haven't' tried that myself yet. This plant is also one of those that does not like to be moved and as far as I am concerned it can stay right where it is.<br />
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One day I will have to move or trim this Opuntia but it makes a good companion so far for the delospermas beneath it. Its long spines keep marauding deer away when they occasionally breach the netting around the back and squirrels do not try to bury things near it. Of course, weeding must be done with care around it too.<br />
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This rhododendron has gotten pruned and it is in full sun but it flowers very well every year. I don't like it blocking the view of the waterlily pool but for now it is okay where it is.<br />
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Bergeranthus katbergensis came from Panayoti's garden as seeds and this one managed to get through winter just fine. I normally dig them up and pot them in sand and put them in the cold frame for winter to protect them from wet weather until its time to go out into the gardens again. The mild winter plus a bit of wood chips nearby must have helped this one survive. They flower off and on all spring and summer and make copious seeds. The seeds germinate freely when planted and the plants will flower in their first season. They are rock hardy in Denver but here they seem to need drier winter conditions when we get very cold winters.<br />
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A Rosa species of some sort blooms in what was a vegetable garden before we got the property. I grew it from seed but have lost track of what it is.<br />
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Just outside the chicken wire fence of the old vegetable garden I planted this blackberry I got from a Berkshire NARGS chapter sale. It became a beast, growing huge canes in every direction so I got it to mostly stay on the fence. We got blackberries from it which were not all that flavorful to be honest. I had to protect the fruit with mesh to keep birds away but after it fruited I cut it way back so it is a small remnant of what it was when this photo was taken. I also didn't want it to overgrow the Lonicera dioca on the fence either.<br />
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A colorful trio here of dark blue purple Aquilegia vulgaris, pink Chaerophyllum hirsutum roseum, and powder blue Phlox divaricata come into bloom.<br />
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A clump of the old fashioned Iris variegata comes into bloom along with Amsonia tabernaemontana. Both are forever plants.<br />
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Geranium x cantabrigiense Biokovo comes into bloom. It is a dwarf natural hybrid of G.macrorrhizum and G dalmaticum. It gets from the former its toughness and tolerance for dry soils and shade. It spreads out to make a nice low growing groundcover but I havent seen any seeds on it yet.<br />
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Gerbera jamesonii, the Barberton daisy, comes into bloom a few weeks after its thick winter mulch was removed. It will flower all season long. If the roots are protected from deep ground freezing, they are perennial. I like this wild form better than the cultivated sorts which have flowers that lack the grace of the wild ones. I have crossed this species with the cultivated kinds and with another species to get an interesting array of plants.<br />
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Gerbera ambigua is a bit hardier than jamesonii but I give it a thick winter mulch anyway to be sure that I can enjoy the spring flowers. It tends to flower mainly in spring without as much repeat bloom as jamesonii. Hybrids between the two tend to be more like jamesonii in flower but the leaves show the influence of ambigua.<br />
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Indoors there are still plants growing under lights, these are a pink Pelargonium rapaceum and a yellow hybrid I made between P. oblongatum and a yellow form of P rapaceum. In common with most of the tuberous pelargoniums, these are winter growers which will go dormant and sleep for summer in the garage until the cooler days of September and October signal that it is time to water them again and repeat the cycle.<br />
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Pelargonium ochroleucum flowers for a few weeks indoors at this time. Its flowers are small but strikingly bicolored. Different clones appear to be best to ensure good seed set with this species.<br />
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Phuopsis stylosa starts to bloom before May is over. This is one of the darker pink clones that I favor.<br />
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Crepis incana is a lovely little annual that resembles a pink dandelion. It does need protection from nibbling mammals though. The long thin dandelion like seeds are so slender that one might think they are inviable but that is what good seed of this species looks like.<br />
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I would be remiss if I didn't post a photo of what appears to me to be a virused arilbred iris, Notice the darker streaks on the flower, that is typical of many bulb viruses. Pale yellow mottling can be seen in the foliage as well. So despite its beautiful color out it went shortly afterwards.<br />
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Amsonia hubrictii is a rare species in nature but it is getting around in gardens. It has rather fine narrow foliage topped by light blue flowers in spring. The much smaller Amsonia "Blue Ice" appeared as a sport or hybrid in a nursery and makes dark blue flowers over wider leaves. The latter does not produce seeds unlike any other Amsonia I have grown so I suppose it is an accidental hybrid of some sort. Amsonia seeds require a cool period before they sprout but they will reseed in gardens if they are happy. And they are forever since nothing bothers them. They resent being moved but it can be done in my experience.<br />
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This double Trillium grandiflorum came via way of gardening friends. It is supposed to have originally come from the late Harold Epstein's garden. I had never seen his gardens but I sure have heard about them, his epimedium collection among other things was legendary. </div>
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A Hedychium hybrid, probably based on H coccineum, emerges stronger than ever. Protected by its own dead foliage, wood chips, and a position right next to the house it has made it through several winters including a bad one or two. Later in summer the orange fragrant flowers appear on tall stems. </div>
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One of three Ploegbrekers (Plough Breaker), as it is called in Afrikaans, emerges after its thick winter mulch is removed. Erythrina zeyheri as it is known to botanists is the only totally herbaceous species in this genus of trees and shrubs with striking, usually red, spikes of flowers. It lives in the highveld of South Africa's summer rainfall regions where it endures frost in winter and grass fires. It is not unusual to find it growing in rather wet places when in growth in South Africa, though I assume those areas dry out during the winter. I have not heard of success with it anywhere else in the US but I know others are trying to grow it outside. I grew several in pots when I worked at NYBG and they still have them there, with their massive lignotubers no doubt filling the pots. But they never bloom in pots and I am told they still have not bloomed. So I put my potted plants into the ground, one three years ago, the others 2 years ago. I cover them with a very thick wood chip mulch and I plant the large lignotubers fairly deep with several inches of soil over the top. I suspect winter damp is not a problem so long as the tuber is protected from deep frost. Buds form on the lignotuber and grow when the soil warms, and I have gotten flowers every year outside but not on every plant each year. I am not entirely sure what stimulates a ploegbreker to flower or not but having even one in bloom is a real treat as you will see in later posts. Come fall the huge prickly leaves will die or be frosted back, a thick wood chip mulch applied, and the cycle will start again.<br />
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Acanthus sennii has lovely, if prickly, foliage and has survived against the house with winter protection. It bears amazing red flowers but the closest I have gotten to seeing them is colorful unopened buds later destroyed by frost. It is a real pity that this Ethiopian species flowers too late to be of much floral use this far north, but someone really should cross it with other, more drab colored, hardier and earlier flowering acanthus species to get that bold red color into easy to grow hybrids. Next to it a plant of Pelargonium sidoides, an almost black flowered plant with attractive low rosettes of grayish foliage, emerges from its tuberous roots. It is one of the hardiest pelargoniums, and is perennial if protected from deep freezes. <br />
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A lovely Pacific Coast Iris flowers for the first time. These hybrids based on species found mainly in California and Oregon are very pretty low growing irises. They have been bred such that they come in an amazing array of colors, color combinations, and flower shapes but are almost never seen outside of the West Coast, the UK, and New Zealand. The ancestral species include some that may not be so well adapted to cope with our winters and summers but some are, and by growing them from seed or getting divisions of plants proven to survive here they can be grown successfully. Breeding them here in the east would enable the creation of strains well adapted to our weather, which is needed since the best breeding has been done in very mild California conditions so many if not most of those varieties may not do well here. One other hindrance to their commercial success is that they need to be transplanted rather quickly when it is cool and they are in active growth, ideally early spring. They are not like bearded iris in that they cannot go bone dry before planting nor do they seem to like being divided up in the heat of summer. However, seeds are readily started under cool conditions indoors in fall or winter and can be transplanted to the garden in spring before it gets hot so they can establish themselves. Plants can bloom in three years from seeds. </div>
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Malcomia maritima is a small annual species of stock that is very quick to flower from seed. I planted some for the first time this year and they are quite charming little things. They flower for a decent period of time and produce copious seeds for self sowing. Their only fault is that they don't have the lovely fragrance of the better known garden stocks.<br />
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Before May comes to an end many dianthus species and hybrids come into bloom. I grew all the ones below from exchange seeds and am really pleased with the results. All they ask for is a sunny spot and well drained soil, minimal competition, and some effort to protect them from mammalian vermin. I have trouble keeping track of the species names, but just as well as they hybridize freely, sometimes producing even more wonderful plants.<br />
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Kniphifia northiae is a rather shy bloomer in New York and if it is going to flower it will be in May or thereabouts, and usually after a fairly mild winter. The bold foliage is reason enough to grow it and it is quite hardy. The foliage should be cut back after harsh winters which may ruin the outer leaves but this past winter was mild so very minimal trimming will be needed. Behind the kniphofia the new red leaves and older green leaves of a Berberis can be seen. I got it from Forest Farm I think and I have forgotten the name but am pretty sure it comes from Tibet. It was cut back severely and potted when we moved from the old house to here and it has done well. All the common Berberis thunbergiana that I found on this property were removed as it is an invasive plant in our local woodlands.<br />
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<br />geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-39030342693306531302017-12-21T19:48:00.000-08:002018-01-01T15:24:01.033-08:00May, A Month of RevivalMay brings so much action in the garden as the pace of spring quickens.<br />
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This arisaema species came to me from our friends in town but I am not sure what species it is and I don't they remember either. I think it could be A. japonicum or amurense, but if an arisaema expert (I know you are out there) reads this perhaps I can get the correct identification. It is a good doer in that it is permanent and multiplies into a nice clump. It flowers the first week of May which is early since others like A. consanguineum arent even sprouting yet. Typical red berries are produced later in the year, each "berry" containing a single seed within. Arisaema is one of several "collectable" genera which has a devoted fan club. Some of the species aren't always reliable, skipping a year of growth or disappearing altogether, A. sikokianum being one of those. Others such as Arisaema consanguineum are easy to raise from seed and fairly permanent in the garden if the tubers are planted deep in decent soil. For many arisaemas it is best to raise the seedlings in pots and keep the small tubers dry and cool in their pot for the first year then plant out the tubers in their second spring before they grow. Larger tubers can be planted deeper which is desirable as some species do not like deep freezing. However this one is an easy grower, and our native Jack In The Pulpit, A. triphyllum, don't seem to need special treatment.<br />
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Tall dark stalks with reddish flowers of Polygonatum kingianum rise from the ground, later on they will bend in an almost vine like way. Since I have only one clone of this species thus far I dont ever seem to get berries which are often as attractive or more so than the flowers of many in this genus. With time the rhizomes branch and spread out slowly. The dead woody trunk nearby is one of two common lilacs that I killed off to make room for more choice plants in this garden. I keep one lilac (Syringa vulgaris) on another side of the property on one of the borders simply because I like the fragrant flowers which come later in the month. But in the garden S. vulgaris suckers and needs much maintenance to keep it in good blooming condition and to not let it overrun its neighbors.<br />
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Stout stems and dark clustered leaves signal the emergence of lilies. In this area I have mainly Orientpet lilies, particularly Scheherarzade which I transplanted from the old house. Lilies here need to be sprayed with a systemic insecticide upon emergence and maybe one more time before flowering to kill lily beetles which would otherwise devour the plant. These bright red beetles resemble an elongated ladybug without spots. They are an invasive species from Europe that destroys any lily or fritillary that they find. The adults eat foliage, lay orange eggs on the undersides of the leaves, then the hideous slug like larvae hatch out and do even more damage. The larvae cover themselves in their own feces to make them even more disgusting. I tried the hand pick and squash approach, but in my experience it is not efficient at killing them before they do a lot of damage. Imidicloprid or any other systemic insecticide does the job far more thoroughly. The grass, Andropogon eucomis, which is sprouting is a species from South Africa where it grows in moist highveld in summer rainfall areas. Its rhizomes go deep enough for it to survive without winter protection but cold winters will kill sections of it. But some pieces always survive and grow and after a mild winter like the past one every piece survives. It is wandering more than I like so I have been removing some of it so it doesnt swamp smaller plants. The white fluffy seedheads are modestly attractive as is the bold foliage but I wouldn't recommend it for a small garden.<br />
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Helichrysum basalticum (at least that is what I think it is) has done superbly in the "crevice garden". My original seed grown plants flowered in the garden their second year then died after making seeds. Seedlings came up in the patio crevices and there they do much better and do not die after flowering. Some have returned in the garden where they were first planted, a few years after they were last there so I think the seeds have the ability to remain dormant for a few years if they so desire. But if seed is sown most comes up fairly quickly as with most helichrysums. The velvety silver leaves are reason enough to grow it but later on the bright yellow flowers add even more interest.<br />
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I have many kniphofia species in the gardens and they are quite hardy here. Only a few benefit from added protection in fall. This one is fully hardy and may be K. porphyrantha but I am not sure. Kniphofia is a confusing genus and wild collected seeds don't come from plants with name tags so even the identifications that I do get with the seeds can be suspect. They also hybridize even in the wild so that adds to the confusion. Regardless I have a thing for these majestic plants, and from the first week of May till the first hard frost there will always be kniphofias in bloom somewhere in the house gardens. This one is early to flower and will often reflower later on in the summer. Over time the kniphofias begin to form clumps. In early spring the tattered foliage of some species is best cut off, a chore to be sure but such is a gardener's work.<br />
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Calycanthus floridus begins to bloom with its spicy sweet scented flowers. I grew this from NARGS leftover seeds. Many people balk at the idea of growing shrubs or trees from seed but it really is not that hard. Some bushes like this one can flower in three or four years from seed so extreme patience isn't needed to see good results. Buying woody plants is often a costly proposition and most folks around here hire "landscapers" (the term is in quotes for a reason) who plant too many bushes and trees too close together so they look sort of okay right away. It doesn't take long for the bushes and trees to grow into each other and become a tangled mess. No imagination and a poor selection of common and sometimes weedy plants is what the homeowners end up with. They also tend to plant tough but invasive species such as burning bush (Euonymous alata) and Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergiana) which then invade nearby woodlands. I have eradicated both of these from this property.<br />
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Meanwhile in one garden with a fair amount of shade Delphinium tricorne blooms. This is a tiny species which is an ephemeral woodland plant of rich forests in the eastern US. Normally blue, this one is more of a white with an icy blue tint. It will disappear soon after flowering.<br />
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I got some arilbred iris through the Arilbred Iris Society a couple of years ago and this spring several of them flowered. They are a class of iris that are crosses between some hard to grow desert species and the much easier to grow bearded iris. I gave them well drained spots in soil amended with coarse sand and they did well. One disappointment was that some plants showed mottling in the flowers and foliage which appeared to be virus infection, these I removed and destroyed. I also was able to set seeds on a couple of them to grow more of my own. The flowers are works of art with colorful blotches and veining. I have not seen them around here but perhaps they are more commonly grown in the drier western states where they should do well. If not they should be.<br />
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On May 12 I took this photo of a tree peony I grew from seed with its first flower. Not too bad I have to say, and it should grow larger with more flowers each year. The flowers are short lived but beautiful enough to have inspired all manner of art in China and Japan where they are treasured. Peony seeds are large and easy to plant but patience is required as they usually grow a root if kept fairly warm and moist, then they need about 3 months of cold to be able to grow a shoot. So if planted in summer in the ground nothing will be seen above ground till the following spring, and sometimes one waits longer than that. The seeds can also be put in moist sphagnum in small ziplock bags and after roots show, the bags can be put in the refrigerator to simulate winter (not the freezer, that will kill the seeds), then they should either be forming shoots or will do so after they are exposed to room temperatures. Once the sprouts start, the seeds can be teased apart from the moss and planted in pots or directly into the ground. First flowers on herbaceous peonies will take 3 or 4 years and usually 4 or more for woody peony species and hybrids.<br />
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A mild winter and a bit of protection from the coldest weather allowed this Gazania krebiana to survive. It may be "Tanager" which is just a selection of a particularly cold hardy form from the interior Cape of South Africa where frost is common in winter or might be from wild collected seed, I have lost track of which. The flowers are usually orange and can be variable often with attractive dark markings. Like all gazanias, its bright flowers open only in sunshine. Two seed grown plants are required to get fertile seeds as all gazanias are self sterile.<br />
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Delosperma congestum in in full bloom by the first week of May. It is the hardiest of the South African ice plants. There is a white form, White Nugget, which I also have. It is among the slowest growing of the delospermas so ideal for rock gardens and trough gardens. It needs a well drained spot in good sun and can be increased by seed which it obligingly sets.<br />
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More delospermas are coming into bloom as May advances. I have a few different species that are in the shocking pink/magenta range and I find it hard to differentiate among them. Some bloom mainly in spring, others will flower off and on all summer. They are also self sowing so more appear and I would hardly be surprised if some hybridization is going on. Most of my delospermas were started from seeds from the exchanges and also from the last time I went out to Denver and stayed at Panayoti's house. He let me gather any delosperma seeds I could find in his amazing rock garden and also at DBG. I cleaned them and gave him back some and and also sent many into the seed exchanges that year. Delospermas are easy to raise from seed and many will flower their first year. I find it best to plant them in soil amended with coarse sand for drainage. They don't like soils high in organic matter nor extreme cold and wet as the same time nor hot rainy weather in summer. Extreme cold/wet can cause dieback but any piece that survives grows fast the next year, whereas prolonged heat and rain together are worse since a mold can attack and kill them. If the mold appears (its obvious) it is best to remove affected parts and douse the spot with a fungicidal drench.<br />
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Delosperma sp "Firespinner" is an unidentified/unpublished species from the highlands of the eastern Cape of South Africa. Panayoti brought back some from Kirstenbosch near Cape Town, as I recall, where it never blooms because it doesn't get cold enough there, but it has been an outstanding success in Denver and many other places. It grows well here given the same conditions that suit most delospermas. Its biggest fault is that it only blooms once but it is glorious at that time. An occasional flower may appear later on, and it can be propagated by seed or cuttings.<br />
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Constantly keeping the mammalian critters at bay makes plants that don't appeal to rodents (including the super destructive large hooved kind) more valuable than ever. Anything in the genus Allium tends to not have pest problems and they are generally easy to grow. This is a hybrid or selection of Allium karatarviense from Brent and Beckys that is larger in all parts than the standard species. Like the more common form it is reliable if planted in full sun.<br />
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Delosperma nubigenum is the yellow one below, it runs and does most of its blooming now. The magenta one is another one from seed, perhaps a dwarf form of cooperi or one of the plants that goes under the name D ashtonii.<br />
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Or perhaps this is D. ashtonii, it has smaller flowers and pretty much blooms only at this time but it is a sheet of flowers and is a bit lower growing and has smaller leaves than the previous one shown of a slightly lighter version of this color.<br />
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A tiny dianthus, Dianthus arpandianus var pumilus, resembles a green pincushion studded with little pink stars. I got this as a rooted cutting from our friends in town. It is a perfect rock garden plant but is easy so far, I just need to make sure nothing tries to grow too close to it to prevent it getting overrun by faster growing things.<br />
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Catananche caespitosa comes into bloom, its a small thing from Wrightman Alpines I picked up a couple of years ago at the Stonecrop Alpine sale.<br />
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Aethionema grandiflorum came from our friends Alex and Lyn Kenner's garden. I think it is in the nature of most gardeners to pass plants back and forth, enriching both gardens in the process. This is a rather pleasant plant with a neat habit and good pink flowers borne in abundance in May. It will reseed but not so much as to ever want to be rid of it. Even when the flowers are gone the narrow blue green leaves are appealing to the eye.<br />
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Papaver rhoeas, the Shirley Poppy, seeds everywhere by now and I let some of them bloom in the patio garden before I pull them up so they don't overrun smaller things that, unlike them, really need to grow in the crevices to do well. All these poppies need is a place without too much competition and a lot of sun, and decent drainage. They reseed and come up every year in various colors though the reds tend to dominate after a while. So its a good idea to rouge out most of the red ones before seeding and plant new seeds sometimes of the strains like Angel's Choir that contain a lot of pastel colors to keep a variety of colors in the population.<br />
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Meanwhile at school the Melianthus villosus is resprouting. It has lived by this wall of the building for many years. It has flowered only once, but it was a real oddity, big green flowers that dripped black nectar. The students like it because the leaves smell like peanut butter.<br />
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Pelargonium luridum has also done well for years in this protected spot by the building and will flower later on. I am growing more clones of this species in pots with the eventual aim of trying some at home where a thick winter mulch to prevent deep freezing around the tuberous roots should suffice to allow them to live outdoors here. <br />
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The same wall allows me to grow Amaryllis belladonna, a winter growing bulb but here its leaves are burnt back by severe frost and emerge in spring to grow out until late June or July, then die back. I get one or two of them to flower in this spot each year in August. This fall I got several big bulbs from a grower out in California and put some in front of our house but covered them with a wood chip mulch to help them get through winter. It will be interesting to see how they do away from a wall, I do know the bulbs cannot be planted very deep so they need cover to prevent deep soil freezing.<br />
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Also at school the lovely Oenothera berlanderi "Siskiyou" is coming into bloom. I would bring some home but for its wandering ways, it does like to spread far and fast if it is happy. It likes dry sunny spots with little competition and it finds what it wants here.<br />
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Bearded Iris are beginning to bloom, I have one variety here that was inherited and I got rid of most of it, but I added some from my sister in North Carolina who inherited a lot of them with her house. She had them thinned, then pulled up some and left them in a plastic garbage can that leaked for months. The rhizomes were still in good condition when I visited one spring so I took some and planted them and these are the results. I also have more that I got as a mixture of named varieties from Wild Iris Rows and I am very pleased with what has bloomed so far.<br />
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Papaver orientale, the Oriental Poppy, begins its brief but spectacular show in the front gardens. I grew some from seed and moved them to the front. They make deep roots which invariably break but can grow back if one doesnt get it all out. Root sections can also be used to propagate them. The large bristly foliage is unpalatable to all critters and will disappear in the heat of summer, only to reemerge with cooler weather.<br />
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I picked up this plant of Silene asterias from Annies in California. I have sprouted seeds before that turned out to be something else but this is the real deal. A rather nice and easy plant so far.<br />
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<br />geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-66690362016088715442017-12-18T19:23:00.002-08:002018-01-01T13:59:44.855-08:00Spring part 3We are not even finished with April yet more things come into bloom.<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">These violas were grown from seed from Swallowtail Seeds I think, and I enjoyed the complementary flower colors of different plants. They self sow as does the more common Viola tricolor, a smaller flowered purple and yellow flowered one that I have a lot of here. Violas will take a lot of frost and still bloom, so they can be in bloom almost year round.</span><br />
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I have a number of Epimediums here and some have done well. They are a diverse group of plants mainly from China. They are self incompatible, meaning individual plants will refuse to set seed, so more than one seed grown plant of the same species must be present if they are to make seeds. However different species hybridize easily so an ever increasing number of hybrids are appearing since most gardeners grow a single clone of a given species. They are good plants for shade or partial sun, preferring well drained soil. With time they spread outwards, some faster than others. They appear to be critter proof and the flowers usually (but not always) hang downwards in shades of purple, yellow, orange, white, and pinks. I admit to giving up keeping track of their names as there are so many species and hybrids of them. Garden Vision nursery carries the most extensive selection of them that I know of and while they are not that cheap they are also a forever plant if they find your garden to their liking.<br />
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Anemone ranuculoides is a spring ephemeral from European woodands. Spring ephemeral plants grow during spring so that they can make food via photosynthesis, flower and make seeds and then go dormant by retreating underground when it is too shady and warm to for their liking. They are adapted to make the most of the spring sunshine before the tree leaf canopy above them blocks out the sunlight. I got these as dormant tubers at the fall Berkshire NARGS chapter sale. Often getting plants from such sales means they came from someone else's garden and were very successful so they have extras to share. That increases the chance that that particular plant will be a success since it is growable in the local area. Admittedly most of the members of the Berkshire chapter live in far colder regions than I do (USDA zone 5 and 6 mostly compared to my edge of zone6/7) but our summers are not vastly different, rather their winter lows are much lower than around my town and my growing season is longer with an earlier frost free date in spring and a later first frost date in fall.<br />
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Tulipa vvedenskyi is one of my favorite tulip species because it has attractive blue green wavy foliage and huge bold flowers for the size of the plant. These came back a second year from planting so I am hoping they will be permanent. They are the commonly available clone "Tangerine Beauty" but they will set seed which I have not yet tried to grow. It might be interesting to see if seedlings would show some variation in color but it would probably take five years to see a flower from seeds.<br />
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Tulip "Fire of Love" has flowers are a decent single red but one grows this for the amazing foliage.<br />
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Double flowered (or peony flowered) tulips are quite showy if a bit less than graceful things. Graceful is a more appropriate description for the candy cane tulips (Tulipa clusiana) that surround the double flowered tulips. Tulipa clusiana is a good naturalizer and should come back every year so long as the rodents who love tulip bulbs are kept at bay.<br />
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Tulipa linifolia is a pretty little species that likes the same conditions as the Opuntia cactus in the photo--sunny and well drained soil. It is smaller than many others but the bright red flowers call attention to it when it is in bloom<br />
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Basket of Gold, Aurinia saxatilis, is a plant I remember from my childhood. Our landlord in Yonkers NY grew it in his garden, very likely having brought it over from Italy which is one place where it can be found wild. It is considered to be a bit too vigorous by many rock gardeners because it can spread outwards to cover a lot of ground but it is also a very showy plant when in bloom. The grayish foliage isn't bad looking either. My plants came from leftover NARGS seeds distributed to the local chapters that otherwise would have been thrown away.<br />
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This pink and white Lathyrus vernus is just as old as my purple one but is not quite as vigorous. It is also getting bigger by the year and ejecting seeds when the two halves of the legume seed pod dry and twist to expel the small pea like seeds within.<br />
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Daphne jasminea (?) was obtained as a small plant from Wrightman Alpines during the annual Alpine Plant Sale held at Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring in late April. It has amazingly fragrant flowers, a major selling point for most daphnes. It is a slow grower as most of them are but pretty much trouble free so far. Daphnes are known to up and die suddenly, often from a root fungus but this one is in a spot it seems to like and it slowly spreads outwards each year. Flowers appear sporadically through the summer but its main display is in late April and early May.<br />
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In the first week of May this most unusual dogwood (Cornus florida) bursts into bloom. It is an old tree with some dead branches that I had removed. I also had nearby hemlock branches removed so it could get more sun. It is a mystery as to how this plant got here, because the closed flower with its folded white bracts creating a bird cage appearance is typical only of a very rare form of dogwood known as C. florida spp urbiniana which is native to Mexico. It is very scarce in cultivation and I find it unlikely, but not impossible, that the former owners of this property got one and planted it. It has been in cultivation decades before it was formally described. It also might be an unusual mutant seedling dogwood that came up, there are other dogwoods nearby that may have also come up from bird dropped seeds. I have seedlings of it coming along but it is too soon to say if they will have the same kind of flowers as dogwoods are outcrossers (self infertile) so the seeds of this plant have to have crossed with a "normal" dogwood nearby. I am also trying to ground layer it to get a duplicate plant that will be genetically identical to the parent plant. Without a doubt it is the most interesting and unusual plant that I found on this property when we brought it.<br />
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Mertensia virginica, bluebells, is another spring ephemeral that disappears very quickly after flowering. It is native to the eastern US in rich forests. White and pink forms are known but scarce but the blue one is quite nice and easy to grow. Most members of the genus Mertensia appear to be alpine or shoreline plants accustomed to lots of sun but this one is well adapted to shaded woodland conditions.<br />
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Vancouveria hexandra is from the forests of the Pacific Northwest. It is one of many North American forest plants with close cousins in East Asian forests. Vancouveria is a small North American genus which is very similar to the much larger Eurasian genus Epimedium and likes similar growing conditions. I got this plant from one of the Berkshire Chapter plant sales.<br />
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Ok, this is cheating slightly as this Iris cristata is actually in the school garden. It can be a miffy species to grow, when happy it spreads by very shallow rhizomes but it can also die back suddenly. These were grown from seeds from SIGNA, the Species Iris Group of North America which has the best seed list of Iris species to be found anywhere. Iris cristata is a woodland plant of the eastern US which can vary in flower size and color. This one must get a lot of sun until it is swamped by larger growing plants later in the season.<br />
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Also at school but not yet at home are some plants of Rosa xanthina grown from seeds I got some years ago from The Fragrant Path. They are quite thorny so the deer don't bother them and they can self sow on this well drained slope. The yellow flowers make a brief but glorious appearance in May. The Asparagus plant in front of the rose is descended from wild collected seeds from Siberia from a Russian woman. I think her name is Alexandra Beutenko but I can't find any reference to her online so perhaps one of the readers of this post may be able to provide more information. She collected seeds mainly from Siberia and Kamchatka if I recall correctly some years ago. The asparagus may very well be a wild version of the well known vegetable A. officinalis, but whatever it is it is a tough plant with attractive lacy foliage. Curiously despite having a few different seed grown plants in the school garden I have not seen the red berries on any that would indicate seed formation. Asparagus plants can be male, female or bear both male and female flowers so perhaps all of them are of one gender. I'll have to remember to check their minute flowers next time under one of our class microscopes.<br />
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Meanwhile back at home the primulas continue to bloom and two kinds of Camassia are in full bloom. The blue one in the back is from one of the Dutch growers and were transplanted from my home gardens and I think it is C. quamash. The pink ones in front are much harder to find, impossible really at this point in the US. They were collected by one Lisa who ran a nursery called Buggy Crazy in Oregon. I got bulbs from her years ago and continue to grow this exceptional form of this usually blue flowered species. White forms are known but I have never seen the pink form offered by anyone else nor has she offered it recently as far as I know. It is a long lived bulb but propagates slowly although copious seed is produced. Her nursery is no longer around in the sense of having a regular website but she does sell occasionally on ebay under the name growingcrazy2 and she also sells on etsy I think. She sounds like a colorful character who has little patience for neighbors with destructive animals that made it impossible for her to continue to offer the many fine lily bulbs she used to grow, and also for ebay's increasingly ridiculous seller fees. I hope she finds more peace in her life as I really appreciate the wonderful bulbs and seeds I have brought from her over the years. Many of us miss the great lily bulbs she used to offer, many of them the result of her own breeding efforts, but rampaging animals and a lack of law enforcement seem to make growing lilies on a large scale a very difficult proposition where she lives these days. I once ordered a box of small leftover bulbs from her years ago on ebay, basically she crammed several kinds of bulbs into a small priority mail box and I planted them in the school garden where they flourish to this day. Included were a couple of kinds of colchicum, some daffodils, dichelostemma, and some other odds and ends. The bulbs were small as advertised but a few bloomed their first year and they all bloomed the second year and the colchicums in particular were a good deal. They have grown and every September I get to show them to my students when their large flowers pop right out of the ground.<br />
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A closer view of the pink camassia.<br />
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This little ranunculus sp grows leaves in winter from small clustered tuberous roots but disappears soon after setting seeds. I got it from a single seed that germinated from some leftover NARGS seeds years ago when I was a doctoral student at Cornell. I used to go to some of the local chapter meetings and I nursed the seedling along in the greenhouses until I took it home and planted it. It multiplied over the years by seed and tuber and I took some when we moved. It does best at the edge of a garden (or in a lawn) since it does not like competition when it is in active growth. Bright buttercups appear in May above the hirsute foliage. I once found a name for it but have forgotten so I will have to do some more research and come back when I find it again.<br />
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By early May the Linaria alpina are beginning to flower profusely. They may be hybrids with other species by now but whatever they are they are beautiful. They like the cracks between bricks in the patio where I have established a "crevice" garden of sorts. I find that certain plants do much better in these patio crevices than they do in the open garden, and these linaria, which come in several different colors, do especially well. They will flower all season long but look their best in spring. Copious seeds are produced and thinning of the offspring required so that the plants have sufficient room to develop properly.<br />
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More typical hybrid tulips of the Darwin sort most likely are in full bloom in early May. Some of these should be good perennials. With tulips it is best to try several kinds and see what persists in the garden as some tend to rot in summer when the bulbs prefer drier conditions. Over time the survivors that are adapted to our climate will multiply and eventually will need to be lifted and separated to give the bulbs space to grow to flowering size.</div>
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Silene caroliniana var pennsylvanica is in bloom by early May. It is a rather rare wildflower in this area but I know of two local colonies which this plant is descended. I found one colony many years ago (and have written about it before) when I was a teenager exploring the woodlands nearby. They still grow there but not in the same numbers as before decades later on thin acidic soils atop granite rocks that overlook the New York State Thruway. It prefers sunny spots in rock crevices but this plant has done well here in a raised garden and even seeded into the patio below. Plants from this population are mainly pink, but another population that a friend has taken me to in Connecticut has light pink to nearly white flowers. I have some small plants from the latter as well that are well established and will bloom next spring and set abundant seed. This species often appears on the seedlists from the UK but is usually an impostor which turns out to be Silene dioca, a European species. I can see how one might mix them up looking at photos of the flowers but once you see both species there is no way to confuse them.<br />
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Here is the one that seeded into the patio below.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">I decided to create a trough garden in the bird bath that came with the house. Our Jack of all trades friend Lin who can build anything drilled some holes for drainage and I planted some plants from S Africa (Delosperma congestum with the yellow flowers), Asia (the crassula like plant with rounded fleshy leaves), a sedum I collected from the Taroko Gorge area on the way to Hehuanshan in the middle, and some sempervivums (Hens and Chicks) that I took from my maternal grandmother's house after she passed. They looked pretty good when this was set up as can be seen and have done well. The sedum has suffered some frost damage so I dont know if it can survive our winters but I have backup in my cold frame and indoors just in case.</span></div>
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The rare dogwood is looking splendid by the first week of May.<br />
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Meanwhile the double form of Ranunculus repens blooms en masse in a corner of the property where I let it romp around. I got it many years ago when I worked as a urban garden aide one summer for Brooklyn Botanic Garden and it has followed me through the decades since. It does not form seed like the single flowered form, which is a blessing as it really is a weed. It does spread vigorously by stolons much the same as a strawberry plant does. It takes some work to make sure it doesnt get too out of control but its worth keeping around for its beautiful spring flowers. It is rarely available commercially even though it is so easy to propagate and has limited invasive potential since it cannot make seeds.<br />
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The aqulegias are also coming into bloom by the first week of May, all of mine are grown from seeds I got from the rock garden seed exchanges. I have close to a dozen or so species at least and I don't know what all of them are but this one is probably one of the western US species or possibly a small form of A canadensis, the eastern US Columbine. Whatever it is I like it and while aquilegia species are notorious for crossing with each other I find that many self seeded ones do come up that looking just like their parents. <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4RhE2_jo4bM/WkRXv_ypQSI/AAAAAAABVkk/-sLKj6lkvo4tZmz9lcjxBPEgddfWMefyQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="526" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4RhE2_jo4bM/WkRXv_ypQSI/AAAAAAABVkk/-sLKj6lkvo4tZmz9lcjxBPEgddfWMefyQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5170.JPG" /></a><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Spanish bluebells (Hyacintha hispanica) were here when we came and I brought a few form my old gardens as well. They are tough and multiply quickly into clumps, to the point of being a bit aggressive when they are in actual growth in spring. But being toxic they are impervious to pests and animals and guaranteed to give a nice floral display in early May. </span></div>
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<br />geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-36292620044189769572017-12-17T19:13:00.001-08:002017-12-27T16:19:49.043-08:00Spring Part 2<br />
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As spring advances, the number of plants coming into bloom increases exponentially. Many gardens around here are primarily spring gardens with azaleas and daffodils for example. I find spring and early summer to be the most floriferous seasons too, but my gardens continue blooming well past first frost. I get bored easily with simple gardens so I need to make sure I have something new happening every day in my gardens during the growing season.<br />
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This is an exquisite and well behaved double version of Ranunculus ficaria. The wild sort with single yellow flowers is a merciless invasive thug in our area. While attractive it will carpet the ground to the exclusion of other small plants in areas it has spread into. I have written on this species before and the problem has worsened over the years in areas along the Bronx river for example. I wonder what eats them in their European homeland as surely there must be a natural control in its native range. However there are a number of selections of the species that are far less aggressive and can be grown safely in the garden, this being one of them. The foliage emerges very early during winter and soon after flowering the whole plant disappears from sight, only to reemerge from the tuberous roots the following winter.<br />
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The fragrant double Parma violets, in purple and white, come into bloom after I remove the wood chip mulch. They are old varieties from Europe and not common around here. They are said to not be very cold hardy but I find a fairly light cover of wood chips will see them through our winters without issue so far. It does need to be removed as soon as threat of very severe frost is over.<br />
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Taraxacum pseudoroseum comes into bloom. This Russian relative of the common lawn weed T. officinale is very similar in leaf and size but has pink flowers with a golden center. It does self sow but not to excess so far. I like weird dandelions and grow a couple of white flowered ones too. This year I am looking forward to starting seeds of T. lilacena, a lavender flowered one from Xinjiang.<br />
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Before April ends the front yard is filled with daffodils I have planted in the former front lawn. They will become large clumps with time just as they have in my school garden. The red tulips that predate us owning the house also come into bloom (and are very perennial so long as we keep the deer off them) and creeping phlox (Phlox subulata and cvs) spreads ever outwards. Later I cut out some of the phlox and planted the pieces elsewhere on a small slope. The magnolia in the background failed to flower a second year in a row, perhaps due to a very cold March, so out it went later in the summer. In general I have been removing common shrubs and trees and replacing them with flowers and.or rarer shrubs. A lot of what I grow likes good sun so most of the property is quite sunny.<br />
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I planted the first daffodils in the front yard two falls before this picture and already this one (they were mixed varieties) is clumping up nicely. I get most of my spring bulbs from Scheepers (aka Van Engelen), Brent and Becky's and sometimes from Colorblends or Easy to Grow Bulbs when they run their sales right around Thanksgiving. I get good deals but sometimes I regret it as planting 100 big daffodil bulbs in heavy soil when it is cold outside can be hard on these aging bones. But seeing their cheery flowers in spring makes it worth it. This year I didnt order so many bulbs since the gardens are filling up and daffodils tend to be forever around here. Nothing really eats them aside from the Narcissus fly (which is quite rare, I am not sure if I have ever seen it here) and no mammal bothers them due to their toxicity. They tolerate all kinds of soil and just ask for some decent sun to come back every year in greater quantities. Occasionally I will find a plant with mottled foliage that appears to be virused and those I remove on sight as I dont want virus spreading to other bulbs. But I have removed less than a handful so far.<br />
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Paeonia caucausica grown from seed comes into bloom early. It is a brief event but the foliage is kind of nice too and it doesnt flop like the one or two varieties of peony on the property when we got it. I removed most of those, giving the majority of them to a couple of teachers at my school who helped dig them out. I am growing several peony species from seed as well as mixed cultivar seeds from the American Peony Society.<br />
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Lunaria "Corfu Blue" is neither blue as the name suggests, nor perennial with suckers as the source I got it from states. Yet it is different than the typical Lunaria annua in that it branches much more and flowers for a longer period of time. It does seed around like more common forms of the species but it is a nice addition to the spring garden and the seed pods can similarly be dried and used in arrangements.<br />
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Packera aurea is a really pretty native species when in bloom but its wandering ways forced me to relocate it after blooming to our border with the neighbor with kids. There is a bit of a wild patch there that I try to tame periodically, and one way I do this is to plant stuff that might look good and be able to compete with the weeds on their side of the line. This one would be good as a vigorous ground cover which is splendid in spring when it blooms and decent looking the rest of the year. But those thin stolons do ensure that it gets around, and where they can't reach the seeds can.<br />
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Thalictrum (formerly Anemonella) thalictroides is a native species with white single flowers but this double flowered selection called Cameo is much nicer. It is a small plant that blooms for a decent period of time but by late summer the foliage is mostly gone, awaiting another spring to rise from the small tuberous roots.<br />
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Primula veris is a well known English wild flower and is found elsewhere in Europe too. It is perhaps the easiest Primula species to grow here and is rather splendid in full bloom. Then again most primulas are gorgeous plants but most resent our summer heat so are difficult or impossible to grow. Even this one may need some extra water in summer if we have a dry spell but it perks up when it cools down in fall and come spring it is ready to do its thing all over again.<br />
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This is another primula just after an April rain. It is one of the polyanthus hybrid sorts that I grew from seeds as I have done with nearly all primulas I have. These are colorful perennials and long lived in decent soil. Animals seem to avoid them and they make seeds which can be collected to grow even more. The offspring of this type will be varied in color. I grow many plants from seeds for several reasons. Its way cheaper than buying plants, the plants are more likely to be pest and disease free (nurseries do try their best but sometimes a plant brings unwanted pests with it into the garden), and the adventurous gardener has access to a much wider range of plants than if one were to only purchase plants. The various plant society seed exchanges are a great place to get lots of seeds for a pittance really. I belong to the North Amercan Rock Garden Society and the Scottish Rock Garden Club, both of which have extensive seed lists that come out in December. Seeds are donated by members, (I am a regular donor to both societies) and then one can order them in a "first round" (donors get first pick) then there are second rounds for both as well (but they are done differently by each). Both have plenty of choice species after the first rounds anyway, and NARGS sends all leftover seeds after the second round to the various local chapters including the two that I belong to (Hudson Valley and Berkshire chapters). Sadly most people seem intimidated by seeds so I often take most of the leftovers and store them in my refrigerator then plant them out in containers later on. I have gotten many good things this way that I would never have thought to try growing. Sometimes seeds are misidentified or not viable but that is a small percentage and at least in my case when I help out with the seed packing (the packing of the seeds is divided among several chapters each year) I will discard non viable seed rather than let someone end up disappointed. As the numbers of specialty plant nurseries continue to decrease, it becomes even more important to grow things from seeds. Seeds can also be stored in most cases for very long periods of time in a refrigerator, such treatment greatly extends the time they remain viable in my experience. More than once I have grown something from my refrigerated seeds that was no longer available commercially or otherwise.<br />
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I got this Viola lanceolata years ago from the wildflower curator at the NYBG when I worked there, I think it was coming up in another plant's pot. It is attractive though and I took some to our current house when we moved. It does spread fairly aggressively so every now and then I have to remove some but I always leave some so I can enjoy the delicately lined blossoms each spring.<br />
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Before April ends the hellebores (Helleborus x hybridus) are in full bloom. I have over a hundred of them here, almost all grown from seeds from one of three sources: a hellebore nursery in Tasmania that no longer grows them since a neighbor sprayed herbicide that drifted onto their property and killed them, Pine Knot Farms (they dont always sell seeds, but always have plants, but I brought 100 seeds from them one year and every one of them seemed to grow) and the NARGS seedlist. Now there is a trick to growing hellebores from seeds--the seeds must be fresh (not more than a month or so old) or "moist packed". The latter means they are packed in a tiny plastic zip lock bag with moist (not soppy wet) vermiculate or sphagnum moss). It turns out that the seeds ripen in June or so, then fall to the ground where they need a few months of warm and reasonably moist conditions to be primed to germinate when temperatures drop. Roots emerge in late fall followed by the cotyledons and first leaves in spring. In the case of the seeds from Tasmania, they moist packed them after harvest (around December) and by the time I got them they were ready to pop into the refrigerator where they would begin to sprout after a few weeks. I then removed them and planted them up in pots during mid spring when it was still cool enough for them to establish well. The seeds I got from Pine Knot farms were even easier to deal with, they sent them out in June and I planted them in a spot directly into the ground and watered and weeded as needed. Lots of them appeared the following spring and I separated them out the spring after that. Hellebores bloom at three years of age at the earliest in my conditions and many will wait another year or two. I still have many unflowered ones that are maturing so next spring I should see quite a variety of them in bloom. Plus the ones I have self sow so there are always extra plants to give away or bring to sales. They are also forever plants, they just do not die and nothing eats them. I once found aphids on a few plants but a single spraying maked quick work of them. The Christmas rose, Helleborus niger, is a white flowered species that flowers earlier and I have found it much harder to grow, to the point that I am still trying. But Helleborus x hybridus is easy in shade or partial sun and tolerates dry or moist soil. Some come in brighter more showy colors and patterns than in the past, and some have more outfacing rather than the typical down facing flowers. Buying such plants will set your wallet back a bit but if you grow enough from seeds you will get some equally good plants. And even the most homely hellebore looks pretty nice in late winter or early spring when they start blooming and not much else is around.<br />
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Tulipa sylvestris is one of the wild species that seems to persist well in gardens,which is not something all tulips do. It also has leaves which start coming up in fall so the ends may be burned by frost by the time they flower. The yellow flowers are graceful things that bend and have recurving tepals. As with all tulips they will open more in sunshine but I like them even when they are closed as seen here.<br />
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The tight foliage of Asarum takaoi make an attractive clump which hides the brownish flowers underneath. I had trouble growing most asarums in the old house but here they do great. This one was given to me by a friend when he had to give up his garden when he moved to an apartment and it has done very well since it got here so that I have several clumps of it by now.<br />
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<br />geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-48694651862896279022017-12-17T17:29:00.000-08:002017-12-27T15:58:44.806-08:00A Look Back at SpringIts one of those wintery days where a glance at the many photos of the gardens provides cheer and hints of a promise to come in the next growing season. My students often ask me what my home garden looks like so I think this post will give them a good sense of what I grow at home and how it compares to the smaller school garden that I set up and my AP Environmental classes help to maintain. I will start with early spring of last year, when the gardens slowly awaken.<br />
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As winter ends, the first things to come into flower are the various small bulbs and the hellebores.<br />
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Narcissus Rijnveld's Early Sensation is up early on Febuary 1 in the school garden in a nice warm spot by the wall. Like all narcissus, it multiplies each year, narcissus are probably the most reliable of bulbs in our area in terms of permanence and lack of pest problems.<br />
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Iris reticulata can be considerably less permanent than any narcissus but every now and then a particular bulb decides to stick around and multiply. This one is several years old in the school garden and is up as early as the Narcissus shown above is. They were early this past year, in bad years (ie cold winters) both can wait till March instead of showing in early February.<br />
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This reticulate iris photo was taken last March 24, and it was a surprise in that it had parts in fours instead of the usual threes. I stuck a small bamboo stake by it to see if it comes up again and if it shows the same pattern next spring. We have a few clumps of Iris reticulata in the school gardens, most of the ones I planted there years ago have died off but a few thrived and grew into clumps on the sloped part of the school garden I don't always expect them to be permanent here at home either but some may establish themselves as they have at school.<br />
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By the first week of April the Kaufmannia tulips were up, this one clearly multiplied having been planted the year before. We have tulips in the front yard (almost all a red Darwin type) that were planted before we got the house but they require vigorous defense against the few deer in the area. I spray all tulips, even like this one in the back which I enclosed with uposts and deer netting to stop all but the most determined deer from getting in with Liquid Fence. It does help a lot in reducing deer damage, and trains them to stay away from here, most of the time at least.<br />
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Cyclamen coum is early with its showy flowers and equally showy foliage.<br />
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Viola odorata in a pale apricot form and shades of purple/pink also blooms very early and the Trillium (one of the sessile species) emerges with its attractive foliage. The violets are slowly spreading by seed and short runners. I have nearly eliminated the much weedier Viola sororia from the property. Along with onion grass, V sororia is close to impervious to glyphosate so it has to be dug up and not put in the compost pile.<br />
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A small Draba species grown from NARGS leftover seeds is among the early bloomers in March.<br />
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The Opuntia cacti look pretty flattened as they come out of winter, but it is their defense mechanism against freezing. They have grown so well I had to seriously thin this batch after it flowered, which I will show them doing later on.<br />
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I planted lots of crocus out back, and these tommies (Crocus tommasianus) grow very well in our area and are the best species to naturalize. They provide nectar and pollen for early bees as well.<br />
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In this large pot I have Adonis amurensis, which has survived and bloomed for several years. I haven't planted it in the open gardens but it seems happy where it is. I had them before we moved and the rocks were to keep the squirrels from digging them up. We have even more squirrels here but they are quickly relocated to more appropriate living areas as fast as I can catch them.<br />
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Helleborus x hybridus is an easy to grow plant which is virtually pest free. This is one of more than a hundred seedlings I have grown. It is probably flowering for the first time.<br />
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Corydalis solida comes in many colors, this one is a seedling from a PBS seed exchange. I lost the label, but it appears to be a form of solida or something close to it. They must be planted in summer rather than allowed to dry out for a long time, then they sprout the following spring. About 3 years later the first blossoms appear.<br />
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Helionopsis orientalis is another early bloomer, remnants of the wood chip mulch I cover nearby perennial impatiens with get spread around and slowly decompose, improving the soil by adding humus and nutrients to the rather heavy soil here.<br />
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A white Draba species comes into bloom. It is cutest when it first blooms, the flower stalks elongate a bit later on.<br />
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Viola jooi is a vigorous seeder but its proportionally large flowers are quite a nice sight on a cool early spring day.<br />
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More tulips show up before mid April on a nice sunny day.<br />
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Hepaticas begin to bloom, this one is from plants I selected in a place down south where there are thousands of them. I looked for the darkest blues and pinks I could find, most are white or palest pink in this particular population. I also rescued some plants that were hit with herbicide another time in that same area when they put in a path in the area as well as some that were about to be eroded out of the soil due to them being at the edge of where they dug upslope that same path when they put it in. It seems that all have done well here so far, but vigilance against burrowing chipmunks and squirrels is constantly required.<br />
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Jeffersonia dubia is an east Asian woodlander that does well here. I got my plants from our rock gardening friends in town. They have been spectacularly successful with this species to the point that it self sows vigorously for them. The large seeds need to be in the ground soon after they are shed which is why dry stored seed is much less likely to germinate than fresh seed. Seedlings appear the following spring and bloom around their third year. <br />
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The double flowered bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is best acquired as a passalong plant, that is a plant that passes from one gardener to another. I got my plants from friends who live in the same town who grow them superbly, along with many other woodland and rock garden plants. This is a strange plant in the garden as it is best to divide and move it every couple of years or so since whole colonies have a way of suddenly dying out if not periodically disturbed. The flowers are fleeting (but less so than the single forms) but exquisite in form.<br />
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Corydalis solida, this time in purple, is a diminutive spring ephemeral. They are long lived and the tubers multiply and eventually they start self sowing. They disappear underground long before summer arrives.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/VQzCEqcq_Y68umeFKV46Vk9ZUosN9lG8EetkzUatYH1lX6CK1GaCqxddyDZZGhNtzp-vdUVTzVlHc2j5yskJOsKUrgLpMWue_P8R0u1zAicIUS11Co0ELSuOQx0GPvMtruwcRBb6wxuv1qqtuk4H6saFanLCQmdGswctYAnAR19EfbgLwQJCEMOu5NJG7EjY3pfsO8NcydXbh0og2sBf-R1yPrhKp8YUAc1xTjk8FELPauGr6_gW8pBSWQhPoqhLD8U0yG4V8TDeq2oey2F7csTH965NnVCRqKxb6xy9lir2OKP7t0_TJ3XrhtoBTIXt9eFXYjiJnbc3N5MVKT5pD0elGbE_bnWGGgrAFNFEPiZcfios1_dkM3DVyX6rW2ZyPjgO0fDNlpDUOvBW6pcs3pSV7xB5VeVM1TW2lDUtr9Ow4hZwqajx18NA4kxImep8PtO0WIijH7DllRSm9X1pJRP-0xBsXbCiBuVeff2vCXC8oDG9G6yLG1IQGF49FHCUtN333vpbOiXHb-Fu9XmS9RmFTk4kGHImaqr3Fn0HUdf43JQu4XOVjJkStM0WejTAm7_lODesKtJ9tklIUSmSgqK1Y48va64ztwjU4xa-=w910-h682-no" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="910" height="478" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/VQzCEqcq_Y68umeFKV46Vk9ZUosN9lG8EetkzUatYH1lX6CK1GaCqxddyDZZGhNtzp-vdUVTzVlHc2j5yskJOsKUrgLpMWue_P8R0u1zAicIUS11Co0ELSuOQx0GPvMtruwcRBb6wxuv1qqtuk4H6saFanLCQmdGswctYAnAR19EfbgLwQJCEMOu5NJG7EjY3pfsO8NcydXbh0og2sBf-R1yPrhKp8YUAc1xTjk8FELPauGr6_gW8pBSWQhPoqhLD8U0yG4V8TDeq2oey2F7csTH965NnVCRqKxb6xy9lir2OKP7t0_TJ3XrhtoBTIXt9eFXYjiJnbc3N5MVKT5pD0elGbE_bnWGGgrAFNFEPiZcfios1_dkM3DVyX6rW2ZyPjgO0fDNlpDUOvBW6pcs3pSV7xB5VeVM1TW2lDUtr9Ow4hZwqajx18NA4kxImep8PtO0WIijH7DllRSm9X1pJRP-0xBsXbCiBuVeff2vCXC8oDG9G6yLG1IQGF49FHCUtN333vpbOiXHb-Fu9XmS9RmFTk4kGHImaqr3Fn0HUdf43JQu4XOVjJkStM0WejTAm7_lODesKtJ9tklIUSmSgqK1Y48va64ztwjU4xa-=w910-h682-no" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ipheon uniflorum is an onion relative from South America that, like Muscari, tends to sprout in fall but really doesnt grow much till spring, then it flowers when the weather is more settled.<br />
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A cute little potentilla I acquired at a Berkshire chapter of NARGS plant sale. I got it half price I think, if not for free as no one else seemed to want it. Maybe its because it didn't look all that exciting in fall when I brought it but it sure is charming in spring. Or maybe it just wanted to thank me for saving it<br />
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Every year this Lathyrus vernus gets bigger and I successfully transplanted it to our home when we moved in back in late 2012. It has also cast seeds far and wide so new smaller plants are beginning to reach flowering size in the same general area.<br />
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I slowly began to tame the .64 acres this property sits on from the moment we got here. It took me about three years to fully get rid of the lawns and make all of the property into gardens. This is part of the back slope under three large hemlocks that mark the border with our neighbor's John and Maggie. The hemlocks have been attacked by adelgid insects, an invasive species that threatens our native hemlocks continued existence. I have had some lower branches cut to let more light in and also treated the hemlocks with a systemic that should control the adelgids. If the trees die I will replace them with smaller trees or bushes that are less competitive with the flowers I plant beneath them. Nonetheless I have found that bulbs do well here, perhaps because the hemlocks tend to absorb summer moisture from the rocky shallow soil which many dormant bulbs like. Many other plants are in the same area, such as several species of aquilegia, Alstroemeria aurantiaca, hellebores, and resowing annuals such as Silene armeria and Impatiens bicolor. Part of this area is slowly becoming a rock garden of sorts too.<br />
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Our native pachysandra, Pachysandra procumbens, is not nearly as invasive as the evergreen Asian species planted everywhere in the neighborhood. Its leaves may not look as good after a hard winter (but this past winter was quite mild) but the foliage is mottled and more interesting, and the flowers are a modest but cute bonus in April.<br />
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A Polygonatum species emerges among some violets. This species came from Oliver's nursery during one of their end of spring plant sales. I am not sure of the species but neither were they. It must be one of the many species that have come out of China in recent years. Its modest but a good multiplier.<br />
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Trilliums are much beloved by shade gardeners and those that appreciate nature. This mottled leaf species might be lutea but the sessile leaved species are a confusing group to identify down to species level. The fact that they can hybridize only complicates matters but regardless this one has really nice foliage.<br />
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Stellaria pubera is a native chickweed species from rich woodlands. I got this one from down south, it is a refined plant unlike its weedy winter annual cousin that is better known to gardeners.<br />
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Not so sure why I don't see this everywhere as it is tough. Trachystemon orientalis is a good doer and a very long lived perennial. Is also a lovely shade of blue, a not particularly common flower color. It slowly spreads though I have not noticed any seedlings yet. The leaves will grow larger after the flowers fade and remain for the rest of the growing season.<br />
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A special form of the bloodroot, "Tennessee Form", has more petals than the usual 8 that most wild forms have. This plant came from Garden Vision nursery and has done well so far. It does make seeds so I hope more will grow nearby one day.<br />
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<br />geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-29068776746500545852017-06-04T17:50:00.001-07:002017-06-09T19:09:10.907-07:00Cold Hardy OsteospermumsThese South African daisies are commonly grown as tender annuals in the northern states, but there are cold hardy species and selections. "Avalanche" is a particularly good one worth tracking down. I suspect it is a white selection of the normally lavender pink O. jucundum. I have both in the gardens now and although the jucundums did suffer a bit this winter, oddly since it was milder than last winter, they are back in bloom along with the 'Avalanche". They will produce seeds if multiple clones are present, and both are easy to propagate by severing and replanting pieces from the stems that root as they grow outwards. I usually put some coarse sand over some of the stems as temperatures drop and sometimes cover them lightly with wood chips to minimize dieback during cold winters. If the stems survive they resprout quickly when spring arrives. They bloom throughout the growing season but are especially spectacular right now. I think the very mild and rather strange winter, with arguably the worst weather in March (!) was to their liking so they are making lots of flowers right now.<br />
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Seeds of Osteospermum come in two types, one somewhat triangular and nut like, and a flatter rounded seed. The latter is probably primed for faster germination whereas the other is supposed to remain viable for longer, so the plant hedges its survival strategy by having two different types of seeds. However I havent really noticed much difference in germination of either, if anything the first type of seed seems to be viable more often than the flatter ones. I should get a good seed crop from the area where both jucundum and "Avalanche" grow together, but "Avalanche" alone rarely sets seeds. <br />
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<br />geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-20021723056689545712017-06-04T17:36:00.001-07:002017-06-09T19:12:31.128-07:00Sweet Williams (Dianthus barbatus)This old fashioned biennial, or really perennial in my experience, is one of the highlights of the season here. I grew mine from seeds, and that really is the only way to do it as the newer "sweet williams" that come in packs or pots are quite inferior to the real thing. They may bloom their first year but they don't have the dense flower heads and wild array of colors and patterns of the real thing.<br />
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They do need to go through one winter to flower, and while some plants may be short lived perennials they usually do make vegetative growths at their base which become flowering stems the following year. I suppose one could separate and root these if one had a particular clone that was especially prized. But allowing them to seed will give a wide variety of zoned, spotted, and/or bicolored flowers in colors ranging from white through reds and red purples. <br />
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<br />geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-13287975593047517602017-06-04T17:19:00.000-07:002017-06-09T19:15:59.218-07:00Cold hardy Crinum bulbispermumRight now many Crinum bulbispermums are coming into bloom and/or spiking in my gardens. I have a number of plants grown from South African seeds from the Blomfontein area, as well as others from US sources. The latter may contain other genes in them, as crinums are a staple in the South and seed freely when happy. True bulbispermum is supposed to rarely if ever offset, but they do produce lots of large green seeds which must be sown fresh. Those seeds also take time before they reach flowering size. Mine have taken anywhere from four years or more to do so, but now most of the first batch are flowering. A few of them did flower last year, but now all seem to be flowering sized. This is probably one reason they are not commonly sold in nurseries, for they are not an ideal pot plant, taking a rather long time to reach flowering size and not growing all that well in pots to begin with. I grew the seeds in large pots until the bulbs were more or less tulip bulb sized, then planted them deep in the soil to protect them from freezing. They have survived both harsh and mild winters, and pop up back into growth quickly after the last frost date has passed. They are especially profuse with bloom this year, and if they do as they have done in years past, more spikes will follow sporadically during the summer and even fall. <br />
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The blue green wavy leaves are diagnostic for this species as is the not so wonderful floral scent. There are other crinums that give off a wonderful fragrance but this is not one of them. Fortunately it can and has been used to create other cold hardy crinums some of which may be better in the fragrance department. </div>
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Even without flowers the foliage has a commanding presence in the garden. Needless to say no one else in the neighborhood grows these, nor anyone else in my state as far as I know. Besides the trouble of finding them in the trade, the other reason they are not widely grown up here is because most gardeners who are aware of crinums probably think they all are tropical plants, but that is not the case with this one. One of the neatest things about gardening is trying plants that are "not supposed" to survive in your area. Sure, many might not survive, but many will, and horticultural rule breaking makes for some of the most interesting gardens in my view. </div>
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<br />geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-17130794370738738532017-06-04T16:59:00.000-07:002017-06-09T19:17:44.810-07:00Ornithogalum magnumI really like this different sort of Ornithogalum from Georgia, as in the Caucasus, not USA. It forms tall spikes that flower rather late for a spring bulb, just as the foliage is dying back. They are quite graceful among the other flowers in my garden right now.<br />
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It does produce seeds which can be used to propagate more, but I haven't really tried to grow more intentionally as the bulbs are quite cheap in the fall online bulb catalogs. Sowing them in fall as with most spring bulbs should work, and germination should commence the following spring.<br />
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<br />geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-75706279828638292192017-06-04T15:22:00.003-07:002017-06-09T19:21:58.509-07:00Swathes of SeneciosSenecio is an overly large genus spanning just about all the continents, except Antarctica of course. No doubt it will (or has?) be broken up into separate genera by the molecular cladists. However at this time one of the peculiar things is that in a genus of overwhelmingly yellow flowered plants there are several from the southern hemisphere that are shades of purple. I know of at least one species in South America, but the ones I am most familiar with grow in South Africa. Three cold hardy species find my gardens very much to their liking, and all three are blooming now. The first species, Senecio macrocephalus, is the lowest growing of them, and also puts on the briefest show. It is in peak bloom now, forming a sea of color in the front garden and also in spots in the back gardens. Flowering lasts a few weeks and soon copious amounts of seeds will set. These fly in the manner of dandelions and germinate quickly to start more plants which will add to next year's show. The fleshy leaves lie on the ground in a rosette and are wider than the other two species I grow.<br />
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Senecio polyodon grows in boggy areas in the Drakensberg and was the first of the purple South African senecios to be introduced into the US. Panayoti Kelaidis of Denver Botanic Garden collected it on his first expedition to S, Africa and it remains in cultivation in the US and Europe to this day, though I would not say it is common in the US. It produces smaller flowers than S. macrocephalus on slightly taller stems. The foliage is not as succulent either and is long and narrow by comparison. It is beginning to flower and will flower for well over a month if conditions are suitable. It will also self seed, but not as robustly as S. macrocephalus. In fact I have to rouge out seedlings of S macrocephalus to keep it from outcompeting S polyodon. <br />
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The third species is not yet identified, but came from the Tiffindell ski resort area of the Drakensberg so I refer to it as Senecio sp. "Tiffindell". It is the only one of the three species that is stoloniferous in addition to self sowing. So it is able to grow into a large patch rather quickly. It flowers quickly, within a few months from seed. Flowers are bigger than S. polyodon but a bit smaller than S. macrocephalus. It does a mass flowering right now, with sporadic blooms appearing the rest of the season. It is at least as vigorous as S. macrocephalus in my garden, and while it might not out compete the latter since its leaves are not as large, its ability to spread by thin stolons does give it an advantage over the other two species. <br />
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All three species are readily grown from seed and appear to be quite cold hardy. They do not appear to be hybridizing as far as I can tell, though they are rather similar in appearance and in peak bloom time. They also like moist soil, though they do tolerate some drought in summer after their main flowering period. Lately it has been quite cool and rainy, in fact this is probably one of the coolest and wettest springs I can remember, and all three senecios are doing extremely well. The mild winter also resulted in practically no dieback of the foliage so that helped too. None of them like really hot weather, though they don't suffer much here in New York but I am not sure if they could deal with the summertime heat of places like North Carolina. As with most Asteraceae it is best to grow a few plants from seed to ensure that fertile seed is set as many Asteraceae are self infertile. Individual plants of these senecios may not live beyond a few years so having seed as a backup (or seedlings coming along, which will happen if there is bare ground nearby) is the best way to ensure that one will be able to enjoy swathes of senecios for years to come.<br />
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geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-81271798421441631422017-05-25T19:49:00.000-07:002017-06-09T19:26:55.483-07:00The Weird DogwoodYes there is a strange dogwood in our yard. I would have had it cut down as it has dieback on one major limb and is past its prime, but having seen it flower I knew it was something special so it was spared from the saw. In fact I had some nearby hemlock branches cut so it could get more sun, and I do water it when it gets too dry, as was often the case last summer. <br />
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The flowers don't quite open, and most closely resemble a subspecies of Cornus florida that occurs in Mexico, ssp urbiniana. Yet I find it hard to believe the previous owners would have gotten their hands on this much sought after subspecies. They did like pretty bushes and planted a lot of azaleas and rhododendrons, most of which remain, along with forsythia, lilacs, andromeda, and other common shrubs, some of which I have eliminated or reduced. But if this dogwood is not urbiniana it must be a mutant which coincidentally results in the same caged flower appearance as ssp urbiniana. It is attractive in a different sort of way, and I am trying to propagate it. Cuttings that I took and also brought to NYBG failed, so I am trying to ground layer it. I also have pots of seedlings coming along but as dogwoods are self sterile from what I read, I assume the seedlings have a regular dogwood father. What I don't know is if the caged flower trait is dominant or not, so I won't know what the offspring will look like until they bloom, which could be a long time. <br />
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The tree has been making more flowers since I had the hemlock branches in front of it removed. I still need to remove a dead limb from the tree, but overall I think it is liking the renewed attention it is getting since we got here<br />
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Many flowers eventually open but never flatten out like normal dogwoods, and all the bracts have that odd keel or fold in their middle.<br />
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Odd indeed but I like it. geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414063505792996497.post-20408028703446521492017-05-25T18:04:00.001-07:002017-06-09T19:32:52.390-07:00Its Dianthus time again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A minute cushion forming species which I got from rock gardening friends who got it from Wrightman Alpines. It was given to me as a small rooted cutting and has turned into a perfect "bun" in a couple of years.<br />
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This one is an interesting shade of pink which I rather like<br />
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Its that time of year when each day brings new surprises. Despite the often less than favorable rainy/cloudy weather this spring, the dianthus in my gardens have done well. No doubt the mild winter helped, and also the generally cool spring temperatures tend to favor them. Most of what I have, and there are many dianthus here, are grown from seed from the exchanges (NARGS, SRGC) and my own seeds from the ones I grew in the school garden some years ago. A few linger on at school but the voles seriously culled their ranks during one of our snowier winters a few years ago. I also haven't been as diligent at weeding the school gardens as I was before we moved to this place where my gardens take up much more of my time than they did in our prior residence. When one gardens on over half an acre (minus the footprint of the house and driveway, but counting in some of of the patios as there are quite a few things that really do well in the cracks between bricks or slate) it takes a lot of time and effort. <br />
Many of the dianthus pictured here and others came from left over NARGS seeds which are redistributed to the local chapters after the two main rounds are done. So few people these days seem to be willing to try and grow from seeds, and indeed many seeds can be challenging or take time to produce mature plants, but dianthus is not one of them. Dianthus seeds germinate fast, and need no special conditions apart from reasonably mild temperatures, decent soil and moisture. They grow quickly and often flower their first year, and certainly will do so their second year. They do have certain demands, for one they must have good sun exposure, and also they need good drainage. In the areas where I have planted a number of them I have amended the heavy soil we have with coarse sand ("road sand") which they seem to like. They cross readily and a myriad of different flower colors and patterns emerge, as well as fringed petals on some. They also smell wonderful, and if you get a particularly nice plant from seed, it can be propagated easily from cuttings. <br />
Few pests bother them apart from herbivorous mammals. Voles can be especially destructive during winter if there is a long period of snow cover as they munch through the cushions and line their trails with dianthus leaves. Deer will sometimes bother them but most of mine are in the back where posts and mesh keep the deer out and in the front I use Liquid Fence every few weeks to repel the few deer that are in this area. Dianthus also don't like a lot of organic matter near them so don't put mulch around them, they prefer gritty soil that is not too high in organic matter. <br />
There are some other species that will flower later, among them D. amurensis with blue-lavender flowers and Dianthus taiwanensis (or a Taiwanese form of superbus) which I grew from seeds I collected in Taiwan. The latter flowered profusely their first growing season, and all of them survived the winter in great shape, and are in bud right now. I also have some cultivars from Santa Rosa Gardens which are more carnation like. They tend not to form seeds and are a bit fussier than the seed grown singles. In addition I grow the Chabaud carnations, they are easy from seed and flower their first year, and some usually survive winter, especially if it is mild. geranioshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960970596321533700noreply@blogger.com1