androsace sempervivoides
The connection between plants and people is a interesting thing.
No matter how we want to look at it, we depend on these green leafed obscurities indefinitely. From day one our relationship was intertwined, people wouldn’t be people without the grass between their toes. Plants create the air we breathe, the shelter we live in and the food we eat. They inspire and delight, relax and heal. There is nothing else on this planet we need more then plants, yet the majority of the populous is none the the wiser. I entered the horticulture trade nearly five years ago clueless and uninspired, intrigued I dared look further. I started with a couple cool house plants from across the street, then a tomato or two and then a patch of marigolds that I thought looked awfully nice. In time the marigolds lost their charm and were replaced with other more exotic plants. I got my first banana tree, a couple cool Terra Nova hybrids, and any other sick or sad plant from work that I couldn’t bare see go in the compost. Over the years many plant refugees followed me home and transformed a barren lot of garbage and tall grass into a real work of botanical art. Still I felt the urge to go further. Ebay, online mail-order and seed companies became the local haunt. I joined a plant club, I met the pros and still I want to learn more. I went from a modest windowsill of five potted plants, to a house so full of greenery that people walk by and wonder who the crazy plant person is.
The busy time has struck at the nursery and this will be my fifth season to experience this jolt of electricity. Lets start work at eight and go until it’s done, plants from dawn until dusk. What started out as a curiosity has become a full blown obsession, like a gambler or drunk I seek out my latest fix. There is no better time then then a drive into the country looking for strange and unusual plants. Such well crafted art that grows just add water, sign me up. Never satiated but always amazed, the life of a plant addict is a strange one indeed.
Lately I find much of my time is spent watering, from there on caring, for a collection much bigger then any rational person would endure. I’m a perfectionist at heart and nothing seems more fruitless then letting a plant die and/or under perform due to neglect. Why did you even bother if only to forget. The tendency to strive for perfection leads to an unintentional commitment and eventual all consuming lifestyle. It doesn’t matter if I’ve worked 60 hours at the nursery, I still find myself dreaming about my next plant find on the drive home. After the many years of collecting and tending to the gardens, there’s more outside then I know how to appreciate. Frantically I try to record the happenings in hope of giving it all more meaning. My eyes are wide open now and I see what an amazing treasure the world has to offer, if only we pay attention. A seed the size of a grain of sand can grow into a tree as tall as the heavens, the sheer miraculousness of it all is so awe inspiring I don’t know how to put it into words. It sounds self indulgent to say that an amazing event isn’t amazing unless appreciated by man, but as a person, I feel it’s the least I can do. While the flower most definitely opens to impress it’s pollinators, I can’t help but to feel like it’s my duty to be there for it’s short appearance. It’s a self perpetuating cycle I’m afraid I can’t get away from.
I wish I could be writing more as of late, because it’s now that the plants and the garden are truly looking their best. Nearly everyday something new is happening out there, a slow process becomes magnified if viewed from a different perspective. As a plant geek I have so much I want to share with you all, but at the same time I have to be there to experience it as well. Planting, photographing and observing is only half the work, organizing it all and documenting it into written word is another bag of tricks. This week I went to a great spring bash at my boss’s house who has an incredible garden full of botanical treasures. The next hungover morning I head off to the Victoria Alpine Society Spring Show and Sale and saw a lot of incredible alpine specimens. My prostanthera at the greenhouse is a big cloud of purple amazing and today I received a fresh package of strange and unusual plants from California. If there was more time in the day I would break these all down into interesting little articles, but I’m afraid my time is up. Posts may be sporadic during this busy time, don’t forget about me, rest well in knowing that I’m doing planty things, thinking of you all.
Saxifraga ‘Triumph’
Umm.. Wow.
oplopanax horridus waking up in the spring
Not exactly rare or strange, Dicentra spectabilis was one of the first in my collection and still remains a pleasant surprise year after year.
Asarum proboscideum
Lewisia cotyledon budding up.
I keep these horse chestnut bonsai for the spring display alone. I love watching them unfurl at this time of year.
A dark leaved primula is looking quite nice.
Androsace sempervivoides is offsetting and flowering.
The hepatica nobilis has stopped flowering but is now unfurling it’s spring leaves. Equally as delightful.
Tulips glow a fiery orange
A couple new additions to the collection.
Lewisia tweedyi
The ever so strange Lewisia glandulosa, care of the amazing plant guru, Joe Keller.
I’ve wanted one of these for a while now, won this in a silent auction, Sophora prostrata ‘Little Baby’
A 15 year old Salix ‘Boydii’
Thanks for reading.
In the past couple months I’ve really come to appreciate alpine plants. Often overlooked due to their diminutive size, alpine plants offer a subtle complexity and close up interest, all you have to do is take a closer look. I recently made a trip out to Elk Lake Garden Center and found some well sought after scores. Elk lake always has a unique selection and I was happy to add a Draba ssp and Androsace sempervivoides to my collection.
Upon a closer inspection of the alpine section of my garden, things were looking pretty full up. A couple days ago I acquired some nice clay pots at a garage sale ($2.00 for 5) and figured this was as good a time as any to do some patio table alpine pots. What better plants to view at eye level, these would do just fine. In addition to my Elk Lake scores I also potted up a Lewisia cotyledon ‘Sunset Group, and a good old fashion Sempervivum (hen’s and chicks, house leek) that was looking neat. The outcome worked out just fine, and I’m happy to get better acquainted with these plants.
Draba ssp. (I forget the cultivar as the tag is outside and it’s late right now)
The first time I saw this plant was at the Victoria Alpine Society’s alpine garden in Beacon Hill Park. I love small flowering groundcovers, I also love the green cushion they emerge from. Draba is the Greek word for acrid and is in part of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). There are over 300 species of Draba most of which are native to the northern hemisphere, more specifically the alpine regions of the arctic. Due to the harsh conditions in which they’ve lived the millennium in, Drabas can stand a wide range of difficult and rather unpleasant growing conditions. Well drained soil, and little sunlight and your Draba should do just fine.
Androsace sempervivoides (Rock Jasmine)
This is a really neat little plant, saxifraga like foliage with miniature primula like flowers. What a find! It was no surprise to me that it is a member of the Primulaceae family, being a far off cousin of a primula plant. The flowers were a dead give away. Androsace sempervivoides is native to Western Himalayas and grows at altitudes over 3000 metres above sea level. This tells me that it will probably have no problem with the cold temperatures Victoria has to offer, hardy to zone 4a (-31.6 °C), Androsace is a tough little plant. In time it forms a mat of green foliage via runners and flowers mid to late spring with cute little primula flowers. The word sempervivoids means plants resembling Sempervivum, which in Latin means ever living. This is probably due to way they multiple so readily, I suspect this plant will cover the pot in no time. It enjoys well draining soil (some recommend planting it in a gritty orchid mix) but also requires regular watering. Be weary leaving it out in the rain all winter, it can be susceptible to rot.
Lewisia cotyledon ‘Sunset Group’ (Bitter root)
Every once in a while you see one of these show up in the compost at the greenhouse, and every time I see one it comes home with me. Ever since I first layed eyes on this plant I was in love. For succulent and alpine geeks alike, this plant is sure to please. Sunny green foliage with psychedelic electric flowers in mid spring and summer (yellow, orange, and salmon). Lewisia was discovered on the Lewis and Clark expedition and was later named by botanists. Natives used to use the root of Lewisia as a food source which has a strong bitter flavor, thus it’s common name bitter root. Lewisia is native to North America and is a true alpine ornamental.
Some might consider this plant a little high maintenance as it has a habit of rotting if taken care of improperly. Lewisia demands well draining soil and prefers to remain on the dry side of things. Letting it dry out between waterings is essential for healthy growth, sometimes in the peak of summer leaves will look a bit thirsty but be wary of over doing it. Some master gardeners would recommend planting them on an angle or hill as to prevent water from pooling in the center of the rosette. Lewisia also does phenomenal in a terracotta pot as these often dry out quickly. I’ve had mixed success with these personally, and let me tell you, if you over water these plants it doesn’t take long for them to show signs of discomfort.
For an excellent example of a successful planting of Lewisia look no further then the Government house. Here they’ve found the perfect answer for Lewisia’s rotting problem, plant them in a stone wall, perfect drainage!
Sempervivum (Hen’s and Chicks)
I grow hundreds of these, because of their complete ease of growing and simple multiplication. It’s as simple as separating a pup from it’s mother and off they go. I try my best to collect as many species as possible, but as time goes on I feel as though I might be hitting the wall on this one (10 or so varieties so far). I planted this one up because of it’s unusual form, what with it’s two main plants and little babies growing in between.
While I could go into greater detail about sempervivums I’m going to save it for another day as it is a pretty traditional garden plant and it’s now 1:44am on a work night. Thanks for taking a look at my latest alpine scores, spring has sprung and there is no shortage of work to do. My finger tips are raw and I’ve got another 41 racks of annuals to pull before Monday. Ah spring time!
