The Alpine Gardener - June 2016

344  THE ALPINE GARDENER

Alpine Gardener the

JOURNAL OF THE ALPINE GARDEN SOCIETY

VOL. 84 No. 2  JUNE 2016  pp. 119-237

the international society for the cultivation, conservation and exploration of alpine and rock garden plants

Volume 84 No. 2

June 2016

Alpine Gardener THE

154

CONTENTS 121 EDITOR’S LETTER 123 ALPINE DIARY

The latest developments in the AGS garden at Pershore.

125 ROBERT ROLFE’S DIARY Chance finds in the garden.

148 EPIGAEA

Vlastimil Pilous looks at this small genus of dwarf shrubs.

154 SAXIFRAGA DEMISE

Adrian Young reports on a natural hybrid that may be extinct in the wild.

158 A NEW SAXIFRAGA

Adrian Young introduces Saxifraga x concinna ‘Helvellyn’.

176 160

160 A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

The second part of the diary kept by John Noakes during 2015.

176 IRISES IN ASIA

Liz Knowles recalls encounters with these spectacular plants.

196 PICTURE PERFECT

Doug Joyce presents the winning entries in the 2015 AGS Photographic Competition.

136 June 2016 Volume 84 No 2

PRACTICAL GARDENING

136 HOW TO GROW GETHYLLIS

Paul Cumbleton passes on his expertise in cultivating this charming South African bulbous genus.

212 THE PLANTS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Hilary and Austin Little on the colourful, diverse and often unique plants in this part of the world.

228 PRIZE EXHIBITS

Splendid specimens from the AGS’s first seven shows in 2016. COVER PHOTOGRAPHS

FRONT Iris paradoxa (Liz Knowles). BACK Iris lineata (Liz Knowles). This

image looks as though it has been digitally squeezed but is in fact a true representation of the flower.

196

ON THESE PAGES

212

LEFT Saxifraga x luteo-purpurea;

Iris meda; Fritillaria pyrenaica with Berberis x stenophylla ‘Corallina Compacta’. RIGHT Gethyllis transkarooica; Physoplexis comosa; Grevillea coccinea.

Published by the

Alpine Garden Society

The international society for the cultivation, conservation and exploration of alpine and rock garden plants, small hardy herbaceous plants, hardy and half-hardy bulbs, hardy ferns and small shrubs AGS Centre, Avon Bank, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 3JP, UK Tel: +44(0)1386 554790 Fax: +44(0)1386 554801 Email: ags@alpinegardensociety.net Director of the Alpine Garden Society: Christine McGregor Registered charity No. 207478 Annual subscriptions: Single (UK and Ireland) £33* Family (two people at same address) £37* Junior (under 18/student) £15 Overseas single US$56 £35 Overseas family US$62 £38 * £2 deduction for direct debit subscribers Printed by Buxton Press, Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6AE. Price to non-members £8.00 Second-class postage paid at Rahway, New Jersey. US Postmaster: send address corrections to AGS Bulletin, c/o Mercury Airfreight International Ltd. Inc., 2323 Randolph Avenue, Avenel, NJ 07001. USPS 450-210.

Editor: John Fitzpatrick Tel: +44(0)1981 580134 Email: editor@agsgroups.org Associate Editor: Robert Rolfe Tel: +44(0)1159 231928 Email: robert.rolfe@agsgroups.org Practical Gardening Correspondent: Vic Aspland CChem. MRSC Tel: +44(0)1384 396331 Email: vic.aspland@agsgroups.org Custodian AGS Slide Library: Peter Sheasby Tel/fax: +44(0)1295 720502 To advertise in The Alpine Gardener please call or email the AGS Centre (details above) The Editor welcomes contributions of articles and photographs. Please call or email the Editor to discuss relevant formats for photographs before sending. The Editor cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, articles, artwork or photographs sent by post. The views expressed in The Alpine Gardener do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or of the Alpine Garden Society. The Alpine Gardener is published four times a year in March, June, September and December.

© The Alpine Garden Society 2016 ISSN 1475-0449

www.alpinegardensociety.net

Oxlips (Primula elatior) grown from AGS seed in John Fitzpatrick’s garden in April

T

here are many ways in which the Alpine Garden Society promotes an interest in alpines and associated plants. Our shows bring to public attention the expertise of our exhibitors and the range of beautiful and unusual plants that they grow, and offer people the chance to buy plants – many of which cannot be found elsewhere – from specialist nurseries. Our tours give members the opportunity to explore plant habitats around the world in the company of expert guides. Our local groups encourage the growing of alpines in their areas. Last month we staged an exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show, demonstrating the compelling beauty of alpine and woodland plants to tens of thousands

JUNE 2016

A gathering of the gardeners Editor ’s letter of people from the UK and around the world (a sizeable percentage of Chelsea’s visitors travel to the show from outside the UK). The AGS garden at Pershore (see page 123) inspires people to grow their own alpines. All these activities champion the Society and should motivate people to 121

EDITOR’S LETTER  join us. And while the shows demonstrate the great depth of cultivation skills among our members, travel increases knowledge of plants and the conditions required to grow them successfully, and a display at Chelsea puts these plants on a global stage, it is in the garden that our focus should be. After all, this is the Alpine ‘Garden’ Society, and gardens should be at the heart of what we do. With that in mind, this year’s AGS Annual Conference on November 12 and 13 is being aimed emphatically at the alpine gardener. The five speakers are all widely acknowledged experts who have created enviable alpine gardens. John Mitchell looks after one of the finest rock gardens in the UK, at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Brian Burrow’s splendid plantsman’s garden was featured in this journal (December 2014). Mike Kintgen grows alpines at the Denver Botanic Gardens in Colorado, and his own private garden features a wonderful collection of plants from around the world. Nurseryman Steve Furness has created a breathtaking rock garden in Derbyshire, packed with texture and colour provided by plants that are, in the main, easy to grow. John Richards has been writing a diary about his garden on the AGS website for almost ten years. (If you haven’t yet discovered the diaries on our website, you are missing a treat. There are hundreds of pages of expert advice.) For anyone interested in gardening with alpines, our conference is not to be missed. It’s also an excellent opportunity to socialise with fellow members by attending the conference dinner, and a great chance to buy some unusual plants 122

in the auction that follows the dinner. For full details and an application form, see the issue of AGS News that accompanies this journal.

C

onservation is a subject that should occupy all our minds, even down to treasuring the most basic habitats. In my part of the country, local government spending cuts have meant that roadside verges are not now mown as often as they used to be. In my view this is a good thing. Verges are excellent habitats for wild flowers, insects and small mammals, and cutting them has a detrimental effect on plants and wildlife. Over the past year, however, I have noticed a worrying trend. Some of those who like to keep their properties ‘neat and tidy’ are resorting to spraying verges with weed killer, which leaves a dreadful scar along the roadside. How anyone can think this is an improvement on a lush verge beggars belief. I have seen verges up to six metres deep that look as though they have been subjected to chemical warfare, which is of course exactly what has happened. Please, don’t do this, and discourage others from doing so. John Fitzpatrick   We’d like to hear your views about articles in The Alpine Gardener, and also about your experiences of growing plants or searching for them in the wild. Please write to the Editor at the AGS Centre (address on title page) or email editor@agsgroups.org. THE ALPINE GARDENER

ALPINE DIARY JOHN FITZPATRICK

Members of the AGS Oxford group view the newly planted beds on a visit to Pershore

T

he raised beds in the AGS garden have been given a makeover. The beds are occupied with easy alpines, demonstrating to garden visitors that many alpines do well in this type of structure. The beds are on split levels, with a water chute protruding from the upper bed into a pebble-lined pool in the lower one. The AGS garden, which is alongside the AGS Centre in Pershore, Worcestershire, is maintained by Kana Webster. ‘The upper bed especially was tired and overgrown in places and needed to be rejuvenated,’ she says. ‘Two trees, an Acer and a Prunus, had become too big for their situation despite being dwarf varieties. In the autumn their fallen leaves covered the alpines and clogged the pool. Some alpines had lost their vigour while others had spread to occupy too much space in the beds.

JUNE 2016

Raised beds get a facelift Also some of the bulbs, particularly tulips, had become invasive. Like every part of every garden, there comes a time when a fresh start is needed.’ Work on the facelift began last autumn with the removal of all plants and the two offending trees. Over winter Kana dug out the soil to a depth of 60cm from the upper bed and extracted the tree roots. The clay soil in the base of the bed had become compacted so it was broken up and grit and compost added to improve its structure. Then fresh soil and compost was spread on top before planting commenced in March, and the whole area received a fresh topdressing of grit in April. The pump behind the 123

ALPINE DIARY  JOHN FITZPATRICK

Trilliums and erythroniums take centre stage in the woodland bed in May this year

water chute has also been replaced, since the old one was suffering from wear and tear and had become unreliable. ‘I put back some of the plants I’d taken out in autumn,’ says Kana, ‘but have also added several new species and cultivars. All are easy to grow, such as various Saxifraga, Pulsatilla, Dianthus, Aubrieta, Phlox and Aethionema.’ Kana intends to turn her attention next to the south-facing Mediterranean bed, which lies directly alongside the AGS building. ‘It’s such a sun-trap,’ she says, ‘and there is potential to grow more dryland plants such as South African bulbs.’ Future projects include a revision of the garden’s labelling system and a revamp of the large scree area, though this would be too much for Kana to 124

tackle on her own. ‘It would be great to have volunteers who are prepared to do some of the heavier work,’ she admits. ‘Rejuvenating the scree would involve moving a large amount of rock and soil. I’d also like some assistance with general maintenance such as weeding and deadheading, so would be glad to hear from any members who feel they could help, even if it’s just for an hour every so often.’ Giving particular pleasure in the AGS garden this spring has been the woodland area, which was full of flower, and Daphne calcicola ‘Gang Ho Ba’ flowering on the crevice garden. This was donated to the garden by nurseryman Simon Bond after the previous impressive specimen succumbed during the freezing winter of 2010-11. THE ALPINE GARDENER

ALPINE DIARY

Robert Rolfe’s Diary

A

ll avid collectors are hoarders, after a fashion. Laudably responsible for rescuing many things from extinction, plants included, their frequent throw-nothing-out approach is both a blessing and a curse. Others – me, for example – dislike clutter and deal with it by way of periodic, selective but impulsive purges, both in the garden and indoors. The most recent target has been a multi-drawer, wooden bureau in my dining room. Some of its secreted items were useless (lead shot supposedly from the Battle of Waterloo – a likely story; an incomplete set of cigarette cards). Others proved serviceable, such as a ball of strong twine which I used to tie-in a teetering Paeonia rockii, discovering in the process that snails had shinned up the branches and were poised to munch on the record 17 flower buds. I soon put a stop to that. There were also Army medals from the early 20th century that have an encouraging catalogue value, and small paper tags of the sort seen in traditional jewellers, useful for recording the parentage of newly made crosses before tying round a convenient stem (I’ve cross-pollinated several saxifrages and hope that the exercise will prove worthwhile). After these, masses of loose-leaf documents, pages torn out of newspapers and magazines, and photographs. One, showing the ‘colourful’ MP Tom Driberg holding me as a baby in one arm and my

JUNE 2016

Chance finds, in drawers and in gardens

understandably alarmed twin brother in the other, is now in my rogues’ gallery. Among the endless ephemera, I unearthed a flyer (above) sent out to publicise a Fritillaria Conference held by the RHS Lily Group at the Chelsea Physic Garden on April 16, 1988. Given that a monograph of the genus is now – fingers firmly crossed – finally due out within the year, it is amusing to read that paintings by Joanna Langhorne ‘for the 125

ALPINE DIARY  forthcoming book on fritillaries’ were on display there, 28 years ago. In August 2000, some of these were used in an issue of Curtis’s Botanical Magazine devoted to Fritillaria, with the editorial note that the monograph was in preparation, which was clearly optimistic in the extreme. But just as well that it stalled: given subsequent fieldwork in Turkey, Iran, China and elsewhere, those earlier proposed dates would have been premature, necessitating a follow-up treatment. Jack Elliott chaired the event. His friend and friendly sparring partner Kath Dryden spoke about growing and showing the American species especially, acknowledging en passant the possibility of occasional setbacks with her sage advice: ‘Grow other plants.’ Other leading authorities (the long list includes Martyn Rix, Ole Sønderhousen and Brian Mathew) all pitched in. My lasting memory is of the walk back along Royal Hospital Road, our phalanx headed by Jack (wearing the smartest mackintosh you’ve ever seen), Kath and Primrose Warburg, with Chris Skelmersdale patiently trying to steer them to the nearest Underground station, for none of the leaders appeared to have a clue where they were going. Another flyer, in the next drawer down, advertised the book Andalusian Flowers and Countryside. It was published posthumously in 1969, three years after its author, Lt. Cdr. Chris Stocken, was killed by a rock-fall while leading a Royal Navy expedition to East Greenland. The cover image is of the elegant springflowering Acis trichophylla, which was at one time included in Leucojum as L. 126

trichophyllum, and published in Flora Europaea under this guise, where it is reported from ‘dry, sandy ground’ in southerly parts of western Spain and Portugal. These are also among the wider-ranging haunts of A. autumnalis, whereas in an area of eastern Spain north of Valencia, the comparably late summer/early autumn-flowering A. valentina occurs. At one time combined under this name with populations from much farther east, since 2006 the name A. ionica has been used for those from north-western coastal Greece, several of the Ionian Islands and a small area of southern Albania. Sicilian populations have since been ascribed to A. autumnalis. Last August I attended the Mid-Anglia bulb sale, which handsomely funds the activities of AGS local groups in that region. Bringing together nurserymen and other noted bulb growers, it has the bucolic and genteel air of a country fête, with tents and a main marquee providing shelter, which was very much needed as the day wore on. After a private lunch, put on for the organisers and several score of invited guests, the gates opened and would-be purchasers surged singlemindedly at a rate of knots, belying the age of certain members of the throng. Held this time at Peppers Farm, near Sible Hedingham, Essex, its owner Pam Turtle was bemused by the disproportionate amount of attention paid to a small clump of bulbs in a narrow border adjacent to her house. As we took lunch and swatted marauding wasps assailing our plates, expert opinion – chiefly that of John David, RHS Head of Horticultural Taxonomy; THE ALPINE GARDENER

ROBERT ROLFE

Acis ionica at Pam Turtle’s Peppers Farm, right

Chris Brickell, former RHS DirectorGeneral but with every other significant horticultural plaudit going; and Kit Grey-Wilson, also a VMH and author, most pertinently here, of the 2010 field guide Bulbs of Greece – reasoned that A. ionica was the most likely identity. The glaucous stems caught my eye but, it would seem, are not diagnostic. In any case, less welcome attention was attracted soon afterwards, for when Pam checked the next morning, every vestige of the top growth had gone. Other than JUNE 2016

this, like a number of other southern European lowlanders (it gets to at most 450m, and is more often found much lower) it survives outdoors in British gardens remarkably well. It would be charitable to apportion the blame for its disappearance to any of the 127

ALPINE DIARY

Erythronium multiscapideum displaying contrasting white and brown anthers

three species of deer that maraud the garden almost every night: Pam can’t fence-off every single plant to thwart their raids. If, instead, it was a badly behaved visitor, then very reluctantly you have to salute their fortitude, for it rained in torrents by mid-afternoon. The green welly brigade, so-called, simply put up a kaleidoscope of golf and ‘event’ umbrellas and bid enthusiastically at the auction conducted by Doug Joyce under the shelter of a cedar, where items such as Galanthus ‘Mother Goose’ – described by its finder as ‘the most exciting snowdrop ever to have originated here [North Green]… the most remarkable feature… is the astonishingly radiant egg-yellow inner segment apical marking and the strong 128

yellow shading towards the ovary’ – attracted enthusiastic three-figure bids. Also in attendance was Keith Wiley, whose Wildside Nursery offers arguably the most enterprising range of an ever-burgeoning number of first-rate Erythronium hybrids. For many years, only ‘White Beauty’, ‘Kondo’, ‘Pagoda’ and a few others were generally available. Influxes of wild-sourced seed in the 1980s and afterwards popularised these elegant woodlanders, recently dubbed ‘the new snowdrops’ given their greater diversity and the burgeoning cult following they are attracting. In the late 1980s, I crossed my stock of E. citrinum with what I then grew as E. hendersonii. The aforementioned Kath, on seeing the plant, presciently THE ALPINE GARDENER

ROBERT ROLFE

Colour variation in the flowers of Allium haemanthoides

remarked: ‘Nice but what is it?’ A back-cross to ‘White Beauty’ has been plausibly suggested. None were named. A few went to Ron Beeston, and from him to Keith, who has dubbed one of them E. ‘Seraph’, and very kindly handed a potful back to me, which dazzled here in late March. It shows signs of increasing freely and might even establish itself as one of the new wave of transformational newcomers. Also at a fledgling stage is an unusual form of Erythronium multiscapideum JUNE 2016

that occurred in Ju Bramley’s Derbyshire garden, distinguished by its brownish anthers, when normally these are white, as seen in the flower at the top left of the photograph opposite. In all other characters it conforms to the typical species, and since no other species are grown that could impart this attractive quirk, any suggestion of hybridity would appear to be misplaced. The same is true of some second generation seedlings of Allium haemanthoides from a 2009 sowing, 129

ALPINE DIARY

Allium shelkovnikovii ‘Sarejn’ from the Ardabil province of Iran

each of them a different shade of pink, from greyish to rose, from reddish to near-violet. Such potential is evidently latent in the species. On checking the description in Per Wendelbo’s account for Flora Iranica, the range is given as from purplish to pale rose-pink, the coloration of the contrasting veining dismissively described in Latin as sordide, which translates as ‘dingy’. While I disagree with that evaluation, unfortunately it could justifiably be applied to a chance hybrid involving this species that occurred in a batch of A. mirum seedlings. Vigour aside, it is inferior to either parent but its novelty indicates what might be achieved if someone decides to breed dwarf alternatives to ‘Gladiator’, ‘Globemaster’ 130

and all the rest of the drumstick hybrids. In fact such activity is already under way, for in Lithuania, a spontaneous hybrid between the Tajikistan endemic A. nevskianum and the taller A. sarawschanicum (from Uzbekistan) has arisen and been christened A. x stipineva. In Latvia, Jānis Rukšāns has had a comparable experience, bestowing the name A. x nevsra. An alternative strategy would be to select an outstanding representative of a species and apply a cultivar name. Norman Stevens, who has seen more ornamental Iranian onions than most (he and Jim Archibald added ten to the 2005 AGS Seed Distribution alone), has handed around a superlative form of Allium shelkovnikovii, short of stem THE ALPINE GARDENER

ROBERT ROLFE

Confusion? What confusion? Anemone multifida, supplied as ‘genuine’ A. rupicola

and with umbels the size of a tennis ball. Norman wishes it to receive the name ‘Sarejn’, after the Ardabil province locale in which it was found. Apparently none of the seedlings has varied one jot. Other variants might also deserve recognition – for example, I’ve been shown an image of a glossy white variant, taken in southern Azerbaijan. For gardeners, this course of action is the handiest means of delineating significant colour breaks, microforms, leaf forms and so on. While there are obvious examples of genera where this process has gone much too far, in others it hasn’t gone far enough. I am told that some Patagonian races of Anemone multifida are consistently dwarf, and that there are strong arguments for JUNE 2016

resurrecting the name A. magellanica to cover all the South American populations included within A. multifida which, as conceived nowadays, is panAmerican. This treatment poses much the same problems as that of the catchall complex A. narcissiflora, an identity which subsumes distinctive elements such as A. fasciculata and A. speciosa. Confusion is clearly rife, for the plant of A. multifida illustrated here came to me as ‘genuine’ A. rupicola from a very knowledgeable source: that species is nearly always larger-flowered, dwarfer… and crucially Sino-Himalayan! Mention was made earlier of a Curtis’s issue devoted to Fritillaria: strictly speaking, it should be added that its book reviews deal with other plants. Joyce 131

ALPINE DIARY  MARTIN SHEADER

Campanula ‘Blue Pearl’, a cross between C. asperuloides and C. myrtifolia

Stewart, who was truly the doyenne of the orchid world, reviewed a complex work on her specialist subject and included a plea that authors and editors should ‘refrain from proposing changes to widely used and well understood applications of generic names until each has been thoroughly researched’. She followed up with a genteel tilt at ‘botanists who then change their minds’. Well, synonymy is not necessarily a sin, but as with the application of ‘fancy’ cultivar names, it can be overdone. What is now treated as Campanula asperuloides, but was in previous incarnations a Diosphaera, or 132

a Trachelium (all Greek to me, in both senses of the expression) must find its rapid realignments far more dizzying than its vertiginous limestone cliff niches. From a similar habitat, but in Turkey, C. myrtifolia has come to rest – who knows for how long? – as this combination, though Boissier described it as Trachelium myrtifolium, and it was repositioned in the intervening years as Tracheliopsis myrtifolia. Some will see Martin Sheader’s fine hybrid between the two species, C. ‘Blue Pearl’, as evidence that the parents have now been placed in their ‘correct’ genus. The concept of intergeneric THE ALPINE GARDENER

ROBERT ROLFE BRIAN BURROW

Campanula morettiana x waldsteiniana

hybrids cuts no ice with those who feel that reclassification is necessary in such cases. So what to do when it comes to Favratia zoysii, opinion having turned full circle and returned to Heinrich Feer’s 1890 coining, in preference to the much more familiar Campanula zoysii? The monotypic Favratia has rather inconveniently been hybridised with bona fide Campanula member C. pulla both north and south of the Equator (Brian Burrow’s C. ‘Cantata’ and, in New Zealand, Merv and Sue Holland’s C. ‘Challenger’). This should give taxonomy’s busy removal men pause for JUNE 2016

thought. Garden hybrids can both prove and disprove opinions advanced by even the most august of hypothesists. A species that does not hybridise in nature with other members of its genus, as far as is known, can easily behave differently when brought into cultivation. C. waldsteiniana, from limestone fissures in the Velebit Mountains, has been successfully mated with C. morettiana from analogous cliffs in the Dolomites, yet also with the Korean Adenophora taquetii. The latter belongs to a genus derived from but ‘strongly differentiated’ (D. Y. Hong) from Campanula. Go back 50 years 133

ALPINE DIARY

Primula henrici ‘Conundrum’, raised by Robert Rolfe and being grown at Aberconwy

and in Utrecht, Theodorus Gadella concluded that ‘the delimitation of genera in the Campanulaceae… meets with serious difficulties’. Many meetings later, these have not gone away. To end, two plants that have surprised me in different ways. David Rankin has studied Primula Section Bullatae in depth, both in western China and in herbaria, reaching the conclusion that plants raised from 1994 ACE seed as P. bracteata should bear the name P. henrici, in common with a whiteflowered taxon from Xizang, introduced 134

under that name by Vojtěch Holubec in 2002. Their differences (flower colour, leaf profile, whitish rather than yellow farina) are of horticultural, not of taxonomic significance. But since I had only one plant of the first, along with several of the other, these had been cross-pollinated, using the Czech introduction as the seed parent. I can’t remember the details but a small batch of seedlings resulted, flowering in their third year. One went to Rachel Lever at Aberconwy Nursery. I’d quite forgotten about this, and had THE ALPINE GARDENER

ROBERT ROLFE

Sanguinaria canadensis, the bloodroot, may or may not have pink-tinged petals

managed to kill off all the others, when she contacted me to choose a name for what is evidently a vigorous selection, rooting well from cuttings (P. henrici doesn’t normally play the game). We have settled on ‘Conundrum’, relating to the various name changes its parents have undergone. Rachel feels that the identities of the parental make-up should be preserved. This aside, it flowered this cool spring right through April, the rather chubby flowers to 22mm across, ‘pinking’ with age but white for the first fortnight, and carried up to eight apiece on much-reduced scapes. Sanguinaria canadensis has long been one of my favourite woodland plants, despite its ephemeral display. I don’t JUNE 2016

doubt that plants with noticeably pinkbacked petals exist, but the several ones I’ve grown require me to put on rosycoloured spectacles to perceive this effect. Someone I work with visited the Blue Ridge Mountains in late March, asking beforehand what she might see in the way of flowers. I requested pictures of the bloodroot and she came back with several dozen, all but identical along her 100-mile route. So while I’m well aware that several double forms exist, and have raised seedlings from both wild-sourced and ‘special’ garden stocks, they are uniformly beautiful, they are impossible to tell apart, and they all drop their petals within two or three days at most! 135

PRACTICAL GARDENING

There is increasing interest among AGS members in growing South African bulbs. Here Paul Cumbleton passes on his expertise in cultivating Gethyllis, a genus of about 30 species that are attractive in flower, leaf and fruit

Kukumakranka! How to grow Gethyllis

P

lants that have several seasons of interest are of great value and Gethyllis fall into this category. Yet, despite this fact and their other attractive features, this bulbous genus from South Africa is still little cultivated. I imagine that a lack of awareness among gardeners and difficulty in sourcing material, along with the short viability of the seeds, account for this. I hope this article may nevertheless inspire you to search them out and try growing some of these fascinating plants. The name Gethyllis was bestowed by Linnaeus in 1753, referring to the resemblance of the bulbs to culinary leeks. It was not long after that examples were introduced to European horticulturists. South Africans give them the common name of kukumakranka, which translates as: ‘Good for my upset stomach’. They have long been regarded by many as tricky to cultivate but this theory seems to be often repeated but rarely tested. I have found them easy to grow as long as you meet their basic requirements, as with any plant. Kew’s monocot checklist currently

136

catalogues 30 species, of which four have some subspecies, but the genus requires further study and a modern revision is much in need. It would be wise to regard the name label on any plant you receive as a guide rather than being definitive! I grow half a dozen species as well as a hybrid that I created deliberately. The flowers, leaves and fruits are all attractive. Since these appear at different times, you are rewarded with several seasons of interest.

Flowers Flowers can be either strictly white as, for example, in Gethyllis verticillata, strictly pink as in G. transkarooica, or in some species the flowers can be either of these colours, as in G. villosa. Sometimes the buds may be pink but the flowers are less so on opening – G. barkerae behaves like this for me. The flowers appear, in the absence of leaves, in summer during the dry season. Sadly, they are quite fleeting, usually lasting only one to three days. They develop very quickly too – you can look one day and see nothing, then look THE ALPINE GARDENER

GETHYLLIS

The delicate flowers of Gethyllis verticillata and, below, Gethyllis transkarooica

the next to discover a pot in full bloom, the flowers having pushed up through the gravel overnight and opened in the sunshine. An added bonus is that they produce a sweet scent. One odd feature of many flowers is that the stigma is offset to one side from the vertical anthers. Also, flowers on young plants may lack a stigma altogether, making them only male. As the plant ages, they turn bisexual and stigmas are produced. So don’t despair if your plants lack a stigma, meaning you can’t pollinate them to get seed. It just means they are still too young and they will each produce a stigma once the bulbs are large and old enough. It has been noted that the bulbs of a particular species tend to flower at the same time, regardless of whether some have received water and others not. This might mean that they respond JUNE 2016

more to the temperature and pressure fluctuations that occur when cold fronts pass over, rather than specifically to the presence or absence of rain.

Leaves The leaves vary a lot from species to species and can be attractive in their 137

PRACTICAL GARDENING

Pink and white forms of Gethyllis villosa

leaves, such as G. verticillata, which has white sheaths with maroon blotches that are fringed at their apex.

own right. Some are spirally twisted as in Gethyllis britteniana or G. linearis, while others are covered in attractive silvery hairs, such as G. villosa. Some have broad, flat and glossy leaves – for example, G. roggeveldensis – while a few have coloured basal sheaths around the 138

Fruits The fruits are also attractive. Swollen pods push up through the gravel just before or occasionally with the leaves. They arise from a subterranean ovary, a unique feature of this genus compared with other Amaryllids, which enables the ovary to remain cool and protects the developing seeds throughout the hot, dry summer. The pods may be colourful and are also highly aromatic and edible. It used to be common for people, especially children, to collect them to eat. I have tried them myself from my own plants and, while finding them very agreeable, I winced at the seed destruction I was causing! THE ALPINE GARDENER

GETHYLLIS

The pink buds of Gethyllis barkerae open to reveal much paler flowers, below right. The stigma of a G. barkerae flower, below, is offset to one side from the vertical anthers

Cultivation

Gethyllis mainly occur in the western, winter-rainfall area of South Africa and in semi-arid environments that are hot and dry in summer. In adapting to JUNE 2016

these conditions, they have evolved an interesting pattern of growth with four distinct phases: 1. Leaf growth commences in autumn and continues through the winter. 139

PRACTICAL GARDENING

The leaves of Gethyllis britteniana and, right, basal sheaths of Gethyllis verticillata

2. The leaves die down in early summer and are dormant until autumn. 3. Flowering takes place in summer in the absence of the leaves. 4. Fruiting occurs in early autumn, before or occasionally commensurate with leaf growth. These basic facts give us many of the clues we need to grow the bulbs successfully. As always when I give cultivation advice, please note that I am describing my experience under my conditions (northern hemisphere and, until recently, south-east England) and 140

you may need to adapt things to suit yours. But if you have never grown a plant before, trying what has worked for someone else is a good place to start. In British conditions, Gethyllis should be grown under glass to avoid summer rainfall. I use deep clay pots to accommodate the often long, fleshy roots and elongated bulbs. These are plunged in sand to keep the pots cooler, which also helps to regulate drainage and moisture levels. My glasshouse is kept just frost-free in winter, but others have had success in an unheated glasshouse THE ALPINE GARDENER

GETHYLLIS

The leaves of Gethyllis villosa covered with silvery hairs and, right, the spiralling leaves of Gethyllis linearis

if the plants are covered with fleece on frosty nights.

Potting mix Much advice about Gethyllis recommends using pure sand as a potting medium. Another mix often quoted comprises six parts sand, one part fine decomposed pine needles and one part fine peat. But I use the same mix that I use for all my South African bulbs which is one part John Innes compost (No. 2 or 3), one part peat (composted bark also works well), and two parts grit. JUNE 2016

141

PRACTICAL GARDENING

The fruiting pods of Gethyllis barkerae appear just before the leaves

A friend who grows Gethyllis well uses a simple 50/50 mix of John Innes and grit. The key element is that it should be very free-draining – not an unfamiliar concept for alpine growers. Compost that stays wet will quickly lead to rotting.

Watering I start watering my Gethyllis about the beginning of September and continue right through until the leaves start to turn yellow in late spring/early summer. I then stop watering entirely through the summer. Much advice strongly stresses the importance of not over-watering Gethyllis, but this can lead you to be so cautious about watering them that they actually end up not being given enough. My experience is that as long as your 142

compost drains freely, you need not be over-cautious with watering. When I water I give them a good soaking and then leave them until they are almost dry before the next soak. Many South African bulbs do not like to be too dry between waterings but Gethyllis can safely be left a bit longer, though they will wilt if you let them get too dry. What I often do when watering my bulb collection is to include Gethyllis on one occasion but miss them out on the next. In other words, they get watered half as frequently as the other bulbs. If available, I use rainwater but tap water suffices when the water butt is empty with no obvious deleterious effects.

Feeding I feed all my South African bulbs much THE ALPINE GARDENER

GETHYLLIS

Left, an emerging fruit pod of Gethyllis verticillata. As the pods mature, they lie flat on the surface, above

of the soils in which they grow in the wild are low in phosphorus levels, it is advisable to use a phosphate-free or lowphosphate feed. I use a low-phosphate type which has an NPK ratio of 13–5–20 and I apply it at half strength.

less frequently than other bulbs. I use a liquid feed applied just three times through the growing season, which means approximately once every two months. Having in mind that many JUNE 2016

Light levels The one problem common to everyone trying to cultivate South African bulbs in the UK is our poor winter light levels. Unless you are prepared to go to the expense of installing artificial light (I am not) all you can do is give them the maximum possible sunlight that your situation allows. 143

PRACTICAL GARDENING

Propagation Division Until I grew Gethyllis, I hadn’t realised that in some species the bulbs split to form clumps. This is not something I recollect as having been mentioned anywhere when I was researching the genus. For those that have this feature, such as G. barkerae or G. linearis, division of the clumps at repotting time is an easy means of increase. Many species, however, do not split or form clumps and, for these, propagation by seed is the only easy option. Growing from seed Raising Gethyllis from seed is easy and straightforward, the main problem being obtaining seed in the first place. As with most Amaryllids, seed viability is very short and it must be sown immediately it is ripe, not allowing it to dry between collection and sowing. If you have your own plants with pods, the pods will usually emerge vertically out of the gravel and, after a while, fall over to lie horizontally. It is around then or not long after this that the seeds will be ripe. Watch for any sign of the pod beginning to break down and delay no longer before sowing. If you don’t have your own pods, but can obtain fresh seed from somewhere (which will be in late summer and early autumn), sow it immediately. I wash away the pulp of the pod from the seeds and then sow them on the surface of a gritty mix (I use the same mix as for the adult bulbs) and partly cover them with a little sharp sand. I keep them moist in a cool place outside 144

until the leaves emerge. I then bring them under cover for the rest of the autumn and winter, keeping them watered and feeding occasionally as for the adults. Keep them growing for as long as possible in their first year – they will usually grow on for a while beyond the time that adult bulbs have died down. This enables them to build up as large a bulb as possible to withstand the rigours of the summer dormancy. But once the leaves do start to yellow, stop watering and allow them to dry off. Store the pots in a dry and warm place for the summer. Recommence watering at the same time as for the adult bulbs in the autumn. I usually leave them in the seed THE ALPINE GARDENER

GETHYLLIS

Above, two-year-old bulbs of Gethyllis roggeveldensis. Below, from left, three, four and five-year-old bulbs of G. verticillata. Opposite page, four-year-old bulbs of G. transkarooica.

JUNE 2016

145

PRACTICAL GARDENING  pot for two years before tipping out to repot before the start of growth in year three. My picture (page 145, top) shows the sort of size bulbs you can expect at this stage. The three pictures below show bulbs’ sizes after three, four and five years from seed for G. verticillata. These also illustrate the long necks that most species develop. Note too that the bulbs are elongated in shape in the early years before becoming more globose on reaching flowering size. One of the more desirable species, G. transkarooica, is frustratingly also rather slower from seed than many others – the picture on page 144 shows the small size these achieved for me after four years of growth. For all species, from seed to flowering size will take several years. The quickest I have flowered them from seed is four years, but five years or longer is more typical. This is one reason why mature Gethyllis bulbs are expensive to buy.

Other methods of propagation Though I have never tried them myself, other methods of bulb propagation such as twin-scaling, bulb cutting, scooping, scoring and the like may be attempted. These have been shown to work, but with varying degrees of success reported for different species of Gethyllis. Imported bulbs Bulbs of varying ages can sometimes be sourced from nurseries in South Africa. These will be on southern hemisphere timing and despatched during their dormant season, arriving in the UK in winter. Here, of course, they should be in full growth, so it becomes necessary 146

to change their seasons around to match northern hemisphere timing. For Gethyllis, it is best to pot them as soon as they arrive, water cautiously straight away and try to get them into growth. The cool temperatures here plus the moisture will usually trigger them back into growth after what, for them, will have been an unusually short dormancy. Keep them growing for as long as possible into the summer until they refuse to grow anymore and start to die down for another dormant period. Dry them off for the rest of summer after what will have been an unusually short growing season. You may end up at this point with smaller bulbs than you started with. Recommence watering at the same time as your other bulbs in the autumn (September) and they should come back to life and thereafter grow according to northern hemisphere timing. I have adopted this approach with good success, rarely losing a bulb. You can use this method to turn around the growing season for any of the true bulbs from South Africa. The method for turning around corms and tubers is different and much easier. These can simply be kept dry on arrival right through the summer then planted and watered at the normal time in the autumn. In other words, you allow them an extended dormancy.

Hybrids One common problem when collecting seed from any plant that is part of a collection is the potential for hybrids. Unless precautions are taken to avoid this, with plants isolated and carefully THE ALPINE GARDENER

GETHYLLIS

Gethyllis roggeveldensis x villosa grown by Paul Cumbleton

pollinated by hand, hybrids often result where open pollination is allowed. Witness the results many of us have experienced with seeds from the various exchanges! I have not come across any references that would tell me whether Gethyllis could hybridise or not, so I decided to find out by deliberately trying to create a hybrid. In the summer of 2011, I crossed Gethyllis roggeveldensis (seed parent) with Gethyllis villosa (pollen parent). Pods and seed were produced that proved viable when sown in September of the same year. The seedlings showed JUNE 2016

good hybrid vigour and first flowered at the end of May 2015, four years after sowing. The flower was charming – white with the faintest blush of pink towards the centre. While being a worthwhile result in itself, this has also taught me that Gethyllis are capable of hybridising with each other and so precautions must be taken if you wish to produce seed that is true to type. For me, Gethyllis have proved to be very worthwhile plants to grow with many attractive features. I hope you may be spurred on to search them out and grow some for your own pleasure. 147

EPIGAEA

T

he evergreen subshrub Epigaea is a somewhat mysterious genus that, despite its attractiveness, is rarely seen in gardens. Only the American species, E. repens, is known to have been grown here in the Czech Republic. These plants, however, certainly deserve more popularity, so let’s have a closer look at them. First of all, Epigaea is a small genus that consists of only three species. Two of them, the Japanese E. asiatica and the American E. repens, are very similar to each other, while the third, which comes from the eastern Pontic region, differs markedly, especially in its flowers. It is therefore sometimes, especially in rock gardening literature, placed in a separate genus under the name Orphanidesia gaultherioides. Recent botanical literature, however, considers this name as a synonym of E. gaultherioides. These are decumbent, very lowgrowing shrubs with creeping stems, which also create clumps in nature that are tens of centimetres in diameter, rarely over a metre. Their relatively large, persistent leaves are decorative and resemble certain rhododendrons a little. The leaves are alternate, conspicuously petiolate, oblong-ovate to oblong, in E. asiatica pointed at the apex, and markedly scabrous in all species. E. gaultherioides and E. asiatica have rigid hairs on the leaf margins. These are missing in E. repens, but its leaves are the most creased. All flower at the ends of young, fleshy trunks. This is most pronounced in the Japanese and American species, whose flowers are grouped in short racemes to

148

Three distant cousins that are relics from long ago Vlastimil Pilous examines Epigaea, a genus of just three species which are found thousands of miles apart but which he grows just a few feet from each other in his garden in the Czech Republic fascicles that can be terminal or axillary. All three flower very early in the season, as soon as the end of March and in April (in natural mountain habitats, they flower later, of course, perhaps as late as May). The first to flower is E. gaultherioides, followed by E. asiatica and then E. repens in short succession. All three species have a large calyx that initially conceals the whole bud. In E. repens the calyx is green, in E. asiatica it is red, but E. gaultherioides has the largest calyx of all and it is bicoloured: pale green at the base and boldly red in its upper half, so the calyx can be considered decorative in itself. One conspicuous difference between the three is in their corollas. E. gaultherioides has a wide, disc-like corolla whereas the two others have a THE ALPINE GARDENER

EPIGAEA

Turkish Epigaea gaultherioides and, right, in its fruiting stage

tubular, connate corolla that broadens at its end. The flowers of E. gaultherioides are pink, while those of E. asiatica and E. repens have such a delicate purple hue that they look white at first glance. There is, however, a fundamental difference in flower size between E. gaultherioides and the other two species. Their flowers are about the same size (only about 0.5-1cm in diameter), which means that they are much smaller than those of E. gaultherioides (4-6cm in diameter). The fruit is a five-lobed capsule, which is fleshy and hairy when young, and its seeds are dust-like (0.3-0.4mm). According to the Flora of Japan, young fruits of E. asiatica are edible. JUNE 2016

The geographic distribution of the genus is interesting and very unusual because the localities of individual species are thousands of miles apart. E. gaultherioides grows in Lazistan in north-east Turkey and in the neighbouring Adjara region of Georgia, E. asiatica is found in Japan, and E. repens is at home in the east of North 149

EPIGAEA

Epigaea gaultherioides flowers have pink filaments and ochre to brownish anthers

America. Moreover, with the exception of the American species, their areas of distribution are extremely small. To explain this extremely disjunctive or, more precisely, relic distribution of the genus, we have to look at the geological history of the Earth. Epigaea is an evolutionarily and very ancient Tertiary genus that is now in retreat, if not dying out. During the warmest Tertiary climate, more than two million years ago, it was probably continuously distributed in the northern hemisphere. There were also certainly more species than there are today. With the cooling of the climate, however, species started to become extinct as their areas of distribution continuously 150

shrank. Today the remaining three species are confined to relatively small areas, so-called refugia, which provide the best conditions for their survival. The most beautiful is certainly E. gaultherioides, which has up to 2.5mm long hairs on all vegetative parts of the plant, most conspicuously on its leaves. In some individuals, the hairs are also very decoratively rust-coloured. Its leaves are oval to ovate, the flowers large, shortly tubular, shortly patent, pale pink, 4-6cm in diameter, but most frequently around 5cm, warped on the surface, crepe-like and with a waxed appearance. It differs from its two cousins in having single flowers (although they often grow in pairs) which are on longer (usually THE ALPINE GARDENER

EPIGAEA

Epigaea asiatica, which can overwinter under several metres of snow

1-2cm) flower stalks. Subtending each flower are four green bracts, two larger and two small. The attractiveness of the flower itself is strengthened by pointed sepals, where the lower half is pale green to whitish. In the upper part they display a bold red colour, which is richest at the margins and near the apex. The plant therefore looks as though it has bicoloured flowers. Its visual appeal is increased even further by darker reddish tips to the petals and pink filaments arranged in an orderly circle with ochre to brownish anthers. One big forte of this species is its very early flowering time from the end of March. It is, however, decorative even before then because it has boldly red JUNE 2016

sepals that cover its buds. In nature the species has a very wide elevation range because it occurs from about 900m, mainly though from 1,500 to 2,300m. It is a shade-loving plant of both deciduous (beech) and coniferous (spruce) forests. Even above the alpine tree-line it seeks steep and not too sunlit northern slopes, where it grows among rhododendrons and other shrubs, which provide it with even more shade. In spite of the high altitudes at which it grows, E. gaultherioides is not fully frost resistant. Windward slopes of the Pontic range and the Adjarian Mountains (Mount Mtirala, Meskheti Range) receive exceptionally high amounts of precipitation, even over 2,000mm 151

EPIGAEA  annually. The plants are thus covered with a thick blanket of snow in winter, which reliably protects them from frost. This most beautiful of the species is the least frequently grown at the moment, probably because of its small number of hard-to-reach localities and the difficulty in obtaining propagation material. The Japanese E. asiatica, on the other hand, has leaves elliptic to oblong that are, unlike in the two other species, acuminate and very dark green. Young leaves and stems, however, are reddish or even red-brown. When young, they are covered with brown hairs but, as they get older, they become slightly glossy and leathery with hairs remaining only near the margins or even only right at the fringes. Its tubular flowers are grouped in short, sparse racemes, most frequently with four to six flowers. The corolla’s 1-1.5cm long tube widens to about 1cm at the end. The flowers, even though they are sometimes more concealed among leaves than in the other species, are nevertheless attractive. The tube is white at its base but transitions into a pinkish hue towards its end. This is also a shade-loving plant that grows in the mountain forests and bushy vegetation of central and north Honshu and south-west Hokkaido. In the Japanese Alps (Chubu Mountains) it is locally relatively common at elevations of around 2,000m and also grows at the bases of trees. E. asiatica is also cultivated relatively rarely. In the Czech Republic it probably hasn’t been grown at all, so we have no experience of how frost-resistant it is. It can be assumed, however, that it has a similar constitution to E. gaultherioides. 152

The mountains of the western part of both Honshu and Hokkaido rank among the regions with the highest snowfall in the world, where the snow cover can reach a height of several metres, so E. asiatica probably isn’t too frost resistant either. Lastly, the American E. repens is rather similar to its Japanese cousin. Its flowers are comparable in shape but are smaller at 1cm long with a diameter under 0.8cm. They are fragrant and very faintly pink to almost white, but protrude higher above the leaves. They are grouped in short fascicles, which are somewhat more compact than in E. asiatica and are usually composed of four to ten flowers. The most conspicuous difference is in the leaves, which in E. repens are orbicular to oblong-ovate and the least hairy (only at the margin), but more markedly scabrous to rugate. They are also by far the smallest, the palest green and the least decorative. E. repens, too, grows in forests and bushes in humus-rich to peaty, but sometimes also sandy, soils. It is, however, much more climatically adaptable, which is also evident from its area of distribution – significantly larger than that of the two other species. It extends from the chilly Labrador peninsula as far as Florida in the south and Ontario in the west (or even as far as Saskatchewan), where there are markedly continental and therefore icy winters. The literature nevertheless indicates that E. repens prefers a snow cover in winter and thrives in places protected against freezing winds. Considering its wide distribution, this American species should be the first choice for cultivation. THE ALPINE GARDENER

EPIGAEA

The North American Epigaea repens can be found over a wide area, from Florida to Saskatchewan

This is why the form ‘Rosea’, which has more markedly pink flowers, has been bred. The result of crossing with E. asiatica is a hybrid called E. x intertexta. In my garden, I grow all three species under the same conditions, just half a metre from each other, in open topsoil in a shaded flower bed, and the only care I give them is that I cover them in winter to protect them from frost. They must be quite happy there because they readily grow and flower. JUNE 2016

153

SAXIFRAGA

The only survivor of Franz Sündermann’s 11 distinct forms – Saxifraga x luteo-purpurea ‘Aurantiaca’ Opposite, S.x luteo-purpurea forms numbered AA12, left, and SA21 by Adrian Young

T

he rarely seen natural hybrid Saxifraga x luteo-purpurea (S. aretioides x S.media) was first discovered in 1801 by the French botanist Philippe Picot de Lapeyrouse at Saint-Béat in the central Pyrenees. It was next mentioned by Walter Irving in 1908 when he wrote an article for The Gardeners’ Chronicle. In 1915 the great German nurseryman Franz Sündermann described 11 distinct forms of S. x luteo-purpurea in Allgemeine Botanische Zeitschrift. These were placed into three groups by Adolf Engler and Edgar Irmscher in 1919: S. x benthamii, S. x luteo-purpurea and S. x ambigua. Reginald Farrer used S. x luteo-purpurea ‘Lapeyrousii’ to produce S. ’Myra’, and Russell Prichard used S. x luteo-purpurea ‘Godroniana’ to

154

Is this the sad demise of a rare natural hybrid? produce S. ‘Cranbourne’ and several other cultivars (the other parent was S. lilacina). At that time botanists used the term notomorphs (nm), which referred to a group of hybrids that had become stable through self-crossing. Recently this term has fallen out of use and all selections THE ALPINE GARDENER

SAXIFRAGA

Adrian Young, who is the Registrar for Saxifraga names and manages national collections of the genus at Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire, reflects on the possible loss of the natural hybrid Saxifraga x luteopurpurea in the Pyrenees

from the wild are given cultivar names unless they are botanically distinct. In the 1980s I became interested in this natural hybrid and did some research. I already grew the only surviving cultivar from 1915, S. x luteo-purpurea ‘Aurantiaca’. It soon became clear that the other ten forms collected by JUNE 2016

Sündermann near Saint-Béat had been lost to cultivation. In 1989 Henry and Margaret Taylor were visiting the Pyrenees and they kindly agreed to search for these hybrids. On their return they reported that the site at Saint-Béat was now heavily wooded with no alpines at all. However, the news from the second site at the Port de Saleix in the eastern Pyrenees was very positive. This was also mentioned in an old French flora. Margaret and Henry brought back a few cuttings for verification, and they were quickly confirmed as S. x luteo-purpurea. Brian Arundel and I immediately started making plans to visit Saleix and spent an interesting week there in early June 1990. Fifteen different cuttings of S. x luteo155

SAXIFRAGA

Another form of Saxifraga luteo-purpurea (AA9) with nodding flowers

purpurea were collected, 14 of these around the summit of Bizourtouse and one found on the cliffs a little farther east, just off the path from Saleix village. I split the 15 plants into 4 groups, as follows. 1. AA17, SA18, AA9, SA19, AA32, AA31, AA12, SA21, A12 (closer to S. media, 6-15 flowers per stem, orange/ yellow, nodding). 2. AA7 (intermediate, 5-7 flowers per stem, bright yellow, upright). 3. SA17 (closer to S. aretioides, rosettes larger, 4 flowers per stem, dark yellow, upright). 4. A20, AA6, AA9, AA13 (very close to S. media, tighter flower head). One of the forms I collected had clear yellow flowers with an open vase shape. 156

This I decided to use in hybridisation. As a first step I self-pollinated it, which resulted in two seedlings. One of these proved to be an exceptionally good form and has subsequently been published as S. x luteo-purpurea ‘Bizourtouse’. S. aretioides is a common plant in the eastern French Pyrenees, S. media less so. To find them growing together as at the summit of Bizourtouse is unusual. Both species can be found in the Spanish Pyrenees but there are no records of S. x luteo-purpurea in that area. I have discussed the distribution of S. media and S. aretioides on the Spanish side with Brian Burrow, who knows the area well, and he reports no sightings of S. x luteo-purpurea. There is no record of S. x luteo-purpurea in Flora Iberica. THE ALPINE GARDENER

SAXIFRAGA

The orange, nodding flowers of Saxifraga x luteo-purpurea SA21

My good friend Tim Roberts visited the Bizourtouse peak in June 2014 and was met with a very disturbing situation. The limestone summit that I visited in 1990 has been transformed by hordes of goats and is now a lush grassland with virtually no clean limestone left. This has proved to be a disaster for S. x luteopurpurea and Tim reported no sightings. Fortunately I still grow some of the 1990 plants at Waterperry Gardens. I know that a couple of my Dutch friends also grow some and I have seen some in the Czech Republic, so all is not lost as far as horticulture is concerned. There is a chance that S. x luteopurpurea could be found on the Spanish side, which is far less botanised than the French side. If some young and eager JUNE 2016

explorer were to look for it, they may be surprised. I would start with Val d’Aran and also Monte Perdido. References Don, D. – ‘A monograph of the genus Saxifraga’, Transactions of the Linnean Society of London XII, page 397 (1821). Sündermann, F. – ‘Saxifraga aretioides x media G. Benth. et Walk.’, Allgemeine Botanische Zeitschrift XXI, pages 22-24 (1915). Irving, W. – ‘New hybrid saxifragas’, Gardeners’ Chronicle XLIII, page 277 (1908). Engler, A. & Irmscher, E. – ‘Saxifraga’, Das Pflanzenreich, pages 600-602 (1916-1919). Horny, R., Webr, K.M. & Byam-Grounds, J. – Porophyllum Saxifraga, pages 114-117 (1986). Young, A. – ‘Pyrenean Notomorphs’, The Saxifrage Magazine No. 1, pages 38-44 (1993).

157

SAXIFRAGA

Saxifraga x concinna ‘Helvellyn’, named after an English mountain

T

he six existing Saxifraga x concinna cultivars have a new sibling. S. x concinna is a marriage between a central Caucasus species, S. dinnikii, and a Himalayan species from Nepal, S. cinerea. S. dinnikii is a rich pink/red in flower but is unfortunately not easy to grow in cultivation. It dislikes winter wet and cannot tolerate dryness in the summer. It is rare to see a large plant in cultivation, although Czech growers seem to fare better. In contrast S. cinerea is pure white and less fussy. It does require some protection from wet winters but seems to tolerate summer heat. In 2003 John Mullaney published six S. cinerea x S. dinnikii hybrids, five having

158

Welcome to ‘Helvellyn’ Scottish mountain names. In addition, many more plants were raised from his crossing and several of these unnamed hybrids are still around in growers’ collections. Rachel Lever of Aberconwy Nursery has asked me to publish a new name for one of these. She has grown this cultivar since it was raised and is convinced that it is worthy of a name, Saxifraga x concinna ‘Helvellyn’ – not a Scottish mountain this time, but an English THE ALPINE GARDENER

SAXIFRAGA

A close-up of Helvellyn’s pink flowers, borne in groups of two to five

Adrian Young, Registrar of Saxifraga, records a new cultivar being propagated at Aberconwy Nursery one. Helvellyn is the highest peak of the Helvellyn range in the English Lake District, a north-south line of mountains to the north of Ambleside, between the lakes of Thirlmere and Ullswater. Saxifraga x concinna ‘Helvellyn’ is much closer to S. cinerea in appearance apart from the pink flowers. It is also amenable to cultivation which, of course, is a major plus. Of the existing cultivars it is closest to S. x concinna ‘Fiona Katrine Allan’, JUNE 2016

which has up to eight smaller flowers. Description Forms a firm, mounded cushion similar to S. cinerea. Rosettes: dark green, open and recurved, up to 12mm in diameter. Leaf: linear, convex and sharply pointed, 6-8 x 2mm with nine lime pores. Flower stem: red, 40mm tall with abundant white cilia, seven obliquely patent green stem leaves. Inflorescence: a short corymbose cyme with two to five flowers. Corolla: vase shaped, overlapping petals with a flat top. Petals: pale pink, widely obovate with a narrow claw, several faint veins reaching the petal margin. Sepals: red, narrow with red glandular cilia extending onto the flower pedicel. Stigma: white. Anther: orange. 159

A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

Primula ‘Easter Bonnet’ offers double white flowers with pink hues

A year in my garden AGS member John Noakes, who gardens on the edge of the Chiltern Hills, kept a diary throughout 2015 to record the highs and lows of his horticultural year. This is the second part of his logbook, covering April to June 160

A

pril is an explosive time in gardens, with a surge of botanical testosterone. Primroses are flowering everywhere. Primula vulgaris, to which I referred in my first instalment of this diary as a delightful thug, is rarely outshone by the many new hybrids, with a few exceptions. Primula ‘Easter Bonnet’ and ‘Captain Blood’ I do like, especially because they were given to me by the renowned nurseryman Paul Ingwersen. It was through Paul and his AGS camping tours that I ventured into the mountains to see my first alpines. I shall never forget that experience. THE ALPINE GARDENER

A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

The purple glow of Primula Cowichan Amethyst Group

Primulas and the debt I owe to Paul P. Cowichan Amethyst Group, with its purple flowers and velvet leaves, is particularly lovely. Many of the polyanthus types have, dare I say, a Barbara Cartland demeanour, although she could not be accused of having an JUNE 2016

abundance of testosterone! The flowers of Pulsatilla vulgaris in their many colours emerge fringed by their ferny ruffs. A particularly vigorous clump, probably P. halleri, is another plant for which I am grateful to Paul Ingwersen because it came from seeds collected on a mountain with him. A danger of attending the AGS AGM/Conference dinner is that one is seduced to participate in the auction at the end of the evening following a few glasses of wine. I bid irrationally for a collection of peonies, three in all. One sulked and died, another has remained 161

A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

Pulsatilla halleri grown from seeed collected with Paul Ingwersen

a stunted dwarf but the third has proved worthwhile. It is Paeonia mairei, very early flowering with purplish foliage and looks good in bud, but was totally unknown to me. Next to our property is an old neglected churchyard with several ancient yews casting dense and dry shade. I’ve been trying to find out what will survive, let alone thrive, under these conditions. Firstly I tried to introduce rich compost and then experimented with a few plants. Ferns struggled – even Dryopteris filix-mas found it hard-going. Cyclamen, both C. coum and C. hederifolium, did moderately well as did some of the vigorous snowdrops. The four stars were the humble Solomon’s seal Polygonatum 162

x hybridum, Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’, sweet woodruff Galium odoratum and Pachyphragma macrophyllum. This latter plant lit up the rather gloomy area behind some tombstones and was suggested to me by the Irish plantsman and garden designer Martin Walsh when he visited us. I rather fancy I will have to continue to nutrify the soil generously together with frequent watering if I am going to have any success. Is it worth it? Everyone has daffodils at this time of year but my favourite yellow display in spring is a clump of Iris bucharica in a large tub, following on from some reticulata irises. Sadly it won’t last long as the weather is hot and dry, which has affected most of the bulbs. Some of the THE ALPINE GARDENER

A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

Iris bucharica makes a striking display in a large tub

more diminutive Narcissus are flowering now: a butter yellow N. bulbocodium and N. rupicola are both of suitable stature to fit in with surrounding alpines. Struggling to come through the vigorous foliage of winter aconites is Scilla siberica. This year it is not winning but nearby Cyclamen repandum, its flowers replacing those of C. coum, is putting up a good fight to compete with the foliage of ferns and Scilla messeniaca. There is always a winner in these plant tussles and it’s seldom the plant that one wants most! In a shady area created by an old Magnolia, a number of small woodlanders have survived the invasion of Corydalis malkensis. Trilliums are JUNE 2016

sufficiently robust to rise above the Corydalis foliage, as are Fritillaria acmopetala and F. pallidiflora, but some of the erythroniums are having trouble. In this area, Sanguinaria canadenis f. multiplex ‘Plena’ is putting up its white heads like miniature dahlias, but later its big leaves can be somewhat overwhelming. I have had to move a rather delicate Anemonella because it could not cope in this botanical war zone. Grape hyacinths such as Muscari neglectum and M. armeniacum have given the rest of the tribe a bad reputation. This is a pity because Muscari armeniacum ‘Valerie Finnis’ is elegant with its powder-blue flowers, 163

A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

Fritillaria pallidiflora is thriving in a shaded area of the garden

particularly when contrasting with the yellow of the smaller daffodils. I also grow M. latifolium but I keep both muscaris on the periphery as I’m afraid they are prone to being mildly thuggish. The continual dry weather punctuated with both high and low temperatures has wilted a lot of petals. Our old magnolia has put on a great, albeit brief show against clear skies. Normally it’s the frost that puts paid to the display, with flowers hanging like ragged paper bags in the branches. This spring in the dry conditions the petals have tumbled down to form a thick pink and white carpet over the smaller woodlanders, rather like Corydalis malkensis did earlier, so they have had a double swamping. After a few days, however, the petals turn to a 164

messy mush so I’ve raked them off to give the more diminutive plants a chance. The dry conditions favour the tulips that have emerged from mid-April. Last summer I cleared a sunny, dry area under and in front of a Pyrus salicifolia. It was infested with masses of a dwarf Allium. I had to resort to spraying with Roundup to clear it. I then planted about 100 Galanthus nivalis which was a disaster – only a few came up because they had dried out too much. I also planted a small group of G. ‘John Gray’ with great success. These were better quality bulbs ordered from a different nurseryman. Back to the tulips, which I planted last autumn and were, in the main, non-alpine. About 50 ‘China Pink’ look wonderful in front of the grey foliage THE ALPINE GARDENER

A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

Tulipa vvedenskyi has large flowers for such a small plant

and white flowers of the Pyrus salicifolia. A little more alpine is an eye-watering display of Tulipa vvedenskyi, hailing from Uzbekistan. The flowers are very big for such a small plant. The flowers are gold and red on the outside and internally bright red. Although garish, it’s one of my favourite tulips, named for the Russian botanist Aleksej Vvedensky. Another tulip, T. linifolia Batalinii Group ‘Bronze Charm’, is just emerging alongside a dwarf Iris pumila coloured deep purple, which creates a delightful picture. Tulipa clusiana is also in flower this month. It is more refined, as the common name Lady Tulip suggests. My slate crevice garden has been more successful than I had expected. Gentians, saxifrages and Vitaliana primuliflora JUNE 2016

seem to have settled in happily. I bought small plants and washed most of the compost off the roots before planting them in almost pure sand. However, the unusual Sebaea thomasii from South Africa may be struggling with the dry heat we are enjoying at present. Above the crevice area, a raised bed houses two daphnes: one is ‘Cheriton’, the other I’m not sure about. Rather excitingly I have spotted the blue-green dissected leaves of Tropaeolum polyphyllum coming up through one of the daphnes. All around the garden many flowering cherries and amelanchiers are at their best. A small tree with which I wasn’t familiar until a trip to Sweden is Staphylea pinnata, the European bladdernut. I was able to obtain a young plant and it 165

A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

The beautiful brimstone butterfly, whose larvae feed on buckthorn Opposite, Paeonia ruprechtiana, a favourite with bees, is self-seeding in John’s garden

is now about five feet tall. The creamy white flowers hang in panicles and, while not an exciting tree, it does have a cool elegance. With an underplanting of herbaceous peonies it should create an interesting combination. Anyone visiting an alpine meadow cannot fail to observe the prodigious number of butterflies. Britain’s meagre count is about 60 species. Already this month several are on the wing. Firstly brimstones, named for the butter yellow of the males. They were followed by small tortoiseshells, peacocks, orange tips and speckled wood to name a few. All are looking for nectar sources which most of us can provide. Equally important are the specific plants that caterpillars feed on. We would not 166

normally wish to encourage nettles, but a clump in an out-of-the-way area in sun would provide for red admirals and peacocks. Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) is the food plant of the orange tip, so again leaving a few around the periphery would enhance the chances of seeing this pretty insect in spring. If you can introduce buckthorn to your hedge, as we have, you can provide food for brimstone caterpillars. Last year my wife Margaret observed a brimstone laying a single egg. It was white, shaped like a rugby ball with vertical flutings. We nurtured the caterpillar and wait to see if the chrysalis survives. I have two small grassy areas which I don’t mow until July. In the winter I scattered sand laced with a seed mixture THE ALPINE GARDENER

A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

of cowslip, yellow rattle and Tulipa sprengeri. By doing this each year the yellow rattle slowly reduces the coarser grasses and the others inject flower power. It’s a good place to encourage colchicums because their large and sometimes unsightly leaves are lost in the grasses. If the finer grasses flourish then they attract a lot of butterflies which lay their eggs on a variety of these species. Cutting the grass in late July gives caterpillars time to dive underground to pupate and allows the colchicum flowers to emerge without being decapitated. My main problem with this wild meadow is that it has become infested with dandelions. While attractive in this patch, the wind blows seed all over the garden. To eradicate JUNE 2016

them would mean destroying the many bulbs. An issue to live with! April ended with a sumptuous display by Paeonia ruprechtiana. The cardinal purple of the single flowers is beloved not only by me but by bees. It originates in open woodland in Georgia. Promisingly there are numerous seedlings coming up around my plant to pot up and share around.

May

Early May delivered much needed and welcome rain but it came in deluges accompanied by high winds. The herbaceous peonies’ petals were tattered and their normally short-lived display was cut even shorter. Most of mine came from Jim Archibald seed. Those 167

A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

Fritillaria pyrenaica with Berberis x stenophylla ‘Corallina Compacta’

obtained as Paeonia daurica subsp. mlokosewitschii were not all yellow – many were varying shades of pink. I have now learned that this species exists in a range of colours. P. cambessedesii I had grown from seed ‘acquired’ from the specimen in the AGS garden at Pershore. All had taken ages from germination to flowering. Sadly their moment of glory is all too brief and I will now wait until autumn to enjoy their startlingly vivid seed heads. The last of the daffodils, Narcissus poeticus, flowered well in its first season, rising up behind the fading embers of Tulipa vvedenskyi. The last of my fritillaries, the dark F. pyrenaica, looked 168

particularly attractive arising in front of a small bush of Berberis x stenophylla ‘Corallina Compacta’. Tree peonies are distinctly non-alpine and occasionally rather blowsy, but they are gorgeous. I can forgive them their rather gawky appearance earlier in the year when they produce such a display of flowers, often so large that their heads bend submissively almost to the ground. This year, with little frost, they have been at their best. One large tree peony has flowered each year protected behind the garage. The seed I sowed was labelled P. rockii and although very beautiful, with single white flowers, it lacked that magical purple centre. I think it may be THE ALPINE GARDENER

A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

Two of John’s ten tree peonies. He admits to being afflicted by ‘peonymania’

P. ostii and I am delighted with it. My with luck true P. rockii has yet to flower but looks vigorous and healthy. Maybe I will get a purple patch? Rather like galanthomania I am becoming afflicted by peonymania, having over ten tree peonies in my garden! Unfortunately heavy rain in mid-May dealt the same treatment to these as to their herbaceous cousins, their tissue-like petals dashed to the ground. Sadly one appears to be dying back – I hope honey fungus is not rearing its head again. I have cut it right back and hope it will recover next year. Pursuing the non-alpine theme, two shrubs are in good form now. Cornus JUNE 2016

‘Eddie’s White Wonder’ is flowering for the first time, while Cercis canadensis ‘Appalachian Red’ looks spectacular with its leafless branches wreathed in deep pink flowers. Several years ago I won a prize at our local group show with Ramonda nathaliae. The following year it was too heavy to get to the show so I planted it in a large pot. It soon became too big for that and I transferred it to an old half barrel. This soon disintegrated and I was faced with moving it on to another home. With the help of a friend and two garden forks, it was eased lovingly to its current dwelling, an even larger barrel. It’s now almost two feet in diameter, 169

A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

A warm glow from Cercis canadensis ‘Appalachian Red’ and, left, Ramonda nathaliae almost two feet across

flowering prodigiously in a semi-shaded site jammed between a greenhouse and a plastic water butt. It deserves a better home but I dare not move it again. By mid-May the last of my daphnes, D. cneorum, sprawled across our terrace, perfuming the air all around. It is attractively punctuated by yellow spikes of Bowles’ golden sedge, Carex elata 170

‘Aurea’. At the other end of the garden, in a raised sand bed protected by glass, an Oncocyclus Iris, to my surprise, presented me with two flowers. The seed came from Jim Archibald and it keyed out as Iris acutiloba, a rather satanic character hailing from Iran. I hope I can keep it going with a period of semidesiccation until the autumn. Certainly it wouldn’t stand a chance outside. A cold north-west wind and rain ushered in the last week of May. Some of the alpines in a long railway sleeper bed seemed to be held in aspic, prolonging their flowering. Gentiana verna and Oxalis enneaphylla benefitted from this. At one end last year I planted THE ALPINE GARDENER

A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

Daphne cneorum, punctuated by Carex elata ‘Aurea’, sprawls across a terrace. Right, Iris acutiloba grown from seed supplied by Jim Archibald

some cypripediums – rather strange bedfellows for alpines. Surprisingly they have produced many flowers but I think the combination is rather awful! Better is Cypripedium Hank Small at the edge of the woodland area, fitting in well with its neighbours. The end of the month saw Paeonia broteri, the last of its genus to flower. Coming from Spain, its flowers lasted longer with the colder weather. I look forward to its black and red seed heads later in the year.

June

My raised beds produce a fine display at the start of June. They do not contain JUNE 2016

sophisticated alpines, more the coarser characters not beloved of the show bench but nonetheless floriferous. True high alpines would be hard work and are easily swamped, so are best in troughs or pots. These larger beds contain various Dianthus, Phlox and Penstemon as well as several silver saxifrages and Aethionema. The tall seed heads of 171

A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

Oxalis enneaphylla in one of John’s raised beds

pulsatillas and Anemone pavonina hide the large leaves of the out-of-flower Colchicum agrippinum. Standing up, as elsewhere, through these plants is Bowles’ golden sedge, now in flower. It produces a filigree effect in combination with brick red Helianthemum ‘Henfield Brilliant’, but I know I shall be rooting out grass seedlings in a few months’ time. On the periphery, smaller gems such as Edraianthus pumilio and Aquilegia bertolonii have difficulty competing so have to be subjected to some TLC. Another delightful bright red flower coming up in the small meadow is Tulipa sprengeri. Rather like a slender and more delicate T. vvedenskyi, it is the last tulip 172

to flower in the garden and makes a brilliant splash of colour. Expensive to obtain and rare in the wild, it comes well from seed after three or more years if it likes you. Growing amid this grassy patch is a five foot tall Rosa odorata ‘Mutabilis’. Its delicate, coppery pink flowers start the rose season. Together with the grasses the coarse leaves of more colchicums are almost invisible. In the shade under my old Magnolia, candelabra primulas in a mix of colours have self-seeded haphazardly. Among them is the brick red Primula ‘Inverewe’, a particularly lovely plant which sadly is infertile. Last year, while visiting Scotland, I obtained one plant from Craigieburn Garden in Moffat. With THE ALPINE GARDENER

A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

Dawa Sherpa in the nursery at Craigieburn, near Moffat

great nervousness I divided it into three and they delight me now in June. Close by I’m lucky to have a clump of Meconopsis Fertile Blue Group ‘Lingholm’. It’s in a shady, peaty, damp area but whether it will continue to cope with the lack of humidity in this area remains to be seen. Craigieburn is a wonderful place to visit, where Dawa Sherpa from Nepal has created a beautiful Himalayan garden. On the south side of the house, overhung by thatch so that it’s in a dry and sunny spot, Verbascum dumulosum always makes a striking display with its downy grey leaves and butter yellow flowers against a white wall. Coming from Turkey, it has been subjected to herbicidal spraying in some of its JUNE 2016

habitats around ancient monuments. I propagate it by seed but don’t find it easy. It’s a good companion to the blue of the rather tender Convolvulus sabatius. Nearby in this hot patch, Eryngium maritimum and E. bourgatii give a prickly desert-like impression, together with varieties of aromatic salvias. ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ kick-starts the main rose display in the garden. Its scented pink flowers contrast with the aforementioned R. odorata ‘Mutabilis’, whose somewhat ill-shaped flowers make their display by sheer weight of numbers. This is the time when vertical gardening comes into its own, which is great for small gardens with little ground space. The obelisks I constructed some 173

A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

Candelabra primulas and, right, Clematis macropetala

while back are now festooned with Clematis and roses waiting to flower. In fact Clematis macropetala is already setting seed. Unwelcome intruders such as self-seeded aquilegias have also taken up residence. At almost mid-June we have had nearly ten days of cold dry winds, apparently originating from the North Sea. This has held back many plants. But at the first hint of warmer days the first painted lady butterfly appeared in the garden. More exciting was the news that the egg my wife found had progressed through all the stages of metamorphosis to emerge as an adult male brimstone butterfly as July was almost upon us. Dianthus is a genus I have always been fond of, perhaps because most 174

of its members are reasonably easy to grow. I don’t have much success with D. alpinus, which I can’t maintain. The tight cushions of D. erinaceus, D. haematocalyx and D. ‘Berlin Snow’ all do well in our new crevice bed. They are a great asset following on from the earlier alpines. Scent can be difficult to detect in alpines, daphnes excepted. One has to genuflect and grovel to appreciate them and then there is the getting up! AGS exhibitors probably disagree with me because they have the advantage of having them at bench level. Scents, or should I say smells, do no favours for the now out-of-flower fritillaries. Worse probably are the Codonopsis. I grow the easy C. clematidea. THE ALPINE GARDENER

A YEAR IN MY GARDEN

Verbascum dumulosum enjoys a dry and sunny site

On turning up the pale blue bells, the interior has the celestial appearance of an intricate Islamic mosque but its scent is far from heavenly. Do both fritillaries and Codonopsis hang down their heads to say ‘Don’t smell me’? More likely the smell is to attract specific pollinators. On cue at this time each June, Arisaema candidissimum rears its somewhat sinister hooded heads. It’s badly placed under a Hydrangea so it’s not obvious for the early part of the year. One day I must move them to a more suitable site. The last few days of the month produced some very hot desiccating conditions requiring a lot of watering. Broad-leaved alpines such as ramondas and haberleas suffered as did a number of badly positioned ferns. I find that JUNE 2016

Ramonda nathaliae tolerates drought more readily than does R. myconi. Both inhabit shady rock crevices, R. nathaliae from the Balkans and Greece and the latter from the Pyrenees. It’s amazing how quickly the shrivelled brown leaves of these two gesneriads plump up after watering. As with the ferns and arisaemas, these have been badly positioned. One welcomes the warmer weather brought by July but it is sad to see flowers going over so quickly and, oh, all that watering!   In the next issue of The Alpine Gardener, John Noakes’s garden from July to September. 175

EXPLORATION

Encounters with irises from Turkey to Tajikistan Liz Knowles has become something of an Iris addict and has travelled extensively to see them in the wild. Here she shares with us a wonderful portfolio of photographs of these most beguiling plants

M

y fascination with Eurasian Iris species began in a most unlikely manner in March 2009, during a visit to Israel. Friends who had visited Jordan the previous year mentioned they had seen Iris nigricans, the country’s national flower. With a couple of free days in hand, we decided to hire a car in Tiberias to search for irises north of Galilee and through the Golan Heights. Among other wonderful spring blooms, there were three Oncocyclus irises: Iris haynei, Iris lortetii and Iris hermona (see The Alpine Gardener, September 2011, pages 386-403). The countryside was green and the orchards were in bloom. The Golan was virtually empty of traffic, 176

with wonderful views westward to the Sea of Galilee (also known as Kinneret). A month later we were in Turkey. En route from Konya to Cappadocia another Oncocyclus iris, Iris sprengeri, was found growing on a rocky hillside below the snow-streaked cone of Hasan Dağ. It is endemic to central Turkey and inhabits volcanic steppe. Compared with the voluptuous 30THE ALPINE GARDENER

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Iris sprengeri on a rocky hillside below the snow-streaked Hasan Dağ, Turkey

50cm tall Oncocyclus irises we had seen in Israel, Iris sprengeri was a jewel-like midget. At 10-12cm in height, it is one of the smallest Oncos. Its singly-borne flowers (a character-trait of Oncos) had cream standards and falls with heavy, deep red veining on the standards, then lighter red veining and velvety red/ brown signal patches on the falls. The previous day we had seen Iris JUNE 2016

purpureobractea growing in open rocky scrub. This 50cm tall, scented, bearded iris has a branched inflorescence with up to five yellow flowers per stem. It is endemic to north, west and central Anatolia and is noted for its purplestained bracts and inflated purple spathes. Two trips to Iran were made with Greentours in consecutive years. In 2010 177

EXPLORATION

Above, Iris sprengeri, at just 10-12cm in height, is one of the smallest oncos. Left, Iris songarica

we encountered two Oncocyclus irises growing in the Zagros Mountains, Iris iberica subsp. lycotis (I. lycotis in recent treatments) and Iris meda. The former grew on open stony ground a short distance from Hanna. The standards and falls of this 30cm tall plant were heavily dotted and veined on a white background. Its range extends from north-east to south-east Turkey and Armenia and we met it again in 2013 in Nakhchivan. 178

THE ALPINE GARDENER

IRISES

The bearded Iris purpureobractea, left and below, has up to five scented flowers per stem

Scattered among the Iris lycotis population at Hanna we found Iris songarica, a beardless species with very narrow, strap-like leaves and one to two JUNE 2016

179

EXPLORATION

Iris iberica subsp. lycotis in the Zagros Mountains 180

THE ALPINE GARDENER

IRISES

Iris meda was encountered on a hillside close to Aligoudarz in Iran

lavender and white flowers per stem. It grows over a huge area from Mongolia, though Central Asia to Turkey. The second Onco, 25cm tall Iris meda, grew close to Aligoudarz on yet another bare stony hillside. Its yellow standards and JUNE 2016

falls were veined with brown, the falls with a yellow beard and a burgundy signal patch in the middle. In north-east Iran the following year we were introduced to our first Juno, Iris fosteriana. This 15cm tall, clump181

EXPLORATION

Iris fosteriana in close-up and, below, in habitat in Iran’s Khosh Yellagh National Park

182

THE ALPINE GARDENER

IRISES

Iris reticulata is found in Iran in a range of colours from blue to purple. Right, a single flower of a white form in Golestan

forming species has pale yellow falls and deep purple standards that are sharply deflexed. Its deeply channelled leaves have a silver edge. It was first spotted in Golestan National Park but those flower displays were modest compared with the hundreds of thousands on display in the arid Khosh Yellagh National Park, south-east of the Alborz Mountains. This park is seldom visited other than by nomadic shepherds who live in rough encampments, their ragtag flocks guarded by ferocious dogs. At one point our four-wheel drive vehicle drove along a track that was surrounded by a JUNE 2016

183

EXPLORATION

Iris grossheimii may be a hybrid between Iris acutiloba subsp. lineolata and Iris lycotis

veritable sea of Iris fosteriana, back-lit by the late-day sun – truly an unforgettable sight. Also in the north-east, the dwarf bulbous Iris reticulata (subgenus Hermodactyloides) appeared intermittently on rocky hillsides, from the Alborz Mountains through to Golestan National Park. It came in a range of colours, from blue to purple, all with the characteristic yellow stripe along the centre of the falls. In Golestan we saw a single, pristine white form. This national park, a beautiful but in reality harsh landscape, harbours much wildlife, including urial sheep, ibex 184

and even leopards, as well as abundant birdlife. By 2014 the relationship between Iran and most western countries had become decidedly frosty, making a further trip to the north-west of Iran unfeasible. We decided instead to travel to Azerbaijan and its enclave of Nakhchivan, aiming to find further Oncocyclus irises. In central Azerbaijan our group journeyed west from Ganja, then south into the Dzegamchay valley where we found several populations of Iris paradoxa (pictured on the front cover of this issue of The Alpine Gardener). This is the only Oncocyclus species with falls that are THE ALPINE GARDENER

IRISES

Iris acutiloba subsp. lineolata in the Talysh Mountains

much smaller than the standards and of a different texture, evocatively described as ‘moleskin’. This 15-25cm tall plant had very erect, purple or violet standards and stubby black, dark violet or brown falls. The colour of the standards and the falls differed considerably from one population to another. Several kilometres further on, in the subalpine zone near Yanykhly and relatively close to the Armenian border, we came upon the miniature bearded Iris taurica. It has also been described as Iris pumila subsp. taurica and nowadays is considered no more than a geographical variant of Iris pumila subsp. pumila, its JUNE 2016

range encompassing south-east Europe through the Caucasus to the former USSR. This rhizomatous, 10cm tall plant grew in several fields close to the road and ranged in colour from sulphur to pale yellow. Some plants had darker brown or blue/grey markings on the falls. A long trek across central Azerbaijan brought us south-east to the Talysh Mountains, very close to the border with Iran and within 40 kilometres of the Caspian Sea. Typical of this area are heavily wooded, dry forests and loose screes extending down scrubby hills. Beyond Lerik, three Oncocyclus irises grew in close proximity on the gravelly 185

EXPLORATION

Iris paradoxa f. choschab, also known as Iris medwedewii 186

THE ALPINE GARDENER

IRISES

What appears to be a hybrid between Iris paradoxa f. atrata and Iris lycotis

steppe: Iris paradoxa f. choschab, Iris grossheimii and Iris acutiloba subsp. lineolata. Iris paradoxa f. choschab (synonym Iris medwedewii) has white standards, intricately veined purple, and narrow purplish-black falls with a distal, pale, v-shaped mark, as with all members of the Iris paradoxa group. Named for its best-known Turkish locality, in Van province, close to Güzelsu (Hošab), it has further disjunct outposts in northwest Iran and just over the border in the extension of the Talysh. Of similar height (10-25cm), Iris grossheimii sported dark red veins on JUNE 2016

cream-coloured standards and falls and a dark brown signal on the falls. There has been some speculation that Iris grossheimii is a hybrid between Iris acutiloba subsp. lineolata and Iris lycotis. Ori Fragman-Sapir in his book Flowers of the Transcaucasus and Adjacent Areas writes: ‘It is close and similar to Iris acutiloba, differing in [its] rounded perianth lobes, dark violet, large standards, larger almost round black signal patch and a much shorter, abruptly narrowed fruit.’ Iris acutiloba subsp. lineolata, growing conveniently nearby, had cream flowers veined purplish-brown, a black signal patch and 187

EXPLORATION

Iris paradoxa f. atrata and, left, another image of Iris paradoxa f. choschab (syn. Iris medwedewii)

very pointed falls. Its range extends into Iran where it is more widely distributed, as fieldwork since the turn of the century has shown. The enclave of Nakhchivan is surrounded by Armenia on three sides and by Iran to the south. It can only be entered by flying from Baku. Here we again encountered Iris lycotis on the roads to Batabat and to Arafsa, these Nakhchivan colonies given the unsubstantiated and invalid epithet ‘magnifica’ by the local botanists (Iris magnifica Vved. is the largest of all Juno irises, from the Samarkand Mountains of Uzbekistan). 188

THE ALPINE GARDENER

IRISES

Different colour forms of Iris imbricata in the same population near Batabat

Also on the road to Arafsa, the professor who accompanied us guided our party to a site where there appeared to be hybrids between Iris lycotis and Iris paradoxa f. atrata. Ian Green later confirmed that these belonged to the latter taxon. But further along the road, on a dry ridge top, the population exhibited hybrid traits. The standards looked like those of Iris lycotis whereas the falls were narrow and the velvet patch was crossed with the pink chevron so characteristic of I. paradoxa. Also en route to Batabat, we met with a large stand of the bearded yellow Iris imbricata, growing on a grassy ridge JUNE 2016

189

EXPLORATION

Iris caucasica subsp. caucasica has white margins along its leaves

above the road. It was similar in form to Turkish I. purpureobractea (and like it, little seen in cultivation) but had pale green, overlapping bracts and branched stems to 50cm tall. These bore up to five flowers, with dark yellow beards and 190

overall anything from pale to greenishyellow and almost sulphur in some examples. Iris imbricata is found from Iran to south-eastern Transcaucasia, at up to 3,100m. On the last day in the Batabat valley, THE ALPINE GARDENER

IRISES

Iris magnifica grew up to 60cm tall on the Amankutan Pass in Uzbekistan

exploring the rocky limestone outcrops above the lake, the group was cautioned not to wander too close to the border with Armenia. The two countries maintain an uneasy peace. It was here that we found Iris caucasica subsp. caucasica, a Juno that again has white margins along its grey/green leaves. The 15cm tall stems bore one to four (up to six have been recorded in other examples) pale yellow or greenish flowers, the falls winged and JUNE 2016

with a narrow yellow median ridge, but with an equally broad blade to the falls. Central Asia was our destination in the spring of 2013. In Uzbekistan, two Junos were found on the Amankutan Pass (1,385m) between Samarkand and Shahrisabz. Iris magnifica grew up to 60cm tall among large granite boulders at the top of the pass, but is capable of reaching 1m in height. Each stem held up to seven pale lilac to white flowers. 191

EXPLORATION

Iris warleyensis was also found on the Amankutan Pass 192

THE ALPINE GARDENER

IRISES

The rare Iris tubergeniana in the foothills of the Tien Shan close to Chimgan

Iris warleyensis grew in large clumps nearby on an unstable sandy slope. This was rather shorter, to 45cm, with three to five flowers that ranged in colour from purplish blue to pale violet. The falls had a darker blue apex with a yellow or white crest at the centre. A third, rarer Juno, Iris tubergeniana, grew in stony red clay soil in the foothills of the Tien Shan close to Chimgan, 80 kilometres north-east of Tashkent. This 15cm tall iris was rather similar in form to I. caucasica but its rich yellow falls had a frilled, beard-like crest with violet green spots and veins. The yellow standards were small and its pale green leaves were almost fully developed at flowering time. JUNE 2016

Our first outing in Tajikistan was breathtaking. Thousands of Iris bucharica lined the rocky hillsides for miles as we drove through the Karatag valley north-west of Dushanbe. One of the few Juno species that is relatively common in cultivation, it can build up into impressive clumps in the wild. A 40cm tall stem typically produces up to seven flowers, the standards mostly yellow (though we did see some white ones). The falls were yellow with brown markings and a deep yellow crest. In common with some other Central Asian Junos, the glaucous leaves are arranged up the stem to give a sweetcorn/maize stalk appearance. North-east of Dushanbe, in the Romit 193

EXPLORATION

Iris lineata close to the Nurek dam in Tajikistan 194

THE ALPINE GARDENER

IRISES

Iris rosenbachiana, seen in several colour forms in Tajikistan

valley, the Juno Iris vicaria grew in a wooded area alongside Corydalis popovii, Anemone tschernjaewii and Anemone petiolulosa. The flowers as seen at this site ranged in colour from white to pale bluish-violet with darker veins and always a yellow crest, up to four flowers per stem. Several kilometres further along the valley, an array of Iris rosenbachiana, also a Juno, grew on a steep bank, up to three flowers apiece, the leaves only partially emerged. The flowers were in all shades from deep purple through pale mauve to white and the falls had a characteristic yellow or orange central crest (ridge). On our last full day in Tajikistan, south-east of Dushanbe and close to the Nurek dam, we saw Iris lineata JUNE 2016

(pictured here and on the back cover of this issue of The Alpine Gardener) from the Regelia section (its range extends to neighbouring Afghanistan). Like the Junos and Oncos seen earlier, it inhabited dry, rocky, open slopes. A rhizomatous plant bearing one or two flowers per each 35cm tall stem, the specific epithet highlights the purple veining on the narrow, brown/violet or brown/purple standards and falls. While we saw many memorable plants in each of the countries visited, from Turkey to Tajikistan, it was these dryland irises in their diverse forms and colours that enthralled me.  The author would like to thank Tony Hall for his careful checking of this article.

195

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

K

een photographers will already be aware of the enhancements to the AGS Photographic Competition which take effect this year (see The Alpine Gardener, March 2016, page 9), with extra classes and increased prize money. The expansion of this competition, which is featured in The Alpine Gardener each year and on the AGS website, is designed to compensate for the loss of photography from the Artistic Section of AGS shows. From next year the winning entries will be compiled into a digital presentation which will be made available at shows and other AGS events, so shows will still have a photographic element. As well as the increased number of classes and £600 in cash prizes, winning entrants in this competition in future will be able to accrue points towards AGS medals, meaning that these can now be won by members around the globe. These changes have been designed to widen this competition’s appeal to members everywhere. The number of classes will be increased from five to eight to cater for experienced and

Mountain wonders captured through AGS lenses Doug Joyce presents the results of the 2015 AGS Photographic Competition, sponsored by Greentours, with the winning entries in each of the five classes inexperienced photographers alike. And while the high standard of competition for prizes will be maintained, with only the best photographs published annually in The Alpine Gardener or displayed at AGS events, all images submitted will continue to be posted on the AGS

F

or the technically minded, wherever possible camera make, model and type have been listed here with the actual lens focal length setting and, in parenthesis, the equivalent focal length (EFL) in a standard-frame 35mm SLR film camera (or full-frame DSLR). The latter value (EFL) enables a direct comparison of the picture angle across all camera models, thereby instantly distinguishing wide-angle (<35mm), from standard/normal (35-85mm) or telephoto scenes (>85mm), the diagonal viewing angles equating to greater than 63° for wide-angle scenes and to less than 29° for telephoto shots.

196

THE ALPINE GARDENER

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

website for the enjoyment of members and visitors alike. If you would like to enter this year, full details are on the AGS website (on the home page click on ‘Images’ and then ‘Photographic Competition’). The eight classes are also listed in the issue of AGS News that accompanies this journal. Entering is easy and only basic information is required to accompany each image: photographer’s name, plant/ animal name, image location and the class in which it is to be entered. This can most easily be written into the file name of each photograph. All other information relating to the camera and settings used generally accompanies each digital photograph automatically JUNE 2016

Class 1: First Harry Jans, Loenen, Netherlands. Papaver alpinum subsp. rhaeticum, Italian Alps. July 2015. Camera: Nikon D90 (DSLR), 18-270mm lens at a focal length of 27mm (equivalent 40mm). Exposure 1/160sec at f20, ISO 200.

(albeit perhaps unknowingly) and can be read by specialist software. If not, it can be requested later. In the five classes of the 2015 competition, the results of which we 197

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

Class 1: Second Ursula Junker, Switzerland. Soldanella alpina, Simplon Pass, Canton of Valais, Switzerland. May 2015. Camera: Nikon Coolpix P600 (Digital-Bridge) with lens at 9.9mm (equivalent 55mm). Exposure 1/1000sec at f4, ISO 100.

198

publish here, approximately 200 images were entered by 20-plus photographers, just under half of whom are overseas members. Class One: An alpine or rock plant in a natural (wild) landscape, with both plant(s) and landscape featured. Care should be taken to feature prominently a plant or group of plants in an alpine setting. The scenery should support and not dominate the composition, but convey a sense of context and geographical location. The somewhat austere composition by Harry Jans, featuring Papaver alpinum THE ALPINE GARDENER

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

Class 1: Third Celia Sawyer, Oxford, UK. Eritrichium nanum, Dolomites, Italy. June 2015. Camera: Nikon D80 (Digital SLR), 10mm lens (equivalent 15mm). Exposure 1/125sec at f16, ISO 500.

subsp. rhaeticum, represents all the harsh realities yet undeniable magnificence of plant life in the Italian Alps – beauty and the beast. Seen in a garden, this small and unassuming poppy might be easily overlooked, but isolated among JUNE 2016

the grandeur of the mountains it has a different presence. This is a perfect example of a composition where less is more. In second place, Ursula Junker has photographed flowers against a 199

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

background of snow and a brightly lit sky, which can sometimes be tricky. There is always the tendency for a camera to underexpose the principal subject, thereby losing precious detail. In this case the camera performed well in its auto-exposure mode and the depth of flower colour was not compromised by the background of gleaming snow. Celia Sawyer faced a somewhat similar situation when photographing the King of the Alps in the Dolomites. The combination of rain and mist can fool a camera’s exposure meter on occasions and lead to disappointment. Here, however, the Nikon D80 has performed well in spite of the conditions to capture a delightful portrait of Eritrichium 200

Class 2: First and overall AGS Photographic Competition winner Zeng Gang, Sichuan Alpine Ecology Study Centre, China. Saussurea medusa, Balang Shan, Sichuan Province, China. August 2015. Camera: Nikon D810 (DSLR) with a 60mm f2.8 lens (equivalent 60mm). Exposure 1/60sec at f22, ISO 320.

nanum among a mini landscape of rock and lichen. If you are not satisfied with your camera’s performance under such conditions, seek out the exposure compensation button or menu option THE ALPINE GARDENER

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

Class 2: Second Harry Jans, Loenen, Netherlands. Physoplexis comosa, Italian Alps. July 2015. Camera: Nikon D90 (DSLR), 18-270mm lens at a focal length of 200mm (equivalent 300mm). Exposure 1/125sec at f13, ISO 200.

and adjust accordingly. Also, view the digital histogram data as well as the picture recorded because it can tell you so much more about your image exposure. JUNE 2016

Class Two: Portrait of an alpine or rock plant in the wild, featuring the entire plant. In this class the essential element is to feature a plant more in the manner of a botanical study. 201

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

Class 2: Third Bill Raymond, Iwerne Minster, Blandford, Dorset, UK. Sedum acre, Achnahaird Bay, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. July 2006. Camera: Canon PowerShot A95 (compact), 7.8-23.4mm lens at 7.8mm (equivalent 38mm). Exposure 1/50sec at f8, ISO 80.

When it comes to bizarre alpine subjects, few can match the allure of saussureas. They invite our curiosity with their various colours, forms and textures, evolved to protect their precious flowers against the harsh climates of the high mountains. They are also nature’s gift to the intrepid photographer who 202

is seeking a truly unusual alpine image. With his high-specification 36 megapixel Nikon DSLR, Zeng Gang has captured all the delicate textures of Saussurea medusa in exquisite detail, which earns him the award for the best photograph in the competition overall. Like the saussureas, Physoplexis comosa THE ALPINE GARDENER

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

Class 3: First Tony Duffey, Southport, Merseyside, UK. Lewisia tweedyi ‘Rosea’ in home studio. April, 2015. Camera: Pentax K10D (DSLR) with a Pentax 100mm macro lens (equivalent 150mm). Exposure 1sec at f22, ISO 200.

is guaranteed to make an exciting subject for an alpine plant portrait. With a floral design concealing its membership of the Campanulaceae, this species always brings an exotic quality to any image. Harry Jans has captured this exoticism in some detail but, judging from the fact that he was using his camera lens at the extreme end of its zoom range, one suspects that his subject was growing on a somewhat inaccessible cliff face. Over the years Bill Raymond has established himself as a photographer skilled at spotting appealing JUNE 2016

compositions and subjects which capture the imagination. Using quite basic camera equipment and often seemingly mundane plants, Bill creates very stylish images. His bright yellow Sedum acre, set within a fissure of granite rocks speckled pink with crystals, is quite masterly. And this should be a lesson to all, especially newcomers to the competition: you need neither an expensive camera nor a rare alpine subject to inspire. Just use your imagination and seek out that special composition. 203

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

Class Three: Close-up detail of an alpine or rock plant in the wild or in cultivation, with leaves included as appropriate. Here the objective should be to reveal the more intimate beauty of alpines by emphasising any features of special interest, such as individual flower(s), groups of leaves or magnified floral structures. Tony Duffey is quite a specialist in the techniques of creative photography in his home studio, which his wife wistfully calls her kitchen. Tony most often uses natural daylight in combination with unobtrusive backgrounds to achieve 204

Class 3: Second Yvonne Baker, Waitakere, Auckland, New Zealand. Nomocharis aperta, Tianchi Hai, China. June 2011. Camera: Sony DSC-H10 (compact), 6.3-63mm lens at 6.3mm (equivalent 38mm). Exposure 1/250sec at f8, ISO 125.

striking close-ups of familiar yet wellloved alpines. But his subject matter is not selected at random and few would question his choice of Lewisia tweedyi THE ALPINE GARDENER

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

Class 3: Third Karen Gregory, London, UK. Parnassia palustris, Dolomites, Italy. July 2015. Camera: Nikon D60 (DSLR) with 40mm f2.8 lens (equivalent 60mm). Exposure 1/320sec at f11, ISO 200.

as an excellent studio candidate for experimenting with lighting. Here, Tony’s creative style has achieved an almost solarised quality in the large, luxurious pastel-painted Lewisia flower. It is always a pleasure to welcome a newcomer to this competition, especially one from overseas. A simple email is all it takes to share an alpine experience with other AGS members. Yvonne Baker has chosen to portray her floral subjects in a quite traditional style, but the exotic nature of the Nomocharis flowers and their attendant raindrops lift the composition beyond the ordinary. Significantly, balance to the composition is maintained by including three flowers, JUNE 2016

from unopened bud to full display. Discard any one of these three and the image immediately loses its charm. If one were asked to choose a single floral subject for a close-up composition, Parnassia palustris, or Grass of Parnassus, would rate highly. The complex nature of the flowers is undoubtedly alluring, from the deeply veined white petals to the pin-like nectariferous staminodes and central dome-shaped ovary. Karen Gregory has captured all these essential details in sharp relief and without losing detail in the white tones of the petals. But equally important is Karen’s overall composition, in which the hard outlines of the main floral subject are gently 205

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

softened by shadows of anthers together with a diffuse background of foliage and flowers. Class Four: Alpine fauna in the wild, in a mountain landscape or in association with alpine plants. Wild flowers are always accompanied by fauna. The majority are a welcome distraction in an alpine habitat and are popular subjects for many photographers. It seems that no AGS Photographic Competition is complete without the inclusion of at least one butterfly image. They make excellent photographic 206

Class 4: First Bill Raymond, Iwerne Minster, Blandford, Dorset, UK. Papilio machaon (swallowtail butterfly), La Ragua Pass, Sierra Nevada, Spain. September 2015. Camera: Canon PowerShot S95 (DSLR), 6.0-22.5mm lens at 22.5mm (equivalent 105 mm). Exposure 1/100sec at f8, ISO 125.

subjects, being rich in colour, shape and texture. These features alone, however, may be insufficient to capture the judges’ attention and composition can THE ALPINE GARDENER

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

Class 4: Second Liam McCaughey, Ballinderry Upper, Lisburn, Northern Ireland. Rupicapra rupicapra (chamois), Valmasque, above Casterino, Alpes-Maritimes, France. June 2010. Camera: Canon 350D (DSLR) with 150mm lens (equivalent 240mm). Exposure 1/1000sec at f11, ISO 400.

be equally important. Bill Raymond’s photograph illustrates this point. For, while the swallowtail is undoubtedly dominant and attractive, the strongly textured background of what appears to be dead thistle-like vegetation adds an unexpected drama to the scene and provides a striking frame for the principal character. Photographs of fauna are often criticised for their ‘athletically JUNE 2016

challenged’ profiles, especially when animals and birds are featured. An uncaring portrait can take on a fictional and static quality, when the reality might be quite the reverse. No such criticism can be levelled at Liam McCaughey’s chamois, which can be seen speeding across its alpine territory. Liam needed a shutter speed of 1/1000sec to freeze the action through his telephoto lens, and careful image-cropping has created 207

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

a close, personal and dynamic portrait. Unlike their exotic cousins the butterflies, moths seldom attract the attention of photographers. With some notable exceptions, many are drab in colour and often camouflaged by equally drab surroundings. But for the photographer, moths offer certain advantages. They are usually approachable in daylight and rest with wings open rather than folded. Just try capturing a brimstone butterfly similarly posed! Of course colour is not everything, as Tony Duffey’s close-up shows. Texture can be equally important as the shapes and patterns of the oak eggar moth are revealed in exquisite detail. 208

Class 4: Third Tony Duffey, Southport, Merseyside, UK. Lasiocampa quercus (oak eggar moth), mountain village of Vrouchas, Crete. October 2014. Camera: Ricoh HZ15 (compact) with 4.3-65mm lens at a focal length of 4.3mm (equivalent 24mm). Exposure 1/160sec at f10.8, ISO 80.

Class Five: The Alpine Gallery. A photographic work with some unique ‘alpine appeal’, whether naturally inspired or created using any advanced software techniques. There are no restrictions on subject matter. THE ALPINE GARDENER

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

Class 5: First Celia Sawyer, Oxford, UK. Gentianella germanica. Image taken in the Dolomites and manipulated in Photoshop Elements 9 using Filters and Liquify. June 2015. Camera: Nikon D80 (DSLR) with lens at a focal length of 24mm (equivalent 36mm). Exposure 1/250sec at f8, ISO 500.

An astonishing range of digital filters is available for photographers to create unusual images. With just a click or two of the mouse button, images from simulated art to the bizarre and surreal can be achieved in seconds. The skill JUNE 2016

of the photographer arises not from their use alone, but from having the imagination to create something which is both flattering to the subject and appealing to others. Celia Sawyer’s interpretation of Gentianella germanica 209

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

Class 5: Second Tony Duffey, Southport, Merseyside, UK. Anemone nemorosa ‘Robinsoniana’. Image taken in the studio and processed with Elements 9 and Topaz software to produce a ‘textbook’ effect: April 2015. Camera: Pentax K10D (DSLR) with lens at a focal length of 100mm (equivalent 150mm):. Exposure 1/6sec at f22, ISO 200.

210

is both provocative as far as traditional plant portraiture is concerned yet strangely alluring, using a liquify filter to transform reality into fantasy. As mentioned already, digital manipulation is not just about creating the distorted and unusual. Procedures may equally be employed to simulate simple artistry and, in Tony Duffey’s words, to produce a ‘textbook’ effect. The simple qualities of such images are self-evident: a principal subject freed from the distractions and complications of its surroundings. Class 5 is also a catch-all category THE ALPINE GARDENER

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

for alpine images which fall outside the stricter rules of the preceding four classes. It might seem obvious that composition is an important component of successful landscape photography, but the lesson here may not be fully appreciated. Bill Raymond’s landscape is divided roughly into thirds. Starting at the front of the scene, there is a bright alpine meadow to catch the eye. Beyond, undulating and overlapping layers of meadows create a sense of depth. Finally, distant water points the way to the remote mountain peaks. JUNE 2016

Class 5: Third Bill Raymond, Iwerne Minster, Blandford, Dorset, UK. Alpine meadows above Lac du Mont Cenis, Vanoise, France. June 2007. Camera: Canon PowerShot A95 (compact) with 6-22.5mm lens at a focal length of 7.8m (equivalent 28mm). Exposure 1/100sec at f/6.3, ISO 100.

211

EXPLORATION

T

o European eyes, many plants in the southern hemisphere, particularly in Western Australia, look very different from anything seen north of the Equator. Western Australia has more than 13,000 plant species compared with 2,300 in the British Isles. In the south-west of the state alone, which was the focus of our trip with Mark Hanger in October last year, there are more than 6,000 species. It is, therefore, worth looking at some of the factors that have influenced the number of species, their form and diversity. Since Australia separated from the ancient continental landmass of Gondwanaland, it has been isolated from the other southern continents. Millions of years of uninterrupted evolution have led to the development of an extraordinary range of species. Furthermore, it has some of the oldest rocks on the planet and these have not been rejuvenated by volcanic or glacial activity for over 160 million years. Consequently, the soils are nutrientpoor, which means that plants must fight for survival and this leads to diversification. Despite the isolation, the southern continents still share some plant families, perhaps most notably Proteaceae, which in Australia is represented by Banksia and Telopea, in South Africa by Protea and Leucadendron, and in South America by Embothrium and Lomatia. The weather, too, plays a part and south-west Australia has a broadly Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and warm, wet winters, although drier conditions predominate 212

Wild flowers and wallabies in Western Australia Hilary and Austin Little savour the rich and colourful plant life of Western Australia in the company of expert guide Mark Hanger, who will be leading an AGS tour there later this year as you move north and east towards the desert regions. Many plants have developed characteristics to enable them to cope with long periods of drought and one result of the aridity is the lack of herbaceous species. Finally, pollinators have developed very particular relationships with plants which, over time, have affected plant development. Those plants pollinated by mammals usually have large, dullcoloured flowers, often growing close to the ground and pungently scented at night. They include many of the prostrate banksias, dryandras, some hakeas, grevilleas and eucalypts. Bird-pollinated blossoms are again often large but brightly coloured with red, orange, yellow or cream tubular THE ALPINE GARDENER

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The Australian endemic Swainsona formosa

flowers. They also produce copious amounts of sweet nectar in the daytime. Such plants include bottlebrushes, some banksias, grevilleas, hakeas, eucalypts, kangaroo paws and native honeysuckles. By contrast, many members of Myrtaceae are associated with beetle pollinators. Many of the orchids are pollinated by wasps and, as elsewhere in the world, the flowers frequently mimic the appearance or scent of the female pollinators. JUNE 2016

The Western Australian Botanic Garden in Kings Park, Perth, provided a superb introduction to many of the strange, exciting and unfamiliar plants of this region, as we took in eye-catching drifts of the blue Brachyscome iberidifolia (Swan River daisy) and the startling, scarlet flowers of Swainsona formosa before studying the plants in the Banksia Garden and the Stirling Range bed in an attempt to familiarise ourselves with genera and species that were new to us. 213

EXPLORATION

Brachyscome iberidifolia in the Western Australian Botanic Garden and, left, guide Greg Nannup in front of a baobab (Adansonia) tree

‘If you get lost in the bush, look for the reed grass,’ said Greg Nannup, our Aboriginal guide in the botanic garden. The reed grass, Xanthorrhoea preissii, commonly known as balga (blackboy), is a fascinating plant with many traditional uses. Greg explained that Aboriginals used to eat not only the soft leaf bases but also, when the grasslike leaves were stripped away, the white tip of the central core, which tasted like coconut. Furthermore, the yellow centre of the core is a partial antidote to snake 214

THE ALPINE GARDENER

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Stromatolites along the shoreline of Lake Thetis

venom – enough, nowadays, to get you to hospital in time for a jab. Traditionally, the flowering spikes were soaked in water to make a sweet drink, the dry flower stalks used to make fishing spear shafts and the tough leaves to cut meat. From Perth we headed north to Shark Bay, a journey of about 850km that took three days. A lunch stop in woodland afforded an opportunity to see splendidly large examples of the Tuart eucalyptus, E. gomphocephala, as well as Conostylis candicans with tufts of golden flowers and the attractive, blue-flowered climber Hovea elliptica. Later, we visited JUNE 2016

the Nambung National Park to see the stromatolites in the water along the shoreline of Lake Thetis. Stromatolites are fascinating, living structures composed of accretions of single-celled micro-organisms. They have existed on Earth for 3.5 billion years and are thought to be responsible for much of the oxygen in the atmosphere. Growing beside the lake were several attractive plants, including a beautiful, blue Scaevola crassifolia and Anthocercis littorea, a member of Solanaceae, with yellow tubular flowers and narrow spreading lobes. A labiate, a species of Hemigenia, had attractively fringed, 215

EXPLORATION

Limestone pinnacles in the Nambung National Park and, left, Scaevola crassifolia

lavender petals. Still within the Nambung National Park, we visited a striking desert area composed of thousands of fantastically contorted limestone pinnacles surrounded by ochre yellow sands. Very little vegetation survives 216

in this area but we did see the narrowleaved Clematis linearifolia. Continuing north-eastwards, we crossed part of the main wheatbelt, moving into the ‘Semi-arid Eucalypt Woodland Zone’, almost on the edge of the western desert. Near Tallering, after following a series of brown signposts saying ‘To the wreath flowers’, we found the roadside carpeted with hundreds of circular mats of Lechenaultia macrantha displaying its pink and cream flowers. Mark said it was one of the best displays he had ever seen. Nearby were specimens of Waitzia acuminata, a yellow ‘everlasting THE ALPINE GARDENER

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The delicate Thysanotus patersonii and, right, one of hundreds of mats of Lechenaultia macrantha

daisy’; a pea, Jacksonia acicularis; and Keraudrenia integrifolia, a shrub in Sterculiaceae, with five-petalled, hairy, purple flowers. In close proximity, carpeting the floor of the Eucalyptus woodland, were nice specimens of Dampiera wellsiana and Brunonia australis, the Australian cornflower, both with sky-blue flowers. Twining among the low shrubs was Thysanotus patersonii with pretty, delicately fringed, mauve flowers. Heading north-west we reached the Kalbarri National Park, much of which is composed of sandstone laid down about 400 million years ago under the sea. As JUNE 2016

the land was uplifted, what is now the Murchison River began cutting down through the rock to form a spectacular gorge. The coastal section of the park is geologically much more recent and has impressive, high cliffs along the coastline. Here, we had our first serious encounters with plants in Proteaceae 217

EXPLORATION

The dramatic Murchison River gorge and, left, Pileanthus peduncularis

and Myrtaceae. Two members of the latter family never failed to excite whenever we saw them. Pileanthus peduncularis (copper cups) provided eye-catching flame or orange-flowered shrubs in light woodland or open heath. Equally spectacular were species of Verticordia, including V. monadelpha with magenta flowers, V. oculata 218

with pink and white flowers, yellowflowered V. chrysanthella, and V. grandis with bright red flowers. We also saw several banksias – Banksia attenuata, B. hookeriana, and B. prionotes – as well as Anigozanthos manglesii (the red and green kangaroo paw), Calytrix enneabensis (starflower) and various species of Grevillea, including G. eriostachya with golden-yellow blooms, G. petrophiloides with magenta tasselflowers and G. leucopteris with white plumes. Kalbarri also provided the setting for some spectacular sunsets. From Kalbarri, we had a wildlife THE ALPINE GARDENER

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The starflower Calytrix enneabensis and, right, Verticordia oculata

interlude, initially going north to Shark Bay, where we saw pelicans, dolphins, sharks and other marine animals before returning to Perth. Leaving Perth, we travelled east to the Ellis Brook Valley Reserve on the Darling Range escarpment. This reserve is extremely rich in plants and in a short time we had found various species of Verticordia, splendid specimens of Patersonia occidentalis (purple flag), Grevillea bipinnatifida with conspicuous, pendulous, red flowers, Calothamnus sanguineus with magenta ‘claws’, and several species of Stylidium, including JUNE 2016

219

EXPLORATION

The white plumes of Grevillea leucopteris and, left, Patersonia occidentalis

S. breviscapum subsp. erythrocalyx (boomerang trigger plant). South-east of Perth, near the small town of Narrogin, the Dryandra Woodland has been preserved as an ecological oasis in the wheatbelt region of Western 220

Australia. This woodland is dominated by Eucalyptus astringens (brown mallet), which is high in tannin and was used so extensively in the leather tanning industry that areas were set aside for mallet plantations. Now the remnant woodlands, together with untouched areas of native vegetation where Eucalyptus wandoo and E. accedens flourish, are important for conservation. One reason for this is that dense thickets of Gastrolobium species (poison pea) grow in the Dryandra Woodland. This is an attractive but poisonous shrub to which native animals, especially the marsupials, are immune but to which THE ALPINE GARDENER

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Lechenaultia formosa and, right, Stylidium breviscapum subsp. erythrocalyx (boomerang trigger plant)

introduced animals, such as foxes, are not. This means the woodland can provide sanctuary for endangered native species such as bilbys, boodies, malas, quendas, wallabies and woylies, all of which we were privileged to see during a nocturnal visit to the Dryandra Sanctuary and Reserve. Walking the trails in the daytime we found Eucalyptus macrocarpa with silvery foliage and striking red flowers held in silver calyces. Also in the woodland was Hakea bucculenta, an erect multi-stemmed shrub with scarlet racemes of flowers up to 15cm long, a nice little cushion species of Hibbertia, JUNE 2016

221

EXPLORATION

Darwinia oxylepis and, right, Xanthosia rotundifolia, the Southern Cross

Pimelea lanata, a white-flowered member of Thymelaeaceae, Tetratheca hirsuta, a small heath-like shrub with deep pink flowers, and Dampiera altissima, a pretty shrub with silver foliage and deep purple flowers. Driving along the road, we were stopped in our tracks by a handsome, blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua rugosa), one of many lizards we saw on the trip. Near Kojonup we visited two other small reserves and were rewarded with lots of plants including Anigozanthos humilis (common catspaw), its yellow flowers suffused with red or orange, Thelymitra campanulata (bell sunorchid) and Scaevola phlebopetala, a prostrate plant with showy, deep 222

purple flowers. To our delight we also discovered two ‘enamel orchids’, Elythranthera brunonis (purple) and E. emarginata (pink), and the beautiful red-flowered Lechenaultia formosa. Continuing south towards Albany and the coast, we entered a more open area classified as ‘Southern Mallee Shrubland and Heath’. Mountains appeared on the horizon, gradually looming larger as we approached the Stirling Range Retreat, where we were to stay for a couple of nights. These mountains offer a remarkably rich variety of both animal and plant species, over 1,500 in total, at least 60 of which are endemic. The average annual rainfall is only 200400mm, so the climate is relatively dry. THE ALPINE GARDENER

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Dramatic flowers of Eucalyptus caesia subsp. caesia

Of particular note in rough, rocky terrain on the slopes of the highest peak, Bluff Knoll (1,073m), was Darwinia oxylepis, looking a little like a heather with beautiful, rose-pink bells. Lower down we saw Kingia australis, a strange, arborescent plant growing to 8m with a thick, fibrous trunk surrounded by persistent leaf bases through which the roots pass from the tufted crown to the soil. This species has drumstick flower heads similar to those of Dasypogon bromeliifolius, which is actually called ‘drumsticks’. We also saw Xanthosia rotundifolia (Southern Cross), a striking plant in Apiaceae. Elsewhere in the range we found the red Beaufortia decussata (gravel bottlebrush), a beautiful JUNE 2016

Eucalyptus, E. caesia subsp. caesia, and clumps of Stackhousia monogyna, its white flower spikes pollinated by night-flying moths. For bird-lovers, the opportunity to see flocks of the rare Calyptorhynchus latirostris (Carnaby’s black cockatoo), which is endemic in this area, was a real treat. Initially, the drive from the Retreat took us along the base of Stirling Range and afforded splendid views of the hills. A fuel stop at the Boxwood Roadhouse yielded not only refreshment for thirsty travellers and vehicles but nice plants such as Anigozanthos rufus (red kangaroo paw), Orthrosanthus laxus (morning iris), Grevillea coccinea (red toothbrush) and Thysanotus multiflorus. 223

EXPLORATION

Grevillea coccinea and, left, Anigozanthos rufus, red kangaroo paw

From there we headed to the coast and Point Ann, a picturesque spot with red cliffs, sparkling white sand and a sea shading from turquoise to deep azure 224

blue. At the entrance to the Fitzgerald River National Park we spotted Banksia baxteri, B. praemorsa, and B. repens, with flower spikes of cream or pink emerging from the ground beyond the leaves. Isopogon trilobus, a coneflower with fan-shaped leaves, also grew there. Walking along a well-made cliff-top path, we found many flowers including Calothamnus villosus and Melaleuca scabra, both in Myrtaceae. From Point Ann we had a leisurely drive to the Quaalup Homestead, about 120km east of Albany. Eye-catching specimens of the scarlet Banksia coccinea prompted a photographic stop, as did a field of Hakea victoria glowing in the afternoon sunshine. On reaching the traditional homestead, THE ALPINE GARDENER

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The peculiar Banksia repens and, right, Hakea victoria

we were captivated by the sight of wallabies munching the creamy-yellow flowers of a succulent member of the daisy family on the ‘lawn’. The owners of the homestead had marked out a welllabelled botanic trail in the grounds and most of us followed this for a pleasurable couple of hours. Although flies were a problem at the start of the walk and prompted many people to don their veiled hats, the troublesome insects vanished as the heat of the day disappeared with the setting sun. We found several treasures including an Actinodium species (swamp daisy), Anigozanthos rufus, Banksia repens, B. speciosa, Chamelaucium megalopetalum, a showy ‘waxflower’ with white flowers which age to deep red, and Lambertia JUNE 2016

225

EXPLORATION

A vibrant pair: Calothamnus villosus and, left, Lambertia inermis

inermis, a shrub with bright orangered flowers like a honeysuckle. The Quaalup bell, Pimelea physodes, was there but, sadly, not in flower. As night fell we sat down to an excellent supper 226

of sweetcorn soup, beef enchiladas in a creamy sauce, and almond-cherry cake in the candlelit dining-room. A late-evening drive took us to Albany, a former whaling port and naval base but now a pleasant residential town where the only sailing is recreational. En route to Pemberton we visited the dramatic Valley of the Giants, where we made our way along the aerial walkway which climbed to a dizzying height of 40m above the forest floor. Here we looked into the crowns of the giants, namely Eucalyptus jacksonii (red tingle) and E. guilfoylei (yellow tingle). There were impressively tall specimens of Eucalyptus diversicolor (karri) too, THE ALPINE GARDENER

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The fringed mantis orchid, Caladenia falcata

which can grow to a height of 80m and has spreading leaves rather than the pendulous ones of most Eucalyptus. Returning to ground level, we followed a magical trail through the woodland and found, among myriad other plants, Caladenia latifolia (pink fairy orchid) nestling at the base of one of the ‘giants’. Our final destination was the D’Entrecasteaux National Park. The trail started in forest but gradually moved towards a belt of white sand dunes which was encroaching on the woodland. Hakea nitida (frog Hakea) grew in the sand. Surprisingly, as we neared the dunes, we found more and more orchids including Caladenia falcata (fringed mantis orchid), with distinctive upward JUNE 2016

sweeping lateral sepals, C. flava, (cowslip orchid), Elythranthera brunonis, Lyperanthus serratus and Thelymitra campanulata. Having left the forest, we climbed the first sand dune and gazed from the crest across a sand sea. A storm was approaching, so we beat a hasty retreat and drove to a winery where we enjoyed wine-tasting followed by a delicious lunch: a fitting end to a fascinating and highly memorable tour.   Mark Hanger will lead an AGS tour to Western Australia in September this year. For full details see the issue of AGS News that accompanies this journal. 227

PLANTS FROM OUR SHOWS

E

xhibitors countrywide have had to contend with the very mixed blessing of a peculiarly mild winter that brought some of their plants out of dormancy and into bloom ridiculously early. Who has ever known Iris winogradowii to flower before Christmas, or several species of usually vernal crocuses to be at their peak on New Year’s Day? Those living in north-western England, and the Lake District especially, endured extraordinarily high levels of rainfall month after month that left the floors of their alpine houses flooded kneedeep for at least a week at a time. Some plants were drowned while others on the elevated benches hated the saturated atmosphere and succumbed to Botrytis – but a few relished the conditions. Tommy Anderson, who lives in Kendal, one of the worst-affected areas, photographed his sodden, potted Corydalis solida collection (see page 230) after the waters receded in late winter, their covering layers of compost washed away to reveal clusters of tubers, firmly anchored (mercifully, their roots had made good growth) and the growing points happily at a relatively early stage of development. Imbued with the resilience that in hackneyed yet deserved fashion characterises many north country gardeners, he shrugged his shoulders, reapplied the topdressing, and in due course, whether due to the wet alone, a water-borne administering of slurry, or sheer fluke, the plants actually benefited from what at first sight appeared to be a catastrophe. Some members will recall the 1997 display masterminded by Kath Dryden

228

Corydalis thrive in the floods 2015 SHOWS FEATURED: South Wales, Harlow Early Spring, Loughborough, Kendal, East Lancashire, Cleveland, Kent COMPILED BY ROBERT ROLFE FROM REPORTS BY: Robert Amos, John Richards, Jo Walker, Jim Almond, Peter Hood, Dave Mountfort and Ray Drew

at an early spring RHS Show in Vincent Square, which coincided with the publication of the influential publication Corydalis by Magnus Lidén and Henrik Zetterlund (who travelled to London for its launch). This brought together more tuberous species of the genus than had ever been assembled at a show, heralding the tremendous nascent range of Corydalis solida clones. At a rough guess, at least 70 have since been offered for sale. Selected in Britain, Holland, Sweden and Latvia especially, they are of diverse origin, as a trial conducted at RHS Wisley from 1998-2000 demonstrated. Here, C. solida ‘Kissproof ’ (selected by Willem van Eeden from a naturalised colony, the white flowers with dark purple lips) was noted as producing large spikes and being ‘a good doer’. Jānis Rukšāns, based in Rozula, THE ALPINE GARDENER

FARRER MEDAL WINNERS 2016 SOUTH WALES Galanthus plicatus ‘Sophie North’ (Don Peace) HARLOW EARLY SPRING Not awarded LOUGHBOROUGH Fritillaria stenanthera (George Elder) KENDAL Hepatica nobilis var. japonica ‘Gyousei’ (Brian & Shelagh Smethurst) EAST LANCASHIRE Dionysia bryoides (Derek Pickard) CLEVELAND Primula allionii ‘Mrs Dyas’ (Geoff Rollinson) KENT Corydalis darwasica (Bob & Rannveig Wallis) ROBERT ROLFE

Corydalis solida ‘Merlin’ grown by Tommy Anderson in Kendal

Latvia, has been instrumental in distributing a wider range than any other nursery, in 2003 launching ‘Merlin’, catalogued as a ‘nice addition to ‘Kissproof ’… with beautiful purest white flowers; lips of petals are nicely, thinly rimmed dark purple. Spikes JUNE 2016

very compact, flowers long-lasting’. Carmine-red ‘King Arthur’ is presumably of similar vintage, but you can nowadays choose from concolorous, bicoloured or even tricoloured selections of C. solida ranging from deep red through dark 229

PLANTS FROM OUR SHOWS

One of Tommy Anderson’s pots of Corydalis solida after its topdressing was washed away by the Cumbrian floods, leaving the emerging shoots unharmed

purple to bright pink, soft lilac, light blue, cream and pure white. They derive mainly from Macedonian, eastern European (Romanian especially), Latvian (‘Snowstorm’, for example) and central Russian (Penza strain, most notably) accessions, some of these having interbred under garden conditions, either spontaneously or as a result of deliberate cross-pollination.

 230

They are best in a fertile, rather heavy soil that doesn’t dry out in summer and should be reset every second or third year in early autumn. If all goes well, the plump, yellowish tubers will double-up annually. The deceptively fragile flowers are in fact remarkably frost-tolerant and plants grown ‘hard’ are in general much superior to those given anything other than last-minute glass protection.

Full show reports and more pictures can be seen on the AGS website THE ALPINE GARDENER

SOUTH WALES SHOW

Pictures: Jon Evans

Galanthus ‘Greenfinch’ (Bob Worsley) Some of the most attractive of all snowdrops have greentipped outer segments. This one, discovered in the Norfolk garden once owned by Heyrick Greatorex (his double hybrid ‘Ophelia’ was also exhibited), has scapes that can reach a height of 30cm.

Crocus chrysanthus ‘Golden Sonne’ (David Richards) Unfortunately several of David Richards’ Crocus exhibits, left overnight in the show hall, were suffering from heat exhaustion when judged. But this fetchingly dwarf, fairly recent addition to the range of C. chrysanthus selections was at its prime and in abundant bloom. Crocus napolitanus (Ian Robertson) Worked up patiently from seed sown over a decade ago, this southern Italian is an element of C. vernus, once described as var. neapolitanus. It defied the bleak, stormy conditions outdoors with an immaculate display redolent of earliest spring. One judge, having seen the nominated taxon near Naples, thought this exhibit was more likely to be a fine form of C. tommasinianus. JUNE 2016

231

HARLOW EARLY SPRING SHOW

Pictures: Doug Joyce

Neotinea lactea (Barry Tattersall), pictured left. Winter temperatures in southern England at least had rivalled those in Mediterranean resorts. Unsurprisingly, Mediterranean orchids had responded well, including this rarely cultivated species, widely but unevenly distributed from North Africa and Spain to Turkey at up to 1,800m. This clonal grouping received a Certificate of Merit. Anacamptis papilionacea subsp. heroica (Barry Tattersall), pictured right. Like the Neotinea, this was once classified under Orchis. It is hard to imagine a poor form of this species, and the mainly Greek subsp. heroica (also from westernmost Turkey) reliably – in the wild, anyway – produces substantial inflorescences of up to eight flowers, their hoods typically darker than the intricately patterned, fan-shaped lips. Iris bucharica ‘Baldschuan Yellow’ (Ivor Betteridge) Aside from bringing along the exhibit voted best in show (Iris svetlanae), Ivor staged several other fine junos, including this dwarf Uzbek version of a species whose other cultivated clones can be twice as tall. Indeed, it is scheduled for publication as a new species. 232

THE ALPINE GARDENER

LOUGHBOROUGH SHOW

Pictures: Jon Evans

Iris tuberosus (Bob & Rannveig Wallis) For long known as Hermodactylus tuberosus, this is a familiar sight in southern Europe, often on waste ground or among olive groves over terra rossa. Grown for sale as a cut flower, it has a good scent. This stock represented the usual colour form but yellow and purple-flushed variants are known. Aletes humilis (Brian Burrow) From high, dry parts of Colorado, with historical but presently uncertain records from southernmost Wyoming, this miniature umbellifer was barely 8cm across after five years (wild plants can grow to around 20cm in diameter). Overwintered under glass but kept outdoors during the summer, it is repotted infrequently, using a welldrained ‘scree’ mix. Narcissus Fringella Group (Anne Wright) There has been a remarkable flurry of activity over the past decade or so that has led to the breeding of numerous first-rate miniature daffodils. The exhibitor’s own seedling N. ‘Sidora’ (cyclamineus x asturiensis) often appears at this show, though this time she showed the reverse cross, bred in Northern Ireland by Brian Duncan. JUNE 2016

233

KENDAL SHOW

Pictures: Don Peace and Jim Almond

Hepatica nobilis var. japonica ‘Gyousei’ (Brian & Shelagh Smethurst) Received four years ago as an established specimen, this plant has burgeoned, kept in a shaded frame from late spring to September, then repotted in a friable mix of John Innes No. 3, leafmould, bark and grit and moved to the alpine house. A late winter topdressing of blood, fish and bone meal encourages a generous display and it won a Farrer Medal. Trillium nivale (Barry Winter) Rarely a year goes by without at least one outstanding exhibit of this species. But achieving such results is a slow business, especially early on. This Certificate of Merit plant was received as a single tuber in 2008. Alpine house treatment and a mix of two parts grit, two parts John Innes No. 2, one part sand and one part leaf-mould have paid dividends. Viola douglasii (George Young) The summer-dormant northwest American violas inhabit vernally moist grasslands or woodland clearings, producing masses of deeply delving roots that tide them over their resting period. This charming species, from Oregon and California, has settled well in George’s alpine house, even seeding freely into the sand plunge. 234

THE ALPINE GARDENER

EAST LANCASHIRE SHOW

Pictures: Don Peace and Jim Almond

Pulsatilla vernalis (Ian & Maria Leslie) Still in a 19cm pot but grown from seed of Swiss provenance, sown at least 15 years ago, this mature plant served up seven pristine flowers that had rushed into bloom in response to a recent mild spell in its owners’ North Wales garden. In general the flowering of cultivated plants can be erratic, for all that prodigious efforts are very occasionally recorded. Serapias neglecta (Barry Tattersall) Seen on the show bench on at least two other occasions, this is one of the dwarfest but also largest-flowered of the tongue orchids. A winter-green species, it dies back shortly after flowering and should be kept dry throughout the summer. Favouring slightly acid soils, it occurs locally in damp meadows, maquis and sandy places along the northern coast of the Mediterranean and on several of the larger islands. Pleione formosana (David Morris) Kept cool and lightly shaded, pleiones easily last from one show to the next, particularly this early in the year (they are normally at their best in April). This was one of several accomplished plants that earned David both the Novice Aggregate Trophy and the Intermediate Trophy. JUNE 2016

235

CLEVELAND SHOW

Pictures: Robert Rolfe and Don Peace

Primula allionii ‘Mrs Dyas’ (Geoff Rollinson) Selections bred within the past 30 years have largely superseded those raised or collected in the first half of the 20th century, with a few important exceptions. ‘Mrs Dyas’ is one of the old (or at least the older) guard, slow-growing, long-lived and reliably floriferous. This example, now a teenager, received the Farrer Medal. Saxifraga x boydilacina ‘Pink Star’ (John Millen) Awarded the R.A. Hodgson Trophy for best plant in the Intermediate Section, this had been found languishing in a nursery, clearly hating its pure peat compost. Repotting in John Innes No. 3 with leaf-mould in the base of the pot, plus grit and a multi-purpose compost, has manifestly paid dividends. x Chionoscilla allenii ‘Fra Angelico’ (Don Peace) Bigeneric (unless you share the opinion that Chionodoxa is better included within Scilla), such crosses were first recorded in the 19th century, This, arguably the best of all, was distributed by Richard Nutt and references the Quattrocento painter. 236

THE ALPINE GARDENER

KENT SHOW

Pictures: Jon Evans

Romulea bulbocodium (John Millen) One of several noteworthy plants belonging to this exhibitor, this received the Longfield Trophy for best entry in the Intermediate Section. The individual flowers are fleeting, replacements making up for those faded ones deftly removed. As the flowers fade, watering ceases and isn’t resumed until autumn. Fritillaria gibbosa (John Kemp) This large clump with over 20 flowering stems was awarded a Certificate of Merit. A component of the distinguished Rhinopetalum alliance, the main diagnostic feature is the two lower leaves, much larger and wider than the remainder. The usually pink, outwardfacing flowers are framed by delicately furled bract leaves. Tulipa neustruevae (Bob & Rannveig Wallis) Not the clone normally offered in commerce, this is dwarfer (under 5-10cm) and came from John Blanchard. Described in 1949 from the western Tien Shan (Ferghana), it is a lower-altitude plant than T. dasystemon (under which guise it is still offered on occasion) and can easily be told apart by its green rather than greyish, undulate leaves. JUNE 2016

237

ISSN 1475-0449