Arisaema ringens from JAPAN

I'm very proud of this, it's a huge rhizome and I promise to make it bloom.
Since I managed to kill two Arisaema griffithii as I planted them out in the garden and the 2011 winter proved to "cold" for them I decided no more weird plants.
But here I am, bragging about this!
When I opened the box and saw it, I was "WOW" and instantly made up my mind to do my best to accommodate it as best I can.
I went out to a nearby park with some trees and gathered some top soil mixed with leaves, mixed it with some vermiculite, potting mix and sand and after "roasting" it in the oven for a while, I planted the Arisaema in it.

Arisaema ringens

Arisaema ringens 1

Arisaema ringens in pot

Arisaema ringens - already doing something

Start of '13 - Lily scales, Fritillaria persica seeds

Happy New Year!

This is my first post for this year and looks like I have some resolutions: I lobe bulbs now more than ever! Especially Lilium. But I'll take them all!

I remember I promised I'd be a serious blogger, but it turns out I am a lousy one. Last post was last May. Shame!

OK. I will begin with bulbs.

Beginning of Dec. 2012 I got some Orientpet or is it "tree lily" scales from gardenaddict1 (davesgarden) and I already have some very small bulbils developing.
What intrigues me, is  these bulbils don't come from the soil, but rather grow on the "outside" parts of the scales (I didn't bury them completely).

(Lavon, Garden Pleasure, Satisfaction)

And then these gorgeous Fritillaria persica seeds I got from a generous trader (katlian - davesgarden - end of Oct 2012).
I got so many seeds I directly sowed many in the garden, then in a few pots (in the garden, on the balcony, in the fridge) and also I tried the wet paper towel in the fridge - this seemed to be faster.
Half of the 50+ seeds germinated in the paper towel and I potted up by mid January 2013. The other half, still good seeds as I could tell (maybe just a little lazier) I traded with a davesgarden member from Croatia.
I hope he gets them in good conditions if not germinated and ready for pots.

Fritillaria persica - germinated seeds

Fritillaria persica seeds -potted up

Mom likes this - Dicentra spectabilis

I'm not looking after our small flower garden for the sake of nice compliments and well, mom rarely says something but I remember her saying "that's a pretty one!" and pointed to this bush.

Dicentra spectabilis, by its common name "bleeding heart" and the Romanian one would be "lady's earrings".

What I like about it is the earliness and prettiness (are these English words???)

When other plants only wake up after a long, freezing winter, it is already in full bloom.

SO.. which bulbs bloomed?

Geez, it's been over a month. I'd say my life is real busy and I fail to find time for writing, but I'd be lying.
There's always time. WILL...this is something I sometimes lack! And... I forget about this blog, true!

ANYWAY...here I am. Beginning of MAY, already the temps are in the 30s (Celsius) most of the spring bulbs are done for this year.

Let's see what I had in my garden:

These tiny but really cute Erythronium(s) 

Then, some Crocus vernus Pickwick (transplanted last fall, so only a few scattered blooms :(

Tiny and cute Fritillaria uva-vulpis (probably)

Speaking of Fritillaria, this is the first spring to have F. imperialis blooming - previous bulbs sometimes generated green stems, no blooms, and sometimes died underground without any warning - and I was anxiously waiting, and waiting...

Fritillaria imperialis

And these Hyacinth(s) ... Jan Bos... not really the deep red I saw on labels and packaging but still... kinda cool. A good-willed neighbor decided 5 is way too many and snatched 2 if them. Good thing they didn't pull the out with bulbs-and-all!

A couple daffodils and tulips in the next... episode...

Who doesn't love bulbs ???

Bulbs are (in joint venture with alpines) my real cup of tea!
All kinds of bulbs - spring, summer, tropical. As long as they are not fussy about blooming.
As it's spring, I can only talk about spring blooming ones.
We've had a really cold winter and just like me, bulbs are springing out of the ground to enjoy all the sun they can.
I don't live in my garden, I visit it 2-3 times a week and I am quite surprised to see how quickly the action develops.
Here's some of the bulbs I am eager to see in full bloom:

Tulips (I've got quite a bunch, but I will only show these two... for the sake of interesting-ness)

 

 Hyacinths

I call this MONSTER

Jan Bos - NEW ones

Erythronium - probably dens-canis (dog tooth)
Got them from the woods (yes, bad CALIN, but they were everywhere, hardly endangered!)
I got to them a bit too late and weren't in bloom, so it's gon















Orchis purpurea (not really a bulb, but looks like one - and I'm nevertheless anxious about it)
This is it in bloom:
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2832170310104010362FWtrmv
















Fritillaria imperialis
 probably the orange-ish. NEW!




















Allium - of some kind -
last spring they grew a bit, then just wilted and died back - I never got the chance to see what they are. I love the pink tips!

Tulipa tarda I have to put these on my list, last spring I thought I had lost them completely. I even see cute, small seedlings!!!

First blooms for 2012

There's nothing like some color in the gaden (besides GREEN) after a long long winter.
And every winter seems longer than the previous. And colder. And the snow thicker.

Well. Here's what I have had so far in my garden.

SNOWDROPS (of course!)
HEPATICA (in blue and pink) and
HELLEBORUS.
I wish they grew taller and looked up - I have to really bend down and even kneel to take pics :)

Here they are!

Hydrangea - a real bargain?

I went to the mall for Valentine's ... and I happened to go to the supermarket. Of course they had all kinds of flowers, cut and potted for this ocassion.
I stumbled upon a bargain.
I always envied people in the west, always bragging about their finds, and cheap plants they always seem to get... and I was wondering "why not me?"
Now it's me!
Found these 2 (the last ones otherwise i would have got 10!)

HYDRANGEA 

After I placed them in those white trays and watered, they perked up!
I will take pics later one when fully recovered!