I'm only going to attempt one of those questions - My favourite plant family constantly changes, and depends whether I am currently looking at (potentially) hardy plants or definitely tender things which I will grow only indoors--there is some overlap: Cactaceae being the best example, Crassulaceae the next--both of which I grow both indoors and out, have grown since my earliest days of gardening indoors and out, and have species to excite me still and thousands I have not grown..
The alpine gardening world (which, like you I have been exploring much more recently) has been very interesting to me in that there are so *many *families represented! So, several of my *new* favourite families: Asteraceae--I had no idea there were so many really cool plants in this family! My thing is not just pretty plants, but really interesting, cool, weird things--none of which I expected in this family! Saussurea (numerous germinations last year, but very little growth, we'll see if they survive the winter in pots sunk in the ground) from the mountains of Asia has some really amazing forms, Soroseris (brown leaves, my favourite! no germination last year), Ligularia soldanella (unsown seed from Alplains, I hope its still viable :( from the U.S. with red/black leaves and yellow flowers, even the Petasites spp which grow so abundantly here, and send up their 'clusters of grapes' buds in early spring, followed by pretty and odd inflorescences, dramatic leaves and showy seed heads, native Packera (senecio) cana with ultra tough clumps of grey/hairy leaves (fall colour too!) etc etc--seriously cool stuff! Apiaceae-- before poring over lists like Alplains and Beavercreek, and seeing little odd mounds of sometimes textured, variously coloured foliage, sometimes with odd flowers, I had no idea there were such interesting plants in this family from high and /or dry places! I had one seed batch (Cymopterus) last year from Alplains, not an unqualified success so far, but I will keep trying with this genus, and others such as the Lomatiums Jane McGary mentioned; I am also exploring both native and exotic woodland/edge species which are an easier fit for my property. Cohan On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 3:48 AM, Kyle Baker <[email protected]>wrote: > Turning to plants for a bit... > > 1) What is your favorite plant family? why? > > > > Mr. Kyle Fletcher Baker, MCN > Maine Zone 5 > > > > _ -- West Central Alberta, Canada, Zone 2-3 record temps from 10-20 miles away: min -45C/-49F;max 34C/93F http://picasaweb.google.com/cactuscactus
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