> Yes, ephemeral indeed. It is one of the first plants to flower in my area, > with some Lomatiums perhaps a little earlier. Here is what Ranunculus > glaberrimus looks like in cultivation.
I have only seen this, or closely related plants, in receding snow banks on the 2006 Nargs tour in Wyoming, so I am no expert on them. Where they are flowering as they emerge from the snow they are wonderful glistening golden circles, with just a ruff of leaves. A foot or so down the slope they are pleasant low growing plants that would look OK at the front of an alpine bed. Another foot or so down and they are very ordinary "buttercups" that would look at home in any meadow. It reminds me of the alpine show judges notes, that Joy will be very familiar with, "Plants should be in character" Now which character would that be in a badly lit warm school hall in the middle of the UK? Maybe a quick spray of growth retardant would help, but that would be cheating! Brian Whyer, Buckinghamshire, England, zone ~8 A wonderful show of Snowdrops and Hepaticas at the first RHS show of the year in London yesterday, and today. _______________________________________________ Alpine-l mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
