Re: [Alpine-l] Alpine-L Gallery Image Upload (3539) 2-shows Miniature garden close-up
Dear Cliff, It is so cruel to send a photo of this magnificent creation and not tell us a lot about it. I have to wonder if you have written anything about making such gardens where we can access your blog, inclusion in a bulletin or whatever. Such info as: how large this planting is, if not old, did you drill holes and put them in the holes and then take a photo before they or their blooms started to expire(smile), and how large the tufa and holes are, as well as how you would expect to keep this going...smile. Surely that is not too much to askbig smile. You are truly a plantsman and photographer of the highest order. Thank you for what you share. Best always, Marcia Meigs Ithaca, NY, USA currently on Cape Cod in Truro where all the names come from English towns way back in the 17th and 18th centuries. -Original Message- From: Cliff Booker bookcli...@aol.com To: Alpine-l Alpine-l@science.uu.nl Sent: Sat, Oct 20, 2012 6:39 am Subject: [Alpine-l] Alpine-L Gallery Image Upload (3539) 2-shows Miniature garden close-up Alpine-L Gallery Image Upload (3539) 2-shows Miniature garden close-up From: Cliff Booker eMail: bookcli...@aol.com Name: 2-shows Miniature garden close-up Note: URL: http://botu07.bio.uu.nl/temperate/?gal=AlpenPixid=3539 File: 2-shows/2-shows_Miniature_garden_close-up_3539.jpg ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
[Alpine-l] Summer heat and Trilliums
Hi Elin, Friend Glen in MI emailed that he has not had a drop of rain for two months, whereas counties to the N and S have had good rainfalls. Temps here have broken all in history. A terrible Spring and now a very bad start to summer. Being only a trough gardener insofar a rock plants are concerned, I once again am grateful to be most obsessed by the woodlanders. It is nice, though, to see several forms of delosperma, both in troughs and on a slope happily enjoying the sun and heat. While winter seems to do a little killing off here and there, it is so delightful to be able to pick up a loose piece and stick it in a trough where it will produce a bloom. I should try to find more...they're easy The sunny gardens and porch plants are suffering the worst as they simply cannot draw up enough water in the scalding heat of up to around one hundred at times. As well, the dreadful humidity gives me serious breathing difficulty so it is difficult to do all I want to do. This has held me back from taking off for Truro for the rest of the Summer and most of the Fall. Even though the ground seems damp much of the time from watering, the trees are showing how bad the situation is. Numerous aged maples, etc. droop, as well as the younger understory trees. Sad to see and praying for a good storm. Friend John Aipassa mentioned to me some weeks ago that his trillium plants' seed pods were bursting but the seed was not mature and he feared lack of germination. I have found, after several years of racing around just before leaving for the Cape and cracking open seed pods to find seeds ranging from white to tan, that most germinated very nicely beneath the mothers. So, as John Guyer seems to have demonstrated over the years, there is quite a bit of latitude in what will germinate...thankfully. I think all this heat is telling me that I should not plant any more plants in gardens, but I spent two hours yesterday mattocking a little new area as a friend sent me a variegated forsythia. I will use it to help hide trash cans, sink a bunch of daff bulbs dug up when planting the last plant sale treasures, etc. I just have to slow down! Cheerio, Marcia Brown Meigs Ithaca, NY USA In a message dated 7/1/2012 3:48:15 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, johnsone...@aol.com writes: Knoxville TN had the highest temperature ever measured here yesterday of 105 F, and I measured 107 F. on my back porch. We are in serious drought, and I'm being hard pressed to keep trees and shrubs alive, let alone anything else. Having whined, I'd like to commiserate with those with much more dire problems. I'd like to hear from Bob Nold and the folks at the Denver Botanical Gardens as to their situation. Are our Colorado friends okay? And I'm sure some of our members were affected by the awful storm in the DC area recently. I, too, had been wondering if we still had a viable group--missed hearing from everyone. Elin Johnson Sweetwater, TN In a message dated 6/28/2012 7:01:35 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, uuall...@gmail.com writes: 100 degrees here, Air Quality Index reported as 139. -- Larry Wallace Cincinnati ___ Alpine-Al mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
Re: [Alpine-l] Alpine-L Gallery Image Upload (3452) Unknown, ID needed
Hello John, Somehow I get the feeling that this gets moisture from the verges of lawn, etc. and thus does well at producing this exquisite flower(as in lupines). Makes me appreciate FL in a way but I am not about to leave the lovely winters and seasons of the NE United States...smile. How did you happen to find this? Best, Marcia Meigs in Ithaca, New York USA In a message dated 1/27/2012 10:53:55 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, fernh...@voicenet.com writes: http://botu07.bio.uu.nl/temperate/?gal=AlpenPixid=3452 ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
Re: [Alpine-l] Archives and bog garden
Bill, I don't find it either, and when I tried to type in Rock Garden Quarterly in the search box, only Quarter would fit. When i went to the bottom of the page that popped up, I got editor which didn't give me anything. Such is why I never bother accessing this website. It is beautiful in spite of the grey and other hard to see fonts on black, but the password process, etc. are just too annoying and time consuming. Too bad, as the photography is truly spectacular. Just call me challenged and older...smile. Would it be possible that when someone wishes to send others to a notable website page, one could simply post a link or URL? Best, Marcia Brown Meigs In a message dated 7/26/2011 9:43:37 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, remm...@stny.rr.com writes: Jane McGary wrote: Kathleen, if you will look at the NARGS website, www.nargs.org, you'll find a cumulative index to the Rock Garden Quarterly. In the SUbject index, look up bog gardens. At least two very detailed descriptions of how to create a bog garden were published there. One is by Frederick Case and would be appropriate for your climate, since he gardened in the upper Midwest in a cold-winter area. You can get a copy of the issue in which the article appeared from the Society (I'm not sure who is doing this these days but the website will tell you). Jane, I find no link to the Rock Garden Quarterly. am I blind? Bill Plummer Painted Post NY Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
Re: [Alpine-l] Alpine-L Gallery Image Upload (3083) 2-shows INTERNATIONAL CON...
What a magnificent specimen! I assume this is one rhizome with that many stems? It would be interesting to hear how one achieves this sort of plant...age, timing of light or whatever, fertilizing, etc. Or was this taken out of the ground for show? I have never seen, in the wild around here or in my garden, a tillium like this. Thank you for showing it to us. Regards, Marcia Brown Meigs in very windy and chilly Ithaca, NY, USA No T.grandiflorum yet In a message dated 4/17/2011 4:57:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, bookcli...@aol.com writes: Alpine-L Gallery Image Upload (3083) 2-shows INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FARRER FORREST From: Cliff Booker eMail: bookcli...@aol.com Name: 2-shows INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FARRER FORREST Note: Worthy winner of the Farrer Medal and the Forrest Medal at the Eighth International Rock Garden Conference Show held at Nottingham UniversIty, U.K. on Saturday 16th April 2011 under the auspices of the Alpine Garden Society and the Scottish Rock Garden Club. The exhibitor was Chris Lilley from North Anston with a superb plant of Trillium grandiflorum and this success proved doubly sweet for Chris as this was his first Farrer and his first Forrest Medal. URL: http://botu07.bio.uu.nl/temperate/?gal=AlpenPixid=3083 ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
Re: [Alpine-l] Understory for bamboo
Hi Diane, I am surprised that you feel one doesn't need to put up much of a barrier. I bought a bamboo from a local widely known plantsman. I cannot remember the name except that it was viariegated and delicate. I planted it in a bottomless pot about a foot tall about twenty or more years ago, and it quickly traveled...expletive. We are still digging out sprouts here and there after trying to remove it about 17 years ago...smile. I adore bamboo, but will not plant it here. Beeg blizzard predicted in the northern plains and it is supposed to hit us here as well...sigh. A little fed up, but even more upset over the deer who are camping out all over the slopes here and broke through the netting fence. Of course, the first thing they attacked was an exquisite fastigiate chamacyparis. The bottom half is now five inches thick and the top a foot thick...sigh. I am thinking a permanent fence from my old age money. We shoot at the deer with what seems to be a very ineffective pellet gun. They keep coming back and while I feel sorry for them as I realize they are hungry. I am conflicted...smile. I have to think that our UK friends do not have a deer problem? Probably dear little hedgehogs and badgers? Best from currently frigid central NY State. I dream of galanthus in full blow carpeting the landscape in the UK as we never see it here. Best, Marcia Brown Meigs Ithaca, NY, USA Cheerio, Marcia In a message dated 2/20/2011 2:19:51 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, volta...@islandnet.com writes: I don't recall anything in bamboo forests I've been in. Even dwarf bamboo seemed to obliterate the competition. The good thing about bamboo is that its roots are shallow so barriers don't have to be massive. Also, plants that are over-run can survive. When I had a backhoe in to remove my bamboo, an arisaema that had not emerged aboveground in twelve years came up and flowered. Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada maritime zone 8, cool Mediterranean climate mild rainy winters, mild dry summers ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
Re: [Alpine-l] Large files
Anne, Lucky you, keeping the deer out of your garden with icy snow, but then all those rocks and slopes help. Here, in spite of a northerly slope frozen over, forcing us to clamber up and down a long, long drive, for the last three weeks or so, to the cars at the bottom, most of the garden areas are fairly flat. This AM I saw the gang of six plump two year olds(I think), lying down as well as pawing at the snow cover on the grassy slope above the house. One was shoving its head against the netting fence, sigh, so it is time to drag out the pellet gun which, unfortunately does not have much of a range. I enjoy watching the deer but enough is enough...smile. Just wish i could see an adonis or snowdrop poking through. Hopefully it will not be long now. The temperature is close to 57 but then blizzards are always possible into April. Cheerio, Marcia in Ithaca, NY, USA Zone 5 In a message dated 2/14/2011 7:27:21 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, zan...@aol.com writes: Marcia, the one thing that strong icy snow cover does is keep the deer out of the garden here. Because the garden is steep, when it's icy the deer seem to have the good sense to stay out. It's an ill wind ...etc Anne Spiegel Mid-Hudson Valley New York Zone 4b/5a -Original Message- From: arisae...@aol.com To: alpine-l@science.uu.nl Sent: Sun, Feb 13, 2011 10:20 pm Subject: Re: [Alpine-l] Large files Hi Carolyn and All, I guess I am non-tech as well although I dislike the rather pejorative sound of that term. We have no choice here except for very expensive Verizon broadband. All the roads radiating from our location can get cable, but as our short little road has only a few residences, we seem to be neglected. However, even crummy aol would never take 45 minutes to download anything so I have to wonder if the problem for some people is not their carrier. I so wish that the photos could be embedded in the email itself. Such photos are much quicker to show that doing an upload from a download and download/uploads go automatically into one's files,which means one is stuck with these accumulating unwanted except for the initial view. I have to wonder why we cannot do embedded photos as we can on Yahoo lists. Still a strong icy snow cover so I doubt that we will have snowdrops and hamamelis in bloom by the 20th as we did in 2009...sigh. Waiting, waiting...smile. Marcia Meigs in Ithaca, NY USA Zone 5/6 In a message dated 2/13/2011 4:51:32 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, _carolyn.junipersky@gmail.com_ (mailto:carolyn.juniper...@gmail.com) writes: Sorry, I keep forgetting how non-tech this group is. No more photos from the field. I sent the rocks to show the general area to Cliff who mentioned the dryness and said it to the group. Sometimes sending from a phone, the cell tower you are on says it has not sent, but it has. Then when you hit the next tower it sends again causing duplicate messages. 1 MB is pretty standard for most systems, but I now realize not this group. Carolyn Strong Almost to zone 8 now On Feb 13, 2011 1:11 PM, Fran Doyle _daxter@nexicom.net_ (mailto:dax...@nexicom.net) wrote: With regret I must ask you to remove my name from the mailing list. Ms Strong's photos (one sent twice!) took 45 minutes to be received. Do you remember dial-up? Some of us country-dwellers are still stuck with it. It could be suggested to posters that they resize their photos before sending them. I can't be the only person on this list with dial-up. And, no offense meant (although it will probably be taken) but, rocks? Living on the Canadian Shield I am not unfamiliar with them so after waiting 45 minutes I was somewhat disappointed. Thank you, Fran Doyle ___ Alpine-l mailing list _alpin...@science.uu.nl_ (mailto:Alpine-l@science.uu.nl) _http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l_ (http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l) ___ Alpine-l mailing list _alpin...@science.uu.nl_ (mailto:Alpine-l@science.uu.nl) _http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l_ (http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l) ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
Re: [Alpine-l] snowdrops 1
Hello Bob, I didn't know they have Yankee humor out where you live...smile. You are quick. As a long time galanthopile, I am usually torn between feeling the usual misery at not many others being known to me and great anticipation and hopes for the end of Febrary on. I would be far less miserable if I knew other galanthophiles in this country who would like to chat on a galanthophile list, say on yahoo, and who would be interested in trading or otherwise, some of the more unusual bulbs of this charming flower. Is there anyone who has bought from some of the wonderful growers in England. I highly recommend Judy's website which has a wonderful page on increasing stock by scaling with exceptional photos. _http://www.judyssnowdrops.co.uk/index.html_ (http://www.judyssnowdrops.co.uk/index.html) Is there anyone out there who can direct me through the perils of getting a CITES permit for English galanthus, with appropriate warnings or experiences. As I have thought for many years, it is such a shame that we don't have some enterprising business minded soul who could act as middleman for processing group orders. As well, does anyone know Charles Cresson's email address? Paige, the person with whom to consult is Diane Whitehead, a great plantswoman, who grows galanthus with great success among many other bulbs, and who has, I assume, environmental conditions similar to yours. Galanthus does well enough for me although some, like Primrose Warburg and Anglesey Abbey seem not to want to divide. Always praying that squirrels or chipmunks don't move these, as well as remove labels...sigh. I would love to hear privately from any interested in the above possibilities. We still have decent snow cover, and although I feel it depressing, I am glad that there is the insulation for the more tender plants or those which tend to jump the gun in a warm spell. And, thankfully, it seems the coast has suffered the storms so familiar to us here in Ithaca, NY. Best, Marcia Brown Meigs In a message dated 1/29/2011 10:39:53 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, penste...@q.com writes: Bob, you don't say what kinds of snowdrop are blooming in your garden in Denver ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
Re: [Alpine-l] Eranthis hyemalis - lawns
Hello Brian, We have had Jack Russells for over 28 years and never a case of poisoning of any sort, at least not that we were aware of. But, then, our pets, like us, are not vegans...smile. I think this a wonderful idea, Brian. I have quite a bit of eranthis growing in perennial borders, the woodland gardens etc. and they spread almost to the point of being considere invasive. I certainly would not plant eranthis where there might someday when we are gone, be pasturing area, but I plan to seed around as much as I can where there are daffodils in big patches all over the hill. I make my husband mow around these areas until nearly the end of June, so the eranthis foliage and seeds would certainly have time to do their thing. Thank you for the great idea. Best, Marcia Brown Meigs Ithaca, NY USA Z5 Sub zero deg. F due for the next two nights but at least 6 in. out of snow out there. In a message dated 1/22/2011 10:49:04 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, brian.wh...@btinternet.com writes: I saw a recommendation recently to use Eranthis as a spring flower in lawns, as it was largely over before any mowing was likely. I have only seen it in grass in very large numbers in Welford Park, in the Lambourne Valley in the UK _http://www.worldisround.com/articles/10902/photo66.html_ (http://www.worldisround.com/articles/10902/photo66.html) Usually it is grown as a light woodland plant and even here it is largely under mature trees. But the question is in view of its toxicity, in a domestic situation, how is it with pets? I would like to try it as it is so easy to grow from fresh seed but am concerned about dogs bruising the leaves and cleaning their paws, and maybe later eating the seed if it is not mown off before it sheds. Anyone with pets tried it? Brian Whyer, Buckinghamshire, England, zone ~8 ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
Re: [Alpine-l] Eranthis hyemalis - lawns
Hello Anne, Well, in all fairness, although they seem able to seed just about anywhere, eranthis seems to grown best for me in at least fairly moist, soil, in the woodland, amended with a lot of rotted leaves from the dump and mulched with woodchips(applied later in the season). Dear old mentor, Prof. Bill Hamilton, brought his back from England where he was stationed during WWll and when he passed away in the 80's, his place was covered solidly with sheets of glorious gold to welcome Springtime. The new owners tried desperately to get rid of the eranthis, if you can imagine. But, I will admit that the foliage tends to obliterate small Spring ephemeral treasures. Can you imagine trying to get all the little bulblets out of vast swathes of pachysandra and such. Sometimes Nature has sweet revenge...smile. That is why I am a little alarmed at this point and beginning to try to remove large amounts of it. I will put some way down in the woodlands and hope that they only grow downhile as many plants seem to prefer doing. Bill always said that the best place to grown them was under shrubberies. and actually, those locations, although at the bottoms of slopes, were rather dry. I often tell people that when they choose to plant something that they love, they should look out of their windows and see what they might like to see. Unfortunately I am not great at following my own advice. Best, Marcia Meigs in Ithaca, NY USA In a message dated 1/22/2011 1:34:38 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, zan...@aol.com writes: Lucky you, Marcia! I'd love them to behave like that here but there are only a couple of places to their liking. I've had a lot of success moviing them right after bloom and dividing them. It's quite a nice spread now, just not where I can see it easily. Anne Spiegel Zone 5a(?) mid-Hudson valley, New York -Original Message- From: arisae...@aol.com To: alpine-l@science.uu.nl Sent: Sat, Jan 22, 2011 1:23 pm Subject: Re: [Alpine-l] Eranthis hyemalis - lawns Hello Brian, We have had Jack Russells for over 28 years and never a case of poisoning of any sort, at least not that we were aware of. But, then, our pets, like us, are not vegans...smile. I think this a wonderful idea, Brian. I have quite a bit of eranthis growing in perennial borders, the woodland gardens etc. and they spread almost to the point of being considere invasive. I certainly would not plant eranthis where there might someday when we are gone, be pasturing area, but I plan to seed around as much as I can where there are daffodils in big patches all over the hill. I make my husband mow around these areas until nearly the end of June, so the eranthis foliage and seeds would certainly have time to do their thing. Thank you for the great idea. Best, Marcia Brown Meigs Ithaca, NY USA Z5 Sub zero deg. F due for the next two nights but at least 6 in. out of snow out there. In a message dated 1/22/2011 10:49:04 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, _brian.whyer@btinternet.com_ (mailto:brian.wh...@btinternet.com) writes: I saw a recommendation recently to use Eranthis as a spring flower in lawns, as it was largely over before any mowing was likely. I have only seen it in grass in very large numbers in Welford Park, in the Lambourne Valley in the UK _http://www.worldisround.com/articles/10902/photo66.html_ (http://www.worldisround.com/articles/10902/photo66.html) Usually it is grown as a light woodland plant and even here it is largely under mature trees. But the question is in view of its toxicity, in a domestic situation, how is it with pets? I would like to try it as it is so easy to grow from fresh seed but am concerned about dogs bruising the leaves and cleaning their paws, and maybe later eating the seed if it is not mown off before it sheds. Anyone with pets tried it? Brian Whyer, Buckinghamshire, England, zone ~8 ___ Alpine-l mailing list _alpin...@science.uu.nl_ (mailto:Alpine-l@science.uu.nl) _http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l_ (http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l) ___ Alpine-l mailing list _alpin...@science.uu.nl_ (mailto:Alpine-l@science.uu.nl) _http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l_ (http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l) ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l
Re: [Alpine-l] a bit of rock garden history
Hi Jim, You are the biggest compendium of interesting information I have met in a long time...smile. I accessed my favorite spice company, Atlantic Spice Company in Truro,MA, where I spend summer and fall months, and Spanish saffron is 80 per half ounce. Their spice list is extensive and the quality great. _http://www.atlanticspice.com/store/SearchStoreResults.asp_ (http://www.atlanticspice.com/store/SearchStoreResults.asp) I certainly would enjoy a tasting of the various sorts, with some appropriatebeverage on the side...smile. Cheerio In a message dated 1/12/2011 10:03:16 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, jimmcken...@jimmckenney.com writes: Jan asked: does anyone know if you can harvest the stigmas of C. cartwrightianus and use them in place of saffron? First, a bit of nit-picking terminology. It isn't the stigma which is harvested, it's the entire style. The stigma is the surface on which pollen gets stuck. If saffron were harvested from the stigma only, it would be vastly more expensive than it already is. Also, old books mention that in the past the styles of Crocus nudiflorus were used as a source of saffron. I grow several species of crocus of the saffron group (C. thomasii, C. cartwrightianus, C. oreocreticus, C. pallasii and C. sativus - all but C. sativus from Jane McGary) and although I have not attempted to cook with the styles, they all have a similar strong scent. A culinary/economic note: years ago I bought an ounce of saffron. It came in a rather elegant decorative metal box. I figured it would be a life time supply. At the time it cost about $50 US dollars. In the current Penzeys Spices catalog, 1/4 ounce of the better grade goes for about $82. At that rate my little box would have cost nearly $320. Jim McKenney -Original Message- From: alpine-l-boun...@science.uu.nl [mailto:alpine-l-boun...@science.uu.nl] On Behalf Of Jan Jeddeloh Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 9:32 PM To: Alpine-L, the Electronic Rock Garden Society;postings copyright by authors. Subject: Re: [Alpine-l] a bit of rock garden history Jane McGary wrote Crocus sativus is believed to be a triploid sport of C. cartwrightianus, which is a fertile species and can indeed be grown from seed. In fact, it self-sowed readily in my bulb frames. It usually has white flowers with strongly marked veining on the outer tepals, and its style is the same bright scarlet as C. sativus but not so long. I think C. cartwrightianus is widely adaptable in gardens. Just out of curiousity does anyone know if you can harvest the stigmas of C. cartwrightianus and use them in place of saffron? Just wondering. Jan ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l ___ Alpine-l mailing list Alpine-l@science.uu.nl http://mailman.science.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/alpine-l