General Alpines

Also posted in desert alpines.

May I call your attention to plant explorer Chris Chadwell's upcoming 26th expedition to the Himalaya, a unique and affordable opportunity to acquire seed of numerous desirable Himalayan plants. To quote the prospectus "Chris Chadwell, veteran of 25 expeditions along the Himalaya, leads an expedition into Ladakh, commonly known as 'Little or Western Tibet'. Based in Leh (at 3500m), a range of habitats along the Upper Indus between 3000-5500m will be covered, to secure seed of a variety of garden-worthy plants".

Is anyone game to join in? :)

I'm starting off with Saxifraga xurbium 'Aureopunctata', golden London Pride (in a sprinkling of ornamental crabapple petals :)):

How's this for a long shot? Anisotome latifolia/imbricata?? - bought from Beaver Creek at the CRAGS Plant Sale - very interesting foliage! If it survives, it will need to be moved... but I don't think I'll put any rush on that.... ;D EDIT: And I guess it wouldn't need to be moved after all...

I believe it was Trond who mentioned (and showed pictures) of this plant in its early stage in his own garden...looked similar to what was in my garden. This second year for it I had almost given up hope of seeing it again. However, in the spot, 4 tiny umbrellas have suddenly appeared. Am wondering if Trond is seeing them as well. Fran

Frances Howey
London, Ontario, Canada
Zone 5b

Tofielda coccinea

This was a surprise from a seedex... it was supposed to be something radically different, but it was subsequently ID'd as Eritrichium canum, a native of Pakistan and surrounding countries.
Still in their nursery pots:

Anybody out there with experience germinating and growing Ourisia coccinea? Most likely not hardy for me without protection in zone 4, but I've got some seed and might as well experiment. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Donald

I'm excited to try germinating some Penstemon fasciculatus seed I obtained in the seed exchange. Does anyone have experience germinating this Penstemon? Does it require stratification?

Thanks,
Donald

Cruising around the web, I came across a magnificent specimen of Linum kingii in the Wasatch Mountains, taken by John Perkins, a native Massachusetts gardener and Rhododendron expert. In "fair use" to have one photo to liven up this page, I post John Perkin's excellent photo (thanks John!). To see the rest of John's PicasaWeb photo gallery, click the 2nd link below.