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Showing posts with label Fawn Lilies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fawn Lilies. Show all posts

Sunday, April 7, 2019

Fawn Lilies in Season

"I think there is a difference between the American Dream and the American Day Dream, in one you work hard to pull yourself, up by the bootstraps, and never give up the pursuit of it, in the other you chase the dreams of others, the movie stars, the influencers, the corporate wealth horders and the lot, by mass consuming what they are selling, but then the buzz of the time clock, reminds you that break time is over and its time to get back to work "
Mark Akimoff

Erythronium "Jeanine"
The Hoog introduction, by they breeding work of  Mr. Eaden of two California natives produced such a deep sulphur yellow color. It is pretty dramatic offset by The Scorpiris beauty Iris X 'Marjeh'.



Erythronium 'Pacific Sunset Strain'
This is the pink of Diana Reeck's introduction via Walter Blohm's breeding work. The Erythroniums hybridize well, as it seems to be one of those spring ephemerals for which much breeding and selection has occurred. I'm probably not going to have time to make any crosses this year, but my passion for breeding lies with the Fritillaria as it seems so much less has been done with that group of plants. 

It's been raining cats and dogs, I think we are up to a 1.5" this weekend alone, soggy lawns and now the white fleshed nectarine is starting to bloom and it doesn't look like much will be flying for pollinators this week. 

56 and pouring rain today, the ditch is full and flowing hard. 

Cheers, 

Mark

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Spring Break 2019

"When I'm in Canada I feel, this is what the world should be like"
                                                                  Author Unkown




Erythronium grandiflorum

The Avalanche lilies have started in, Marking the first of the Eyrthronium collection to bloom for me on the last week of March. 

I was in Canada this weekend and I completely agree with that statement above. The kiddo and I took a quick spring break weekend road trip to Vancouver BC. I hadn't been in maybe 10 years and I am so glad I took the time to go again this past weekend. I had almost forgot how much I love British Columbia. Kiddo fell in love too and I have no idea how it could  possibly get paid for but she now is determined to go to UBC for her college years.

We mostly touristed which was fantastic but I did manage to get in a quick visit to Van Dusen Botanical Garden. Years ago I was in Canada for a Western Winter Study weekend for Nargs and I remembered Van Dusen having this great alpine collection with troughs and a legit alpine house. Unfortunately that is no longer the case. I've been meaning to send off an email and ask what happened to the alpine collection there.


That is a beautiful, but completely empty alpine house, and I mean completely empty, it even seemed to have some detritus like hoses and such just laying about. Very unbecoming for such a great botanical garden. 

Miles of boxwoods are my new jam since I went back to being a full time garden manager for a historical garden conservancy. These demarcating the rose garden were very tidy. 

The heaths and Heathers were looking fantastic and smelling every bit as wonderful. 

The Crown Imperials were well on the way. Must be the climate.

Anya had a fantastic time in Canada even if it was only for a short spell we managed to fit a lot in. I've only got like 2 more spring breaks before she is off to University so I'm bound and determined to make every last minute of that time count.

The weather is something else right now, I think it just rained an inch and a half in about a 20 minute period. It was 35 degrees on Tuesday morning, but the afternoons have been somewhat warm.

Cheers,

Mark