Michigan may not have soaring mountain landscapes, but May in Michigan does have liverworts, ok April too.  This is Hepatica americana.  Sometimes there are spots on the leaves, they must have reminded old timers of grandma’s hands trying to make liver taste good. In Michigan you can find Hepatica acutiloba also. To my eyes the flowers look the same, but the leaves are pointed at the ends. One of the wonderful traits of Hepaticas is they bloom before the leaves.  We must not forget to look down. Hepaticas are just the thing to get you out in the woods early in spring. It’s fun for us plantjunkies to see the color variation and the sun looking for this star of the woods.

Corydalis solida is a small bulb from northern Europe. It’s readily available from most bulb suppliers like Mclure & Zimmermen and Brent and Becky’s, with names like Beth Evans & George Baker. I would caution people not to start with the Penza strain as it throws muddy colored seedlings. If you start with named forms, especially something by Janis Ruksans, you will get better colored seedlings,  available from Odyssey Bulbs

 

This is a seedling of Corydalis solida. You will get some fantastic colors if you let them go to seed. Please don’t worry that they will take over your garden; they disappear in early June not to be seen again until early next spring when all the green, red and white is a welcome sight.I like the pink seedlings, some folks don’t, it reminds me of my Grandfather, who was a character from Johnny Carson,“Ivan Terratitov The Great Russian  Lover”

 

A grey windy day on the shores of Lake Huron for our annual spring garden tour and plant exchange.  One of the many benefits of membership is the unique and unusual selection of alpine and woodland plants offered.  Add in the knowledge gained and shared with a great group of plant people – if you are not a member you should join.

 

Sorry all. This spring has been a whirlwind one. Putting metal roof on cabin…2 weeks. Mulching gardens and a bazillion other things. First chance I have had to log on and take a looksie. WOW, what a great job setting up this webpage Patrick! Took a few pictures a week or so ago of some of the first bloomers. Couldn’t figure out how to label the pictures so there wasn’t a space between the text and the picture. Just a test post.

Anemonella thalictroides ‘Shoaf’s Double Pink’

Draba var bryoides imbricata

Primula ‘Windrush’

Pulsatilla zimmermannii

Thlaspi bellidifolium

This above is not the most lovely example of the chapter’s mascot plant Tetraneuris, but it does show that it grows well in sand and nothing more, and is hardy here.

A Draba. Why WordPress rotates the images upon upload is presently not known to me.

Two hellebores; ditto about the rotation.

Aubretia can do a carpeting job on tufa.

The double Anomenella and a couple of Primula coming.

Epimedium on the way.

Iri bucharica not as strong as it once was.

Three Daphne starting bloom in the crevice garden.

Primula allionii, hanging in there but not multiplying in just gravel over sand.