Fall Flowers in Vancouver

The Fall of 2016 marked the first full season I've had with Fall blooming bulbs in the ground, as I had bought many of them in the Fall of 2015. One I bought was a bust - Crocus zonatus - which I heard was virused anyways. I tried that in both the Vancouver garden and at Inukshuk, as it was reported to be very hardy. It did not come up in either garden.

Anyway, in Vancouver, Cyclamen hederifolium led the charge, starting to bloom even before the end of July. Colchicum autumnale came at the end of August and into September. I discussed these in a recent post. Crocus followed, starting in late September, and in addition to the Cyclamen, I think this is a genus I could really get interested in!

This is was sold as Crocus cartwrightianus by a very reputable mail order nursery, but it looks like C. speciosus. September 26.

More of that so-called Crocus cartwrightianus.

Crocus pulchellus in the scree garden on September 26.

Another Crocus pulchellus. Seems to do okay in pure Sechelt Sand.

This is Crocus sativus, aka Saffron. The anthers are used as that very expensive spice. This did not bloom till early October and disappears quickly.

Crocus speciosus on October 20 between rainshowers.

Crocus ochroleucus also o October 20, suffering a bit from slug damage. Still, I love these last two.

One more of Crocus ochroleucus.

25km Round-Trip Hike to Mt. Frosty

On September 10, 2016, I visited E.C. Manning Provincial Park with Mike Kintgen, Curator of Alpine Collections at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The original plan was to follow directions given to us that should have directed us to a population of Lewisia tweedyi. If one discounts a single plant that appears to have been planted near Manning Park's Cascade Lookout, this is Canada's only native population of this stunning species. We did follow the directions, as best we could. Alas, it appears we strayed... Anyway, in addition to the Lewisia, we also hoped to see Larix lyallii (Alpine Larch) on that day. There came a point along the trail where we knew we were too high to see the Lewisia, but in hindsight it was the right decision to keep on climbing because eventually we reached the elevations required to find the Larix (about 1800m). Along with the Larix came the spectacular views of the Cascades pictured below. And we managed to make a few seed collections.

Mike taking in the incredible scenery looking Southeast towards the Pasayten Wilderness and the U.S border.

I am getting used to seeing Mike "at home" near to or above the treeline.

Beautiful Castilleja parviflora v. albida

Castilleja rhexifolia? And Valeriana sitchensis.

Mike and an outstanding view.

Finally, something we were really hoping to see: Larix lyallii or Alpine Larch.

Larix lyallii. I did not manage to collect seed :(

Not a bad spot for lunch!

Lupinus arcticus? I did manage to find seed.

Oh yeah, that view again.

Lots of little creeks and early Fall mushrooms closer to the Manning Park Resort.

Earlier in the day, we visited Sumallo Grove,near the West Gate of Manning Park, where Mike saw gigantic specimens of Thuja plicata, Tsuga mertensiana and Pseudotsuga menziesii.

Rhododendron macrophyllum just a couple of kilometres East of Sumallo Grove.

Morning on the Sumallo River.

Early Fall in Vancouver

Well I haven't posted anything for months, and much has happened (but suffice to say 2016 hasn't been a great year). Seems ironic that with the onset of Fall, I'm saying "here's to new beginnings".

August and early September in Vancouver seems the time for "not much" other than Cyclamen and Fall flowering bulbs. This is my first year with Cyclamen hederifolium - two white ones from the naturalized population in Victoria, and one young pink flowering plant that I bought or won from the Alpine Garden Club of BC. I can't remember....


Cyclamen hederifolium from the naturalized population in Victoria.


Another Cyclamen hederifolium from the naturalized population in Victoria. I hot these as gifts from folks in the Victoria Rock and Alpine Gardening Society.


Cyclamen hederifolium I bought or won from the Alpine Garden Club of BC.


Colchicum autumnale I won or bought from the Alpine Garden Club of BC.


Same Colchicum - and there are more on the way.

Abies Myth Debunked

In early January, a couple of hikes on neighbours' properties revealed a number of Abies lasiocarpa that I didn't even know were there. Embarrassingly, one is not more than 150 feet from my main rock garden - in fact you can see the garden from the base of the tree!

More importantly, the trees I have found have been on sloped sites and flat sites, and in both full sun and shade. Recall that in September, 2015, I reported that these trees only seemed to grow at the base of North-facing slopes in full shade (the name of the blog entry was "What Will I Find, Where the Sun Don't Shine"). Well that is apparently not the case.

It's amazing what I learn when I open my eyes and look around!


Abies lasiocarpa (on the right) on an East facing hillside about 400m from the house.


Another abies lasiocarpa on an East facing hillside about 400m from the house.


Close-up of the foliage. This one is in full afternoon sun.


I think this is the same one. At any rate, A. lasiocarpa at the same site


Abies lasiocarpa (on the left) on an East facing hillside about 400m from the house.


This one is spitting distance from the house! I have walked right by it on several occasions, and failed to notice!


Close-up of that one's foliage.

Pikes Peak, Colorado: The Alpines

I arrived in Denver late on the afternoon of June 24th, 2015. I had to work the next day, so I didn't have a whole lot of time. On Mike Kintgen's recommendation, I decided to drive to Pikes Peak for an evening of exploration.

Arriving at the base station that exists at about 11,000 ft above sea level (asl), I found the mountain road to the peak just re-opening after a late afternoon rain/snowstorm. After a short wait, I was allowed to proceed up the hill. Here's what I saw.


Aproaching the summit.


At the summit, there were still vast snowfields - particularly on North-facing slopes.


In areas free of snow, Claytonia megarhiza was going to flower soon, but was probably a week or ten days away. This is very plentiful at the summit, which is at over 14,000ft elevation! Step away from the tourist amenities, out onto the tundra. This plant will be everywhere underfoot.


Thlaspi montanum was also plentiful, and just starting to bloom.


As I drove back downhill from the summit, I stopped at perhaps 13,000 feet asl and immediately stumbled upon Paronychia pulvinata. This is literally 50 feet from the road.


Silene acaulis was still a ways away from blooming, which is a shame. Still a neat cushion though.


Geum rossii blooming at about 13,000 ft asl.


An otherworldly tundra landscape circa 12,500 ft asl.


Colorado endemic Oreoxis humilis at about 12,500 ft asl. This is really easy to find just above and below treeline. Interesting plant - looks like a tiny Lomatium. Same family.


Ah yes, I definitely came to see Erytrichium nanum, which was in bloom just above treeline at 12,500 ft asl or so.


What are YOU looking at?


More Erytrichium nanum. I will never forget seeing one of the classic, definitive alpine plants.


Primula angustifolia among Erytrichium nanum, Oreoxis humilis, Silene acaulis, etc. Just a wonderland.

Well I already can't wait to go back, but I figure the first or second week of July is probably optimum. Stay tuned for "Pikes Peak, Colorado: Below the Treeline"

Best Cacti of 2015, Part 1 - The Opuntiads

This was not a banner year for Opuntia, or Prickly Pear cacti, in the mountain garden. A lot of plants really seemed to peak in 2013 and 2014 - the following Spring seasons saw me pruning large portions of mature plants to remove rot and disease. This cycle has been my experience growing many hardy Opuntia in this garden since 2004. Since these plants produce flowers on "old wood" - mostly last year's pads - the Summer following heavy pruning is light on flowers.

I hope that my new South-facing gravel bed, which was basically a natural feature in the yard "helped along" by the construction of a ramp down to the floodplain along Hayes Creek, will bring about more stability in my Opuntia populations and offer new possibilities with its natural attributes. This steep slope accumulates much less snow during the winter. It is snow-free weeks ahead of my other garden beds, and its Southern aspect ensures it dries out very rapidly and remains well-drained once the snow is gone. It should help me grow more cacti, more successfully. It could really rejuvinate my interest and enthusiasm for these plants. In fact, it already has - I have high hopes for the many cuttings and seedlings I planted in that bed this past Summer.

Anyhow, here is my review of the best Opuntiads of 2015.


Opuntia "Sandy Hook" is a hybrid by Jean Wieprecht of Edmonton, Alberta. Jean described as being of Opuntia fragilis lineage but in those days (80's, 90's) anything small and cute, including what is now called Opuntia debreczyi, was lumped into O. fragilis. There is no way of knowing for sure, but I'd say this is likely to be of O. debreczyi lineage.


Close-up of Opuntia "Sandy Hook". Blooming on June 20, 2015, this flowered appoximately 2 weeks earlier than usual - the earliest I have ever seen Opuntia bloom in this garden!


One more of Opuntia "Sandy Hook".


I love the acid yellow blooms of this Opuntia polyacantha from Colorado.


A close-up of that same Opuntia polyacantha. I got this from Beaver Creek Greenhouses, although the vast majority of my Opuntia now are hybrids I made, or collected myself in mountainous regions of North America, or traded for from other breeders & collectors.


This Opuntia polyacantha from the Red Deer River Valley's badlands near Jenner, Alberta, has done well for me in certain conditions since I collected it in 2005. It does not like excessive snow and a wet shoulder season, and so does very well permanently planted in this trough which is kept dry and virtually snow-free by the roof of the adjacent potting shed. This plant sees temperatures below -30C every year, and is unaffected. There are many ball cacti in this trough too, including several collections of Escobaria vivipara and many Pediocactus simpsonii. All of these enjoy the drier conditions of the trough. More on those in Part 2.


Another shot of Opuntia polyacantha from Jenner, Alberta.


This Opuntia polyacantha is one of the original bunch I purchased in 2004 from the now-defunct Cusheon Creek Nursery on Saltspring Island, BC. The only information I have is that it's from Utah. It is one of the most winter-tolerant Opuntia I have.


Another shot of that Utah Opuntia polyacantha.


Good old Opuntia "Namao Rose", another Jean Wieprecht hybrid that is hands-down the best performing Opuntia for me since 2004. This plant handles cold, wet, and is a prolific bloomer. Jean said it was an open-pollinated hybrid of Opuntia basilaris, but in those days, people referred to Opuntia aurea as O. basilaris. I believe it to be the progeny of O. aurea, based on its habit and characteristics.


I am quite excited about this Opuntia, which I received in trade with Francois Pare of Montreal. The pads are beautiful and the plant seems to do okay sitting underneath Pinus contorta. I got seed from it last year and am working on seedlings.


Opuntia "Sandy Hook" and Opuntia "Namao Rose", both Wieprecht hybrids.


Opuntia "Linz" - a European hybrid I obtained in trade with Martin Tversted of Denmark. I love that colour - looking for a higher resolution version of this photo.


Opuntia "Indian Princess" is a third Wieprecht hybrid developed in Edmonton (quite by accident - Jean's hybrids are the product of open pollination). Another amazing colour - looking for a higher resolution version of this photo.