Monday, April 5, 2010

Winter Aconites and Fritillarea Meleagris In the Garden

From In the Garden
I added a few new bulbs last fall and am ever so happy I did. The three new to me bulbs are: snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis), winter aconites (Eranthus hyemalis), and guinea hen or checkered lily (Fritillaria meleargris). I discovered the first two on blogs last year, but had heard of the last one and thought I'd give them a try. Since these three bulbs have a tendency to bloom very early I thought they'd be a nice addition to my garden.

The snowdrops gifted me with one single flower. I was rather disappointed but hope they'll get better with age. It usually works this way with plants and sometimes with humans as well. One can hope.

The aconites are a real joy. These little yellow flowers began blooming 17 March 2010 and are still going fairly strong. They are very diminutive but quite flashy in their bright yellow coloring on the north side of my home. I hope they spread around and form a nice colony.

From In the Garden


I was beginning to think the checkered lilies would be a no show when I spotted several buds ready to open in the garden. The foliage on these flowers is rather narrow and looks like a grass blade. You have to look closely to spy these little lilies. Fortunately I am getting better with siting bulbs and planted all of these little bulbs close to the front of the gardens so they can easily be seen.

I had initially expected all three of these plants to bloom earlier than anything else in the garden but that was not the case. The crocuses, hellebores, daffodils, all bloomed prior to the snowdrops; which began blooming here on 6 March 2010. The aconites and checkered lilies did not appear until a few weeks later after too many other plants to name had already been blooming. The snowdrop flower lasted all of about two days, while the aconites and checkered lilies have been blooming a few weeks now. Since I have been editing my gardening and being more choosy in what I grow I am carefully evaluating plants. In this case the snowdrops are the plant I could easily do without but I'm glad I've tried them and the other two new additions....

in the garden....

Any new additions to your garden showing up this spring?


From In the Garden


Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden



31 comments:

  1. The checkered lilies are just so beautiful.
    I had heard the snowdrops are disappointed, the grouping can get better though I don't think they bloom longer. Have fun.

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  2. The checkered lilies are cool. I saw them over at Catherine's first and they look so unique! I see the Snowdrops are showing up in clusters all over in many gardeners' space. Sad to hear they're doing so well at yours, but as you said, hope they get better the coming year.
    Not much are being added in my garden space. Just waiting for my seeds to sprout, and waiting for the coco peat to repot all the plants...

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  3. I can't grow winter aconites (the soil here is SOOOO wet in the spring, but I planted chequered fritillaria some years ago and they are a delight to see. They won't be putting in an appearance for a few weeks yet, although with the temperatures like they are who really knows--things are weeks ahead of last year.

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  4. Hey there Tina girl .. I also have Aconits in the front garden .. I'm amazed they are still there from all of the crazy things I do switching plants around .. my bulb circles have really surprised me by actualy staying in the circles the way I planted them ! haha
    Joy

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  5. What spring beauties you have. Those checkered lilies are really neat looking.

    Enjoy watching your gardens come to life once again.

    FlowerLady

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  6. Hi all, Still here for a bit. I may not have to go just waiting for info.

    Dawn, I hope those snowdrops get better but two out of three is not too bad.

    Chandramouli, Blogs are great for showing neat new things-at least new to me. These are adorable lilies and really go well with everything. The aconites are pretty strong so they need to be by themselves.

    Jodi, It seems the Imperial fritillaria get all the attention but I am so glad I went with these little ones. They are wonderful indeed. Bummer on the aconites and muddy soil.

    Joy, Those aconites are troopers. I had no idea which way was up when I planted the little bulbs/corms? and somehow lucked out. Most likely they are forgiving even when you disturb them. Good thing too huh!

    Thanks Flowerlady, I think I can spend ALL day outside just looking around. It's like dominoes when things all fall into place. Lots of work though. You have a great too.

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  7. Tina, I have heard snowdrops are hard to get started, but worth it when they get established and you see them coming through very early spring. Are the yellow aconites close to the ground? They are really pretty..you know my fondness with yellow! :)
    Have a good trip!

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  8. You got great photos of your new flowers. Thanks for sharing. And safe travels.

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  9. Wonderful bulbs, Tina! Love the Fritillary and the aconites. Hopefully your snowdrops will do better when established. Have a wonderful trip!

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  10. Morning Tina. Travel safe if you decide to.

    The checkered lily is a cutie. Must try it if possible. My Snowflakes have been blooming for a month now & still at it. I'm glad I finally learned that I had Snowflakes & not snow drops.

    Brother brought me a plant he had ordered as a Lily of the Valley & it was Snowflake. Sometimes I wonder.

    Have a great day all.

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  11. Hi Linda, These aconites are only 3-4" tall. Very close to the ground but such an electric yellow they glow. I'm crossing my fingers for those snowdrops. Glad to hear the jonquils were so good this year.

    GSS, Thanks so much. Still waiting to hear if I need to go. I hope not.

    Lzyjo, Thanks! I hope you are out enjoying this beautiful weather. I'm heading that way after a few chores inside.

    Lola, It is still up in the air. I have to mapquest and all that hopefully today if I need to go. Those snowflakes look great!

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  12. Good morning Tina. The aconites are cute and the color certainly is cheerful. I love the look of the checkered lilies. For some reason, they remind me of Tiffany lamps:)
    Marnie

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  13. I've never planted Fritillarea before, but having seen it here and on someone else's blog last week, this is definitely going on my wish list for bulb planting this fall. I added some snowdrops in a new flowerbed last fall, but they were a complete no-show. I'm not sure what happened, but it's possible my "garden assistant" may have dug them up:)

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  14. They are both very prety flowers and Marnie said it best, "Tiffany Lamp".

    Tina, I know anything can change but I do think Uncle Risk is okay as they have said that if it becomes a matter of life and death, they will operate.

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  15. I think that checkered fritillary is right on top of my 'zone denial list'. The only one I have ever seen live, was in an enclosure at the London zoo. You know, just come up like a weed.

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  16. Hi Tina -beautiful flowers! My tulips have all bloomed around my mailbox and at the same time....imagine how delighted we finally are. It only took a couple years, lol. I hope everything goes okay if you decide to travel. It sure is beautiful today! Ciao

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  17. I love the leaves on the aconites, and my problem with many bulbs is that I get tired of looking at the leaves. These might be a good one for my garden.
    I planted some fritilaria in my very early years. I assumed they died, but then they started showing up again the last two years. Good little flowers. I always think the checkered pattern is a miracle.

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  18. Hello Tina! Love your new flowers. I am looking forward to seeing your garden progress. Hope you have a wonderful week. I'll look forward to your return. Carla

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  19. Ah, yes, better with age. So glad you made that point. That frit is a beauty. Whenever we get settled in our new place, I will be planting some bulbs for sure. I guess the frit would be a good choice even if it has to be situated in a pot. Hope you have a great week!

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  20. Marnie, That is a very apt description of these cuties. Love it!

    Rose, I hope your snowdrops show. Even is Sophie perhaps dug them they may yet take but seem to be finicky. Get you some fritillarias. They are good but the foliage is easily mistaken for grass. Beware.

    Mom, Yes, they say he is ok so I am staying put and not traveling. A big relief. I did not know about the operating but do now. Getting excited about you all coming!

    Elephant's Eye, I am most curious about your zone as I live in constant zone denial for both cold and hot loving plants. It's like that sometimes. Gardening in South Africa must be quite different from here. I picture windswept vistas but really know nothing of the weather. Quite pitiful really that I don't know more. Those elephants were beautiful. They are a favored animal in our family, probably most.

    Anonymous, It seems just as the daffys pass the tulips come to shine for us! A big change from the yellows to the reds, pinks, and oranges and even yellows and whites. I know you are simply loving them at the mailbox! See, hard work pays off after all in the garden;)

    Megan, The aconites are beginning to fade now but the leaves are not too bad. They are there but seeming to whither away. Kind of like crocuses. So glad your fritillaria showed up. They are easy to miss until they begin blooming.

    Carla, Thanks so much! I am most happy I don't have to be traveling at this time of the year. It is so busy for all of us I know.

    W2W, The frit is a real good choice. I am truly enjoying them even more than I expected. Usually I like the flashy but these diminutive things are nice. I bet they'd do great in a pot. Yup, my hopes and tune is that we get better with age!

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  21. New for this year...the wonderful euphorbia that Frances shared with me...Is happier then I thought it could be~~I want to try that cutie pie checkered lily and will add it to my list~~gail

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  22. I'm glad you posted about these. I've been interested, but not convinced, that those could be grown here. I think our zones are similar enough. Great info, Tina!

    New bulbs in my garden-- I added two more alliums (Christophii and sphaerocephalon) with my 'Purple Sensation' from last year. Buds are forming on the the PS and the Christophii. The drumstick will bloom later, but all the foliage looks good.

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  23. I am glad to see the Aconites in southern garden. Now I will have to try.

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  24. I love your Checkered Lily, they are so neat looking. Their leaves do look a lot like grass. Now I think I should try the Aconites next year, I've been seeing them on blogs and they seem so bright and cheerful.

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  25. The checkered lilies are so beautiful I keep seeing these plants. I love their unusual blossoms. I may try a few to see if they will succeed this far south.

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  26. I will have to try the Winter Aconites and Fritillaries. The checkered pattern on the Fritillaries is amazing.

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  27. My aconites have come and gone (I do love them so), but my Fritillaria meleargris is yet to come. It was very late last year, but it's worth the wait. I love that plant!

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  28. I think your aconites are Eranthis cilicica not hyemalis, and E. cilicica bloom slightly later. (I have the same ones, and I had the same misguided idea of them blooming with snowdrops.) I grew that Fritillaria in my old garden, but for some unknown reason, I haven't grown it here. My new daffodils are putting on quite the show now, but it seems no matter how many I plant, more are needed.

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  29. Fritillaria meleargris and aconites are borderline hardy in my garden. As for snowdrops I find them finicky as well. I think they require very moist very fertile ground and the spots I've been choosing to plant them are very dry.

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  30. They are both beautiful. Thanks for the reminder, I need to go looking for my aconites in the upper yard - I planted some last year.

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  31. Sorry about your snow drops or lack of but happy about your other new additions. I have some new stuff and will talk about it all in time...

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