Androsace Cuttings

The Androsace sarmentosa made a lot of red runners. I had to cut them up, because in that trough there is no more space for new plants to root. But some of the new plantlets had already nice little roots formed:

So they were ready for making cuttings. I cleared them from the runners and the lower leaves:

I use for rooting medium coconut fibres. I like it more then peat and sand. But it also has no nutrients in it, so the rooted cuttings must be planted out in normal compost. For to avoid this, I put on the bottom of the pots compost and I hope the roots will grow in it. The cuttings were put in a 1 cm layer of coconut fibre.

I observed that the hairy leaves of the Androsace sarmentosa don't like too much moisture, the pots have not to be covered with anything, just to avoid drying out. When the color of the coconut fibre becomes a lighter brown, I water it.

May

Aquilegia coerulea:

On one single stem the calyces and the spurs are bluish:

Lewisia pygmaea – every flower lasts only one day.

Lewisia cotyledon colors:

And the "garden", in front with the Androsace sarmentosa:

The First Real Spring Day

We have every year the First Real Spring Day (though it may be followed by winter days again).
I think that from now on we will have every day some news in the "garden".

The Androsace is still sleeping wrapped up in hairy leaves. Besides can be seen the ugly brown foliage of a Potentilla nitida. It will never be as on its habitat in the Dolomites but I hope for green leaves soon. This plant was bought in a nursery and until now it has give us three flowers only once.

Androsace sarmentosa, Potentilla nitida

This last year's Aquilegia seedling (seeds came from the SRGC as Aquilegia scopulorum but I think it is not), gets dressed for the Spring Feast.

Aquilegia sp.

Draba imbricata

This is also a seedling from last year, I think:

Draba lasiocarpa

The Eranthis is already fading, the Hepaticas just in bloom:

Hepatica nobilis, Eranthis hyemalis

Its pollen is already ripe:

Also the first flower of the Saxifraga x elisabethae cv. has opened, 10 days later than last year:

Saxifraga x elisabethae cv.

Sedum sieboldii shoots with Tulipa dasystemon in the background:

The color of the houseleeks is most beautiful now, at the end of winter. In summer they become dull green.

Sedum calcareum 'Griggs's Surprise' (maybe)