Arenaria montana
OK….sure, this could be a Farrer Medal winning plant from any well-known potted alpine plant exhibit in the UK, but it’s not…..it’s from Lowes Home Centers. Which proves, that sometimes, one can cheat a bit….especially when the plant only costs $3.99. It’s true, this plant, and the one below w’re all part of a lot, purchased at a big-box garden retailer, but I’, not that upset…they we’re reasonable, are growing well, and I have to give credit to the buyer at Lowes, since it is a little refreshing to see such plants for sale. Of course, they probably had no idea what they we’re buying, since the plants most likely came in a mass shipment, and certainly, at my local Lowes, the most they could tell me was that these wer’e like petunia, but come on…..they we’re also selling frost nipped geraniums and marigolds, in early April!
But these look great plopped in any ol container, especially if gravel chips are spread around them……voila! (viola!) An instant alpine garden!
Another Lowes find…just to add some color to a tired trough for the spring.
Corydalis solida – mixed seedlings
Last fall I purchased some inexpensive Corydalis solida bulbs, packaged only by the seller ( Odyssey Bulbs) as Red seedlings, and Blue seedlings. Supposedly, these we’re all excellent outcasts from a breeder of Corydalis, of plants that bloomed either red or blue, but we’re inferior to the more expensive cultivars so hot right now with plant collectors, such as the good-old C. solida George Baker (below) or any of the fine forms available from Janis Ruksans catalog in Latvia ( many of which I have, also). As you can see, these are quite nice….and I can barely tell the difference from the better forms, except for a few. Next year they should look better.
Corydalis solida ‘George Baker’
ADDENDUM
This, from a more informed reader proves that brief, on-line research can bite you in the butt! SInce I cannot do strike through’s on a Mac….
Please read the comments below….. Thanks! Matt ( 5-1-08)
