 |
| Mine, mine…all mine! Meh heh heh. My treasures- winnings from last Saturdays rare plant auction sponsored by the New England chapter of the National Rock Garden Society. |
This past weekend there were many rare plant auctions in New England, and I chose one to attend ( as I had to give a talk there too!) – the annual rare plant auction hosted by the New England chapter of NARGS – The North American Rock Garden Society. Held at the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, the event drew many for what ended up being an afternoon of fun and bidding on outstanding rare and unusual plant material. I left with a tray full of true treasures, many, not available anywhere else. Plant societies are incredible sources for rare plants, and the New England chapter of NARGS happens to have a very impressive roster of members who often donate some truly incredible plants.
 |
| Bulb expert Roy Herold and Plant Collector Ernist Flippo entertained the NARGS membership as auctioneers at the New England chapter of NARGS annual rare plant auction. |
Our NARGS chapter has some notable members from the world of horticulture, some might be familiar to you if you order from such nurseries as Plant Delights Nursery where names like Hosta breeder Roy Herold and collectors such as Epimedium guru Darrell Probst, and Allium expert Mark McDonough are commonly listed. Add in some excellent nurserymen (and women) such as Russell Stafford of Odyssey Bulbs and Ellen Hornig from now closed, irreplaceable Seneca Hill Nursery, and you can see how interesting the crowd and selection could be. Plants such as these, just can’t be found at any one nursery, let alone at the price which they often sell for. I purchased a Cypripedium ‘Gesela’ for $20.00! ( $85 at most online sources).
|
| A rarity from an explorers garden, Darell Probst offered up this rare Tupestra species, one which he has found to be hardy in his zone 5 garden. He wanted me to post to post it so that he can tease some of his collector friends who will surely doubt that it is indeed hardy in New England. Stay tuned on this one! |
 |
| Two strains of a miniature Trillium, Trillium pusillum var. Virginianum ( above) and Trillium pusillum var ozarkanum , below. Both should spread into a mat in our new woodland ephemeral garden at the end of the long border. |
 |
| Darrell Probst gifted us with this very rare Epimedium, a species that he collected in China that is so new, that he believes that it is new to science, so it is un-named ( attr. to E. wushanense spp.). It just has a collection number right now. We are more than delighted, and hope that it does well in the garden. The leaves are sharp as razors. |
 |
| Part of our new ephemeral garden, at the far end of the garden ( see the trunk of one of the large spruce trees that we removed last year). When I was a kid, this area was completely covered with trillium, so I think the soil may be perfect. |
 |
| The ‘California Annual’ border that runs along the foundation of the greenhouse is coming along. Even though it has been very cold. So cold, that sheets had to be thrown over the tender annuals for two nights now. |
 |
| The last of the Sasa vietchii is being removed in the long border. Justin, our new gardener had his job cut out for him. I wonder if he was going to return for his second day, but he did. With a few band aids. |
 |
| In the greenhouse, the last of the tuberous Tropaeolum brachyceras x tricolor flowers on a very spindly vine growing in an old Japanese maple branch. |
Ohhhh, I love those trilliums! We have a "woodland" area in our yard and have been trying to get something like this. There is an area that we pass on our way to work where they grow wild, and yes, Carl and I one day took buckets and shovels and pulled over to try and dig some up. It was on a busy highway, too! Too bad we couldn't get any plants, they were growing behind one of those wire fences which are difficult to distinguish from a distance. . .guess I'll have to order them! I just love looking at all your treasures. You're giving me some great ideas.