Re: Identity of Aquilegia (was Hummingbird Feeder)
Olwen,
These aren't Nora Barlow, which is quite distinctive. Nor
are they A. vulgaris which they are more like than any other
columbine I know of - and I've been looking a long time. If
Moira can't name them, then they must be some long forgotton
strain. But I am thrilled to hear Moira describe them and
find it fascinating that they should be in her NZ garden and
in mine here on V. Is.
I find them most charming and such wonderful garden plants.
They bloom very early and profusely, the bloom almost all at
once (not staggered or continuing like some columbines) and
in spite of their colours, the hummingbirds relish them
before much else is blooming to their liking. The foliage
is a lovely turquoise-green and adds much to the garden
through the summer in tidy mounds.
I have found the best way to grow columbine from seed is to
scatter the seed in cold weather (late fall) and of course
leaving some seeds to self-sow on established plants. They
aren't fussy about soil and self-seed just about anywhere.
Diane
----- Original Message -----
From: "Olwen Williams" <olwen@ihug.co.nz>
To: <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Cc: "Mediterannean Plants List" <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2000 10:37 AM
Subject: Re: Identity of Aquilegia (was Hummingbird Feeder)
> Moira, the spurless aquilegias you mention sound like
something I've
> read about called Nora Barlow that's in King's seeds
catalogue, and
> elsewhere. I guess it's a natural mutation. I'm not
having much
> success in germinating Aquilegias. I know they should
have cold
> stratification, so maybe I'll just stop for now, and try
again in winter
> since I can't spare room in the fridge. I think I need a
gardening
> fridge. My partner has mushroom spawn in it that we keep
forgetting to
> put in bags of straw as well.
>
> Tony & Moira Ryan wrote:
> >
> > I too have either the same or a very similar Aquilegia.
The original
> > seed came from the garden of an elderly lady for whom I
once worked. I
> > have all the colours you mention but also two blues, a
pretty pale blue
> > and a somewhat darker one. The pinks come in every shade
from a deepish
> > salmon and a rose to very pale pink shades.
Unfortunately the paler and
> > less interesting pinks often predominate. When I am
feeling energetic I
> > pull some of the wishy-washy ones out to try and improve
things. Many
> > are single, but various degrees of doublness also occur.
Occasionally
> > they produce bicolours. I do have a most attractive one
of these in deep
> > violet and white and to my pleasure it seems to breed
true to the
> > colours, though some plants produce single flowers and
others doubles
> > (but presumably from the same basic parent as they grow
alongside one
> > another). I did not have the really blue shades
originally, but I
> > suspect they may have arisen from crossing with A alpina
which I grew at
> > one time.
> >
> > When I first had this strain, I also grew a few
long-spurred columbines,
> > but these gradually died out and have not been replaced.
They did not
> > grow near my precious Grannybonnets and I have no reason
to think they
> > ever crossed as I have never spotted any long or
straight spurs on my
> > "Grannies".
> >
> > I have always just assumed these were either A vulgaris
(single or
> > Fl.Pl) or close to it, as the simpler forms at least
seem to conform to
> > the botanical descriptions I have and also to several
illustrations,
> > especially in having the characteristic curved spurs.
However, before
> > writing this I went out in the garden and checked (they
are here just at
> > the height of their year's flowering) and I actually
found a couple of
> > individuals which were not only extremely double, but
HAD NO SPURS AT
> > ALL. The top of the flower was simply rounded off. It
seems as though
> > evolution may be alive and well and operating in my
garden!!
> >
> > Whatever their origin, I find them a most satisfactory
flower, as they
> > plant themselves with such pleasing artistry in many par
ts of my rather
> > shady garden and fill a slight gap between the most
brilliant of the
> > spring flowering and the later summer richness. I also
love their bluish
> > leaves which persist as a gentle groundcover right
through the year,
> > sometimes taking on subtile purplish shades in winter.
> >
> > Moira
> > --
> > Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
> > Wainuiomata (near Wellington, capital city of New
Zealand)
>
