Saturday’s warm weather drew out more bulbs and other early bloomers, and finally its beginning to look like March should. March belongs to several genera in the rock garden, Crocus, Galanthus and Helleborus are just a few genera that shine in March. I hope to do a blog on both Galanthus and Helleborus in due time.
First we will revisit the genus Crocus, the main focus of last week’s blog.
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While the official solar start of spring is still eight days away on March 20th, I think it is safe to say that spring has sprung in the Rock Alpine Garden. True, there may be many more snow storms and still plenty of mornings to scrape ice off of windshields, but the true harbingers of spring are in full glory now. Other gardens at Denver Botanic Gardens are showing signs of spring as well, but few do it with such diversity as the Rock Alpine Garden (RAG). Three species of Galanthus, at least five species of Crocus, three species of Helleborus, Erica carnea, Draba aizoides, Jasminum nudiflorum, Cyclamen, Scilla and Iris reticulata are just part of the parade that will change almost daily now that it is March.
Crocus are one of the most famous flowers of spring but most of us think about or photograph them open in the sun, Monday’s cloudy skies allowed me to photograph them closed up revealing the often highly patterned or colorful reverse.
Good things come to those who wait we are told. Helleborus vesicarius seedlings were set out in spring of 2006 after a supplier donated a pot full of 20 seedlings with the warning that it was a very tricky species to grow. He was in Virginia, not exactly a similar climate to southern Turkey and northern Syria where it is native. Denver is perhaps not an exact match either, but closer with summer drought broken only by sporadic thunderstorms.
Originating from montane elevations in alkaline clay soils, it has so far been hardier than predicated. ”Hellebores: a Comprehensive Guide” by C. Colston Burrel and Juduth Knot Tyler guessed zone 7. It has survived -10 degrees Fahrenheit with almost no snow cover
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Contrary to popular belief plants are not as dormant in winter as one would think. Even in a rather harsh climate like Denver there are flowers that bloom outside through the colder months. Adonis amurensis is one such plant that blooms while the year is young. Galanthus elwesii is another early bloomer that has stired to action in the last few weeks. Both can be found in the Rock Alpine Garden.
Winter is my least favorite season, no doubt about it. The coldest season does have a few perks, it is really the only time when gardeners can catch their breath and truly enjoy the garden for what it is.
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Christmas rose, or Helleborus niger, was hidden at the bottom of my last blog and didn’t get just attention. Christmas rose is often cited as the actual “rose” that inspired the German Christmas carol ‘Es ist ein Ros entsprungen’ or translated into the English Christmas song ’ Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming.’
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Despite the balmy 54 degrees Fahrenheit it is as I write this, today is the official start of winter. The winter solstice not only marks the official start of winter but ironically the return to longer and eventually warmer days. Winter has already made several visits to Denver long before the winter solstice this year. 
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Autumn is never my favorite season but it is perhaps the season that I find myself savoring moments and days the most. Soon a bitter north wind will be blowing and the 2009 gardening season will be but a memory and photos. In the mean time there is much to admire on these balmy late autumn days.
Panayoti Kelaidis wrote about a nice array of fall blooming crocus last month
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Posted in: At the Gardens, Rocky Mountain Gardening, What's Blooming - Comments(3)