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A High Desert Garden

Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:38 pm
by John P Weiser
Hi Guys and Gals.
I'm back and it's time to start the show. The early show will be of some desert spring ethereal bulbs and perennials that work well as companions for cactus. These are the earliest to bloom in the High Desert. They start to bloom by mid March and are dormant by early June. It is prudent to mark their resting places.
This survival strategy to "beat the heat" is a common adaptation found in dry climates across the world.

Ranunculus andersonii
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Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus
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Ranunculus glaberrimus var. ellipticus
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Lomatium nevadense var nevadense
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Iris reticulata
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Allium parvum
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Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:47 pm
by John P Weiser
A continuation of early spring ethereals

Viola beckwithii
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Hesperochiron californicus
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Fritillaria pudica
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This is just the start of the spring show. There will be many more to follow. :D

Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:55 pm
by RayC
Looking good John, as always.

Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:59 pm
by peterb
woohoo! Looking forward to another great season of amazing plants and flowers. :-)

peterb

Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 7:14 pm
by daiv
Hey John, glad to see you pulled through the winter! I will be in your area at the last of the month and then again in June. Maybe between the two times I could finagle a visit?

Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 7:18 pm
by Jens
Very delicate flowers and photos, thanks a lot for sharing John.
Jens

Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 7:52 pm
by CoronaCactus
And so the high desert season begins :thumbright:

Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 9:53 pm
by John P Weiser
Thank you all for the encouragement! :D

Dave my door is always open! I'm sure Charles would welcome you also. :thumbleft:
If anyone else is ever in the area look me up. It would be a pleasure to meet you. :)

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 12:01 am
by Peterthecactusguy
John,
Hey I am going up to Utah in the winter time. I doubt you will be around and there would be nothing to see then, so maybe another time... :)

Those plants look great, lots neat flowers! :)

BTW the plants you gave me last year are all doing great. Everyone of them is still alive and some of them are blooming, and a few have lost a pad or two and have multiplied! :)

I look forward to the rest of your posts from your neck of the woods!

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 4:14 am
by John P Weiser
The early spring ethereals are not alone when it comes to early blooms. There are also a few dry-land perennials putting on a show along side them. These plants use modified leaf surfaces to combat water loss. One of the modifications involves the use of fine hairs to shade the surface and dissipate air movement. This helps trap extra humidity, slowing evaporation. You will notice that a gray cast to the leaves in these desert perennials. The gray hues stand out in stark contrast, to the greens found in most plants, enhancing their year round appeal.

Astragalus gilviflorus
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Astragalus purshii var. lectulus
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Physaria saximontana
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Draba hispanica
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Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 5:06 pm
by daiv
John P Weiser wrote:
Dave my door is always open! I'm sure Charles would welcome you also. :thumbleft:
Great! I think probably the time in June will afford me more time. The schedule is always a challenge. Seeing Charles is also a must!

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 4:32 am
by John P Weiser
Well things are slow around here. just when I think we may get a few days in the 70F range, it cools off again.
I do have a few in bloom.
Thought you guys and gals would like to see my latest photos of Delosperma sphalmanthoides. It is in full bloom right now.

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And one shot of a Pedio.
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 4:34 am
by peterb
Beautiful! Great color on the Pedio flowers.

peterb

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 6:49 am
by Peterthecactusguy
John,
Nice. Those are some nice flowers you got. I might try and grow some of those iceplants in my yard to stem erosion. I don't know how well they will do there or not. Do those require lots of shade?

Those Pedios are wonderful too!

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 1:17 pm
by Harriet
Pictures like those of your Delosperma are what made me try to grow some. The lesson learned is that Delosperma does NOT like Florida. I really wish it did!