Here (above) are a couple hardy orchids we have in right now . These are Calanthe orchids, native to India and Japan. They are fragrant ! Chocolate cookies? Part shade is ideal, with good drainage. Over time they will form a small colony/clump and reach about 15″ in height. They are quite rare…. and sell for about $50.00 each.
Martagon lilies are another ‘must have’ treasure plant. They are very cold hardy bulbs that do well in full sun or part shade. Most are now bred and raised in northern Manitoba !!!! We have several named selections for sale, including my two favourites: Claude Shride (shiny red) and Orange Marmalade (clear orange, no spots). When I moved a few years ago, I made sure I took my Martagons with me ! They are thriving out in Langley, under some giant fir trees. They get some sun , but also a filtered afternnoon shade. Lilium martagon and its many hybrid children have never been widely available. This is a rare chance to get some named varietires ….. already growing and showing flower buds. They are priced from $20.00-$35.00 per pot.
Rhodohypoxsis are funny little bulbs from South Africa. They are hardy in our area in a well-drained, gritty, sunny spot. They also do well in shallow clay pots. The entire plant is small, only 3″ x 3″ as shown here. It would be fun to collect as many forms as you could find, as they show lots of variation. The blooming season is quite long – eight to ten weeks. Each sells for $6.99.
We are very well-stocked with succulents . You may have already discovered how much fun they are to create amazing and striking planters with. I find it best NOT to keep them dry. They are not cacti. Water keeps them plump and ‘succulent’. They need excellent and fast drainage, so make sure there is a drain hole in your container. I feed them every two weeks with a solution of 20-20-20 mixed in the watering can. Small examples like these sell for 3.99 each. Treat them as houseplants in the winter. Place in your brightest window.
Anemone pulsatilla is a true harbinger of spring . It is the provincial flower of Manitoba . That means hardy ! I remember seeing them as a child, growing wild in Bird’s Hill Park, near Winnipeg. There are red, white and mauve ones available. They need full sun and to be left alone. Flowers fade and are followed by fantastic fuzzy seed heads! Big blooming plants in 1 gallon pots are $12.99.
Wow ! My own daylilies are going national ! Here is ‘Sublime Lime‘ – a gorgeous near-white with a ruffled gold edge and lime green throat. It is super fragrant and produces up to 85 flowers per stalk ! I kid you not. Each spike branches up to 6 times . I chose it out of hundreds (thousands?) of my seedlings as my first intro. Also look for ‘Connie Casserole’ – an amazing dark gold one. In very limited release this year is ‘Pamela Erikson’ (named for my friend an B.C.’s daylily Queen). This is a stunning parchment/pale peach/near white with huge ruffled flowers. It will only be available through Erikson’s Daylilies in Langley in 2014. I only had about 50 divisions.
More beautiful Primula auricula have arrived. I am nuts about them . They are totally hardy and sell from $3.99 to $9.99 each. The nursery is soooo jammed with plants right now that we can’t fit them all on the tables. They are on the ground, under benches (not for long) and are hoping you scoop them up soon !
