Picking up where I left off before the snow

Pretty Blog especially the first one , Wow:-)))

Lovely Bjs. I've a Corydalis appearing that I forgot I had. So a nice surprise there. That colchicum flower looks so delicate.
I like that combination of the Aspleniums and snowdrops.

everyone superb! and everyone a beautiful picture! i think the first is my favouite

i think its your artistic and green fingers working together Brian!

Everyone a little gem Brian.

wonderful alpines Bjs & beautiful photographs. Superb marbling pattern on the cyclamen 1st photo.

What lovely plants(and photos) particularly the Hepatica Media!!

Oh to have an alpine house good thing OH cannot see, he would be so green, some lovely photos there.

rich collection!

wow from me too:) and yes - to have an alpine house too - but where? lol.
very nice pictures:)

How exciting Brian so many stunning flowers in your alphine house , congrats on the C.Hungaricums first flower I can see another bud as well :o))

Amy
there are two more buds on that one ,and another two varieties of dwarf Colchicum just showing, will show when they flower.
Kasy
Do you mean where is mine or more likely where could you find room for one.
Before I ever had the money to buy one I had a raised wall garden long and narrow, in the bottom it had hardcore then course gravel and finally sharp draining compost on top was a wooden frame covered with plastic sheet to keep the rain off it worked very well for some years and was high enough of the ground to appreciate the small plants.

Paul
the Hepaticas are a particular favorite at this time of year have about ten different ones Mice like them as well lost nearly all the seed and some buds to them last year.

Bampy the Cyclamen is Cyprium.

Juno Sticki Bik Linda &Scottish thanks for the favorable comments

Mice, they're a real problem for me too. you may have seen my blog of yesterday.They eat all my bulbs in the garden and even get on my potting shed to eat seed and cause damage!

Dear Brian what a joy and pleasure to read your wonderful blog.

Just cant wait to have an alpine bench so looking forward Brian.

Lovely bjs the colours are amazing, and yes I have 5 now and some more shoots coming through :0)

Scotcat
when is the event due to take place.
Do I take it you intend to plant directly into compost in the bench or will you use pots.

Cmsue
dont forget we need to lift them out of the pot when they have finished flowering so the roots can forage.
B

lovely blog BJS. is the hepatica hardy or does it need to be in an alpine house. I love them but only grow H nobilis and H translavvatica. [spelt wrong I suspect] in the garden.

Very nice indeed, Bjs. You are much further ahead than we are but I suppose a few miles further south.... Are the plants in the first pictures growing directly in beds or are they in pots beneath that grit? If I had another greenhouse I would have a rockery on the floor of it, south side, and a tufa wall on the north side - wishes!

Ok Brian will do thankyou :0)

Bulbaholic
They are growing in the beds which are basically troughs 5/12 inches deep (Made from Decking planks)and made to fit onto the staging down one side of the alpine house .I started off with one section this was such a success that it now runs the 12ft length,I have planed it so that I have some sections planted that require to be cool in summer these can be slid out of the house into a shady area behind it for as long as necessary others that are happy being baked are able to stay inside.
The first section is now six years on and no re potting,of course i feed them.
That first section you will have seen in flower with Autumn snowdrop and Cyclamen Cillicium in October in a week or so it will have changed to Cyclamen Coum and dwarf Narcissus and later again to Fritilarias.They all seem to revel in the close contact.The other plus is the reduced fluctuation of temperature levels within in the soil something I have always struggled with in pots.

Brian to start with it will be pots in a gravel tray to start with.

I plan to do this in the Spring.

And hope to get to the Scottish show think its in Perth.

cyclamen cyprium, thanks Brian.