last hurrah for the bluebells

T'is but a distant memory here, but such a good one. Do you get overrun with the invasive Spanish blue Bell as well?

lucky for us the spanish variety does not take to our winters.

Lovely to see the native Bluebell

Nice ajuga! Did you all see the article in the RHS magazine this month. They said that the anxiety over the English Bluebell is overstated and that research has revealed that the English are not likely to be over-run. They reckon that the issue has caused a lot of worry simply because the Spanish Bluebell tends to be more visible - planted in Gardens etc. whereas the English tends to be hidden deep in wild wooded areas. There was some scientific evidence that the hybridisation is likely sterile as well. Good news!

I'm happy to have my little English bluebell sanctuary! The ajuga has been so prolific this year, Karen. I love it to bits! I'm a blue fanatic and it's matured into a very large carpet that is alive with butterflies and bees. The best of the best.

I'm happy to hear that. I had started to think that I lived in a native bluebell only zone as our verges are covered in English and not a Spanish one to be seen anywhere.

now that's good news, Resi!

👍 of course Lori our native English bluebells are just as much foreigners in Canada as the Spanish variety is here. Have they always grown there or are they import?

they were a gift from a fellow GoY member. I sent seed of the arisaema triphyllum and she sent me bluebells! I was so surprised when they survived the first winter I celebrate their return every spring by posting a pic on GoY.

I suppose if you plant them deep enough to escape your ground frost, but how deep does that have to be with your Canadian winters?

Hi Marianne...it's the old Canadian story...frost can penetrate up to 48" into the soil... whether it does or not depends on snow cover. If we have a mild winter with lots of snow it's better for the plants than very little snow and arctic temps. I found a niche for the bluebells at the base of a slope with stumps/logs to protect them and collect snow cover. The snow is slow to melt in the shady protected pocket and it turns slowly to ice and water so the plants never get dry... it's freeze drying that kills! I planted them at the required depth and crossed my fingers! I'm very lucky. This year they actually spread!

So pleased to see your lovely English group surviving Lori :o)

Great to see them adapting lori, you seem to have got it just right. You could always try to keep a few bulbs stored overwinter, just in case.

I treasure them, Amy. Thanks a million. really should do that, Marianne... "just in case" :-)