Easter in Windsor, Ontario

Easter came early this year in comparison to previous years, which generally sees it begin in the first or 2nd week of  April. I ventured home for a visit to spend Easter with my family. My father has many lovely spring-flowering bulbs in his garden, that were in fact planted by me more than 20 years ago. This year is a special treat, as I am normally not here this early to see the Crocus. Usually they have gone over by Easter. I dug up a few clumps to take home to plant in my garden. Here they are so plentiful, and have multiplied after several years to form large, luscious, clumps of colour. One very special Crocus is Crocus susianus 'Cloth of Gold'. I bought this Crocus species over 20 years ago, and have never seen it available from any nurseries in Canada. It is one of the most beautiful spring-flowering species.



Crocus susianus

 


Crocus hybrid




Crocus tommasinianus

 



Galanthus nivalis



Eranthis hyemalis

Tiny Dancers

Bulbophyllum saltatorium v. albociliatum is a small flowering orchid. They have small pseudobulbs that are approximately 5cm tall and 1cm wide. The inflorescence extends on a wiry stem up to 30cm. They have successively opening flowers, which are tiny, only 1cm. They remind me of a ballerinas tutu, and are whimsical, and unusual. They have a hirsute purple labellum, which is very articulate. This species is found in Africa, in countries such as Liberia, Angola, and the DRC in rain forests , 1400m in altitude.

Almost Spring!

Today was a delightfully sunny, but cold day. I know Spring is just around the corner, but the temperatures are well below zero still. I am ready for Spring to be ushered in! The greenhouse is coming alive! Many things are in bud or blooming. This is a new Crocus species I added, and I'm so in love with it. Note the very typical dark V- shaped blotch at the tepal tips found in C. heuffelianus.

Tecophilea cyanocrocus

Asarum maximum

Lachenalia aloides 'tricolor'

Crocus heuffelianus x tommasinianus

 

Carniverous plants!

My latest fascination is tropical pitcher plants, particularly of the Genus Nepenthes. There are a few books that I have my eye on, featuring pitchers from the Malay Archipelago, Borneo, Sulawesi, New Guinea, and the Philippines. They are the most bizarre, and otherworldly plants on earth. Like insects I am drawn to the curious cavern within their depths. Hmmm what lurks below? Well what lurks below is a liquid in which the prey is digested, and dissolved with the help of digestive enzymes. Sinister indeed!

 

Nepenthes sp.

Drosera natalensis photographed on Gaikaskop, S.A.