Echinacea pallida and Heliopsis helianthoides at the prairie in Alnarp
The Prairie at the Campus in Alnarp was planted in the end of October 2007. It has developed very well and just now the Pale Coneflower, Echinacea pallida flowers together with the oxeye, Heliopsis helianthoides ‘Summer Nights’, and some few still remaining flower heads of the Blanket flower, Gaillardia aristata. The real peak at the prairie is in late July and during August when thousands of Prairie Blazingstars are in bloom.
However we wanted to improve the flower display during early summer and last week we therefore arranged a planting day at the prairie. Helena Karlén, lecturer at the University in Alnarp, had planned the day and invited both some students and staff from the park to participate in the planting.
The following plants were planted last week: Echinacea pallida, Pale Coneflower, Liatris graminifolia, Grassleaf Blazingstar, Monarda fistulosa, Wild Bergamot, Silene regia, Royal Catchfly, Tradescantia ohiensis, Ohio Spiderwort and Bouteloua curtipendula, Sideoats Grama. The Baptisia australis, Blue Wild Indigo, didn´t germinate properly so we had only five plants to put into the ground.
The seeds were sown during the winter
Seedlings of Monarda fistulosa
The plants growing at the Trädgårdslabbet in Alnarp
Time for planting
Planting the prairie - again
The day of planting, June 29th 2011
It is hard to find all pots in the tall grass
It was a hot day in late June just like a true Prairie Summer Day
Echinacera pallida at the prairie in Alnarp
The prairie in the beginning of July 2011
Echinacea, Heliopsis and Gaillardia
The prairie looks great. I've had trouble germinating Baptisia too, after scarifying the seeds with coarse sand paper and soaking them for 24 hours prior to planting many more germinated.
ReplyDeleteHeather
Yes, all Baptisia are a bit tricky. I told the responsible lecturer about the the techniques of scarifying the seeds and soaking them, so I hope they tried that.
ReplyDeleteAfter vernalization the seeds normally germinate better, thus we will let the seed boxes stay outdoors during next winter and then we'll see what happen.