Aquilegias 2013

Since I was too busy to write a blog last summer, I probably should have a look back at it and refresh some summer memories. After all that is what we all need, isn't it? :-) At least I do. Now that there's cold and monochromatic outdoors, I really miss the gentle weather and all the vibrant colours of summer!

I wasn't sure where to start, so I just decided to start with one of my lovely favourites, Aquilegias! They have at least two common names like granny's bonnet and columbine. Which one you prefer?

A pale pink Aquilegia, probably from Touchwood Aquilegias.

Some of my columbines are known cultivars, but most of them are not. And I love them! I have bought the seeds from seed shops and hobby gardeners, and I have collected the seeds form the plants I have encountered. I have bought some plants and I have transplanted some from my mother's garden.

All the seeds I have sown have been well labeled, but for some reason those labels have a tendency to disappear. And even if there were labels on the ground by the plants, I can't remember the names any more now that I'm looking at the pictures in the middle of the winter. But quite many of my plants have been sent as seeds by Carrie Thomas. You can find her Aquilegia seed list on Touchwood Aquilegias. She has the most impressive collection of cultivars I have ever seen.

Some of the blooms were injured by insects as they were 

among the first plants to emerge from the ground early in 

summer and there wasn't too much to eat for those nasty little creatures.

Double blossom 'Firewheel'.

Semi-clematis type Aquilegia. Some blossoms look funny like this. 

It hasn't decided whether to be traditional or clematis blossomed.

This one has a clear identity; large simple clematis blossomed.

This could be some sort of alpine columbine.

(At least I remember planting some of those in this

flower bed.)

This one looks like the midnight sun.

These funky twirly blossoms are semi-doubles. 

 Both are spurless double clematis flowered cultivars.

'Black Barlow' on the left  and 'Miss M. I. Huish' on the right,

if I recall it right. Could be vice versa though... Both  of them

seem black purple when you see them outdoors, so I brought

them indoors to have a clear distinction between the colours.

This is an unnamed cultivar that comes true from seeds.

I have collected them form my mother's garden, and I was

the one shoo originally gave her the seeds I had received

in a seed swap some years back. Truly lovely pink.

I'm not sure what is this. Could be Miss M.I. Huish.

Another beautiful shade of purplish pink.