Monday, March 15, 2010
Eranthis hyemalis
A bank of Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) has remained a fixture of early spring since we've lived in the area of Rosemont, New Jersey. Just across from Green Sergeants Covered Bridge, the last remaining public covered bridge in New Jersey, thousands of Winter Aconites bloom under the foundation mount of an 18th century stone house. Who knows how long these tubers have been multiplying on this bank? An interesting bit of botanical archaeology awaits someone with the knowledge to find out.
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Although, I have heard of the Eranthis before, it is not seen down here. Do you know if it is something that likes more northerly climes? I may have to experiment.
ReplyDeleteLes,
ReplyDeleteThe USDA database shows it in Virginia. See this url: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ERHY4.
Interestingly, it isn't shown to be growing in Delaware, Maryland or West Virginia. I've tried to get it started in my garden, but so far without success.
Love that those delightful little Eranthis have multiplied and become part of spring in such a charming spot. A covered bridge...we have nothing like that here in Alaska.
ReplyDeleteChristine B.
I have a friend in Boston who has had good success with Eranthus hyemalis natralizing in her garden, so I tried planting it last fall here in New Hampshire. That part of the woodland garden is still covered in snow. Time will tell.....
ReplyDeleteI have one Eranthis and hope that one day it will have spread itself enough for me to refer to it as a bank!
ReplyDeleteChristine B.,
ReplyDeleteIf you mean the Eranthis, it seems to grow well up into Canada. I hate to think what your climate zone must be!
Michael,
ReplyDeleteGood luck. I've planted dried tubers in the fall, without much success. I wish the owners of this bank of them would allow me to take a few while they're in active growth. I think that would make a real difference in success.
patientgardner,
ReplyDeleteTrue to your name, I see. Only one? Come to think of it, I had one last year. I'll see what happens this year. Though I'm only about six miles from the Eranthis in the photos, my environment is considerable colder, probably a week or two behind.
Dear James, Thank you for your comment on my latest posting, through which I am delighted to have found you. And how amazing that your subject should be Eranthis - a plant which is such a harbinger of spring and which looks totally magical in bold drifts when naturalised.
ReplyDeleteYou may, or indeed may not, be interested to read of my account in a previous posting of the Eranthis parties held by Lady Charlotte Bonham Carter at her house, Wyck Place. She was a socialite and as flamboyant as the countless thousands of these little yellow plants which grew, and most likely still grow, across a bank on her large estate. Perhaps a party in Rosemont is called for?
Dear Edith,
ReplyDeleteI've read your posts and comments with interest for some time, and I do remember the story of Lady Charlotte Bonham Carter. That is a world far different from Rosemont, but I certainly like your suggestion of a garden party. I may very well plan one for early summer.
James I just thought I'd let you know I'll be withdrawing my Mountwren blog ( which has been feeling too abstracted/speculative ), and starting up a new one. My partner's just bought a very handsome 1862 bluestone church 2 and a half hours drive from Melbourne. It's got a lovely short avenue of pencil pines, and elms all around the perimeter, but nothing else on its 2 and a half acres. I'm hoping to spend alot of time there, even live there if I can wangle it...the new blog, standrewsbower.blogspot.com ( which I'm having trouble finding on the web and which is very much in its infancy ) will be a journal of the building of the garden there. Best to you, Faisal.
ReplyDeleteFaisal,
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued by this change in plans and look forward to hearing more. But I can't find the new blog. It seems Blogger thinks it doesn't exist. Please let me know where I can find you.
James
Looks like spring has arrived in your parts as well! And how interesting that a distance of six miles can results in such differences between your place and this. Learning about these subtle characteristics of the land is one of the joys of gardening.
ReplyDeleteThankyou James. I'm hoping every finger crossed the building of the garden at St Andrew's becomes my mission and my joy ...it's just a slow process. I'm trying to fix things so the Saint Andrew's Bower blog is readily locatable...I've been able to look at it here on your comments page by clicking on the Saint Andrew's Bower name in ochre colour, which takes me to the Blogger page. Then I click on 'Saint Andrew's Bower at Hexham' under 'My Blogs'...that at least lets you see a photo of the church and an idea of the extent and nature of its grounds. Whatever else, I'll keep the new blog updated ( and within a mere three months! there should be photos ), so it shouldn't be too long before Google or whatever can find it. You won't be surprised to learn that I don't have a very technological brain! Your Federal Twist blog is however a shining example of what's possible.
ReplyDeleteFaisal.
Garden Wanderer,
ReplyDeleteYes. I garden in a pocket of cold. Also heavy clay, and saturated land most of the year. Huge challenges that dictate the physical attributes of the garden: a wet prairie. Spring is here, but it will come and go for the next two months. I finally finished burning the rest of my grasses last weekend, and cut down the rest of the herbaceous growth, leaving a flat empty space. I rather like the spare, blank look for a while.
Faisal, with this last comment, I find I can link to your blog with no problem. You're up and running. I wonder what kind of garden you will make? Waiting ... James
ReplyDeleteJames,
ReplyDeleteMy Eranthis hyemalis tubers have just come up. I'm not sure if your lack of success was due to the tuber source or the placement in the garden. I got mine from Brent and Becky's Bulbs if you want to give them a try.
Michael,
ReplyDeleteI just noticed a few blooming this past weekend, but not many. I've read the tubers are extremely perishable and must be planted quickly, that the best route to success is to transplant a few in active growth.
I've been seeing a lot of snowdrops as I visit the colder-climate garden blogs, so it's refreshing to see something as perkily yellow as the erianthis coming up through the snow in your area. I suppose their relative fragility has something to do with their not being more common. To imagine how they got there in days before overnight delivery would definitely be an interesting bit of botanical archaeology.
ReplyDeleteJames,
ReplyDeleteMy guess (or fantasy) is that some New Yorker bought the house 60 or 70 years ago and started the colony. I really have no idea how they got there, but this area was very popular with the literati and theatrical types back when. And still is popular with city folks who find a bit of New England within driving distance of the Big Apple. Indeed, it may be possible to trace the real story given enough time and effort.