Columbines

Columbine Combos

| Flower Roberts

I have fallen for many specialty Columbines over the years. No matter what I do they disappear.

Remnants of their shapes and colors re-emerge years later in the next generations.

I see hints of the spiky pink petals of long-lost Nora Barlow and the white margins of Winky Double Red and even that strange color of Ruby Port in this group.

This year I have only one tiny plant of my favorite, Little Lantern. It has red blooms and blue foliage.

Maybe Little Lantern will reappear in a new mix one day.

If you cannot keep the ones you love, love the ones you get.

FLOW

Another Darling Baby

| Flower Roberts

My other “Darling of Spring” is a tiny Columbine, ‘Little Lanterns’ Aquilegia canadensis.

It is always the first Columbine to bloom.

I have it right by the path into our house because it is less than 10 inches tall.

It will not be overlooked, however, because if its “fire engine red” blooms.

I have many varieties of Columbine that I will share later,

but this one is my most precious.

‘Little Lanterns’ Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis

I have one more itty-bitty plant to share, but you will have to wait several weeks for it.

Every day is an art show in April.

I hope you are out and about. It’s a beautiful world.

Flower

Columbine Time

| Flower Roberts

If you have a good variety of flowers in your gardens,

you know when the various types are stepping it up in the bloom parade.

Here in North Carolina the daffodils have had their days.  The tulips have gotten enough attention  now.

The new feature flower group is the Columbine.

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I have had the usual purple and pink for decades.

It seems the pinks are more numerous this spring.

I have two relatively new types, besides that darling tiny red ‘Little Lanterns’ from a previous post.

These two have a different form of flower, both are double and the blooms seem to look up rather than nod.

‘Winky Double Red’ reminds me of a granny’s bonnet even more than the old cultivars.

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I love the deep mauve color surrounding the butter yellow.

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The buds are very dark and tight.

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‘Nora Barlow’ is has spiky pink blooms with a hint of yellow.

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This hybrid is a bit taller than the old types. Here is one beside an old pink for comparison.

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I have not saved seed from these, so I don’t know if they will be true next generation.

Nora Barlow does have one progeny beside the original.

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They are a nice addition to my collection.

Next come the iris.

FLOWER

 

Little Lanterns

| Flower Roberts

Columbines come in many sizes and colors.

My largest have purple blooms.  My most numerous have pink blooms.

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The white bloomers stand out in shade.

My favorite is named Little Lanterns/ Aquilegia canadensis.

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It usually resides in a hypertufa trough.

I put it in the ground over the winter to avoid freezing.

The pencil shows just how tiny it is.

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The blooms look like tiny glowing lanterns.

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I will be moving it back into a trough.

I had to lie down flat on my belly to get these photos.

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Dirty again. I must remember to clean off the pencil before putting it back behind my ear.

FLOWER