Month: August 2023
August 23 | Plant of the week Part XI
Month: August 2023
The Weather Thistles
The weather thistles close their blossoms when it rains and increasing cloudiness, what a fitting name. They protect their seeds that are already ripening.
We know our native Carlina acaulis, also called silver thistle. They grow up in our area, mostly on the roadside and forest edges and tolerate extreme drought. What joy, not only for the insects. By the way, they are under nature protection. The sister of the silver thistle, how could it be different, is the gold thistle. It comes from the mountainous zones of southern Central Europe and also requires hot, dry, limestone locations. Her name is Carlina acanthifolia, which means acanthus-leaved thistle.
In contrast to Carlina acaulis, this is a monocarpic species. It therefore dies after the seeds have ripened. And if you want to keep it, it has to be tightened again and again.
Carlina acaulis
The picture is showing Carlina acaulis
August 23 | Plant of the week Part X
Month: August 2023
Magical Fireweed
There are about 215 species in this genus. They have already shocked many gardening enthusiasts. Their urge to spread is due to the rhizomes that grow underground. In particular, our native Epilobium angustifolium, the narrow-leaved fireweed, does not always provide pleasant surprises. As a typical pioneer plant, it spreads strongly in promising places on acidic soil. The bright pink to crimson inflorescences add color to the landscape. The seeds also fly far and should be cut off in the garden. Nonetheless, the flowers are adorable. The white-flowered form Epilobium angustifolium fo.albiflorum appears to us to be particularly attractive because it is rare. We find them in nature mostly in communities of fields. In the garden it must have strong growing partners or be planted where the rhizomes cannot spread further.
Epilobium angustifolium fo. albiflorum
The picture is showing Epilobium angustifolium fo. albiflorum
August 23 | Plant of the week Part IX
Month: August 2023
Lily Time
Many of the well-known and unknown garden lilies originally come from the high herbaceous flora and woody edges of the Himalayas. Here, Guggerbachtal-Alpinum at the Schatzalp, we show a wonderful, rare wild form, Lilium lijiangense, from east Tibet and west Sichuan, as well as from north Yunnan. The forest and forest edge plant grows in the protection of small trees and grassland, in nutrient-rich and well-drained soil. The beautiful yellow, often violet or brownish spotted, fragrant flowers sit singly or in groups of up to 6 nodding in a hanging raceme and look very distinctive. The individual flowers almost seem to be floating in the air. The species can vary greatly and is therefore also listed under other names such as L. ninganense and L. huidongense.
It grows at an altitude of about 3300 m above sea level.
Lilium lijiangense
The picture is showing Lilium lijiangense
August 23 | Plant of the week Part VIII
Month: August 2023
Between Lake Garda and lake Como
Elisabeths catchfly, or also the large-flowered catchfly, Silene elisabethae, comes from the southern Alps and defies the sleet. The lime-loving rock plant is in the Guggerbachtal-Alpinum in the pumice garden. From a horticultural point of view, it is one of the more demanding alpine species and is rather short-lived. That is why the seed should always be harvested, which, like most Caryophyllaceae (carnation plants), germinates easily and from which it can be easily regrown. Its long, somewhat woody root makes division impossible, but it is wonderful for growing through crevices and feeding the plant. The name was given by the Austrian botanist Georg Jan (1791-1866) and honors Maria Elisabeth von Savoyen-Carignan (1800-1856). She was the wife of the Viceroy Rainer of Austria (1783-1853) of Lombardy-Venetia.
The plant, which grows to a height of approx. 15-20 cm, flowers in July-August, in pink shades that can vary slightly. It is rarely seen with a white flower.
Seilene elisabethae
The picture is showing Silene elisabethae up in the Guggerbachtal-Alpinum
July 23 | Our botanical Weekend
Month: August 2023
How does the Swamp Trident taste?
The botanical weekend has just taken place at the Schatzalp. This years theme has been “Animals in the Garden”. The AGM of the Association of Friends of the Botanical Garden was also embedded in the program.
Friday in particular was dedicated to the animal co-inhabitants of the gardens with two lectures. In the morning, the scientific illustrator Dani Pelegatti presented “Insects across the beds – the garden as a habitat”. With his eye for detail and the joy of biodiversity, he opened up a fascinating view of natures crawling, humming and flying community. With winged inhabitants it continued in the afternoon. Garden Director Klaus Oetjen gave an informative presentation on the garden as a habitat for birds and other vertebrates.
Then the members of the Alpinum association – short for the association mentioned above – gathered for the general assembly. It was with great joy that they were able to take note of a large donation, which ensured that the finances of the benevolent association were able to close significantly good for once. Not for long, however, because the 2024 budget is already showing a minus again. According to the wishes of the donors, the donation will have been used for signage in the alpine garden by then. “Since this year, the Alpinum has been a member of “Botanic Garden Conservation International”, reported board member Fabian Reppel. This makes it much easier for the Alpinum to exchange seeds with other gardens of the same kind.
From the swamp…
On Saturday the society went into the Dischma-Valley, where botanisation took place between Dürrboden and Teufi, under guidance of botanist Benjamas Ramsauer. Originally from Thailand, Benjamas discovered her passion for botany because of Swiss dandelion meadows. Something she didn’t know from her Thai homeland. In the meantime, she has turned her fascination into a profession and compiles plant inventories for various institutions. Above all, as a trained excursion leader, she shares her enthusiasm with others. In the dry soil with its rather acidic habitats, the main focus was on the large number of plant species found in fens and raised bogs. These are communities that are strictly protected in the lowlands, but can already be seen here in the mountains along streams and grazed by cows and horses. A highlight was the encounter with the swamp trident (Triglochin palustre). Its name comes from its seed head, which resembles Neptune’s trident, so well suited to its habitat in and near the water. Ramsauer recommended tasting the plant as well. The special taste will not be revealed here, but is reserved for the participants.
…to the wind crest
The wind crest communities with the various heather plants such as crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) and bog bilberry (Vaccinium gaultherioides) also lingered for a long time. A little further down the valley, there were the tall herb meadows with the Alpendost (Adenostilis alliariae) in the immediate vicinity of the green alders, which had to be discussed in detail. Equipped with a magnifying glass and a small board, Ramsauer explained the special characteristics and differences between the species in great detail. This made the excursion extremely interesting for both amateurs and professionals. The botanical weekend concluded on Sunday morning with a tour of the gardens led by Oetjen: “From the classic rock garden to the crevice garden”.
Achillea erba-rotta subsp. moschata
The picture is showing the monocarpic species Meconopsis integrifolia up in the Guggerbachtal-Alpinum
July 23 | Plant of the week Part VII
Month: August 2023
Bellflower Time
Welcome to the bellflower jungle. The Campanula are one of the most diverse genera. Among the more than 300 species there are small dwarfs of only a few centimeters and giants that can grow up to 2 meters high.
The broad-leaved forest bellflower, Campanula latifolia, is the largest of the genus. It comes from Europe, Siberia and also from Iran, from where it extends to its main distribution area, the Caucasus.
They bloom blue or white and can be used well in parks and gardens. They can thrive in favorable places, but grow in clumps, i.e. without forming underground runners.
You can curb their urge to spread by pruning before seed maturity. It is a plant that can be wonderfully socialized with other large perennials such as forest goat’s beard, hosta and euphorbia.
Bellflower Jungle
The picture is showing a jungle of Campanula latifolia