We are at 8,000’ in elevation in the southwest part of Colorado. This means any traditional gardening is out the door. Not too many plants or flowers work well up here. It seems if it is not here naturally it won’t grow.
However the Columbine, the state flower, does wonderfully. This year we found a new hybrid purple color at the local nursery. Being a perennial, the Columbine typically come back year after year. And the butterflies love them.
I love columbine we have tons of it. But one thing we have noticed over the years is that it hybridizes and though we started out with several colors we have basically two colors now. Pink and white and a creamy yellow color.
Do you find that happening there?
Pretty!
Devon, so you have inbred Columbines?
David Maynard said:
Devon, so you have inbred Columbines?
This is Idaho
Devon Sinsley said:
snip- we have basically two colors now. Pink and white and a creamy yellow color.-snip
In my book that makes 3…
Do you put them in your trains?
All in good fun…
John
John Caughey said:
Devon Sinsley said:
snip- we have basically two colors now. Pink and white and a creamy yellow color.-snip
In my book that makes 3…
Do you put them in your trains?
All in good fun…
John
(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)two varieties composed of three colors. One variety being pink and white the other variety would be a creamy yellow color. And will have to make a special combine to haul my columbine…We do need to keep this about trains
Devon Sinsley said:
David Maynard said:
Devon, so you have inbred Columbines?
This is Idaho
Devon, what are you saying? I was born in Idaho. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Now if you had said some other state… (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
David Maynard said:
Devon Sinsley said:
David Maynard said:
Devon, so you have inbred Columbines?
This is Idaho
Devon, what are you saying? I was born in Idaho. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Now if you had said some other state… (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
Hmmm that explains a whole bunch.
Our columbine are Yellow, Red, Blue, and this new Purple.
I take the seeds and spread them around every year. The ones that bloom the most seem to be a red variety.
A very rare all white pops up occasionally. And some red yellow mix pop up too. The blue don’t seem to mix with other colors too often.
I had a few varieties in my last layout. Its too bad they dont bloom all summer. They grow wild around here (the red) although they prefer south and east facing slopes (drier and sunny).
If you dead head them (pick of old blooms) before they seed they will bloom longer. My will bloom until July on their own. But dead heading gets you a couple weeks. But on the other hand mother nature won’t be able to ensure next years crop so we leave them be. I went out yesterday and was pruning and I think I three distinct varieties of Idaho inbred I mean hybridized flowers. All pale yellow, pink and white, and a deeper pinkish red and white. I also for got a very deep purple miniature one that is a different type all together.
As the temps rise more and more Columbine are popping out.
Here are a few of the multiple colors (no deep blue or bright yellow yet, but they tend to bloom later):
