Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Cardamines are sometimes called cuckoo flowers in Europe, where most of the over six hundred species reside. We do also have a few species in this country. Cardamine enneaphylla, seen above, is a good example of this genus, hailing from eastern Europe. It is about six inches tall, forming a nice colony, with small creamy bells for flowers. Dan Hinkley, in his fine book, The Explorer's Garden, calls this the most beautiful of the many species he grows, but to me it's pretty subtle; it's not a plant I seek out every spring, as its flowers are small and somewhat tucked into the leaves, but the combination of its very shiny, crisp foliage, and pretty little flowers is quite pleasing. I mean to dig up a few and plant them under an early rhododendron.
// posted by IBOY @ 6:17 AM 
