What is it?

[SadieKate]

As we whip the borders of the bocce/croquet field into shape, we're discovering new stuff. We figure if it survived the winter and a shelf of ice for 2 months, it's a good choice for expansion. But what is it (other than very cute)?

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/SadieKate/The%20Lodge/IMG_0945.jpg

[lauraelmore1033]

saxifragia? I forget the common name. http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2696291710057837835LsLPQo[url]

here's a better link: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/53166/

[SadieKate]

Hadn't thought of that. The single stem is right, but the leaves are fine and cut. Seems that saxifrage has broad leaves. There are a million types though.

It's only about 5" tall. Did I say its very, very cute?

[Irulan]

looks like some sort of geranium to me.

[mimitabby]

definitely not a geranium. Saxifrage.

http://www.saxifraga.org/plants/saxbase/taxon.asp?Taxon=9

[jobob]

Heh, from the title I figured you found another bizzare unidentified growth inside your house and were going to try to blame me for it again. :rolleyes:

[SadieKate]

I'm sure I'll find something in another few weeks . . . .

[SadieKate]

Definitely saxifrage but which kind? Wasn't at the nursery I went to today but only asked one person.

The red one in this link is a dead ringer except for a bit of petal color variation which could just be the photo or my monitor.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SAXIF&photoID=saxif_002_ahp.tif

[Zen]

I've never heard of that, must be a west coast thing.
I was going to say Portulaca (http://www.plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch?keywordquery=Portulaca+gra ndiflora&mode=sciname&submit.x=14&submit.y=7) which looks to be an eastern version although I don't think they're the same genus.

[SadieKate]

West coast of what? Did you look at the map in the link? Have some more coffee . . . or maybe cut back. :p

[Zen]

:o

I looked at the map for Portulaca but not for Saxifrage.
I got distracted by pretty flowers and didn't scroll down that far :D

[SadieKate]

Good thing you aren't Dorothy.

[SadieKate]

Can you see me singing in the tulips? I actually found red saxifrage at this cool nursery north of town (complete with false Hollywood western store fronts and plastic dinos) and white saxifrage at my local grocerary. A friend came over this morning and waxed poetic over the yard. Even said it was worthy of Sunset. Now, I don't know about that but it's sure looking good!

Thanks to you guys I put in 12 more saxifragi.

And then I found out about dwarf bleeding heart (http://springhillnursery.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_07625) which I hope will bloom again later this year.

And I have foxglove and hollyhocks for the first time ever. Yippee!

Oh, and the croquet set came today - along with another round of rain.

PS - zen, the nursery had portulaca but this year I'm sticking with stuff that survived the big snow and ice load on that bed.

[Zen]

the nursery had portulaca but this year I'm sticking with stuff that survived the big snow and ice load on that bed.

Can't say as I blame you, take a photo of the court when the landscaping is done.
why have I never heard of this plant?