Corydalis solida – another gorgeous little plant found high up in the mountains of both Croatia and Slovenia . This one was found at around 1100m and others at 1300m just emerging from the snow. They are hugely strong growing and often found with Veratrum, Hellebores, Primula and Gentians.
In NZ we have a brilliant blue version that is usually available in spring when in flower.
We had our first rainy day today so decided to drive the short distance from where we’re staying in the National Park at Lokve to Krk Island where it was fine.
Over the the causeway by 7am and down to the bottom of the island for an early coffee at 8. On top of the beautiful little village of St Baska we saw this gorgeous vege patch with an incredible view – straight out to sea, over the islands and back to the coast of Croatia.
Every possible space in the villages is used – mainly for vegetables and at this time of the year many are edged with flowering tulips. The tulips are so strong over here, and the colourings beautiful. Everyone who can grows potatoes, if they can grown nothing else, they always have potatoes.
In the countryside the larger patches have 3-4m poles around them. I initially thought these were for beans – but there weren’t any cross supports. I’ve since seen a little painting in one of our b&bs of sunflowers surrounding a vege patch – so that must be what they’re for. It’s too early yet for the sunflowers to have germinated, or be planted. They must look wonderful late summer when in flower. Drat, we will be well home and in the cold by then.
What a treat it was to find this gorgeous little woodland plant sprinkled along the roadside in north-east Croatia. Drifts of Omphaldoes intermingled with little white Anemones. Honestly, you couldn’t make a prettier scene in your own garden than what we drove past for miles and miles today.
Omphalodes are available in NZ in spring time. Not this particular version, but a more clump forming one with exactly the same flower and more of them. They are really easy to grow in part shade and every year, if you are lucky, you get half a dozen seedlings to germinate around the parent plant. It’s such a sweetie flowering so early in the spring.
One of the hardest things to grow from seed – Veratrum – I can’t actually remember how long it took but I think it was around 18 months. Most of that was spent in the fridge. I remember I took them out when they were literally begging for it. Mum cosseted them for another three years before we dared plant them out Read More…
