February Happenings
January seems to have come and gone in a wink. Still no snow in the mountains to speak of and for the better part of the post holiday season it was dry with cold, clear nights. I sure hope this batch of rain coming through puts a bit more snowpack on, or this summer is going to be an ugly mess of a wild fire season no doubt. For me backcountry skiing is the thing that keeps me healthy and sane for the the post holiday depths of winter blues season. So instead I’ve been playing a lot of guitar at my kitchen table, working on a couple of pieces from Bach’s lute suites, updating some of the greenhouse control systems and pretending I don’t have a ton of gardening I should be doing despite the weather. Speaking of things to do, this February is chock full of illahe happenings so check out this little calendar and we hope to see you at one or more of these:
Calendar of Events
February 2-Ashland Garden Club, Ashland Oregon- presentation “Wildflower Adventures around Oregon and SW Washington”-meeting is open to the public and I’ll be bringing some plants for sale so this is good chance to get start on the gardening season and also line out some of wildflower adventures of your own this spring and summer. Click here for information
February 8th-Ontario Rock Garden and Hardy Plant-Zoom presentation “Illahe Rock Garden and Alpine Plants”-This is an online zoom presentation for our good friends across the border in Canada, This talk has loads of information on the cultivation of rare and difficult to grow alpine and rock garden plants, with tons of tips and tricks for beginners or seasoned professionals. If you grow in pots or the rock garden, from Allysum to Zephyranthes, or even if you don’t have space for a rock garden but want to grow amazing plants like Dionysia and Rosulate violets, this talk has it. Click here for information.
February 22nd-Calgary Rock and Alpine Garden Society -Zoom presentaion “Building a Geothermal Greenbouse”-Another opportunity to enjoy a great lecture from the comfort of your sofa. This talk goes in depth into the “Climate Battery Geothermal Greenhouse” that was built to grow alpines and rock garden plants here at illahe. This type of greenhouse uses groundsource geothermal to buffer the temperatures in the growing area, powered by only a simple and very economic fan. This talk also features many of our sustainability projects at illahe to lower our carbon footprint. Lots of practical information for anyone considering this type of greenhouse design or interested in environmentally sustainable nursery practices. Click here for information
To register for this talk click here
March-
Lots of exciting stuff to stay tuned for in March, We will be at the Delaware Valley Chapter of NARGS, and presenting at the Philadelphia Flower Show. The plant catalog will be out, and for our good friends in Canada I’m feverishly working on the plant shipping regulations/tarriffs/duties situation but I am hoping to get that sorted out in the next few weeks to be able to say if we will be in that market this year with live plants. Remember we can always ship dormant bulbs all around the world.
The 2026 Plant Catalog is going to be off the hook this year, we have been working hard on the Marks Monkey Flowers store section, thanks to our friends in Colorado we have some great selections of choice Phlox that you won’t find anywhere else. Our selection of Lewisia’s will be top notch this year and I have been working on some super cool dwarf Salvia’s and hard to find Penstemons for those of you who have those brutal dry summers like we may be facing this year after a droughty winter. So many more cool and special plants coming, I’ll just feature one of them to look for here (if you are in Ashland I will have a few of these for sale!)
Bulbinella nutans-A quietly elegant, grass-like perennial that punches well above its weight in a rock garden. Its fine, arching leaves form neat, clumping tufts that stay attractive long after flowering, making it a natural fit among stones, gravel, and alpine companions where texture matters as much as bloom.
In late spring to early summer, slender stems rise above the foliage carrying nodding, spikes of flowers in soft yellow tones like a dwarf foxtail lily. The effect is subtle rather than shouty—perfect for gardeners who appreciate refinement and plants that reward close observation. It pairs beautifully with dwarf bulbs, small grasses, and other South African geophytes in well-composed rock plantings.
Bulbinella nutans blooming in habitat.
Native habitat:
Bulbinella nutans is native to South Africa, where it grows in open, rocky grasslands and well-drained slopes, often in areas with winter rainfall and dry summers. These conditions explain both its preference for sharp drainage and its tolerance of seasonal drought once established.
Cultivation:
For best results, plant in full sun to very light shade in sharply drained soil—gritty or sandy mixes are ideal. It thrives in raised beds, crevice gardens, large troughs, and gravelly slopes where moisture never lingers in winter. Water regularly during active growth in spring, then reduce watering as the foliage matures. In summer, it appreciates drier conditions, closely mirroring its native climate. Avoid heavy, wet soils, especially in cold weather.
Hardiness:
Bulbinella nutans is hardy to approximately USDA Zone 7, and sometimes into Zone 6 with excellent drainage and winter protection. In colder climates, it is an outstanding candidate for alpine houses, cold frames, or containers that can be moved to protect them from extreme cold.
For rock gardeners seeking a refined, drought-tolerant bulb with a distinctly southern hemisphere character, Bulbinella nutans offers beauty, resilience, and a welcome note of subtlety in the spring garden.
I have been on an Asphodel, Eremurus kick lately and the Bulbinella’s fit in nicely with that vibe
Hope you to see you at one or more of the February Happenings!
Cheers,
Mark