[Stree]

Does anyone know where i might get seeds for Saxifrage London Pride?
 A few seed merchants have just one variety of Saxifrage but none have London pride.

[GrannieAnnie]

4th one down any good?

http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/list.php?genus=Saxifraga

I know my SIL used to grow London pride, but they've moved since, not sure if she still has any.

[mumofstig]

http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/item.php?id=1146Y

Saxifraga umbrosa 'Elliott's Variety'
This is a very fine variety of London Pride

If you Google images of this one, it looks right to me  

Snap - I found the same one Grannie 

[GrannieAnnie]

http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/item.php?id=1146Y

Saxifraga umbrosa 'Elliott's Variety'
This is a very fine variety of London Pride

If you Google images of this one, it looks right to me  

Snap - I found the same one Grannie 

Great minds eh MoS?   

[Stree]

Wonderful!
Thank you so much.
Now all I need is a propagation guide for sowing.

[Stree]

Aha. Just did a google and found. guess what?
The Saxifrage Society!  Sound like an avant garde string quartet, but has lots of info ...........

[devonbarmygardener]

Wow.
London Pride! We had loads of this in my childhood garden in Cornwall.

Brings back memories! 

[compostqueen]

It's lovely stuff but so overlooked these days. It used to be found in every garden not so many years back. I left a crop behind and now have none.  If you keep your eyes peeled you might find it growing wild in walls where it's escaped 

[Stree]

That is exactly why I want it, nostalgia.
I remember as a small child the wonder of those tiny perfect flowers on their delicate stems softly waving in the breeze, a solitary skylark high above with the song that only the skylark can sing, the peewits plaintive call over fields behind, a busy  but quiet hum from the tiny bees that had set up home in the rockery, under the biggest stone that looked like part of a mountain to my young eyes, their hypnotic circular dances to tell each other where and how far the pollen yields lay,. Just the magic. So I can show my grandaughter what I saw, whilst time still permits.

[snowdrops]

That is exactly why I want it, nostalgia.
I remember as a small child the wonder of those tiny perfect flowers on their delicate stems softly waving in the breeze, a solitary skylark high above with the song that only the skylark can sing, the peewits plaintive call over fields behind, a busy  but quiet hum from the tiny bees that had set up home in the rockery, under the biggest stone that looked like part of a mountain to my young eyes, their hypnotic circular dances to tell each other where and how far the pollen yields lay,. Just the magic. So I can show my granddaughter what I saw, whilst time still permits.

I've got a clump that my FIL gave me,he said it had come from his Mother's clump.

[Stree]

and I bet you cherish it!
I have ordered some seed, ( and some aquelegia seed at the same time),
I am going to sow it in sharp sand just sprinkled over fine grit, bit of perlite mixed in.
This will be in 3 inch pots and into the cold frame.
Their eventual home will be in the stone sinks and troughs I have that are doing nothing at the moment.

[devonbarmygardener]

That is exactly why I want it, nostalgia.
I remember as a small child the wonder of those tiny perfect flowers on their delicate stems softly waving in the breeze, a solitary skylark high above with the song that only the skylark can sing, the peewits plaintive call over fields behind, a busy  but quiet hum from the tiny bees that had set up home in the rockery, under the biggest stone that looked like part of a mountain to my young eyes, their hypnotic circular dances to tell each other where and how far the pollen yields lay,. Just the magic. So I can show my granddaughter what I saw, whilst time still permits.

Teeny white flowers on deep pink stems - so unusual I recall.

[angelavdavis]

Wow.
London Pride! We had loads of this in my childhood garden in Cornwall.

Brings back memories! 

First plant I was given aged 4 and I have been hooked ever since! 

[compostqueen]

I get nostalgic about lots of plants and another one of them is Coltsfoot. It used to be common when I was growing up but it's hardly seen now as gardeners are so tidy.  I've not seen it in the wild for ages either.  I like it and so do bees 

[Stree]

The seeds arrived today. Saxifraga umbrosa Elliots Variety. Nearest there is to London pride. That took a while. Still got a packet of Love Lies Bleeding seeds as a compensation so all is well.  By the look of it one needs lots of patience to germinate these anyway, so  2 week wait hardly matters.
So, 3 to 4 weeks at 20c , just covered in fine sand. ( I will probably use vermiculite anyway) and then 4  to 6 weeks at minus 4 to plus 4c and then back to heated at no more than 18c...for 5 to 6 weeks. if no germination by then, repeat cycle. So hardly one of those quick crops you sneak in between other slower growers is it?
I think I will use the mini fridge for cans and such for the stratification part, so I will sow in strip cells so they will fit.
I will be pleased if I manage to get these started...............