Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: fermi de Sousa on May 01, 2015, 08:06:02 AM

Title: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on May 01, 2015, 08:06:02 AM
Cooler conditions are promoting flowering on the nerines, but we could do with some rain!
Took a few pics with the new Lumix this evening and had to use the flash - still learning how to use it! :-[
The Ipheion (syn Nothoscordum, syn Tristagma) hirtellum had already closed up for the night, but that shows their exterior stripingmuch better.
The next 2 are nerine hybrids bred by Peter Genat and are from N. sarniensis and are fertile which is an advantage for those of us who love growing things from seed ;D
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on May 01, 2015, 08:18:11 AM

OOooo fermi, Ipheion hirtellum is different isn't it? I like that.

Just one from me, Crocus caspius.

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on May 02, 2015, 11:03:27 AM
We've had good rain here - last week with snow and hail as well, in the south but still no frost to follow. It's inexplicable! Now we're having a few more beautiful late autumn days following gale force southerlies mid week and hardly an autumn leaf left on the deciduous trees. Crocuses, cyclamen, nerines, oxalis and others are making the cold bearable.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on May 04, 2015, 03:14:33 AM
Lesley,
we're still waiting for decent autumn rain :(
Jamus,
when that ipheion is dormant I'll send a couple of bulbs - not something I'd want to carry in a closed car as it really smells strongly of garlic! You don't notice the smell in the garden but in the confines of a car it's just a bit too strong.
Here's some pics of Oxalis palmifrons in flower:
1) The "trough" which Oxalis palmifrons has totally taken over and is now trying to escape from into the bed behind;
2) close of of flowers;
3) the escapee (now safely potted up)
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on May 04, 2015, 04:57:35 AM

I just put my Oxalis palmifrons into the rock garden last weekend after having it in a pot for a few years. It's in a small triangular nook formed by three rocks, so it shouldn't escape...  ???

Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on May 04, 2015, 08:16:54 AM
Jamus,
that's what I thought!

Here's a well behaved Oxalis lobata (syn O. perdicaria)

cheers
fermi
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on May 04, 2015, 08:56:01 AM

That's very pretty fermi. You know I just did a count on my fingers and I have seven oxalis species here in the garden, but four of them I consider weeds! Oxalis pes-caprae is my arch enemy. I fought it in my last garden and I'm fighting it in this one. It's the curse of lazy gardeners. If you 'garden' you get on top of it and keep it out of your beds. If you leave it be it multiplies horrendously.

I came across some pictures of some gorgeous Oxalis on flickr. O.adenophylla is one I'd love to grow... don't suppose it's in the country though?
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on May 04, 2015, 11:01:37 PM
I just put my Oxalis palmifrons into the rock garden last weekend after having it in a pot for a few years. It's in a small triangular nook formed by three rocks, so it shouldn't escape...  ???

It will if the bulbs can burrow UNDER the rocks - as they can and will!

Fermi, O lobata was well behaved for me for many, many years, either in pot or trough or garden but about 4 years ago, it produced seed for the first time. I don't know why or what was different that it should do so, but by late winter there were thousands of tiny seedlings over an area of maybe thirty square metres. I took out as many as I could find and handle but there were still hundreds when we left Saddle Hill. Strictly one for a pot now.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on May 05, 2015, 03:06:11 AM

I want it in the rock garden so I choose to ignore all your warnings!  :-\

Let me find out the hard way then you can all say, "told you so".
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vivienne Condon on May 05, 2015, 07:40:21 AM
Jamus, we would all love to be able to buy and grow Oxalis adenophylla and all its hybrids, but they are considered weeds in this country. It is one plant that we all hanker after but to no avail. It is not as easy as the other Oxalis and it needs more water it does not like a baking like a lot of the other Oxalis. When we were all over in the UK for the garden visits and conference Otto, Fermi, and I would just drool over the Oxalis adenophylla
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on May 05, 2015, 11:35:15 AM

Vivienne, that makes sense. Of course they would treat all the Oxalis equally and exclude them all from import. I guess I'll have to be satisfied with pictures... until I travel to Patagonia. :)

Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on May 05, 2015, 11:46:33 AM
Here's a tantalising glimpse of what will be flowering tomorrow.  8)
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on May 05, 2015, 09:28:48 PM
I want it in the rock garden so I choose to ignore all your warnings!  :-\

Let me find out the hard way then you can all say, "told you so".

which we'll no doubt do, with much pleasure. ;D
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on May 05, 2015, 09:38:31 PM
Oxalis adenophylla is in New Zealand and has been for many years but it is very rarely seen, I suspect because, as you say Viv, it is more difficult to grow than other species, even including other South Americans such as enneaphylla and laciniata. I've had it at least three times and lost the lot. It always seemed to present a problem in the bulb itself, which appears to be made up of lots of little slivers and these seemed to rot or disintegrate or something and not grow on properly. I never could quite figure it out. I tried to keep it a little damper than the South African species as I do the other choice South Americans but that didn't work either and in fact the best plant I ever saw of it, in NZ was in a hot, sunny place where I'd never be able to establish laciniata or enneaphylla or its hybrids. Adenophylla may be one of those numerous plants which while we had it here some years ago or even until recently, has disappeared for whatever reason and of course we can't replace it from overseas unless we can find a seed source. It is on our Biosecurity Index as permitted, as seed but as with laciniata and enneaphylla forms, probably needs to be very fresh to get any germination.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on May 05, 2015, 09:42:15 PM
What is that Anthony? A chlidanthus or something? (Not sure of my spelling ther.)
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on May 05, 2015, 10:12:12 PM

Hot sunny places I have, but high Andes this most definitely is not! I'm making sure I'm all smiles and pleasantries when I bump into our quarantine officer at work. A good relationship with her might help not just me but the whole gardening community in the future.

Not a plant I know but very pretty, Amanita muscaria

Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on May 05, 2015, 10:25:52 PM
Very pretty, very poisonous though some species are more so. I have a patch under my mailbox, and it gets nibbled by something, possibly rabbits.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vivienne Condon on May 06, 2015, 04:55:43 AM
Yes you need to keep very friendly with any quarantine officers as you never know when you may want to import plants.
That interesting about Oxalis adenophylla Lesley, I always thought they may be tricky, it would be good to see them growing in the wild as we would have a better knowledge of how to grow them.
Here are two of my favourite Oxalis we saw when we were in the UK last, I guess they will never make it to this country. They were growing at Wisley, in their Glass house's so they may not be hardy there either. Patagonia climate would be difficult to copy anywhere I should think.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Otto Fauser on May 06, 2015, 06:27:04 AM
Viv , beautiful photos of the exciting 2 named clones of Oxalis laciniata . I once grew a seedling with almost the same dark blue flowers (it only ever produced 2 flowers ) but it is no longer with me . Also had a 10" pan filled with Oxalis "Ione Hecker " ,also no longer here .
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on May 06, 2015, 08:01:41 AM
My Paramongaia weberbaueri opened today. Pot has just been sitting in full sun all summer with no water until the first leaves appeared.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on May 06, 2015, 08:33:29 AM

Thanks for posting those pictures of Oxalis laciniata. Wonderful plants aren't they? I'm going to keep my eyes open for seed on the exchanges. Perhaps if you failed there Otto, I might be lucky? You never know, maybe they would tolerate a mediterranean climate better than a temperate one?

My order from Woodbridge nursery arrived today! Gentiana dinarica, I have to try! A couple of choice little campanulas and Leptinella pusilla for the rock garden. :)
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Chris Johnson on May 06, 2015, 09:26:57 AM
Not a plant I know but very pretty, Amanita muscaria

Fungi were honorary members of the floral kingdom for nigh on 200 years. They now have their own kingdom.  ;)
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on May 06, 2015, 10:06:57 AM

Yes it's true they considered them plants but it seems strange to us now... they look so different, don't photosynthesize and they don't build their cell wall out of cellulose. I work in a fungal pathology lab and I never cease to be amazed by fungi and their enigmatic life-cycles.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on May 06, 2015, 10:20:49 AM
Viv, do you not have Ox laciniata in Australia at all? Is seed permitted? Peter Erskine's 'Seven Bells' is a fantastic form isn't it? I believe it is here though I don't have it. :'(
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on May 06, 2015, 10:25:54 AM
The Paramongaia is super Anthony. Is it South american? I have a couple of SAs with specific name of weberbaueri. And is it related to Narcissus (i.e. Amaryllidaceae?)
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vivienne Condon on May 06, 2015, 10:42:59 AM
Oh Otto, now they are not even in Australia.
No Oxalis lacinata, adenophylla, and seed is not permitted, we did see Oxalis 'Seven Bells' in Peter Erskine's glass house, is it his hybrid Lesley? or from a collection of his. Stephen Ryan was lamenting on the lack of the these oxalis the last time he was speaking to the AGSVG group, I think he has been trying to get Aqis to change their minds for years to no avail, a bit like all of the lovely dwarf Salix.
We have all worked so hard with Aqis for years now, and it takes years before plants are placed on the approved lists.

     
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 06, 2015, 06:34:46 PM
Very pretty, very poisonous though some species are more so. I have a patch under my mailbox, and it gets nibbled by something, possibly rabbits.

The red is not the most poisonous one as you say Lesley. I have read that farther east (from me!) they used it for dope. The effect was better if you drank the urine from one who had eaten it. It is also said that the berserks used it. Probably they had learnt it in Garšarķki.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 06, 2015, 07:05:45 PM
Vivienne, that makes sense. Of course they would treat all the Oxalis equally and exclude them all from import. I guess I'll have to be satisfied with pictures... until I travel to Patagonia. :)

Jamus, until you get there! They came in many colours and shapes. Some even grew in rather shady woods and some rew through 20cm of volcanic ash.
These are O. adenophylla.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 06, 2015, 07:10:53 PM
Many species were yellow like this Oxalis san-romanii. But usually bigger than this species.
A red one: O. squamata
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on May 06, 2015, 08:26:51 PM

Thanks for those amazing pictures Hoy. Did you find it easy to travel in Patagonia? Did you visit Northern Chile too? Are they well set up for tourism or a challenging destination? I don't speak Spanish obviously.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 06, 2015, 08:43:30 PM
Thanks for those amazing pictures Hoy. Did you find it easy to travel in Patagonia? Did you visit Northern Chile too? Are they well set up for tourism or a challenging destination? I don't speak Spanish obviously.

You are welcome, Jamus!

I was with a group and all organized but I think it is not difficult to travel alone - but probably you need to speak Spanish (and you need a car). Some roads were good and some where dirt roads. The hotels in the small villages were also excellent where we stayed. Patagonia is big and I have only been in Neuquen. We did not visit Chile) Although it is flowers everywhere (many European unwanted ones) I also think you need a guide or do a lot of homework before you go. But it depends on what you want to see.

Trond
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on May 06, 2015, 08:49:48 PM
Thanks Trond, a guide or an organised group would be the way to go. My wife Rebecca wouldn't put up with trekking off into the wilderness like some mad, plant obsessed explorer. She demands a certain level of comfort. Did you see rosulate violas?

EIDT: Trond I just answered my own question when I went over to the Viola thread! Sensational pictures. :)
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Matt T on May 06, 2015, 09:36:06 PM
My Paramongaia weberbaueri opened today. Pot has just been sitting in full sun all summer with no water until the first leaves appeared.

Looks good, Anthony! What kind of size is it? I.e. height of plant/scape and size of flower?
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Matt T on May 06, 2015, 09:37:44 PM
These are O. adenophylla.

The cushion form of the plant in photograph DSC04672 is quite striking!
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vivienne Condon on May 07, 2015, 12:36:17 AM
Lovely to see the Oxalis flowering in the wild Hoy Thank you
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on May 07, 2015, 03:11:40 AM
The Paramongaia is super Anthony. Is it South american? I have a couple of SAs with specific name of weberbaueri. And is it related to Narcissus (i.e. Amaryllidaceae?)
This form, which is winter flowering, comes from coastal Peru. It is in the Amaryllidaceae.

Looks good, Anthony! What kind of size is it? I.e. height of plant/scape and size of flower?

I'll make some measurements, but be assured, if I make a circle with my middle fingers and thumbs, the flower is bigger.

Home again, home again, jiggety jig. The pot is 25 cm (10") from edge to edge; the flower stem is 28 cm from gravel surface to join with flower stalk; the trumpet is 8 cm across the tips and the widest measurement for the flower is 21 cm across.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Matt T on May 07, 2015, 12:17:34 PM
Wow! That is one BIG flower!
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on May 07, 2015, 12:25:28 PM

I did a double take when I read the size of that flower Anthony! what a beauty. By the way the Albuca and Cyrtanthus seed you sent me are both doing very well.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on May 07, 2015, 12:33:19 PM
Yes, I was surprised how big the flower is, even though I've seen pictures on web sites. I'll take a picture with something to show the scale tomorrow. It has a lovely scent too. I have it under the gazebo at the moment as it is chucking down tonight. First serious rain for months.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on May 08, 2015, 06:43:21 AM
Here's an indication of size.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on May 08, 2015, 06:49:46 AM
Fantastic bulb.  :o  Keep an eye on that seed capsule Anthony...  ;)
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on May 08, 2015, 09:11:50 AM
Alas, you need two different clones to get seed. I have pollinated it, but am not hopeful.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 08, 2015, 07:15:50 PM
The cushion form of the plant in photograph DSC04672 is quite striking!

They came in all seizes, very much depending on soil and moisture, and light of course ;)


Lovely to see the Oxalis flowering in the wild Hoy Thank you

You are welcome, Vivienne!


Here is a yellow cushion:
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on May 08, 2015, 07:18:30 PM
Anthony, the Paramongaia is very impressive!
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on May 08, 2015, 10:35:49 PM
Viv, I'm pretty sure that Peter's 'Seven Bells' (with reference to his career in the British Navy and his second-in-command status (I think) during the Falklands War) is a selection from the wild. It is certainly pure laciniata, not a hybrid. Seed from that one would be exciting but there is huge variation within laciniata. Even here, there are perhaps half a dozen clones in various shades. My best is a clear blue though not so dark as SB while the others range from deep pinks through magenta. I like the blues best, such an unexpected colour in Oxalis.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on May 09, 2015, 06:43:47 AM
Narcissus viridflorus coming into bloom.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Gerdk on May 09, 2015, 08:55:03 AM
Congratulations, Perfectly cultivated!

Gerd
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 09, 2015, 10:28:20 AM
Viv, I'm pretty sure that Peter's 'Seven Bells' (with reference to his career in the British Navy and his second-in-command status (I think) during the Falklands War) is a selection from the wild. It is certainly pure laciniata, not a hybrid. Seed from that one would be exciting but there is huge variation within laciniata. Even here, there are perhaps half a dozen clones in various shades. My best is a clear blue though not so dark as SB while the others range from deep pinks through magenta. I like the blues best, such an unexpected colour in Oxalis.

 Captain Peter Erskine RN was commanding officer of the 'Sheffield Swan' from 1979-1982  (and another Oxalis is named for this ship )

Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vivienne Condon on May 10, 2015, 12:05:30 AM
I must admit I love the blue's as well, they are the Oxalis that caught my eye when we were in the UK. Thank you Lesley for your helpful information.
We are off to Spain soon to the Pyenees, Picos de Europa, Sierra Nevada and down in the limestone area's of Grazalema and Ronda, we will be camping so hope it does not rain too much.
Any one have any places or gardens they can recommend please the only garden I can find is the Goudie garden in La Pobla de Lillet and the Alpine garden in France near Tourmalet,
 Thanks Viv
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on May 10, 2015, 12:07:03 PM
Vivienne, here are two links which I believe will be of interest = and use- to you in regards to  European Alpine Gardens:

http://www.botmuc.de/en/garden/alpine_gardens_map.pdf (http://www.botmuc.de/en/garden/alpine_gardens_map.pdf)

http://botany.uibk.ac.at/bot-garden/alpen/index_en.html (http://botany.uibk.ac.at/bot-garden/alpen/index_en.html)

Have a great holiday!

Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on May 10, 2015, 02:15:07 PM
Viv, reachable from the Grenada area, but easier from Malaga perhaps is El Torcal. Loads of information on Google about it. Still worth going even if the Spring flowering stuff will be well over. Also in the same area is the town of Antequera again well worth a visit.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vivienne Condon on May 11, 2015, 11:45:21 AM
Thank you David and Maggi, will do far more research Viv
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on May 18, 2015, 12:30:37 AM
The South African oxalis do well here at least ;D
Here's the "Salmon-Pink" form of Oxalis hirta,
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on May 18, 2015, 01:05:19 AM

Fermi that is beautiful. Very nicely photographed.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on May 29, 2015, 10:27:01 AM
Still flowering well in the Rock Garden is this rather large Zauschneria (I refuse to call them Epilobiums); I wonder if it should be trimmed after flowering?
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on May 29, 2015, 11:40:15 AM
Narcissus viridflorus coming into bloom.

That is a stunner! You have finally introduced me to a "Daff" that I am utterly smitten with  :)
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on May 29, 2015, 04:05:39 PM
Still flowering well in the Rock Garden is this rather large Zauschneria (I refuse to call them Epilobiums); I wonder if it should be trimmed after flowering?
cheers
fermi

Fermi,

Looking good!

I trim my Zauschnerias in the late winter right before they start into growth. In general they are very cold hardy and can die back to the ground, however I get varying degrees of die back on them during the winter. For me trimming them in late winter works best - and they look good into and past the flowering season.
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on May 29, 2015, 04:42:05 PM
Thanks, Robert,
I'll try to remember to do that!
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on June 03, 2015, 06:57:17 AM
Zauschneria (I refuse to call them Epilobiums);
cheers
fermi

You must be joking!
Title: Re: May 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on June 03, 2015, 01:17:39 PM
You must be joking!
No, I'm serious - I refuse to call them Epilobiums!
 ;D
cheers
fermi
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