Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: fermi de Sousa on December 01, 2009, 07:47:12 AM
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I took these pics a few days ago but they deserve to start off this thread.
Lilium candidum growing in the cemetry at Kilmore, north of Melbourne.
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I often hear that this species is difficult to grow but it's obvious that here they're dead easy ;D :-[
cheers
fermi
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Thanks Fermi for showing the grave planting - I have found them in a cemetery north of here too.
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I noticed that this Aussie native was listed in the SRGC Seedex; Ptilotus exaltatus
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Dianthus erinaceus is coming into bloom rather sparsely this year,
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And Brodiea californica got a bit weather-beaten,
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I've shown this pic with a few others on the "Zephyranthes" thread, but here's Habranthus tubispathus along with Alstroemeria hookerii
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And here's the Salmon-Pink/Apricot form of the habranthus
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cheers
fermi
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All looking good Fermi !
Ptilotus exalatus looks very nice - had never seen it before !!
Thanks for showing !
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good start to the month, fermi--december here is proving to be a plunge into real winter after a mild november (by our standards ;) so its nice to see someplace warm and flowering... i always esp love to see the aussie natives, and most of them are completely unfamiliar to me..
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The Lilium candidum is especially lovey in that setting. My young plants may find a similar home and be dead easy for me too. ;D I've always fancied one of those huge and magnificent angels over me when it comes to it, with outspread wings and suitably bowed head. Failing that, a decent sized trough with lilies at the back of it. Ah yes, very tasteful. :D
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Folks,
Dactylorhiza maculata.
I usually have a couple of pots of this floating about but seem to be down to one pot with 3 plants at the moment. Will have to take a break from giving them away and keep some more for myself next year.
Andrew.
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Folks,
Ornithogalum dubium, flowering away nicely.
Andrew.
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Folks,
Pinellia tripartita 'atropurpurea'.
This plant is quite different to the typical form - much slower to reproduce, doesn't seem to set seed and the flowers smell quite different.
Andrew.
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Folks,
Weldenia candida, ex-'someone or other'... ;-)
Andrew.
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Folks,
The first open flower on my Stylidium graminifolium and a couple of NZ natives - an odd form of Drosera binata (the native ones generally have pure white flowers) and a Utricularia dichotoma collected from the Whakapapa side of Mt. Ruapehu.
Andrew.
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OK, I am back again in our own nursery, and this time I will show a picture of a cross with Haemanthus albiflos X Haemanthus humilis ssp. hirsutus, flowering at the moment. Has anyone done any hybridising with this genus yet?
Very wet, very humid, with humidity close to 100%, which makes the weeds grow 2X as fast. At least makes the grass grow and farmers happy.
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Lovely stuf there Andrew. I bought Ornithogalum dubium in flower last year but I've read somewhere it's terribly difficult to get to flower again. Do you have any problems with it?
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Lovely stuf there Andrew. I bought Ornithogalum dubium in flower last year but I've read somewhere it's terribly difficult to get to flower again. Do you have any problems with it?
David,our problem is the seed often ripens while fresh flowers are still opening on the same stem and scattering the seed all ove the place with seedlings coming up everywhere. No problems flowering all the time either. Ideal for cut flowers, last a long time in the vase.
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Maybe my problem (certainly over the past two lousy summers) is keeping it hot enough in dormancy?
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A very nice hybrid Bill. I do like the hairiness on it.
Andrew, is the Utricularia much the same size as the one we have down here, U. monanthos? And do you grow it in water?
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Bill, very nice Haemanthus Albiflos 8)
Andrew is Weldenia Candida hard to flower and could I grow it in my greenhouse, I love white flowers.
Angie :)
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Angie, the Weldenia is not at all hard to flower and if, in the meantime, no-one closer to home has offered you one, I'll send one next year, perhaps around August. It may be happier in a glasshouse in Aberdeen though it is quite hardy here. This clone comes from Mexico. Let me know later. :)
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Bill,
Do you grow both the orange and the yellow Ornithogalum dubium? I find the orange is impossible to break dormancy of after it goes dormant the first year when you buy it in flower. The yellow on the other hand is almost a weed if you let it, setting and dropping seed as you say. I love the orange and wish I could get a decent version of it, but I know I am not alone in having problems with it. The yellow form is almost evergreen for me here, and extremely reliable. The orange, despite buying a couple of times never managed to come out of dormancy again, even though some of the bulbs lasted for 7 years before they finally died.
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Andrew,
Nice stuff!
Bill,
what's not to like about haemanthus! Have you looked at the other threads under "Amaryllidaceae"?
Here are some more pics taken this morning:
Salvia cryptantha in silver and mauve
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This Habranthus robustus (ex) "Russell Manning" thinks it's a zephyranthes!
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One of the variegated, broad-leafed Yuccas in flower,
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And a closer look at the Alstroemeria hookeri
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cheers
fermi
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Nice Salvia, Fermi. Great colour combination by the look of it. I love the Alstro as well. 8)
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Salvia cryptantha in silver and mauve
cheers
fermi
What a beautiful Salvia Fermi! The grey leaves with mauve flowers look great.
But curious as I am about plants never seen before, I googled a little to learn more about this species.
I found this:
Attractive 8" high perennial herb, classic sage leaves with large yellow-green bracts.
So your plant possibly might have another name??
PS. Even found there is a Victoria Study Group of Salvia. (They don't mention it)
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Bill, what's not to like about haemanthus! Have you looked at the other threads under "Amaryllidaceae"?
cheers fermi
Thanks for the tip fermi, I just had a look, great stuff. Bill
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Bill, Do you grow both the orange and the yellow Ornithogalum dubium? I find the orange is impossible to break dormancy of after it goes dormant the first year when you buy it in flower. The yellow on the other hand is almost a weed if you let it, setting and dropping seed as you say. I love the orange and wish I could get a decent version of it, but I know I am not alone in having problems with it. The yellow form is almost evergreen for me here, and extremely reliable. The orange, despite buying a couple of times never managed to come out of dormancy again, even though some of the bulbs lasted for 7 years before they finally died.
Paul, I don't have any problem with the orange O.dubium flowering most of the times, I am not doing anything different, perhaps its suits our climate, or the potting mix, which is on the sandy side, and always store them dry.
I also grow O.maculatum, this one can be temperamental, needs to be dried off almost bonedry when dormant.
Will show a picture, do you grow it?
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While shopping,these pictures were snapped in one of the borders of our local Countdown supermarket car park.
It shows a couple of our native colourful Phormium hybrid flaxes.
Cultivars grown for ornamental display, are available in a wide range of foliage colour and growth forms, they are amongst the most useful of our native plants, being equally at home in the shrub border, in pebble or bark garden and as container plants.
Phormium "Jester"
Phormium "Rainbow Maiden"
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Bill,
I love the O. maculata. No, I don't grow it. The orange I am used to (bought at least as dubium) has a black centre, but similar orange to that one. I would love to get a reliable form of the orange and I much prefer the colour to the yellow one, but it seems to be a problem to a lot of people. The yellow on the other hand is generally (although not exclusively) reliable.
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The phormiums are great Bill. Much nicer than at our local supermarkets! It pays to have the camera handy at all times, doesn't it? :D
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Lesley said...
> ... is the Utricularia much the same size as the one we have down here, U. monanthos?
Both Utric. monanthos and Utric. novae-zelandiae are now considered to be U. dichotoma. There are several different forms in NZ, one on the west coast of the South Island has huge flowers whereas most of the ones I've seen are like mine, about 7 or 8mm across I'd say.
> And do you grow it in water?
Generally there's about 1cm of water covering the plants but during summer this may dry out such that the water level is a few cm below the leaves. I grow it in a tray with Utric. sandersonii, Utric. 2 forms of Utric. livida, Utric. arenaria and Utric. laterifolia. I must start off fresh pots of each at some stage soon as the pots easily get invaded by the weedy Utric. bisquamata.
I'd like to get the other NZ native terrestrial species, Utric. delicatula but it only grows in the far north of the North Island as far as I know (I've seen it at Ahipara, years ago, along with a large form of Drosera spatulata).
BTW: The guy who wrote the book on NZ carnivorous plants (literally) is staying at my house tomorrow and Saturday night along with a couple of other people. Should be an interesting weekend. Needless to say I'm weeding the glasshouse today... :)
Andrew.
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While shopping,these pictures were snapped in one of the borders of our local Countdown supermarket car park.
It shows a couple of our native colourful Phormium hybrid flaxes.
Cultivars grown for ornamental display, are available in a wide range of foliage colour and growth forms, they are amongst the most useful of our native plants, being equally at home in the shrub border, in pebble or bark garden and as container plants.
Phormium "Jester"
Phormium "Rainbow Maiden"
nice when you can get some good public plantings, most are so awful...
interestingly, the phormiums are grown here for planters and beds---clearly as annual bedding plants, though..less of a colour range, i imagine, i mostly have seen a nice dark red, mostly sold as an alternative to dracaenas as 'spikes' in planters etc
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Something a bit different but really cool - Sarracenia X.
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Very nice Doug --my sps flower poorly --not enough sunshine i guess.
Physoplexis comosa in bloom. Yummy :D
Seed sown Nov 06 -- courtesy of a Swedish forum member.
Surprised how quickly it has matured.
There are about a dozen smaller seedlings tucked under/around the flowering plant--i couldn't be bothered individually potting up when the seed first germinated ::) --i'll have to do so in the autumn and pass a few around.
Cheers dave
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The Physoplexis looks good Dave. Mine tends to flower rather poorly, i.e. there are several stems but they are smallish and rather tatty, dying away quickly. I think, looking at yours that maybe it likes lots of water until bloom time at least. Might move mine to a trough from the dry raised bed. 6 new troughs to play with.
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Yesterday (Sunday) Roger, Teddy, Cain and I went down to Hokonui Alpines and picked up 6 troughs I had ordered (see "A New Bit of Garden " thread.) I had a quick dash round the nursery which is not usually open on a Sunday, and selected just 10 plants, very restrained of me. Among others, Primula nepalenssis and a wonderful plant of Campanula zoysii, complete with buds. This too, a well-coloured form of Nomocharis aperta from the ACE expedition. As you see, there's a nice seed pod already there.
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Very nice choice of plants, Cant wait to see your troughs planted up, we will need to see episode's of the troughs from planting to maturity.
Angie :)
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Yesterday (Sunday) Roger, Teddy, Cain and I went down to Hokonui Alpines and picked up 6 troughs I had ordered (see "A New Bit of Garden " thread.) I had a quick dash round the nursery which is not usually open on a Sunday, and selected just 10 plants, very restrained of me. Among others, Primula nepalenssis and a wonder plant of Campanula zoysii, complete with buds. This too, a well-coloured form of Nomocharis aperta from the ACE expedition. As you see, there's a nice seed pod already there.
congrats on the celebrity style sunday shopping ;)
remarkable flower, a(nother) genus i know little about, though i've been seeing the name around...
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Cohan.... trust me, you'll never meet a Nomocharis you don't like!
They are enchanting creatures, each and every one!
I'm just not sure they'd take your climate :-\ :'(
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This too, a well-coloured form of Nomocharis aperta from the ACE expedition. As you see, there's a nice seed pod already there.
Lesley - What a find! :o
Good to see you too!
johnw
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Thank you John. If there had been more Nomocharis I'd have bought at least 3 but it was the last one. Oddly, I had looked at the listing when their spring catalogue was sent and decided not.
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Thank you John. If there had been more Nomocharis I'd have bought at least 3 but it was the last one. Oddly, I had looked at the listing when their spring catalogue was sent and decided not.
It's the principle on which all supermarkets operate! wysiwyb!
cheers
fermi
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Yesterday (Sunday) Roger, Teddy, Cain and I went down to Hokonui Alpines and picked up 6 troughs I had ordered (see "A New Bit of Garden " thread.) I had a quick dash round the nursery which is not usually open on a Sunday, and selected just 10 plants, very restrained of me. Among others, Primula nepalenssis and a wonder plant of Campanula zoysii, complete with buds. This too, a well-coloured form of Nomocharis aperta from the ACE expedition. As you see, there's a nice seed pod already there.
I have been eyeing up the C. zoysii at Hokonui as well
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Cohan.... trust me, you'll never meet a Nomocharis you don't like!
They are enchanting creatures, each and every one!
I'm just not sure they'd take your climate :-\ :'(
They surely don't like my climate... >:(
It's a gorgeous plant Lesley !!
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Go for it Ross. There were plenty there and more coming on but I've thought that before and missed out.
Luc, I've had it before and lost it a couple of times but those were very small plants from private sources. These were beauties.
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Luc they (Nomocharis) don't like my climate either but I love them so much I'll do all I can to encourage them; a really humusy area to plant the bulbs and as much water as I can manage through the growing time. It's not enough but I get good flowers on stems which are perhaps shorter than they should be. The bulbs don't like drying out while dormant either. It is said they are short-lived anyway, perhaps 3 or 4 years at most, per bulb but I find they usually set good seed and so it's not too hard to maintain a flowering colony.
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Thanks Lesley - my experience is that they simply do not cope with our (very occasional !) really hot spells of 30-35°C... even when watered regularly... :'( I have the same problems with Meconopsis... :'( :'(
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I do too, with Meconopsis. something very perverse abut me that I continue with such species when they would be happier elsewhere. They are all the time looking for ways to go to plant heaven. :D
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Cohan.... trust me, you'll never meet a Nomocharis you don't like!
They are enchanting creatures, each and every one!
I'm just not sure they'd take your climate :-\ :'(
oh well! there are still a great many things that do survive here that i haven't got, and many more that might :)
in this weather, its hard to imagine that anything survives! but shockingly, they do!
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Haemanthus albiflos X Haemanthus humilis ssp. hirsutus - wolf whistle!!
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Dave,
I'm very impressed with your Physoplexis - I'll pester you for seed if you get any ;D
Lesley,
the nomocharis is lovely but way out of my league as far as climate goes - if you have problems growing it , I've got no hope!
This Teucrium marum is beloved by our cats and I'm surprised it has increased in size to be abe to bloom so well!
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Teucrium subspinosum is a great little plant for the rock garden and is very drought tolerant.
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Dianthus erinaceus is making a better show of flowering now.
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Allium sphaerocephalum: a bit tall for the rock garden but its gracefulness and light structure means it really isn't out of place.
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Although a bit common (we got a punnet of seedlings at a local nursery) I find that Delphinium grandiflorum "Blue Butterfly" adds a lovely colour to the rock garden in early summer.
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cheers
fermi
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I'm very fond of Teucrium subspinosum and all those spiky cushions, Cichorium spinosum, Verbascum spinosum et al. But the teucrium is very much loved/attacked by cats who roll around on it and break it to bits and leave the whole ugly remains covered in a mangled pelt of fur. I have to cover it with a large wire basket, firmly pegged down as they dig and dig until they dislodge it.
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I'm very fond of Teucrium subspinosum and all those spiky cushions, Cichorium spinosum, Verbascum spinosum et al. But the teucrium is very much loved/attacked by cats who roll around on it and break it to bits and leave the whole ugly remains covered in a mangled pelt of fur. I have to cover it with a large wire basket, firmly pegged down as they dig and dig until they dislodge it.
I hope our cats don't read this! Fortunately at this stage they prefer the T. marum and haven't deigned to give the T. subspinosum a sniff.
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The older cat, Miss Soo-Ti, enjoys her aromatherapy but Lachie seems oblivious to the joys of cat-thyme!
cheers
fermi
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Quote
"Dave,
I'm very impressed with your Physoplexis - I'll pester you for seed if you get any Grin"
No worries Fermi
I'm sure in one of the bulletins ? of the last year there is an article which i must locate ,by an American ? ,( my apologies if that person is a forum member :-[ ), on how to hand pollinate.
However that will have to wait until the middle of next week as i hope to be out in the field ,up Canterbury way with Doug Logan from Sunday.
Cheers dave.
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Here are a couple of unusual species flowering at the moment.
The first is Gelasine azurea another small South American genus with blue flowers and is the only species usually grown, producing a succession of deep blue flowers with white centres.
Cyanella hyacinthoides from Namaqualand to the southern cape and the Karoo.
Flowers are in a branched raceme, blue to mauve, rarely white and are violet scented.
Gelasine azurea.
Cyanella hyacinthoides
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Physoplexis comosa in bloom. Yummy :D
Dave, what an interesting, exquisite, curious looking plant, I would love to grow that one, if you could spare a little plant or a few seeds, I would be very gratefull, in exchange of course for anything you might be interested in.
Thanks, Bill
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This Teucrium marum is beloved by our cats and I'm surprised it has increased in size to be abe to bloom so well!
cheers
fermi
Fermi,
it's indeed a lovely plant but never touch it short before you will have dinner. ::) ::)
Have look in the old Forum on this page.
http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/283/772.html#POST573 (http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/283/772.html#POST573)
I counted 30 entries for the month July in 2003 !
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I counted 30 entries for the month July in 2003 !
Ha Ha!! It seems things got rather more busy around here, eh?!! 8)
Did you see Fred's news today, Luit?
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4593.new;topicseen#new :) :D :)
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Physoplexis comosa in bloom. Yummy :D
Dave, what an interesting, exquisite, curious looking plant, I would love to grow that one, if you could spare a little plant or a few seeds, I would be very gratefull, in exchange of course for anything you might be interested in.
Thanks, Bill
Rightio Bill
I'll see what i can do.
Gelasine azurea does well down this end of the country however it will be a few weeks yet until it flowers .
The bulbs are either of an unusual colour or they emit an orange/red pigment when damaged --can't remember which ----- i haven't time to go investigate as i need to continue packing my gear --- the Otago Group are on their way down currently for a visit to the Waituna Wetlands --heavy showers are forecast for this morning--the sun has gone and it's clouding over so it's not looking that flash .
Cheers dave
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I counted 30 entries for the month July in 2003 !
Ha Ha!! It seems things got rather more busy around here, eh?!! 8)
Did you see Fred's news today, Luit?
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4593.new;topicseen#new :) :D :)
Yes, now I did Maggi. It seems that (we) grew a little bit since... 8) 8) 8)
But in 2003 we already meant that SRGC Website is the best Gardening website in the world ;) :-* :-*
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Arisaema candidisimum is a native of western China, where it grows in moist shady situations.
The attractive flowers are white or pink with green stripes.
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Another interesting plant flowering at the moment is the Hymenocallis littoralis,a vigorous evergreen species, which makes a good garden subject in warm climates.
The lovely white flowers have long narrow reflexed petals behind a central cup, several are carried on each sturdy stem.
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I was told last weekend by someone who should know that by the time the little gap appears at the top of each flower of the Physoplexis, the pollinating is already done, if it's going to be, (not sure how it COULD be). Mine flowers each year, sometimes twice but has never had any seed. Nor is it divisable, being a single thickish taproot with no side shoots.
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My A. candidissimum isn't even through yet. It's been too dry. Nice to see the Gelasine as I've some seedlings coming along nicely.
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My A. candidissimum isn't up yet, either. I was so worried I just bought another potful. There are a few species not showing
BTW, I posted a while ago about masses of some weird corn-like seedlings coming up last year. I now know they are Roscoea, probably R. alpina
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A few more Arisaema species flowering at the moment, this time Arisaema fargesii
This species offsets freely, but has an attractive purple/white striped spathe. The tuber is reddish and somewhat glossy. Trifoliolate leaves with a large apical leaflet, turn a pleasant golden in the fall. Very similar to Arisaema franchetianum but differs in having strongly recurved mouth-margins, whereas, A. franchetianum does not.
The next picture is suppose to be Arisaema franchtianum: is very similar to A. fargesii. It is difficult to separate them as their characters give a continuum of forms and colours. A. franchetianum has a more galeate spathe; these plants have a reddish colour.
Whatever the difference, they're both beautiful plants.
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Arisaema ringens (the Cobra Lily) is another species that I am very fascinated with.
From a dormant tuber these plants send up these helmet-like flowers with two large green trifoliate leaves.
A. ringens is the most commonly grown species in New Zealand, its flowers curl up so that only the purple-brown and white outsides can be seen.
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Just found another lot of Arisaema candidissimum corms under the bench, flowering dry in the seed tray.
This is not the correct way to store the corms, should have been planted long a go, bad management on my part. :-[ :(
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Lovely all the same Bill, and presumably scented. Do these set seed?
I've applied for seed from the exchange this year because my plants are self-incompatible so could do with some mixed company ;D
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Lovely all the same Bill, and presumably scented. Do these set seed?
I've applied for seed from the exchange this year because my plants are self-incompatible so could do with some mixed company ;D
Ashley, 12.55 am, you should have been in bed by now, getting your beauty sleep ;D ;D ;D
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Lovely all the same Bill, and presumably scented. Do these set seed?
I've applied for seed from the exchange this year because my plants are self-incompatible so could do with some mixed company ;D
Ashley, yes A.candidissimum do set seed, and when they're ready will send you some, if I will remember.
Just made a note not to forget ;D ;D and don't hesitate to remind me :D :D
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Wow, just noticed the Sr. member four stars above my profile picture.
Does that mean I can start beating up the lower junior ranks now? ;D ;D ;D
Didn't seem that long ago that I started off with one star.
Have enjoyed the partnership tremendously so far.
The SRGC is still the most popular, interactive, friendly rock garden webb site in the world IMHO. 8) 8) 8)
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Wow, just noticed the four stars above my profile picture.
Does that mean I can start beating up the lower junior ranks now? ;D ;D ;D
Didn't seem that long ago that I started off with one star.
No ;) it means you have got to be nicer to your junior members ;D
Angie :)
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Wow, just noticed the four stars above my profile picture.
Does that mean I can start beating up the lower junior ranks now? ;D ;D ;D
Didn't seem that long ago that I started off with one star.
No ;) it means you have got to be nicer to your junior members ;D
Angie :
Angie, thank you for reminding me of my senior member duties ;) especially from a bonnie wee lass ;D
No need to get jealous boys, I am just being nice/complimentary with Christmas coming. ;D ;D
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Bill,
You keep posting things that I've recently photographed and was going to post. ::) The Arisaema fargesii of mine is a few days off, and the first candidissima opened yesterday. Has been a good year for Arisaema for me this year. 8) Great pics as always.
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Ashley, yes A.candidissimum do set seed, and when they're ready will send you some, if I will remember.
Just made a note not to forget ;D ;D and don't hesitate to remind me :D :D
Many thanks Bill. I'd love a few in due course if you can spare them.
As to beauty or lack thereof, things aren't quite as bad as them seem! I set my profile local time to GMT but for some reason 'server time' GMT+1 still appears on my posts ???
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Bill, great shots! Thanks for sharing them. I really like the tray of 'poorly managed' Arisaema candidissimum. A florists dream! Like Ashley, I have but the one clone and it seems to be self oncompatable. I do have some seedlings coming along from the Arisaema Group exchange to remedy this. Ashley, are you a member? Costs nothing and is a great resource for understanding this fascinating and somewhat confusing genus.
Ciao,
Jamie
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Jamie,
Assuming you're talking about the Arisaema Enthusiasts Group..... Very true. A lot of my seed has come from them over the years. Some really wonderful contacts through the group as well. A very helpful bunch, much like so many people here.
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Bill's A. candidissimum pix are a sorry reminder to me of the failure of our plands this year. :-X :'( I have a nasty feeling the poor things drowned over the last couple of years, when we had more summer wet than they ( or I ::) ) would like >:(
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Ross, I've had A candidissimum come through as late as late January in a really dry year. They stll survive and flower though perhaps not as well. Water is very scarce here.
Bill I may hit you for a little seed as well as like everyone it seems I have just the one, non seeding clone of candidissimum. I don't have either fargesii or franchetianum at all. ;D
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A. ringens is the most commonly grown species in New Zealand, its flowers curl up so that only the purple-brown and white outsides can be seen.
Oh dear, is it? That's another I don't have. I had a tuber for a couple of years then it didn't come up again so goodbye, ringens. I have most of AA consanguineum, ciliatum, taiwanense and nepenthoides.
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Arisaema consanguineum. Most of the clump have the stripes showing on part of the leaves
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I think that particular strain (with the leaves showing the markings) was shown somewhere else on here recently. I'd never seen it before. Quite fascinating.
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Bill's A. candidissimum pix are a sorry reminder to me of the failure of our plands this year. :-X :'( I have a nasty feeling the poor things drowned over the last couple of years, when we had more summer wet than they ( or I ::) ) would like >:(
Maggi, such are the vagaries and unpredictabilities of the weather from season to season, disappointing to lose these beautiful A.cadidissimum corms, but we all have to deal with these losses at times.
What a pity, I could have supplied you with plenty of marble sized cormlets of A.candidissimum, I had about 200 to spare which I planted 2-3 weeks ago. Perhaps next time.
BTW: just for the record, what are the biosecurity Rules and Regulations for just sending a few bulbs, properly prepared to the UK Maggi?
Do these R & R differ for other countries?
Perhaps some members from the US, Canada, Australia and some members of the European countries could give us their version of what is required.
What about the R & R for the seed? Is this perhaps a new thread for discussion?
Thanks Bill
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Bill, I think a thread for all the R&R of the various countries of the Forum would take up a lot of time and space! There are so many rules and regulations, especially for food crop species, of course, and CITES plants.... one could spend all day every day just reading those for the UK's component parts ::)
In a nutshell:
All plants (including bulbs, tubers, rhizomes and fungi) which are permitted to enter the UK/ European Union must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate at the time of import.
Seed, (apart from commercialfood crop seeds and some weed varieties) have access to entry without certification.
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Ross, the leaf is gorgeous but I would include the spathe in A. ciliatum. Any thoughts? My first ciliatums came as seed of consanguineum.
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I don't have a single thought left in my head today
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Bill, I think a thread for all the R&R of the various countries of the Forum would take up a lot of time and space! There are so many rules and regulations, especially for food crop species, of course, and CITES plants.... one could spend all day every day just reading those for the UK's component parts ::)
In a nutshell:
All plants (including bulbs, tubers, rhizomes and fungi) which are permitted to enter the UK/ European Union must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate at the time of import.
Seed, (apart from commercialfood crop seeds and some weed varieties) have access to entry without certification.
Thanks Maggi, I will stick to seeds for now, (phyto's and inspection fees are very expensive with our MAF in NZ)
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Bill I may hit you for a little seed as well as like everyone it seems I have just the one, non seeding clone of candidissimum. I don't have either fargesii or franchetianum at all. ;D
Lesley, I think we could even manage a few corms next time, our Arisaema's usually produce plenty of kittens/cormlets.
Don't forget to remind me ;D
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Bill,
Are baby Arisaema tubers really called Kittens? :-\ I'm assuming you're just joking?
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Arisaema ciliatum is another species flowering at the moment.
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Bill, Are baby Arisaema tubers really called Kittens? :-\ I'm assuming you're just joking?
Paul, bulblets, cormlets, kittens: they're all small bulbs or corms produced on the base of the parent plant, below the ground.
I think the term kittens is mainly used with Gladioli growers in NZ when the corm produces thousands of kittens or cormlets.
Perhaps not suitable for the Arisaema corms.
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OK, but they technically would I think be tuberlets, as the vast majority (if not all of them) of Arisaemas are tubers, not corms or bulbs. ;)
In a lot of cases, I just think of them as "insurance". ;D ;D
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Thanks Maggi, I will stick to seeds for now, (phyto's and inspection fees are very expensive with our MAF in NZ)
Yes, Bill, no problems with seeds :)
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Talking of Gladiolus, here is 'Robinette' maybe one of the nanus forms/cultivars. As always with my camera, the red is not true. It is really a richer, deeper lipsticky red of gorgeous intensity. I have just a couple of these but will get more (readily available from the garden centres in autumn/winter) because it's just the right colour for Christmas vases and bowls, with callistemon, rata and other festive flowers.
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Bill I may hit you for a little seed as well as like everyone it seems I have just the one, non seeding clone of candidissimum. I don't have either fargesii or franchetianum at all. ;D
Lesley, I think we could even manage a few corms next time, our Arisaema's usually produce plenty of kittens/cormlets.
Don't forget to remind me ;D
Thank you Bill, kind of you. :)
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Carrying on with the redish theme ...
Thankfully my Watsonia coccinea ,(which comes in purple,pink or scarlet),has come back and has two flower spikes this season-- i had given so many corms away i thought i'd lost it .
Lilium grayii---in another pot ,seedlings sown Aug 05 are just about to open.
Cheers dave.
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Talking of Gladiolus, here is 'Robinette' maybe one of the nanus forms/cultivars. As always with my camera, the red is not true. It is really a richer, deeper lipsticky red of gorgeous intensity. I have just a couple of these but will get more (readily available from the garden centres in autumn/winter) because it's just the right colour for Christmas vases and bowls, with callistemon, rata and other festive flowers.
Lesley, what kind of a digital camera do you have? You should be able to shoot pictures with the correct colour if you select the right exposure setting.
I have a feature called "bracket set" that allows me to shoot 3 images at 0.3 EV (exposure value) apart, you have 3 pictures to choose from, one of those images is always right. This setting will allow you to adjust the EV determined by the camera.
If your camera has such a feature you should be abble to take good pictures. Why not try it?
Most of the time I always shoot when the weather is overcast, bright sunlight can overexpose or cast shadows.
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Lesley, what a coincident, I have Gladiolus Robinette flowering as well ;D ;D ;D Just a bit of fun.
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Bill, my camera is a Panasonic Lumex LC70 and overall I've been very happy with it. It's 5 years old now. There's a thread on this Forum for all kinds of technical camera matters and it's one I've totally avoided because I'm not at all technically minded, and to be truthful, I hardly know what you're talking about. As Roger says from time to time, "it's electrical, you wouldn't understand." Substitute technical or electronic for electrical, and there you are. :) Maybe I'll get him to have a look but the fact is, I point and shoot and leave it at that. ::)
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Dave, thanks for the plant which John dorpped off on Sunday. I was out at the time but he phoned next day. I saw it at the door and thought you must have been by. There are masses of buds so I'll see it pretty soon. NOT the nicest of foliage scents though. :D
Louise had a super Lilium grayii when I was there the other day, Very heavily spotted on an almost pink ground colour. Mine are more orangey and only in bud as yet, no colour.
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Here is another picture, sent to me as a regular photo yesterday, from an Australian friend. It started life in my garden. :) It's past its best but why I'm showing it is because I think it surely must be the biggest plant of Weldenia candida, in cultivation. I know it has been divided once before but still it has made at least 10 major "noses" and many more younger, smaller shoots.
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Wow... very impressive Lesley !!
You must feel like a very proud mother... ;D
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And I think that my plants are probably the grandkids (although divisions, not seedlings) from that clump? I think Otto's came from Don, and then a piece to me. Another pic I was going to post when I got to it, but won't now. After that my 2 humble little pots are pretty pitiful!! ::) I still love them though. ;D
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Here is another picture, sent to me as a regular photo yesterday, from an Australian friend. It started life in my garden. :) It's past its best but why I'm showing it is because I think it surely must be the biggest plant of Weldenia candida, in cultivation. I know it has been divided once before but still it has made at least 10 major "noses" and many more younger, smaller shoots.
Wonderful little plant Lesley
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Lesley that's an amazing clump of Weldenia, now that's got the WOW factor for sure, how many years has your friend been growing the plant for.
Angie :)
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Folks,
So, is this Gladiolus 'Robinette'?
Andrew.
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Folks,
Arisaema candidissimum 'Pink'. My white flowered one is a bit behind.
Andrew.
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Folks,
This was obtained as a form of Arisaema consanguineum from Eric Gouda. It may be true to name or it may be A. ciliatum. I always have trouble working out the exact differences. It's not stoloniferous however...
Andrew.
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Folks,
These were obtained as Arisaema erubescens from seed grown plants. I'm thinking a hybrid involving any of the following, A. erubescens, A. ciliatum and A. consanguineum. Big robust plants.
Andrew.
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Folks,
The first of my 'typical' A. consaguineum to flower for the year.
Andrew.
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Folks,
Arisaema flavum (previously known as A. flavum abbreviatum but apparently that name is no longer considered valid). I have spare plants of this if anyone in NZ wants me to put their name on them for when they go dormant.
Andrew.
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Folks,
Arisaema ringens. Flowering very late, possibly due to mis-treatment on my part. These are spare if anyone in NZ wants me to put their name on them for when they go dormant.
Andrew.
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Folks,
I've no idea what this Arisaema taiwanense thinks it's up to. It's flowered perfectly normally in the past. I wonder if the growing point got damaged while it was dormant. I have cats...
Andrew
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Folks,
I'm guessing this is either A. consanguineum or A. ciliatum. It popped up in a pot of Tigridia for some reason.
Andrew.
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Folks,
Some of my 'backyard biodiversity' for today. One of the advantages of being hideously lazy is that since the garden is full of weeds, I get lots of interesting critters...
Andrew.
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Folks,
More backyard diversity.
Andrew.
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Andrew what is your profession? You know the names for all your bugs so you can't be that lazy.
Pat
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Pat,
I'm a professional dogsbody in a research chemistry lab for Fonterra (http://www.fonterra.com).
The IDs may or may not be correct although I have a fairly extensive library.
Andrew.
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Folks,
Some of my 'backyard biodiversity' for today. One of the advantages of being hideously lazy is that since the garden is full of weeds, I get lots of interesting critters...
Andrew.
lots of cool critters, worth the weeds ;D btw, do you mean regular garden weeds, or volunteer natives? (i.e.:not really weeds ;)
the arisaemas are endlessly fascinating, too..
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My own view of certain Arisaema species is no doubt vastly over-simplified but in my book the pin-striped ones (above) are ciliatum and the plain green, often with maroon at the outer tip or on the upper half of the spathe, are consanguineum. I am pretty sure that they hybridize though. In my garden all the (green) consanguineums are taller and have more and more wavy leaflets, than the (pin-striped) ciliatums. Neither is stoloniferous precisely but both make a good number of very tiny to rather larger babies which are loose on and around the parent tubers, at lifting time.
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Andrew, I don't think your red Gladiolus is 'Robinette,' or not if mine IS, anyway. Mine has white flakes on the lower three petals, each flake surrounded by a cerise, streaky area and this surrounded by the solid pure red. Yours is very nice, It would be good to have a name for it.
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Lesley,
Supposedly the easiest way (according to Guzman) to distinguish A. consanguineum from A. ciliatum is that A. ciliatum is stoloniferous. There are apparently green forms of A. ciliatum and red/stripey versions of A. consanguineum.
I have a plant from the Dunedin gardens (ex Mr. Toole) that appears to be A. ciliatum ciliatum, rather than the more commonly cultivated A. ciliatum liubaense.
And, as for the Gladiolus, it came from a friends mothers garden so any label is well lost. Nice plant though.
Andrew.
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Folks, Arisaema flavum (previously known as A. flavum abbreviatum but apparently that name is no longer considered valid). I have spare plants of this if anyone in NZ wants me to put their name on them for when they go dormant. Andrew.
Andrew, thanks for showing us your very nice collection of Arisaema's.
I thought I had A.flavum, but going by your pictures, ours are not A. flavum, looks as though we could do some exchanging in the near future, not to mention other possible Arisaema species.
BTW: who is Eric Gouda?
Bill
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Bill,
Be aware that Arisaema flavum can be very enthusiastic in seed set. The flowers are tiny, and in the forms we get here in Aus they are not exactly striking. I think mine has died out by sheer neglect over the last few years, but I was sort of hoping it would. I guess that some will reappear from seed again one of these years though. ;D
Great pics, Andrew. I just love that red dragonfly and the really cool spider.
Thanks.
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BTW: who is Eric Gouda?
Bill
Bill,
Eric Gouda is the collection manager of the botanical garden of the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. And he is the moderator of a lot of the L-archives like the Arisaema Enthusiast Group (http://botgard.bio.uu.nl/Arisaema-L/Index.htm) and Alpine-L (http://alpine-l.florapix.nl/)
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Bill,
Arisaema flavum is fairly distinctive (flavum = yellow). If you don't have this one then I can send you flowering sized tubers once they go dormant, no worries.
Paul, you're right it is an easy one to propagate via seed and offsets (so my offer to Bill probably isn't a fair exchange for anything he can provide me). I still like it as a plant though.
Andrew.
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Oh yeah, what Wim said. :)
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I'm surprised we're not to use A. flavum ssp abbreviatum now. It is so distinct from straight flavum. Mine is only about 15cms in height while what I had as seed from the AEG as flavum grew to 45cms. The little one comes true from seed and no, it's not spectacular in bloom but very charming all the same and yes, it seeds prolifically but not a nuisance and the red heads are very decorative.
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OK, lets change the subject temporarely from the Arisaema's for now.
This morning I went for a hike up Mt.Maunganui (10 min.from Tauranga) for a bit of exercise and to shoot a few pictures of our native pohutukawa tree in full blazing colour.
The pohutukawa tree (Metrosideros excelsa) with its crimson flower has become an established part of the New Zealand Christmas tradition. This iconic Kiwi Christmas tree, which often features on greeting cards and in poems and songs, has become an important symbol for New Zealanders at home and abroad.
While walking along the track, (200 meters up) I was fortunately to notice a cruise liner coming in from the Pacific on the horizon, heading for the Tauranga harbour to berth.
I thought why not wait and include the cruise ship in the pictures to make it more interesting, an extra bonus.
Besides the beautiful Christmas trees, you can see the cruise liner and the pilot boat coming in below the track I was walking on, at the various stages of taking the pictures.
These pictures were taken very early in the morning at 7 am when the beach was still empty.
A breathtaking sight to look down on this picturesque scene down below. Enjoy. Bill
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Thank You :) :) :)
Here its snow and quite cold.
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Beautiful pics Bill. :)
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BTW: this dutch cruise liner was appropriately named the "Volendam" for a bit of nostalgia.
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Thanks Bill for sharing these photos of Mt.Maunganui (10 min.from Tauranga) as this was where the iris society symposium was held in 2000 when I visited NZ for the first time. A lovely part of NZ.
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OK, lets change the subject temporarely from the Arisaema's for now.
This morning I went for a hike up Mt.Maunganui (10 min.from Tauranga) for a bit of exercise and to shoot a few pictures of our native pohutukawa tree in full blazing colour.
The pohutukawa tree (Metrosideros excelsa) with its crimson flower has become an established part of the New Zealand Christmas tradition. This iconic Kiwi Christmas tree, which often features on greeting cards and in poems and songs, has become an important symbol for New Zealanders at home and abroad.
While walking along the track, (200 meters up) I was fortunately to notice a cruise liner coming in from the Pacific on the horizon, heading for the Tauranga harbour to berth.
I thought why not wait and include the cruise ship in the pictures to make it more interesting, an extra bonus.
Besides the beautiful Christmas trees, you can see the cruise liner and the pilot boat coming in below the track I was walking on, at the various stages of taking the pictures.
These pictures were taken very early in the morning at 7 am when the beach was still empty.
A breathtaking sight to look down on this picturesque scene down below. Enjoy. Bill
lovely shots and a lovely tree! looks like a very nice area where you live..
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Bill,
that Kiwi Christmas Tree is spectacular - and so suitable in colour for the Season.
A few little things in flower now in our garden include,
Dianthus amurensis
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The South African daisy bush, Relhania pungens,
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The double form of our local "Bluebell", Wahlenbergia stricta "Blue Mist"
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Pelargoium rapaceum
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A salvia volunteer which I think may be Salvia superba,
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And a very late bloom on DBI "Zounds"
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cheers
fermi
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Dear Friends,
Where did the year go? Suddenly it is December......AGAIN - and we realize that with giant strides we started in January and within a blink of an eye, 2009 is almost over!
A big "Thank You” for your friendship, mateship, laughs and memories during 2009.
.Without you, I'm sure that 2009 would have been extremely boring.
From my side I wish you all a magical Festive Season filled with Loving Wishes and Beautiful Thoughts.
May 2010 mark the beginning of a Tidal Wave of Love, Happiness and Bright Futures.
And to those who need someone special, may you find that true love
To those who need money, may your finances overflow
To those who need caring, may you find a good heart
To those who need friends, may you meet lovely people
Should you be driving during this time.....please take care and stay safe!
And please remember if you win Lotto remember who sent you this lovely email
”ho, ho, ho”
Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year
Bill
BTW:daffies in the picture are from left to right: Tweeny, Little Nipper, Lively Lady, Little Flik, and Segovia
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Heres a christmas cake recipe that I make every year, ha ha ha.
Hope you enjoy making it too.
Christmas Cake Recipe
You'll need the following:
1 cup of water
1 cup of sugar
4 large brown eggs
2 cups of dried fruit
1 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of brown sugar
Lemon juice
Nuts
1 bottle of whisky (my own homebrew)
Sample the whisky to check for quality. Take a large bowl. Check the whisky again. To be sure it's the
highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer, beat one cup of butter
in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar and beat again. Make sure the whisky is still OK.
Cry another tup. Tune up the mixer. Beat two leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried
fruit. Mix on the turner. If the fired druit gets stuck in the beaterers, pry it goose with a drewscriver.
Sample the whisky to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Who cares?
Check the whisky. Now sift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Spoon the sugar or something. Whatever you can find. Grease the oven. Turn the cake tin to 350 degrees. Don't forget
to beat off the turner. Throw the bowl out of the window. Check the whisky again and go to bed.
Heva a revy (hic) CHERRY MISTMAS! Bill. ;D ;D ;D
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Some Daylilies flowering now and a Japanese Iris.byeRay
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I was going to stay up until midnight and be the first to wish everyone a great Christmas Day but I'm so tired, just finishing a few things before going to Zzzzland. It's almost 11.30pm, the dogs have been out, we've sampled Roger's Chistmas cake - he poured another half cup of whisky over it today. That's the third!!! - and the few dishes in the sink can wait until breakfast time. So.....to all my Australian and NZ Forum friends, and to anyone else who visits this thread occasionally, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in 2010. :-* :-* :-*
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i was just thinking of you folk earlier this eve--i was (half) watching a silly christmas movie on tv, about a little town with a regional headquarters for santa's workshop..lol.. and they mentioned that christmas was coming to new zealand first, so they had a little early celebration for that time...lol
it will soon be christmas eve day here--still banking and shopping to be done..
a great day to all of you ahead of us!
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Merry Christmas to All.
Lesley,
I too thought of being first to wish a Merry Christmas but couldn't be bothered turning the computer on when I got home from work well after midnight.
We've had a very nice christmas present already..... nearly 20mm of rain this morning. Hallelujah!! ;D I hope we get lots more, but this is still so wonderful.
All the best everyone. 8)
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nearly 20mm of rain this morning.
Who said Santa doesn't listen to grown-ups? :D
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Ah but Maggi, are we talking physical or mental age? ;)
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Ah but Maggi, are we talking physical or mental age? ;)
I refuse to answer on the grounds I might incriminate myself! :-X
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So Christmas has come and gone. Bruichladdich and a Bill Bailey DVD for Roger and a pile of timber for me. And I invented a new recipe. See Cook's Corner. No rain alas but a thin drizzle and 14C this morning after 32C on Christmas Day with a very strong (gale force) nor'west wind. I'm watering today
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We've had more than 2 inches or rain at my place so far..... absolutely fantastic!! The 36mm in the raingauge this morning (24 hours to 9am) is the largest entry for a day in over 12 months. The 52mm so far for this "rain event" is also the largest in over 12 months. We got 63mm one day early last December, and 72mm in total for that rain event. The last rain event that delivered over 2 inches of rain before that was January 2007. So this has definitely been a decent bit of rain. We need to it keep going for a couple more days at least though, with some nice followup as well. At least this should put some moisture into the soil, at least to a degree.
Definitely a nice present for the Silly Season!! ;D
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Good thing the rain didn't come in a parcel Paul !! ;)
Great to hear you're getting some moisture after all !
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Just checked the raingauge as I got home from work a few minutes ago (12:20am).... we've had another 11mm today. Forecast for more tomorrow and the next day, although small amounts. We've had a lot of drizzle today, which isn't much at the time but it starts to add up. Keeps everything moist as well, so no evaporation. ;D All good!! 8)
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nice to hear that you have had some rain, I am really pleased for you and your plants.
Its freezzzzzzzzzzzzzzing here in Scotland.
Angie :)
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Angie,
It was actually cool enough yesterday that we had to dust off our jumpers!! Been a long while since we've needed to wear them. ;D
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We've had more than 2 inches or rain at my place so far..... absolutely fantastic!! The 36mm in the raingauge this morning (24 hours to 9am) is the largest entry for a day in over 12 months. The 52mm so far for this "rain event" is also the largest in over 12 months. We got 63mm one day early last December, and 72mm in total for that rain event. The last rain event that delivered over 2 inches of rain before that was January 2007. So this has definitely been a decent bit of rain. We need to it keep going for a couple more days at least though, with some nice followup as well. At least this should put some moisture into the soil, at least to a degree.
Definitely a nice present for the Silly Season!! ;D
i just noticed you sound as mixed up as many of we canadians--talking inches and mm in the same paragraph ;)
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Cohan,
I try to stick to mm in sizes and rainfall here, but in this case I thought that the traditional inches worked as a measure to aim for as "more than" (if you know what I mean). Saying that the last time we'd had "more than 50mm" just didn't have the same ring to it as "more than 2 inches". It was actually a deliberate choice. ;D
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Cohan,
I try to stick to mm in sizes and rainfall here, but in this case I thought that the traditional inches worked as a measure to aim for as "more than" (if you know what I mean). Saying that the last time we'd had "more than 50mm" just didn't have the same ring to it as "more than 2 inches". It was actually a deliberate choice. ;D
deliberately mixed up --much better ;)
official precip statistics here are in mm and cm, but rarely have i heard anyone use those in conversation, for either rain or snow..
...in many years of hairdressing(all of them well after our supposed conversion), i had exactly one client ever who referred to the amount of hair she wanted removed in cm!
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A few days ago, just before Chrismas, Lesley kindly send me a very nice, healthy plant of Weldenia candida.
No need to say I was pleased to once more own this treasure, since I unfortunetly lost mine.
After careful unpacking, I did repot in a bigger container to allow for future increase.
Anyway, I gave it a drink and I put the plant away in a safe place in the nursery.
Imagine my surprise and delight, when checking the plant after 2 days, the Weldenia had produced this beautiful display, this late in the season.
Lesley, any idea or explanation why this Weldenia all of a sudden exploded in this unexpected, magnificent spectacle?
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A real treat indeed, Bill.
I can only think that Lesley had kept the plant on the dry side, to prepare for its journey and when it got a new pot and some water, it decided to have a celebration.
Must have not fully finished its quota of flowers and is making the most of the situation... what a lovely thing a Weldenia is!
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Such a stunning plant!
Congratulations Bill and Lesley!
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Its freezzzzzzzzzzzzzzing here in Scotland.
Angie :)
Angie, why don't you join us for a swim along the the beach, a balmy, sunny day, 28 deg. C.
Christmas in Tauranga, New Zealand. ;D ;D ;D
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OK Bill, don't rub it in ;D
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Looks very nice
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Thanks Bill I am feeling warmer already ;D
Lovely picture of Weldenia Candida.
In my next life please, please may I be born in a warmer place.
Angie :)
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OK Bill, don't rub it in ;D
yep, that was definitely a rub.. ;)
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I'm pleased the Weldenia is behaving nicely Bill. Yes, it was on the dry side as everything is here (less than 2mm of rain for me over the last week :'() and another I have exactly the same size from the same dividing, has only remains from a week ago. So a bit of TLC has been beneficial. It looks to have the beginnings of new shoots at the side so those will be more flowering noses for next year
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Lesley,
What is the longest you go between rain, and then how much do you usually get? What is your yearly average rainfall?
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Erythrina crista-galli (aka Cockspur, Fireman's Cap Tree, Brazillian Coral Tree)
One of the most striking of the flowering coral trees, this species is a common ornamental in some parts of the world, roundly appreciated for its bright red, profuse blooms.
The beautiful red flower, born en masse during warm months, have a sort of pea flower-like look to them
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A barrowload of petunia's in my neighbour's garden always make a nice welcome splash of colour on the terrace..
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The Erythrina is superb Bill. Is this in your garden? I planted one once in Timaru but it was too frosty for it and it died.
Paul, those are hard questions to answer because every year seems different. The yearly average is dropping each year as another year is added, if you see what I mean. Dunedin city gets about 1000mm per year but here, just 18km from the city centre but over a climate-changing hill (Saddle Hill) we get half that, a mere 500 or so. Most is in winter and spring with summer very dry and autumn usually dry too, but not always. :-\ At this time of year and especially after the longest day, there may be a month or 2 or 3 months with no rain at all. Sometimes we get sea fog which helps but not much. (We live in a dip between two hills and the fog pours over the dip. We are just about 1 km from the coast as the seagull flies.) We here are lucky to get 10mm in any decent rain and I long for the days when I lived in Timaru up the coast and we'd have 3 days of easterly rain which set the garden up for months to come. It just doesn't happen now. The whole east coast of NZ even as far south as you can go, seems to be in almost perpetual drought mode over the last 12-15 years.
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The Erythrina is superb Bill. Is this in your garden? I planted one once in Timaru but it was too frosty for it and it died.
Yes this deciduous Erythrina is a very colourful small tree in our garden and easily raised from seed from the bean like seedpods, freely produced after flowering. The current growth that produce the flowers, usually dies right back during winter, and have to be pruned back to the base, to sprout new shoots once again in the spring.
Yes, I agree it is frost tender, and usually confined to the warmer or frost-free coastal areas.
Lesley, if you would like to try again, I might have some seed available later.
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Yesterday I harvested some large, specially selected dark red Trillium chloropetalum seed berries, and was pleasantly suprised at the amount of seed produced with some berries supplying up to 150 seeds per pod.
I usually sow the fresh seeds quite thick (in a peat based seed mix) in a suitable container straight away (with the aril still attached), to stop them drying out, in a cool, shady part of the nursery, and as a rule (with frost during the winter) will germinate freely and sprout plenty of new seedlings in the spring. I never let the seed dry out, after the first good wetting, just keep them moist.
I sometimes bury the whole ripe berry as well next to the dormant rhizomes, (if space is available) with the same results.
As you can see, the berry pictured is just about to break away from the flower pedicel, this is the best time to pick the berries.
Growing trilliums from seed is not always easy, and look forward to hearing from other trillium growers, the method they use, and how they go about raising trilliums from seed? Any other useful tips?
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That would be a good picture Bill, for Maggi's seed ID thread. You's need to keep a few and dry them and photograph those as well, as dried is how almost everyone gets their seed, from the exchanges.
I'd love to try the erythrina from seed. You know me, totally addicted to seeds. ;D Starting to clean up the frits today, a horrid 14C is what the weather man says we're allowed to have, in Dunedin.
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Wow, Bill!! That's a heck of an amount of seeds from one berry. If you have excess to requirements of any of your Trillium I would be very interested in a few seeds. You have some wonderful colours over there in NZ, many of which I would love to try from seed to see if I was lucky enough to replicate them. ;D
I must get around to preparing and posting a pic of a plant in flower from seed from you many years ago (via the ABA). First flowering from seed after too many years (I think it should be quicker than it has been)..... Neomarica caerulea. I am amazed at how many flowers it has had one one stem..... they keep opening in 3's (today another fine example). I've wanted this for years, so having it finally flower to see it in person is wonderful. 8)
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Tigridia vanhouttei Another colourful species of the Tigridia genus flowering at the moment. Clusters of flowers for a long period in summer. Outer petals pale yellow with purple streaks. Inner cupped petals cream with perfect painted purple veins leading to deep purple center.
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What a beautiful thing - such a surprise coming from those unassuming green buds.
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Very nice indeed Bill. I have (or maybe had!!) a few seedlings sown from SRGC Seed Ex seed in March 2008 it would be nice to see them flower.
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Bill,
Are yours a dark form? They're much deeper in colour (almost orange?) than any I have seen before?
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I was reminded of these pix of yours, Paul, over the years.....
http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/283/5451.html
Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 11:33 am:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/283/26952.html
Posted on Monday, April 03, 2006 - 2:20 pm
those two links from the Old Forum and this last from this Forum last March.....
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3135.msg82365#msg82365
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Thanks Maggi. That confirms that Bill's are either very different, or his colour saturation is out of whack.
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I like it very much Bill. Another plant with similar odd veining is Iris 'Holden Clough' and yet another plant which I was about to type in here, now, and has totally gone from my memory. I'll think of it later no doubt.
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Tigridia vanhouttei Another colourful species of the Tigridia genus flowering at the moment. Clusters of flowers for a long period in summer. Outer petals pale yellow with purple streaks. Inner cupped petals cream with perfect painted purple veins leading to deep purple center.
wow! thats a zowie one! is it a tiny plant or just looks that way in overhead view?
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Amazing plant, you certainly have some beauties in your collection.
Angie :)
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Cohan,
The flower is about 3 or 4cm wide from memory. It won't flower for me for a couple of months yet. Mine though are definitely yellow and purple, as you can see if you follow the links Maggi supplied. The whole plant grows to maybe 70cm (again, from memory) and you get flowers over a period on a branching stem. I think they most I've had out from my plant on a stem on a given day is about 3 or 4. Definitely a favourite of the Tigridias, but I love them all. 8)
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Cohan,
The flower is about 3 or 4cm wide from memory. It won't flower for me for a couple of months yet. Mine though are definitely yellow and purple, as you can see if you follow the links Maggi supplied. The whole plant grows to maybe 70cm (again, from memory) and you get flowers over a period on a branching stem. I think they most I've had out from my plant on a stem on a given day is about 3 or 4. Definitely a favourite of the Tigridias, but I love them all. 8)
thanks paul, so not a small plant at all; i think i've seen 'full body' shots of other species, so i have a general idea..
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Cohan,
There are Tigridias that are literally less than 10cm tall, with flowers about 1cm across. Mine are up, but not yet in flower. I'll photograph and post here if I catch them in flower. Unlike many of the others this little species does tend to multiply as well, which means it clumps. Many of them are very shy to do so for me. Then if course you've got the big "jockey cap lilies" which have flowers up to perhaps 10cm across. Altogether a very variable genus, and one which I wish I could find more of. They, the Cypellas and their ilk etc, are all wonderful plants. I really must prepare some photos to post of some of the things in flower here at the moment. ::)