Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: fermi de Sousa on November 01, 2010, 07:06:52 AM
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November has started after a seriously wet October - the growth of most plants will be phenomenal this year!
To start off the month here's the first flower on a seed grown Calochortus amoenus (NARGS 2007)
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cheers
fermi
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Also flowering for the first time is Scilla natalensis (now Merwilla or something I have yet to memorize!) which I got about 7 years ago from a friend who grew a boxful from seed.
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Another Calochortus just starting is Calochortus splendens
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cheers
fermi
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Also flowering for the first time is Scilla natalensis (now Merwilla or something I have yet to memorize!) which I got about 7 years ago from a friend who grew a boxful from seed.
It's Merwilla plumbea now Fermi. http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/merwilplum.htm
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Thanks, Calvin,
I see from your link that I'm only 6 to 9 years behind the times!
Also of South Afrcian origin is this terracotta coloured dimorphotheca ?hybrid?
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And this Babiana spathacea
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A pink form of Tritonia crocata
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Dutch Iris "Thunderbolt"
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An Aussie native flower, Velleia paradoxa
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Cistus "Bennet's White"
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cheers
fermi
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A couple of years ago I cross-pollinated Dianthus "Inshriach Dazzler" and Dianthus callizonus and this is the first of the resultant seedlings to flower,
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cheers
fermi
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Nice, Fermi!
Is dimorphotheca a synonym for Osteospermum, or does it just look like them? Or how far behind the times as I now regarding name changes? ;D
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Your garden looks wonderfully colourful, Fermi.
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An Aussie native flower, Velleia paradoxa
cheers
fermi
Fermi, the Velleia is the coolest plant! Looks sort of Viola-like. Unfamiliar with the genus I looked it up, a member of the Goodeniaceae.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velleia
Have you grown other species? Are they perennial & hardy? Do they have flowers in other colors?
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I really like the Velleia too. If I hadn't been told its name I would have been thinking Leschenaultia, also Goodeniaceae.
I like your Dianthus hybrid Fermi. I have an accidental hybrid (a seedling from a batch of deep red alpinus) whose other parent MUST be D. deltoides, one of the dark ones, like 'Steriker' which seeds about here. It is really very good and for now I'm propagating it as quickly as possible. Fully perennial with deep red foliage and brilliant magenta flowers on short stems. Pictures later.
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Fermi I really like your Calochortus amoenus. Your garden looks like you have lots of colour. What is your temperature at this time of year.
Angie :)
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Did not have much time lately to visit these pages.
I am a bit envious that your winter is already over and ours just almost to start.
So many nice flowers in the SH. It's really cheering me up these dark days.
Dutch Iris "Thunderbolt"
Fermi, this Iris is not in culture here anymore, but I think it belongs to the so called English or Spanish irises (I. xiphium)
the Velleia is very special!
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Thanks, Anne,
It's a lovely late spring this year because of the recent rains :)
Angie,
the temperatures are around the high teens to mid 20's (oC) but it was 3oC this morning!
Luit,
thanks for that info; I didn't realise it wasn't around over there - are there other brown coloured ones? When I was young I used to buy the bags of "Mixed Dutch iris" in the hope of getting a brown coloured flower like it showed on the picture on the pack! Only ever go blues and yellows!
Mark,
The velleia came from a friend in the autumn so it has survived -4oC so far, as we didn't have a very cold winter. I've grown other Goodenias but no other Velleias. Goodenia blackiana is a similar clumper but smaller in all its parts.
This one is from your half of the world: Brodiaea stellaris
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As is Brodiaea hyacinthina
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Although no longer an allium, Nectarscordum siculum makes a fine contribution to the late spring garden,
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here it grows amidst "King's Spear", Asphodeline lutea
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A colony which has self-seeded over the past 8 years, intermingling with other plants from all over the world!
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cheers
fermi
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Nice display Fermi! I grow those that you show, with the exception of Asphodeline lutea, which I like the look of very much! In your last photo, the garden is looking very festive indeed. Here, the season is finally coming to a halt, was 24 F (-4 C) this morning; that nightly freezing trend predicted to continue.
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My Brodiaeas are missing in action Fermi :)--hopefully they are still alive ......
A couple of South Africans .
Gladiolus huttonii a bright and breezy thing .
Moraea vegeta .
Primula reidii var williamsii -- wonderfully scented --i keep on lifting the pot for a deep sniff. :P
Finally --in a pot of mixed seedlings of Cyclamen repandum--labels show C. repandum 'pelops' and C. repandum rhodense. :-\
Cheers dave
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Fermi wish we were warmer. Winter comes to soon for me I not finished cutting back all my plants yet, it was a horrible miserable day today so it's great to see all the wonderful plants that you have. Keep them coming.
Dave really like your Moraea vegeta, lovely colour 8)
Angie :)
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Luit,
thanks for that info; I didn't realise it wasn't around over there - are there other brown coloured ones? When I was young I used to buy the bags of "Mixed Dutch iris" in the hope of getting a brown coloured flower like it showed on the picture on the pack! Only ever go blues and yellows!
cheers
fermi
Fermi, there are two newer brownish Dutch Irises and I think Tiger Eye will be in trade at many places in the world.
Iris hollandica Lion King
Iris hollandica Tiger Eye ( or Eye of the Tiger) which I showed both in the Weekly Lisse Show thread.
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Thanks Angie
The Moraea sets plenty of seed --should grow okay in a glasshouse if kept dryish over winter.
Suggest send me a PM if interested.
Ps --great meeting up with you in person the 'other day' :)
Cheers dave.
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Another rainy day has canned a planned trip into the mountains, maybe tomorrow.
At least its a good reason to post some garden shots... ;)
Clianthus puniceus the white form looks great against my native backdrop.
Anaphalioides bellidioides.
Carmichaelia nana flowering in pots and trough at present.
Iris 'coal bucket' a stunning dark flower.
Dianthus 'lionrock' in my daughters trough.
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We had the great pleasure of hearing Ian Christie speak at the FCHS Rock Garden Group meeting on Saturday.
His pics of the nursery and garden at home were great - especially the blue poppies!
Afterwards we got a pic of Ian, Les Worsley the FCHS President and me in the FCHS garden,
cheers
fermi
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Dear Maggi , another photo of the 'Scottish Rocker' . Ian and Ann send their best wishes . We showed them several gardens up here in the Dandenong Ranges and they were amazed at the variety of plants we can grow successfuly . Before Ian's lecture to the Ferny Creek Hort. Soc . they had lunch at my home (see pic) and I also took Ian to a friend's garden , Shirley Carne, whose garden is devoted to Australian native plants only. -of great interest and joy to Ian - his camera went into overdrive . No doubt he will post many photos ,also of New Zealand , where they will spend the next 2 weeks .
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Otto, and Fermi, it is good to see you are making such a fine job of looking after our dear Ann and Ian of the Christie kind... they are precious souls and deserve it, of course! I don't doubt they are having a wonderful trip... we have seen some of the delights your gardens provide... and lunch looks every bit as outstanding!! 8)
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I couldn't help myself of posting one more picture of this beautiful Weldenia candida
Sanguinaria canadensis f. multiplex the incomparable Double Bloodroot, without which no woodland garden is complete.
Cypella houthallii ssp.opalina, another rare species to complete the all white collection this time.
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Some real gems there, Bill.
Maggi,
it was great to see Ian of the Christie kind here in Oz (NZ is only missing a visit by Ian B. to complete the set!)
cheers
fermi
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Bill wonderful pictures. I really love the Weldenia Candida I was lucky enough to purchase the plant when I was at one of the big shows in England. I bought two in case one died on me. I keep them in the greenhouse.
Your Sanguinaria is also one of my favourites.
I just love white flowers.
Thanks for showing and please post more, cheers me up on a dreadful winters day.
Angie :)
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Angie,
The Weldenia actually multiply quite well. My single one from a few years ago (Thanks again Otto) is now around 9, plus I have given pieces to a couple of people as well. Much easier than I thought when I coddled it carefully the first couple of years...... I've even planted some of it in my garden now, which was a bit nerve-wracking. The main clump in the pot has opened it's first 3 flowers for the year today. Brilliant!! 8)
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Maggi,
it was great to see Ian of the Christie kind here in Oz (NZ is only missing a visit by Ian B. to complete the set!)
cheers
fermi
I think the Bainbridges have been to NZ, fermi..... a few years ago.
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Hi Paul
My Weldenia is being coddled,this usually this means I will kill it. I hope they do well in your garden. It is such a lovely flower.
Angie :)
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A beautiful Cypella Bill, unlike any I've seen before. I always associate that genus with blue shades.
My Weldenias haven't started to flower yet. Everything is very late this year. Even some of the younger trees are only starting to leaf up; acers, gleditsias,and cercis in particular. I thought they were dead except that the stems were obvioulsy NOT dead. Leaves are just starting this week. I think they need a good soaking.
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The Bainbridges were here, I think in the sumer of 1995-6 for the NZ version of next year's conference. I remember they were very interested in Dunedin's Royal Albatross colony. Although our little city has many fine buildings and other merits, it's best known, especially to overseas people for very non-city things, like the albatrosses, penguins, seals etc.
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I meant to add Bill, that I have a few seeds, still green yet, on your Trop. azureum. They will be sown VERY fresh in due course. :D
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The Bainbridges were here, I think in the sumer of 1995-6 for the NZ version of next year's conference. I remember they were very interested in Dunedin's Royal Albatross colony. Although our little city has many fine buildings and other merits, it's best known, especially to overseas people for very non-city things, like the albatrosses, penguins, seals etc.
Exactly! That's right... well remembered, Lesley.
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I meant to add Bill, that I have a few seeds, still green yet, on your Trop. azureum. They will be sown VERY fresh in due course. :D
Thought the following might be of interest to you Lesley ,(and others).
Back in July of this year Bill sent me seed of Trop azureum and Trop brachyceras which i sowed all together ::). I presume this was fresh seed .
When germination occured in early August i decided to check an old pot of Trop azureum seed that Mike Ireland had sent from the UK in June 2009 .
Although the seed in this old pot had been sown over 12 months previously it still looked okay ,so i nicked the wall ,(with a razorblade),of a couple of seeds and left the rest--result ---2 have germinated.
I cannot say for certain that these two seedlings are a result of my experiment however when i get the time i'm going to try and locate the rest of the untouched seed in the pot and continue using the razorblade.....
Cheers dave.
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I meant to add Bill, that I have a few seeds, still green yet, on your Trop. azureum. They will be sown VERY fresh in due course. :D
Lesley, I am pleased to hear that the Trop. azureum has flowered successfully for you and set seed as an added bonus.
Do you think that sowing them VERY fresh ASAP, as oppose to normal autumn/winter sowing of older, drier seed would make any difference in germination?
Dave, I am also pleased with your Trop.azureum great seed germination, and your interesting experiment with nicking the seed, I will try the same procedure myself next time, and will see and report, if it will makes any difference.
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Well I don't really know Bill, and I'd probably take Ian Y's advice on that, but I'll have to look back through the Bulb Logs to see what he says on the subject. I think there are 4 seeds from two dead flowers.
Re Mike's seed, 1 germinated quite quickly after sowing and grew until dying off time but didn't come up this season, so I presume it died. No others have germinated though it was lovely seed so I'll do a look through and see if I can find some to nick. But it may be too late now to be effective or even advisable. Maybe I could nick a few now and leave some until the autumn for the same treatment.
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In flower at present is Rhododendron camtschaticum album. For 3 years I've had just 1, 2 and 1 flower on two plants, side by side. In spite of this I've had seed on two flowers (different years) and I hope for more this year as I have - should have had - 13 flowers. While weeding around it I knocked off a branch with 2 flowers and 2 buds. It also had 6 cuttings so I've taken those, along with 20 others I took about 3 weeks ago. The only other to survive from a small batch of seedlings from seed donated to OAGG by the Sutherlands of Ardfearn, is, I hope, pink or red or purplish (the seed came as Red Form), but I was thrilled to get two whites.
As you see from the pictures here, the remaining seedling is much smaller and less vigorous (right in the centre of the third picture). I think it will be coloured, as the tinier leaves get slightly reddish as the weather warms and the autumn colour is orange/scarlet while the two white turn a rich gold colour. The whites especially are spreading underground and the shoot just beneath the reddish one, is from the white, not the reddish. I just wish it would grow a bit faster. ::)
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I bought two alliums this year, packets from a garden centre. The first is 'Purple Sensation,' 3 bulbs, 3 stems about 80cms in height. It's a pity the leaves are going tatty as it flowers.
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The second is 'Gladiator,' 1 bulb, 5 stems (!), the last of which has come though low and curled so is almost on the ground. The tallest stem is a metre in height and just one stems has some small bulblets among the florets.
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Lesley, congratulations on your Rhododendron camtschaticum album, I don't believe I have ever seen the white form, but I think I like it better than the brighter rose-red form.
Regarding the Alliums, I find those types (the big-ball Melanocrommyum types) useful to grow up through some sort of non-competitive groundcover to help conceal the drying foliage. In nature, many of these types do start showing senescent foliage as the flowers expand. So far as the one with a few bulbils, on the Melanocrommyums this can happen (rarely), but typically it's a freak occurrence and should not repeat itself in subsequent years.
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Flowering at the momement are Dichelostemma ida-maia, aka as firecracker flower, producing scarlet flowers with green tips in late spring and summer.
Sandersonia aurentiaca aka Chinese lantern lily, is universally admired, and highly prized as long-lasting, rich golden bell-shaped cut flowers and graceful container plant.
Albuca canadensis has pendulous flowers of pale yellow flushed green with distinctive green stripe along each petal, very good for picking.
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Mark, if there is seed on the white rhodo? would you like some. I'm not promising, too soo yet to tell. I raised one batch of about 50 seedlings then lost the lost when my tunnel dried out more than I realized.
I'll save the allium babies and grow them on and see what happens later.
In the second allium picture there is a small white patch and that is the label of Muscari muscarimi or, you know, the blue one with yellow, and very fragrant. I get them mixed up. Anyway I planted the 12 bulbs that I'd bought in the winter of 2009, in flower, so forced I suppose or imported from Holland, and they were sitting very high - half exposed - in their 3 pots. So I planted the dormant bulbs just below the surface of the ground and not a single one came up. But poking around this morning, I found that all the bulbs, or 11 of them anyway, couldn't find the other, were still there and very healthy-looking, no rot or disintegration at all. So what's going on? Maybe just a year off because of perhaps being made to flower too early last year? I'm hopeful they'll grow away next year now.
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So it seems we'll have another Forumist from NZ quite soon. :) NZ 1, Scotland -1. (though that will not be the score this coming Saturday night. ;D)
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Mark, if there is seed on the white rhodo? would you like some. I'm not promising, too soo yet to tell. I raised one batch of about 50 seedlings then lost the lost when my tunnel dried out more than I realized.
Thanks for the offer, but no thank you... my yard atop a hill is exposed, windy, sunny and hot in summer, desiccated in winter by prevailing north winds, all anathema to small ericaceae, I just can't keep them moist enough and they invariably die very quickly. My attempts at raising rhodies from seed in this garden have met 100% failure. I'm at a point in my gardening where I'm okay with admiring some plants from afar.
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if there is seed on the white rhodo? would you like some.
Lesley - What an absolutely delicious white camtschaticum, so healthy and lusty with suckers about. I wish I had known you were in need of the other colour forms of casmschaticum. Tomorrow I'll go out and check for stray pods but not hopeful - they will have opened back in September. If you have a pinch of the white to spare I'd love some, it's hard to get seed of a white that is not contaminated with other pollen. My white one has yet to flower and it came from Jim as well, it's doing well but I killed 3 or more before I got one established. It's definitely crankier than the coloured ones. The others I believe from the Stones. My oldest pink-purple is now about a meter across from a planting in 1980 or so.
I was very surprised the camtschaticums came through this summer's drought and those 4-5 hot days in September.
johnw - SUN!
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Lesley - If you are interested I was able to get a fair amount of seed from two camtschaticums - the purplish pink and a large flowered pink. That is not to say they will come true as the red, pinks and purples are all close to one another.
johnw
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Bill, the Sandersonia is spectacular. The Albuca is nice too, how hardy is it, and how tall? I used to grow A. humilis here with no problems.
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Bill, the Sandersonia is spectacular. The Albuca is nice too, how hardy is it, and how tall? I used to grow A. humilis here with no problems.
Anne, only a few of the species are worth cultivating and these are particularly suitable for the more warmer climates, unfortunately not hardy enough for the cooler climates.
Albuca canadensis can grow up to 50-60 cm. with pendulous flowers, whereas those of most species face upwards.
It has a long flowering period, lasting from late spring until early summer, which makes them ideal for picking.
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John, thanks so much, I would definitely be interested in seed of anything other than the white and of course you can have some - if it develops. I'd better go out and hand pollinate as an encouragement.
After good spring rain we've had what amounts to drought here and I urgently need a good downpour over a couple of days. Nothing in the forecast suggests it's likely however. Well after leaf fall (which was very early because of dryness last summer) there were tiny points of green on the bare branches of the white and I kept thinking "I must get water onto that" but my hose doesn't reach quite far enough and it didn't happen so the rhodo was in a compost (raised bed) that was literally dust dry through to the base of the bed, about 20cms. Yet it survived and leafed up well in the spring (small primulas suffered badly though) and now has more flowers than ever before.
The seed I sowed and had do well until the tunnel dried out, I sowed over grit as with all my very fine seed (your shortias for example) and it came up (as did the shortias) like mustard and cress. If I do it the approved way for such things, moss always overtakes the seed or seedlings. The following year (last) Otto in Australia had none germinate over a sterilized compost, on a shady windowsill. Same seed, different conditions.
I noticed yesterday that the cutting I took recently are also beginning to yellow slightly. They may lose their leaves before they root so cuttings may not be a reliable way to propagate.
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John, thanks so much, I would definitely be interested in seed of anything other than the white and of course you can have some - if it develops. I'd better go out and hand pollinate as an encouragement.
Many thanks Lesley. I was able to collect about a teaspoon of seed of each of the two camtschaticums in daylight today. Now I will have to clean some of chaff for you as we know the NZ authorities will have nothing to do with chaff. That should take a week or so!
Did your Shortias survive the drought? Not clear from your post. If not I can check the soldanelloides for stray seed pods tomorrow morning. I have some I collected back in the summer, that one seems to be less ephemeral and there were scads of pods then. I meant to send it off th the exchange but I had put it a forgotten safe place.
Raking today I found several good-sized Cyclamen purpurascens self-sown in the lawn. I knew there was merit in neglecting the mowing.
FYI the new Seaport Market seems to have straightened itself out with the opening of new stores thus taking traffic pressure off the main hall. The French baker has a superb new "stall" and I'll take a picture tomorrow as I intend to skoot down for an authenic "hot chocolate" which is not the hot chocolate that we know. New Palestinian, Turkish and Korean food booths that I spotted early this morning.
johnw - glorious day here, sunny and 16c.
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Anne i will have a spare Albuca canadensis when they go dormant if you would like,am i right in thinking it used to be Albuca Maxima because thats whats still on my label.
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Davey, we will have to get used to writing labels like these, particularly when sending plants to other people
Albuca canadensis (ex A. maxima, ex A. altissima)
Albuca flaccida (ex A. canadensis)
and so on.
Fortunately cases like this are not overabundant in South African bulb flora.
You see, tricky sellers list some species under more than one entry, like Moraeas under both Moraea and Homeria.
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Yes John, the Shortias did survive and continue to do so. The little rhodos had been pricked out into pots and were on the side of the tunnel that has become heavily overtowered by pine trees and I didn't realize the rain wasn't penetrating the knitted cover, as it used to do. The Shortias are still in their seed pot and on the other side of the tunnel, watered carefully every couple of days or daily through the summer or nor'west winds. They'll be big enough to be seen in a photo soon. 8)
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Davey - :-*
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Alberto,
What exactly are canadensis and flaccida now? I've heard conflicting things. I have a yellow species that to my knowledge hasn't been identified properly as yet..... was bought as canadensis, (which I think is now flaccida?) but another canadensis/flaccida is much paler almost green, plus sets seed freely (which my yellow refuses to do). My yellow is currently coming into full flower here, if you are wanting pics for identification. It is most definitely "yellow" with a white lip (rough description, without looking up taxonomic features for the correct name for the "lip"), nowhere near green. I can't tell from the pic which Bill's is closer to of mine.
Albuca nelsonii is sending up flower stems at the moment as well. 8)
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Thanks for the offer, but no thank you... my yard atop a hill is exposed, windy, sunny and hot in summer, desiccated in winter by prevailing north winds, all anathema to small ericaceae, I just can't keep them moist enough and they invariably die very quickly. My attempts at raising rhodies from seed in this garden have met 100% failure. I'm at a point in my gardening where I'm okay with admiring some plants from afar.
McMark,
I can see why that would make it difficult for the little Rhododendrons. ;D Have you set up wind protected areas to grow things in different microclimates? That level of exposure must make it very hard to grow an awful lot of things. :'(
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Not much activity lately, we better post a few pictures to brighten up the forum. :) :)
The evergreen Wachendorfia thyrsiflora, up to 1.2m tall and extremely easy to grow, flowers last for a long period from spring untill summer, producing and abundance of golden yellow flowers.
This iris like in appearence clump-forming perennial Sisyrinchium striatum Aunt May, is semi-evergreen, with sword-shaped grey-green leaves egded in cream Stalkless clusters of cup-shaped, yellow flowers with purple brown stripes on the backs bloom in early and midsummer. Ideal in herbaceous border
Lesley, how's your Wachendorfia I send you surviving?
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Conanthera bifolia is a small bulbous plant with utmost ornamental, nodding, deep purplish-blue flowers with nicely contrasting with a cone of bright yellow anthers protruding from the center, on elegant upright racemes above narrow grass like leaves. Native of dryish rocky spots in open spots in woods in Chile.
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Paul, here is another close-up pictures of Albuca canadensis for more detail and for comparising with your A.canadensis.
Are they the same?
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Bill i have a yellow Albuca called Albuca clanwilliamgloria that looks very similar to your A. canadensis
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Albuca clanwilliamgloria .... isn't that the one that gets 2 metres and more tall? :o Where do you keep it?
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Bill i have a yellow Albuca called Albuca clanwilliamgloria that looks very similar to your A. canadensis
Dave, apperantly this giant of the species Albuca clanwilliamgloria was only recently discovered in South Africa, with flower stalks that can reach up to a towering 2 m. plus.
Blooms are typical of many Albuca species, - yellow, pendulant, & many to a spike.
Albuca canadensis only grow up to 1 m. in our nursery
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The evergreen Wachendorfia thyrsiflora, up to 1.2m tall and extremely easy to grow..................
??? ??? ??? ???
Bill - I have never been able to get a Wachendorfia thyrsifolia through the first winter and that is in a frost-free greenhouse. Can you offer some help? I have tried winter-dry and winter-moist for seedlings but they all turn to slop by January. They grow so rapidly they are in a one gallon & pot bound by autumn. Still we get a couple of months to admire those bright red roots before they follow suit.
johnw
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I lost mine too I'm afraid Bill, also to frost or perhaps a combo of frost and too wet at the roots. Maybe some time if you have some spare seed.....?
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I lost mine too I'm afraid Bill, also to frost or perhaps a combo of frost and too wet at the roots. Maybe some time if you have some spare seed.....?
Lesley
Misery particularly loves distinguished company.
johnw
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cool stuff, as always! the wachendorfia looks like an amazing plant for the landscape!
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I lost mine too I'm afraid Bill, also to frost or perhaps a combo of frost and too wet at the roots. Maybe some time if you have some spare seed.....?
Lesley
Misery particularly loves distinguished company.
johnw
well that's certainly us John. :D
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Lesley , Wachendorfia is a declared noxious weed here in Victoria -we had to remove it from the garden of the the Ferny Creek Horticultural Soc. I always thought it looked rather untidy .
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Lesley , Wachendorfia is a declared noxious weed here in Victoria -we had to remove it from the garden of the the Ferny Creek Horticultural Soc. I always thought it looked rather untidy .
Otto, does that mean that Wachendorfia thyrsiflora (seed) is a prohibitive genus/species on your AQIS biosecurity list for importing conditions/requirements?
I can appreciate that some genera of plants in certain countries have the potantial to become a pest or hazard, depending on climatic conditions, etc.
As a point of interest, where do I go to find out what is allowed and what is prohibited in Australia? Thanks
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Truly, one man's meat is another man's poison Otto. Have a look at the new thread on Phacelia. :)
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As a point of interest, where do I go to find out what is allowed and what is prohibited in Australia?
http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_querycontent.asp
New link : http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/icon-icd?wasRedirectedByModule=true (http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/icon-icd?wasRedirectedByModule=true)
A search will show that Wachendorfia thyrsiflora is permitted nationally.
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Bill - I have never been able to get a Wachendorfia thyrsifolia through the first winter and that is in a frost-free greenhouse. Can you offer some help? I have tried winter-dry and winter-moist for seedlings but they all turn to slop by January. They grow so rapidly they are in a one gallon & pot bound by autumn. Still we get a couple of months to admire those bright red roots before they follow suit. johnw
John, I can't offer any fool proof, concrete cultural advise on growing Wachendorfia tryrsifolia successfully, depending on so many other aspects like climate, soil, location, frost, poor drainage, wet feet, etc..
Have you ever tried growing/shifting the pot bound Wachendorfia outside in a sheltered, sunny, wel-drained, slightly raised spot/location, and covering with straw or any other material in the winter for protection from the frost wet and cold?
Don't forget, there is nothing more disastrous than prolonged cold and wet conditions at the roots during winter, a recipe for failure.
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As a point of interest, where do I go to find out what is allowed and what is prohibited in Australia?
http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_querycontent.asp New link :
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/icon-icd?wasRedirectedByModule=true (http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/icon-icd?wasRedirectedByModule=true)
A search will show that Wachendorfia thyrsiflora is permitted nationally.
Rob, thanks for the AQIS home page website, always handy for a quick search.
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I lost mine too I'm afraid Bill, also to frost or perhaps a combo of frost and too wet at the roots. Maybe some time if you have some spare seed.....?
Lesley
Misery particularly loves distinguished company.
johnw
well that's certainly us John. :D
No that's you.
johnw
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Albuca clanwilliamgloria .... isn't that the one that gets 2 metres and more tall? :o Where do you keep it?
Maggie in my early ignorance of African bulbs i bought seed of this plant,they are in my 8x6 greenhouse but only 3 year olds at the moment so not that large,only knows what i will do when gets that big could be a laugh though so watch this space(an excuse for a bigger greenhouse),does anybody fancy a bulb when they go dormant lol.
Bill i didn't realise A.canadensis had a yellow form it is lovely as far as i know my young plants were from white seed.
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John, I can't offer any fool proof, concrete cultural advise on growing Wachendorfia tryrsifolia successfully, depending on so many other aspects like climate, soil, location, frost, poor drainage, wet feet, etc..
Have you ever tried growing/shifting the pot bound Wachendorfia outside in a sheltered, sunny, wel-drained, slightly raised spot/location, and covering with straw or any other material in the winter for protection from the frost wet and cold?
Don't forget, there is nothing more disastrous than prolonged cold and wet conditions at the roots during winter, a recipe for failure.
Bill - "prolonged cold, frost and wet conditions at the roots during winter" describes us perfectly. Have never exposed the seedlings to our winter, they have always been in a greenhouse. Perhaps I will try again and run them very dry when dormant. It was intended as a tub plant, out in May, back in November.
johnw
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Bill, and people. Something is misidentified here as thyrsiflora is the evergreen marsh species in the genus. It is a super plant with broad pleated erect foliage like a giant Tigridia pavonia or a palm. I remember seeing clumps of it at Western Hills Nursery near Sacramento where it is chilly in winter. It was planted with the roots at stream level and it was truly magnificent.
The other three species demand the drained mild conditions mentioned and all three are hot dry summer dormant.
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The very diverse genus Calochortus with their graceful stance , brilliant colors, and intricate markings, the fairy lantern with their bell or globe shaped flowers are among the most dazzling bulbous plants in the garden.
The Calochortus luteus and Calochortus venustus are just two species flowering for us at the moment.
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Well that settles one thing for me. My seedlings of C. luteus which look like C amabilis, and, I thought, must be closely related, must BE C. amabilis . That's OK. It is my favourite and I could never have too many. :D
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They are not related, dear Lesley. C. luteus grows in open pastures and the flowers look upwards and are salver (?) shaped. Amabilis have drooping flowers with fringed edges and grow in semishade in the wild.
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Thank you Alberto, I had just realized that from Bill's picture. But I didn't, before. I really must grow more of these lovely bulbs. A favourite one is C. palnmeri with its sugar pink flowers and I find it quite easy, along with some of the small ones like umbellatus.
I've come here for consolation tonight as I can't bear to listen anymore to the news broadcasts about our poor, dead miners.
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This Sprekelia formosissima aka the Orchid Amaryllis or Jacobian lily from Mexico is another one of my favourite genera, with the brilliant, spectacular crimson flowers closely resembling a delicate Hippeastrum. A magnificent species for any Amaryllid collection.
The strikingly beautiful Phaedranassa dubia and Phadranassa cinera from Ecuador and Columbia with unusual flowers which species are rarely seen in cultivation.
The long tubular flowers with a dusky blue green tubes are often produced in glowing shades of deep pink, which contrast the protruding yellow anthers superbly.
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Bill,
You come up with the most wonderful descriptions. Do you have these written down somewhere, or do you make them up on the spot. They are absolutely brilliant! Straight out of a gardening catalogue (and I mean that in a good way). 8)
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You come up with the most wonderful descriptions. Do you have these written down somewhere, or do you make them up on the spot. They are absolutely brilliant! Straight out of a gardening catalogue (and I mean that in a good way). 8)
Paul, yes I do enjoy growing these beautiful plants, most of the times, and the digital photography to show all our friends on the forum these treasures, another one of my hobbies.
I also endeavour to get the description/facts correct, if not, I can always look up more data in books or the internet and try to present the botanical info and names as accurate as possible.
I get as much pleasure from showing the pictures and being appreciated, thanks for your nice comments.
BTW, do you grow the same Albuca canadensis species as the picture I posted on the forum?
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Bill,
I'm not sure re the Albuca. I've just taken photos of the flowers. My plant grows to around 60cm or more tall (probably larger if they were growing in the ground or in a bigger pot), with the flower stems emerging very distinctly shaped like Shepherd's Crooks, i.e the bend over on themselves in a "U" shape and the tip points downwards By the time all the flowers have opened the stem is straight, but while opening most of the unopened flower stem points towards the ground (do you understand what I mean?) and straightens up over time. I think that when this was discussed years ago, that feature did not fit with canadensis/flaccida either. Certainly my other little greeny ones that I bought as canadensis later on all just have straight flower stems from the start. I don't have a picture of the stems before flowering though, so I can't post a pic of what I am trying to explain. All mine are finished opening now (and majority of flowers are going over, as you can see in the pics). Mine has never ever set any seed, but it IS only a single clone bought as a bulb many years ago. Any other information I can provide that might help?
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Sorry, Paul, I did not get your question till now.
Your description of A. flaccida (ex canadensis) is exactly like the ones we have here under that name, and flowering now as well, which is pretty amazing since you are in Australia and I in South America.
Outer anthers should be lacking, bulb tunics membranous, bulb suglobose, compact. FLOWERS LIGHTLY FRAGRANT. Leaves channeled, clasping below.
BUT, flowering time is late for normal canadensis/flaccida. It could be Albuca cooperi but in this case the bulb tunics are fibrous above.
Albuca knowledge advances slowly as more and more species are into cultivation. They are all quite different but the problem are those with wrong names in cultivation.
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Thanks Alberto. So I have flaccida then, or at least some form of it? It was discussed a few years ago on the Australian Bulb Association list and there was questioning as to what it was. That's why I was unsure.
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John Kitt, you mentioned that you are not particularly interested in growing your endemic Tasmanian alpine plants , I'm rather fond of them . here is a photo I took yesterday of a pan in my garden with Celmisia saxifraga in bloom , also the the extremely slow growing cushions of Pterygopappus lawrencei (silvery ) and Dracophyllum minimum .
Also Isophysis tasmanica grows well here in a cool ,moist but welldrained spot , but is shy flowering . You should be more successful in growing it than I here in Victoria .
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Thanks for the pictures Otto.
Up until recently I had not been much interested in growing Australian Natives but I have discovered Tasmanian Alpines.
I have planted up my first ever trough with (clockwise from the top right) Athrotaxis Selaginoides (King Billy Pine), Centrolepsis monogyna (Western Pincushion) Viola hederacea, Wahlenbergia saxicola (mountain blue bell) and Helichrysum scorpoides.
Last weekend I also purchased Celmisia saxifraga, Caesia Parvifolia , Centrolepsis strigosa and what I think is Celmisia asteliifolia. (I keep coming away from the nursery short one label.)
Also trying my luck with Blandfordia punicea and Bulbine bulbosa, M . Glauca and B semibarbata which are producing seeds at the moment.
I think I should stop acquiring for the moment and concentrate on their cultivation.
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Otto and John,
beautiful plants. I've been looking for some of the plants from your region (or seeds of them) but they are unfindable in Europe ::) ::)
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Has the SRGC seedlist been notified on the Forum? Someone in Australia says it is online but I've seen no word of it. My system is set up to notify every new topic but sometimes it misses.
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Has the SRGC seedlist been notified on the Forum? Someone in Australia says it is online but I've seen no word of it. My system is set up to notify every new topic but sometimes it misses.
Hi Lesley,
it's here: http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=6261.0
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Yes, Lesley, it is live and yes, it was announced... twice.....
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=6261.msg173785#msg173785
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=6070.msg173786#msg173786
Oh, posted at the same time.... thanks, Wim. :)
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Paul, it seems we have the same late flowering clone of A. faccida (previously A. canadensis). I went to check the fibrous neck protruding (it is not there) and the leaf bases are evidently clasping below. So flaccida it is. The flowers are lightly fragrant indeed.
As for the color the yellow seems to be variable, in some cases very near green.
Hope this helps. It seems we need ot obtain another wild collected clone for comparison.
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Alberto,
Mine is definitely yellow, no question of it. A rather good yellow I'd have to say, perhaps not so well represented in the pictures. So I'll just nip on over to South Africa and haed out into the wild and get us a new clone, shall I? ;D ;D It would be nice to have a trip to South Africa, but I'm thinking not quite this week. ;)
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A pretty sight greeted me when walking in the garden at work this morning: Siphonochilus aethiopicus a wild ginger from the eastern coastal regions of South Africa - all but extinct in the wild.
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A pretty sight greeted me when walking in the garden at work this morning: Siphonochilus aethiopicus a wild ginger from the eastern coastal regions of South Africa - all but extinct in the wild.
What a beautiful flower.... and quite unknown to me so I went off for a quick search.... and found this.....
http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/siphonaeth.htm
which tells us how this plant has been brought back from the brink of extinction by tissue culture.
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In post # 53 I showed a picture of Conathere bifida.
I grow another South American Conanthera species, either Conanthera campanulata or Conanthera trimaculata.
There is some confusion regarding this species, perhaps Alberto could identify this species? What do you think? Thanks.
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Hi Bill
I saw this in Kew a couple of years ago and you're spot on (pardon the pun ;D ) as it's a cross between C. campanulata and C. trimaculata!
Rogan,
that's a gorgeous ginger!
cheers
fermi
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rogan and bill--thanks for the spot of colour and such lovely uncommon plants--i knew i could pop over here for a shot of something other than white to see ;D
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Bill, to me it is C.trimaculata, althought the photo is a little too dark to see the typical spots.
Have you read about Wachendorfia thyrsiflora above?
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"that's a gorgeous ginger!"
Yes, it is fantastic and strongly scented too (...as are the rhizomes!). The plant itself is not too large and resembles a stunted maize shoot growing to perhaps 60 - 80 cm high - easy to accommodate in a pot.
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Loving the heat today (26c). :P
Tigridia chiapensis seed x NZAGS august 2006 .
Cheers dave.
Oops just realised this one is from Mexico --Maggi can you please transfer to November in the Southern hemisphere . Ta.
Cheers Dave
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Loving the heat today (26c). :P
Tigridia chiapensis seed x NZAGS august 2006 .
Very nice picture Dave, try saving a few seeds please if possible, use to grow it, would love to try again, Thanks
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Loving the heat today (26c). :P
Tigridia chiapensis seed x NZAGS august 2006 .
Very nice picture Dave, try saving a few seeds please if possible, use to grow it, would love to try again, Thanks
No problems Bill
Might even be able to provide you with a bulb later on as well.
Cheers dave.
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Every day there's something new in flower in the garden - a wonderful time of the year indeed. I've waited nearly ten years to ring a Chilean Bellflower (Lapageria rosea) from seed. This vine is terribly slow growing in my conditions and is still quite small - I really should have pulled it out long ago ;)
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Dave, your Tigridia chiapensis is so beautiful! I've tried to grow that one before from seed, but lose the seedlings soon after germination every time - my conditions are probably too warm for it to thrive or I've got a virulent band of pathogens that love defenseless little Tigridias! :'(
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Rogan,
I grew it here for a number of years before eventually losing it (unfortunately), so summer warmth shouldn't be a problem I think? I must try to track it down again. It is a beautiful little plant. 8)
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"I must try to track it down again"
It's on the SRGC 2010 seed distribution list...
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A great day in the garden today.
Sauromatum venosum
Anthropodium cirratum up close.
Celmisia traversii
Celmisia spedenii
Cemisia densiflora
First flower on Pachystegia rufa
Kalmia latifolia 'Minuet'
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must try to track it down again.
Paul, didn't I give you chiapensis back in the Suite days? A little weedy for me, provided it doesn't get too dry. So, seed or bulbs?
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Have others in the southern hemisphere received their paper copy yet of the SRGC seedlist? I haven't got mine yet.
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Rob,
Yes, you gave me seed at the very least (I got my original bulbs from Rob H.). They germinated well, grew for a few years and flowered for me, then died out the same year as the original bulbs did. Obviously something was wrong in that year. ::) I think I've kept some of the species too dry in summer, as I have had a slow atrophy of a few of the species unfortunately. T. vanhouttei is still going strong for me I think, plus dugesii still hanging in there as well as durangense. I had a couple of other species but they have gone now. I find almost none of them multiply, and only vanhouttei has ever set seed for me.
So yes, if you've got a few spare weeds, be they bulbs or seed, they would be very welcome here. Not sure what I can send you in return, but let me know. 8) I am a LONG way behind in sending things to people..... since I started my main job back in February there just never seems to be enough hours in the week to get anything done.... and I get reminded regularly that while my Chronic Fatigue isn't as bad as it used to be, it is still there. Procrastination has become far too frequent I have found, but usually I end up taking a couple of days to recover from my 4 working days, then just get 1 day to actually do anything. :o And I do need to do some weeding at times. ;) Thankfully I have some very patient friends who haven't disowned me as yet (well not as far as I know).
Lesley,
I haven't received it here as yet either. I've actually not gone online to sort out an order. I don't know my details for membership number etc, and I think Maggi has got quite enough on her plate at the present time. I'm sure I can live without ordering from the seedlist for this year. ;D ;D Yes, I know that is blasphemy. :o :-[
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"Have others in the southern hemisphere received their paper copy yet of the SRGS seedlist"
Probably not, Lesley, but admittedly I have not checked my postbox in recent days. I "did" my order online which worked very well.
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I haven't received it here as yet either. I've actually not gone online to sort out an order. I don't know my details for membership number etc, and I think Maggi has got quite enough on her plate at the present time.
Paul, it is sweet of you to think of me but I am perfectly happy to help anyone with their membership number and so on for the seed ordering.
It's part of what I do!
I'd be horrified if I thought anyone was sitting languishing for want of their number!
But you're right of course... YOU have more than enough plants already!! ;D ;D ;) :-* :-*
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But you're right of course... YOU have more than enough plants already!! ;D ;D ;) :-* :-*
What, as opposed to all the other horticultural addicts here? ;D
Judging by all the other hassles you've had to cope with over in the seed exchange thread, I figure you're more than happy NOT to have another person pestering you. Take my sparing you yet another pestering as a token gift. Totally inadequate in relation to all the fantastic work you do for us here of course, but it's the thought that counts isn't it? ;)
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Mine hasn't arrived yet Lesley.
On line worked great for me too.
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Judging by all the other hassles you've had to cope with over in the seed exchange thread, I figure you're more than happy NOT to have another person pestering you. Take my sparing you yet another pestering as a token gift. Totally inadequate in relation to all the fantastic work you do for us here of course, but it's the thought that counts isn't it? ;)
And a kind thought too! :-*
What, as opposed to all the other horticultural addicts here? ;D
Well, Yeah! I know how limited your space is and I reckon that some restraint is a good idea ;D Some of the hoplesss addicts around here at least have some more room to play with, but the likes of you and I should have the sense to know when to stop! ::) :-X :o ....... not that that is too likely to happen, but I'm trying to support you in your resolve! :D
When the snow is getting higher all the time it is harder to imagine a new growing season here, at least :-\
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Rogan, Lapagerias enjoy immense rainfall in the warm season in the wild.
Tigridia seedlings and all bulb seedlings do perfectly well without direct sunshine in a climate like yoursbut a spot with intense ibdirect light is needed. This wasy they receive the light they need without being roasted.
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So yes, if you've got a few spare weeds, be they bulbs or seed, they would be very welcome here.
Will try to remember in due course. As for the limitations imposed by illness, I for one quite understand. At least my problems should be overcome by the end of the month. The past 18 months have been a real trial for me, so living as you've been forced to is something I don't envy you.
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I received the paper seedlist at my Johannesburg address last week.
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I received the paper seedlist at my Johannesburg address last week.
This topic has been split off from something but where is a link to the new part. There are half a dozen posts in my in box but they don't appear in any thread. It's December now anyway so we need a new thread.
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I received the paper seedlist at my Johannesburg address last week.
This topic has been split off from something but where is a link to the new part. There are half a dozen posts in my in box but they don't appear in any thread. It's December now anyway so we need a new thread.
I had spilt off some posts to a new December thread!
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=6322.0