April 2017 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Jupiter]

My earlier post of what I had labelled as Crocus pulchellus 'Michael Hoog', but was something else, is now flowering true to type. It looks like there was just one rogue Crocus serotinus salzmannii mixed with the pulchellus.

[Parsla]

A very wet few days here, which the garden will love.
The weeds are springing up like mad things with the rain.

Just a few...

1. Cosmos atrosanguineus, or chocolate cosmos, has such pretty black buds
2. And in flower...
3. The small form of Euonymous alatus (burning bush) showing off its vibrant berries
4. The Sarracenia are doing extra well this year - wish I knew why. They seem to be happier when cramped.

[Jupiter]

Lovely pictures Jacqui. I have killed the chocolate cosmos THREE TIMES now. I have no idea why.    Do you have an advise?  Your Euonymous is lovely too. I envy people with choice shrubs in their gardens. I am trying to plant more but it takes time and I don't have much space.

Do you like my nudi-crocus?

[Lesley Cox]

I'll send you some fresh seed of the cosmos Jamus. Germinates quickly and will grow to flowering size in one season. You should be ok for cold. I've had to minus 9 several times the last 2 winters and even minus 10 one night last July. Cosmos came through well with a bit of other stuff around it but not covered. In fact even the tubers were exposed in one place where the rabbits had dug and eaten!

I have a couple of white  crocuses I want names for but both have been nibbled by something. There may be better flowers in a day or two. Still no frost here yet though tonight could be quite close. But 19 forecast for Dunedin today and we are usually a degree or two warmer.

[Lesley Cox]

Beautiful plants Jacqui. I love the white sarracenia and the euonymus.

[Parsla]

Yes Jamus I love your crocus nudiflorus
( amusing, the  spellchecker just made that into 'nude flirts')   
It seems a darker colour than others I have seen but could be the light??
It is beautiful.

Pardon my ignorance, but I wouldn't have recognised the photo below labelled crocus laevigatus. Is it a cultivar or?

And thank you Leslie. It's fun to post things when they look presentable for a change.

Jamus, chocolate cosmos can be finicky. I had some that went swimmingly one season, grew and multiplied, and then failed to awaken from winter dormancy the following year. Others that failed to recover after rabbits munched them. So I have similar problems. Don't give up as they are so rewarding when they do grow. Getting a bit of genetic diversity by Leslie's generous offer of seed is a good start -   I understand the commercial ones are clones.

[Jupiter]

Jacqui I know what you mean about my C. laevigatus. Otto sent it to me as that and I'm cautious to correct him as he's probably right.. but, I read in Janis' book that it's a highly variable species and I don't have time right now to research it properly late for work running out the door right now see you later bye!

[Jupiter]

Jacqui I did some reading in my lunch break and I'm happy with C. laevigatus as the identity of my little crocus. A pity we're not getting much sunshine at the moment. It'd be great to get a photo with all 12 of the flowers open together.

[Jupiter]

Barely enough sun to open the Crocuses today but I got a few photos, sort of half open. At least you can get a glimpse of the gorgeous red style in the Crocus medius.

[Parsla]

Gosh Jamus, they really are beautiful crocuses, all of them.
i do love your coloured laevigatus - very striking perspective.

the only crocus i seem to have blooming now are the crocus goulimyi, which i have already shown.
The patch has expanded slowly over about 3 years though, and its quite glorious.

[Yann]

Lovely crocuses from all, Jamus your nudiflorus are 

[Jupiter]

Jacqui your extensive plantings of goulimyi are sensational.. it's one I don't have here in my garden but I have germinated some seed so in the future, maybe if I'm lucky.

[fermi de Sousa]

Some oxalis in the garden:
1&2) Oxalis massoniana is only just coming into flower now;
3) Oxalis palmifrons;
4) Oxalis hirta;
5) Oxalis polyphylla heptaphylla
cheers
fermi

[Jupiter]

Beautiful Fermi. O. palmifrons is up here but no flowers yet.

[Jupiter]

My Oxalis massoniana is going great, producing more flowers.