November 2024 in the Southern Hemisphere

[fermi de Sousa]

November is the end of spring and we are hurtling towards summer.
There are still a lot of flowers coming before the garden goes into its "summer dormancy".
1) Tritonia crocata orange shades
2) Ornithogalum thyrsioides
3 & 4) Eremophila hygrophana
5) Herbertia lahue
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Harking back to the discussion with Robert in the October Thread, here are a couple of "Themids"
1 & 2) Dichelostemma volubile
3 & 4) Triteleia ixioides
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Hi Fermi,

Thank you for all the information.



Here in California I am working on developing forms of Triteleia ixioides with enhanced deep maroon markings on the petals. This is a characteristic I enjoy immensely. Currently I am using both ssp. scabra and unifolia in these hybrids. They are such easy plants to please in the garden, tolerant of a fair degree of summertime irrigation and/or completely summertime xeric conditions.

While on the topic of plants that thrive where summers are extremely hot and dry, here are a few other plants I am working with.



This is Delphinium patens ssp. patens growing in our Sacramento garden. This low elevation California native goes completely dormant during the summer. It is a xeric species that is not bothered by extreme summertime heat or drought. The forms that I grow bloom into the late spring, extending our garden’s bloom period before the garden goes into its summer dormancy.



The flowers of the species range in color from light lavender-pink through deep lavender-blue. Currently, I am working on my second generation of hybrids. I have selections that persist and bloom consistently each season in our Sacramento garden. Extending the color range is another goal.



Pictured is Delphinium hansenii ssp. hansenii blooming in our Sacramento garden. It is another xeric low elevation species.



My favorite xeric, low elevation species is Delphinium gracilentum. This species also has an extended range of flower colors.

[Robert]

Yet another local xeric species I am working with is Allium campanulatum. Here in our Sacramento garden the flowers tend to be washed-out pale pink, however through selection I am hoping to find forms that will bloom consistently with deeper pink flowers in our low elevation garden.

All these plants thrive in wintertime cool/moist – summertime extremely hot/dry climates. They seem like they would be good additions to gardens in climates like yours. Likely gardeners in your area already grow these species, however if not, these species might be worth considering.

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Robert,
those delphiniums are something else I  might try someday.
This Brodiaea came up as a volunteer - I wonder if it's Brodiaea elegans?
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Hi Fermi,

The plant pictured “looks” like Brodiaea elegans. Making a definitive identification online is questionable. I would feel much more comfortable looking at the plant in your garden. If you have a large collection of Brodiaea species in your garden, hybrids are possible. In addition, seeds offered in seed exchanges can be misidentified, mislabeled, or be unintended hybrids. Such things occur much more frequently than we might want to believe. If getting a positive ID is important to you, my suggestion is to checkout the Calflora website (calflora.org). There are links to Jepson eFlora (ucjeps.berkeley.edu) where you can find dichotomous keys, as well as a detailed botanical description of each taxon.



Having written everything above pictured is a close up photograph of Brodiaea elegans ssp. elegans growing in its native habitat in El Dorado County, California. This photograph might be helpful for identification of the plant in your garden.



Pictured is another scene of Brodiaea elegans ssp. elegans in its native habitat in El Dorado County, California. It is one of the last Brodiaea species to bloom in our area each season. Brodiaea elegans grows abundantly on our El Dorado County farm property. It is mostly a low elevation species, however I have studied, in detail, a population that is found at an elevation of 5,125 feet (1,562 meters) in El Dorado County, California. This is well above the usual altitude range for this species.



Pictured above is Brodiaea elegans ssp. elegans in our Sacramento garden. If the species is well placed in the garden it can be quite effective in the landscape, harmonizing with other species, and making an attractive, naturalistic display. I have a number of interesting hybrids coming along, such as Brodiaea elegans x terrestris, as well as others. Brodiaea minor is another species I grow in our garden and enjoy greatly. It is a much more diminutive species and can be used in the garden in different ways.

I will be curious to find out what you discover about your seedling plant. I am always interested in how the Themidaceae perform in other gardens. May you have good fortune.