Bulb Log 02/05/07

[Rob]

I really enjoyed the shots of the robins nest.

There are a pair of robins in my garden, but I haven't found their nest.

I hope they can raise a brood, because I've also seen a pair of grey squirrels in the garden, so I don't want them getting all the songbirds eggs.

Rob

http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2007/020507/log.html

[Maggi Young]

Good luck with your robins, Rob...those grey squirrels are a pest.  Happily we don't have them in the garden much atthis time of year. I think we must be at the limit of their territory and so they are too busy at home with their own family at the moment to be here chasing ours!  We haven't observed baby robins so closely in the nest before and have been astounded at their rate of growth and feather production.

[johngennard]

Ian,many thanks for the info.

[johngennard]

Ian, I shall try just once more with corydalis cashmeriana.I have bought it umpteen times but have never succeeded in keeping it.I don't think it likes our climate.However,the introduction of the hybrid' Kingfisher' by Keith Lever looks to be a good substitute and that is growing well for me after two seasons.It never seems to be out of flower and the colour is almost as good as cashmeriana.Flexuosa itself grows like a weed with me in all its forms.

[Maggi Young]

People often say that they prefer species to hybrids and ask what a hybrid can give that is an improvement on the species, here John highlights one of the most important factors in breeding hybrids.... to secure a plant with the good points of the parents but to improve the performance in differing climates etc......as with the Corydalis 'Kingfisher' he mentions.
 I personally prefer Rhododendron species to hybrids, but we have many hybrids in our collection because they are so good at giving big displays of flower reliably every year and give the garden ( and our spiritis) an enormous boost in the process!

[johngennard]

I am with you on the species rhodos.Maggie,much more refined but one can't be without some of the marvellous hybrids

[Anthony Darby]

Never thought of that Maggi. Come and view our Rhododendrons, oh, and bring a bottle of whisky.