July 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere

[fermi de Sousa]

It's the first of the month, the middle of winter and the "white stuff on the ground" here is due to narcissus and other bulbs!
Narcissus bulbocodium ssp graelsii
Acis tingitana
Sternbergia candida
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

Another white for you Fermi, Crocus minimus albus, so much earlier than the regular purple forms. It's been in flower since mid June, the other doesn't start until mid August and goes on until late October with me.

Then a bit more colour, a carpet of liquidamber foliage which fell in the week of rain we had two weeks ago. The flooding is still severe in lowland Otago and now we are told that nor'west winds are melting the high country snow so we should expect more floods!

Lots more crocuses have flowered early. C. chrysanthus from Mt. Parnassus (Marcus' seed) has already finished and gargaricus is well on the way. C. x Bornmuelleri is out and so is baytopiorum (Anne's W's seed) but both are lacking enough sun to open the flowers properly. Many little daffs too. I'm pleased to see the whiteness of N. b. graelsii in your picture Fermi. I have it as seedlings from Rafa by way of Anthony in Ak but not flowering yet. Somehow all the "white" forms I get seem to have some lemon in them so I hope these come like yours.

[Anthony Darby]

My Narcissus cantabricus from seed kindly sent from Spain, and sown in July 2011, has sent up to flower buds, the first of which is just opening. 

[Lesley Cox]

A real achievement to be growing these little Narcissus species in Auckland Anthony. I wonder if anyone else is? I think my friend at Warkworth may be, and he certainly grows some crocuses.

[fermi de Sousa]

A real achievement to be growing these little Narcissus species in Auckland, Anthony.

Well, Lesley,
if Anthony follows Ian Young's example of how he aclimatised the Siberian (I think) Erythronium to their "warmer" Aberdonian garden by growing successive generations from seed then Anthony may succeed in doing the same with the small daffs in "tropical" Auckland!
Do other galanthophiles use Euphorbia, Dwarf bearded iris and California poppies as companion plants for their snowdrops?
These Galanthus elwesii grow in our rock garden in full sun but don't get watered when they are dormant.
cheers
fermi

[Anthony Darby]

I have snowdrop seeds from Canada and England sprouting now.  I asked at a local garden centre at bulb time if they have any snowdrops but just got a blank look. 

[Anthony Darby]

I collected some seeds off my Narcissus viridiflorus this weekend. I'll be sending them both to the seed exchange.

[Maggi Young]

I collected some seeds off my Narcissus viridiflorus this weekend. I'll be sending them both to the seed exchange.

     Great oaks, Anthony, great oaks..........

[Anthony Darby]

I have some other seeds set by. I could send plenty of acorns, but it would be coals to Newcastle as it seems to be Quercus robur that has been planted in the council grass verges near us. Rather odd, as native trees are evergreen and don't cause an autumn leaf problem! I would like to try the kermes oak (Quercus coccifera), should anyone have acorns.

[fermi de Sousa]

This Hesperantha has been in flower since Saturday (posted to the South African Bulbs thread already) and a third flower opened today; I brought in to the office so that I could pollinate it!
I love the speckling on the exterior of the petals.
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Juno Iris planifolia in the garden;
Sternbergia candida now with more flowers but a bit bowed down by the frost this morning!
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

I asked at a local garden centre at bulb time if they have any snowdrops but just got a blank look. 

Quite a common phenomenon amongst Aucklanders I think. Many have not heard of the South Island at all so a snowdrop is a totally alien concept.

[Anthony Darby]

Where I live it is unusual to find an Aucklander. Most seem to be like us, from over seas. 

[Lesley Cox]

Well count your blessings Anthony!

[fermi de Sousa]

More flowers open now on the clump of Acis tingitana, and
the Sternbergia candida look better when open!
cheers
fermi