December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Jon,

I think you are correct - Thanks! Heavens knows how I acquired it. I don't recall ever hearing this name before.

Been snapping while I in the grind of lifting bulbs for my catalogue.

Allium caesium - another lovely blue onion
Calochortus vestae - the goddess Mariposa
Calochortus clavatus - like a solid nugget of gold
Salvia ringens - one of my favourites. Elegant, cool and stylish.

Cheers, Marcus

[olegKon]

Agree with Jon. It's A.cyathophorum farreri. I'm sure you have never acquired the plant with this name and what you purchased was labeled A.insubricum. But it is a common mistake in trade everywhere: you buy any allium as a plant or seed and.... what grows is A. cyathophorum farrery, a nice thing in its own right but ...

[Hillview croconut]

Great that there is a forum on which these things can be discussed and corrected.

Few more holiday snaps from yesterday:

Allium heldreichii - a gift from fellow forumist, Fermi
Allium jajlae - a purchase from Janis
Allium dichlamydeum - seed grown from Ron Ratko collection
Allium senescens - seed grown from Alan Edwards gift

[fermi de Sousa]

Marcus,
that Allium heldreichii is doing better for you than it did for me! I'll have to ask for a bulb back at some time as I think I've lost it as there's no sign of it this year I do have plenty of Allium acutifolium and some A. amethystinum to trade
It's OT time in our garden - the latest Orient-pet to flower is the wonderful Silk Road,
cheers
fermi

[Hillview croconut]

Fermi, I wonder why? I have found it most accommodating although I am sure it would prefer an alpine meadow than a polystyrene box to grow in! I'll send you a couple back as soon as it dies down.

Cheers,  Marcus

[fermi de Sousa]

Marcus,
It probably got too wet or too dry at some point!
Another Lilium in flower today is the sparkling Oriental 'Table dance' which we got from Adrian at Club Creek Bulb Farm last winter,
cheers
fermi

[Hillview croconut]

Haven't been taking any lily pictures. Still stuck in the nursery and likely to be for a few weeks more

Have you any calochortus left flowering Fermi? Here are a couple more from me and two interesting origanums.

Calochortus obispoensis - the craziest of them all. Looks like a ball of yarn on spindles
Calochortus superbus - easily grown and very rewarding
Origanum x - a variegated form which is a bit insipid but might have a future in the nursery trade
Origanum x - this is a good'un and has gone to trial in three continents

Cheers, and Happy New Year, everyone! M

[Hillview croconut]

A few more and that's my lot!

Allium myrianthum - in bud - an intriguing species with flowers that look almost good enough to eat.
Allium crispum - just going over but couldn't resist.
Calochortus simulans - horrible picture but interesting form so I thought I'd post it.
Allium oreophilum - one of Janis' but can't remember which form

Cheers, Marcus

[Peterwg]

Hi All,
Ahh, I'm such a Klutz.  And alliums are hard in Sydney, it is too warm in winter.  But I did have a Stanhopea tigrina that thrives on neglect and perfumes the area with vanilla, even if only for a few days!

[David Nicholson]

Hello Peter.       Hello Peter.   

[olegKon]

You have wonderful Alliums, Marcus. I especially like your americans: A.crispum and A.dichlamydeum.
Happy new year to you and to all the forumists!

[GordonT]

I did have a Stanhopea tigrina that thrives on neglect and perfumes the area with vanilla, even if only for a few days!

Hi Peter,

That's a beautiful Stanhopea! I have a division of S. tigrina var nigroviolacea 'Goodwood' HCC/AOS that is slowly getting back to better condition. What is the material lining your basket? It looks far better suited for the job than the coconut fibre basket liner I use. Your material looks like it would retain more moisture at the roots, and shed less than my setup does.

[Maggi Young]

Superb plant, Peter -  I can at least  imagine the delicious vanilla scent - wonder if 2014 will be the year that Fred gets us a forum scent button?

I was wondering about your basket liner too - I'll make a guess at dried banana leaves.......

[Anthony Darby]

Must join the local orchid society. "Thrives on neglect" I can do. I have practised it so often I'm almost perfect at it. 

[arillady]

Peter an upside down plant for an upside down land!!! amazing.