South African Bulbs 2014

[SJW]

It truly is one of the loveliest scented plants of all. Sandy soil, neutral to acid, perfect drainage but never completely dry, does not tolerate frost, dappled light under trees.

So in pots under glass in the UK...now to try and track down a seed source!

[Anthony Darby]

Must check out the garden centres for Boronia.

[fermi de Sousa]

A Gladiolus that is fragrant like Boronia? Around here Boronia will fill a whole garden with its scent, however one can put ones nose up to the flowers and get no scent at all. Difficult for us to keep going too. 

Not easy for us either, Robert Mostly grown as an "annual" - bought as a potted plant in flower and tossed after it finishes. Or as I do planted out and watched as it dwindles away
This Sparaxis (?S.elegans) used to be known as Strepthanthera when I first grew it,
cheers
fermi

[johnw]

The first Nerine bowdenii 'Pink Distinction' flower bud emerged here yesterday, it may be a few weeks before opening.   This is very early for it, no doubt the supplemental watering during the drought has made a difference.

johnw - +16c at 8pm

[jshields]

Some of my Nerine bowdenii "Koen's Hardy" and bowdenii wellsii are sending up buds.  They are all in pots -- they don't handle our Midwestern winters well in the ground -- and they tend to bloom erratically from one year to the next.  In any given year, only about one of them in three seems to bloom.  "Koen's Hardy" is my name for a cultivar that Aad Koen gave me ca. 15 years ago.  For him, it  was hardy over winter in his fields in the Netherlands; for me, it has only about a 15% survival rate when grown outdoors in the ground over winter here in central Indiana.

Jim

[johnw]

Mine are erratic too Jim.  I was told to plant them in good soil in the sun, moist not dry during the growing season, and away from the foundation.  However they won't survive much beyond the foundation where it is both dry and shady..... Can't win.  No flowers on the welsiis yet and hoping it's hardier, well hardier in our previous milder winters, now that the old fashioned winters have returned who know what will happen.

johnw

[fermi de Sousa]

Lachenalia orchioides var glaucina is just coming into flower,
cheers
fermi

[Paul Cumbleton]

For all those interested in South African Bulbs, the South African Bulb Group hold our next meeting next Sunday October 12th at Winchester, Hampshire, UK. Full details can be found on the group's website at http://www.sabg.tk/. Everyone welcome.

Paul

[Paul Cumbleton]

Maggi,
Sorry - do you think my last post would be better in the Events section? please move if so. Thanks

Paul


edit by maggi : I've repeated it there, Paul - see if we can reach as big an audience as possible!

[fermi de Sousa]

This Geissorhiza radians is one of the wildflowers known as wine-cups, I believe.
Grown from seed from Gordon Summerfield, 2010,
cheers
fermi

[Jupiter]

What a wonderful thing fermi. I have some seed of other Geissorhiza species in but not that one. Did you sow the seed in 2010 or was it just collected 2010?

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Jamus,
I sowed the seeds in 2010 and got the first flower in 2012. I'm hoping this year I'll get some seed set.

Here's a patch of mixed ixias, including Ixia maculata
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Fermi,

To date I haven't explored the idea of growing Geissorhiza species. Clearly it looks like it is worth my time!

[fermi de Sousa]

Geissorhiza radians ... from seed from Gordon Summerfield, 2010,

Forgot to show the exterior yesterday!
Robert,
as I said, I'm hoping for some seed to set
It's a little cutie, but I've only grown it in a pot so far - I think it would get lost in the garden - maybe a raised bed would be suitable so you can get down to enjoy it,
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Forgot to show the exterior yesterday!
Robert,
as I said, I'm hoping for some seed to set
It's a little cutie, but I've only grown it in a pot so far - I think it would get lost in the garden - maybe a raised bed would be suitable so you can get down to enjoy it,
cheers
fermi

Excellent! That is what I had in mind.

Cheers