Spring Narcissus 2014

[Rafa]

Vincent, thank you very much for these pictures, they are vey illustrative. They very variable, but they are the same plant that grows atlantic Galician coasts.

I think that if it would a expontaneous distribution, it must be in other close islands or even in the whole atlantic coast of Galicia. Sheeps or birds, could be the most logic explanation. Imagine if someone find a N. viridiflorus Italy in the wild... or for example we have Hermodactylus tuberosa and Ferraria crispa in spanish country, far from any urban place, in wild places. It is impossible someone planted them there, or arrive due glaciar process (that explains many distribution plants, but I think it's not the case)


To me var. loiseleuri or capax (I don't really know which one is the legitime)  is only an adaptation to the salt winds,  I am sure that if you put a normal N. triandrus subsp. triandrus, form León, near to any Pontevedra cliff, for example, the next generations will adapted the corona to protect the plants that have exerted or not, style.

Concerning "mad" distributions, what about Erodium maritimun that grows in Ireland, one place in Balearic Island, one in Pontevedra and one in a Coruña? or Erdium mouretii? in North Morocco, Huelva and Badajóz.... they are birds the responsables. Precisely E. mouretii in Spain although the seeds are desingend to be distributed by mamals, it use to grow in Bubbo Bubbo  and Gyps fulvus nest...

Edit: Thinking in the sheep propagation, I think it's no possible, because they ate the capsules when they are green, specially N. assoanus. It would be interesting which are the bird movements between Pontevedra and Iles Glean.

[mark smyth]

What a surprise today in the garden. These were bought many years ago as Narcissus romieuxii which they aren't. They have never had so many flowers. Are they N. bulbocodium?

[Maggi Young]

yes, they are - and a very nice shape to them, too. Very pretty.

[Gerry Webster]

yes, they are - and a very nice shape to them, too. Very pretty.

The shape - incurving margin of the corona - suggests N. obesus (N. bulbocodium subsp. obesus) . But these bulbocodiums are almost impossible to identify with any certainty.

[mark smyth]

Thanks Maggi and Gerry

[mark smyth]

I've had these 10 years. Can I assume they are not happy in the garden? Should I move them?

[Gerry Webster]

I've had these 10 years. Can I assume they are not happy in the garden? Should I move them?

They look very happy. I envy you;  bulbocodiums don't do well outside here.

You seem to have a very handsome form - to be on the safe side it might be an idea to put a few in a pot

[Maggi Young]

N. bulbocodium does pretty well outside here for us in Aberdeen.  No harm in taking a hostage though, as Gerry suggests but if they've been okay  outdoors all this time, well......

[Gerry Webster]

N. bulbocodium does pretty well outside here for us in Aberdeen.  No harm in taking a hostage though, as Gerry suggests but if they've been okay  outdoors all this time, well......

Here they survive but don't flower, even in a raised bed. Summer not dry enough perhaps?

[mark smyth]

but if they've been okay  outdoors all this time, well......

but 10 years to look like this. They've never been fed or divided 

[annew]

So many of my plants are showing an exceptional number of flowers this year. It could be that last summer's weather was particularly favourable. They look happy and are a nice form - suggest you give them a little feed and let them be.

[Gerry Webster]

So many of my plants are showing an exceptional number of flowers this year. It could be that last summer's weather was particularly favourable.

That's interesting Anne. Here  plants  which are actually flowering have an unusually large number of flowers. However many plants have no flowers at all. Puzzling.

[johnralphcarpenter]

This was in the garden when we moved here in 1996. Don't know what it is but we like it.

[mark smyth]

So many of my plants are showing an exceptional number of flowers this year. It could be that last summer's weather was particularly favourable. They look happy and are a nice form - suggest you give them a little feed and let them be.

I'll feed them today

[mark smyth]

Many years ago the local housing people, borough council or roads service planted 1000s if not millions of daffodils through my estate. They brought in a Dutch company to do it using a plough that cut an shallow inverted T in the ground. As it went along the flaps were raised and bulbs fell in. The ground was then flattened with a roller. The first year was a fabulous display but every year the display is getting worse and worse

This is my section of display today