January 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere

[rob krejzl]

I thought Rigidella had been subsumed some time ago; of course it might have popped out again.

[fermi de Sousa]

A Sims hybrid OT

Hi Rob,
I'm not familiar with Sims hybrids - what can you tell us?
Here are a few pics from the last week - the lilies are all a bit heat stressed:
Orient-Pet 'Gluhwein'
Orient-Pet 'Mr Cas'
Orient-Pet 'Silk Road'
Habranthus  martinezii x H. robustus  alongside H. tubispathus
Cyclamen rohlfsianum (a gift from Otto last year) struggling up through the mulch
cheers
fermi

[Paul T]

Beautiful pics, folks.

Robert, so nice to see Rigidella.  Haven't seen that in years.  Grew it for many years successfully until one year it never came up.  Haven't seen it available in over a decade from anywhere.  Fantastic to see at least someone here in Aus is still growing it!!     And that dark nectaried yellow lilium is stunning, by the way.  You grew it from seed?  If so, congrats, and on that Sims hybrid with the strong marking.

Again, fantastic pics everyone.  Thanks for sharing them.

[rob krejzl]

Paul,

The Tigridia was originally from the Gillanders, several generations ago. Doesn't self seed but it is very easy here. PM me if you want some.

The OT has particularly vivid colours this year. High temperatures whilst they were in bud I assume*, since I've seen the same sort of effect on other lilies. Normally these red chevron types look less interesting than this.

Fermi,

David Sims is an american lily hybridiser. For a few years he sold seed commercially - really superlative stuff across a number of categories. Googling his name will give you an idea.

*Plainly wrong as I so often am. More likely high UV levels.

[arillady]

Marcus and Lesley,
I don't have any amazing dreams but I do get a good sleep at night. If the Greeks can drink it and live to a grand old age it is fine by me.
Thank Marcus for the name of the Calochortus as it always amazes me when it flowers as it is so much later than anything else.

[Paul T]

Rob,

Thanks for the offer.... but I think I already owe you enough.  ;-)

[rob krejzl]

Paul,

Then I suppose we can discuss a mutual exchange. It's always irked me, for example, that I can't get seed on my Scoliopus. PM me if you want to do this.

[Maggi Young]

It's always irked me, for example, that I can't get seed on my Scoliopus.

The late, great Alf Evans  wrote n "The Peat Garden and its Plants" that he never got seed on it in the RBGE , either - if that makes you feel any better, Rob?   

[rob krejzl]

[Paul T]

Rob,

When I had it growing and flowering every year I had the same problem, despite others talking about it being self fertile elsewhere in the world.  I wonder whether we don't have the correct pollinators, and/or timing for it.  I have recently replaced mine as I lost it a few years ago..... no flowers as yet to see with this new clone. 

[rob krejzl]

Yes,

Paintbrushes have been applied over a number of years with no result. Do you know the origin of your clone, since it seems to me that with a lot of these things we're all drawing from an extremely small circle of original imports.

[Jupiter]

School holidays and trying to juggle kids and the garden. I reckon this was a successful juxtaposition, what do you think? 

[Maggi Young]

School holidays and trying to juggle kids and the garden. I reckon this was a successful juxtaposition, what do you think? 

Works for me, Jamus - those little people seem to be having lots of fun amongst your GIANT plants......

[Paul T]

And the adorably cute little bears, peeking out.   

Rob, my current Scoliopus came from Lynn McG.

[Jupiter]

I'm afraid to buy a Scoliopus with summers as severe as they have been. I might have to wait til the next garden... It's a 5 year plan we are working towards.