Remarks from the Weekly KAVB Flower Show - Lisse

[Lvandelft]

I am glad you all liked the Muscari pictures. It was a real impressive show.
When I am at the show, I just make pictures as good as possible and just look what I find of interest and not if the names are correct.
The Bellevalia Green Pearl is officially registered as a sport of B. pycnantha. Hence the name "romana" was wrong.
Will make a note for tomorrow, when the Committee meets again.

[ashley]

Thanks Roma and Luit. 
I didn't think of that, but Luit's close-up shows the distinctive flower shape of B. pycnantha very clearly.  An interesting sport.

[fermi de Sousa]

I had 'Green Pearl' from Blom's nursery last year.  I think it was labelled Bellevalia pycnantha 'Green Pearl'.  

There's another thing I'll need to suggest to Marcus to try to import!
cheers
fermi

[Afloden]

The Muscari are fabulous. The Bellevalia looks like pycnantha with the broad leaves and closely spaced flowers. Romana has long narrow leaves and widely spaced outward facing flowers with blue/purple anthers. Sadly, those in the picture have the signs of virus - twisted streaky leaves.

[fermi de Sousa]

The Muscari are fabulous. The Bellevalia looks like pycnantha with the broad leaves and closely spaced flowers. Romana has long narrow leaves and widely spaced outward facing flowers with blue/purple anthers. Sadly, those in the picture have the signs of virus - twisted streaky leaves.

We'll just have to rely on seed  then.
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

Are we still talking about the Bellevalia 'Green Pearl' here? I accept that my eyesight may no longer be 20/20 but I really can't see streaky leaves and they don't look especially twisted to me, no more than any bulb produces as it comes through compost. Is it possible that we are getting a little OVER-virus conscience and perhaps seeing it where there is none? But feel free Aaron, to point out where I'm missing something.

[Lvandelft]

Are we still talking about the Bellevalia 'Green Pearl' here? I accept that my eyesight may no longer be 20/20 but I really can't see streaky leaves and they don't look especially twisted to me, no more than any bulb produces as it comes through compost. Is it possible that we are getting a little OVER-virus conscience and perhaps seeing it where there is none? But feel free Aaron, to point out where I'm missing something.

Lesley, as an "old fashioned gardener"  I agree with you. I do see some virus-like streaks on some leaves, but many plants show these in spring especially after a long cold period like we had here this spring. It's probably just a little stress and then plants often show this.

The suggestion of raising this plant from seed is not relevant I'm afraid , (Sorry for this Fermi!    ), as it is a sport of a dark blue flower and not likely to give these greenish flowers from seed again.

I get often a bit irritated, about the OVER-virus conscience in this Forum. Especially when an enthusiast grower shows  his/her new, first flowering Crocus or Iris and the only comment is: This plant is virused.
There are better ways to try to explain about and not taking the joy of some plant right away.
In parks there are growing thousands of Crocus or Narcissus having some sort of virus, but they grow and flower in such places many years without doing any harm. And normal people do like them as they are and don't bother about some streaky leaves.

Please, don't understand me wrong. I am against selling deliberately virus-ed plants. And I know many growers here who are inspecting day after day their bulbfields to avoid that customers get ill plants.

Having said this I will go on with my next reply!

[Lvandelft]

Because until now I have mostly shown pictures of bulbous plants,
I decided this Monday to make some pictures of perennials, i.e. Hosta.
Hosta were specially invited and there were many good entries with
enormous pots.
Here some different leafs:
   
Hosta Gypsy Rose
Hosta Revolution           
Hosta Risky Business                   
Hosta Frances Williams                       
Hosta Timeless Beauty                       
Hosta Enterprise                           
Hosta Blue Ivory                             
Hosta Hanky Panky
Hosta American Sweetheart               

And for the tulips fans I show a tulip too, because I found it rather special:

Tulipa [Sport of Attila Graffiti]                 

[fermi de Sousa]

Wow, Luit!
That tulip has the look of a peony in bud!
Great stuff!
cheers
fermi

[arilnut]

Luit, well said! I agree wholeheartedly.

John B


Lesley, as an "old fashioned gardener"  I agree with you. I do see some virus-like streaks on some leaves, but many plants show these in spring especially after a long cold period like we had here this spring. It's probably just a little stress and then plants often show this.

The suggestion of raising this plant from seed is not relevant I'm afraid , (Sorry for this Fermi!    ), as it is a sport of a dark blue flower and not likely to give these greenish flowers from seed again.

I get often a bit irritated, about the OVER-virus conscience in this Forum. Especially when an enthusiast grower shows  his/her new, first flowering Crocus or Iris and the only comment is: This plant is virused.
There are better ways to try to explain about and not taking the joy of some plant right away.
In parks there are growing thousands of Crocus or Narcissus having some sort of virus, but they grow and flower in such places many years without doing any harm. And normal people do like them as they are and don't bother about some streaky leaves.

Please, don't understand me wrong. I am against selling deliberately virus-ed plants. And I know many growers here who are inspecting day after day their bulbfields to avoid that customers get ill plants.

Having said this I will go on with my next reply!

[/quote]

[Hagen Engelmann]

Fine pics of hosta leaves, thank you Luit. Please show us much more!

[Ragged Robin]

Yes, please do Luit, Hosta Blue Ivory is really lovely and the variations are altogether absorbing to look at - I do like the textures and presentation of the Hosta leaves too, especially the blues.

[ChrisB]

Love that Hosta 'Blue Ivory' and 'Risky Business.  Must add them to my list of wants....

[Lvandelft]

Some more pictures of Hosta from last week

Hosta Climax                                   
Hosta Earth Angel                               
Hosta Tom Schmid                               
Hosta Sea Thunder                               
Hosta Ann Kulpa

[Lvandelft]

and some pics of this week.
                               
Allium cowanii                               
Babiana tubulosa
Babiana pulchra                                   
Babiana rubrocyanea                             
 
When tulip time is almost over, growers sometimes show flowers which
give some reasons for discussion.
Personally I don't know if anybody is waiting for this.

Tulipa La Bizarre                               
Tulipa Evergreen