November 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere

[David Lyttle]

Continuing; Freesia alba 'Burtonii'


Iris 'Pacific Coast Hybrids'


Lewisia cotyledon


Pseudomuscari forniculatum  syn Bellevalia forniculata


Ranunculus insignis 'monroi' grown from seed collected Black Birch Range Marlbourough

[David Lyttle]

Last but not least Rhodohypoxis baurii, pink form

[Robert]

David,

Very sorry to bother you, however I could not help myself commenting on that beautiful Pacific Coast Iris. Did you grow it from seed or is it a clonal variety?

Dodecantheon alpinum is native to the high Sierra Nevada where we live. With all the name changes with plants it is now known as Primula tetrandra.    In this case, I can do without the name change and I think that I will protest and continue to use Dodecantheon.    Shame on me.  Anyway, your specimen looks great. I have tried to grow this species here at the lower elevations with some success in the past, however I do not have one in the garden at this time.

[David Lyttle]

Hi Robert,

No need to apologise very happy to answer your question; I grew the Iris from a batch of seed that I got through the Otago Alpine Garden Group Seed Exchange. It is one of three different colours I have flowering at present. I rather like them and see people have breed some spectacular forms. I have only a limited selection of purples, mauves etc.

I was aware the Dodecatheons had been re-classified as Primulas (I have read the papers when this was published). However the USDA plant site still seems to be using the name Dodecatheon so I went with that in my posting. I believe in North America Dodecatheons are snowbank plants flowering shortly after the snow melts

[Robert]

David,

Most of our native California Dodecatheon species are from high altitude and indeed bloom early in the season shortly after the snow melts. We also have a few low elevation species. D. hendersonii grows on our farm property in large drifts (I have been encouraging them to spread here on the farm). This species can also be found in mid-elevation habitats (4,000 - 5,000 feet, 1,219 - 1,524 meters). Generally in higher terrain is where I find the best forms of this species.  D. clevelandii is another low elevation species.

The University of California, Berkeley is generally my source for the latest name changes, at least as far as California flora. I have to admit that it gets frustrating for me at times - Stipa seems to have a name change every few years these days. I certainly can not change the situation, so I guess it is better for me to just go with the flow. 

PCI have been hybridized here in California for many decades. I can definitely appreciate the beautiful varieties originating in the Southern Hemisphere. Some day I would like to explore the southern Sierra Nevada foothills. Maybe there are some true blue forms of Iris munzii still to be found in the wild.

Thank you for the reply and I appreciate all the photographs you and the others in the Southern Hemisphere have been posting.

[Anthony Darby]

Hey, someone called Lesley from Dunedin asked Prince Charles for a kiss, and he duly obliged. Was that you Lesley?

[fermi de Sousa]

Some nice stuff in your garden, David L.
Here's a couple in ours:
Asphodeline damascena x2
Dwarf Hersperaloe/Beschorneria ex Mexico courtesy of generous forumists
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

Hey, someone called Lesley from Dunedin asked Prince Charles for a kiss, and he duly obliged. Was that you Lesley?

It was NOT!!!

[fermi de Sousa]

Anthony,
you should know by now that our Lesley has more class than that!
In our garden:
Cistus palhinhae
Conanthera campanulata
Centaurea biokovensis
Banksia petiolaris x 2 - one of the trailing species
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Sisyrinchium palmifolium x2
Triteleia cultivar
Triteleia ixioides
Oenothera acaulis

cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

Thank you Fermi. I coldn't really say so myself but of course you are right!

[Parsla]

Gosh you have some lovely things David - the dodecatheons and ranunculus and bellevalia are all so charming.

I find myself wondering where Jamus has got to…

1. This is a lovely jasmine - hardy as all get up. it was out on Sahara (my dry and hostile street reserve) for a couple of years with no water and stayed a beautiful deep green, grew and blossomed. Now it is in a nicer spot i have to trim it regularly. Jasminum multipartitum Southern Stars
2. A blue corydalis
3. A poor quality (sorry) photo of Wahlenbergia stricta, sometimes called the Australian bluebell but in reality a campanula relative. This one seems to be double.
4. And the beautiful campanula persicifolia "Pride of Exmouth", that took years to flower but is now happily spreading through a shady patch under the cherries.

[Jupiter]

I'm lurking here enjoying all of your posts. I've been a bit busy lately with kids and work and general life stuff and haven't taken many pictures lately... Campanula persicifolia is is one I had once but had forgotten about. You're right it is beautiful Jacqui.

[Jupiter]

Here is a small offering to make up for my lack of contributions lately.



Thalictrum flavum ssp. glaucum




Digitalis parviflora

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Guys,

I have been checking out all the wonderful offerings on this thread and felt inspired to add an eclectic trio.

Iris boissieri - seed from Rafa.

Tulipa sprengeri - the latest and maybe the reddest!

Campanula spatulata - yes it does sound like a kitchen implement.

Cheers, Marcus