South African Bulbs 2016

[fermi de Sousa]

A bit of a "long bow" as this bulb is mostly associated with tropical Africa but is apparently listed as Southern Africa as well: Gloriosa superba.
We grow it in a pot to be able to keep it dry(ish) during its winter dormancy. This is the first time in a couple of years that we've managed to get flowers as the pots were put into light shade and kept watered!
In northern parts of Australia it is considered a weed as it has colonised some beach areas in Queensland (where we saw it many years ago) and NSW,
cheers
fermi

[johnstephen29]

I wish the weeds when they appear in my garden where as lovely as gloriosa fermi😀

[Graeme]

sort of 'weed' I could do with

[Maggi Young]

More bad news!
Agapanthus gall midge is  the subject of a warning from the RHS - it  is a tiny fly that lays eggs on the developing flower buds of Agapanthus. The feeding activities of the larvae inside the buds cause abnormal bud development and infested buds can fail to open.

Agapanthus gall midge is a new species of fly affecting Agapanthus that can cause buds to become deformed and discoloured and fail to flower. It was first noticed in the UK in 2014 but may have been present for several years."
 More information:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=901

 Pic from RHS site
 

[Peter Maguire]

Oh wonderful - after 10+ years in the garden a potful of seedlings have yet to produce a flower. 
You can guarantee that when they eventually do so that the midge will turn up - it may even have acquired a scientific name by then.

[ArnoldT]

Here's a leaf detail of Lachenalia comptonii.

the hairs known as "trichomes" cover leaf surface.

[Maggi Young]

Great photo, Arnold!

[ArnoldT]

Maggi:

Thanks,

We haven't had much sun here of late.  Been unusually warm but cloudy.

[johnw]

Lachenalia aloides 'Quadricolor', one of four large pots, just keeos flowering away.

Gone a tad floppy due to the sun & mild weather of late, I suspect a constant 3-5c and full sun would suit it better.

johnw

[Steve Garvie]

Lachenalia bulbifera

[johnstephen29]

There's been some movement with this forest lily, Veltheimia bracteata, the individual flowers on the flower stalk have started to move downwards, won't be long now before there is a good display

[Graeme]

More bad news!
Agapanthus gall midge is  the subject of a warning from the RHS - it  is a tiny fly that lays eggs on the developing flower buds of Agapanthus. The feeding activities of the larvae inside the buds cause abnormal bud development and infested buds can fail to open.

Agapanthus gall midge is a new species of fly affecting Agapanthus that can cause buds to become deformed and discoloured and fail to flower. It was first noticed in the UK in 2014 but may have been present for several years."
 More information:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=901

 Pic from RHS site
  (Attachment Link)

Is there anything to kill this - just in case?

[Maggi Young]

Not yet, according to the RHS  article........

Control

Currently the RHS does not know which control methods may be effective against agapanthus gall midge. Practical countermeasures and advice on this pest will result from the on-going studies at the RHS.

Gardeners may wish to pick off and destroy galled flower heads as soon as they are seen but there is no evidence yet to show how effective this may be.   

[jshields]

Not yet, according to the RHS  article.

A gall midge has been attacking daylilies in recent years, so the daylily people (American Hemerocallis Society) probably have some suggestions on their web site for dealing with this new pest.  I've had no personal experience with either gall midge to date (just dumb luck).

My personal suggestions would be 1) spray with a contact insecticide about the time the adult flies lay eggs, then 2) use a strong systemic insecticide to control the ones your contact spray missed.  Rigorously clean up trash around the plants.

Jim in Indiana
where the temperature is 15°F/-9 C, the wind is 15-20 mph, and the wind chill is -2°F/-19 C

[David Nicholson]

..........(2) use a strong systemic insecticide to control the ones your contact spray missed. 

more or less impossible now in the UK Jim, virtually everything that used to be useful is banned.