South African Bulbs 2016

[Maggi Young]

Here's a better shot of the flower fully open.

In lower light the actual purple ovary and stem are truer to color.

Eucomis montana

 Oooh!

[johnw]

Odd that this Lachenlia reflexa sown January 2014 from the seedex has not died down and gone dormant since sowing. 


johnw - +20c, guess the heatwave has been cancelled.....

[johnw]

Here's a puzzle. I grew Massonia pustulata in about 2012 and complained until this past growing season that there was nary a leaf bump to be seen.  Minute ones appeared this past winter however one I gave a friend looks to be what I think of as pustulata as it is quite bumpy.  No puzzle so far.  He grew his plant in similar conditions to mine, a cool greenhouse, however mine died down as usual in April 2016 & his is still in leaf.  He put his outside for the summer, likely in early June.  I dropped by last evening and despite the drought - he hadn't been home to water in a few weeks -, the blistering heat and sun in the Annapolis Valley it looks quite fine.  Why would it not have died down at the usual time or even later given the stress?  Have I been missing out on a few extra months of growing by drying them off prematurely?

johnw - +18c, foggy and showery !

[fermi de Sousa]

First flower on Lapeirousia oreogena (from NZAGS Seedex sown exactly 4 years ago 29-07-2012) - this one seems quite dark.
Another pot of seedlings will be in flower soon - from seed from Miriam in Israel - so it will be interesting to see if there is much difference,
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

First flower on Lapeirousia oreogena (from NZAGS Seedex sown exactly 4 years ago 29-07-2012) - this one seems quite dark.
Another pot of seedlings will be in flower soon - from seed from Miriam in Israel - so it will be interesting to see if there is much difference,

There is a bit of difference between this flower (the first from Miriam's seeds sown in 2010) and the previous one.
The exterior of the bud shows the white marking at the base of the open flower actually is visible from the outside,
cheers
fermi

[Rogan]

I enjoy your dark Lapeirousia, Fermi, it's a beautiful little plant.

Here's a scrumptious Romulean, brightening up my bulb collection between the winter storms: Romulea monodelpha

[fermi de Sousa]

Beautiful Rom there, Rogan!
The frosts didn't kill the buds of Babiana odorata this year so there is a good flowering
cheers
fermi

[Rogan]

It's Fermi and I hogging this thread at the moment and, then I say, why not? I am trying to get over my seasonal dose of "yellow fever" after all and, this sure is a good remedy! 

Another local charmer that does well in pots: Moraea ciliata - it has strongly scented flowers - sweet, with a hint of cloves.

[Maggi Young]

Quite right, Rogan - "hog" away, I say!  You are showing such charming  flowers.

Really must get Fred working on the scent button though, for these scented gems! 

[Graeme]

seem to have got a lot of rhodohypoxis again

[Maggi Young]

Better mouse protection than we have, clearly!

[Graeme]

Better mouse protection than we have, clearly!

I do see a lot of tiny little livers at times.......

[Rogan]

Rhodohypoxis = confetti   

Undoubtedly a highlight of the season: Moraea tricolor, I raised these plants from seed many years ago and, they never fail to astonish me. They occur naturally not too far south of here, in a region of the Western Cape known as the Overberg.

[fermi de Sousa]

That Moraea tricolor is stunning, Rogan!
Bulbinella eburnifolia is now in bloom again,
cheers
fermi

[Rogan]

I went on a short walk in the neighborhood yesterday and encountered an assortment of common bulbs in flower, here and there:

Freesia aff fergusoniae (I do not know how to identify wild freesias!), the highly perfumed flowers and flat fan of leaves are characteristic;

Gladiolus gracilis in an amazing assortment of subtle colours - bright blue, grey to pinkish - this has to be my favourite gladiolus and is strongly scented too;

Babiana patula is very common in the area and prefers more shaded aspects, often growing in deep shade; this form is not scented at all (contrary to descriptions in the literature);

This powder-blue Moraea species pops up all over the place and, I have no idea what its scientific name is!