April 2016 in the Southern Hemisphere

[fermi de Sousa]

Today really feels like Autumn - the sun is out but is no longer searing, trees are wearing their "fall" colours, and "Autumn bulbs" are in bloom!
This is Nerine Ariel an old hybrid which I got from my mentor in rock gardening, Mrs Ruth Tindale, 30 years ago!
cheers
fermi

[Jupiter]

Lovely RED Nerine Fermi, it's very autumnish here too but too dry unfortunately. We badly need some rain.

Androsace lanuginosa is flowering its head off in the crevice garden.

[fermi de Sousa]

For the bigger rock garden: Grevillea lanigera 'Mt Tamboritha form'
cheers
fermi

[Jupiter]

My first peshmenii flower! Please excuse my over exuberance with the photography but I am very happy to see it flowering.

[Jupiter]

Oxalis massoniana just popped it's first flower of the year.

[anita]

My first peshmenii flower!

Pea green with envy Jamus. Find a feather or a tiny brush and get busy. Some seeds will help you build a swarm of offspring for your rockgarden. Cheers Anita

[fermi de Sousa]

Narcissus viridiflorus now coming into bloom in the garden, growing through a protective mat of Teucrium subspinosum,
cheers
fermi

[Jupiter]

Thanks Anita. It'd be amazing to have a clump. I'll do as you suggested and hopefully get seed set.

[anita]

Thanks Anita. It'd be amazing to have a clump. I'll do as you suggested and hopefully get seed set.

Jamus, I'm no authority on Galanthus biology, but tickling my G. reginae olgae with feathers has resulted in successful 'selfing' so there's a reasonable chance for seed set. I've now got three years worth of seedlings on the go as a result. Only a handful of plants but faster than waiting for the bulbs to multiply and less frightening than carrying out various surgeries to encourage accelerated bulb/corm production. A bit of messing around but so worth it to enjoy true snowdrops in our snowless climate!
My Galanthus are yet to show noses but I like Fermi I do have a couple of N viridiflorus, although my potted handful seem to be sulking this year after repotting in December. Only a flower or two from a dozen shoots. The good news is that there are a number of seedlings coming up in the pot which is great.
The best bulbs in the garden at the moment are Crocus goulimyi Mani White and its seedlings which are all coming into bloom now. So far all of the Mani white seedlings are white suggesting that it will breed true if given a little bit of distance from its lilac cousins.
For those of you not familiar with Mani White here's a shot of the parent clump posted a few years ago. http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=7014.msg198599#msg198599
C goulimyi is a delightful Crocus, with its triangular shape, and given how well it's going in my garden, well adapted to low-chill sunny climes. I'm surprised that C goulimyi is not more widely grown in Mediterranean climate gardens with milder winters where other crocus fail.

Cheers Anita

[Jupiter]

Anita, C goulimyi is stunning isn't it? Thanks for the link to your pictures back in 2011. You have some big clumps in your garden! Please, PLEASE save me a little seed. I'm quite enamored of the form, that lovely triangular outline.

[Jupiter]

I'm enjoying this little clump of Crocus laevigatus at the moment.

[Rogan]

I am enamoured by this little Oxalis species, aff O. pendulifolia flowering at my doorstep - one of the first to announce the approach of cooler autumn weather.

[Maggi Young]

Hi Rogan - how ironic that such a  lovely warm colour as the Oxalis speaks to you of Autumn!  Odd old world, isn't it?

[Jupiter]

Hi Rogan, that's a fabulous Oxalis. We have rather a lot (rather too much actually) of your flora over here in Australia, but that's one that hasn't turned up here yet.

[anita]

Anita, C goulimyi is stunning isn't it?  Please, PLEASE save me a little seed.

Jamus, I'll get busy with some feathers and should have some seed come spring, especially with the sunny days we are experiencing now.  Will PM you when seed's ready.
For those of you concerned with my feathery obsession. I use discarded feathers from my hen to pollinate flowers. I use a different feather for each cultivar avoiding cross pollination. Saves having to use multiple brushes and having to clean each time! I leave a feather in each pot or alongside plants in the garden to facilitate pollination. Cheap and compost easily once discarded.
Anita