South African Bulbs/Geophytes 2017

[ArnoldT]

This one never seems to emerge far from the base of the plant.  I think this is the best one so far.  Wonder what I did right?

Lachenalia reflexa.

[johnw]

And here Lachenalia reflexa as well, first flowering of these two in the jumble.

john

[johnralphcarpenter]

Chasmanthe bicolor in the polytunnel.

[Rimmer de Vries]

Geissorhiza aspera hyb? With pale yellow pollen
Yep it must be a hybrid now plants are blooming in purple and white with pollen in white to yellow

[ArnoldT]

here's Veltheimia bracteata at full color.

[ArnoldT]

Lachenalia vanzyliae

[Robert]

Arnold,

I have been enjoying your photographs, especially the Lachenalia, etc.

The video of the Oroville Dam construction was very fascinating. Ronald Reagan back when he was governor of California! 

Many farmers have been rained out of the farmers' market. 

[Cfred72]

Hello, I just buy bulbs from Chasmanthe red and Chasmanthe yellow. As well as corms of Ferraria crispa.
Can anyone explain how I should cultivate them? I felt that the seller did not know what he was selling. 

[Paul Cumbleton]

Hi Frédéric,
I cannot advise on Chasmanthe which I have never grown, but I used to grow Ferraria. Ferraria are winter-growing and at this time of year should be in full growth (they grow from about September to May). So if you have bought dry corms they have missed almost the whole growing season. I think the best thing to do with these would be to store them dry and warm until September and then plant and water them. They should then grow at the right time. Corms are pretty tough so I think they will survive Ok even though they have missed a whole season's growth.

Paul

[johnralphcarpenter]

Chasmanthe grow as weeds in my polytunnel. Put them in a sandy growing medium in a large pot and keep them frost free.

[Cfred72]

Thank you both for the answers, Paul and Ralf. I will follow your advice. 

[Rimmer de Vries]

Lachenalia contaminata left with purple stem and many short 6" leaves

L bachmanii right with green stem and a pair (2) very long 24" tubular leaves.

The flowers look identical. But stems of different length.
The leaves are totally different.

Seems to be confirmed in Duncan's big book on Lachenaila pg 340.

[Darren]

After two weeks of the only sunshine being on weekdays during work hours I was despairing of ever seeing this open - but I finally did!

Romulea sabulosa

[Maggi Young]

Not all bulbs - but the nice folk from  Attadale Gardens (www.attadalegardens.com  )      - visiting Hermanus  in ZA  - ask if we can help them with some IDs -


A Canna of some sort

[Rimmer de Vries]

Tulbaghia violacea mcmaster seedlings, 12 months after seeds were sown.

The blooming plant appears intermediate between Tulbaghia violacea mcmaster and Tulbaghia violacea.

The blooming imposter is taller and has wider leaves than the ssp. but has dainter flowers and narrower leaves than my plants of the typical Tulbaghia violacea form.