Early January 2007

[Maggi Young]

Lesley, wasn't Pheiophleps biflora another name incarnation that my Sisyrhinchium went through before the taxonomists turned it itno an Olsynium? It/they do smell lovely though, if a bit strong for some noses!

[Lesley Cox]

I shouldn't be surprised.

[Maggi Young]

These taxonimists do it to drive us crazy, you know. I used to think it was to pay their bills and feed their children but now I think they just want us to suffer.

[Jozef Lemmens]

No , my F&W-8693 doesn’t have a (noticeable) scent.

[Maggi Young]

That surprises me, Jozef. It is very early in the year, might it be too cold for the scent to develop? I know some flowers need warmth to really show their fragrance.

[Jozef Lemmens]

Maggi, maybe you are right. We had minus 4°C last night.

[Darren]

Ian,
        Thanks for the advice re Trop azureum - I'll sow the seeds soon and wait! Congratulations to Yourself and Maggi on your well deserved award too!

A couple of pics taken on tuesday:

I cannot grow the true narcissus 'minicycla' despite expensive attempts.. So I decided to produce an analogue using N.cyclamineus and N.jacetanus (some reckon this is synonymous with asturiensis). These are the first two flowers from the result. Not as classy as Anne's 'Sidora' as illustrated in the december AGS bulletin, but I'm pleased with it. Top of my narcissus hybrid wishlist is N X susannae but I can never get triandrus and cantabricus to overlap in flower. Last year I managed to save some cantabricus pollen and pollinated triandrus with it.

Also here is Crocus sieberi (ssp nivalis or atticus I think - I forget which) from Crocus group seed.

Darren.

[annew]

Your hybrid is very nice - it's remarkable just how consistent this cross is. Maybe by using jacetanus, yours might be a bit bigger than Sidora, and consequently a bit better outside.

[grannysmith]

A host of golden - dandelions. Here is my lawn after a couple of days of rain followed by several hot sunny days. It has been mown now! Will need a treatment with weed and feed, but they do look nice don't they?

[Maggi Young]

Marjorie, if we had to pay good money for 'em, we'd covet those dandelions like the gold they resemble. Like so much in the world today, no cost equates to no value.
 Are those exotic reds in the background Cannas? And what a view you have!

[grannysmith]

Yes Maggi, they are cannas. Not as good as usual because it has been too dry. We are very lucky to have almost 180o water views. We often have cruise ships pass not far from the front of the house.
Pacific Princess

[Maggi Young]

WOW!
I'm off to bed to dream of cruise ships and wondeful Tassie skies! goodnight

[grannysmith]

It has its drawbacks though. I have virtually no level ground. Most of my garden is hillside and just clay and rocks, no real soil. I plant everything above ground and mulch around it with manure and old sawdust. Seems to be working even if it is rather slow.

[Maggi Young]

I can see the problem, Marjorie. Actually, your position is rather similar to the lovely garden/nursery at Abriachan, on Loch Ness-side not far from Inverness. I cannot  remember the name of the nice folks there(SRGC Members, of course!) but their site is very steep and looks over the loch, though it is not so grand as your view and any passing ships are more in the boat category! They've got a Monster, too, of course!
They have had to work in the same way as you, I imagine, to allow their plants something to grip onto! They've succeeded very well, mind, it's a super place.
Now I am off to bed, night night.

[Maggi Young]

I'm still here! I was annoyed at forgetting the owners' names so I went to check, They are Margaret and Donald Davidson and I  found their website address : http://www.lochnessgarden.com/
Right, this time I am off! Bye!