July 2017 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Carolyn]

I get almost 100% germination with fresh eranthis seeds. I tried some dry seeds from the seedex in a solution of GA3 and had reasonable germination, so you could try that if you can only get dry seeds.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Hello Lesley
My experience mirrors yours in that seed sown fresh is best .Interestingly I obtained seed of Eranthis h. aurantiacus seed from the Gotenborg Botanical Garden Index Seminum list of 2015 which germinated well last year.
 
While the seed may have been picked fresh it was quite some months later before arrival in NZ so I wonder whether the success or otherwise is affected by how the seed is handled/stored before distribution .    

Gotenborg have at times also listed the double E.hyemalis fl.pl.

Jamus please let me know if you want the Got. Bot. seed contact details.

Cheers Dave.

Sadly, Gotenborg have closed their seed distribution programme.

[Jupiter]

Thanks everyone. Lesley I will take you up on your offer or fresh seed. I've had quite a bit of luck with these "sow immediately" things... Trilliums, Galanthus etc.

[t00lie]

Sadly, Gotenborg have closed their seed distribution programme.

Yes I thought so as well however I'm sure I received the smaller 'specialist' list earlier this year ...or am I getting a bit confused as I have the 2016 version of that list in front of me as I type this reply.........

Cheers Dave.

[Lesley Cox]

Will do Jamus. I have seed from last season ready to send now to SRGC seed exchange but it will be that whole year older than what I can send you a bit later. Anyone ordering it won't receive it until Jan '18, more than a year after harvest so germination will be problematic at best and not quick. For that reason I did send some to 2 people in the NH who wanted it, as soon as it was ready.

I think I'll start to assemble a list of seeds which are best distributed privately "as soon as ready" rather than waiting for the seed list. There really are quite a lot if I think about it, arisaemas for example. They are probably fine for people in the same hemisphere but for those at the other (either) end of the world, private distribution is probably better.

I am awaiting a package from Oron Peri and will try the forced germination methd for the oncos but I'm wondering what effect our winter as opposed to the northern recipients' summer, will have on germination. I'll probably be wanting your experience here Jamus.

[Lesley Cox]

Went into my local small garden centre yesterday to buy some perlite and was told by a newish staff member she'd never heard of it and they didn't stock it. Fortunately another person arrived just then and said yes, they did, and trotted off to get me a bag. Half a kilo (a lot as it's very light) for $7.50. Excellent.

On the way out I had a look at a new consignment of new hellebores which are really good winter plants, almost shrub-like. I think their origin is English, or at least UK and they include 'Anna's Red,' Polly's Pink' and a new one to me, 'Molly's White.' I need to replace the first two as a rabbit last year ate the tops, then dug the roots out and ate those too. Then there were half a dozen others with various romantic names but were lovely plants with stems of many flowers, stiffly upright and with subtle, pastel colours in pinks, creams, greens.  Just about to choose some, I remembered that my little car requires a new gearbox! I have an estimate for $700 not including GST, so reluctantly left the hellebores for now. However,I did pick up a lone specimen of Delphinium nudicaule with the added cultivar name of 'Redcap' though I suspect this is a selling aid rather than an actual selected form. There must have been a number as I was assured it is a lovely plant (I know that). This last one was quite bushy and I can carefully take shoots from the stock as cuttings. Just as well as the plant had had all its seed bearing heads carefully trimmed away.

[Jupiter]

Hi Lesley, the forced germination protocol will eliminate the dormancy mechanism and seed will start to germinate pretty much immediately. Coming from the other hemisphere out of phase won't matter at all. Good luck with it! I'm looking forward to hearing how you go. I sent some onco seed to Hamish Brown a few months ago and he is going to try a similar thing. Do you know Hamish Lesley?

[fermi de Sousa]

Jamus,
I'm surprised Otto hasn't offered you some eranthis already! Many AGS VG members grow eranthis and sometimes offer them at The Bunfight
I'm sure someone would be able to collect fresh seed for you.
1) Another of Lawrence's hoops 'Quen Dor'
2)Acis tingitana
3 &4) Grevillea lanigera 'Mt Tamboritha form'
5) Eremophila glabra
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

Yes Jamus, I know Hamish quite well and know he's interested in irises so I'll be in touch with him soon and we can compare notes.

I need to know about what happens after the cutting process. Into slightly damp bags with perlite? Then what? I don't have a warm airing cupboard but could arrange some room in the cylinder cupboard. Or is it refrigerator first until a root appears - or what? I know I can get all this by going back through the iris threads but am looking here for something general so I'm not taken too much unawares when Oron's seed arrives.

[arilnut]

In the fridge Lesley.  There is a good thread dedicated to it in the Iris genus section.

John

[Jupiter]

Lesley the method written up by Bob Nold is really excellent. He doesn't use the fridge but rather coffee filters at a cool room temperature (should be easy for you to provide).

http://files.srgc.net/general/ForcedArilIrisGermination.pdf

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks John and Jamus. I'll need to do some homework over the next week and become really familiar with the process before having to put it into practice. I'll take detailed notes of everything I do or observe and hopefully build up a reserve of information of what works (or doesn't) for me.

[Parsla]

Hi Jamus, Leslie, and all,

Eranthis are beautiful but so hard to grow in our heat. Ive seen them in kew gardens en masse a few times and would love to give them a good try.

This is such a fabulous time of year. The garden has been so depressingly bare and bleak but this week little gems are popping up all over - some in pots, some in situ.

jacqui.

A few photos:
1. Tiny Galanthus rizehensis is finally naturalising despite the boggy conditions in that particular garden bed
2. My favourite cyclamen that came as a special present - now in bloom
3. The hellebores are finally starting to bloom after the dreadful last season (mildew)
4. A hyacinthella gifted by Marcus
5. A little patch of colour in the oak garden

[Jupiter]

Hi Jacqui, nice to see pictures from you! Great plants, especially the Cyclamen. Which species is it? I know what you mean about bleak and bare. It's the same here too but things are turning around slowly. I did a lap of the garden in the dark with a torch tonight and saw several Crocus about to open! If it would just stop raining they might have a chance. 

[Parsla]

Hi Jamus,

You are keen. Garden with a torch. Far too dark to see much I should think, but maybe not. I've had a couple of tiny crocus too. Such a pleasure. 
I think the cyclamen is a hederifolium, but a particularly beautiful one. Not 100% certain.

Yes it's nice to be back. J.