December 2017 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Parsla]

Some lovely posts on the November pages. I can't think where November went - it seemed so fleeting.

A few garden photos..

1. Hymenocallus harrisiana is much more statuesque than when it first appeared last year
2. The first time the anthriscus has flowered for me. i have had it a few years but the varmints usually get to it first
3. Lilium martagon first tiny flowers from these ones - darkish pink with freckles - sadly not as dark as i had hoped
4. I think this is saxifrage stolonifera, nipped off as a cutting a couple of years ago. it has thugged its way to domination
5. One of the cherry trees needs a week or two to ripen fruit. Always a dilemma as the fruit is nicer if one waits but the birds can take it all and its very awkward to net.

[Parsla]

...and a few more
6.Arisaema candidissimum
7 & 8. A beautiful roscoes humeana hybrid gifted by Otto has a gorgeous colour range - here are two variants
9. Kalmia latifolia with almost white flowers

[Parsla]

A couple more photos from today - in the lull after the rainstorm.

1. The 2 metre high Lilium lankon hybrids are opening, with some very interesting colours.
2. Paris polyphylla (thank you otto). It sulked last year and i thought it must have gone west - but here it is again as pretty and exotic as ever.

[fermi de Sousa]

Nice to see you today at the Bunfight, Jacqui
Here are a few things in flower in our garden this week:
1 & 2) Eremophila bignoniiflora x polyclada
3) Eremophila 'Summertime Blues'
4 & 5) Eremophila "red hybrid"
cheers
fermi

[Parsla]

Fermi it was such a lot of fun.  It is an occasion where one can be shamelessly greedy and nobody seems to mind. 

Your eremophilas are gorgeous. I feel I must try them (or would if I had any space left)

[Mini bulb lover]

Great photos Jacqui and Fermi.

So I'm not the only one running out of space Jacqui? 

For other Australians on this forum that don't know, there's been a change to the seed import conditions. Luckily the SRGC seed team are going to look after us by complying with the change (thanks seed team!). The AGS and hopefully NARGS will also be okay. But if you order seed that isn't commercially packaged from somewhere else you should let them know that they need to include a sender's declaration.

More details in my post on the seed exchange thread: http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=15580.msg384982#msg384982

[Maggi Young]

Great photos Jacqui and Fermi.

So I'm not the only one running out of space Jacqui? 

For other Australians on this forum that don't know, there's been a change to the seed import conditions. Luckily the SRGC seed team are going to look after us by complying with the change (thanks seed team!). The AGS and hopefully NARGS will also be okay. But if you order seed that isn't commercially packaged from somewhere else you should let them know that they need to include a sender's declaration.

More details in my post on the seed exchange thread: http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=15580.msg384982#msg384982

The AGS seed team is up to speed with this and has  provided such details as now required for some time, I think.

[Parsla]

Dear all,
Just for fun, a couple of Eryngiums that make a statement in the garden.

1. A variety of E. pandanifolium (at least i think so). A very good doer.
2. E, bourgatii
3. Not an eryngium at all but a martagon hybrid Claude Shride.

[fermi de Sousa]

A little South American "bulb" in the rock garden - Alstroemeria hookeri - doing well because of the wet spring, I think
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

The AGS seed team is up to speed with this and has  provided such details as now required for some time, I think.

Although our NZ legislation requires that incoming seed be commercially packaged, this is frequently not the case and so far, our Hort inspectors at the borders have been sensible about releasing such seed, all else being in order of course. But I suppose it may happen at any time with or without notice that the letter of the law is applied. As always, we need to be alert to such adjustments. What I'm really trying to say that the seed teams do an amazing job in packing and sending in the first place but from our overseas perspective, their attention to all our regulations and rules is just so helpful and we are incredibly grateful for this because without all this extra work of providing lists for our applications and now, it seems, paper work about packaging and heaven knows what else, we wouldn't be able to get seeds at all. No thanks or praise are half enough for the wonderful seed service and those who provide it.

[fermi de Sousa]

One of our members reports that he has already fallen foul of the new regs Seeds sent from the Czech Rep were intercepted and he was informed they were to be destroyed
However after contacting the Inspectors he was able to convince them to release the seeds despite not having a "supplier's declaration".
Fortunately the seed was sent prior to the rules coming into effect!
Here's the very pleasant Clematis campaniflora flowering now through a climbing Lorraine Lee rose,
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

A recent purchase: Eremophila calorhabdos "Red Rod" from Western Australia (though I bought it locally )
cheers
fermi

[Jupiter]

Hi Jacqui, Fermi, Otto, Lesley etc.  Long time since I've posted on the forum; life has been busy! I have been watching all your posts, Jacqui I'm enjoying your lilies and other gems. Here are some pics of some of my saxifrages and sempervivums.

1. Sax. hostii (or hybrid of, I think)
2. Sax. georgei
3. Sax. x edithae 'Bridget'
4. Sax. oppositifolia (from seedex seed!)
5. Sax. cochlearis minor

[Jupiter]

Part 2

1. Sax. 'Snowdrift'
2. Sax. paniculata minutifolia
3. Sax. 'Whitehill'
4. Semp. arachnoideum
5. Limestone trough with saxes and semps

[Leucogenes]

Hello, Jamus.
I am glad to see again some pictures of you. What for wonderful plants. Perfectly.

And I recur very much with pleasure... the colour and arrangement of your stones is fantastic.  With pleasure even more of it... I love it. 

Thomas