April 2018 in the Southern Hemisphere

[fermi de Sousa]

The weather has cooled down here but it's still dry, dry, dry
Still, the autumn bulbs have been very cheering while we wait for rain!
1) Sternbergia sicula and Zephyranthes 'Ajax'
2) Calostemma purpureum
3) Moraea polystachya
4) Cyclamen rohlfsianum
5) Sternbergia sicula - can't resist more pics of these!
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

This is a seedling from Ceratostigma 'Forest Blue' which I presume is a selection of Ceratostigma willmottiana.
It has beautiful clear blue flowers which are a welcome sight as we leave the warmer weather and head towards winter.
At least one head of flowers show a hint of purple in the petals
cheers
fermi

[Parsla]

Fermi you always seem to have something in flower - and always colourful. Yes we really really need some decent rain in victoria.

Everywhere tiny bulbs are popping up and leaves finally starting to show autumnal colour.

i have a sylph-like crocus i can't identify that emerged from a small unmarked pot. not sure even where it came from,  as the label is long gone, but seem to recall wondering what was in it last year. The first two photos. Any insight would be appreciated

other photo is of nerine pudica.

jacqui.

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Jacqui,
can't put a name to your sylph - have you asked the Oracle?
I love Nerine pudica - not one I trust out of the shade-house here but I'll have to try something as it's languishing in a pot.
And finally we have some rain! Over half an inch here so far (BOM only predicted 8mm so that's not too bad!).
1) Nerine rosea is one of the best in our garden as it tolerates the level of frost we get.
Many years ago I crossed it with N. fothergilla 'Major' (which has been subsumed into N. sarniensis - but is more frost tolerant that that species so I'm not changing labels!!!) and the first seedling was a terracotta version of N. rosea - but it hasn't reflowered till now! Pic taken in the rain this afternoon!
2) Nerine seedling #1 from around 1999,
cheers
fermi

[Parsla]

Thank you for trying Fermi.  I was hoping to ask him next time I see him. There is only one and I am wondering if it came from seed or Otto or Marcus.
I do hate losing labels but they seem to spirit themselves away of their own accord.
Love the nerine  rosea. Colour and delicacy both.
The rain has been wonderful, if only lasting for an hour or two. Hope not so long before the next time.  Jacqui.

[Maggi Young]

Your "sylph"  looks like Crocus kotschyanus, Jacquie, with the  golden  "m"  in the throat.

[fermi de Sousa]

Sadly, the rain has not been repeated and we are back to watering, watering, watering
Some flowers despite the dry:
1) Oxalis flava (yellow form);
2) Nerine filifolia;
3) Narcissus viridiflora;
4) yet more Sternbergia sicula;
5) Nerine rosea x fothergilla 'Major' Seedling #1 now more developed
cheers
fermi

[Jupiter]

A few offerings from Adelaide, where we are having a hot dry autumn, but enough showers to keep things moving along... just.

1) Narcissus viridiflorus
2) N. viridiflorus detail
3) Crocus caspius, Paul Furse
4) Crocus cancellatus
5) Crocus biflorus

[Jupiter]

Part 2.

1) Crocus medius
2) C. speciosus f. albus
3) C. pulchellus
4) C. tournefortii
5) C. goulimyi

[Jupiter]

Part 3.

1) Galanthus peshmenii
2) G. reginae-olgae
3) Crocus (not sure, label gone)
4) C. nudiflorus
5) C. niveus

[Maggi Young]

Lots of goodies there, Jamus -  love those  crocus!!

[Jupiter]

Thanks Maggi, a lot of them are new to me, being a Crocus newbie. I am particularly happy with my Crocus caspius Paul Furse, which is three years in my garden now and the flowers seem to get bigger every year!

[Maggi Young]

I am particularly happy with my Crocus caspius Paul Furse, which is three years in my garden now and the flowers seem to get bigger every year!

An absolute picture, Jamus - in every way!

[Jupiter]

Yay a day off mid week! Plus I have tomorrow off too on daddy duty. I hope all your gardens are perking up with the arrival of a bit of cooler wetter weather? It's feeling much more positive here now after the dreadful prolonged end to summer. I suffered a few losses in the garden, including some painful ones in the rock garden, but I'm over it now and ready to move on.   

I ducked out in my lunch break yesterday and did some shopping to fill gaps in the garden.

[GordonT]

Jamus, do I see a Hydrangea quercifolia, and an Isoplexis among your new purchases?