May 2018 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Lesley Cox]

My friend Melanie Ager had various cyclamen seeds from Jan Bravenboer, including a "darK" C. hederifolium. When they flowered some seedlings were almost black!

[Jupiter]

I would give an arm or a leg for an almost black cyclamen! (not really  )

Crocus laevigatus; lots of tiny very beautiful flowers.

[vanozzi]

So nice to finally see a bloom on this--Clivia gardenii ''Blush'' selfed.I have two plants blooming now, this is the better of the two.

[Jupiter]

A few things in my garden yesterday

Salvia discolor is lovely inky black flowers (very dark purple).

This Crocus is probably laevigatus.

A weed, Linaria vulgaris

Canarina canariensis

The first romieuxii of the season.

[fermi de Sousa]

Ahh, Linaria vulgaris that innocent looking wildling! I once brought home a cutting of it which survived and went on to colonise the entire bed in which it was planted!
1) Oxalis lobata (syn perdicaria) started flowering a month ago and is still going strong! Although this is a different clump to the one I posted back in April on the Oxalis Thread.
2) Nerine crispa (syn humilis?) has lasted a few weeks already
3) Ipheion sellowianum (syn Nothoscordum felipponei) has also been in bloom since April
4) Moraea polystachya is yet another long performer
5) Autumn colours on Aquilegia seedlings
cheers
fermi

[Jupiter]

Yep. Colonised well and truly here Fermi. It's here to stay so I have to learn to love it.

Your Oxalis lobata is beautiful. I too have been enjoying autumn hues on Aquilegia foliage.

I went to a local nursery with Rebecca and unexpectedly came home with this Brunnera. Isn't it nice?

[Jupiter]

The first 'spring' snowdrop, Galanthus ikariae ssp. snogerupii, with lots of flowers to come. Look at those long pointed tepals! So graceful.

[Jupiter]

I discovered this up in the front garden... it appears the kids were rock gardening on the weekend. 

[Maggi Young]

I discovered this up in the front garden... it appears the kids were rock gardening on the weekend. 

              It's the thought that counts! Well done little  Stonors!

[fermi de Sousa]

I discovered this up in the front garden... it appears the kids were rock gardening on the weekend. 

Your own pet dandelion - have you been getting them to read the Bulblog?
Today we went shopping and our favourite native plant nursery provided some much needed retail therapy!
Being very restrained we only bought 10 tubestock plants.
Spent a lovely late afternoon planting out all but one.
I especially liked the 'St Andrews' form of Correa alba which has more dependent bells than the type species.
cheers
fermi

[ashley]

Great to be able to buy these small tubes Fermi.  They tend to establish far better than bigger plants.
Lovely correas.  Unfortunately the range available here is very limited.

[Parsla]

Lovely to see fermi indulging in retail therapy, and jamus passing on his knowledge to the littlies 
Some beautiful, exotic, blooms ....Thank all of you for contributing such gems.

i wanted to share this Galanthus story in the May list.

18 months ago I was grateful to inherit what could only be described as a tiny mummified husk in a neglected pot Marcus had labelled three ships, hoping against hope. I potted it up and last season a single leaf emerged, and grew longer and longer over the season. Looked like a snowdrop, but possibly narcissus.

I popped it in the ground. and about two weeks ago a perfect drop pearl emerged (photo 1).

Raced down to see the next morning and one of the unspeakables had chewed off the head and spat out (photo 2)
The bulb is now hiding under a wire cloche.

The bloom (photo 3) has a beautiful texture to the outer petals and I think it is as labelled - but please correct me if you know otherwise.

[johnw]

Parsia

The markings would certainly suggest it's G. plicatus 'Three Ships'.

john

[Jupiter]

Ooooo Three Ships!    it's beautiful. I want it.     Jacqui I feel you pain at the terrible act of terrorism you endured. 

Yes the kids have seen Ian's videos and know about the pet dandelion. I let them do whatever and never tell them what to plant or how.

[Parsla]

Thank you Jamus and John re snowdrop  identification. It was also very early, suggesting 3 ships.  Now  to nurture it so it multiplies...

The elwesii monostichus are just starting to put their white noses through the autumnal leafiness covering the soil.

June already...