Meconopsis 2018

[Carolyn]

Steve,
The seed exchange would welcome any spare seeds!

[David Nicholson]

...........My mecs and cardiocrinum have been torn to shreds by the wind, which first came from the south then moved to the west to inflict more damage. And we have our garden open on Sunday.....

I haven't seen a weather forecast today so here's hoping that your garden opening went as well you would hope Carolyn. Wish I could have been there.

[Carolyn]

I'm sitting here with my feet up enjoying a quiet cup of tea now.  The weather was cool and grey, but we still had plenty of visitors and sold lots of teas and plants. After two days of gathering up twigs and broken stems after storm Hector, the garden looked reasonably respectable. Our lawnmower broke down last week and the spare part arrived yesterday afternoon. David was out whizzing up and down the lawn at 9.30pm last night, so he got his nice stripes and neat edges after all.
The meconopsis and cardiocrinums look a bit sad, but the David Austin roses are having a good year - wish you could be here to admire them!

[johnw]

First flowering of seed grown Meconopsis which we raised several years ago.  We had about 30 of them but more than half started to flower the next spring, despite cutting off the rising stalks they perished.  The rest were planted out on the coast and the first few are flowering now.  We believe they are M. baileyi, do correct us if we're mistaken.  Ken immediately selfed the white!

Note the two stamenoid blue tassels.  Missed seeing those!

johnw
14c

[Leena]

This Meconopsis was grown from seed ex seeds with a name Meconopsis Barn's ex FBG
It's flowers are very large, and have a purplish tint when they open. It flowers the same time as M.baileyi here but has bigger flowers and a different shade in colour.
It is a very nice Meconopsis. 
Does anyone know anything what letters FBG mean or about it's origin?

[arisaema]

Leena; are the seed pods hairy? It looks a bit like the real M. betonicifolia.

[Leena]

Leena; are the seed pods hairy? It looks a bit like the real M. betonicifolia.

I went to look. There was only one seeds pod yet, but here is a picture of it.
Second picture is of a plant which I have grown from seeds which I have thought was M.baileyi (?) and have gotten seeds from a friend here.
Third is 'Hensol Violet' seedpod.
Fourth M.'Lingholm' which has been over for some time.
Fifth is M.integrifolia seedpod (grown from your seed Arisaema 

[arisaema]

Here's true M. betonicifolia from Lijiang, there's some similarities to your plant, but the seed pods are completely smooth.

[Leena]

Thank you. Seed pods of my plant are more hairy.

[TC]

This weather has been playing havoc with my Mec. seedlings.  They don't like full sun and 27°c heat day after day!  I have to water the pots twice a day and try to shade them but some of their leaves are burnt to a crisp.  It's a full time job also spraying the Cinnabarinum rhododendrons as their leave quickly curl in the heat.  I will have to take up cactus growing if this hot dry spell continues ! 

[johnw]

I can't remember the name of this one for the life of me.  Might someone be able to suggest a name?

john

[Diane Clement]

Does anyone know anything what letters FBG mean or about its origin? 

In the context of Meconopsis, the letters FBG mean "Fertile Blue Group" - the name given to the group of polyploid fertile Meconopsis which arose from the original sterile M x sheldonii (baileyi x grandis).  By far the most common form of FBG is "Lingholm", but there is also "Kingsbarns" and a few others.

There's lots of information on the Meconopsis group website:

Fertile Blue Group

Lingholm genetics

[Maggi Young]

Pictures from Ian Christie of his  hybrid  Meconopsis  x cookei  'Satin' flowering now - great colour and  the foliage is very different from other M. x cookei
 Meconopsis x cookei 'Satin' leaves are more silvery and a different shape

[Maggi Young]

Yesterday's meeting of the Meconopsis Group, held at RBGE, celebrated  their 20th Anniversary -  what was that about time  flying??

Julia Corden commented, "Attending the 20th Anniversary of the Meconopsis Group at RBG Edinburgh - great lectures and catch up with friends"  and  sends this picture of the  celebratory cake .....

[Maggi Young]

Sharon Bradley‎, Secretary to the Meconopsis  Group  posted  this yesterday :

"A great day yesterday at The Meconopsis Group Meeting at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Wonderful speakers, very informative. Martin Hajman from Tromso Botanic garden travelled all the way to be with us on our Birthday, 20 years as a Group. Special Birthday cake for the Group provided by Peggy Anderson and Jeannie Jones."

Czech Martin Hajman has worked and lived in Tromso for ages, though he can still be found taking part in the Czech international conferences , where his local knowledge is  appreciated. 
The cakemakers are Peggy  anderson, former SRGC Treasurer and Jeanie Jones, primula  enthusuast, who the other  year  wond  ans SRGC award for her  decorated cake at the AGM!   
So many talented  folks around the SRGC!!