Bulb Log 2019

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Ian,
I don't comment often enough to say how much I enjoy the Bulb Log - it is so inspirational.
I'm glad that you extend to all the other types of plants (and art!) as it's so good to see so many aspects of your piece of paradise. That tall white Iris sibirica is stunning.
I hope we are able to get to the Perth Conference in 2021 because we'd love to visit Aberdeen again afterwards!
cheers
fermi

[Ian Y]

Hi Ian,
I don't comment often enough to say how much I enjoy the Bulb Log - it is so inspirational.
I'm glad that you extend to all the other types of plants (and art!) as it's so good to see so many aspects of your piece of paradise. That tall white Iris sibirica is stunning.
I hope we are able to get to the Perth Conference in 2021 because we'd love to visit Aberdeen again afterwards!
cheers
fermi

Thank you for your kind comments Fermi and we hope to see as many of you as possible at the International Conference it is not to be missed.


08-11 May 2021 at Perth Concert Hall, Perth, Scotland.

[Ian Y]

You need to click the Bulb Log link to reveal the prickly issues and spikes.


http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2019Jun191560935408BULB_LOG_2519.pdf

[Carolyn]

Ian,
I was surprised to see that you are keeping the infected dactylorhizas - would it not be safer to put them on the bonfire than risk infecting the rest? I am in the fortunate position of not having had to deal with this infection (yet) but I would hate to throw away precious plants. I know that you DO dispose of some things which are infected, I'm sure you have written about this before in the bulblog, so I am wondering why you chose to keep the orchids? And why you replanted in the same spot - would the soil not be infected?

[Ian Y]

Carolyn you ask some good questions and in some circumstances I do dispose of infected material quickly especially where that material may be the only source of the infection such as virus however as I stated I believe that these particular pathogens are wind born or forever present in the soil.

I have experienced and written about this before.

It is precisely to check my hypothesis that I have taken the decision not to destroy the infected part - it is in a pot in as close to isolation as we can have in our garden. When I replanted some back into the same spot I did replace some of the soil but once more it is part of a trial to check if these will come back healthy next year and compare with the others I planted into a fresh area.

[Carolyn]

Thanks, Ian, I look forward to seeing how you get on with this.
I have been going against conventional advice too - some sick strawberry plants which I sent to the RHS for analysis turned out to have crown rot and red core, which I was told would remain in the soil for many years. I have been planting runners on raised ridges to improve drainage and have been managing to keep plants healthy for 18 months to 2 years, then I burn them and have to start again. Conventional advice is to give up on strawberries for a long time. It's always worth trying something a different way.

[Yann]

I quickly read your last log Ian. Pathogene stay in soil in association with a other soil fungus (3 has been identified until last studies). So the option is to replace the soil or "clean" it with chemistry which is impossible in our gardens. In nature i've observed the same effect when in a huge population of a species a new species is naturaly introduced. I know a german laboratory has reproduced in vitro the same with protocorms of B species introduced inside A species flask at a stage of cellules multiplication.

[Ian Y]

I quickly read your last log Ian. Pathogene stay in soil in association with a other soil fungus (3 has been identified until last studies). So the option is to replace the soil or "clean" it with chemistry which is impossible in our gardens. In nature i've observed the same effect when in a huge population of a species a new species is naturaly introduced. I know a german laboratory has reproduced in vitro the same with protocorms of B species introduced inside A species flask at a stage of cellules multiplication.

Thank you for sharing this information Yann, I am looking to solve this in an organic way perhaps some of the many clones that we have will start to become resistant.

[Roma]

I have a similar white Iris sibirica grown from seedex seed.  I don't remember the name of the cultivar the seed came from.  It's been planted out a few years now.  It is very upright compared with my other irises (chrysographes, forrestii, a Broadleigh hybrid) and is nearly as tall as I am.

[Maggi Young]

That is  a truly  lovely  iris, Roma!

[Ian Y]

I have a similar white Iris sibirica grown from seedex seed.  I don't remember the name of the cultivar the seed came from.  It's been planted out a few years now.  It is very upright compared with my other irises (chrysographes, forrestii, a Broadleigh hybrid) and is nearly as tall as I am.

Wow that is a stunning plant Roma and yes the flower and stature is very similar to the one I showed.

[Ian Y]

Seed is natures greatest gift  to gardeners click on the Bulb Log link.


http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2019Jun261561539093BULB_LOG_2619.pdf

[Ian Y]

There is no such thing as a bad habitat - click the link to read the Bulb Log.


http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2019Jul031562148638BULB_LOG_2719.pdf

[François Lambert]

Hello Ian,


I love your attitude about indigenous wild plants such as Geranium Robertianum, they can make a very nice display.  I have a big patch of these growing in a neglected area in the shade of some quite large Salix Caprea.  They love the cool shady place and have seeded out naturally to a complete ground cover.  They are bit past their best flowering now but still attract some insects even on such dark location.

[Ian Y]

I am pleased to see your large patch or Geranium robertianum  François as you show as well as being easy and attractive they are good for insects and birds - the Bull finch come to feed on the seeds of ours on a regular basis.