Early February 2007

[mark smyth]

Guy, I have to say pass for the ID of those Galanthus. A great tip for anyone buying snowdrops is buy distinct varieties.

Like most snowdrops Hill Poe should be happy with any light level except full shade. Those of mine in full shade lean out looking for light

[Geebo]

Yep Mark,you know how it go`s friends bring you al sorts of he,and then you have to plant them in case the come to visit some day 
Thanks again,
Guy

[Jozef Lemmens]

These things are giving colour in my alpine house at the moment.

Jozef

[Maggi Young]

Oh, Jozef, what a treat to see these good Dionysias.
There were some at the Dunblane display and they were flowering well . There were about six or so plants and they were healthy little plants in approx. 10 to 12cm pots. Not sure if there's a photo about, anyone?

[Luc Gilgemyn]

And quite exquisite colour Jozef !
Great plants !
Beautiful photos
Thanks

[John Forrest]

3 bulbs to show from the alpine house.

Crocus wandering Minstrel, which I got from TG. What is its parentage?

Ornithogalum sigmoideum grown from exchange seed and I believe from Turkey. As you can see it is completely sessile.

Romulea clusii I love for its electric colour, which shines out in the alpine house.

[Lesley Cox]

John, the crocus's parentage is 'W.S.Gilbert' x `Arthur Sullivan.' "A Wandering Minstel I.." no, no Lesley, shut up!

Lovely Dionysias Jozef. There are so many hybrids about nowadays in the northern hemisphere. Do they set seed? and if so, does anyone sell any?

[Jozef Lemmens]

Lesley,  I never collect seeds of my plants (except Androsaces). But I went to my alpine house and found a few (10) seeds on one of the plants. If you like I can send them. I don’t know whether they will germinate.
Or you can try to buy some from this man.
http://www.dionysia.de/
I am afraid his list is not updated.

Jozef

[Lesley Cox]

Thank you for the offer of your seeds Jozef, and I happily accept. I'll email you privately with address etc. You are very kind. And thanks for link too. What an amazing collection Herr Mayr has. I'll email him as well. There are very few species here in NZ, probably just a couple in regular cultivation, maybe a couple others appearing from time to time. 

[Maggi Young]

Jozef, what an amazing photo! Reminds me of a photo Ian has of a Gentiana sino-ornata reflected in a Dobro steel guitar... wonder if I can find it? I do like it when I see a photo that has some added 'twist' to it. Funny sort of helmet, though! Is it for a motor bike or a fireman?

[Lesley Cox]

Seeing dionysias in or through the visor should cool any tendencies one might have, towards road rage.

[Mark Griffiths]

Couple of Frits, Fritillaria davisii from seed ..it took 11 years to flower which is a bit long. It's also tiny, only 2 inches tall. The other one is Fritillaria pluriflora that I've had for something like 13 years, it actually came to me as something else but it was a bit of a no brainer as to what it was when it flowered! Still only one bulb, some years it has more flowers on the spike, others less.

 

[Maggi Young]

Your Frit. davisii is only a baby, Mark, what were you expecting, Desperate Dan? They don't get that big, at the best of times, only about 8inches, 20cms at most.  When they are mature you can get twin flowers, see BULB LOG 18 ---- 3rd May 2006.

Frit. pluriflora is one of the few really pink frits. It can make quite tall stems with multiple flowers when mature and  happy but you are doing fine with your, Mark. It is a good clear pink and standing well. Patience, what's a decade or so between friends?

[Maggi Young]

I've just spotted that  Chris Bailes of Rosemoor is featuring on Gardeners' World tonight on mainland UK tv, BBC2 at 20.30 hrs. £ minutes! I'm off!
The subject is "Winter Garden Beauty", which was what Chris had as one of his talk titles when he spoke at the Dunblane Early Bulb Display the other year.  He is an excellent fellow.

21.27pm
The programme was a good one, with contributions from the Ashwood Gang, too.
Carol Klein was busy replanting divided clumps of Galanthus, in full growth! OOH! Controversy!

[Lesley Cox]

My davisii stands about 8cms high and took just 3 and a half years to flower from seed. It was from seed collected on an AGS expedition, in the Pelaponese.

The pluriflora is beautiful.