January 2009

[Michael J Campbell]

One little Romulea flower today.

Romulea Tetragona, I hope.

[David Nicholson]

That looks spot on for Romulea tetragona Michael. Somewher we have a thread for Romulea species would you mind moving this one please Maggi!

edit by Maggi: I won't move it, David, since Michael has chosen to picture it in "flowering now" .... however, I will copy it to the Romulea thread myself!

[Diane Clement]

and we haven't even got Helleborus niger out yet!

We have got Helleborus niger and foetidus in flower, but still waiting for most of the other hellebores to open (3 weeks or so later than last year)
However, in flower on the crevice garden a little unseasonal surprise
Gentiana clusii

[Michael J Campbell]

Cyclamen hederifolium leaves taken today, showing variation.

[mark smyth]

That'sa really good selection Michael

[maggiepie]

Cyclamen hederifolium leaves taken today, showing variation.

Michael, the leaves are beautiful, I hadn't realized there was so much variation, they would be worth having even if they didn't flower.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Verry impressive Michael - great variation ! 

[Michael J Campbell]

A couple of Hepaticas starting to unfold.

Hepatica nobilis.
Hepatica japonica.

[Gunilla]

I have been waiting for new Hepatica pics.  Yours are gorgeous, Michael.

[maggiepie]

The hepaticas are beautiful, I have yet to meet one face to face.

[Michael J Campbell]

Helen,are you allowed to import them? I can send you some.

[johnw]

Rather puzzling the genetics of Hellebores.

Here are shots of a 2006 seedling of Ashwood's pink picotee selfed, photos 1 & 2.. This is typical of the progeny and it has replicated the original rather closely.

In 1996 I got a stunning hellebore we call Ashwood pink bowl; selfed the seed in 2006 so far has produced 2 purple seedlings (photo 3) and 5 clear whites (photos 4-& 5) - now in flower under sodium lights.  There were no whites in the garden and clean unspotted whites are not so easy to get from seed if that was one's intent! Very strange and frustrating as it's the pink bowl we'd like to replicate, no complaints with the white though. Again from a 2006 autumn sowing.

Ashwood Nursery's seed gives many great plants. It will be hard to resist buying plants there in a few weeks time.

johnw

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Really nice whites John !! 

[maggiepie]

John, your hellebore babies are lovely, exactly how long from germination to flowering, do you remember?

[johnw]

John, your hellebore babies are lovely, exactly how long from germination to flowering, do you remember?

Helen  - The seed would have been planted in the summer of 2006 to get several months warm, and then sprouted in the very late fall after about two months of cold.

Then moved under lights to avoid severe cold and pushed a bit. We once grew several thousand a year.

Luc - I guess Helen Ballard can indirectly take the credit for the good whites. I understand the Ashwood hybrids are mainly based on her work.

johnw