Fritillaria 2009

[Sinchets]

I like it a lot too, Lesley- the 'rehab' is because the place where they lived for 2 years had been invaded by voles. Although they didn't eat much, they undermined all of the plants to make a hazelnut store. We were wondering why the plants were getting smaller each year and a little digging last summer revealed they were 'floating' and very dry at the root. A great plant to have as a weed though- at the moment my main weed in this bed is Nicotiana. 

[Lesley Cox]

I never cease to be grateful that we have no voles, moles, crocus-loving mice (ours haven't aquired the taste - yet) and others which are the bain of northern gardeners' lives. Not even wombats, echidnas or snakes with which the Aussies do battle. The occasional possum or bunny is small beer in comparison and the bunnies have mostly gone, while possums keep to the bush. Thank you Lord!

[Sinchets]

Yes, I guess it will take some time before the NZ native fauna adapts to eating bulbs We are touching wood, that so far we have no pack rats here.

[Paul T]

Simon,

If it is going to be native to NZ then it is either going to have to be birds or bats.... they have no other native mammals at all.  Unfortunately they do now have some Australian imports such as Possums and Wallabies though.    And then there are the carnivorous things like stoats etc that are helping to decimate the native wildlife.  So sad really, as so many of the NZ native birds are so unique as they all occupy the niches in the ecosystem that everywhere else has mammals.  There's some fascinating native wildlife in NZ.

But I digress..... back to Fritillarias...... there are some amazing ones in here again.  I do love the sewertzowii (I have liked every picture I have ever seen of it) and that elwesii is just so elegant.  So many other brilliant ones in here as well though.  Thanks all.

[Lesley Cox]

Simon,

 There's some fascinating native wildlife in NZ.

Well loook at me, for instance.

[Paul T]

 

 

[Sinchets]

Simon,
There's some fascinating native wildlife in NZ.

Well loook at me, for instance.

So are you prone to run amok- nibbling at rare native flora? 

[Paul T]

I guess that depends whether the native flora is made of chocolate or not?  Eh Lesley? 

[Magnar]

Been away for a week, and wow I'd say a lot happened in the garden during that time. Here is some of what greeted me when I came back:

Fritillaria collina
F. eduardii
F. sewerzowii

[Lesley Cox]

Beautiful frits Magnar, as is everything in your garden.

There are actually a great many edible plants among our native flora and even a restaurant in Auckland that specializes in dishes made with them. For bush walkers it pays to be conversant with these plants as they are a reliable food source in case of emergencies. However, as Paul suggests, I always take a good supply of chocolate.

[Ragged Robin]

Been away for a week, and wow I'd say a lot happened in the garden during that time. Here is some of what greeted me when I came back:

Fritillaria collina
F. eduardii
F. sewerzowii

Magnar, what a welcome home!  Your F. collina is really lovely and the F. sewerzowii is fascinating (where do all these names come from?  Presumably sewerzowii is someones name     )             

[Gerry Webster]

Been away for a week, and wow I'd say a lot happened in the garden during that time. Here is some of what greeted me when I came back:

Fritillaria collina
F. eduardii
F. sewerzowii

Magnar, what a welcome home!  Your F. collina is really lovely and the F. sewerzowii is fascinating (where do all these names come from?  Presumably sewerzowii is someones name     )             

F. sewerzowii is named after Nicolai Sewerzov (1827 - 1885), a Russian zoologist, cartographer & explorer who participated in several expeditions to central & eastern Asia.

[Paul T]

Magnar,

Love those three.  I'll have one of each please.    They are all spectacular aren't they, although I would imagine that the colour of the last would put some people off (I find it and it's form fascinating..... hope to grow it one day).  Thanks so much for sharing your pics.

[Magnar]

Some more Frits started to flower. Not sure of the identification of unibracteata, but received as such.

[Paul T]

Magnar,

That roylei is pretty special.  I love the grey "bloom" on the bloom.