September 2009 - Southern Hemisphere- Spring

[Giles]

It's done purely on the number of postings you make, but in terms of quality, I think you have already achieved 5 gold stars (with knobs on) already !!

[Tecophilaea King]

Lesley, that is a lovely Fritillaria aurea, I grow something simular, and flowering at the moment, but lost the name.
Could it be the same species? or just another hybrid/clone
I love my frits, but they are difficult to maintain up north, but that does not stop me from trying.
Had another good frost last nite, forgot to cover my early potatoes, all black now

[johnw]

Can someone please tell me what all those stars in the profile are all about?
Could I perhaps bribe admin or Maggi  with some Tecophilaea or Tropaeolum corm/bulbs
Was worth trying 

Bill - Thanks for the advise on Tecophilaea.

The more gold stars = the more free time one has.

The blue stars = people who can be bribed with chocolate.

johnw

[Tecophilaea King]

BTW:how do I get the "quote from" in the next post and what does that "red Xremove" means in the posting? Thanks.
I have to wait till Maggi wakes up from her beauty sleep to bribe her with chocolate, hope she is in a good mood

[johnw]

Bill - Clicking "remove" will remove your posting from the Forum permanently. You will see that that option is not available for other's postings, only your own. Usually when one makes a serious error and then want to remove the posting it is already too late, Maggi has read it and pounced already. The nice thing about late evening in Nova Scotia and New Zealand is that we can be fairly certain she is asleep. Sometimes she must set her alarm for 3am GMT just to check on us, so be careful.      She doesn't miss a trick.  

If you click on someone else's post all you can do is quote from it in your reply.  Once you hit quote then it is your letter and you can respond below the last quote mark.  You and also eliminate parts of the quote that are not relevant to your reply. Just be careful not to delete the "word quote in square brackets" at the beginning and at the end of the quote.

johnw

[Tecophilaea King]

While we all enjoy the standard daffodils, we must not forget the miniatures, with their own charm, appeal and popularity.
They're easy to grow in pots or containers, and provide flowering and enjoyment over a long period, from May until Oct. (Southern Hemisphere)
No need to say that I enjoy growing them and doing a spot of hybridizing with the miniatures at the same time of the season.
I grow most of my miniature species and hybrids in containers, outside in the nursery, or inside a glass-house as you can see in one of the pictures for convenience of hydridising and freedom of rain, wind and frost, not to forget better seed production.
Anyway here are a few of the (mainly) N cyclamineus seedlings/hybrids, one of my favourite genera.
Enjoy.

[Tecophilaea King]

This time more yellow N.cyclamineus miniature seedlings/hybrids, with varieties like Little Gem, Atom, Weebee, Kibitser, Mitzy and other suitable vrieties all used in the breeding and back crosses made for better form, vigour, colour, and suitability for the (rock)garden
More to come later, enjoy.

[Rogan]

Here's another fantastic plant from these parts: an extremely rare, yellow-flowered form of the Hilton Daisy, Gerbera aurantiaca - for your viewing pleasure 

[Maggi Young]

Good afternoon, Chums! I've been having a quiet, computer free morning... but I see you are sorting out Bill's queris about Froum "stuff".....Thanks!  

Bill, I have resized your frit photo for you..... it is a form of F. aurea... looks very much like the narrow petalled form that was marketed "down here" as  'Golden Flag'  


 Your "starry"  N. cyclamineus forms are delightful!! 

[Paddy Tobin]

Lovely run of photographs here, so unseasonal for us northerners and such a welcome splash of colour.

Enjoyed them, Paddy

[Lesley Cox]

The gerbera is a beauty Rogan. Forgive me, but at first glance I thought - Doronicum!

[Lesley Cox]

Maggi, locally plentiful (Tecophilaeas) but NOT locally cheap!!!

Bill, Great that you have joined the world of posters. Our first North Islander, so far as I can remember, so an extra warm welcome.

Judging from your Frit aurea and the various notes about this species, mine may be F. collina, not aurea as it has rounded shoulders, not the square ones which are so evident in your pic. Maybe Maggi or Ian would like to have another look at mine and give an opinion.

I mentioned earlier that I had another aurea about to flower from Frit Group seed. It's still a couple of days away but so far appears to be almost cream rather than yellow and without any chequering at all. Wierd!

[Lesley Cox]

Whatever you want on the Forum Bill, Maggi can be bribed with chocolate.

[cohan]

It's that time of the season again, to get me all excited, when one
of my favourite geophytes the Tecophilaea's are flowering right now.
Without doubt, the most sought after of all the smaller (alpine) flowering
bulbs/corms: the fabulous "Chilean blue crocus"
Its supreme beauty and rarity makes it a must for in every connoisseur's
collection.
This species is now believed to be critically endangered in the wild, mainly
because of over-collecting and intensive grazing by cattle and sheep to the
point of becoming extinct.
Fortunately they are not difficult to grow, and although rare in
cultivation, and given the right environment, will not be lost from the
planet.
They are usually grown in an alpine house or cold glasshouse.
Because they are so unique and beautiful, these plants justify special
attention and treatment.
Tecophilaea's of course are always much admired when flowering en masse, a sight never
to be forgotten.
Enjoy the pictures
Bill Dijk

very cool to see them en masse! are these all natural variations, or are there cultivars? are you producing these commercially, or just for fun?

[ranunculus]

Can someone please tell me what all those stars in the profile are all about?

I don't know about stars, Bill ... you deserve PLANETS!   Across your own blue firmament!!!   Magnificent sight.