October 2009 in the Southern Hemisphere

[johnw]

Primula daonensis was grown from Pilous seed.
(Attachment Link)

Hmm, my seed grown ones are dogs in comparison.

johnw

[Tecophilaea King]

The kamaonensis is super. I've just bought a plant from them down the road. I have true hookeriana if you're interested in a swap some time?

Lesley,I don't know much about this Iris hookeriana, what is so special with this true I.hookeriana?
Do you have a picture to show us, you got me real curious now.
Yes, I definitely interested in a swap later.
BTW: do you grow any Tecophilaea's? just being nosy.

[Tecophilaea King]

Androcymbium is a genus of about 10 species that occur naturally mainly around the Meditterranean and in northern and South Africa. The plants are small, and sets of two or more bracts are produced, which can be of various colours, usually whites or in shades of rose-pink. In the middle of the bracts are the small flowers, which give rise to the common name of little men in a boat.
A.ciliolatum :from South Africa produces two or three 12 cm long leaves. Clusters of white flowers appear among greenish white bracts in Spring. The leaves have finely fringed margins and lie on or close to the surface of the soil.
A.pulchrum resembles A. ciliolatum and grows naturally in the same part of SA. It produces reddish purple bracts and small pink flowers

[Tecophilaea King]

I quickly picked a few more Irises, before the rain once again came down in buckets.
I usually take them into the glass house and take pictures at my own leisure.
This time I.setosa Kirigamine and I.siberica Flight of Butterflies.

[Tecophilaea King]

A couple of tall bearded colourfull iris varieties to finish the irises for today.
TBI Spreckles
TBI Distraction

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I.setosa Kirigamine and I.siberica Flight of Butterflies.

Bill,
Is the colour of I. setosa Kirigamine really as blue as the picture shows If so... WOW....    Guess I'd have to put sunglasses on to look at it...    What an amazing colour !!!

Lesley,
Thanks for the information on pseudoregelia !!  

[Tecophilaea King]

The Babiana species are another attractive colourful genus flowering this time of the season.
In this collection are the various B.villosa seedlings that hybridise freely and pop up spontaneously in the pots/containers.
The last one just another Iris japonica.
What do you think of the Babiana's Lesley, I believe you're quite keen on the baboon flowers.

[Tecophilaea King]

Bill,
Is the colour of I. setosa Kirigamine really as blue as the picture shows If so... WOW....    Guess I'd have to put sunglasses on to look at it...    What an amazing colour !!!

Yes Luc, the flower falls are 5-7 cm long, with a spreading network of dark-violet blue or red-violet colours, according to the Iris Bible by Fritz Kohlein.Very spectacular.

[Ragged Robin]

I.setosa Kirigamine and I.siberica Flight of Butterflies.

The first looks like and indigo blue to me, Bill, it is quite spectacular and both are exceptional I think

[Tecophilaea King]

I.setosa Kirigamine and I.siberica Flight of Butterflies.

The first looks like and indigo blue to me, Bill, it is quite spectacular and both are exceptional I think

Yes Robin, the colours can vary between the I.setosa named varieties from violet to the various blues and anything in between, but the colours are always intense, dazzling and eye-catching.

[Paul T]

Bill,

The Androcymbiums are amazing!!   I love the colours in the Babianas.  Some unusual combinations in there that I haven't seen before.

Thanks for all the wonderful pictures.

[cohan]

Androcymbium is a genus of about 10 species that occur naturally mainly around the Meditterranean and in northern and South Africa. The plants are small,

i like these, bill--small plants and those with interesting leaves are at the top of my list for tender bulbs; i've seen them on lists, but not many pictures..

[Lesley Cox]

I certainly do like the Babiana flowers Bill. I was able to get B. ringens yesterday, from TradeMe, Andrew B having sent me a note. Looking forward to that one.

Luc, with the best will in the world, I'd have to say that 'Kirigamene' is not REALLY as intense as that but it is a very good deep violet-blue with wide, full-bodied petals. It is, in fact, Iris setosa var hondoensis, found at Kirigamene in Japan in 1930 and marketed in the USA as 'Kirigamene.'

[Lesley Cox]

Bill, here is a pic of I. hookeriana. Of course many people confuse it with I. setosa hookeri (I. hookeri) but it is nothing like. I've had seed a couple of times as hookeriana which turned out to be hookeri.

The flowers are at ground level and are rather leopard spotted.


The blunt or round-tipped leaf ends are typical of this group.

[Lesley Cox]

Too early yet for TBs here. Still in the thick of new dwarfs.. Three today are:
Grape Cordial


Eyelash


Orange Glint (I feel sure this is wrongly named.)

I have another orange which has come out very messy with 5 falls and a squashed up centre so won't post it now, but wait for the next stem which I hope is better. It's called 'Desert Orange' and is REALLY orange.