November 2009 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Tecophilaea King]

Oh God, is someone going to upbraid me for being politically incorrect, or for racism?

What's good for Hone Harawira is good enough for Lesley. Yeah right!!!  

[cohan]

bill, great stuff-- the Crinum macowanii has a really pretty 'striping' effect...

[Tecophilaea King]

Something different this time, the magnificent Puya alpestris   Although this is an extremely vicious barbed plant and not recommended for planting close to paths or where anyone is likely to brush past, the flowers are incredibly beautiful flowering in the spring.
Nearly 3" long, very heavily waxy and the most unbelievable shade of dark turquoise, they force you to stop and admire them.
Best planted in full sun. Drought tolerant.  Native to high slopes in the Andes of southern Chile  

[Onion]

Oh Bill,

what a dream at this rainy day in the northern hemisphere.

[Lesley Cox]

Oh God, is someone going to upbraid me for being politically incorrect, or for racism?

What's good for Hone Harawira is good enough for Lesley. Yeah right!!!  

Don't mention that man to me Bill, a real chip of the old (maternal) block. Likewise a national disgrace.

[Paul T]

Great pics, Bill and Fermi.  I sowed seed last year of the Puya, but no germination unfortunately.  I was hoping.    I just love the colour. 

[fermi de Sousa]

OK, two more, beautiful, not so well known Calochortus species.
Calochortus tolmiei and Calochortus momophyllus.

Hi Bill,
I was looking in "Calochortus: Mariposa Lilies & Their Relatives" by Mary E. Gerritsen and Ron Parsons and I think your C. monophyllus is more likely to be C. amabilis or C. pulchellus. It does cross with C. albus to produce a pendant hybrid but the type is upward facing.

The first flowers on Alstroemeria hookeri are appearing,


This Triteleia ixioides appeared quite attractive and dwarf, perhaps because of the drought?


Another yellow flowerer is our native "Lemon Flax Lily", Thelionema umbellatum "Yellow Rush Lily", Tricoryne elatior


Another native is "lambs-tails", Ptilotus exaltatus,


cheers
fermi

[Paul T]

Nice, Fermi.  I don't think I've ever seen a yellow Thelionema before. 

[fermi de Sousa]

Nice, Fermi.  I don't think I've ever seen a yellow Thelionema before. 

Whoops! Corrected the name to "Yellow Rush Lily", Tricoryne elatior! The lemon flax lily is much lighter in colour and mine didn't survive it's first year here - must try it again!
cheers
fermi

[t00lie]

Phlox adsurgens Wagon Wheel hanging over the edge of a concrete trough.Enjoying the cold wet wet wet    conditions of the last few days.

Cheers dave.

[Ragged Robin]

Puya alpestris from the Andes is so unusual, Bill, it certainly turns heads with that incredible turquoise flower - is each stem growing by itself as a one off?

Fermi, lovely Alstroemeria hookeri against the dry grass - Alstroemeria are native to south America too aren't they?

Lovely Phlox adsurgens Wagon Wheel, Dave, the flowers look quite big...

[Tecophilaea King]

Dracunculus vulgaris, sometimes called the Dragon Arum, or Voodoo Lily
The very striking deep purple-black spathe sends upward a shimmering purple-black "jack" which can grow to as long as 50 cm, though 20-30 cm in  length is more likely & still mightily impressive. This black spadix extends from the rather vaginal spathe, leading this aroid to be called "amorphallus" in form.
The eerie erotic beauty of this plant can be a little shocking. If this plant is not widely popular, it is because it needs to attract carrion-eating pollinators, so will briefly smell bad,
Fortunately the dungy rotten meaty odour only occurs when the inflourescence is mature & lasts only long enough to attract a few flies, then the plant is satisfied & ceases to stink. Generally the bad odor only lasts one or two days. Best planted far enough back in the garden

[Tecophilaea King]

Puya alpestris from the Andes is so unusual, Bill, it certainly turns heads with that incredible turquoise flower - is each stem growing by itself as a one off?

Robin, the stamens form dense panicles up to two meters tall at the ends of long stems.
The plant with the rosette of leaves dies after flowering, leaving offsets to carry on.
The fruit are capsules that enclose winged seeds.

[Tecophilaea King]

Hi Bill,
I was looking in "Calochortus: Mariposa Lilies & Their Relatives" by Mary E. Gerritsen and Ron Parsons and I think your C. monophyllus is more likely to be C. amabilis or C. pulchellus. It does cross with C. albus to produce a pendant hybrid but the type is upward facing.

Fermi, in hindsight, I am inclined to agree with you, I do grow both species but it definitely looks more like Cal. amabilis.
Thanks for the correction.

[Lesley Cox]

Bill, forgive me for not mentioning it before, your little parcel arrived safe and well on Thursday. They're potted up and looking just fine. Thanks very much. I'll be interested to see how it goes on as ultimately, it will live outdoors here.