Bulb Log 20/04/07

[Maggi Young]

Bulb Log No. 16  of 20/04/07 is on site now, thanks to the return of Fast Fred ! Thanks Fred !


http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2007/200407/log.html

[Anthony Darby]

Remind me to grow more erythroniums. Those hybrids are stunning. I look forward to Ian's bulb list

[Paddy Tobin]

Unfortunately I was unable to travel to Dublin to hear Ian speak last night, very disappointed. On another occasion hopefully.

The erythroniums look fabulous.

Has Ian given details of how he goes about dividing his erythroniums?

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

All erythroniums are beautiful... but it is true that some of these hybrids are exceptionally pretty and if they are easier to bulk up than some of the species, then they are more valuable for garden use.
I do see why the BD is so obsessed with Erys.... there is just something captivating about them.. the combination of leaf markings and the elegant flowers... just lovely. You can spend hours kneeling in worship before them, studying them for minor differences that delight the eye....ooh! now that sounds a bit familiar, where have I heard of that sort of behaviour earlier in the season...... eek! it's like white fever! Nah ! It's much better than that!

Ian has probably covered dividing them in a log somewhere, Paddy, though I can't think offhand.  Main point from my perspective is to excavate the clump very carefully because they are always deeper than you imagine and most are rather brittle and too easy to break.

[Maggi Young]

In the garden we would lift and divide Erythroniums as the leaves are going back, probably June, most years  because in July we are repotting.  Those that we grow in the fish box troughs are much easier to deal with since the whole contents of the box may be tipped out into a wheelbarrow and the bulbs gently separated with little or no damage. This can be done in late June or July, whenever we have the time, really! We then tend to just lay the bulbs back into the box, with a soil covering until we have completed the repotting and made any sales of surplus... then everything is replanted by the end of August, ready for another year.

[Ian Y]

Hi All,
I am passing some time in Dublin Airport waiting for my flight back to Aberdeen.
I will cover splitting erythroniums again this year Anthony as I have a lot of clumps that should have been spilt a few years ago and I have not found the time - this year I must get them done.

[Anthony Darby]

I seem to remember you tipping out a pot of erythroniums Ian and challenging us to fit them back into it!?

[Ian Y]

It is the same as when you dig a hole and then fill it in again there is always some soil left over but extra erythroniums are much better than surplus soil
Only six minutes left on my internet connection.

[Maggi Young]

Only six minutes left on my internet connection.

Well, in that case, I am too late to  wish you a pleasant journey home! 

[Ian Y]

I am still here, I found another euro lurking in my purse.
Can't wait to get home to see my Maggi, Lily and the erythroniums.
This will be my last message from Dublin.

[Anthony Darby]

I'm just sitting here gazing at a boxer dog dashing across the Antonine Wall (grassy bank) after a frizbee and wondering how Lily is getting on after her op?

[Rob]

Hi All

My first post. I'm lucky enough to have erythronium joanna so I thought I'd share a pic

Regards,
Rob

[Anthony Darby]

Very pretty Rob and welcome to the Forum. Does this one change colour with age?

[Rob]

Hi

When the flower first opens the pink isn't very obvious. As the flower ages the pink spreads on both the front & back of the petals.

Rob

[Maggi Young]

Joanna is super, Rob, glad you have her!
I  think  the pink gets more pronounced on Joanna as "time goes on" , Anthony.... I prefer not to use the term "ages" when discussing females!

I have just been out for a short walk with the bucketed Lily:  her eye looks pretty gruesome but her spirit is good, trot is jaunty and tail sywards! These are good signs! She has been missing Ian more this trip, because she is poorly, than she did when he was in Shetland. I guess there are just times when a girl needs her Dad!