August 2010 in the Southern Hemisphere

[fermi de Sousa]

Still winter here in the South!
Cyclamen coum is now making a good show


And Crocus flavus, (bought as "Sunkist" but Thomas H has disputed that name!)


Narcissus cordubensis, a self sown seedling which came up through a tangle of Jasminum parkerii,




cheers
fermi

[cohan]

funny idea you have of winter nice flowers!

[arillady]

Yes it may be an unusual winter to those accustomed to snow but I guess Fermi is also having that bone chilling wind and rain that we in Australia call winter. The sunshine can be quite pleasant in between the showers but the wind seems to be coming off the south pole.
Fermi you do have some lovely plants flowering.

[cohan]

i may tease you southern folks ( as i tease friends in florida, california, arizona etc) but in reality i know the feeling of cold is really relative to temperatures before/after and what your body has got used to..our idea of cold here changes several times through the year, and what we'd call a really warm day in winter would make us complain bitterly in summer!
at least you can take comfort knowing your winter will not be that long, and i guess the rain is much needed? those lovely spring flowers help take off the sting

[fermi de Sousa]

Thanks, Pat.
Cohan,
we have winter: you have the Ice Queen's Narnia!
A lot of Aussie native plants flower in the winter as it's the only reasonably reliable time of rainfall! This is Phebalium glandulosum



cheers
fermi

[arillady]

Cohan,
Yes our temps are relative to what we are used to. I was more than happy to work inside today rather than prune some rose outside in the 13C and rain. The arils seem to be the latest they have ever been - usually I have first bloom by this time.
Yes the rain is very welcome. Way below normal.

[Lesley Cox]

Well I think spring is getting quite close and I've put some crocuses in Crocus August 2010, to prove it, also a couple of reticulate irises in that thread.

As well, Nertera depressa, still in a pot but looking very nice. If anyone would like seed, just say so.


I picked up this double primrose at the market last weekend. It's the darkest red I've seen with reddish foliage as well.




Colchicum luteum is smaller than I expected but still a delight. (Awful photo though.)


Sternbergia candida is finally out. Just the one. I was reading the wrong label when I said earlier there would be two flowers. The two are Gal. 'Lady Beatrix Stanley.' I may have missed it but I don't recall that anyone showing Sternbergia candida has mentioned that it has a delicious sweet scent.

[cohan]

Thanks, Pat.
Cohan,
we have winter: you have the Ice Queen's Narnia!
A lot of Aussie native plants flower in the winter as it's the only reasonably reliable time of rainfall! This is Phebalium glandulosum

cheers
fermi

sad but true...lol.. always good to see those natives

[t00lie]

Colchicum luteum is smaller than I expected but still a delight.

I'm really rapt to see the Colchicum    --tried a few times over the years to raise it from seed --all failures and yet i have reasonable success with seed of most Colchicum sps i come across--Your success has fired my enthusiasum again.

Cheers dave.

[Tecophilaea King]

While the weather continues to be mild, many new exciting new Narcissi starting to open up for the first time.
I am pleased with these two, good shape, colour and substance.

[Maggi Young]

That is a smart pair of seedlings, Bill, very nice.
I've changed the posts to the existing  August thread  .....

[Paddy Tobin]

Lesley,

Your dark red primulas are very like one we grow here named, 'Weather Hill'. Good colour.

Paddy

[Lesley Cox]

I think mine is deeper than that Paddy and yours seems almost bicoloured? Whatever, I'm not too bothered about the name. Just love the colour though it seems not to be perfumed. I bought another yesterday so will plant out three, once the current rain stops and the temp warms a little. Yours may be mild Bill, but we have reverted to winter with snow to low levels predicted and heavy snow for the hill country. I almost drowned at the market yesterday and could feel water running in waves down the skin of my back. The car seat was soaking by the time I arrived home.

[Tecophilaea King]

Just discovered some more  Narcissus N.romieuxii nicely frilled seedlings amongst the bulbocodiums, nearly up to 50 mm.

[Tecophilaea King]

Could not resist taking a few pictures of my neighbour's exotic orchids, flowering at the moment.