August 2010 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Tecophilaea King]

Despite nearly 100 mm. of rain over the last 2 days, the weather is still mild up here in the North Island, with more Narcissi seedlings opening up.
This time three more Narcissus Snipe X N.cyclamineus on display

[Lesley Cox]

Those last 3 are lovely Bill, such an exciting thing when one's own seedlings start. I'm looking at my first seedlings from 'Julia Jane and 'Atlas Gold.' this week. Both seem reasonably tru(ish).

[fermi de Sousa]

Bill,
those are seriously nice seedlings! But way earlier than our N.cyclamenius varieties over here - mine are only in bud!

Some flowers open on the weekend:
Romulea grown from seed as R. cruciata but more likely to be R. hirta or discifera


A couple of seed raised Gagea fibrosa,
the first is quite rounded


the second is more starry


To complete the "little yellow jobs" trio, A Moraea which used to be Galaxia fugacissima, a common weed of areas around Bendigo!


cheers
fermi

[kiwi]

I was waiting for a better shot of my Adonis to post but the storm passing through at the moment has just stripped it of flowers. Maybe next year!
An exceptionally coloured Helleborus in a friends garden.
A nice double Snowdrop.

[kiwi]

Went for a wander in the Christchurch Botanical gardens last week, the native gardens have just had a spruce up. The Tree ferns were looking amazing. Had to share.
Cheers.

[annew]

I LOVE tree ferns - if only....
Bill that no 3 narcissus is especially nice, a real character.

[Lesley Cox]

Doug that's on OK Adonis, storm or not. I have had serious drought for several years and this time thought I had totally lost my Adonis amurensis. Just at this last weekend I found a couple of small leaves through so it's still with me but most has gone and there are certainly no flowers. I'm having to start over with it.

[fermi de Sousa]

More pics from the garden on the weekend,
Hybrid hoops and Lachenalia aloides


Oxalis obtusa




Scilla greilhuberi


Babiana odorata (yes, it's scented)


A close-up of Iris "Harmony"


And a muscari grown from seed which Oron has identified as Muscari azureum


cheers
fermi

[annew]

What a fabulous clump of hoops!

[arillady]

Fermi if your Babiana odorata clumps up I would love a bulb/corm sometime. I grew it years ago when I was first growing plants from seeds. It has a lovely scent.
The first of the arils is just unfurling its flower today. There are others budding up but so late this year.
This winter seems to have been so cold with chilly winds on sunny days. Only good in the garden if you can find a patch of sunshine out of the wind to weed.

[Lesley Cox]

I can't resist another couple of pics of Sternbergia candida, I'm so pleased with this lovely bulb. I have a good sniff each time I go near it. There's a lot of pollen so I've transferred some to the stigma. Hope it works, with a single clone.




Crocus angustifolius


Iris reticulata 'Pauline.' I'm posting this with the one below, just to show the very real differences.


and Iris histrioides 'George' with larger, solider flowers, orange on the blade and much shorter, stouter leaves (at flowering time). The leaves are typically those of histrioides rather than reticulata. Thought I'd totally lost this but found it yesterday in an unlabelled pot. Thank goodness!


Narcissus seedling from 'Julia Jane.' This is the first of many to flower, as I have about a dozen pots of JJ and 'Atlas Gold' seedlings, all just approaching flowering. Since the parents have all been in much the same place, there will have been cross pollination, I'm sure. I'll probably sell them and just as Narcissus 'Gala seedlings' after my little nursery. I don't want to put the cultivar names on them. It only confuses with the correct plants. This one is wide open, absolutely round and flat and of very good substance. All these little N. romieuxii forms will be doubly precious now, with their close association with Jim Archibald.


And now for something completely different, I bought 7 tiny cactus plants in my supermarket a while ago. This one suddenly made some nobs at the top and is now in flower.

[galahad]

That Narcissus seedling is stunning

I can't resist another couple of pics of Sternbergia candida, I'm so pleased with this lovely bulb. I have a good sniff each time I go near it. There's a lot of pollen so I've transferred some to the stigma. Hope it works, with a single clone.
(Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link)

Crocus angustifolius
(Attachment Link)

Iris reticulata 'Pauline.' I'm posting this with the one below, just to show the very real differences.
(Attachment Link)

and Iris histrioides 'George' with larger, solider flowers, orange on the blade and much shorter, stouter leaves (at flowering time). The leaves are typically those of histrioides rather than reticulata. Thought I'd totally lost this but found it yesterday in an unlabelled pot. Thank goodness!
(Attachment Link)

Narcissus seedling from 'Julia Jane.' This is the first of many to flower, as I have about a dozen pots of JJ and 'Atlas Gold' seedlings, all just approaching flowering. Since the parents have all been in much the same place, there will have been cross pollination, I'm sure. I'll probably sell them and just as Narcissus 'Gala seedlings' after my little nursery. I don't want to put the cultivar names on them. It only confuses with the correct plants. This one is wide open, absolutely round and flat and of very good substance. All these little N. romieuxii forms will be doubly precious now, with their close association with Jim Archibald.
(Attachment Link)

And now for something completely different, I bought 7 tiny cactus plants in my supermarket a while ago. This one suddenly made some nobs at the top and is now in flower.
(Attachment Link)

[fermi de Sousa]

What a fabulous clump of hoops!

If you liked those, Anne, have a look at these!
All Hoops raised at Glenbrook Bulb Farm, but a few self sown seedlings are showing up.








This one is "Orcleuse"


cheers
fermi

[Maggi Young]

They are beyond fab, fermi!
 Here in Aberdeen, of course, the weather at flowering time would never allow them to look so good so we are rather envious to see these flourishing so gracefully in your garden.

[arillady]

Fermi what absolutely great clumps of hoops.