South African Bulbs 2011

[Michael J Campbell]

Oxalis hirta 'Gothenburg

[shelagh]

A nice cheery picture Michael. It's just beginning to go dusk here and I have been busy packing seed all day so I thought it was time to get my daily 'fix' of the Forum.  This Oxalis was just what I needed. Thanks.

[BULBISSIME]

here are some plants, raised from seeds but I'm not really sure of the identification.
Should be Massonia pygmaea, Polyxena maughanii and Polyxena ensifolia.
If somebody could help me for names....

[PeterT]

Not sure of the names Fred, but they are beautifully grown!

[BULBISSIME]

Thank's Peter, but I'm not really happy because they don't have enough light, although I use artificial LED light 9 hours per day.

[PeterT]

I have a little heat in one of my green houses for the first time today Fred. Lights might be next year... I have wanted extra light for years now.
But these plants of yours are very good! I have grown them dry through frost, and on windowsills, very difficult and not such good results as yours.

[fermi de Sousa]

here are some plants, raised from seeds but I'm not really sure of the identification.
Should be Massonia pygmaea, Polyxena maughanii and Polyxena ensifolia.
If somebody could help me for names....

Hi Fred,
not sure on the names either but the severe reflexing of the petals on the Polyxenas is curious. I've never seen P. maughanii before but the other looks somewhat like P. ensifolia.
The late spring South African bulbs include: Ixia versicolor from seed from Gordon Summerfield in 2010:


This ixia is quite popular around here and is known as "Teal"

- it appears to be a hybrid of I. viridiflora and unfortunately is often what you receive when you order the species from suppliers.
some seedlings near this clump have flowered and one is almost pure white!

another is quite pink

but both have the same distinctive habit of the parent - being tall and willowy.
cheers
fermi

[arillady]

Lovely bulbs Fred and Fermi.

[Lesley Cox]

I received a bulb catalogue today from Bill Dijk in Tauranga. Sadly, it will be the last mail order list as he and his wife have decided to retire! How could they? After showing all those tempting Narcissus and many South African and other bulbs, to say there will be no more lists is extreme cruelty.

[Darren]

Fred,

I'd be quite happy to call the first one Massonia pygmaea. Also the Polyxena maughanii looks OK but is a rather extreme form with those small reflexing petals - I like it though.

Your last picture looks very much like Polyxena pygmaea to me (though this is usually sunk within ensifolia so I can't quibble with the name).

[BULBISSIME]

Thank's Darren, I should get seeds so will see if the babies will look similar to the parents 

[Tecophilaea King]

I received a bulb catalogue today from Bill Dijk in Tauranga. Sadly, it will be the last mail order list as he and his wife have decided to retire! How could they? After showing all those tempting Narcissus and many South African and other bulbs, to say there will be no more lists is extreme cruelty.

Lesley, regretfully and understandably, I was expecting a reply like yours, but after 30 years+ of mail-orders and at 75 years young, we should be entitled to some sort of well deserved appropriate  retirement, after a very busy and productive life of supplying all these treasures to our loyal customers, even you would understand that.
Apart from that, we would love to spend a bit more time traveling, the campervan, and the all important (sometimes neglected) supporting family and 12 grandchildren.
Don't worry Lesley, I'll be around for a while yet to supply, reply, relax and contribute to the never ending source of info and knowledge to all members of this very endearing and enlightening  forum. Back to were we started as a hobby, no rest for the wicked yet        

[Lesley Cox]

Well I guess that's quite reasonable Bill it's just that after having so little or no spare money for so long, when at last I have a little to spend, what I want to buy vanishes. I'll try to make the best of this last list. I hope you can see your grandchildren often. Half of mine are now living on the far side of Australia and their mother has made it plain that relatives from their father's side of the family are not welcome. We can't fight this as she moves sround a lot, NOT the best environment for young boys.

[BULBISSIME]

First Daubenya starting to bloom now is D. zeyheri.
This species is a pure jewell with orange and blue colds, and a lot of nectar.
I hope to post a better pic with more flowers in the next days.

[Brian Ellis]

It's looking promising already Fred.  Wow!