Early spring in the Southern Hemisphere

[annew]

Lovely yellow trilliums, and I like the bergenia too.

[Gerdk]

 - I'll probably be boring you for weeks to come with photos of non-alpines


Rogan,
Your photos from your part of the world are always interesting, alpines or non-alpines. Please continue.
Gerd

[Lesley Cox]

I posted this last year but do so again to accompany the F. argolica on the previous page. It seems that it has a wide variability. What threw me last year was that I had raised this one as F. spetsiotica but it doesn't fit the description. Sent to Pat Craven of the Frit Grp of AGS, he wasn't able to name it but Marcus thinks it's probably argolica.I think this one's really special.



The inside is quite different from the two new ones. Unfortunately it isn't flowering this year but I've cross-polinated the others.

[Lesley Cox]

As Manager of a Farmers' Market, it's reasonable to expect my life to revolve around fresh, local fruit and vegs. But over recent days I've spent many hours trying to locate and arrange the hire of a cow suit. It has proved very difficult. I want a two person (front and back legs) suit and it is planned to lead it around the Market on Saturday, and perhaps invite the local populace to milk it (not sure yet where the milk's coming from. I'm working on it).

There are several available suits for an upright (one person) cow complete with udder, but the only two person version is in Auckland and will have to come down by air tomorrow. Moreover, this suit doesn't have an udder as occasionally it is used as a bull. You can imagine the hilarious conversation I had with the girl in the costume hire firm about that! But we keep surgical gloves on site for use cleaning up the rubbish bins. They are thin and easily blown up. So what the heck, if the cow has 5 teats?

It's all part of our annual SPRINGTIME celebration and I may (not promising) have a couple of pics early next week.

[annew]

I can't wait! Will you be playing a principal role?

[fermi de Sousa]

Yet another jonquilla type hybrid, the delightful "Cherie", which matures to have a slightly pinky cup and occasionally has multiple heads.


and another dwarf iris I received as I. attica but we think may actually be a form of I. suavolens.



there are more DBI which I'll try to post today to the Bearded Iris thread.

Lesley,
cow-suits, bulls disguised as cows...there's a joke in there somewhere but I think I'll leave it alone!

cheers
fermi

[Maggi Young]

I must try again to get more dwarf bearded iris growing in a trough.
Off to eat lunch, imagining the pix to come of Lesley in cute Milkmaid's outfit.

[Lesley Cox]

I can't wait! Will you be playing a principal role?

No chance!

[Maggi Young]

Now, Lesley, you must get into the spirit of the occasion, here's the look you should be aiming for


You can always hide a hip-flask in the milkpail

[Lesley Cox]

Good thought Maggi. I'll see what I can do.

[fermi de Sousa]

There are yet more daffs out!
One of the more bizarre ones is a double N. poeticus which could be mistaken for a gardenia!



And the Jonquilla hybrid "Sundial"



and a close-up



We also have a tiny freesia species which I have a s "Sp.nova" but no other info. It is a perfect replica of F. refracta but alas, no scent!



and in close-up



We also have a nice red form of Anemone pavonina, though I covet Lesley's unbanded red one! here it is in bud and then open this morning!





I've posted more DBI pics to thr Bearded Iris thread.
cheers
fermi
 

[Lesley Cox]

If there's some seed on mine Fermi, you can have it in January.

[ajbroome]

Folks,

Ipheion sellowianum flowering for the first time for me (I only got the plant this year).  The 2nd flower isn't exactly standard is it?

Andrew.

[ajbroome]

Folks,

Don't you just love having a day off work on a sunny spring day?

Arisaema ovale (possibly, obtained as Aris. jacquemonti)

Babiana sp (anybody have an ID, I got it without a name)

My Helicodiceros, not flowering sized yet but doing well...

Iris japonica (I know it's common but I still like it)

Oxalis brasiliensis (always one of the last to flower for me)

Scilla peruviana (and assorted weeds, I really must tidy up that area)

Tropaeolum pentaphyllum (not T. tricolor but nice.  Andy hardy for me).

Andrew, who should be doing things other than taking pictures and annoying others with them.

[fermi de Sousa]

Thanks, Lesley,
BTW can we bring seed into NZ if it's "legal" and we declare it or is it best to post it?
I don't want to have the iris seed confiscated at the airport by some MAF worker who doesn't know the rules (this happens quite often at Aussie airports, I'm told).
Andrew,
your babiana and the last pic didn't load! Please re-post.
cheers
fermi