May Narcissus

[ashley]

Between NH & SH we can enjoy narcissi here year-round

Although normally I prefer species, this year I tried making some minicycla types.  N. asturiensis x cyclamineus crosses gave quite a few seeds per pod of which few (maybe 5%) were viable, whereas N. cyclamineus x asturiensis crosses (using the same parent clones) gave only a few seeds per pod but more or less all were viable.

Is this asymmetrical outcome usual, and if so, does anyone know why?

[Lesley Cox]

No idea why but I find the same with my cyc x 'Gambas' (which surely comes from asturiensis) has perhaps a dozen per pod and all fertile while the reverse cross gives me lots of rubbishy stuff and only a couple of decent seeds in each.

After thinking the 2 bulbs Betty Clark gave me, of tazetta ssp. patula (or ochroleucus) were not going to flower, I noticed yesterday there are 3 buds so I should be able to show those later this month.

There are quite a lot of 'Nylon'/'Tarleton' types out and seedlings from my (not quite) 'Julia Jane' but what I have as cantabricus ssp cantabricus I'm sure is not. I've had two importations from Tasmania in successive years, each of 6 bulbs, and the whole lot have varied between pale cream and light yellow, not a white among them. I have hopes of Rafa's seed in dur course.

[ashley]

Interesting that you find something similar Lesley.  Looking forward to seeing your others. 

Last winter I lost so many bulbs that were in small pots on shallow sand under glass    
Survivors not needing summer drought and baking will have to go into the garden, then no more acquisitions until I can sort out heating cables for the benches.

[Maggi Young]

Just when I thought my narcissus season was over... Bill Dijk posted a lovely N. viridiflorus hybrid in the Sounthern Hemisphere thread:  http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=7237.msg202958#msg202958 

and then, via Alpine L  I find this photo from Cliff Booker from his hols in the Picos....
Narcissus triandrus : Found growing in a small colony on a steep banking above a very wet grazed meadow in an isolated hamlet in the Picos.
Image captured 24th May 2011.

                URL: http://botu07.bio.uu.nl/temperate/?gal=AlpenPix&id=3146

 
               

[Lesley Cox]

The first flower is out on Betty's N. tazetta ssp. patulus. It is a real honey, just 12cms high and deliciously perfumed. There are 3 flowering stems on the two bulbs and I think there will be maybe 7 flowers when all opened. I'll do another picture in a day or two. I wish the weather was a little warmer. Sunny but bitter winds.