Bulb Log 44 - 02/11/11/

[Maggi Young]

Log 44 of 2011 is online... http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2011Nov021320245163BULB_LOG_4411.pdf

I'm quite pleased that the BD has deigned to show a couple of my snowdrops...... I think he's coming round to them..... I've got quite fond of them myself    


I especially like the dainty little G. peshmenii... they have a delicate charm  and a pretty good scent, too.
Reginae-olgae is  existing in a pot but they won't do outside here.

[Michael J Campbell]

Careful Maggi,your catching the bug.

[Maggi Young]

I'm keeping it under check, Michael....  I get an anti-galanthus shot every year with my flu vaccination to keep the excesses of the infection at bay. 

[fleurbleue]

I have not yet autumn flowering Galanthus  I have to correct it ! 

[Maggi Young]

They are not exactly plentiful, Nicole.... they do not seem too easy to find  and they do not seem to like it very much in our garden, but they are very charming in a pot and so pretty at this time of year when they seem rather 'out of time'.

[Lesley Cox]

A wonderful way to distribute the seeds of Cardiocrinum, is to give a couple of dried stems to little boys who will use them in a "star wars" type (or maybe medieval) battle, not quite to the death, the seeds flying everywhere. Works well in a large garden.

I have been cleaning Arisaema seeds between paper kitchen towels but newspaper would be better, much cheaper and unlimited.

I've not yet taken to sowing Crocus seed at depth (must try this year as I had a lot of C. longiflorus so can experiment) but I was sent 20 seeds of C. pelistericus from Marcus Harvey and bewcause of its water needs, put the sown pot in about 2cms of water along with pots of Pinguicula seed, all in a polystyene tray with no holes. No sign of the Pings but 18 of the crocus are up and flourishing.

I wish I had had my camera with me on Monday night when I was at a different-from-usual alpine meeting. A member there had a pot, maybe 8 or 9" across packed to the brim with Rhodohypoxis 'Kiwi Joy,' a double crimson, and in full flower. I have a small pot bought at the Trillium weekend so will take a pic of that today.

[fleurbleue]

I bought "Kiwi Boy" last spring, it was so cute 

[tonyg]

Two mystery crocus in one Log - must be a first!

The biflorus type is most likely ssp melantherus.  Autumn flowering with black anthers.

The other one ?pallasii .... well if it is pallasii it should have lots of narrow, grey green leaves.  I'm leaning towards Crocus serotinus here, leaves look likely to be wide(r than pallasii) and green(er).  The subtle feathering on the outers is something I have seen on some forms of C serotinus.  But all my Crocus serotinus finished flowering weeks ago  

Marvellous pollen shot by the way!

[angie]

Was just looking at my cardiocrinum giganteum today and wandering when the seed pods would open,  Ian to the rescue 
Love the snowdrops, can't wait till the members start getting excited about these lovely little white gems. I really enjoying reading the galanthus posts.

Angie

[David Nicholson]

Cracking pollen shot Ian

[Lesley Cox]

I bought "Kiwi Boy" last spring, it was so cute 

All our Kiwi boys are cute Nicole. You only have to look at their legs to know that.

[fleurbleue]

  And Weldenia is still flowering... 

[Maggi Young]

Two mystery crocus in one Log - must be a first!

The biflorus type is most likely ssp melantherus.  Autumn flowering with black anthers.

Of course it is.... BD had a senior moment! 

[Lesley Cox]

I'm so pleased Nicole. Weldenia must be the easiest plant to transfer to the other hemisphere with no ill effects. Glad it has done well for you. Mine are just emerging though I daresay Bill in Tauranga has in well into flower by now.

Also pleased about C. biflorus ssp melantherus on the Bulb Log. I thought I must have another wrongly named, but no. We are allowed senior moments but the BD is NOT or we'll ALL be in trouble.

[Maggi Young]

I don't mind if the BD has senior moments.... so long as he doesn't take up taxonomy. 

And if he has a senior moment in Belgium and doesn't buy me a box of yummy Belgian Chocs when he's there this weekend then I'm changing the locks......