June 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Tim Ingram]

Rafa - what a mouthwatering collection of alstroemerias. I've grown two or three of them, but must try more - garaventae grows well outside on a raised bed, and I once had a beautiful dwarf form of hookeri which it would be lovely to grow again. Your pictures remind me of the collection I once saw in one of Jim Archibald's greenhouses, and trying to stop myself listing every species down on my seed order!

[Rafa]

I undestand you Tim, Archibald's catalogue was a dream and a nightmare at the same time . This is another form of A. garaventae of the last seeds I received

[Brian Ellis]

What a lovely Iris spuria cv Wim, and oh those alstroemeria  - some real gems.

[Rafa]

also blooming today Erodium and Silene

[Brian Ellis]

For some reason I never seem to be able to keep Erodiums for longer than a year, it's either conditions or a bad gardener

[Rafa]

Brian, I think many Erodium species  are not evident plants to grow. They germinate very well but is not easy to maintain certain species for a long time. Most of them grows in limestone fissures, but I live in a silicium place and they grow in granit, so this is why I lost most of the collection. I am only growing E. glandulosum, E. paularense, E. manescavii, E. carvifolium and E. rodiei.

[Natalia]

Colleagues, what magnificent pictures! I thank for pleasure!

A couple of my photos ...

[ranunculus]

Glorious pictures, Natalia.

[Brian Ellis]

As I thought Rafa, bad conditions and a bad gardener!  Must try harder

[johnw]

Alstromeria pallida cw 2200 m,   Archibald 94-14355 5/95 flowering today. Two seedlings.

johnw   - +15c and cloudy

[angie]

John that is really a nice colour, very delicate looking 

Angie 

[johnw]

Angie - One does have a better flower but the plants themselves are hideous.  And at their worst just at flowering time as they are just about to go dormant. Then I will chop the plants into thirds and send them over yonder.   I wonder if anyone grows this species outdoors.

johnw -  +13c & foggy & in desperate need of rain.

[arillady]

Rafa what fabulous photos of the different alstroemerias - not a genus that I have tried much apart from a couple  of commonly found ones. Seems strange to me that a species can grow naturally at 2200m - see how much I know about these plants!!!

[Maggi Young]

Alstromeria pallida cw 2200 m,   Archibald 94-14355 5/95 flowering today. Two seedlings.

johnw   - +15c and cloudy

John,  your posting of this JJA coll. gives me the chance to flag up something that I hope you and others will note and remember:  we would like to gather as many photos of JJA collection plants as possible, complete with any comments etc.  Yes, another project is in hand!
Cheers,
 Maggi

[Maggi Young]

I undestand you Tim, Archibald's catalogue was a dream and a nightmare at the same time . This is another form of A. garaventae of the last seeds I received

 Rafa, do I understand you correctly?  All these Alstromeria were from Archibald's seed list?  Have you the number?