August 2012 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Paul T]

Marcus,

No can help with the Paeonia name.  I don't have that level of knowledge unfortunately.

I've often wondered about the coums that have much more flattened flowers but are still called coum.  I had wondered myself whether there was alpinum in them.... interesting to hear that they are.  As it was I was wondering what the definition of coum was, given that the alpinum were supposed to have the flattened flowers yet so many of the coum do as well.  Some beautiful forms out in flower here at the moment as well, although nothing like that number of different ones you would have. 

[arillady]

Not sure if this reference might help Marcus.
Helpmefind has sections for roses, clematis and paeony.

http://www.helpmefind.com/peony/l.php?l=2.49256&tab=7

[Paul T]

I don't want to start the battle of the daffodils but as I said little pictures can be quite deceiving. Do you or Fermi grow The Dansant? That is a hefty fellow. I visited a

Marcus,

I was at a friend's place today and saw 'The Dansant'.  Very pretty. I have a photo if you want me to post it?

[Lesley Cox]

I have some nice seedlings of that paeony Marcus, from your seed and under that name but the picture I posted maybe last or a couple of years ago was in the Dn Bot Gardens and I don't think was labelled. Will go back soon and have another look.

[Mini bulb lover]

Marcus,

Don't let the DAFF put you off. There are too few selling your precious bulbs in Australia already. The community can't afford to lose your service. 

Lesley,

I wish you could come to the Vic group of the AGS too. Try and get a cheap flight for November 17 when John Grimshaw is coming to talk about Galanthus and Stephen Ryan about small bulbs. Marcus, are you going to come up for the talk? In fact I put a call out to all SRGC members from Australia & NZ to come for this event. It will not only be a fascinating day but it would be great to meet fellow members of the SRGC from the Southern Hemisphere. 

[Lesley Cox]

I'd love to come over the water Jon and other things being equal, I would but I have my Czech conference all booked up now for next May - that's not so expensive but the airfare is - and we're in the middle of selling our place then, presumably moving so it just can't be done. I'll be with you all in spirit though.

The continuous rain we've had for about 3 weeks (rain, fog, drizzle, mist and more rain, now a bit of sun but quite hard frosts) has had an effect. Seedlings up of juno and onco irises sown from 2006 - 8 and a lone seedling from 2008 sowing of Cyc. cilicium album. I had put that pot with some others to throw out but procrastination occasionally turns out to be a good thing. You'll be pleased to know Otto, that the junos/oncos are mostly the lot from Kammerlander which you shared with me.

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Folks,

Jon mark my words, before this decade is out there will not be a specialist plant segment of the industry in Australia. There will always be hobbyists but to make a living from it requires a viable market and reasonable and supportive regulations - these do not exist.

Thanks for the link Pat - I have taken a look and will now run my "ruler" over the paeony.

Lesley did you get any seeds of the other one, Paeonia mascula ssp hellenica? Its my favourite. I am very pleased to have the first flower bud ever on a plant of Paeonia clusii. Very exciting!

I am posting 2 slightly unusual frits:

Fritillaria kittaniae - seed from Cinekcibeli Pass near Elmali (lost half the seed out the window when my son wound it down while I was driving at full speed)
Fritillaria lusitanica - whatever?? Seed from, I think, Mojmir Pavelka. Very confusing group. Just had a squiz on Google images and didn't find any like mine but I did see a lot that looked like F. messanensis in its various guises.

Cheers, Marcus

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Paul,

Yeah post The Dansant - its too big a flower for a well proportioned miniature I think.

Cheers, Marcus

[Maggi Young]

Fritillaria lusitanica - whatever?? Seed from, I think, Mojmir Pavelka. Very confusing group. Just had a squiz on Google images and didn't find any like mine but I did see a lot that looked like F. messanensis in its various guises.

Nice frit - will draw Ian's attention to these tomorrow.
 It doesn't look much like the lusitanica on the Frit  group site.... http://www.fritillaria.org.uk/Image%20Pages/fritillaria_lusitanica.htm


Marcus: have you got records of stuff you've grown from Archibald seed over the years? I think you also sent him seed, too?

[fermi de Sousa]

More daffs in our garden:
Tracey
Jingle x Swagger
Little Beauty x N. cyclamineus
Itzim
Glenbrook Belle

cheers
fermi

[Hillview croconut]

Nice Fermi, I like the Jingle x swagger plant.

Maggi - I don't know what the blasted frit is - it looks like a cross between F. spetsiotica and F. crassifolia ssp kudica! Only joking

Yes I do have some of Jim's seed raised plants here and I would like to contribute but not just now. I am run off my feet - been away OS for 2 months and have a catalogue currently out there. The only reason I am posting now is that I have the flu and I am forced to stay indoors for part of the day. I will have more time next month and will contribute - promise.

I also sent seed to Jim both from collections in Greece and here in Tasmania - are you interested in this stuff?

Cheers, Marcus

[Gerry Webster]

Nice frit - will draw Ian's attention to these tomorrow.
 It doesn't look much like the lusitanica on the Frit  group site.... http://www.fritillaria.org.uk/Image%20Pages/fritillaria_lusitanica.htm

According to Rix in Flora Europaea,  F. lusitanica is extremely variable & in the past attempts have been made to subdivide it, though the results  are unsatisfactory.

[Maggi Young]

Yes I do have some of Jim's seed raised plants here and I would like to contribute but not just now. I am run off my feet - been away OS for 2 months and have a catalogue currently out there. The only reason I am posting now is that I have the flu and I am forced to stay indoors for part of the day. I will have more time next month and will contribute - promise.

I also sent seed to Jim both from collections in Greece and here in Tasmania - are you interested in this stuff?
Cheers, Marcus

Yes, interested in all that stuff too - at your own pace!
 M

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Folks,

Yes I concur with Rix's observations. One only has to observe the range offered by a Google images search, although the "urn-shaped" bell is the predominant form.

Few more flowers from a relatively mild day in Hobart, 17 degrees (bit too warm).

Crocus tomm. albus - a dainty form from Janis Ruksans
Crocus x vernus Vanguard - good old mainstay, probably virused - somewhat damaged by my son Alex whose mulching technique involves throwing it all over the plants!
Iris reticulata Clairette - I don't know the difference between this and the next.
Iris reticulata Springtime
Iris Sheila Ann Germany
Iris reticulata Natasha

Cheers, Marcus

[Hillview croconut]

BTW

The Fritillaria Group's image of Fritillaria sporadum doesn't correspond with Kamari's description of the holotype.

I think the individual represented there is F. rixii.

Cheers, Marcus