October 2012 in the Southern Hemisphere

[fermi de Sousa]

Marcus and Pat,
those oncos are stunning!

This little beauty caught my eye in the rock garden yesterday evening - the dwarf form of "Scilla natalensis" which I think might be now be called Merwilla dracomontana.
I got it in 2004 and nearly lost it to rot in its pot! In desperation I released it into the wild - well the raised bed in the Upper Rock Garden where it has slowly been recovering and finally flowered this year!
cheers
fermi

[Mini-daffs]

 
Lesley
Your bulbocodium is certainly not what we grow as N. tenuifolius. Yours looks far too big, the form is wrong and the foliage far to large and vigorous.

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks for the notes about N. tenuifolius. I had my doubt but..... I have so many bulbocodium forms all hybridizing and seeding about that it's hard to be really sure of anything now. I'll relabel it just as bulbocodium form I suppose. What I have as straight bulbocodium ranges in height from 6 cms to 35 cms, all with straight up stems but this year there have been some super seedlings appear from the later clump, half the height and with flat leaves (at the base) and a green stripe on the sepals, like b. citrinus, but in the very strong yellow shade, and with very large flowers.

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Folks,

The bulbocodium section is such a dog's breakfast. Conflicting classifications, wide variation within single populations, and then, as Lesley points to, hybridization amongst groups in hort. Hardly a clear picture. Some of the names need two labels to fit it all on.

Couple of arils from Pat for which I have lost the labels .
And this little DBI - I don't know if it is Knick Knack Fermi. Does Ann Elizabeth or Dublin raise any thoughts?

Cheers, Marcus

PS Seeds from my list going quickly so if anyone is interested please get in soon

[arillady]

Good to see them flowering Marcus.
Iris korolkowii
First Sergeant = (camillae x paradoxa) x acutiloba
This seed was from 1994. It flowered quite a few years ago then declined a bit but seems to be back again ok.
You can see I need to mow all this kangaroo (?) grass pretty soon but it did look lovely with the sun behind it this evening

[Paul T]

I love that korolkowii, Pat.

And Marcus' second unknown.  Great colours.

[Otto Fauser]

Hi Pat,

 like Paul I love your 2 Irises and also The second one from Marcus -a gorgeous mellow colour .

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Pat,
Intriguing markings on the acutiloba cross. I don't have any I. korolkowii deigning to flower (yet). Its very chilly here STILL! Just heard snow is falling in the high country here and in ACT.

I have switched to another genus:

Anemone nemorosa Bracteata F.P.
Anemone nemorosa Blue Queen
Anemone nemorosa Winterwood Pink - From Aussie grower and good friend, Don Schofield
Anemone nemorosa Vestal
Anemone x seemanii

Cheers, Marcus

[Hillview croconut]

Sorry!

[Lesley Cox]

Thought I'd lost my `Winterwood Pink' as it was swamped with grass over this last year but when I drove in yesterday saw a patch of rich deep pink lurking among the green. As soon as the b....y rain stops I'll be out to lift it, while visible.

[Paul T]

Looks like quite a nice pink.  Good to know that real pinks now exist, rather than pinks that are whites with a flush of pink that you can only really see if you squint just right. 

Yes, Snow around this region too, Marcus.  Not sure how much has settled about the place.  Definitely within half an hour to an hour east of here, but I would be thinking up on the mountains west of here as well.

[Hillview croconut]

Brutally cold here - just when you think its OK to start wearing Tshirts .

This from Mat Murray at Blackheath, "Hi Marcus….. PHEW we have had a foot of snow fall here…. Its still coming down… CRAZY spring weather!

Mathew Murray
 
Senior Horticulturist
 
Bells Line of Road Mount Tomah NSW 2758 Australia"
 

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Paul,

Winterwood Pink ages to a very dark pinks, as shown here:

[Hillview croconut]

Sorry! Talk about being all thumbs - I'll put it down to the waether and my rate of shivering!!

[Paul T]

Nice!

A foot of snow in the blue mountains eh?  That'll be a bit of a shock to the gardens up there. 

I hope it isn't too much for tree branches etc.  Good luck Matt!!