Calochortus

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Pat,
You should also have this one - Calochortus argillosus, which came into flower today during 30^oC heat,
cheers
fermi

[David Nicholson]

Looks like you have the ideal climate and conditions for Calochortus Fermi.

[arillady]

The yellow Calochortus and also spent pods of other Calochortus.

[fermi de Sousa]

Looks like you have the ideal climate and conditions for Calochortus Fermi.

Yes, David, after many years I'm coming around to the belief that one should grow what suits the climate not just what you want to grow - except those that we have to keep in the Shade-house

The yellow Calochortus and also spent pods of other Calochortus.

Hi Pat,
the empty pods in front look like tulipa, the thin ones which still have seed in them look like the calochorti,
cheers
fermi

[arillady]

Like you Fermi I try to grow what will do well naturally or have some others in the shadehouse. Knowing which other species grow in association with plants that do well are always sought too. Yes tulips in the calochortus area too like you said Fermi.

[Robert]

It is encouraging to see interest in some of our California native Calochortus and other California bulbs. Here on our farm in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains we have devoted most of our land to the native flora and fauna. Calochortus superbus grows on our farm, as well as various Brodiaeas, Dichelostemma, and Triteleias. Unfortunately rampant development in our area has ravaged the habitat of C. luteus and the natural hybrids with C. superbus. There is considerable variation in C. superbus, white being the most common color. There are also yellow, lavender, and purplish forms. Thank you, everyone, for being willing to grow our natives where ever you might live.

The road crews removed our favorite clump of Erythronium multiscapoideum that grew near the road to market this past September. It is getting difficult to find them at the lower elevations now. Fortunately the are still millions growing in our isolated canyons farther up the mountain.

This is our third season of severe drought. We need rain!

[arillady]

Robert thanks for the information on the native habitats. It was during my trip to the USA in 2002 that I saw many American native plants while with US heritage rose friends - hence my desire to grow them. When I saw the first flower on a bulb grown from seed at home I knew that they might succeed here so I then started seeding out more species. I do love them.

[Robert]

The post with photograph on Nov 12 appears to be C. venustus. Calochortus superbus almost always has a yellow ring around the glands near the base of the petals. Many hybridize freely both in the wild and in the garden, so ID is sometimes difficult. In our area the whole C. nudus / minimus complex is mess with so much hybridizing between the different populations. That's my best shot. I enjoy seeing the photographs.

[Robert]

Greetings Pat  I had to do some imaginative thinking to come up with some idea of your growing conditions in South Australia. South Australia must be as large and varied as California. Most of what I know about the region comes from an old National Geographic magazine about the Murray River and the terrible drought of the past. I think of your part of the world as being somewhat warmer than ours. Right now I can look out the window and see the last of the snow from the storm last Friday - Saturday. It will be gone soon. In the past two weeks we have gone from 15-20 C and no frost, to -6 to -8 C at night, 2-4 C during the day and some snow. Now it is back to 10 C during the day and the forecast is for warmer temperatures. Normally in these parts we get frost in late October. All of November was dry with record or near record warmth. Needless to say the plants are confused and stressed. Some of our seed pans of bulbs are germinating now, too early!
 I have to admit that my knowledge of plants, including Calochortus, is limited to those that grow in our area and plants I've grown over the past 40 years. I can always learn more. I'll sign off for now. My wife and I are leaving for a much needed vacation from the farm for a few weeks. The rest will be good.

[Maggi Young]

Here's wishing you Happy Holidays, Robert - in every sense of those words