South African Bulbs 2013

[Rogan]

54deg north!!! I live at 30deg south and sometimes find even that 'too far south'! Does your sun even get above the horizon in winter? 

[François Lambert]

Hi Rogan,

living closer to the Arctic circle has it's advantages.  In June we get more than 16 hours of daylight here in Belgium (my lattitude is 50° 43' 38'' N), in December only 8 unfortunately, and since it's usually clouded in December we often don't get to see the sun shining for more than a full week.

I think I may forget my plan to grow Lachenalia indoors, too warm and too dark here.  Thanks all for your advise !  I think it's going to be a Clivia then.

[SJW]

Does your sun even get above the horizon in winter? 

Thanks for reminding me what I've got to look forward to this winter, Rogan! . At the winter solstice the sun creeps above the horizon for about 7.5 hrs. But, as François says, we have lovely, long summer days (well, at least this year): over 17 hrs of daylight at midsummer.

[David Nicholson]

Hesperantha baurii, from a March 2008 sowing (not flowering for the first time)

[Rogan]

These are two amongst quite a few bulbs looking good in my collection at the moment. Higher-than-usual spring temps have shut most of the 'European' stuff down early, even before they have managed flower this year!   

A Leucocoryne species from Chile; the flower is unscented but the roots smell STRONGLY of onion!

and a species of Romulea from SA, R. monadelpha I think.

[Rogan]

I meant to add: "Lovely Hesperantha, David" - the pastel colouring is very appealing.

I saw the species below flowering in Lesotho not so long ago; the ground was covered in flowers like confetti - so beautiful! I've no idea which species it was though...

[Maggi Young]

I meant to add: "Lovely Hesperantha, David" - the pastel colouring is very appealing.

I saw the species below flowering in Lesotho not so long ago; the ground was covered in flowers like confetti - so beautiful! I've no idea which species it was though...

Crikey, I'd have thought that was a colchicum 

What a super flower.

[David Nicholson]

Thank you Rogan.

[jshields]

More Cyrtanthus montanus blooming. 



Photographed on a cloudy day.

Jim

[jshields]

Here is another Southern African bulb that bloomed today -- a volunteers seedling of Gladiolus saundersii that came up in a large pot of Zanterdeschia albomaculata several years ago and that finally reached bloom size.  Until today, I was not at all sure which species it might be.



This one, by the way, is doing far better than is conspecifics growing all by themselves but in much smaller pots.

Jim

[Maggi Young]

Here is another Southern African bulb that bloomed today -- a volunteers seedling of Gladiolus saundersii that came up in a large pot of Zantedeschia albomaculata several years ago and that finally reached bloom size.  Until today, I was not at all sure which species it might be.


This one, by the way, is doing far better than is conspecifics growing all by themselves but in much smaller pots.

Jim

Isn't this just the sort of thing that makes us wonder why we bother with trying to give the plants the "best" of everything!!
The markings on the bloom are delightful.

[Renate Brinkers]

Maggi,
indeed, there is nothing left of the carrot field we bought - with the help of our Maggie - it must be in the name 
I will post some actual pictures when we are back from holidays, first time after three years of work.

[fermi de Sousa]

These are two amongst quite a few bulbs looking good in my collection at the moment.... a species of Romulea from SA, R. monadelpha I think.

Hi Rogan,
here's what I have as Romulea sabulosa; I'm not sure how it differs from R. monadelpha as I've not flowered that yet.
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Not sure if this counts as a "bulb" at all, but i think it has tuberous roots, Bulbinella eburnifolia (came labelled as B. cauda-felis) now in full flower
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Hesperantha latifolia - grown from NZAGS seedex
I brought it in to the office so I could get a pic when they opened
cheers
fermi