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Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
Senior Member ( posting super hero)
Username: Tyerman
Post Number: 683
Registered: 10-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 21, 2005 - 6:11 am: |    |
Howdy All,
I think time for a new thread as the other one getting somewhat long for anyone on dialup. I can't call this late spring as we are still in early spring here in some ways, with the larger daffs only just starting.
Anyway, thought I would post a couple of pics.....
Cerinthe major - yellow form. Probably as common as muck to many of you northerners but pretty uncommon here in Aus.
Clematis cirrhosa with a bee passenger.
Clematis nepalensis which has been flowering now for a couple of months. The bees and the honeyeaters just love both of these Clematis and are always wandering about them.
Iris x sindpers is a juno iris. Not in my garden but in my friend Lyn's place here in Canberra. Lovely enough to post the pic here despite it not being mine. Seeing these makes me even more jealous of your Juno iris growing prowess Lesley!!
This Narcissus cordubensis is just not up to Graham's wonderful standard so I haven't posted it in the Narc thread. Still not able to get proper contrasts in the yellow flowers!
Paul T. Canberra, Australia. |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Username: Lcox
Post Number: 735
Registered: 10-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 21, 2005 - 8:13 am: | |
But these are excellent photos Paul, especially the Clematis pics. Yours put mine to shame I'm afraid.
Iris x Sindpers seems greyer and greener here I think. Maybe it's a matter of climate. There's a nursery down the road in west Otago called Blue Mountain Gardens. They mainly do bulbs for sale and for cut flowers. All the stock of Sindpers in the southern hemisphere came from there as well as what has been in the UK and elsewhere since world war 2, when it was lost in Britain. It was restored from Blue Mountain Gardens. For many years, way before the second WW, it has been grown in thick rows in a paddock like so many cabbages. Any listed in OZ by Marcus Harvey come from there (packed and exported by my own fair hand).
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Margaret Young (Myoung)
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Username: Myoung
Post Number: 533
Registered: 3-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 21, 2005 - 11:34 am: | |
Hi, Paul, glad you are feeling a bit better again and many thanks for starting new page... it was about time! Great new pix, even better than before. Thanks! Love the clematis.
M. Young, Aberdeen North East Scotland |
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Username: Tyerman
Post Number: 687
Registered: 10-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 21, 2005 - 1:49 pm: | |
Lesley,
I was meaning that I am jealous of the fact you manage to grow the irises so well when they completely escape me. I think the flowers are wonderful and find that even more so every time I see another one that Lyn has flowerted successfully. She doesn't do anything particularly tricky for them, just gives them plenty of sand and keeps them drier for summer, but when I did that with bucharica (which is supposed to be the easiest) it died out for me. I tried it again with a bit more summer water and then again some other way which I can't recall right now but lost them every darn time!! I guess I need to try some of these from seed at some point and see if they acclimate to my garden from the start instead of having to sort themselves out once they arrive here as mature plants from Marcus H! LOL
Actually, which we're on the subject of Iris..... Iris magnifica alba seed which you sent me recently has first shoots up at the moment. Very pleased with that. Any particular instructions I should have for those as babies?
Maggi,
Thanks! New camera so still getting the hang of it. Not easy to shrink the darn things down from their 2.5Mb size to fit here and still have some clarity though!! *grin*
Paul T. Canberra, Australia. |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 1142
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 21, 2005 - 2:14 pm: | |
Paul you'll probably find your yellows are OK out of full sun. I have the same problem with yellow and white
Mark, Antrim. Northern Ireland. z8+ |
John Forrest (Jof)
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Username: Jof
Post Number: 337
Registered: 12-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 21, 2005 - 10:19 pm: | |
Excellent picture Paul I particularly like the C.nepalensis. What camera did you finally choose?
John Forrest, Blackpool, North West England, UK |
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Username: Tyerman
Post Number: 690
Registered: 10-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 22, 2005 - 12:19 am: | |
John,
The Clematis nepalensis is a wonderful plant, flowering in the dead of winter for months. As mentioned great for honeyeaters and I just love the flowers. Seeds around a bit and I find a few plants in the garden but never a problem. I get quite a LOT of seedlings (majority are montana seedlings) of Clematis through the garden which isn't surprising given how many different ones I have here.
I'll post the camera information in the Digital Dillema thread to save posting it in different places around the boards.
Paul T. Canberra, Australia. |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Username: Lcox
Post Number: 752
Registered: 10-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 4:37 am: | |
Here are a few more from the garden today. First up another Juno iris, I. warleyensis, first flower from seed.
Othonnopsis cheirifolia has foliage rather like a seaweed in texture and feel. It's a member of the daisy family though, from Africa.
Draba rosularia (?rosularis?) is a good and quite easy bun which covers in bloom once it gets going.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Username: Lcox
Post Number: 753
Registered: 10-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 4:46 am: | |
I love the snaky habit of Euphorbia myrsinites and the beautiful combination of seagreen and limegreen.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Username: Lcox
Post Number: 754
Registered: 10-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 4:51 am: | |
And to finish, a couple of early rhododendrons. Rhododendron leucaspis
and Rhododendron `Snow Queen'
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Username: Tyerman
Post Number: 703
Registered: 10-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 2:19 pm: | |
Great stuff Lesley!! Love that Juno iris!!
Paul T. Canberra, Australia. |
Doreen Mear (Doreen)
Recent Member
Username: Doreen
Post Number: 11
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2005 - 11:43 am: | |
First time this little Romulea tetragona has flowered for me. I love the bright magenta flowers - not much bright pink around this time of year, it's all yellows and blues until the phlox comes out - but also the leaves, just the shape of a Phillips screwdriver.
And also the feathering on the reverse of the petals.
Hm, previewing this message, I need to get to grips with aperture priority and depth of field with this new camera, only that might require more grey cells than I've got left!
Doreen Mear, Wanaka (Middle of South Island) New Zealand |
Margaret Young (Myoung)
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Username: Myoung
Post Number: 539
Registered: 3-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2005 - 11:51 am: | |
You'll soon have the full hang of the new camera, Doreen, you're not doing so badly at the moment, are you?
The romulea is a hairy little thing, isn't it?Don't you just love the way these modern cameras can let us see so much more than we can with the naked eye?
M. Young, Aberdeen North East Scotland |
Doreen Mear (Doreen)
Recent Member
Username: Doreen
Post Number: 12
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2005 - 12:10 pm: | |
Margaret, you must be referring to the greenfly on the sepal - even with contact lenses and/or reading glasses I hadn't spotted that till now! Out with the spray tomorrow.
And it's not only getting the hang of the camera, it's getting to grips with the computer manipulation as well, but it keeps me out of the pub on a Saturday night!
Doreen Mear, Wanaka (Middle of South Island) New Zealand |
Margaret Young (Myoung)
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Username: Myoung
Post Number: 540
Registered: 3-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2005 - 2:38 pm: | |
No, Doreen, I meant all the little hairs along the leaves! I only noticed the aphid now!
And I prefer not to spray, rather squish, it's organic control!
M. Young, Aberdeen North East Scotland |
Doreen Mear (Doreen)
Recent Member
Username: Doreen
Post Number: 14
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 28, 2005 - 8:36 am: | |
Difficult to squish when you can't see what you're squishing!
Doreen Mear, Wanaka (Middle of South Island) New Zealand |
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Username: Tyerman
Post Number: 705
Registered: 10-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 12:18 am: | |
Wonderful pics Doreen!! Isn't the colour of the Romulea intense!!
I'll try to post some more pics soon. I now have a new computer which handles my camera, and unfortunately just after I bought it my old hard drive on my old PC died, taking everything with it...... all my email, all my pics from years of taking photos with my old camera. Everything gone I think!! Taking it to a computer specialist today to see if I can recover some of it. I don't even have people's email addresses any more so if you have been in contact with me it might be worthwhile sending me an email again as I don't have any addresses any more.
These things are sent to test us I guess!?
Paul T. Canberra, Australia. |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Username: Lcox
Post Number: 772
Registered: 10-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 2:18 am: | |
Paul, I have to tell you - no doubt many already have - that the first rule of computer use is BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP everything you want to keep for future reference. I guess many of us learn the hard way!
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Username: Lcox
Post Number: 774
Registered: 10-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 3:04 am: | |
Just two pics today. The first is the lovely Romulea sabulosa and my half dozen bulbs this year are giving only 2 flowers. Well 1 actually because I dripped the frost cover on the pot and broke off one bud. (Dropped, you drip!)
And Sebaea thomasii which is usually a lovely mound of yellow, richly perfumed bloom but it has just been shifted from a pot into a raised bed and needs a while to recover its equilibrium. Better by next year.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Username: Tyerman
Post Number: 709
Registered: 10-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 4:58 am: | |
Lesley,
Have been trying to back up for a while now byt my CD burner had stopped working. That was one of the things that catalysed the purchasing of the new computer...... the problems with the hard drive arose only when I took to drive to a friends computer to try to take the stuff off it onto the new computer.
So in this case you could actually say that the only reason this problem occurred is BECAUSE I tried to back the darn stuff up!!!!!
Believe me, I would have bene backing up if it was possible.
Paul T. Canberra, Australia. |
dave toole (T00lie)
Intermediate Member
Username: T00lie
Post Number: 65
Registered: 1-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 11:14 am: | |
Paul --I've had a few computer problems as well.A computer guy took it away last weekend and gave it a 'stomach pump' as he called it!!!. He also reviewed a few settings and boy have things improved . I had managed to save all my photos of field trips to a CD before he arrived..This was lucky for when the computer was returned ,all shots in My Picture folder were deleted.
Lesley --I'm really pleased you posted that photo of Romulea sabulosa.I thought i had lost it however seeing the foliage in your photo hopefully confirms that i still have it growing in my alpine house unlabelled.
Doreen --I also have Romulea tetragona flowering now ---ex NZAGS seed sown 07/03,(about the time i went through a South African bulb seed craze),for the first time in a pot.No point in posting my photos. Your pics are a lot clearer anyhow.
It's winged leaves are unusual for sure.
Dave Toole.Invercargill.Bottom of the South Island New Zealand .Zone 8. |
John Forrest (Jof)
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Username: Jof
Post Number: 356
Registered: 12-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 8:58 pm: | |
Doreen and Lesley
Love your Romuleas. And Doreen you put a lot of the Brit women to shame, I wonder how many could describe the shape of a Phillip's screwdriver.
I will just go and lie low for a while until the pent up fury of the women folk dies down.
John Forrest, Blackpool, North West England, UK |
Cliff Booker (Booker)
Intermediate Member
Username: Booker
Post Number: 83
Registered: 5-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 9:34 pm: | |
John....Only the ones actually married to A.Phillips!
O.K. I will be on the hit list as well now. |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Username: Lcox
Post Number: 779
Registered: 10-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 5:17 am: | |
Spare our blushes Cliff!
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Anne Wright (Annsie)
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Username: Annsie
Post Number: 215
Registered: 2-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 8:11 am: | |
OI CHEEKY LOT! Some of us do know one end of a screwdriver from the other! Anyway, I thought Doreen WAS a Brit!??
Anne, North Yorkshire, England |
Doreen Mear (Doreen)
Recent Member
Username: Doreen
Post Number: 17
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 8:39 am: | |
Not only WAS I a Brit, but still am!
Doreen Mear, Wanaka (Middle of South Island) New Zealand |
Doreen Mear (Doreen)
Recent Member
Username: Doreen
Post Number: 18
Registered: 8-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 9:01 am: | |
John - Don't think we were ever actually introduced but when you were judging you might have come across my name on a card or two at an AGS Show or two, under my married name of Hinchliffe.  But the ex got custody of the Phillips screwdriver so I've had to buy my own!
Lesley - I had the Romulea sabulosa (lovely colour)a couple of years ago but it didn't survive the winter here. Rather than buy another I'll look out for some seed - I tend to agree with I think it was Paul saying seed-raising leads to better survival - cheaper too, me being a thrifty Yorkshire lass as well as British!
Dave - I've just ordered some seeds from Silverhill for the first time, trying my luck with some South Africans. Re your kind remarks about the clarity of the pictures, I've just discovered two more sharpening tools, one on the camera and another on the computer software, so not only will we be able to see the hairs on the Romulea leaves, and the greenfly on the sepal, but, Margaret, look out for the flea on the greenfly's leg!
Doreen Mear, Wanaka (Middle of South Island) New Zealand |
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Username: Tyerman
Post Number: 716
Registered: 10-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 2:02 pm: | |
Howdy All,
Well apparently they can recover at least some of the hard drive..... should know how much and what in particular by tomorrow. I now have to work out how to edit my pics as well..... I have always used iPhoto that came with my old PC and so I don't have the installation disks etc. Got to work out how to do it with other packages now so that I can edit down and post some pics as I have been taking plenty recently with the new camera. Lots of bits and pieces flowering now, including the first of the Trilliums (which incidentally is a couple of rivale, with cuneatum and albidum in bud) and numerous other cute little bibs and bobs.
Paul T. Canberra, Australia. |
John Forrest (Jof)
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Post Number: 358
Registered: 12-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 10:07 pm: | |
Doreen- Yes I do remember and now for the formal introduction. "How do you, it's a pleasure to meet you".
Don't fret too much about the lost Phillips now that you have got a new 'sharpening tool' Do keep us informed about your experiments with these and it might be worth putting it on the Digi Camera Thread.
John Forrest, Blackpool, North West England, UK |
Doreen Mear (Doreen)
Recent Member
Username: Doreen
Post Number: 20
Registered: 8-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 12:44 pm: | |
Happy to meet you too, John!
First day of spring in about 15 minutes' time - how many years it will take to get used to spring starting on September 1st is anybody's guess!
And as for going digital, the neighbours will wonder what on earth I'm up to in the shrubbery, with yelps of 'Wow' one minute and 'Aaargh!' the next. I'll post at least one of my 'aarghs' on the digital thread, just as a warning to any other novices!
Doreen Mear, Wanaka (Middle of South Island) New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Username: Lcox
Post Number: 788
Registered: 10-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 11:51 pm: | |
Now come on you two. This is not an introduction service! Back to the serious stuff.
Two trilliums and two irises. Overall I don't have wildly exciting trillums and find I don't after all, need every single variant ever seen. But Trillium chloropetalum is always good value and reliable.
Last year I bought this lower one as T. cuneatum. Perhaps someone would kindly confirm or deny, a la les Americaines when faced with NZ's attitude to nuclear shipping. Well they refuse to of course.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Username: Lcox
Post Number: 789
Registered: 10-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 11:59 pm: | |
Nor am I quite positive that the iris below is Iris magnifica alba as it is slightly different from the two variants I already have under that name. I'm sure, however, that it's not the blue I. graeberiana under which name it came to me as AGS seed, in 2001. Gorgeous all the same.
I. magnifica is just that. Magnificent! And deliciously scented too, as are many Junos, in the style of Viola odorata.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Doreen Mear (Doreen)
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Username: Doreen
Post Number: 23
Registered: 8-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 11:42 am: | |
Lesley, I'm really envious of your Juno iris collection - bet you're going to Tony Hall's forthcoming talk, market or no market!
On the British theme, how's about some red, white (well, whitish) and blue, on the first day of spring.
Pulsatilla ex 'Papageno'
Helleborus x sternii 'Blackthorn strain' which has beautifully marked leaves - when they emerge. The winter leaves look a bit tired at this stage.
And an occupant of my miniature garden, which would be going to the NZAGS Spring Show except it's three weeks too early, Primula marginata 'Drake's form'
With such a mild winter behind us, and a spell of very warm weather, all that will be going to the ball will be autumn gentians, everything else will be over!
Doreen Mear, Wanaka (Middle of South Island) New Zealand |
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Post Number: 725
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 12:45 pm: | |
Doreen,
Interesting Pulsatilla! It has fringed flowers?
Paul T. Canberra, Australia. |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Post Number: 792
Registered: 10-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 10:43 pm: | |
Doreen, I reckon the junos would do well with you. When Tony was here last (2000) I carted him around Central and the morning after we stayed at Olivers' in Clyde, he looked up at the hills back of the town and said it looked like the back end of Afghanistan! It does too, and junos love really stony, harsh-looking conditions. I'll miss the 5 days of the NZIS convention with him but will definitely go up to Chch for the talk. That's a Thursday.
Odd though, my P. marginata `Drake's Form' is still in tight bud!
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Doreen Mear (Doreen)
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Username: Doreen
Post Number: 26
Registered: 8-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 9:51 am: | |
Paul: Yes, the Pulsatilla is fringed; nice and compact too. I've a few different varieties of pulsatillas, but I would say this is my favourite.
Lesley: I've got a few one- and two-year-old seedlings coming through, graeberiana, willmottiana alba, and nusairiensis, for instance. How long do you reckon it takes before they are likely to flower?
Also, would the bucharica I bought from you last year be OK in the open garden - I've kept it in a pot till I dissuaded the local rabbits from tunnelling under my raised bed. Not owning a shotgun, I resorted to a hosepipe down the burrow at regular intervals; now our street has the cleanest rabbits in town, but they don't burrow at my place any more!
Doreen Mear, Wanaka (Middle of South Island) New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Post Number: 797
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2005 - 4:22 am: | |
I am finding that most species taken 3 to 4 full years, but perhaps depending on their growing conditions. My soil is good and when I plant out bulbs I usually mix in a bit of osmacote as well. On the other hand junos maybe don't like things TOO rich. Tony talks about 6-10 years for many of the rarer species but with the greatest respect to him, I think most will take a much less rigid regime than he permits them. I. rosenbachiana for instance, flowered in less than 3 years for me and so did what I had as kuschakewiczii, but in the event, is probably svetlanae. The taller kinds like magnifica, vicaria, bucharica will take 4 with the odd one in a batch coming to light in 3 so it's not such a long term and agonizing wait as it could be or we are led to believe.
Bucharica should be hardy considering where it comes from but I'd never like to be too dogmatic about what will survive with you, compared with here. However, I'm planting out all my taller species as they look so good in the open as they clump up.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
John Forrest (Jof)
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Post Number: 359
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 9:26 am: | |
Hi Lesley & Doreen
Great pics it seems strange to see the Trilliums starting to flower when I have just collected seed from mine. Your T. cuneatum falls within the general description of features in Fred Case' book but it's so general that you might get a donkey through. Especially love those Iris and you certainly seem to knock them out in an alarmingly fast rate.
John Forrest, Blackpool, North West England, UK |
Doreen Mear (Doreen)
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Username: Doreen
Post Number: 27
Registered: 8-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 10:40 am: | |
Lesley - thanks for the info. I'll try the bucharica outside (presumably you have more and won't say no to selling me another if it dies!) and since I have two or three small graeberianas, I'll take a chance with one in the open. The soil here is pure glacial grit, wonderfully well-drained, but with no humus in it whatever, so we'll see how they go.
On my scree, Ranunculus calandrinioides is producing its first spray of flowers, but it's looking tired and is but a shadow of its former self. It's been in the same spot for 3 or 4 years, so can anyone advise me, can it be resurrected if dug up, split and replanted in fresh soil? R. x arendsii next to it has been flowering for a month or more, and is still looking happy, but maybe calandrinioides is hungrier? Would post photos but we are also having our September storms!
This time of year though it's like Christmas every day, checking the seedpots for new arrivals. YeeHar, today there's a green molecule in a pot of R. glacialis, so since the local gourmet slugs feasted on the last crop, this is now surrounded by a parapet of pellets!
Doreen Mear, Wanaka (Middle of South Island) New Zealand |
dave toole (T00lie)
Intermediate Member
Username: T00lie
Post Number: 68
Registered: 1-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 11:15 am: | |
A lovely 18C today--Flowering in the alpine house-
Dionysia aretiodes bevere
In the new scree bed i constructed earlier this year--
Primula aureata
Elsewhere in the garden Erythronium umbilicatum--
A Romulea sps.grown from seed (label lost)
Iris winogradowii
A few early Trilliums--
Trillium angustipetalum with a red edge to its non flowering bracts?
Label states this is Trillium chloropetalum ?
In amongst a collection of 22 planted troughs which i received as a gift earlier this year numerous smaller Trilliums--
A Trillium relative-- Scoliopus bigelovii
And finally Trillium rivale
Dave Toole.Invercargill.Bottom of the South Island New Zealand .Zone 8. |
Doreen Mear (Doreen)
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Username: Doreen
Post Number: 28
Registered: 8-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 12:03 pm: | |
Your plants are all looking very happy and healthy, Dave; I like your Scoliopus, and the rusty red anthers on that erythronium. What amazing generosity on someone's part to give you 22 planted troughs, you must have been over the moon, and on tenterhooks all year waiting to see what was going to come up!
Doreen Mear, Wanaka (Middle of South Island) New Zealand |
John Forrest (Jof)
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Post Number: 360
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 8:11 pm: | |
Dave
Great pics. I think Scoliopus is very attractive but what a stinker. Definitely a peg on the nose job.
I think your Primula is P.aureata fimbriata (forma)
John Forrest, Blackpool, North West England, UK |
Franz Hadacek (Fhadacek)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 8:27 pm: | |
Doreen,
After my experience Ranunculus calandrinioides does not like division. I increase this beautiful Ranunculus with seeds. By the way, in my bulb frame it is a weed, to many self seedlings.
Franz Hadacek, Vienna, Austria |
Margaret Young (Myoung)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 8:28 pm: | |
John F. : I despair of you! You photograph a huge rhododendron at Biddulph and "never thought to smell it" when the fragrance should have been deliciously all around you yet you are quick to damn one of my favourite plants as being a stinker when you need to get down on your belly to get your nose to the thing!! Really!! I admit that it does smell a little "doggy" but it is so beautifully marked that one hardly notices that!
You must make more effort to get your nose in gear for all the good smells around you, before you start beating up on little gems that whiff a bit!! There! Consider yourself told off!!
M. Young, Aberdeen North East Scotland |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 12:19 am: | |
Absolutely agree with you Maggi, regarding John's olfactory apparatus. One of the first rules of assessing a new plant - for me anyway - is take a good sniff. It's amazing how many plants are beautifully perfumed, even if only lightly. Oxalis lobata for instance. So get down to it John.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 12:26 am: | |
Franz, you should not have talked about self-sown seedlings of Ranunculus calandrinioides because you must now expect requests for seed from both Doreen and me. We have just a single clone in New Zealand and not a particularly good one at that and it never sets seed in spite of appearing on local seed lists each year. The seed donated is very thin and non fertile. I have divided mine occasionally with success but have now lost it altogether through two dry sumers and the inability to water thoroughly. Hokonui Alpines who list it occasionally must divide theirs too, to increase stock. So Franz, when you have some seed available, may we beg some please? R. x Ahrendsii does well here but again, needs a lot of water to keep it in good heart.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 12:30 am: | |
Back to the pink buttercup for a moment, I have often read in UK plants book and catalogues that one should see a plant in flower before buying and select the best forms. This is the case apparently with R. calandrinioides and Trillium luteum, as examples. Likewise, to replace non-flowering stock of Iris danfordiae with new, fat bulbs each year. Well, all I can say to both those scenarios is - Chance would be a fine thing!
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 2:20 am: | |
Dave, many of yours are very early compared to mine. Erythronium umbilicatum is just through, complete with buds but still a couple of weeks until out I should think. And yes John, Dave's P. aureata is forma fimbriata which he'd know well if he'd spent some money here and bought the type plant from me. I think it's much more exciting. To his credit however, John Richards says that both forms should be listed just as aureata with no distinction between them, which is silly as they are VERY distinct. Here's my Scoliopus bigelovii. Maybe different clones have different strengths of smell as mine has to be sniffed really close up to get any scent at all and there's nothing wrong with MY olfactory apparatus. I took the pic yesterday when it was waiting to be planted out in a raised bed. Have done that now.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 2:26 am: | |
I love this time of year with so many bulbs coming into flower. Two are Cyclamen libanoticum the first flower of many and Chionodoxa gigantea.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 2:35 am: | |
In New Zealand, September is definitely Fritillaria month. I have one or two new ones flowering each year now which is great fun. Below is Fritillaria michailovskyi. We don't have here, the different forms which seem to be about in the northern hemisphere, mainly this little short one which grows a bit taller (to 15cms) as it matures and sets seed. Nor do we have the multi-flowerd form. Still, this one is a delight.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 2:51 am: | |
I grew F. tubiformis var. moggridgei from AGS seed but it is not, so far, the yellow flowered plant. However the two that have flowered are less red than my other tubiformis, a little closer to orange so maybe it's the former, pollinated by the latter. I notice today that the third bulb has a first bud emerging and it looks much closer to yellow. 
F. hermonis amana `Sungold' came as seed from AGS and should I think, properly be called F. h. a. lutea' since raised from seed, there is some variation in colouring and markings. It's a very good doer and after just one previous year in flower I already have many young ones growing strongly. All these flowers pictured here had to have their chins propped up on a stone so their insides could be seen. All elongate somewhat as they mature.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Doreen Mear (Doreen)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 7:03 am: | |
Franz: Thank you for your advice on the R. calandriniodes. I have saved seed from my plant every year, but had no germination, and Lesley's comment explains why. We'd love to get our hands on a different and hopefully better clone, and I wouldn't mind one bit if this became a weed!
Lesley: Lovely frit photos. Most of my frits aren't yet flowering size, so I'll just enjoy your pictures!
A trio of pics from my garden, first of all Narcissus bulbocodium citrinus. It lasted all of half a day and is now flattened by the September storm.
Next, Saxifraga grisebachii 'Wisley var.' Not a very big plant as yet, but I've a soft spot for it as it was the first plant I took, with great trepidation, to an AGS Show. And it came home with the East Lancs. trophy for novice exhibitors, with much ribbing from Alan Grainger about pinching their trophy and taking it abroad to Yorkshire! I read somewhere these silver saxes like a pinch of lime in the compost, and this certainly seems to have brightened the rosettes.
And lastly, watch the birdie, our equivalent of the bluetit, the silvereye. They arrive in flocks and attack my Viburnum bodnantense 'Dawn' in mid-afternoon, but are never still for a minute, so not easy to photograph.
Doreen Mear, Wanaka (Middle of South Island) New Zealand |
dave toole (T00lie)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 11:19 am: | |
Great photos all.
While working in the garden over the weekend i was reminded that spring was not only about flowering but also foliage.
Astelia nervosa alpine ruby.A lovely colour break from the normal greens or silver.The one original plant was discovered less than 100 ks. from here in the early 1900s in a coastal forested area known as the Catlins.An area which now is part of the Southern Senic Route--a tourist mecca. 
An Orchis sps. in early growth.
Trillium chloropetalum var giganteum full of promise.
Finally a batch of seedling Erythronium multiscapoideum x ags sown 02/03. 
Dave Toole.Invercargill.Bottom of the South Island New Zealand .Zone 8. |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 11:07 pm: | |
Try Dactylorhiza maculata for your orchid Dave.
Doreen your silver-eyes (or wax-eyes or white-eyes or ring-eyes) are excellent. They move and flit about so fast. I figure that if I apply my usual shaky hand to the camera, I should get them in focus OK but it depends on getting the shaky hand in sync with the bird's movement. Haven't managed it yet. One rarely sees them on the ground here.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Marjorie Smith (Grannysmith)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 12:42 am: | |
Dave, can you give me any advice on growing the astellia please. I have 2, the red and the silver, in the garden. Neither are doing very well. Any info on what they like would be a big help. Do they like lime? I love these plants and would like a nice big clump. At the rate they are gowing, I wont live long enough to see that! |
dave toole (T00lie)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 9:50 am: | |
Surprised that your Astelias are not doing well Marj.
I've found them to be easy to grow.Just about indestructable.
They prefer a well drained position, in a mix that has good moisture holding capacity.However i have seen large clumps form in less than ideal situations.
Although i have never needed to add lime there are soil recipes around for NZ alpines suggesting the use of slow release fertilisers and added lime but minimal use of nitrogenous fertilisers.
I grow them in a standard bark/ peat /20% grit potting mix that has slow release fert.added at the nursery .I then add varying amounts,(depending on whether they are to be placed in a container or garden),of leaf mould/litter from our bush to increase the humus levels further .
Perhaps you could show us a few shots of the plants in question and describe the soil and situation you grow them in .
Hope that helps.
Dave Toole.Invercargill.Bottom of the South Island New Zealand .Zone 8. |
John Forrest (Jof)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 8:00 pm: | |
OK Ladies I've given the old hooter a good blow and am prepared to sniff anything in sight, wetdogs included.
Wonderful pics Lesley but couldn't you have found a softer pillow for your poor old Frit?
Doreen- nice to see your Sax in such good heart. I have had a collapse of my very large old friend and out of all the rosettes I pulled off and tried to propagate only 1 small 2cm bit managed to put down roots. Still, better than nowt. I love your Silver eyes, even if there eye shadow does give them a slightly vacant look.
John Forrest, Blackpool, North West England, UK |
Franz Hadacek (Fhadacek)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 8:02 pm: | |
Lesley,
I am afraid that the seed which I collected this year has been passed on to friends. R. calandrinioides seed geminate at best if it is fresh. I will have seeds next season and then send I it you. No problem!
Franz Hadacek, Vienna, Austria |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 9:56 pm: | |
Thankyou Franz. I suspected it would be all gone by now but I've learned to be very patient where seed is concerned. Shall I remind you next year?
Marjorie, I would be very reluctant to give lime to astelias. Everyone I've seen growing in the wild is in almost pure peat or at least very acid type situations. Mine are in mostly pinebark and do well but don't like to be dried out.
John I think the frits are happy on a stone pillow. A stone blanket around them as well.
Another catalogue from Jim and Jenny Archibald yesterday. Wish I were rich!
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Marjorie Smith (Grannysmith)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 07, 2005 - 1:09 am: | |
Thanks Dave and Lesley. I will try the slow release fertilizer, perhaps the one for natives would be bestand give the lime a miss for now. My "soil" is virtually all heavy clay, so I plant on top of it and build up around the plants with a mulch of stable manure and sawdust. Most things seem to thrive in it. I think maybe they are getting a bit dry in summer. I thought they didnt need a lot of summer watering and may have neglected them a bit. I will be kinder this year an see what happens. I will go straight out and put some fertilizer around them now. I am anxius to see them looking like the ones on my NZ calendar! Unfortunately I still havent been able to afford a new digital camera after breaking mine earlier this year, so cant post any pics. To many seeds to buy! To many catalogues in the mail - and online. |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2005 - 5:01 am: | |
Two irises on today's agenda. The first is categorized as Miniature Bearded, just about 8-10cms in height. It is `Gandma's Hat', appropriate I guess, all bunches of grapes and purple velvet. Cute.
This I had as either flavissima or bloudowii but Rodionenko thinks it's probably a hybrid. Very dwarf, bearded and totally deciduous in winter, flowering almost as soon as it comes through.
And would someone please identify this lovely viola for me. I bought it yesterday in my supermarket (sorry, Ian C.) and it was labelled as Viola koreana which of course it's nothing like. The flowers are very large and the foliage is quite ferny, so perhaps a Japanese species? It has that look about it somehow. It is slightly fragrant.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
dave toole (T00lie)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2005 - 11:06 am: | |
My Iris flavissima/bloudowii ? is yet to flower Lesley.
Its been a strange season so far.About 3/4 weeks ahead of a 'normal spring'. Maybe even more.I have never known Vireya Rhodos.to flower here before xmas,yet one is in bloom now.
Vireya Rhod. Miss Muffet.Described as hot pink. 
I have experimented with growing Pleione orchids in pungas.(native tree fern trunks).They do well with a small area scooped out and seem to enjoy getting their roots into the ferns fibrous material.
I previously mentioned my acquisition of many troughs earlier this year.They have many gems growing in them including a good clump of Trillium nivale.
Also a Frit labelled as F. kotschyana .I'm not sure if that is correct.Any ideas ?please.
Finally -running out of room in the garden for numerous Trilliums grown from seed ,last year i lifted some pavers and created a Trillium bed.As it looks currently ,with T.ovatum and T.grandiflorums to appear.
A close up of an individual in the bed (it's first flowering).
Dave Toole.Invercargill.Bottom of the South Island New Zealand .Zone 8. |
Graham Fleming (Good_friend)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2005 - 11:02 pm: | |
Hi
A few photos of the plants flowering inour garden.
And yes we do have daffodils in our garden.
 |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 11, 2005 - 4:05 am: | |
I think your F. kotschyana could be right Dave. Ian (Y) will tell us, if he happens to be looking this way. Did you get it from Betty Tunnah? Mine's not flowering this year for some reason. There seems to be a great hoard of rice though.
Very please to see Graham, that you know a few other words apart from "Narcissus."
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
J.Ian Young (Iyoung)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 11, 2005 - 9:29 am: | |
Kotschyana it is Dave, it has quite a variable flower when raised from seed both in petal width and colour - I like them and we named one large full flowerd nearly yellow clone 'Craigton Max'.
Graham great to see more of your plants. I am sure that the Frit verticilata you show is F. thunbergii which was long miscalled verticillata in cultivation.
Ian Young, Aberdeen, North Eastern Scotland. |
dave toole (T00lie)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 11, 2005 - 11:04 am: | |
Thanks Ian.
Lesley-- the Frit.came from South Canterbury .
A shot firstly of the main rockery 
Anemone pavonina --ex otago alpine group's seed list(Lesleys mob!)sown 8/03-- flowering for the first time.
While all the flowers on a clump of Erythronium revolutum are facing downwards this one has decided it is more fun looking into the sun 
Finally a flowering stem of Heloniopsis orientalis
Dave Toole.Invercargill.Bottom of the South Island New Zealand .Zone 8. |
Doreen Mear (Doreen)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 11, 2005 - 12:15 pm: | |
Dave: Nice to see your garden looking so colourful. I have some Erythronium dens-canis out in the garden but revolutum will be another week or more yet.
Out with the camera again now the September storms have abated. First off, our not-very-good-but-it's-the-only-clone-we-got (not to mention rather battered by the rain) Ranunculus calandrinioides
Followed by a late hellebore, ex Ashwoods, with a rather attractive centre.
Another pulsatilla, this time a purple fringed one. I'm falling out with the Prunus serrula in the background - love the bark but hate the grafted top more and more. Anybody know if P. serrula will sprout from below if I decapitate it?
Just out today - and gone tomorrow if the weather forecast is to be believed - is the Canadian bloodrot, Sanguinaria canadensis multiplex. I never dared try this outside in the UK, but as I don't have an alpine house, it has to take its chance with the elements.
And finally, Central Otago (latitude 45 degrees South) is becoming well-known for its wine, particularly Pinot Noir, but is also a terrific fruit-growing area, both pipfruit such as apples and pears, and stone fruit, so in season we have apricots and peaches to die for. My young plum tree is wreathed in blossom, so if all these blossoms turn to plums ...
... I'll need another freezer!
Doreen Mear, Wanaka (Middle of South Island) New Zealand |
Margaret Young (Myoung)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 11, 2005 - 12:52 pm: | |
You shouldn't have any bother with your double bloodroot's hardiness, Doreen. It can cope with plenty cold and wet here in Aberdeen! I just love the way the young leaves are such an extraordinary colour and wrap so tenderly round the flowers. Hard to imagine them in this state in a few months when they are large and green!
Your young plum tree is showing VERY willing, bless it! If you do get that many plums, never mind a new freezer, Ian and I will come over and scoff the lot!
M. Young, Aberdeen North East Scotland |
John Forrest (Jof)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 11, 2005 - 8:33 pm: | |
Doreen
That's a beautiful form of Ranunculus calandrinioides. What is its pedigree?
John Forrest, Blackpool, North West England, UK |
Tony Goode (Agoode)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 11, 2005 - 8:51 pm: | |
I agree with John, a pretty form of Ranunculus calandrinioides. Does it always have the pink flush? I have one which has a pink flush which varies from year to year, my impression is that it is influenced by temperature. The pics below were taken during a cold spring when the plant remained very compact.
Tony Goode. Norwich UK. Mintemp -8C |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 11, 2005 - 9:24 pm: | |
The lads are right Doreen. That's a lovely R. Much better than mine which had very narrow petals which didn't overlap. It was a decent pink but not at all weather-resistant.
Glad you're putting in a plug for the superb Central Otago wines. Anyone want a bottle for Christmas?
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 11, 2005 - 9:43 pm: | |
great spring photos everyone!
I cant get my Ranunculus calandrinioides to flower
Mark, Antrim. Northern Ireland. z8+ |
Lauren Bertoni (Laurenlolly)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 5:11 am: | |
Hi all! It's wet & horrible outside and has been all weekend too, but I still had to get out there & repot the last of my Liliums. Quite a few of my seedling pots got overrun with weeds & grass last summer so I repotted them all...My two year old L. martagon were surprisingly big & I had to put them in more pots to space them out a bit. But anyway here are some more things blooming at the moment.
Anemone nemerosa:
Azalea "Rose Queen", one of my favourite azaleas:
Dicentra spectabilis var alba:
And me holding my Rhodo "president Roosevelt" :-)
That's all for now!
Lauren |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 5:29 am: | |
Dave, if you get some seed on your Anemone pavonina can we swap please? I only have the form with a yellow band around the centre and I think the form without that is MUCH nicer.
Ta.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Doreen Mear (Doreen)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 10:35 am: | |
John & Tony: Bought the ranunculus in 2001 from Hokonui Alpines (mentioned by Lesley in a recent posting as our only 'proper' alpine nursery). I don't think the petals are as full as your plant's, Tony, but they do always have a very strong pink flush, which is not temperature-dependent that I've noticed. The plant's been in the same spot in full sun in my scree for 4 years, but is going into decline and has never set viable seed, so I'm about to try and separate off a couple of sideshoots and move them to richer soil. I read somewhere you could split it much as you tease apart the thongs of autumn gentians - hope so! Don't know if there's any secret to flowering it, Mark; mine fends for itself, with just a dash of fertiliser two or three times a season.
Maggi, plenty of room for plum-pickers in the rumpus room downstairs, specially if you're also into weeding and lawnmowing!
Doreen Mear, Wanaka (Middle of South Island) New Zealand |
Tony Goode (Agoode)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 3:18 pm: | |
I grow my Ranunculus calandrinioides in a pot (currently trying seedlings outside) and give it a similar treatment to Juno Iris. It gets a long, hot, dry summer, is repotted a bit later than the main bulb collection and only sparingly watered until late winter. I try to keep it from starting too early as the mid-winter light levels are poor and it gets drawn under glass.
Tony Goode. Norwich UK. Mintemp -8C |
Franz Hadacek (Fhadacek)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 6:00 pm: | |
Ranunculus calandrinioides grow in my bulb frame or outside together with Galanthus, Cyclamen, Crocus, and Narcissus without any protection in winter or summer. If I forget to collect the seed,I must weed the seedlings. I always had white flowers, never pink.
Ranunculus calandrinioides outside
R. calandrinioides - self seedlings in the frame
Franz Hadacek, Vienna, Austria |
Ian McEnery (Ianmcenery)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 7:52 pm: | |
Franz
What a super specimen growing outside. Could you let us know what the soil condition is and is it in full sun.
Ian McEnery Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands |
Franz Hadacek (Fhadacek)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 8:18 pm: | |
Ian,
I grow R. calandrinioides on a sunny spot and I have a chalky, loamy soil. At dryness in summer is it hard like stone.
Franz Hadacek, Vienna, Austria |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 9:29 pm: | |
Your white is gorgeous Tony and look at all that seed!
Doreen, do have a go at dividing. The roots are very like those of the Asiatic gentians, bigger of course but very thong-like. I never had trouble re-establishing mine from division but in our climate it's important to get it growing strongly again before the heat of Central's long, hot summer. So a little fertilizer (Osmacote?) and plenty water to start off with. I lost mine in the heat of summer before last. Just too dry in its pot. Better outside.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Heather Smith (Peridot44)
Intermediate Member
Username: Peridot44
Post Number: 53
Registered: 6-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 11:24 pm: | |
Franz, I just love the Ranunculus calandrinioides plant you have there. I love the white, mountain Ranunculus species and this is a beaut. Ian, I wonder would it grow on my limestone scree bed do you think?
Heather |
Ian McEnery (Ianmcenery)
Intermediate Member
Username: Ianmcenery
Post Number: 91
Registered: 1-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 11:37 pm: | |
Frantz
Thanks for the advice I have just the spot - if I add a little lime - I will give it a try
Ian McEnery Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
Senior Member ( posting super hero)
Username: Lcox
Post Number: 837
Registered: 10-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 5:04 am: | |
All this talk of R. calandrinioides has prompted me to go and give another kick to R. semiverticillatus. It grows large and strong but hasn't flowered since it germinated in 1992. If you recall the fabulous photos in the AGS Bulletins, pink and white forms, you'll also recall the tight foliage which looked so good. Mine is like that for only a couple of weeks before elongating to about 35cms in height. Pic below. It must bloom in the wild in November but if it ever does here, it will be August I think if it flowers when the foliage is low and tight.
A few others things out at present are Ipheion `Alberto Castillo' which is as rampant as other vars but very lovely with its thick, paste-like texture and ivory white colour
Pulsatilla vernalis is always a joy and quite reliable so long as I keep it moist in summer.
Primula minima grows well but doesn't bloom much for me. However I'm pleased to see the little white form which I thought I'd lost
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Username: Lcox
Post Number: 838
Registered: 10-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 5:18 am: | |
Primula elatior
A seedling mossy saxifrage. They turn up everywhere and fill gaps nicely.
Morisia monanthos, beloved of the cabbage white caterpillar.
And this excellent plant for a sunny place, flowering right through winter, Leucanthemum hosmariense.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Username: Lcox
Post Number: 839
Registered: 10-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 5:35 am: | |
I know I've already posted pics of Euphorbia myrsinites but I want you to tell me about these two, as the first is my usual, so to speak, growing to almost a metre across and the second is 4 years old but has grown to just about 12 cms. Is it a var or subspecies of the other? I bought it locally but it was from a seed raised source, unknown, and I've come close to losing it a couple of times so I think it is more tricky to grow. Everything is smaller, tighter and more compact. Same leaf arrangement and colouring.
I love all the colour forms of Pulsatilla vulgaris, surely one of the best all round alpine plants for general garden purposes.
And my favourite double white hellebore. It has been quite wonderful this winter but this one is newly out, the first in a new batch of seedlings.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Username: Lcox
Post Number: 840
Registered: 10-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 5:49 am: | |
A few bulbs now. When I used to have Iris `Blue Beret' it was cream with fuzzy blue beards. So I'm not sure about this one, bought last summer as `Blue Beret,' similar to `Grandma's Hat' but darker.
My Tecophilaeas have had a hard time this year, being badly bitten by slaters I think. This is one of very few flowers left, T. cyanocrocus v. leichtlinii.
I shouldn't post Frit. michailovskyi again but I just love it. I'm getting quite good at holding a flower up with one hand while clicking with the other.
And the sombre (but I still like it very much), F. uva-vulpis
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
Senior Member ( posting super hero)
Username: Lcox
Post Number: 841
Registered: 10-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 6:04 am: | |
Another seedling supposed to be F. tubiformis v. moggridgei. It was quite yellow in bud but has reddened over the last two days. Inside and from the back.
Frit. affinis varies within the green/yellow/brown range with various checkering.
One of my favourites, always flowering and seeding well, is F. mutabilis.
I've always known Erythronium japonicum as E. dens-canis japonicum but I understand it now has specific rank.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Doreen Mear (Doreen)
Member
Username: Doreen
Post Number: 32
Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 6:14 am: | |
Franz: Lovely photo of the ranunculus growing outside; it's the first time I've seen a pure white one, it's beautiful.
I took the bull by the horns today and split my plant; great relief when it did fall apart just like gentian thongs, so I'm hoping in fresh soil and with some TLC it will make a full recovery.
Doreen Mear, Wanaka (Middle of South Island) New Zealand |
John Forrest (Jof)
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Username: Jof
Post Number: 374
Registered: 12-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 10:00 am: | |
Lesley
Wonderful pictures and a treat to see. I particularly like your Erythronium and I agree with you about Pulsatilla vulgaris as an ace plant.What patience with Ranunculus verticillatus but an achievement to keep it going for so long, mine lasted about 6 months. I think it was the summer heat that saw it off. There is always the hope that next year it may flower to spur us on, but perhaps to quote Oscar Wilde "a triumph of hope over experience". What about giving it the cold treatment in the fridge? By the way do you manicure before you take those pictures? Those aren't gardeners hands, much to clean and in the words of Bob Dylan " by the dirt beneath my nails I guess he knew I wouldn't lie".( no I'm not sure what relevance that has either)
Lauren
Nice to see a picture of you with your flowers. It's good to have a face to put a name to. I find myself creating images of what fellow forumers look like as you do with characters in radio plays.But why haven't you filled in your profile to show where you garden? That is also something to put put a 'mental handle' on what you are looking at.
John Forrest, Blackpool, North West England, UK |
J.Ian Young (Iyoung)
Moderator
Username: Iyoung
Post Number: 461
Registered: 2-2002
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 6:00 pm: | |
Lauren, good to see you with your rhodo, I like having a face to put to the names on the forum.
Lesley, Erythronium japonicum is a good species, according to some botanists but others leave it with only sub-specific status - I think it is a good species. I hate to be the one to tell you but I think the one you show above is E. dens-canis and not japonicum.
Ian Young, Aberdeen, North Eastern Scotland. |
Franz Hadacek (Fhadacek)
Advanced Member
Username: Fhadacek
Post Number: 106
Registered: 1-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 6:20 pm: | |
Lesley,
It is always a pleasure to see your great plants and pictures.
Franz Hadacek, Vienna, Austria |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
Senior Member ( posting super hero)
Username: Lcox
Post Number: 842
Registered: 10-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 9:27 pm: | |
Thanks everyone. OK Ian, your word is law so far as the Erythronium is concerned. This one is much bigger and more richly coloured than my others d-cs though. The pollen is quite blue but it isn't evident in the pic. It was actually sent to me from Japan back in the 70s, under that name.
John I thought you were being rude, asking did I manicure, referring to the rather weedy surroundings of varous things which I should have cleaned up before photographing. Then I realized it was my fingers you were referring to. Besides, would you make a rude comment? Never! No, I don't manicure - never in my life, but with my new job I find I'm taking more trouble to clean my nails, having had to meet (and shake hands with) every one from advertising and TV people lately, to the mayor and several councillors. I'm happy with dirty nails, but they're not, necessarily. Love my new job though.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
Senior Member ( posting super hero)
Username: Lcox
Post Number: 843
Registered: 10-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 9:39 pm: | |
Just one silly picture this morning. This is what happens when you have a couple of seeds of something and you're pretty sure they're not viable as they're soft and squashy instead of rounded and hard, but you need to sow them just in case, but can't be bothered getting the 800th pot ready for them. They started to make a small volcano nearly a month ago, pushing up and up until the seeds themselves were nearly on top and for a wild moment I thought I'd sown a couple of avocado seeds. It was only when the true leaves began to develop that I remembered Lupinus texensis. Unfortunately it's an annual but of such a lovely rich blue that I wanted to go on with it and these two seeds were the only ones that the single plant set. Just as well I have another pot of the Anemonopsis as well as in the garden itself.
Lesley Cox, Lower South Island, New Zealand |
Flowers and Foliage Now