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J.Ian Young (Iyoung)
Moderator
Username: Iyoung
Post Number: 142
Registered: 2-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 01, 2004 - 6:42 pm: |    |
Not a plant that we would usually expect with a September flowering, but many plants will produce bonus flowers in late summer and autumn.
Many of the dwarf rhodos will produce these extra flowers but it is not so common in the larger rhodos.
Rhodo elegantulum is one that regularly produces a second scattering of autumn flowers. |
Carol Shaw (Carol)
Advanced Member
Username: Carol
Post Number: 94
Registered: 2-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 01, 2004 - 9:31 pm: | |
We too have a Celmesia with a flower bud! |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
Senior Member ( posting super hero)
Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 264
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 9:02 pm: | |
isnt it great when something is in flower and you only just notice.
This Hypoxis has been blooming and I only noticed today.
Most likely supplied wrong by the rare man himself. This is Colchicum atticum/montanum looking good today
and something from a members garden. Supposed to be non hardy but flowering now - 3 years outside.
Nerine crispa/undulata
and finally my pink bed is gone.
to make compost in Margaret & Louis's 6, yes 6!!,compost heaps. The red bed has been pulled out and ready to go. The pastels bed has a day or two to shine on. Now to wait for the first snowdrops next month. hehe!
|
Margaret Young (Myoung)
Advanced Member
Username: Myoung
Post Number: 83
Registered: 3-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 9:20 pm: | |
Sad to see all that fabulous colour reduced to a carload of waste, but satisfying to think of the lovely compost that will result in time from the re-cycling. We compost as much as we can but there are some larger prunings and some stuff that will not shred very well that we reluctantly have to put to the tip. Luckily our local Council has recently become "Waste Aware", to a limited extent, but they are providing big wheeled bins for a fortnightly collection of "green Waste". This will be taken to a council site, chipped as necessary and composted.I think the idea is that gardeners will be able to buy back the finished compost, and the rest will be used on the many municipal parks and plantings around the area. We are just glad not to be wasting the branchesthat are too big for our shredder to cope with, even though Ian keeps some "nice looking" branches to use for woodcarving and artworks! The scheme will be really great for people wanting to tidy their gardens but without the capacity for whatever reason to make their own compost heaps. |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
Senior Member ( posting super hero)
Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 265
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 9:35 pm: | |
We are getting brown bins too. For the last few years our skip area has had a huge dumping area from all green matter from trees to grass. All greenery no matter what size is taken away by the lorry load and put through a chipper. We are supposed to be able to buy it after it has composted but so far none has come back.
For those in to composting you can park a car in each of Margaret and Louis (silent 's') Glynns compost areas.
Three are for leaves only which fall on their 3 acre garden. This is one of two with leaves from 2003. The leaves would be piled high
two years on the leaves look like this
The other three bins are for layering grass with all other greenery from the garden like where my waste went. |
Carol Shaw (Carol)
Advanced Member
Username: Carol
Post Number: 96
Registered: 2-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 1:32 pm: | |
We too compost everything we can and have been promised brown bins plus a box for bottles and another for paper. I suspect I will still be going to the recycling area though as I can't imagine a small box holding a fortnights worth of bottles! |
J.Ian Young (Iyoung)
Moderator
Username: Iyoung
Post Number: 144
Registered: 2-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 7:05 pm: | |
I remember Louis's compost bins from a visit some years ago but these that Mark shows are the new and very nice version. Ours are much, much smaller, as is our garden, and made from anything that will form sides from old concrete blocks to wire mesh. I emptied our 'midden heap' today. This is where we place all kitchen waste such as tea bags, egg shells, fruit skins, vegetable waste and all sorts of garden weeds. The heap was started ten months ago and all but the top most layer is a rich dark worm filled compost ready to use. The midden is now ready to receive another years worth of material.
It is not just for the enviorment that we should compost but just think of all that lovely stuff that should be going back into your own garden. If you throw it all out you are robbing your garden of the very thing that will make it thrive, organic food for the soil. |
Carol Shaw (Carol)
Advanced Member
Username: Carol
Post Number: 97
Registered: 2-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 7:25 pm: | |
Exactly Ian, I can never understand why people put to landfill all their weeds/grass clippings/hedge prunings etc. etc. and then go and BUY compost! Good lord the idea of buying something we can make for free from our own waste!! We have a printers next door to us at Findhorn and lots of the paper is delivered on pallets which are non-returnable so we have an endless source of wood to turn into compost bins. We tried one of those special cones for cooked food waste once but found it didn't really work for us- probably because there was not an awful lot going into it! Now any cooked veggie waste just goes into the compost.
As a total aside I watched our younger Siamese jump up onto the open compost bin squat down and have a piddle and get back off - I told her she was a very clever girl and had obviously been watching David! |
J.Ian Young (Iyoung)
Moderator
Username: Iyoung
Post Number: 145
Registered: 2-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 7:34 pm: | |
Absolutely, no need to buy expensive activators when nature supplied us with an endless supply of our own !! |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
Senior Member ( posting super hero)
Username: Adarby
Post Number: 159
Registered: 6-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 9:00 pm: | |
Word of caution: cooked veggie waste attracts rodents |
Carol Shaw (Carol)
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Username: Carol
Post Number: 102
Registered: 2-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 6:42 pm: | |
Neither David nor I can remember how or where we bought this Tricyritis stolonifera 'Bridgemere' - this is the first time it has flowered and looks absolutely stunning!
This is just the first flower, there are lots more down the stem; info, even in AGS encyclopaedia, is limited so if anyone grows this bulb would appreciate info. |
J.Ian Young (Iyoung)
Moderator
Username: Iyoung
Post Number: 146
Registered: 2-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 7:49 pm: | |
Today while working on the bulb troughs my eye was taken by a mass, like a mulch, of green pellets on top of one of them.
It is under a dwarf pine so I looked at the pine and found some defoliated branches stripped bare of needles.
On closer inspection I found the answer, or the culprits, a squirming mass of caterpillars on a feeding frenzy.
Here is a closer look at them.
Obviously a very specialised caterpillar to feed on pine, they are covered in pine resin to the touch which I suppose will put off predators.
OK Anthony, bug super man, what are they ? |
Diane Whitehead (Diane_whitehead)
New member
Username: Diane_whitehead
Post Number: 6
Registered: 2-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 8:27 pm: | |
Tricyrtis, though called Toad Lilies, don't grow from bulbs.
There are some good pictures and information at http://www.farmyardnurseries.co.uk/tricyrtis.htm |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Username: Adarby
Post Number: 162
Registered: 6-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 8:58 pm: | |
Your caterpillars look like the pine sawfly (Diprion pini), which can be a serious forest pest. Sawflies are related to ants, bees and wasps and the larvae are characterised by the way they curl their bodies. One species which I remember as a child is the gooseberry sawfly, but there are many sawfly species. The largest sawfly in the UK is the horntail (Urocerus gigas) which is a fierce looking beast about 30mm long (plus 10mm horn) and black and yellow in colour. It is, like all sawflies, harmless, and its larvae are found burrowing in timber. |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 270
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 1:52 am: | |
still very warm and what a scorching day. I hope you had a good one too! The max today was 22C again and now that I'm heading for bed at 01.50 the thermometer is at 18C. Good weed killing weather especially for all the chick weed popping up on my cleared raised beds
|
Ian Christie (Ichristie)
Intermediate Member
Username: Ichristie
Post Number: 68
Registered: 2-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 6:27 pm: | |
We have also had many butterflies visiting, here is the only one I was quick enough to photograph. We have also a huke tree of Eucryphia with so many flowers and here is the double gentian featured in the RHS mag.
 |
Carol Shaw (Carol)
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Username: Carol
Post Number: 106
Registered: 2-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 7:18 pm: | |
Sorry Ian the gentian doesn't do it for me |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Username: Adarby
Post Number: 167
Registered: 6-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 8:03 pm: | |
Red admirals and peacocks enjoying the sun in Dunblane too.
Two peacocks and a bum bee on Echinacea purpurea in a neighbour's garden.
Red admiral on the same clump.
The pink gentian - possibly a scabra hybrid - Gentiana Toki-Rindo.
Cyclamen hederifolium growing at the base of a fence. This form is a lovely deep pink. |
Margaret Young (Myoung)
Advanced Member
Username: Myoung
Post Number: 86
Registered: 3-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 8:29 pm: | |
Mark, I reckon your neat little Iris is Iris suaveolens. Obliging of it to give you an out of season flower. Amazing how many plants are doing that this year. Weather has been warm and sunny here in Aberdeen again. Might even have been hotter than Northern Ireland! |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 272
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 11:53 pm: | |
hot weather is set to last for another two weeks which is really good. I looked up the Iris you suggest and it looks very similar. I'll label it in the morning.
Crocus kotschyanus 'Reliance' has been in flower for a few days now but has never opened fully even after the kitchen treatment.
This is a Tigridia growing at Margaret Glynn's
Same person came and helped me extend my rockery today.
 |
Luit VanDelft (Lvandelft)
Member
Username: Lvandelft
Post Number: 24
Registered: 3-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 1:23 pm: | |
About Ian's 'Double Gent, I'm so free to give the right name to the picture, which is "Eugen's Allerbester". It was featured in the Plantsman which normally gives very good information about plants, but not this time.
The breeder was the german nurseryman Mr. Eugen Schleipfer and not mr. Jürgen Peters, who is more a trader than a breeder.
Mr.Schleipfer told me that it's a very easy growing and propagating Gentiana, but as Carol states you like the double flowers or not, however it is very special! |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 273
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 5:44 pm: | |
very interesting Luit. I bought G. 'Eugens Allerbester' from a well known nursery and it's a normal flower.
Are you got out of season flowers? In my garden 2 different Anemone obtusiloba, Creeping Phlox, Pulsatilla and Daphne are flowering. They must be affected by this great weather - 24C/76F today |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 274
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 6:27 pm: | |
very bad English on my last query. It should read "have you got ..."
I was at Margaret Glynn's today (not again I hear ya shout) she has Anemone nemerosa 'Robinsoniana' about to flower, a Magnolia, a Daphne and a couple of Rhododendrons. |
Ian Christie (Ichristie)
Intermediate Member
Username: Ichristie
Post Number: 69
Registered: 2-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 7:14 pm: | |
Thanks Luit for the info on the double Gentian, I forgot to add the name, I suppose like most double flowers it does not please everyone but I do like it and it cetainly is different, here is another gentian featured by RHS it is G. Strathmore which we produced in 1986 it was not a seedling but a sport on another plant the only time we have ever had this happen.
 |
Carol Shaw (Carol)
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Username: Carol
Post Number: 108
Registered: 2-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 8:10 pm: | |
Now that is a nice Gentian! |
Luit VanDelft (Lvandelft)
Member
Username: Lvandelft
Post Number: 25
Registered: 3-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 9:46 pm: | |
I agree with Carol, but are'nt we rockgardeners always looking for that very special one?
When Mark says his double one flowers single, there is of course the possibility that Eugens Allerbester also was a sport instead of a seedling. Mr.Eugen did'nt tell me everything?? |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 275
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 10, 2004 - 12:18 am: | |
Ian this is the double Gentian I bought from you at Greenmount. Is it the same plant you showed us above?
This is what I bought as G. 'Eugen's Allerbester'
And finally a plant I bought as G. x stevenagensis. It was the only one with sky blue flowers instead of deep blue. The colour doesnt show too well in this photo.
 |
Luit VanDelft (Lvandelft)
Member
Username: Lvandelft
Post Number: 26
Registered: 3-2003
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 10, 2004 - 7:31 pm: | |
I could'nt resist making a picture of this caterpillar crossing my path. It was creeping on a path in the nearby dunes. I've never seen such beautiful coloured caterpillar, about 2 cm long, but must admit I had not much time in my former life.
Maybe Anthony can tell more about this one??
|
Margaret Young (Myoung)
Advanced Member
Username: Myoung
Post Number: 87
Registered: 3-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 10, 2004 - 7:56 pm: | |
I think this must be a Spanish caterpillar, Luit, celebrating La Vuelta cycling race with the Spanish colours !! Either that or it is a feather from a ladies' hat!! It is hard to believe such a fantastic creation of colour and fluff could be alive! |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
Senior Member ( posting super hero)
Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 276
Registered: 10-2003
Rating:
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 10, 2004 - 10:54 pm: | |
Pied Piper
 |
Carol Shaw (Carol)
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Username: Carol
Post Number: 109
Registered: 2-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 10, 2004 - 11:26 pm: | |
Hi Luit and Maggi
Nope that caterpillar is even more special - it is the one which celebrates our Siamese daughter and my hair!  |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Username: Adarby
Post Number: 171
Registered: 6-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 2:39 am: | |
Hi Folks
Been confined to the back room (Merlot and Troy on DVD) while my wife entertained some friends. Anyway, the caterpillar is The Sycamore Moth (Acronicta aceris). What a splendid beast it is, and the only use I can think a sycamore can be put to this side of the 5th of November?
Anthony. |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Username: Adarby
Post Number: 172
Registered: 6-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 2:53 am: | |
BTW the moth is a drab grey and the species isn't found in Scotland. |
Ian Christie (Ichristie)
Intermediate Member
Username: Ichristie
Post Number: 70
Registered: 2-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 9:17 am: | |
Hi mark, the double gentian is indeed the G.'Eugen's Allerbester' and as for your G. stevenagensis well it sure is not the true plant, what exactly I do not know looks like a pale seedling from somewhere I will get picture of real thing when the rain stops.I love Pied piper. and Luit you could make a fortune selling your caterpillar, I do not think anything man made can match the wonders of nature. Carol I can't remember the orange streaks in your hair? |
Ian Christie (Ichristie)
Intermediate Member
Username: Ichristie
Post Number: 71
Registered: 2-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 1:19 pm: | |
The rain has stopped but still misty not good light but here is Gent. stevenagensis plus a Lilium speciosum and Cornus canadensis with autumn tints and Pterostylus curta in the glasshouse. 
 |
Luit VanDelft (Lvandelft)
Member
Username: Lvandelft
Post Number: 27
Registered: 3-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 3:32 pm: | |
Thanks Anthony. Indeed there are growing many sycamores (or field sycamore) near the place I found the little thing. I'm glad Marks horrible fly does not belong to my caterpillar, I would have problems keeping asleep and have a nightmare! Is'nt Pied Piper some fairy tale?? In that case: Cheers! |
Luit VanDelft (Lvandelft)
Member
Username: Lvandelft
Post Number: 28
Registered: 3-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 3:37 pm: | |
Ian, thanks for your hint but alas I was forced to stop as businessman, so I put it back to his place! |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Username: Adarby
Post Number: 173
Registered: 6-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 5:20 pm: | |
The Pied Piper is indeed a fairy tale, but the fly is a hoverfly and its larvae are voracious aphid eaters. They are very convincing wasp mimics too. |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Username: Adarby
Post Number: 174
Registered: 6-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 10:11 pm: | |
I have just found out from a fellow member of the Amateur Entomologists Society that the 'Pied Piper' (no, not the one from Hamilton, er...Hamlyn) is Helophilus sp. (probably H. pendulus). Its larvae is like that of the drone fly (Eristalis tenax) and lives in muddy water as a 'rat-tailed' maggot, so is not an aphid predator. |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 277
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 11:51 pm: | |
we learn something new everyday!
I was told many moons ago that i should study the Hover fly and it would make me famous. |
Margaret Young (Myoung)
Advanced Member
Username: Myoung
Post Number: 88
Registered: 3-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 6:39 pm: | |
I thought that there was a difference between Mark's "Pied Piper" and our local Hoverflies, but none of them will stand still long enough for me to compare them fully! I think ours have less complicated tiger-stripes. They ARE the sort that have the aphid-eating larvae, though, are they not? Must try to catch a photo of our type, though I am sure it will not be as good as Mark's, which I think is really top notch. Great photo!! |
Tony Goode (Agoode)
Recent Member
Username: Agoode
Post Number: 18
Registered: 1-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 8:23 pm: | |
Crocus flowering season just getting underway here in East Anglia. First C. nudiflorus (Orla - thanks to Ians' spare bulb sales) and C. vallicola plus the above Crocus kotschyanus ssp cappadocicus. Unusual in that the corms are oriented on their side and the flowers very nicely feathered. I'll post a few more as they appear but will try not to duplicate Ians' bulb log offerings. (Have also posted a couple of Colchicum pics in the relevant thread in the feedback.) |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 278
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 11:33 pm: | |
I assure you the photo wasnt of a hoverfly but a hoverfly on a flower to be used for desktop wallpaper. I didnt even see the proboscis being cleaned until I processed the image. Thanks anyway. Maggie there are 1000s of 'em out there and each species has a different look. |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 281
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 7:41 pm: | |
Ian is Pterostylus an Arisaema of some sort?
A couple of goodies from my garden today taken in between the rain.
Colchicum cupani var. pulverulentum
Crocus banaticus
unknown Hoverfly
 |
Margaret Young (Myoung)
Advanced Member
Username: Myoung
Post Number: 91
Registered: 3-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 8:03 pm: | |
Pterostylis are terrestrial orchids, from Australasia. They are often called "Greenhoods", which is what I've heard some people call Arisaemas, though their (the Arisaemas) more common name is "Cobra lily". I know very few "common" or English, names for plants: I find it easier to try to learn the latin name, then I stand a better chance of knowing what plant is under discussion with friends from around the world. One man's goat's beard is another man's bearded lady, and so on!! With the latin, of course, you can get a problem with differing pronounciation but at least it is easier with the written word! |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Username: Adarby
Post Number: 176
Registered: 6-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 12:26 am: | |
I thought the Cobra Lily was Darlingtonia californica, a terrestrial pitcher plant? See these common names! "Wake Robin" (Arum maculatum in the UK, and no, the robin concerned is not a bird) is another one.
The unknown hoverfly is the drone-fly (Eristalis tenax) which is a good mimic of the honey bee. It has larvae that are aquatic rat tailed maggots often found in water buts, but are good indicators of polluted water. |
Margaret Young (Myoung)
Advanced Member
Username: Myoung
Post Number: 92
Registered: 3-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 12:51 am: | |
Don't the Americans call one of the Trilliums "Wake Robin" too?
How much of a coincidence is it that you told us about the Eristalis tenax and its' wonderfully named larvae and then Mark sends in a photo of said beast? |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
Senior Member ( posting super hero)
Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 282
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 5:47 am: | |
Anthony, you really know your insects. My Corn Marigolds are covered in them when the sun shines.
Yes Maggie they are Wake Robins. Isnt each one a different Wake Robin? Who is Robin anyway?
I used to belong to a web site which was US based and chatting about plants by US common names really did my head in. I know I do it too sometimes.
Up early cos I'm off to the bulb show today. Maybe I'll see some of you guys there? |
Thomas Huber (Hubi1)
New member
Username: Hubi1
Post Number: 7
Registered: 8-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 8:04 am: | |
Hello all!
I would like to present you some of our "local heros": Four different forms of Colchicum Autumnale, all growing in the fields around my hometown.
The first with broad, roundes petals
One with narrow petals
A nice dark form
And a white one
Does anybody know the name of the following Colchicum, that I bought unlabled?
Best wishes
Thomas |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Username: Adarby
Post Number: 177
Registered: 6-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 5:29 pm: | |
Some lovely pictures of wild colchicums Thomas. Here are some pictures of not so wild Crocus serotinus clusii
and a tiny Wahlenbergia(?) clinging to life amongst the liverworts.
|
Lauren Bertoni (Laurenlolly)
Recent Member
Username: Laurenlolly
Post Number: 15
Registered: 5-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 1:16 am: | |
Hi All! Haven't posted in a while but I have some photos now, of Spring in Australia.
Dicentra cucularia:
Fritillaria meleagris:
Pulmonarias:
Cheers :-)
Lauren |
Luit VanDelft (Lvandelft)
Member
Username: Lvandelft
Post Number: 30
Registered: 3-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 4:11 pm: | |
Here are some pictures of a plant for the rock garden, often neglected, probably because it’s only a herb.
But there are some very interesting forms suited for dry stony places, which give the garden still colour this time of year.
Satureja montana ssp. illyrica starts flowering in august until the end of september.
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J.Ian Young (Iyoung)
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Post Number: 157
Registered: 2-2002
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 4:26 pm: | |
Lauren, thanks for sharing your spring pictures with us. It is wonderful that we can have two springs every year on our forum, and two autumns, two summers, etc.
And Luit shows us that we must not take for granted plants like the fine Satureja montana ssp. illyrica above - it is a very pretty plant. |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Post Number: 285
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 4:46 pm: | |
Now for a wee bit of a cheat. Not flowering in my garden nor anyone else in N Ireland. These few photos were taken in RBG Edinburgh where I was last Friday with Ian and Carole.
Anemone trullifolia
Colchicum corsicum
Erodium rupestre - anyone got it?
unknown Dionysius
lastly a stunning Gladiolus. I forgot to take a note of it's name
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Ian Christie (Ichristie)
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Post Number: 72
Registered: 2-2002
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 6:23 pm: | |
Hi, well most of you missed a super day on Sat at Dundee late bulb show where Peter Corkhill showed some wonderful slide of Cypripediums from China and every where around the world plus he shared his secret compost mixes etc with us, I include a Cyp macranthos picture from the garden here which flowered earlier.
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Ian Christie (Ichristie)
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Post Number: 73
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 6:25 pm: | |
Hi again I forgot second picture is Cyp calceolus and you will never guess who did make it to Dundee well done Mark it was good that you made the effort all the way over from Ireland. |
Tony Goode (Agoode)
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Post Number: 21
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 8:32 pm: | |
Mark, the gladiolus above could be G. flanaganii. See Jim Almonds' site for more details. http://freespace.virgin.net/almond.jim/index.htm |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Post Number: 288
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 12:31 pm: | |
Tony Jim's site is too big to go and find an image but I dont think this is the Gladiolous you mention. I'll email the image to RBGE |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Post Number: 179
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 10:16 pm: | |
Mark. I clicked the image and found Gladiolus flanganii in the portraits in 3 seconds. Sorry I missed Dundee. Wasn't flagged up so wasn't aware of the meeting. |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Post Number: 289
Registered: 10-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 11:06 pm: | |
flagged up where?
I found the gladilous photo. This plant was only a foot high if that. |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Post Number: 180
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 10:01 am: | |
Fits Gladious flanaganii for height then. |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Post Number: 181
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 7:42 pm: | |
Here's two views of Crocus goulimyi leucanthus grown from seed sown on 21 Sept 2002.
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Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Post Number: 182
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 8:03 pm: | |
I have just looked at the crocus pages on http://www.thealpinehouse.fsnet.co.uk/crocus%20pag es/ and the above flower does not match Crocus goulimyi leucanthus, looking more like kotschyanus. The white anthers are an obvious give away. The seed came from The Crocus Group and had a question mark after the number (45?). |
Tony Goode (Agoode)
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Post Number: 22
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 11:50 pm: | |
Spot on Tony - its a form of Crocus kotschyanus.
Here are a couple of pics of Crocus goulimyi leucanthus
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Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Post Number: 183
Registered: 6-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 11:59 pm: | |
I'm just amazed that it has flowered - almost two years to the day from seed.
I was in Millport Monday - Thursday (staying at the University Marine Biological Station) with a party of 6th year pupils doing Advanced Higher Biology field work and thought I couldn't come back without a piece of Millport Rock......
The ultimate rock garden! The lichens are Ramalina (grey hairy); Xanthoria (orange); Verrucaria (black) and Lecanora (grey crusted) |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Post Number: 184
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2004 - 12:04 am: | |
Here's a closer look.
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Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 290
Registered: 10-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2004 - 11:02 am: | |
That was a useful answer to my Crocus problem.
I have an unknown Crocus identical to Anthony's but the stylus is very long and thin. It is held well above the anthers. The tip split in to three and yellow tipped. Is this also C. kotschyanus |
J.Ian Young (Iyoung)
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Post Number: 160
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2004 - 11:23 am: | |
Tony G. How can that be Crocus goulimyi leucanthus, where are the white anthers ?
Or is this another of the taxanomic traps in Crocus that confuse me so much ?
Ian |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Post Number: 185
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2004 - 11:33 am: | |
Yeth. The anthers are interesting!? |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Post Number: 291
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2004 - 12:09 pm: | |
This is my Crocus
Does this blue Anemone obtusifolia have a cultivar name?
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Tony Goode (Agoode)
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Post Number: 23
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2004 - 9:45 pm: | |
Ian - It's another taxanomic trap I'm afraid ... but it did have me running for my references to check. Glad I'm not the one who thought up the name! Please feel free to challenge me though, it is fun to check these things out.
"The epithet leucanthus means white or pale flowered and the variety encompasses all the eastern populations of this species which can have white or pale mauve flowers." So writes C G-W in QBAGS Vol 64 Dec 1996. Brian Mathew has written that the characteristics of ssp leucanthus are : "Perainth white or faintly suffused lilac"
The anthers of both ssp of Crocus goulimyi are yellow but may appear whitish before they split open to reveal the yellow pollen. The STYLE of both can be white or yellow/orange. Here is one with a white style.
And here is a close up showing that different parts of the style can be both white and yellow.
To add to the confusion the widely grown cultivar Mani White pictured below is a form of ssp goulimyi NOT ssp leucanthus!
Ian - Did you get to check that mystery crocus corm? C boryi is quite variable, even in corm shape. Also if that is your first flower from the seedpot it may have been depauperate, perhaps the next flowering will be different.
Looking forward to the next batch of images - your Crocuses are ahead of mine, all the images I'm posting are from previous years, the main flush is at least 1-2 weeks away. |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Post Number: 292
Registered: 10-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2004 - 10:20 pm: | |
Tony can you ID my Crocus above? |
Margaret Young (Myoung)
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Username: Myoung
Post Number: 93
Registered: 3-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 12:55 pm: | |
Mark, I think yours is a kotschyanus. I just thought I'd throw in my opinion here for Good(e) measure!! Don't know a cultivar name for the lovely blue Anemone, some forms are just a stronger colour than others. Tony G, the close up photo of the crocus "bits" is amazing. I love to be able to study these photos to see such detail. The overall effect is also very pleasingly artistic, which never hurts!
Thank you!
M |
Tony Goode (Agoode)
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Post Number: 24
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 3:29 pm: | |
Mark, I'm with Margaret on the ID of your crocus. The yellow blotches in the throat are typical of C kotschyanus. It is almost certainly ssp kotschyanus which is far and away the commonest in cultivation. Creamy anthers and few branched style are also relevant to the ID. It should be leafless at flowering and have only a thin corm tunic. |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Post Number: 293
Registered: 10-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 4:06 pm: | |
thanks Maggie and Tony. I'll label it now.
Tony, what camera do you use? |
Tony Goode (Agoode)
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Post Number: 25
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 8:23 pm: | |
Nikon Coolpix 950 vintage 2000. Probably available quite cheaply second hand these days. Only 2mp but fine for web work and printing up to 10x12inches but the critical factor in choosing it was the ability to focus as close as 2cm from the subject. I can capture images of details that are barely visible to the naked eye. |
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 294
Registered: 10-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 9:57 pm: | |
I have the Nikon 5000 and for me too the deciding factor was the macro. I think it was a waste of money because I only use it on fully automatic as I cant get my head around the manual. |
Tony Goode (Agoode)
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Post Number: 26
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 9:38 pm: | |
A drop or two of rain and a few cool nights and suddenly its crocus time!
Just to show that Crocus goulimyi is not the only one to play tricks on us, here is a typical Crocus nudiflorus (seed raised, seed collected near Gavarnie, France.)
and here is an atypical one (seed raised, seed collected over the mountains in the Spanish Pyrenees)
Spot the difference!
Others to put in a appearance are Crocus tournefortii
Combining nicely with Androsace studiosorum
and Crocus niveus, this one labelled 'Best Bicolor.'
Last for tonight and just to show that I dont only grow crocuses, Cyclamen mirabile raised from seed, showing considerable variation, especially in the foliage.
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Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 295
Registered: 10-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 6:52 pm: | |
unfortunately my Cyclamen mirabile tubers died this year.
here are a couple flowers from my garden.
Zephyranthes candida
Erodium 'David Cocker'
unknown small growing composite with Daz white petals from else where. Anyone know what it is? Erigeron has ben suggested to me
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Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Post Number: 186
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 7:21 pm: | |
Some pics from the greenhouse plunge today.
Arum pictum the autumn flowering Arum from Mallorca.
Crocus serotinus from Portugal.
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Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Username: Mark__n_ireland
Post Number: 297
Registered: 10-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 11:35 pm: | |
two plants to talk about but no photos cos I havent got time to edit them. Up in five and a half hours to get ready for the Elgin trip.
2 clumps of Pulsatilla are now in full flower in my garden and the first snowdrops are above ground with lovely pristine white petals shining through their spathes. The species is G. reginae-olgae subsp corcyrensis. Many Ranunculus ficaria are in leaf too.
see you on Friday! |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Post Number: 187
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 11:53 pm: | |
I too have Galanthus reginae-olgae out in the garden and this gentian sold to me as Gentiana 'Ishu Zuki'
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Carol Shaw (Carol)
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Post Number: 111
Registered: 2-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 7:34 am: | |
Anthony is it really pink? |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Post Number: 188
Registered: 6-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 12:25 pm: | |
Yes. The colours have come up pretty well. |
Margaret Young (Myoung)
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Username: Myoung
Post Number: 94
Registered: 3-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 8:01 pm: | |
I take it that the Gentian is perennial? It is a charming plant and very handy if it makes a habit of autumn flowers. Are these "extra" flowers, or is it an autumn variety? I presume from the name it has Japanese origins. I had thought that the Japanese tended to go for bigger gentians, for the cut flower market. Where did you get it? We have a trough that it would be perfect for!!
Like Mark and Carol, we are off to Elgin tomorrow for the SRGC Discussion weekend.
Not many plants to take to the Show, sadly, though there is bound to be "shopping" to be done. One of the many highlights of the weekend will be the Talks by Rod and Rachel Saunders from South Africa. Really looking forward to these! Hope to see many friends old and new there. Doubtless photos of event will follow somewhere on this Forum in due course. |
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Post Number: 189
Registered: 6-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 10:07 pm: | |
Yes it is an autumn flowering plant that totally disappears over winter. It came from David Sampson [Samson500@aol.com] (I have just checked its full title: Gentiana scabra Ishuzuki). His list last year included Colchicum cupani and Frit. eduardii. Margaret, I will let you know if it sets seed or looks like bulking up. |
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