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Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 1:42 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Howdy All,

March has arrived. Figured that I would start this thread (I won't actually post any pictures at this stage though) for people to post in if they want to, even if some feel that they aren't worth posting in as most people don't look at these threads. At least now I know why there aren't that many pics posted in the SH threads *grin*...... but if that is the case then should we continue to bother with the Southern Hemisphere threads at all?

Cheers.

Paul T. Canberra, Australia.
Carol Shaw (Carol)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 7:47 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Come on Paul there are heaps of posts and pix is Southern Hemisphere threads
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 9:08 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

OK All,

Here's some stuff flowering at the moment!!

atropurpureum
This is Colchicum atropurpureum again as I just LOVE it. This one far better shows the nice shape and the lovely white stripe at the base of each petal. Still so much nicer in real life though.

neopol. micrantha
Colchicum neopolitanum micrantha - this is only about an inch wide and absolutely adorable. Very delicate, yet comparatively wide petalled unlike some of the miniature species.

Duranta erecta
Duranta erecta needs winter protection here, but is worth it for the sprays of wonderful flowers. It takes a bit of frost but can't be out in the open. I grow it in a pot and put it under the eaves during winter, then it reshoots in spring.

Hab. estensis
Habranthus estensis is my favourite of the Habranthus. The flower looks just like a miniature hippeastrum, and glistens wonderfully in the sun as you can see in the pic. It almost always for me has 2 flowers per stem, but supposedly there can be quite a few more. This is the paler of the 2 forms that I have.

Typhonium
Typhonium brownii is flowering for me again (complete with stink of course). Last year I was so pleased to get a flower for the first time... this year I've had 3 so far and there is another bud coming up on the second plant as well.

I hope y'all enjoy the pics.... I know I'm enjoying the southern hemisphere colour we're seeing up here.

Cheers.

Paul T. Canberra, Australia

P.S. Carol.... I was trying to be a bit tongue in cheek, hence the *grin*. Obviously didn't work. Sorry if I offended.
Irm Preinesberger (Irm)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 9:36 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

yes, I enjoy your flowers too, but in the moment, it makes me unhappy to look out of the window, cold and snow, and snow and wind and cold ...
show more, show more ..
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 11:30 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Irm,

Definitely not cold and snow here. We had a maximum of around 34'C here today. Not exactly our hottest day, but still warm enough to be a bit uncomfortable outside. Currently at around 10:15pm it is still about 25'C or so. We'll probably only get down to about 18'C tonight.... maybe 14 or 15'C if we're lucky. Not quite snow weather eh? *grin*

And.... as you asked so nicely here are some more shots of flowers blooming in my garden at the moment!!

Belladonna
Belladonna 'Johannesburg' (I think).

Haemanthus
Haemanthus coccineus. This is the first of them to flower this year. Only a small flower on this one, probably half the size of the larger bulbs. After the flowers a pair of huge strap leaves emerge, so very cool in themselves.

Hibiscus
This is a white 'Southern Belle Hibiscus' (not sure what species derivation) which is a herbaceous hibiscus. The flower in the picture was about 9 inches across. Very impressive, particularly in our climate! LOL

Kniphofia 'John Benary'
A new purchase of recent weeks.... Kniphofia 'John Benary'. Lovely reddish colour and only about 1m tall.


These were some Rudbeckias I bought locally recently. Gorgeous chocolate colour that I just couldn't resist. They're now planted in clear view of the window near the computer so that we can enjoy them whenever we like. Currently a little dark to see them, but I know they're out there.

Scabiosa japonica var alpina
This is possibly something that even qualifies as an alpine? Scabiosa japonica var alpina. Diminutive little Scabiosa that grows to only a few inches tall. Not long lived but should set seed and reproduce itself quite moderately. I rather like Scabiosas (such unfortunate name for them) and I very much enjoyed it when I added this to my collection.

I'll leave it there for now. I hope these continue to cheer you up Irm.

All the best.

Paul T. Canberra, Australia.
Irm Preinesberger (Irm)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 11:57 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

yes thanks, I feel better
Wait 1 or 2 months - and I will show you the plants in my garden ... so they are alive ...
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 12:27 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Jings. That Haemanthus is stunning. Guess that's another one for the alpine house?
J.Ian Young (Iyoung)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 5:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Paul, I do not know where you got the idea that no one looks at the Flowering Now In The Southern Hemisphere threads.
We have just had to upgrade our site with our server again, for the third time in around six months, as we have yet again exceeded our band width, we are now up to the 15Gbytes per month range - this is a massive amount of usage.
When we check the hosts served for the last month I fully expect that the figure will have gone way beyond the 10,000.
So it could be that some ten thousand people from all around the globe are viewing your wonderful pictures of stunning plants.
Carol Shaw (Carol)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 6:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Paul you didn't offend me, I have a pretty thick skin - and no I hadn't realised you were saying it tongue in cheek perhaps if you typed : ) but without the space I would have realised put together they create :-)
I love those colchicums - like Irm I am fed up of winter. The snow did go but has come back again... oh well roll on April!
John humphries (Greenmanplants)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 6:55 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ian,

I'm sure part of the issue is that people like me get email notifications with no pictures so link onto the site to get a thread of 100+ items, this is a massive waste when you consider they probably skim past all but the last(being the one they want to see) giving a potential for (n/2)n images scanned,
for 100 images/links in a chain this is 5000 images/links viewed, for 150, this explodes to 11,250.
Those without broadband must spend forever waiting on the load to finish, even with broadband, "what's flowering now Feb" was taking a couple of minutes by the end of Feb. Likewise the generic "Snowdrops".

A partial solution might be to restrict the chains to a certain length. Especially once the spring season gets underway, what about early march, late march, etc.

Cheers John H.
Margaret Young (Myoung)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 7:43 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

John, what's a couple of minutes between friends? We do find that we can bring in even the long pages quite quickly when we've had them in before, though I admit that by the end of the month we need to clear out the temporary internet files to speed everything else up a bit!
I odn't think there's any problem with starting new threads when some are getting very long... use your judgement, folks! Now I'll probably get a clip in the ear from Fred and Ian for sticking my oar in!!
By the way, Paul, more good plants... thankyou!
john forrest (Jof)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 8:12 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Margaret
Can you remind me where Ian's advice about temporary internet files was in the forum. I carried out his advice and it did speed things up. I can't remember how and have done a search but it only comes up with your March 1st entry.
Margaret Young (Myoung)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 8:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Crikey, John, now you're asking!! As Anthony D. might say, "I haven't a scooby!"
I think it was last month when the question of slow downloads was raised, but not surewhere exactly. Must go now to settle Pops for the night (!!)... I'll try to find it later, or remember myself how to do it!
See you later!
M
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 8:23 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'd go along with what John (H) says, re the length of threads. And he's right, without broadband, the downloading of photos takes forever. And I too, would like a reminder about the clearing of temporary internet files please. I'll print it out this time and stick it on the wall above.
J.Ian Young (Iyoung)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 9:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

John, at the top of your page click on tools, select internet options at the bottom of the drop down menu.
Another menu will pop up and shold be on the 'general' sub menu, if not click the general tab at the top. Half way down in the 'temporary internet files' click the 'delete files' button, you can also delete the cookies as there will be a lot of junk there as well.
As I said before it will take your PC some time to delete all this garbage.
Carol Shaw (Carol)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 9:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well done, Ian clever man! For some reason as a Mac user I do not seem to need to do this!
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 9:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Howdy All,

My comment was prompted by one by Lesley in another thread, re posting her wonderful pics of Gentian depressa .... was a quiet swipe at that which failed miserably! *sigh* LOL

I notice when I first started here a few months ago that there were "page numbers" on the threads (they don't appear to be there now) yet we only ever use one page (it used to say "Page 1" at the top right of each thread) for each of the threads. I assumed that there was a function that could be activated to start a new page every however-many postings to the thread? That would mean that you can go to a particular page and not have the whole thing load. It no longer seems to be there so this may be somewhat moot, but it struck me at the time that using this multiple page setup for each thread would allow quicker loading as each page would not have to load the whole thread every time.

BTW.... is there a technical" area where computer type threads can be posted? That would be the ideal place for discussions like this and would mean that for things like the clearing of cache areas would easily be found by people if they needed it again. There is always the General Forum but it could get lost in there fairly easily! LOL

Paul T. Canberra, Australia.
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 10:58 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Anthony,

Re the Haemanthus coccineus.... grows fine outside here without any problems. I have some in pots, and some in the ground both under the eaves and out in the open. None are bothered by frost. Don't try this with H. albiflos though as IT doesn't like frost at all.

The H. coccineus slowly multiply over time but if you have the one clone they pretty much won't set seed. I have a bunch of seedling grown ones that I have bought, plus others from various sources and I hand pollinate each year and get lots of seed that way. They take about 6 years to flower from seed though so it is a laborious wait! LOL Still the best way to increase your stock though as 6 years would only give a few offsets to a mature bulb.

Paul T. Canberra, Australia.

P.S. That reminds me Anthony that I was going to send you some stuff. Better get my butt into gear. *grin*
Brent A. Hine (Bcalpinist)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 11:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Paul, by the way, how cold did you get last winter, and on average? I purchased some cutting of ANBG (Austr. Nat. Bot. Gdn, for some of you) woody material and unfortunately a lot of it perished the first winter (this) after planting out. - yes, I sheltered it! We experienced just (!) -6C in Vancouver this winter.
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2005 - 3:01 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Brent,

We get down to at least -8'C to -9'C most winters. We certainly get down below -6'C every winter, at least a few times.

The ANBG is situated on sloping ground so they don't get the level of frost we get in my garden, but if you had it sheltered and only got to -6 then I don't think it was the temp that got to it. It might be something to do with the hemisphere change. Are you part of a botanic garden?

Obviously all this depends what species etc you were actually trying to grow.

Paul T. Canberra, Australia.
Brent A. Hine (Bcalpinist)
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Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2005 - 6:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I work for a university botanic garden in Vancouver, looking after alpine and rock plants. I agree with you that the problem must be one of hemisphere change. I didn't foresee that as a significant problem. Our nursery manager feels the same. The cuttings were taken at ANBG in early Autumn (semi-ripe) and arrived here at 49 degrees north lat. in early Spring. This means quite a change in daylight, although they were in a greenhouse with supplemental light. Some of those that failed to strike were Hovea montana, Oxylobium ellipticum, Banksia canei & Telopea mongaensis & 'Braidwood Brilliant'. On the plus side, I've succeeded with Kunzea muelleri and Leptospermum namadgiensis, a newly described species, so that's exciting. They're not planted out yet.
Pardon to others for the diversion here... had to get this off my chest with Paul, who's in the 'neighbourhood'!
Margaret Young (Myoung)
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Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2005 - 7:09 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Divert away, Fellas, it's very interesting!
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2005 - 9:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Brent,

Even more in the neighbourhood to some of those than you realise..... I grew up near a little town called Braidwood. Monga State Forest was part of my stomping grounds. That is where the "monga" comes from in the T. mongaensis. From memory the 'Braidwood Brilliant' is a hybrid between T. mongaensis and T. speciossissima I think? I've never seen Telopea in the wild in the state forest though..... but I just loved the most beautiful area of tree ferns (Dicksonia antarctica mainly) and native orchids (Sarchochilus, Dendrobiums etc).

Paul T. Canberra, Australia.
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 12:37 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Brent, if I may stick my nose in here? As I read your post, you had CUTTINGS of Telopea and Banksia? Paul will no doubt correct me if I'm wrong, but generally speaking, members of the Protaceae are virtually impossible to propagate from cuttings, seed being the thing to go for.
Certainly this is the position of the horticultural industry (commercial as distinct from scientific). In New Zealand in the last 15 years or so, a certain amount of success has been obtained using a liquid rooting hormone whose trade name is Liba 10,000. It was developed at the Ruakura Plant Research Station in NZ's North Island, specifically for use on Protaceae, eucalypts, Feijoas etc. In fact, I now use it (very dilute) for all my cuttings. But with all due respect, I'd not expect a lot of success with Telopea and Banksia, given the known difficulties and the seasonal change between hemispheres as well. On the other hand, don't we all love a cultural challenge?
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 10:41 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Lesley,

You've got a point there. I think that many of the named varieties of Banksia and Telopea are grafted plants, or sed grown plants from stable species or varieties that have names attached (for example Banksia 'Birthday Candles' is a prostrate species form which I think is grown from seed?).

I am sure that there actually are successful methods for striking cuttings of these difficult plants (or else the ANBG wouldn't be selling them!) but what I would be doing if I was getting these cuttings was to use them as scion wood and have seed grown plants waiting to be grafted onto. That way once you have an established plant you can take all the cuttings you want to experiment with, but you at least have a source plant to work from.

Brent, if the cuttings were unsuccessful is it worthwhile thinking along these lines? Can you get seed of the more basic Telopea species and grow them as rootstock for grafting things like 'Braidwood Brilliant' onto? Do you already grow any Telopeas? If so, can you propagate cuttings from them for grafting onto?

Fascinating discussion, even if perhaps not exactly "flowering now" *grin*. Can't think of anywhere else that this could be moved to though, so we just continue it here eh? LOL

Paul T. Canberra, Australia.
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 11:19 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Howdy All,

Some pics from today....

Abutilon
Not technically "flowering now" but lovely none-the-less. This is a lovely variegated form of Abutilon. Such a lovely bright and clean variegation.

Calibrachoa
A Calibrachoa in flower at the moment.

clematis
Clematis 'Gypsy Queen' putting on some late flowers.

Clerodendron
Clerodendron ugandense. This needs some winter protection from heavy frost. It drops its leaves in winter but reshoots in spring. It predominantly flowers towards autumn, but sometimes flowers in spring as well. It really is a lovely blue!!

eucomis
One of my Eucomis that is still in flower. In real life this looks whiter than in the picture.

Nerine
Nerine masoniorum. This is a tiny little thing with flowers less than an inch wide. Once established it flowers very well each year, setting seed heavily without affecting its flowering prospects. One of my favourites (but I have a lot of favourite nerines! LOL)

I hope you all enjoy.

Paul T. Canberra, Australia.
Brent A. Hine (Bcalpinist)
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Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 4:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Paul & Lesley, Your comments are probably bang on. Sounds like we should have spoken with you first! It seems odd that ANBG would have struck up a deal to sell their cuttings and not enquired as to whether we had rootstocks - I suppose they assumed it was so. As for the other genera and species, I'm sure there are a number of different reasons why they didn't strike. Taking too long to clear through customs is likely a major contributing factor.
Wow, Paul you really are in the neighbourhood!
Lesley, as to your rooting hormone, I'll google that and see if we can find some available for sale. I'd love to bring it in and try again with some of the harder to root choices. In the meantime, I can hunt for some rootstock material from seed. Thanks to you both for your valuable insight.
I wanted to send a pic of our Grevillea victoriae, blooming through the snow in January last year in the alpine garden. However, file size is too big. To my greater surprise, Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. debeuzevillei already bloomed in late January, after a two week mild spell - shocking.
Lyn Buchanan (Lyn)
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Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 8:04 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Flowers & Foliage, for now:



Gentian Paradoxa cross.
Gentian paradoxa cross
Grown from seed & self seeding. Exhibits evenly its paradoxa habit & I presume septemfida including time of flowering. Later,by 3wks usually, the real,true gentian paradoxa will begin to flower whereas septemfida over now.

And not mine, in the sense I didn't grow these 2yr babies but mine to hold & have forever after till death do us part....

Ranunculus buchanani


Glaucous as rue.


Quite different, but the first leaves of R.buchanani aren't that different to R.godleyanus. That wrap of leaf in the centre is enticement for aphids but I've grown Ranunculus godleyanus for years. Still put it into the wind which it likes & the aphids disappear. It's mountain home, for both, maybe 7,000ft but godleyanus was quite at home in dry peat 30 degree heat, part shade - just don't sweat the roots which is what I did 3wks ago!! & now I know once again. Still promising baby here to cherish. It'll stay green all winter, -12 frosts, whereas R.buchanani will die down - I hope to pop up again in spring. A minilog I could write on these but then mini might yet be the keyword so enjoying for now.
Ranunculus godleyanus
Irm Preinesberger (Irm)
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Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 10:37 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Paul, I also have a Clerodendon ugandense, but in a pot and in the house from November to may (this morning -8). It also flowers from spring to autumn, leaves are always green.
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 7:08 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Lyn, I hope death don't do you part too soon! I ordered these two from Hokonui but they are apparently sold out. Louise didn't send me a list when she sent out the others. Dammit.
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 7:38 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

These are flowering here at present. The verbascum and the gentian are out-of-season but no less welcome for that. The others seem to bloom ad infinitum.

This is Geranium papuanum and it makes a tight, glossy mat, a lovely thing. Hardy to about -8degC but sets very little seed.


A seedling from Gentiana angustifolia and the best of these pale turquoise shades, I've called `Aorangi' the Maori name for our highest mountain, Mt Cook. As well as lovely flowers, the foliage is always bright and clean.


Lathyrus nervosus (aka Lord Anson's Blue Pea) is a climber to about 2 metres but is even better as a ground cover or falling over a wall. It is scented, but a rather cosmetic perfume, like talc or lipstick. Lots of seed which pleases me as it's my all time best selling plant. It has been known to stop log truck and oil tanker drivers in their tracks, coming to the house to find out what it is and where can they get it!


Verbascum `Lindisfarne' is a seedling from V. dumulosum, pollinated by V. chaixii album. Low and tufty, it is reliably perennial dying back to a woody framework for winter. Named for my previous garden.


I showed a picture earlier of Rhodanthemum mawii `Ruapuna.' Here is a comparison between that (on the left) and its parent, straight mawii. The former is much hardier and flowers literally all year round, though it benefits from the occasional trim over. Another exceptional nursery plant.


dave toole (T00lie)
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Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 8:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Lesley and lyn-- and who collected the Ranunculus buchananii seed then !!! good to see my seed collecting of the last few seasons is starting to pay dividends.I hope to obtain fresh buchannii x lyallii seed in the next couple of weeks .Dave
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Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 8:35 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dave
I wonder if the R.buchananii that I got from Jim Sutherland's was your seed also ? It has grown well but refuse to flower. I have now split it up and am giving each bit a different treatment to see if I can frighten it into flower.
Nice pics above Keep em comin

Ian
Thanks for repeating the advice, I have made a copy for the next time I forget!!!
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 8:54 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

John, I wonder if your Ranunculus buchananii has the same problem as my R. semiverticillatus. I grew it from John Watson's seed (1988 coll, germ 1992) and after 13 years I have a good plant with 8 growing points last winter but never a single flower yet. It's outside in a trough and I suspect it just doesn't get cold enough. It always comes into visible growth in autumn and by what should be its proper flowering time (Nov here) is already dying down again. Very frustrating plant which if it continues with this pattern, won't ever be seen on THIS thread! Seriously thinking of digging it up, potting it and putting it in the deep freeze for winter. I'll have to throw out the lamb.
john forrest (Jof)
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Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 10:26 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Might make a change from mint sauce if you put them together.
dave toole (T00lie)
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Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 10:52 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

John --not sure ,could be some of Steve Newalls seed although i don't know if he is collecting as much as he used to.At least it appears that way, as i noted he wasn't listed as donating seed to the NZAGS or Otago group last year.
I cannot help you with flowering hints although i read an article in a farming magazine once, about a farmer playing music to his cows and how he thought that boosted production. !!!The article went on to quote his wife about the success she had with talking to her plants!!!
Best of luck. (At least the first paragraph was on a serious note). Dave
Lyn Buchanan (Lyn)
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Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 11:42 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Lesley - All for that, I have suspected for some time that your Ranunc.semivertillicus could be wanting a greater cold period & been very keen to propose that idea together with the digging it up and I know a place it'd do well in with great winter cold chilling potential - I have referred to the -12's before.

Dave ask me! you can have my postal address anytime - you did talk soon & freshly gathered seed, didn't you?.

John - don't talk too loud (don't want to dissuade Lesley) but what winter temps do you do - outside.

LYN
(ps. any hints fully intended)
dave toole (T00lie)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 1:37 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hello Lyn ,how are things up your way--Sure--As i mentioned to lesley --Seed is offered only in return for seed swop.I,m sure you'll have something of interest up there for me. Email has been sent .Dave
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 12:33 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Howdy All,

Some current stuff from my garden....


This is the real Arum pictum (as opposed to Arum italicum var Pictum which is often called Arum 'Pictum'). This is the only Arum species to flower with its emerging leaves in autumn. The leaves as they first emerge also have a strong edge of purple to them, giving a rather striking effect. This is the first time this species has ever flowered for me.


A closeup of the satiny appearance of the spadix.


This is a view down into the base of the flower. The tendrils are bright yellow and glow in the light that passes through the almost translucent walls of the flower base.

Bright belladonna
A very strong pink belladonna.

Bristol's Luvit
Streptocarpus 'Bristol's Luvit' which is a rather different flower colour for a Strep. I do grow this with some protection though... this one is inside under lights although I do grow some streps outside in protected areas on my back verandah etc.

I hope you all enjoy the pics. Sounds like you're getting a few requests for the seed Dave..... I wouldn't even know what to offer you as swaps so I won't ask! LOL

Off to bed now as I need my beauty sleep (and how!!)..... although to look beautiful I think I'd have to sleep for about a century..... actually maybe I'm being optomistic there! LOL

Cheers.

Paul T. Canberra, Australia.
Brent A. Hine (Bcalpinist)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 3:54 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks for the pics, Paul. I feel that we're all quite fortunate to see what most of us cannot hope to grow, esp. out of doors. I think Canberra (and your place) must now go onto my personal list of places that I must visit before I die!
Anthony Darby (Adarby)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 7:55 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi Paul

I had an Arum pictum on the sale bench at the early bulb show in Dunblane, but sadly no takers. One small tuber a year and a half ago has yielded one flower (autumn 2004 - see photo in an earlier posting) and two, now flowering sized, offsets.
Mark Smyth (Mark__n_ireland)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 9:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

thanks for the photos everyone.

I have a Rhodanthemum which hasnt been without blooms all year althought they appear infrequently right now. Even more so because I had to cut half away because it was swamping Galanthus
Lesley Isabel Cox (Lcox)
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Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 11:34 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Lyn, if you seriously think my plant is going up the road to Alex, think again! On the other hand, we could negotiate and of course I'd have to arrange visiting rights. It would be a case of "Have Ranunculus, will travel." We'll talk about it.
Lauren Bertoni (Laurenlolly)
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Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 4:44 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Few things are still flowering...

Cyclamen cilicicum:

cyc1

Cyclamen africanum maybe:

cyc2

Red Begonia:

beg

Cheers,

Lauren
john forrest (Jof)
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Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 8:26 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Nice pics Lauren

Do you guys grow Alyogyne huegelii monterey? I grow it as a conservatory shrub with a thermostat to keep it only just frost free. It is a super thing with an abundance of 5" flowers as shown.



It's rarely out of flower and is just starting again after a severe pruning.
Margaret Young (Myoung)
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Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 8:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Good grief, John, I thought you'd choked as I read that plant name!! I was going to offer to rub Olbas ( as recommended by Jack Brownless) or Vick (as preferred by Alan Newton) on your chest!
I've never heard of this plant. Pretty thing, though... is it related to Hibiscus? It's the sort of flower one expects to see tucked behind the ear of a pretty girl.. but at five inches across, you'd never see her face, would you?
The foliage looks a bit pelargonium-ish, cut and furry. How strange! Thanks for the introduction, John!
john forrest (Jof)
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Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 9:30 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks for the offer Margaret but something more perfumed would be nice.
Not sure about Alyogyne but I Googled it (not gargled, sticking to the theme) and I believe it is a native Aussie shrub.
Paul Tyerman (Tyerman)
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