Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: fermi de Sousa on July 05, 2015, 10:16:41 AM
-
In the depths of winter we have the cheering sight of Sternbergia candida coming into flower once again,
cheers
fermi
-
Here are two crocuses out at present, since 30th June, so truly winter flowering. I've had labels on them but they've faded to invisibility over recent months and I just can't remember. I'll put them on an ID thread on the wider Forum for the various croconuts to see but I thought that you, Anthony, or maybe Otto or Marcus would know, and have them out now too. They could have come from Marcus in the first place but I'm not sure. Anyway, it's lovely to have them now, in very cold weather. :)
The little white is thick textured and weather resistant, ever-so-slightly greyish on the backs of the outer petals, with a small area of pale striping near the tips, greyish and creamy while the yellow is entirely self coloured in and out.
-
Just realized these should be in a July thread. We've had it very cold this last week or so and are to have more snow later today or tomorrow according to the forecasters, yet I have many small daffs in bud, crocuses coming every day and the winter aconite is through. Cyclamen coum is flowering well and the first I. reticulata 'Harmony' yesterday. Spring is coming!! ;D
-
But you don't mention its beautiful scent Fermi. :Crocuses really getting going here.
-
Lesley my first reticulata opened yesterday too! We are in sync. Adelaide and Dunedin.
-
This Nepenthes hybrid has been hanging in this bush for four years. It's now produced a flower bud.
-
Nice Anthony. Be sure to post a picture once the flower opens.
-
I just can't walk past this plant without stopping to admire it. I bought it about 8 years ago, it came with us to the new garden from our old one and I just never get sick of it. We are propagating more at the moment to spread around more. Do other people have favourite foliage plant they can't get enough of?
Persicaria 'Red Dragon' ( edit by maggi to add plant name to text)
-
Mine is Cyclamen hederifolium. This used to grow beneath an oak tree in my childhood garden and has now seeded right along the lane. We have grown this in the thousands on the nursery and selected out different forms and there is no better plant for dry shade. The flowers will appear before long, even without any significant rain. These derive from the 'Bowles Apollo strain' and then the leaves are with you right through the winter. Tremendous plant! (We are just collecting seed).
-
Tim those are stunning. I'd like more cyclamens in the woodland garden.
-
Stunning, indeed. I love the variation in foliage you find in C.hederifolium but Tim's selections are just lovely.
My "can't walk past" foliage plant is Pelargonium dichondraefolium. Sorry, I don't have a photo to hand. It's one of the smaller, shrubby species Pels with nicely rounded leaves and delicate scalloping to the edges. Attractive enough to look at but the fragrance is the best of any Pel I know. Deeply and spicily fragrant, I always have to give it a wee brush on my way past. The flowers are typical of the P.fragrans type, but in this species are rather larger in proportion to the size of the plant so they add something to the overall effect. I picked the plant up at a sale at our local Corporation Nursery many many years ago and am pleased to still have it. I've taken a few cuttings this year and may bring a couple along for the DWE sales table.
-
Sounds wonderful Matt, and not one I know.
-
I don't know Pelargonium dichondraefolium either - so I went on a wee internet search . Matt speaks of the Spicy fragrance, which fits with the description I found of a "black pepper scent" but is rather at odds with another description of "Lavender scented" from Fibrex, the pelargonium nursery! They've got a photo ... http://www.fibrex.co.uk/pelargoniums/species-pelargoniums/p-dichondraefolium-2/ (http://www.fibrex.co.uk/pelargoniums/species-pelargoniums/p-dichondraefolium-2/) ;D
-
That's very interesting! We have a pelargonium cultivar in old gardens around Adelaide which I've described as having a black pepper scent, but it's not like the pictures I see when I google P. dichondraefolium. I'm going to look out for that one Matt. Looks like a good one.
-
Worth picking up if you can find a supplier, Jamus.
I think each person would have a subjective perception of the scent and what it reminds them of. To my nose it's definitely more spicy than lavender, but there could be hints of the latter in there as it's a deep, complex scent. This site mentions both the lavender and pepper tones: http://www.scentedgeraniums.co.uk/scentedgeraniumscatalogue/prod_555291-dichondraefolium-strong-aromatic-scented-pelargonium.html (http://www.scentedgeraniums.co.uk/scentedgeraniumscatalogue/prod_555291-dichondraefolium-strong-aromatic-scented-pelargonium.html)
-
True and I think a lot of people are not really well acquainted with the fragrance of black pepper. If you for instance only bought the ground variety and put it into a pepper shaker where it sat on the table for months, there isn't much smell to be discerned! Really top quality whole pepper freshly cracked however is a different beast altogether. Rebecca and I once went to a very nice and rather expensive Indian restaurant and I ordered a chicken dish which was artfully spiced predominantly with black pepper. The pepper flavour shone above all others and I've since always tried to recreate that dish myself, I'm not sure how successfully. I'm sure my memory of the original is now tainted by prior re-callings and muddied by my imitations.
We are having a proper July this year. An inch of rain fell in the last two days with more coming. It's 5 degrees outside; we've had small hail this morning and the bureau has issued a possible forecast of light snow on the tops of the Mount Lofty ranges today. I'm thrilled! My bulbs will be better than ever next year with any luck. We have a ton of good dry firewood and a well stocked pantry/fridge.
-
The first of the reticulated irises very wet but a welcome site in the rock garden. This one is 'Violet beauty'
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/348/18978588084_0e7b30385f_z.jpg)
-
Jamus you must be way ahead of us with your weather none of my Reticulate Iris are even close to flowering. I have a few buds on my Tubererosa's but no flowers as yet.
-
TT it's interesting because most of my reticulatas are a month or so off flowering but a few in the rock garden were early. Must be a warm spot?
-
Jamus you must be way ahead of us with your weather none of my Reticulate Iris are even close to flowering.
TT it's interesting because most of my reticulatas are a month or so off flowering but a few in the rock garden were early. Must be a warm spot?
Likewise, not even a bud here, though I think Jon had Violet Beauty in bloom for our last meeting; I think it's not a particularly good name for a dark blue flower - doesn't look at all violet to me! Maybe it was bred by someone called Violet? ;D
Your pic of it bejeweled with raindrops is particularly attractive.
Otto did have a couple of McMurtrie's Snow White in flower last week, but the few McM's that I have are also nowhere to be seen!
cheers
fermi
-
Jamus,
Your spring has started and our hasn't quite finished ;D
Nice plant!
-
Fermi I think my camera doesn't quite "get" violet/purple/blue. I should have corrected the colour but it's slightly more violet in the flesh. I agree though, definitely more blue than violet. I'm not complaining, I love the colour. I have a group of "Springtime" along side so it'll be nice to see those for the first time.
-
Hi Jamus, I am also waiting on Reticulata Springtime to see the colour. This morning when I checked I have one flower on a tuberosa and a couple of Reticulata (George) about to flower.
I bought some bulbs of Iris Tuberosa (Blue Jade) from one of the Melbourne Garden centres earlier in the year so waiting to see what they are like also.
Cheers John.
-
My Iris tuberosa has big fat flower buds also. Looking forward to seeing it in bloom again soon.
-
Jamus have you ever seen the Iris Tuberosa Blue Jade in flower, I can't even find a photo of it in flower on Google.
-
No John I haven't, but mine is a slate blue colour and it caused quite a stir when I posted photos on this forum last spring. Here's a link to the post - http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12120.90 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12120.90)
-
I remember that stunning photo of your Iris (Hermodactylus) tuberosa, Jamus - a thing of beauty.
There's a photo here which claims to be 'Blue Jade' - it is by Tim Sandall, a well-known garden photographer :
http://www.gardenworldimages.com/Details.aspx?ID=24457&TypeID=1&searchtype=&contributor=0&licenses=1,2&sort=REL&cdonly=False&mronly=False (http://www.gardenworldimages.com/Details.aspx?ID=24457&TypeID=1&searchtype=&contributor=0&licenses=1,2&sort=REL&cdonly=False&mronly=False)
-
Well that's what mine looks like. I sent Otto a few tubers too so we'll have a second opinion once it comes into bloom.
-
A gift from my good friend Marcus Harvey, who sadly is not well : The beautiful and unusually coloured Juno Iris xSindpers , which Marcus imported from New Zealand years ago . If only these smaller Junos would be easier to grow and keep .
-
Thanks Jamus and Maggi, I will attempt to post a photo when mine eventually flowers.
Cheers John.
-
Hello Otto, Iris x Sindpers is beautiful. I love the subtle green colouration. Do you expect it will set viable seed?
-
Dodged the showers and went for a walk yesterday. This is Drosera peltata, very common here and pretty when in flower (springtime).
[attach=1]
Anyone seen violets this colour? Can you guess what's going on here? ;)
[attach=2]
-
Anyone seen violets this colour? Can you guess what's going on here? ;)
Either pH or food colouring.
-
Anthony I didn't know you were a chemist! The flowers were immersed into ammonia gas. A fun science experiment for the school holidays (albeit a little dangerous!)
-
One for the science lab. I've made a note. 8)
-
In a well ventilated spot outdoors put 2 teaspoons of Ammonium sulphate fertiliser in a deep jar. Add two teaspoons of caustic soda and 2 teaspoons of water. Rest the lid on (don't tighten!) and wait while you find various flowers. Dip the flowers into the gas in the jar and behold the amazing colour changes!
*disclaimer - I don't recommend that you do this, it's much too dangerous. This experiment is extremely dangerous and should not be performed by anyone, ever. Enjoy. :)
-
We had some of these growing by the front door. I'm so glad I ditched them! Agave attenuata.
-
Jamus have you ever seen the Iris Tuberosa Blue Jade in flower, I can't even find a photo of it in flower on Google.
TT - I've tried to take a photo of my Iris tuberosa Blue Jade. It's not an easy flower to photograph (especially when you only know photography basics like me). I know this photo isn't too clear but I can't focus clearly after a recent eye operation (pupils still dilated) so it's the best I can do! :)
-
Hello Jon - sorry to hear about your eye problems - hope all is soon well. :-*
-
Good job for a bloke with half an eye! ;) That looks much like the colouring of mine. I will be doing my best to get good pictures of mine when it flowers. The buds are developing nicely.
-
Jamus, that's a cool trick with the violets. I guess it's something like when you add baking soda to red cabbage juice and turn it blue or green. Changing the color of the anthocyanins.
The violet is also lovely. What kind is it? It looks a lot like one of our native violets, Viola pedata, bird's foot violet, a sand-loving plant.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
-
Gabriel they are a large flowered cultivar of the common Viola odorata which was in the garden here when we moved in. I don't know what it's called, but they self seed freely and come true from seed. The perfume is beautiful. A bit of a weed but a lovely one at that.
-
Jamus, it looks like a very nice weed to have. I like the veins and the white center. Viola odorata isn't that common in Minnesota, but Betty Ann has some. It doesn't behave as a weed around here, sadly. It died out in one spot and then reappeared under a cypress tree. I spread the seed over a wide area under the tree in hopes of getting more to grow. At least I have one very long-blooming violet-scented flower: Cyclamen purpurascens.
-
I'll swap you some of my Violets for your Cyclamens! If only... Viola odorata is literally a weed here. You can see it in National Parks on stream banks. Interesting that it doesn't behave that way there...
-
John, thanks for posting the photo of Blue Jade at least now I know what to look forward to when mine does eventually flower here. Chilly nights here at the moment minus four last night, and the same predicted for tonight.
-
Flowering in July
1/ Scoliopus bigelovii
2/ Scoliopus bigelovii
3/ Galanthus dionysus
4/ Narcissus romieuxii ex "Julia Jane"
5/ Narcissus ? lost label. Would like to put a name to this.
Edna
-
Edna thanks for posting those pictures. Stunning plants and very well grown. Scoliopus bigelovii is high on my list of wants but I haven't come across it for sale yet.
Your Galanthus dionysus is exemplary, look how many buds are coming!
-
Thank you for your kind words Jamus. As you will know I cannot send you a plant but I do expect seed later in the season. I have an older plant outside in a one of my garden tubs which usually produces an abundance - so let me know if you would like some. Can take up five years to flower but so interesting and well worth the effort. My own plants were grown form Belgium seed. Yes I love the galanthus - a few bulbs given to me some years ago have increased nicely. Have other doubles coming on I am looking forward to - just hope they survive the hail expected later. Impossible to cover all my treasures.
Regards Edna
-
I like your hoop petticoats, which seem to be behaving well, and the Dionysus are looking really good too. I never got seeds on my Scoliopus bigelovii.
-
Some pics taken down at Bill Dijk's place near Tauranga. An unidentified cyclamen; Lachenalia hybrids; Narcissus viridiflorus cross; Iris unguicularius and a view of the pans of plants in one section, with Tecophilaea cyanocrocus in the 3 dozen or so nearest boxes.
-
I don't know why your Scoliopus bigelovii does not set seed Anthony. Maybe it could be that my plant is outside where it is more exposed to insects. It is certainly smelly enough to attract them. I find it fascinating that as the seed capsule matures the plant bends & bows over to bring it in down in contact with the soil.
Regards Edna
-
My plant was outside in the rockery in Dunblane. Never got down close enough to smell it. Not a plant I would grow here though.
-
I don't know why your Scoliopus bigelovii does not set seed... It is certainly smelly enough to attract them...
Hi Edna,
I think the polite term is "wet dog"! ;D I'm not too sad that I can't grow that one here! :-\
It was a beautiful, sunny winter's day here after a ferocious (for us) frost, so a good day to get stuck into the gardening.
A few blooms I thought worth sharing:
Sternbergia candida now in full flower,
A single bloom on Crocus olivieri ssp olivieri, grown from seed Marcus Harvey collected in (on?) Steno (?),
Galanthus 'Lady Beatrix Stanley'
Dryandra, now Banksia....label buried in there somewhere!
Muscari inconstrictum, this one grown from seed from AGS Seedex,
cheers
fermi
-
Quote from: Arum on Today at 04:27:33 AM
I don't know why your Scoliopus bigelovii does not set seed... It is certainly smelly enough to attract them...
Many people find that Scoliopus bigelovii will not set seed. Alf Evans wrote as much in "The Peat Garden" - he had not had the plants set seed in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (at that time - it maybe that they have more success there now)
We have found that it is willing to set seed here, though we are not always good at collecting it :-X
-
Hello Fermi
Yes all wonderful blooms to share thank you. Especially the Galanthus "Lady Beatrix Stanley" & the muscari inconstrictum - such a great little plant & such beautiful shades of blue. Love it.
Regards Edna
-
I've never had seed on mine even with hand pollinating. I wondered if it needed another clone? but perhaps not if yours Edna, is just a single plant. A friend in Dunedin had it growing in a half barrel for many years and the stems curled over the side all round and shed masses of seed so that it eventually become a tight ground cover.
Looking forward to a sunny day and there will be two flowers on Iris danfordiae. Yeah!! ;D
-
Wondering now if the crocus I posted n the Crocus ID thread may be olivieri ssp olivieri. I know I had it somewhere. It looks just like yours Fermi.
-
The thought of Scoliopsis bigelovii setting seed and making groundcover is remarkable. We've never had seed set on it but S. hallii has set lots of seed, though few people will ever notice it.
Fermi - presumably all Dryandra are now Banksia? I have 'The Banksia Book' and 'The Dryandra Book' - Field Guide by R.M.Sainsbury (and 'The Grevillea Book') - they are obviously very close botanically but dryandras are restricted to the south-west as far as I know so do make quite a distinctive group. These Australian Proteaceae are fascinating - we used to grow quite a few (they would suit our present really dry summer well - wouldn't like the winters so much!).
-
Tim & Maggi,
I am just beginning to realize how lucky I have been. I have had S. halli also set seed in the past - such a dainty little thing.
Regards Edna
-
Yes all wonderful blooms to share thank you. Especially the Galanthus "Lady Beatrix Stanley" & the muscari inconstrictum - such a great little plant & such beautiful shades of blue.
Thanks, Edna,
Lady Beatrix is the only one of the doubles that does well in our garden and has actually increased! I've posted a pic of another seed raised M.inconstrictum on the "Muscari Thread" which I grew from seed from Kurt Vickery; it's more vigorous than this one and increased a bit, while this one hardly producesany offsets :(
Wondering now if the crocus I posted n the Crocus ID thread may be olivieri ssp olivieri. I know I had it somewhere. It looks just like yours Fermi.
Could be, Lesley,
you'd need Otto or Marcus to confirm; I'm no expert!
Fermi - presumably all Dryandra are now Banksia? I have 'The Banksia Book' and 'The Dryandra Book' - Field Guide by R.M.Sainsbury (and 'The Grevillea Book') - they are obviously very close botanically but dryandras are restricted to the south-west as far as I know so do make quite a distinctive group. These Australian Proteaceae are fascinating - we used to grow quite a few (they would suit our present really dry summer well - wouldn't like the winters so much!).
Hi Tim,
I love the banksias and we've planted a number over the years. This one has great foliage which you have to shove aside to be able to see the flowers! Here are a few more pics,
cheers
fermi
-
Fermi
The muscari you have posted on that thread are so lovely - thanks so much for that. I have always really admired this family of bulbs & do hope to gather more eventually. I have one or two myself, I think they have had a name change since I planted them in my tubs years ago, I hope to post them on the forum later in the season. Sorry I am still learning this - must learn how you add a "quote".
Edna
-
I concur Edna, I admire the Muscari and it's something I haven't ventured into yet. More plants?! :o Fermi your Lady Beatrix Stanley is really impressive and gives me hope for mine, and snowdrops in general. I rememeber you saying it was substantially drier there than over here.
Tim - how about this one, Isopogon ceratophyllus which I photographed on a walk in the bush North of Adelaide last week. I'll have to go back when they are in flower and get more pictures.
-
Jamus,
Isopogon ceratophyllus - I look forward to seeing them in bloom. The foliage looks fascinating! Something for me to look-up. Thank you for sharing!
-
Edna, look on the far right hand side of each post, at the top of the post, and you'll find the word "Quote" with a tiny page beside it (it's on the same line as July 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere or whatever the thread's title is). Click the word Quote and you'll get a new window in which to write your post. Very easy. If you wish, you can highlight the parts of the quote displayed that you don't want, and delete them leaving just the relevant bit.
Are you likely to be able to travel south on 3-4 October to OAGG's NEW SPRING SHOW? If so you could pick up the Narcissus I was going to keep for you last summer and Gal. 'Lady Beatrix Stanley' too if you wanted it. Things got away on me then and much didn't happen that should have.
-
Robert, sometimes you discover Isopogon by feel rather than site. You certainly know about it if you walk into one! They are a worthy garden plant for neutral to acid soil. I promise to share pictures but it's a bit early yet for most things.
-
Edna, look on the far right hand side of each post.
Are you likely to be able to travel south on 3-4 October to OAGG's NEW SPRING SHOW.
Oh Lesley that is so good of you.
I will most definitely give it serious thought. Will probably miss out on entering & attending NZAGS Spring Show [again] because of surgery - replacement right shoulder. Left one this time last year - so will be looking for something special to do/go on recovery. It sounds perfect. Will let you know.
Regards Edna
-
Edna - or should we call you "the Bionic Woman" - wishing you lots of luck with the next surgery. Sending best wishes !!
-
Robert, sometimes you discover Isopogon by feel rather than site. You certainly know about it if you walk into one! They are a worthy garden plant for neutral to acid soil. I promise to share pictures but it's a bit early yet for most things.
Jamus,
I look forward to any photographs of your local flora. Is there a book on your local flora that is worth recommending. At our local library we have a good book on the flora of Australia. Australia is huge! and there are many climatic regions. Maybe this book is a good over view, however for me a book on your, somewhat, local flora (within 100-200 miles) could be helpful. I may be able to order it from our local library or get a copy somewhere else.
-
Edna - or should we call you "the Bionic Woman" - wishing you lots of luck with the next surgery. Sending best wishes !!
[/quote
Thanks Maggi. Yes I'm hoping I'll feel like her too. If left shoulder is any indication then it will all be very successful.
Regards Edna
-
Yes Edna, I remember you were about to go for surgery this time last year or thereabouts so I'm glad it was successful and am sure this new lot will be too. We had a retired orthopaedic surgeon speak to us last Thursday at OAGG, not about knees/hips and the like but about beekeeping for home gardeners. He's been a beekeeper since the age of 12 and his talk was wonderful. When I introduced him I made the inevitable joke about him knowing all about the bees' knees and saw a slightly pained look on his face before he smiled. He's obviously heard that joke a thousand times before. What amazing things bees are and how blithely we take them for granted yet how heavily we rely on them to provide us with fruit and grains and so many other foodstuffs either directly or indirectly. I certainly have a new and healthy respect for bees. I also have a nice kilo far of honey! :)
-
Robert, sometimes you discover Isopogon by feel rather than site. You certainly know about it if you walk into one! They are a worthy garden plant for neutral to acid soil. I promise to share pictures but it's a bit early yet for most things.
More suited in Robert's climate than mine I suppose ;) :-\
-
from Gabriel July 17th
The violet is also lovely. What kind is it? It looks a lot like one of our native violets, Viola pedata, bird's foot violet, a sand-loving plant.
Gabriel,
Sorry for this late reply, but (suspecting that your pics were made near to you) I am interested in the conditions in which Viola pedata occurs.
Does it experience a longer periode of dryness in fall?
I once read (forgot where) that a hot and dry periode is essential for successful cultivation of this tricky species because the leaves should wilt at this time.
Another question is about hardiness. What are the minima in winter in your region and is there a permanent snow cover normally?
Gerd
Edit : Gabriel, you might care to answer this in the Viola/Violets thread, where Gerd has asked for his question to be reposted :
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13098.msg337568#msg337568 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13098.msg337568#msg337568) :) maggi
-
Two bright spots for mid winter. The Iris danfordiae has duly come out but so far (from yesterday mid-day), hasn't opened fully. I'm hoping a little more sun today might do the trick. The other is Narcissus romieuxii 'Atlas Gold,' a Jim Archibald selection. and the main patch has been in bloom for about 4 weeks now but beginning to look tatty. This little pot of "babies," not much bigger than rice really, has still produced so far, 12 buds on 5 tiny bulbs. It is heavily and quite cloyingly scented while the iris has a delicate violet-like perfume, very nice and I love the grass-green markings in the centre and on the lower outside.
Iris danfordiae has virtually no standards to the flowers, often said to have reduced "bristles" but I can't see even those. The style arms though are large and prominent to compensate. Unfortunately, this "commercial" (as distinct from wild collected) form seems to be sterile and doesn't produce seed. My single bulb from last year split in two and was fed with a large dose of potassium sulphate when I put it in a larger pot in the summer. It will get some more when the blooms are finished and more again before the bulbs start to root again late summer. I really want to make a permanently flowering colony if possible.
-
Oxalis versicolor is looking a picture here at the moment, particularly when the sun comes out.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/372/19637833229_8fd3b1458a_c.jpg)
-
Jamus,
I think that you could change my mind about Oxalis. You have grown Oxalis massoniana to perfection! It seems that we have only the weedy types around here. Maybe I should give some a try......with caution.
-
A friend has just pointed out that I've named it incorrectly. It's usually called Oxalis versicolor, but Otto says it's Oxalis hirta.
-
A friend has just pointed out that I've named it incorrectly. It's usually called Oxalis versicolor, but Otto says it's Oxalis hirta.
Hi Jamus,
I think it used to be called O. hirta var versicolor but I think it's now just O. versicolor.
As Robert says, you've grown it to perfection! This is one that I "trust" in the garden but it is being crowded out by the Oxalis palmifrons! We've now discovered an outlier of the O.palmifrons clump, about 15 cm away from the rock edge, so we'll be investigating how they respond to glyphosate on the weekend!
cheers
fermi
-
Thanks Fermi, I've put a few bulbs of this into the rock garden in a little nook and it's looking good in there. If Oxalis palmifrons is anything like pes-caprae roundup won't be enough to kill it. You might need something stronger, for instance a tiny spike of Hammer in Glyphosate will increase it's effectiveness on broad-leaf weeds markedly.
-
Hammer?
-
It's a herbicide John, a trade name here, I don't know if it's available as something else in other countries.
-
Hammer?
You can Google it, Ralph.
It's available here but needs extreme caution in usage.
-
You could omit the massoniana word from your versicolor picture too Jamus. O. massoniana is a gorgeous autumn flowering species.
Have to add another picture of Iris danfordiae now that it has come out properly.
-
Seems a bit mean of me to have a favourite of the reticulate Iris - but it's hard not to love Iris danfordiae- small and perfectly formed. It's the colour of sunshine with fab green markings in Lesley's picture - just lovely.
-
Yes I agree Maggi, I've never seen it in person but those pictures are stunning Lesley.
-
Iris unguicularius cretensis flowering now. This one came from Bill Dijk, whom I visited on Saturday.
-
Those are lovely too Anthony. It flowers quite a bit later for me, Sept/October. Of course Bill and you live in the banana belt - and avocado and mango and pawpaw etc. Lucky people. :)
-
[attachimg=1]
Dionysia aretioides surprised me by popping out flowers! I wasn't expecting that!
[attachimg=2]
Camellias are looking nice in the garden at the moment
[attachimg=3]
Narcissus albidus ssp. albidus. I thought this fellow had finished flowering and then it decided to have another go.
[attachimg=4]
Senecio rowleyanus, smells divinely like old fashioned pomanders, oranges and cloves.
-
Maggi the new image resizing tool destroyed my pics... :-\ maybe some subtle tweaking, jpeg compression settings are cranked up to technical level, I can see efficiency is winning out over fidelity. ;)
For comparison., hosted on flickr vs. srgc
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3751/19828252828_fed685944a_z.jpg)
[attachimg=1]
-
Some pics from the last AGS Vic Group meeting (25-07-15)
A view of the bench
Palmiro's Juno Iris x Sindpers
Helen's retic Iris 'Alida'
Di's Cyclamen coum
?Viv's Eranthis hiemalis
cheers
fermi
-
Maggi the new image resizing tool destroyed my pics... :-\ maybe some subtle tweaking, jpeg compression settings are cranked up to technical level, I can see efficiency is winning out over fidelity. ;
For comparison., hosted on flickr vs. srgc
Jamus, I've compared the two photos and I can see there is a difference in sharpness.
The flickr hosted pic is downloading here as 497 x 640 pixels / 77KB. The second is 543 x 700 pixels / 15KB
I regret that there is this slight detriment to your most excellent quality photos. I think, though, that if you were to load pix pre-sized to the SRGC limits, pixel wise, (750 max wide, 700 max high) you would still be able to load a higher resolution. I will be testing that as time allows.
The reasoning behind the introduction of the automatic sizing function is that many people have said that the chore of resizing their photos put them off posting pix and indeed it was clear that some found it very difficult and others were simply ignoring the sizes asked for. Naturally, we want as many people as possible to feel relaxed about both posting and viewing pictures on the forum.
We would prefer that pictures are posted directly to the forum, since there have been instances in the past where photos of interest have been lost to the forum and to discussions here, because of outside hosting site accounts not being maintained or removed. The integrity of discussions on plant differences and so on has thus been compromised which seems a great pity in one of the few places where all are welcome to join in and many terrific pieces of plant related information have been shared openly in a place where it can remain n a searchable form.
I will certainly look into the question of whether, for those wishing to have a higher resolution for their photos, the "old" resizing method will still work, but I hope you will acknowledge the benefit of this new function to the average member who seeks an easy route, or for those seeking to load many photos, say of a show, for the benefit of the wide audience unable to see such events in person.
Edit to add: I have seen that it is possible to load a photo within the size restriction up to the 200KB limit which will allow for the posting of higher resolution photos by the previous method, which will, I hope satisfy those seeking such refinements. In saying this, there is no doubt that perfectly sharp and very detailed photos have been posted on the Forum well within the pixel restrictions and often well below 100 KB in size so there is plenty scope for all, we hope.
-
Hi Maggi, I am not criticising the tool in general, I guess I hoped that it might be an easy tweak that could be made to improve the quality a touch. Like you said it's easy enough for me to resize the photos myself and post them in the usual way. I really meant it as constructive critisism but if it can't be changed it's really not that bad.
I take your point about uploading images to the forum rather than hosting off site. I'll try to do that more often, it's just that since I use flickr it's convenient for me to link to the images there rather than do a separate resize. That's just me being lazy which is easily remedied.
-
Those are lovely too Anthony. It flowers quite a bit later for me, Sept/October. Of course Bill and you live in the banana belt - and avocado and mango and pawpaw etc. Lucky people. :)
Not seen any mangoes. :)
-
Not seen any mangoes. :)
Thanks for trying to make us feel a BIT better, Anthony! ;D :P
-
Hi Maggi, I am not criticising the tool in general, I guess I hoped that it might be an easy tweak that could be made to improve the quality a touch. Like you said it's easy enough for me to resize the photos myself and post them in the usual way. I really meant it as constructive critisism but if it can't be changed it's really not that bad.
I take your point about uploading images to the forum rather than hosting off site. I'll try to do that more often, it's just that since I use flickr it's convenient for me to link to the images there rather than do a separate resize. That's just me being lazy which is easily remedied.
Thank you Jamus. It may be that some other adjustment can be made to the automatic function but that remains to be seen. Your initial comment that " the new image resizing tool destroyed (my) pics " was a rather alarming statement!
-
To be honest, I couldn't see the difference between Jamus' pictures, but then my eyes aren't what they use to be - I keep running into pubs.
-
To be honest, I couldn't see the difference between Jamus' pictures, but then my eyes aren't what they use to be - I keep running into pubs.
;D ;D
Brings to mind the comment by the President that we are a drinking club with a plant problem - I THINK she was kidding!
-
Thanks for trying to make us feel a BIT better, Anthony! ;D :P
I won't spoil it by telling you one of our neighbours had to remove his clump of bananas as they were taking over one corner of his garden!
-
Good grief!
[attachimg=1]
We've got cold rain - again......
-
John, if you squint you might see the difference between these three versions of the same image. Jpeg averages the image in blocks of 8 pixels by 8 pixels, creating a mathematical representation of the colour and gradation within each of these blocks. The lower the quality setting the rougher the approximation, and the smaller the file size. The resulting artifacts around the blocks of 8 are known in graphics as "jaggies", because they make smooth lines appear jagged.
As you can see this whole collage of three with varying qualities is only 95kb.
[attachimg=1]
-
The best of my current Galanthus is G. elwesii 'EmeraldHughes', a super form from the Blue Mountain nursery of Denis and his late father Stanley Hughes, about an hour south of here. I should have taken the picture while lying on my tum, in order to see the markings but will try that as soon as the sun comes out again, or I could lift it up of course. I'll get them into the garden for next year.
Then a few Eranthis hiemalis in a pot. These are the ones a bird has dug up and left lying on top. The main bunch are still not quite up yet.
And finally 2 of the XOS model daffodil, Narcissus asturiensis, seed collected from the Picos de Europa, (seed a gift from Maggi who had it from Brian Duncan) The stem is just 1 cm high and the surrounding gravel is about .5 of a cm or a little larger. The "face" of the little daff is gently lying against the rock in one of my large wash-tub troughs. It has grown to almost twice its height since first noticed on July 25th! Several more are to come.
-
Smart snowdrop, Lesley - which for some daft reason I have firmly in my head as "Emerald Hughes" ( I think it's a confusion with Emerald Cunard - I can't help the connections my brain makes!!) Lovely shape it has.
I am sure no-one could resist the tiny N. asturiensis - what a charming little thing it is! Makes a standard garden "daff" look a great gallumphing brute by comparison!
-
You are right Maggi, it should be 'Emerald Hughes' as I did manage to name the file. I'm not sure why but when it was first selected out (I thought recently but it was ages ago when Stanley was alive and gardening. He was older than my mother and died many years ago now) I believe it was the reverse but because there is also an 'Emerald' in the UK and Europe, the Hughes was added afterwards in an attempt to avoid confusion between the two, so Denis later sold it as EH - which leave many people TOTALLY confused. No matter, it's the best snowdrop I have.
I think I've referred to it previously on the Forum as 'Hughes' Emerald' which won't have helped. ???
-
Paddy posted a photo labelled G. "Hughes Emerald" back in 2010 http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4674.495 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4674.495)
-
Interestingly - the internet search results suggest that while it seems to be referred to a 'Hughes Emerald' on this side o f the pond, in New Zealand and Australia they seem to favour 'Emerald Hughes' !!
The "galanthomanie.de" site says exactly the opposite - that the NZ plant 'Hughes Emerald' is also known in England a 'Emerald Hughes'
Confused, who wouldn't be?
However, Blue Mountain Nursery - the nursery of the Hughes family, calls it 'Emerald Hughes' so that's good enough for me. I am surprised but rather pleased to discover that my instinct was correct!!
http://www.bmn.co.nz/product/giant-snowdrop-2/ (http://www.bmn.co.nz/product/giant-snowdrop-2/)
This citation for Denis Hughes as FRNZIH may also be of interest :
[attachurl=1]
-
Having a shot at the new, tweaked photo resizing tool.
[attachimg=1]
verdict: it looks great. I'm very happy with the quality. See it was worth speaking out. ;)
-
Indeed it was, Jamus! I'm so pleased Fred was able to make an adjustment - I had no idea that would be possible. What a stunning colour your reticulate Iris has :o - I just love these little iris.
-
Maggi I knew enough to know that it was possible.
I love the reticulate irises too and I'd love to have some of the species and special ones I see in posts here. I'll be perusing the seed ex list in 2016.
Spotted this Pterostylis longifolia on a walk recently. The season for these winter flowering terrestrial orchids is under way. If it would stop raining I could get out and do some photography.
-
Jamus,
Pterostylis longiflia, what a fascinating terrestrial orchid. Maybe they are all fascinating.
Hopefully it will stop raining soon. I would love to see more of your native flora.
-
Maybe the land needs the water? ;)
I do read about severe fires in California, Robert.
-
Yes, it looks super Jamus. Is it 'Harmony'?
I see the price for 'Emerald Hughes' on the Blue Mountain website is $14.99 Not sure what that is at present in UK pounds, maybe about 6, our dollar at rock bottom at the moment, however when I bought my 3 about 5 years ago, they were potted and when I got them home found there were 4 or 5 bulbs in each pot :) and not a narcissus fly grub anywhere.
-
Yes Maggi, Reticulate Iris 'Harmony'. I noticed a flower on the 'Purple Gem' this morning as I went out the door on my way to work. They are a joy in this gloomy weather.