Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Ian Young's Bulb Log - Feedback Forum => Topic started by: Ian Y on January 06, 2021, 11:13:35 AM
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Click the link for the first Bulb Log of 2021 where we look forward to another year in the garden.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Jan061609930078BULB_LOG_0121.pdf
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The lull before the bulb season, still and cold but quite a few things poking their noses out of the frozen soil here. I wish I had that many hoops Ian, and that my garden was that tidy!
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I'm looking forward to this year and season. I enjoy the bulb log all year round, but most of all in our winter months when nothing grows here, and you have all kinds of plants coming up and flowering. Thank you!
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The lull before the bulb season, still and cold but quite a few things poking their noses out of the frozen soil here. I wish I had that many hoops Ian, and that my garden was that tidy!
I can assure you the garden is far from tidy even for me - I just need some favourable weather to get it ready before the growth gets too advanced.
I'm looking forward to this year and season. I enjoy the bulb log all year round, but most of all in our winter months when nothing grows here, and you have all kinds of plants coming up and flowering. Thank you!
Thank you for your continued support Leena one of the best things about the forum is that we can all enjoy multiple seasons as people in different climate zones share their plants with us sometimes flowering before and sometimes after they are flowering in our own gardens.
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Locked down and frozen but the Bulb Log continues.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Jan131610536433BULB_LOG_0221.pdf
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Ian what's the orign of Narcissus 'Mondieu' (my god in english)?
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It's from Tasmania, Australia, Yann - one of Rod Barwick's narcissus.
Daffseek confirms that it's not registered but has been around since before 2005 - https://daffseek.org/detail-page/?cultivar=Mondieu&auto=1
First mentioned by fermi in this forum in 2007.
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Snowdrops, Narcissus, Cyclamen, Moss, along with winter tasks - just click the link for this weeks Bulb Log.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Jan201611140296BULB_LOG_0321.pdf
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After seeing this I just checked my Trillium seedlings too - one pot with a couple of seedlings. Surprising how early they were, I wouldn't have expected them for another month or so. A couple of pots of Erythroniums also showing good germination.
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It can be surprising how early some seeds will germinate if suitable conditions are there.
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Feast your eyes on a host of golden daffodils - this week's Bulb Log is a gallery of Narcissus.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Jan271611742765BULB_LOG_0421.pdf
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Your namesake crocus is very distinctive. I hope it provides you with seeds.
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Thanks Diane self pollination is never the best but is my only option neither is the weather the best for fertilisation so I live in hope rather than expectation.
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One of the many good things about a rock garden is it looks good even when frozen - click the link for a cold Bulb Log.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Feb031612352356BULB_LOG_0521.pdf
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This Bulb Log looks inside and out at the Narcissus, Crocus, Galanthus and Eranthis before the deep snow covered the garden click on the link below.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Feb101612953788BULB_LOG_0621.pdf
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Since last week the garden has been under a white blanket with some very cold temperatures - click the Bulb log link for the Snow Report.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Feb171613557810BULB_LOG_0721.pdf
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It will be interesting to hear later how plants/bulbs in the bigger troughs (the ones with the sides open to cold and snow only in the top) outside have coped with cold. Do you think they are frozen through?
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It will be interesting to hear later how plants/bulbs in the bigger troughs (the ones with the sides open to cold and snow only in the top) outside have coped with cold. Do you think they are frozen through?
Leena I think some will been in frozen soils but we mostly only plant proven hardy bulbs/plants there - I will keep you informed in future Bub Logs of any damage from this cold spell.
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From Snow white to Show white - the beautiful white Eranthis, Snowdrops galore, Crocus, Cyclamen and Narcissus just click on this link to the Bulb Log.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Feb241614161820BULB_LOG_0821.pdf
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Again it is so good to see flowering snowdrops and eranthis in the bulb log and video.
E.pinnatifida so so pretty, and I especially like the foliage of the pink form. Your experience that it grows better outside even this winter than inside sounds good. It could grow even here.
In very snowy winters some snowdrops grow and even flower inside the snow also here, especially the early ones. There are differences in which ones come up inside the snow and some wait until all the snow is gone before they start to grow. It may also have something to do with how deep the ground is frozen, and how early in the autumn the frost has come. One year when the ground was frozen already in November and was frozen deep, snowdrops were very late coming up, while most years when ground is frozen only 10-20cm (if any, under the snow) some snowdrops do come up and grow inside the snow.
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I think there is a verygood chance that Eranthis pinnatifida would grow with you Leena especially if you have good snow cover.
As you describe it depends on how far down the ground freezes and how early the frosts arrive - there are so many factors that moderate our seasons it is not just as simple as how cold it gets.
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Oh my - every time I see your photos of Eranthis pinnatifida my jaw drops and I get the urge to dash for my painting gear. Fortunately after a cup of tea and a sit down it soon passes! What a colour combination, and framed so prettily by the ruff of leaves/bracts.
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It is a wee stunner Anne perfection in miniature especially the pink forms.
You can paint and have a cup of tea :D
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Sunshine and colour fill the garden this week along with splitting bulbs, feeding bulbs, and seeding bulbs click the link to reveal all.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Mar031614769309BULB_LOG_0921.pdf
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I am glad the bad weather was left behind Ian and the garden looks so wonderful with so many snowdrops, Eranthis and many more bulbs to come!
Thank you for the constant reminders through your bulb-log. Every time I say I'll make a note to feed my patches of Corydalis and few snowdrops and by the time spring arrives here I forget.
This year I'll place the fertilizer box somewhere where I can easily see it :)
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Thanks, Ian, I read the bulb log at lunchtime and then spent time this afternoon going round the garden with fertiliser for all the emerging corydalis and the special snowdrops. Lots of erythroniums are starting to appear, so they were fed too. I’m like you, Gabriela, full of good intentions, then I forget to do the less urgent jobs.
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I am glad the bad weather was left behind Ian and the garden looks so wonderful with so many snowdrops, Eranthis and many more bulbs to come!
Thank you for the constant reminders through your bulb-log. Every time I say I'll make a note to feed my patches of Corydalis and few snowdrops and by the time spring arrives here I forget.
This year I'll place the fertilizer box somewhere where I can easily see it :)
Hi Gabriela what type of fertilizer do you provide?
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Thanks Gabriela and Carolyn glad I can remind you of the benefits of feeding your plants at the time when they most need it to make good growth.
I sunny weather has gone now with cloudy cold conditions prevailing highs of just 4C.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Ian, with so many plants in your garden and no sign of labels, how do you know what is where? Do you keep a plan of each area?
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Ian, with so many plants in your garden and no sign of labels, how do you know what is where? Do you keep a plan of each area?
The simple answer is I do remember where a lot of plants are but we do get nice surprises when something we have forgotten about appears.
Because the beds are so full planting is a very delicate process digging holes more like an archeologist than a gardener also this is why we plant so much by scattering seed.
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The simple answer is I do remember where a lot of plants are but we do get nice surprises when something we have forgotten about appears.
Because the beds are so full planting is a very delicate process digging holes more like an archeologist than a gardener also this is why we plant so much by scattering seed.
Hi Ian
I also read your bulb log regularly. I never fertilize my corydalis in spring. I saw you feed with balanced weak fertilizer. Since Corydalis emerges with flower buds is it better to add fertilizer with high middle number.Sorry for my question. My knowledge of fertilizer is very limited.
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I’m like you, Gabriela, full of good intentions, then I forget to do the less urgent jobs.
Precisely Carolyn, and our main problem here is that spring is usually very, very short, with so much to do. In a blink of an eye it changes into summer temp. wise.
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Hi Gabriela what type of fertilizer do you provide?
Kris, if you read my comment - I actually forget to fertilize the spring flowering species which are in the ground. At most I fertilize my young seedlings.
I usually have handy an all purpose, with equal NPK granular fertilizer (Miracle-Grow or CIL which are availabe everywhere). It can also be incorporated in a potting mix.
Using different ratios of NPK would be best, like Ian mentions, but I try to keep it simple.
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Hi Ian
I also read your bulb log regularly. I never fertilize my corydalis in spring. I saw you feed with balanced weak fertilizer. Since Corydalis emerges with flower buds is it better to add fertilizer with high middle number.Sorry for my question. My knowledge of fertilizer is very limited.
Kris I use a 7-7-7 type fertiliser for the Corydalis and other emerging bulbs Corydails have a relatively short growing season so it is not always practical to target the nutrients the same as I do with others so giving them the three main ones together is easy and seems to work.
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Kris I use a 7-7-7 type fertiliser for the Corydalis and other emerging bulbs Corydails have a relatively short growing season so it is not always practical to target the nutrients the same as I do with others so giving them the three main ones together is easy and seems to work.
Thanks Ian. It makes sense to me. I will follow this fertilizer regime.
You have lots of beautiful plants particularly in the spring when the garden wakes up from the winter slumber. Unfortunately I can't grow many of them but I enjoy reading about it.
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There are plenty Crocus, Iris, Galanthus and Narcissus to seen in the bulb houses and the garden click the Bulb Log link.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Mar101615370710BULB_LOG_1021.pdf
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Click the link to the Bulb Log where you will see plenty of Daffodils, heaps of Snowdrops, the first Erythronium flowers, some Crocus and there is more........
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Mar171615976823BULB_LOG_1121.pdf
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Getting into the habitat with Hepatica, Corydalis, Erythronium. Trillium, Crocus, Narcissus and many more delights to see when you click on the link to the Bulb Log.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Mar241616580292BULB_LOG_1221.pdf
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Gosh Ian, what a beautiful cover!
Lovely to see your plants emerging through the moss carpet in such a 'natural' way.
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Thank you Ashley, glad that you like it that look certainly appeals to me...
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I'm glad Trillium ovatum maculosum is still alive. My three plants have not appeared for the last couple of years. I don't know whether I can blame wild rabbits.
I had always sent my seeds off to the exchange, so didn't have seedlings coming along. I should have given some to family members so I could have replaced mine.
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Ian, another super bulb log, thanks. A question - your hepaticas in the lovely moss carpet, are they growing in the shade of deciduous trees or in the open? I ask because I have never been very successful with hepaticas in an open location, but now, having planted them under deciduous trees, they are growing better. They appreciate the summer dryness under the trees, but I think that summer wet is less of an issue for you on the east coast than it is on the west coast. Or is the answer sharp drainage? Your mini-habitat must be reasonably moist, for the moss to grow so well.
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I've never had masses of success with these either. I don't think they like a wet climate much and I wonder if the alkaline substrate also helps?
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I'm glad Trillium ovatum maculosum is still alive. My three plants have not appeared for the last couple of years. I don't know whether I can blame wild rabbits.
I had always sent my seeds off to the exchange, so didn't have seedlings coming along. I should have given some to family members so I could have replaced mine.
Diane I t is slow to increase and because of weather we don't get seed every year but I always sow what we get in the hope of building up a decent population of this plant.
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Carolyn there are no trees immediately above and the plants do get full sun for part of the day but not all day.
We are not as wet as you or Tristan but the raised landscape with a gritty sand substrate makes sure that it is never excessively wet but damp enough for the moss to grow. Despite the broken concrete the ph is acid as in all our garden.
I remember seeing this plant growing in moss at the base of trees in Seeden which gave me the idea to try this.
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Thanks, Ian, I have lots of seedlings growing in pots. Your experiment is giving me a few ideas for where/how to plant them.
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Likewise, thanks. The plot thickens for me though. I planted several Hepaticas years ago under some goat willow, in an area now dense with Cyclamen coum, Galanthus, Narcissus cyclamineus and Corydalis solida - so seemingly a decent area. They never really thrived though and expired after 2-3 years. I think they were pyrenaica and transsilvanica.
I still have some plants - a couple in the rockery which have been growing veeerrry slowly, and some seedlings from Anne Wright which seem a bit more vigorous and are planted in a large pan with a couple of lumps of limestone for interest and calcium (the only place I have seen them in the wild is in the steep limestone woods of Slovenia - which every woodland gardener should see before they die). More seedlings coming on, so there should be a bit of material to play with.
I don't think drainage is likely to be an issue here, at least not in the locations I have grown them. All very mysterious!
Ian when you say the pH in your Hepatica bed is acid, are you talking a little bit acid (around 6.5) or significantly acid (4.5)?
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It's a little bit acid, Tristan - not less than 6 - 5.5 at most ,I would think.
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OK thanks Maggi, so roots could maybe still be getting some calcium from the concrete.
We're not all that acid here (I don't think) but the soil is lime-poor which I think affects some plants. Certainly some things seem to grow better near the house and paved areas where some lime presumably leaches from the cement.
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Thank you again Ian for an interesting bulb log. I like how you showed a picture what was in the beginning and what is now, in only five years time.
Also this discussion of Hepaticas have given me some thought.
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So much more colour in this Bulb Log with the spring flowering plants, such as Corydalis joining the last of the late winter flowers.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Mar311617185709BULB_LOG_1321.pdf
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Ian,
Another lovely Bulb log. Do you find that Corydalis malkensis hybridises with C solida? This year I have found a few C malkensis with a purple or pink tinge in the flowers.
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Ian,
Another lovely Bulb log. Do you find that Corydalis malkensis hybridises with C solida? This year I have found a few C malkensis with a purple or pink tinge in the flowers.
Yes we get a number of purple tinged Corydalis malkensis flowers and I have never worked out if that is a natural occasional colour variation or indeed a hybrid with C. solida.
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There are lots of colourful flowers on Saxifrages, Primula and Rhododendrons in this Bulb Log then the snow storm hit......
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Apr071617790869BULB_LOG_1421.pdf
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The theme of this weeks Bulb Log is Beauty and the Beast find out more by clicking the link below ....
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Apr141618391629BULB_LOG_1521.pdf
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I was sorry to read about all the damage the weather had done in your garden, but it is nice to know there are more plants and flowers coming up :).
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Me too, but I've no doubt it will soon bounce back.
Ian, do you give your Anemone ranunculoides any special treatment? A. nemorosa does very well for me here but I have never had any joy with ranunculoides.
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I was sorry to read about all the damage the weather had done in your garden, but it is nice to know there are more plants and flowers coming up :).
I do try and be philosophical about these events Leena but it is hard not to be saddened by the damage but now good sunny weather is repairing or covering over the damage and much more growth and flowers are appearing.
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Me too, but I've no doubt it will soon bounce back.
Ian, do you give your Anemone ranunculoides any special treatment? A. nemorosa does very well for me here but I have never had any joy with ranunculoides.
It gets no special treatment Tristan just an annual organic mulch which the rhizomes love to run about in.
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Thanks Ian. I was afraid you would say that!
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A different approach to crevice gardens with Trilliums and Erythroniums plus Narcissus you need to click the link.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Apr211618997800BULB_LOG_1621.pdf
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This Bulb Log features a host of bulbs growing in woodland and crevice habitats includes Anemone, Erythronium, Trillium....
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Apr281619601170BULB_LOG_1721.pdf
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Beautiful Ian! Gothenburg Pink is so lovely. Our garden is getting more woodsy after 20 years so it is getting better for Trilliums.
Ironically 'White Beauty' is the one Erythronium hybrid that isn't a great success here - it just sort of persists but doesn't really increase. Pretty much all the others increase well.
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That's a handsome grape hyacinth by the way. Which is it, do you know?
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That's a handsome grape hyacinth by the way. Which is it, do you know?
We "think" it is Muscari leucostomum, Tristan. ::) :-\ On the other hand, it may be M. neglectum! It has quite broad, deeply channeled leaves and the pretty pale top-knots to the flowers, with white mouths to the darker lower flowers.
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A pathway to understanding the real meaning of gardening click the link for this week's Bulb Log.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021May051620208807BULB_LOG_1821.pdf
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Rhododendrons bounce back along with a host of plants, interlopers and micro gardening read all by clicking the link.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021May121620811641BULB_LOG_1921.pdf
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Erythronium species and hybrids, large Rhododendrons and some trimming back just click the link for this week's Bulb Log
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021May191621420214BULB_LOG_2021.pdf
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Hi Ian, I know you grow vastly more Erythroniums than me, but I'm curious as to how you keep them flowering so late? I don't think a single one is flowering in my garden any more and quite a few are entering dormancy.
I'd say it might be a temperature thing but since the mercury hasn't really crossed 15C here this year and it's been pretty wet this doesn't seem plausible. Any thoughts?
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Tristan I think you will find that our average and ground temperature are lower than you largely because we are so much further north so that will be a big factor. I am always amazed to see how far plants growing in gardens further south of us are ahead - we even detect that Dundee which is around 70 miles south can be a week ahead and Branklyn garden even more so.
Seedlings will also have different flowering times and so widen you flowering season.
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Fritillaria and Trillium feature this week along with some seed and bulb propagation information click on the link.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021May261622023388BULB_LOG_2121.pdf
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Ian - That yellowish green Fritillaria affinis is quite lovely. Does it come true from seed and what name shall I look for on the seedexs? Or will it simply show as F. affinis (green-yellow form)?
johnw
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John
I don't remember ever getting seed from it but it does increase well from rice grains - not much good to you I know.
There are two named yellow forms Fritillaria affinis that I know of 'Limelight' and 'Sunray' I suspect they are the same clone - our form is very similar if not identical and arose from seed we got many years ago from one of the exchanges and we have it growing in several places around the garden.
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Why not to dead head your bulbs, why Allium and Ornithogalum bulbs might be for the chop plus Corydalis, Uvularia and Rhododendrons all in this week's Bulb Log.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Jun021622627862BULB_LOG_2221.pdf
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Colourful trees and shrubs stand out but some flowers have to be searched for - plus Bluebells are appealing. Click on the Bulb Log link.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Jun091623230291BULB_LOG_2321.pdf
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Summer arrives in the Bulb Log where the sunshine brings out a mass of flowers including Meconopsis click the link to see them all and help us identify an unknown plant.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Jun161623834720BULB_LOG_2421.pdf
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Ian I think your mystery plant may be Valeriana pyrenaica.
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Thanks Tristan I think you are correct - there is so much knowledge on this forum I was confident someone would know.
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Learn how to love Arisaema, the latest from the driveway along with lots more summer colour all in this Bulb Log.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Jun231624441729BULB_LOG_2521.pdf
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Fantastics garden, i really appreciate that mix of bulbs, shade plants and perennials.
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Me too. Ian, how big is it? In the photos it simutaneously manages to look fairly modestly sized (because of the scale of the photos) and more or less infinite (because of the sheer variety of plants including some pretty chunky small trees and Rhododendrons).
Also have you ever published a plan of the garden? It would be nice to see a layout.
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Thank you Yann and Tristan I appreciate your comments.
As to the size a garden is an illusion as are photographs so many have the impression that we have a large garden but it is of modest size some approx 25 meters wide by 45 meters long but the way we have many plants sharing the same space at different times it is a bit like the Tardis seeming much bigger on the inside than the dimensions of the perimeter.
Tristan I will work on a layout plan in the meantime check out this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O4kErYv_H8
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at different times it is a bit like the Tardis seeming much bigger on the inside than the dimensions of the perimeter.
I couldn't resist Ian!... the next Doctor?
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That is brilliant Tristan, I was a bit younger when that picture was taken but if I am to become a time lord I can regenerate ;)
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Hi Ian,
Sitting here frying in Portland, Oregon where it's 42C and climbing. Actually I'm in air conditioning but my meconopsis in the greenhouse are probably frying. Enough whining about the weather. I actually have a question for you.
I know you recommend storing seed of bulbs in sand in little plastic bags at room temperature over the summer. My tecophilia, narcissus and erythronium seed has been kicking around my house in paper envelopes since it ripened. I'm thinking of transferring it to plastic bags once I can brave the weather to get some. When I do this should I put a drop or two of water into the bags, not was they are wet or even damp but just so they aren't bone dry? I'm betting your sand in misty Scotland tends to hold more residual moisture that our sand.
Also would you consider making a list of genera you store in dried sand and also a list of genera you deep sow? Maggie could sticky it in the forum and it would be available to all for easy reference. When I looked for information on dry sand storage I only got a reference to a 2005 log but I know you've talked about it since. Or maybe you could even write a book like your erythronium book on seed sowing (hint, hint).
Thank, Jan in hotter than hell Portland, Oregon.
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Hi Jan
I can't even imagine how I could survive in the temperatures you describe never mind our plants.
I am sure I have made a list of the seeds to dry store and how I do it - I am busy working on this week's Bulb Log just now but will search and post later.
I have had thoughts of writing just such a book but once again it comes down to time, energy and discipline but for now here is a link to a Bulb Log where I pulled together various points on on raising bulbs from seed which may contain the answers you seek.
https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2019Nov131573643737BULB_LOG_4619.pdf
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Could Celmisia be the regional flower of Aberdeen? plus replanting the Erythronium plunge baskets.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Jun301625045203BULB_LOG_2621.pdf
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Beautiful celmisia and photograph Ian 8)
Is it propagated only vegetatively or by seed too?
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Ashley only vegetatively as far as I know it rarely if ever sets viable seed certainly all the ones around our area have been passed around as divisions.
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Thanks Ian. Yes a lovely thing to be able to pass around.
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Click the Bulb Log link to find out what inspires me and influences our garden.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Jul071625650498BULB_LOG_2721.pdf
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Accepting nature as part of your garden - click the link for this week's Bulb Log Garden Diary.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Jul141626254655BULB_LOG_2821.pdf
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Food for thought as always Ian.
I think our weed flora is a little more diverse and enthusiastic than yours! Stinging nettle, hogweed, couch grass, bramble, creeping buttercup, the invasive form of yellow archangel and others are all well established in our patch and going nowhere soon. Goose-grass and avens are also spread around by the pets if we aren't careful. Our light soil is also ideal for things to self-seed into, which can be a double-edged sword.
I don't mind too much as many of these plants are good for wildlife (there is nothing like a good nettle patch in a sunny spot to encourage butterflies). But there is also a significant control aspect for both these and things that are beautiful but prone to overenthusiastic seeding (e.g. Meconopsis cambrica, Campanula trachelium). Other things have got their roots established in locations where removing them isn't really practical / possible and so I pull at them / cut them back from time to time to restrict their growth.
One of the things I have noticed about your garden is how compartmentalised it is by paths, troughs, raised beds etc. That makes it a lot easier to maintain because it's more difficult for weeds to establish and even if they do get established in one spot, they are naturally more isolated.
I suppose it all depends on your attitude to these things. I'm rather lazy on the weeding front and not overly bothered about having a super tidy garden so long as my plants have the space to grow. Even so it's surprising what will grow in a wilder setting. My best North American Lilium hybrids are growing in long grass in a damp spot at the bottom of the garden and thrive there in a way they do not elsewhere with no real care or fertilizer.
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Tristan
I am 100% with your view and style of gardening.
Certain invasive plants are best kept out or need to be controlled - we dead head many of the more vigorous seeders, such as Meconopsis cambrica, to limit their spread but get increasingly more relaxed at accepting many of the other so called weeds.
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This week read about Lawn care, front gardens, moving back to nature - all will be revealed if click the link to the Bulb Log.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Jul211626861079BULB_LOG_2921.pdf,
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This is a quiet time for flowers in the garden but busy with repotting, hedge cutting and plenty food for thought.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Jul281627466394BULB_LOG_3021.pdf
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Very nice Ian. Craigton Clumper is well named isn't it!
I like Linaria purpurea too. It's one of those fellow traveller plants that will colonise the garden and pop up in different places without ever really being a nuisance.
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Hello Ian,
I am back reading and following your bulb log. I enjoy the rhythms of the garden through the seasons. There is always something new to learn. I enjoy so much how you orchestrate the flow, design, and rhythm of your garden. These principles can be applied to any garden, in any climatic setting.
Of course, I like the climatic related information. It seems gardeners everywhere have to contend with anomalous weather these days. This has always been the case, however it seem there are many more extremes these days.
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Thank you Robert I know from reading all your lovely posts that we share a similar view of nature and the world.
Yes we are seeing the effects of climate change in the garden mainly the lack of rain but this is small compared to some of the extreme heat waves and wild fires that so many are suffering from.
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Click the Bulb Log link for the power of trees, the seaside, global warming and problems to solve.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Aug041628066611BULB_LOG_3121.pdf
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This Bub log includes whispering and resurrection plants, seeds and weeds! Click the link below to read all
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Aug111628673954BULB_LOG_3221.pdf
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I wonder could your mystery Corydalis be C. chaerophylla Ian?
https://efloraofindia.com/2018/12/15/corydalis-chaerophylla/
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Thanks for this link Tristan that is a good shout it looks very like it I will read more but I am sure this is close.
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LOVE the colours on the fuchsia, well worth kneeling for!
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As we approach the best time to sow bulb seed this Bulb Log is my updated, detailed guide to my methods.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Aug181629282599BULB_LOG_3321.pdf
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Great issue Ian. One of the best things about the forum is exchange of this kind of useful advice from fellow growers.
As a question - can anyone recommend good sources of bulb seed? The seed exchanges are ok but quantities are often on the small side. Many bulb clones in cultivation seem to be sterile or self-incompatible, so sourcing enough seed to sow a good potful can be tricky.
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Great issue Ian. One of the best things about the forum is exchange of this kind of useful advice from fellow growers.
As a question - can anyone recommend good sources of bulb seed? The seed exchanges are ok but quantities are often on the small side. Many bulb clones in cultivation seem to be sterile or self-incompatible, so sourcing enough seed to sow a good potful can be tricky.
We were fortunate to live through a time when there were many great seed collectors and it was easier to obtain permits to collect and import seed but that has all changed and I don't know of any good source.
Seed exchanges are of course a great source but as you state you only get small quantities however if in time when you get them to flower then you have access to your own seed which I know does not help widen the range of bulbs you grow but it helps maintain what we have in cultivation into the future.
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Yeah... it's definitely not as easy although there still are a few. As bulb seeds are rather large on the whole, many suppliers tend to provide them in relatively small quantities. If I start with say 10 seeds, it's likely to take 2 generations (=6 years at least usually) to get a good number of bulbs to make a really good impact.
I do try to obtain seed where I can, and source bulbs from different suppliers to increase genetic diversity, cross pollinating and harvesting the subsequent seed. Obviously starting from 2-3 bulbs (provided you know they are seed raised not a clone) is much quicker, but genetic diversity of the resulting seed will be lower.
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In this Bulb Log Summer turns to Autumn, the effects of drought, propagating Corydalis, and ever changing habitats.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Aug251629883533BULB_LOG_3421.pdf
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I really appreciate your carnivorous island, the result is great.
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Regular readers will know that 1st September is the start of my bulb year so click the link below for my guide to managing the sand beds plus a review of a year.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Sep011630483681BULB_LOG_3521.pdf
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Click the Bulb Log link where Autumn tasks, flowers, wildlife and nature merge into one.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Sep081631095821BULB_LOG_3621.pdf
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More autumn flowering bulbs appear and at last some decent rain brings relief to the garden plants.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Sep151631699652BULB_LOG_3721.pdf
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Hello Ian,
The following information about Veratrum fimbriatum as the species grows in the wild might prove helpful for those that might be interested in growing this species.
Veratrum fimbriatum is native to the NW coast of California, predominantly in Mendocino County, California. The species is generally found growing within a few kilometers of the Pacific Ocean. Although there is little, to no, rainfall in this region during the summer, this species always is found in the summer fog belt of the California coast. A consistent onshore flow brings overcast skies (fog/low stratus) and abundant condensation that create very moist conditions in many coastal habitats. In addition, Veratrum fimbriatum is a wetland species. It is found growing in hydric to very moist mesic habitats. Drought and dry conditions is not an issue in these habitats. Lastly, hot weather is very rare in these coastal habitats. During the autumn there can be a few days of offshore flow when temperatures can warm, rarely above 90 F (32.2 C). During the summer months daytime high temperatures are generally in the 60 F (15.6 C) range.
Veratrum fimbriatum is considered a rare species (California Rare Plant Rank 4.3 limited distribution, not very threatened in California). Only domestically produced plants and seed should be used for horticultural purposes!
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Thanks for the detailed information on the habitat and local climate where Veratrum fimbriatum grows Robert, most years our weather is close enough with constant moisture and no high temperatures to keep the plants happy it is just this year that has been so dry.
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The autumn flowering Cyclamen, Colchicum and Crocus feature this week plus a new book on Cyclamen and a link to the latest Bulb Log Video Diary Supplement just a click away...
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Sep221632304143BULB_LOG_3821.pdf
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Click the Bulb Log link for an appreciation of the Autumn flowering Crocus.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Sep291632909919BULB_LOG_3921.pdf
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October storms, autumn fruits, falling leaves and more flowering bulbs all in this week's Bulb Log.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Oct061633516551BULB_LOG_4021.pdf
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Lovely dark-stemmed colchicum!
Ian, you are SO right about the benefits of leaf mould and the fact that most folk don’t make any. Our neighbour was about to light a huge bonfire of leaves one autumn until I intervened. Now they throw the leaves over the wall into our garden and I add them to our leaf container.
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Ian, that's a spectacular dark tubed Colchicum. Maybe worth giving the Craigton name to?
Love your displays of autumn crocuses at the moment, I'm very jealous. We usually get very wet and windy weather at this time of year which results in flowers outdoor lasting about the same time as the average mayfly... :(
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Thanks for your feed back Carolyn and Tristan it is nice to read comments.
It is a lovely Colchicum but My thoughts are it is too close to C. Autrorubens to be named I will check it tomorrow against the description in the recent excellent Colchicum book.
In the past we were known for gathering leaves in the roads around us but now we get all we need from our own trees.
We also have the problem of wet windy weather knocking the delicate flowers over or dark damp days when the flowers never get to open but all it takes is one nice day for them to spring into action, or perhaps that should be to Autumn into action😉
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It's one of the advantages of the pandemic that I am working from home so have more opportunities to catch any autumn crocuses in the brief breaks in the weather.
By the way Colchicums have a reputation for being difficult from seed - is this deserved? Many of them do quite well here so I am thinking of trying more varieties but have been put off growing from seed by their reputation for being erratic germinators.
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I have had colchicums germinate in only four years, but one species, C. bornmuelleri, took eight years to germinate, and hasn't flowered yet, though it is now 21 years from sowing.
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By the way Colchicums have a reputation for being difficult from seed - is this deserved? Many of them do quite well here so I am thinking of trying more varieties but have been put off growing from seed by their reputation for being erratic germinators.
I have failed to germinate more Colchicum seeds than any other bulb that I have tried however I admit that I have not really applied myself.
Diane is correct fully dormant seeds can take a long time before they germinate however I have had some of our own seed sown on collection germinate the following spring. We do find single Colchicums appearing in odd places and the only way they could have got there was by seeding. I suspect getting fresh seeds before they go into deep dormancy is large part of getting success.
We need to allow space for the leaves of Colchicum to grow in the spring and that does not always fit in with the density of our planting so that is why we don't grow as many I would like - my preference is for the Crocus whose growth is more in keeping with our planting style.
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Mmm, thanks both - not too encouraging! While I am a big fan of seed raising, in this case buying a bulb or two is probably more cost-effective and there are some very nice clones out there. They generally bulk up well too.
I love Crocus too Ian, but they can be hit and miss here. I think we have a lot of voles about. Also siting them is sometimes tricky as the flowers need full sun to open. It's not always easy to visualise where this will be at planting time. Flowers not opening also means few seedlings in general.
As you say Colchicums need careful siting too, but these days I tend to see the foliage as a virtue. Its strong lines makes for a pleasing contrast in grass or with ferny subjects, and the flowers are plentiful and fairly robust in many cultivars. It's just important to remember to mow or cut back by flowering time...
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I have had colchicums germinate in only four years, but one species, C. bornmuelleri, took eight years to germinate, and hasn't flowered yet, though it is now 21 years from sowing.
6-9 years before it germinates is quite common with Colchicums. I've tested GA3 acid 300ppm soaked 24h, all my pots germinated but germination is still inconsistent. Gibberellic acid break dormancy.
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Also I admired the dark Colchicum in your latest bulb log, it is a different one!
I have sown fresh Colchicum seeds from my own plants several times, and they usually germinate the next spring. If seeds get dry they don't germinate, and also in a seed pod it seems there are a lot of seeds, but only a few are big, others are smaller, and I'm thinking that the smaller seeds are not viable so that is why only a few seeds (the big ones) germinate.
It is a long wait to see flowering plants even when seeds germinate the next spring, and I agree with Ashley that Colchicums are easy to buy and once established they grow and multiply mostly well. At least the most common hybrids, but I have still sown all the seeds my Colchicums have:), because not all of them produce seeds in my climate.
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Autumn continues to bring colour and chaos to the garden with Crocus flowers peaking through the collapsing foliage.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Oct131634120944BULB_LOG_4121.pdf
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Another interesting bulb log, thanks, Ian. You seem to have had plenty of flowers on your Celmisia walkeri. In his recent talk, Hamish Brown said that this celmisia rarely flowers well. This was disappointing news, as I have 3 small seedlings of it from the 2020 seedex! They, unlike most of the celmisia seeds from that year, did not germinate that spring, but waited a year to germinate in spring 2021.
Do you find that C walkeri flowers for you every year?
I am always looking for suitable plants to grow with colchicums and autumn crocuses. Ajuga looks good with white colchicums and is vigorous enough not to mind being smothered by dying colchicum leaves. Ophiopogon is another useful combination with colchicums. Does anyone else have some suggestions to share?
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You do have some nice autumn Crocus Ian! I love the banaticus. Good looking Cyclamen hederifolium too.
The moth is a Silver Y I think, a common migrant to these shores albeit not the most colourful. I think some may overwinter too.
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Another interesting bulb log, thanks, Ian. You seem to have had plenty of flowers on your Celmisia walkeri. In his recent talk, Hamish Brown said that this celmisia rarely flowers well. This was disappointing news, as I have 3 small seedlings of it from the 2020 seedex! They, unlike most of the celmisia seeds from that year, did not germinate that spring, but waited a year to germinate in spring 2021.
Do you find that C walkeri flowers for you every year?
I am always looking for suitable plants to grow with colchicums and autumn crocuses. Ajuga looks good with white colchicums and is vigorous enough not to mind being smothered by dying colchicum leaves. Ophiopogon is another useful combination with colchicums. Does anyone else have some suggestions to share?
I heard Hamish say in his excellent talk that Celmisia walkeri does not flower well Carolyn but that is not our experience it flowers well every year in our garden. The flowers are starry rather than full petaled and they are spread across the plant so may not be so spectacular as some came be but I love it.
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You do have some nice autumn Crocus Ian! I love the banaticus. Good looking Cyclamen hederifolium too.
The moth is a Silver Y I think, a common migrant to these shores albeit not the most colourful. I think some may overwinter too.
Thanks for the ID on the moth Tristan and yes I love the autumn crocus especially those that grow well in the garden flowering and increasing every year without any fuss.
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Thanks, Ian, I just need to get my celmisia seedlings to flowering size now!
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Reflections of Giants, thoughts on troughs and the fruits of autumn click on the link below.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Oct201634721650BULB_LOG_4221.pdf
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There are big old Monkey Puzzles growing in Victoria, but always as a single tree, and no others nearby.
In the garden you photographed, there are a number of trees, which hopefully include both sexes. They are wind-pollinated, so don't need to be growing right next to each other. Do any of them produce nuts?
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There are big old Monkey Puzzles growing in Victoria, but always as a single tree, and no others nearby.
In the garden you photographed, there are a number of trees, which hopefully include both sexes. They are wind-pollinated, so don't need to be growing right next to each other. Do any of them produce nuts?
Good question Diane I don't know the answer to that but I will investigate and report back.
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Hi Ian,
Did you know your two newest bulb logs done't appear on the page that lists all logs? It stops at the October 6th log. I'm guessing this is a glitch with the new website. I kept checking it for new additions and was getting worried when I didn't see any.
Jan
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Hello Jan, yes, a hiccup with the new site. The Bulb Log's will open from any links given in the Forum or elsewhere - and until the new site is completed, you can still find the complete list of all the Bulb Logs on this page :
https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/index.php?log=bulb :)
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Good question Diane I don't know the answer to that but I will investigate and report back.
I would have thought that you would have noticed as the cones are trully huge - you certainly would not want to be hit by a falling one.
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I would have thought that you would have noticed as the cones are trully huge - you certainly would not want to be hit by a falling one.
The trees are very tall with all the growth at the very top but I will take my binoculars with me the next time I walk that way and have a good look to se if I can see any evidence of cones.
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Fungi, autumn colours, an update on the sand beds and clipping clouds click the link to discover.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Oct271635324347BULB_LOG_4321.pdf
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October storms, autumn fruits, falling leaves and more flowering bulbs all in this week's Bulb Log.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Oct061633516551BULB_LOG_4021.pdf
I have read all of your bulb logs, Ian. They are great!
Re: getting Sternbergia lutea to bloom
I just started growing these this year (I am in a coastal climate zone 7a) but I am following what my mother does with ones in her garden in SE Europe: nothing.
The plants she has are in very poor soil, watered only by rain, never fertilized. Also, as you can see from these (not very good) pictures, the bulbs are very close to the surface, some of them are partially exposed. Every year they flower profusely and multiply readily.
The ones in our yard are definitely receiving more rain than hers, but so far so good.
I also suspect plastic pots are likely not good for them, they like stones and rocks. Ceramic containers might work better (only speculating).
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Thank you for reading Nik and for sharing your experiences with Sternbergia I agree with what you say but I am resigned to the fact that out garden is probably too far north and cold to get such sun worshipers to flower as beautifully and freely as they do in warm dry and rock areas.
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You may try to place a flat rock over the Sternbergia bulbs. If you position the rock southwards, it will catch all heat in summer while keeping the soil dry underneath. When it is time to grow, the Sternbergia stems will find their way underneath the rock and leaves and flowers will come up on the ridges. At least that does work with me although I do not live that far North.
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You may try to place a flat rock over the Sternbergia bulbs. If you position the rock southwards, it will catch all heat in summer while keeping the soil dry underneath. When it is time to grow, the Sternbergia stems will find their way underneath the rock and leaves and flowers will come up on the ridges. At least that does work with me although I do not live that far North.
Thanks Rob I have tried everything and am now resigned that they will not flower for us in the open garden but I do get some flowers from the ones planted in the bulb house sand beds.
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Where else will you see the colours of autumn, trees, reflections, muddy puddles, interiors, road markings, birds, fungi click the link to Bulb Log.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Nov031635939245BULB_LOG_4421.pdf
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In this week’s Bulb Log you can see fruits, seeds, death, renewal, Crocus and Narcissus flowers plus a review of a new Field Guide ‘Plants of Armenia’ – click the link below.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Nov101636537894BULB_LOG_4521.pdf
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More Autumn Fungi, leaves, trees with some thoughts and tips on encouraging self seeding colonies.
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https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2021Nov171637146321BULB_LOG_4621.pdf
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What are the numerous clusters of bright red seeds that are in many of your pictures?
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Two possibilir=ties, Diane - 1) clusters of berries with stalks, are Cotoneaster berries that have been blown off the trees by the stormy weather.
2) More triangular clusters of bright red berries - fruiting heads of Arisaemas left lying around where they fell.
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Thanks, Maggi,
They are cotoneaster berries.
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404 errors on links in bulb log list (https://srgc.net/bulblog.asp) for 3 dates viz. 13th to 27th Oct 2021 incl. bulb logs. ( these three links do work from the forum links)
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Thanks for reporting this Allan we have been having some teething problems in the list on the new site and are working to fix it, in the meantime all the links from the forum pages and other social media will work.
Also there is a back up index list here https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/index.php?log=bulb
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Hello Allan and all,
Sorry about this, those links should all be fixed now. As Ian said, there were some glitches with the automatic upload system last week, and having fixed one problem, that fix itself caused another one. One further August Log was also affected, and I have corrected that link too. Happy reading.
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Celebrating the start of a winter long season of Narcissus flowers - Oh and a Galanthus and a Crocus also sneaked in, click on the link.
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https://www.srgc.net/documents/bulb%20logs/211124110510BULB%20LOG%204721.pdf
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Common plants, inappropriate trees, a few troughs and sheltering from the storm.
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https://www.srgc.net/documents/bulb%20logs/211201103452BULB%20LOG%204821.pdf
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In the Bulb Log we face another storm, enjoy some 'Craigton' Narcissus and ask should we be letting the moss grow under our feet?
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https://www.srgc.net/documents/bulb%20logs/211208102205BULB%20LOG%204921.pdf
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Roots, shoots, winter leaves and flowers can cheer us up in the dark days of winter.
Click the link to this week's Bulb Log.
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https://www.srgc.net/documents/bulb%20logs/211215105059BULB%20LOG%205021.pdf
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Winter solstice flowers, the Driveway plantings get a tidy up and new shoots continue pushing through.
Click on the link to read this weeks Bulb Log.
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https://www.srgc.net/documents/bulb%20logs/211222112231BULB%20LOG%205121.pdf
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Click the link to join me as I look back at the year in the last Bulb Log of 2021.
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https://www.srgc.net/documents/bulb%20logs/211229110306BULB%20LOG%205221.pdf
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Thank you, Ian, for another year of the Bulb Log. We can all learn such a lot from your observations and experiences. Your photos remind me on this dreich day that there are so many lovely plants to look forward to, in just a few weeks time.
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Thank you for including the covers of all the logs. I found one I had missed. I wonder what I was doing last August.
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Thank you Carolyn and Diane for your support I will be back to share our plants and garden next year....................