Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Specific Families and Genera => Meconopsis => Topic started by: Roma on May 15, 2011, 09:50:33 PM

Title: Blue poppies
Post by: Roma on May 15, 2011, 09:50:33 PM
My blue poppies have started to flower.  The wind and rain we've been getting has not been kind to them.
First the one I know as Meconopsis x sheldonii 'Cruickshank' though I believe it is identical to Meconopsis 'Bobby Masterton'
In the third picture the one behind to the left is Meconopsis betonicifolia 'Glacier Blue' from AGS seed sown in December 2008.  this is their first flowering and what a glorious colour! Then a closeup of 'Glacier Blue'.
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: angie on May 15, 2011, 10:33:45 PM
Very nice Roma, I do love these blue meconopsis. They will be enjoying the rain this afternoon.

Angie :)
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: Philippe on May 19, 2011, 06:30:32 PM
Hello

Lovely!

By me was today the first day of the meconopsis new flowers season. It started too with M.betonicifolia, which I was soooooo happy to see again after a whole year of waiting.
Best weather this morning to take some shots of it, under light sunshine. Amazing how a plant can really thrill you!
Unfortunetaly, we had a strong thunderstorm on the afternoon, heavy rain, windgales, and even lots of ( fortunately) little hail. I prayed the hail doesn't get larger, and it actually stayed by the size of little green peas.
The thunderstorm ended into thick fog, thus giving a strange monsoon atmosphere
Though the garden didn't appreciate much that violent "watering" and everything looks so "tired" this evening.
At least it brought some welcomed water to the plants, even if the major part of it just rushed down the beds into the pathes.
Under a pic of the morning meconopsis after the little hail/downpour of the afternoon. A little shocked but still ok. The flowerbuds weren't hurt by the hail ( but some of the rhodos look now quite ugly, sad).
M.punicea, integrifolia, grandis, and aculeata, non flowering, also stayed unharmed .
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: Philippe on May 24, 2011, 07:34:07 PM
Hi

Home seedling surprise, twice more pleasure and blue with this doubled flower M.betonicifolia.
Though I'm not very keen on double flower with any plant, I think it could get somehow interesting this time with blue poppies  ::)
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: Philippe on June 05, 2011, 12:21:44 PM
A few meconopsis from this morning

M.betonicifolia and orange M.cambrica together. ( did someone already try to cross both? I am making the try, and I'm now waiting if seed is going to form or not. For the moment, it rather looks like it isn't going to give everything at all. Well, our european meconopsis doesn't really belong entirely to the asiatic meconopsis family, but it is well worth a try)

M.grandis. With very few pollen available in the stamens.

And finally M.horridula 'Silver'. A tiny thing, but with great charm beside his giant brothers. Perhaps somebody can tell me if this one is a horticultural selection or simply a natural variation which was named 'silver'?

Bye!
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: Philippe on June 10, 2011, 08:46:13 PM
Brand new flower of meconopsis horridula, with some sunlight to make it even more pleasant to look at.
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: majallison on June 10, 2011, 09:25:02 PM
Lovely Meconopsis, Philippe. With regard to hybrids between M. cambrica & the Asiatic species, they have been created. I would think they're more curious than beautiful, as the flowers are brown.
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: jandals on October 06, 2011, 11:21:12 AM
Taken a picture of my Meconopsis betonicifolia today before I put the flower netting on . Two layers . One at 300mm and another at 600mm . Hopefully this will stop the stems snapping .
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: Maggi Young on October 06, 2011, 11:44:25 AM
My goodness, they look healthy. Isn't it tricky to get them fleeced with the trees in the middle?
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: jandals on October 07, 2011, 09:59:55 AM
Going round the trees should be OK . I put them there because the plants are out in the open in a paddock and hope the flowering cherries will provide shade as they get older . I'm too lazy to put up a shadehouse for them .

Being south of Dunedin means cooler weather but often it's windier usually just as the plants come into flower . The flower stems partially break a third of the way up then lie on the ground and try again to flower vertically . These S -shaped stems will still flower but set no viable seed .

Pleased the cookies arrived Maggi . When I realised I didn't have your mailing address I ate them , then had to get some more . Ate those too . Third time lucky
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: jandals on November 03, 2011, 09:38:22 AM
Blue poppy update . The M.betonicifolia are starting to flower but the M.Lingholm are well under way now

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Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: Roma on November 03, 2011, 05:29:39 PM
Super crop of blue poppies ;D.  I have late flowers on some of mine.  I had a single flower at this time a few years ago but there have been a few this year.
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: WimB on November 03, 2011, 05:33:32 PM
Blue poppy update . The M.betonicifolia are starting to flower but the M.Lingholm are well under way now

WOW, those are....WOW  :o :o Wish we could grow them like that over here.
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: Will Youngman on November 07, 2011, 09:42:49 PM
Stunning looking Meconopsis you guys are growing. I may be wrong but I think M.betonicifolia was renamed in (2009)? and is now known as M Baileyi?

Regards Will

Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: jandals on November 08, 2011, 05:52:49 PM
Cheers guys . An advantage of living south of Dunedin is the deteriorating climate as you head south . Rainfall is (usually) more frequent and the summer temperatures are cooler . Add to that lots of compost made from the leftovers at the local coffee factory and you have Meconopsis growing in a cool climate and with loads of caffeine on tap .

Further south of us is an area known as "The Catlins" . They can grow Meconopsis  there in the full sun (metaphorically speaking) and never have to water them as the climate has reached rock bottom as far as NZ is concerned . Lovely scenery though

Will - I read Chris Grey-Wilson's paper and according to that I am growing M.baileyi and agree with it but it will take me awhile to get out of the habit
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: Maggi Young on November 08, 2011, 06:08:02 PM
Re name  changes...... it's changed before  it may change again.... I wouldn't hold my breath.
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: ichristie on November 16, 2011, 11:35:58 AM
Hi Steve, great pictures what a difference from last year when we were over all your plants were blown away. I agree with Maggie the name will change again, after 100 years the plant known as M. betonicifolia should now be M. baileyi this is madness and yes I have read Chris Grey Wilsons paper but as yet have no seed or plant material and do not know about any of this new M. betonicifolia. John Mitchell RBGE has shown me pictures very difficult to tell if different. I will attend The Meconopsis Group meeting on Sat 19th maybe some more info??.  cheers Ian the Christie kind.
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: jandals on November 16, 2011, 06:55:27 PM
More information would be appreciated . Thanks Ian . I shouldn't believe everything I read .

In the end I only placed one layer of netting on at 45cm because I'm lazy . We have still lost a few stems where they have broken at the netting level but a better watering pattern seems to have stopped the seed stem rot . We are having another sunny spring so I will feel a lot better once the crop is in . The M.Lingholm are doing very well and the honey bees are pollinating them .

You were here this time last year and this weekend we are off to Mt.Cook again to look at the buttercups . We have permission to go to the R.crithmifolius patch which has R.lyallii growing near it  and hopefully get to Sealy Tarns as well
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: ichristie on November 16, 2011, 07:02:57 PM
Hi Steve. could you hang about for a while so I can contact you via  a medium who can transport my mind to be with you at Mount Cooke, ye I am already mad, cheers Ian the Chrisie kind.
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: ranunculus on November 16, 2011, 08:10:13 PM
You were here this time last year and this weekend we are off to Mt.Cook again to look at the buttercups . We have permission to go to the R.crithmifolius patch which has R.lyallii growing near it  and hopefully get to Sealy Tarns as well

You lucky b-----s!!!!   ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: Maggi Young on November 16, 2011, 08:22:22 PM
For goodness sake, Steve.... don't forget the camera... we can never get enough photos of that stuff!
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: jandals on November 17, 2011, 07:21:28 AM
For goodness sake, Steve.... don't forget the camera... we can never get enough photos of that stuff!

No shortage of cameras Maggie . There are 6 on this mission :-

3 forumists - T00lie , Kiwi and Jandals
1 prospective forumist - Kiwi is bringing him along
1 real live Scot - Shuggie Wood
and my brother Tony . At the Outram School fundraiser auction,someone paid $500 to go tahr hunting with my brother . He is coming on the trip to remind himself what they look like and where they are ( which will be in a completely different direction to us )

Also , if everything has gone to plan , David Lyttle is sheltering in a hut tonight avoiding some inclement weather in deepest, darkest Fiordland . May have pictures next week

You lucky b-----s!!!!   ;D ;D ;D

Another year of reasearch , hard work and suicidal missions as we prepare for the day that Buttercup King decides to pay a regal visit

Hi Steve. could you hang about for a while so I can contact you via  a medium who can transport my mind to be with you at Mount Cooke, ye I am already mad, cheers Ian the Chrisie kind.

You may have to wait until tomorrow night . I will be much more receptive after a few drams
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: t00lie on November 17, 2011, 08:05:36 AM
Mine aren't as far advanced as Steves --some are at that bud bursting stage with one or two in full bloom.

Cheers Dave.
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: ranunculus on November 17, 2011, 08:57:20 AM
For goodness sake, Steve.... don't forget the camera... we can never get enough photos of that stuff!

You lucky b-----s!!!!   ;D ;D ;D

Another year of reasearch , hard work and suicidal missions as we prepare for the day that Buttercup King decides to pay a regal visit

Shouldn't that be TWO years, Steve?   :D   ... and by that time I'll be a Pearly King!!!
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: ichristie on November 17, 2011, 09:12:40 AM
Hi Steve and all the New Zealand maffia, Steve Can I reserve in advance your undivided attention for a few more wild visits to see plants in the mountains.( I will bring an extra large dram) Ann and I intend to come over again, will have to detour via Aus and visit Lisa our daughter not a bad stop over. We would like to come for the conference but if it is 2013 then sorry but Prague has the edge this time. I will keep in touch with the buttercup king maybe he could join us when we come just imagine??, cheers Ian the Christie kind.
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: jandals on November 17, 2011, 09:48:16 AM
Would love to see you both here again . Stay in touch with the Buttercup King as I have a cunning plan
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: David Nicholson on November 17, 2011, 11:48:40 AM
Ah! The Baldrick of the Forum ;D
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: jandals on November 17, 2011, 05:55:43 PM
Yep . I think I could pass as Baldrick if I cleaned my act up a bit

PS thanks for the heads up on Continental Drifters . Really liked Rich Hall on QI
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: maggiepie on November 17, 2011, 09:59:22 PM
I have never seen one of these unbelievably beautiful flowers face to face.
I hope I do before I die.

 :(
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: johnw on November 17, 2011, 10:15:55 PM
I have never seen one of these unbelievably beautiful flowers face to face.
I hope I do before I die. :(

Helen  - You should have a suitable climate for them in eastern New Brunswick.  Here they have to be divided every 3-5 years in very late autumn.  They are usually for sale in a few garden centres here in early Spring and they are snapped up quickly.  I can keep an eye out for one (or however many) if you want.

johnw    - +13c and sprinkling
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: maggiepie on November 17, 2011, 10:24:30 PM
John, thanks so much for your kind offer.
Would love to take you up on it.
Are the plants offered in spring, divisons or seedlings?
ANy idea of the average price of a plant?
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: johnw on November 18, 2011, 02:06:29 AM
Helen

Some good baileyi seedlings - many from Jelitto  - that sell for $6.99-ish.  Might manage a division from a nearby big clump but nows the time to do the damage.

BTW I get BBC using iPlayer but particular programmes are only available until the next time the show airs.  re: BBC TV friends pay a couple of dollars a month to someone in Spain to sign in via them.  This expatshield sounds much better.  Also the Berlin Philharmonic is viewable these days - sensational live.

johnw
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: gote on November 19, 2011, 01:06:54 PM
Re name  changes...... it's changed before  it may change again.... I wouldn't hold my breath.
As I understand what has been proposed,  it it is not a change of name of betonicifolia. The plants grown as betonicifolia are not betonicifolias and have never been - they are misnamed bailiyiis. The true betonicifolia is supposed to be very rare in cultivation.
We have had a similar situation in that most plants previously grown as grandis in fact are x'Lingholm' (and some are baileyii)
I do agree that it may change but presumably the present naming is based on more information than the previous so it should have a better success of remaining.
Cheers
Göte
 
Title: Re: Blue poppies
Post by: maggiepie on November 19, 2011, 01:53:50 PM
John, those sound like a bargain.
Only place I have seen them offered was Veseys and those are 29.95$ plus 11.95$ shipping.
Not sure if tax has to be added to that.

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