Narcissus April 2015

[Maggi Young]

Very nice, Bill. 
Maggi, it would be useful if you could put my life back in February as well, please.

I've rescued my misplaced post re the Narcissus rupicola x gaditanus JWB 65/3A to the correct thread .

And sorry, Anne, the impossible we do immediately, miracles take a little longer.......  I'm afraid you are still in April 

[Darren]

This bulbocodium was grown from exchange seed a few years ago and seems to be quite unusual. Especially the very wide and shallow corona, the way it incurves at the edge, plus the sheer size of the flowers - see the picture with a flower resting on my lens cap. The last shot is of it in the access frame.

[annew]

It's a cracker - classic N. obesus shape to the flower. Are the leaves prostrate?

[Anthony Darby]

A beautiful form. I still await my first since we arrived in New Zealand, from SRGC seed. Not much use trying shop bought bulbs. They are all dead!

[Darren]

It's a cracker - classic N. obesus shape to the flower. Are the leaves prostrate?

Not really prostrate Anne but they don't overtop the flowers and those flower stems are only about 8cm. This is the bigger of two potfuls but has some muscari mixed in with it. I originally grew it planted out in my old bulb frame but moved everything in to pots in the new frame last summer and some intermixing happened. The smaller pot seems 'pure'. It seems very vigorous and floriferous as well - lots of buds still developing.

[johnstephen29]

Hi could anyone identify this narcissus for me please, it was a seedling last year from who knows where. This year it has flowered, it has a really small flower which makes me think it is N. Jonquilla. Have a look at the photo and see what you think.

image by johnstephen29, on Flickr

[Philip Walker]

N.Solveig's Song'

[annew]

John,
Might it be one of my calcicola x watieri hybrids?

[johnstephen29]

I don't think so Anne, I've only bought species narcissus off you, so it can't be that hybrid you mentioned. I have a actual n. Jonquil in the front garden that I got off Rannveig Wallis last autumn so when the flower opens I shall compare the two. What ever it is Anne it is a loverly dainty little thing.

[Robin Hill]

My first post. I could not let Anthony's comments regarding the dead bulbocodiums for sale in New Zealand Garden Centres go without comment.
The quality of these bulbs along with many other of the narcissus bulbs available is appalling. How can the average gardener be encouraged in growing daffodils when such poor quality is offered.
These bulbs are obviously imported from the Northern Hemisphere and may have been out of the ground for up to 12 months. The question is then asked is why are the large bulb suppliers able to import these bulbs when it is virtually impossible for the enthusiasts in NZ to import daffodils from overseas now due to red tape restrictions.
Robin Hill
Cambridge New Zealand

[annew]

These are in flower now, and I'm enjoying them in the garden - Brian Duncan's 'Memorina Group', which he bred to look like the old fashioned daffodils that I like so much. These have variable cup colour from yellow to orange, and are all about 30cm high, with the flowers about 5cm across.

[Herman Mylemans]

Narcissus jonquilla (OBW158), Narcissus obesus (T444), Narcissus bulbocodium and Narcissus tazetta 'Hoopoe' (OBS15)

[annew]

I like how you have planted your N. obesus, Herman. It looks 'wild'

[Matt T]

Memorina Group is lovely, Anne. Old-fashioned bearing and miniature to boot. Cracking!

John's mystery Narcissus remains me a little of 'Minnow' or its sport 'Pacific Coast'. 

[johnstephen29]

Hi Matt, I've just googled minnow and you were spot on, thanks mate.