Bulb Log 2017

[Maggi Young]

A great compliment to our garden, Gerrit - thank you!

[Leena]

Ian, you wrote an interesting thing (among many others every week), that you can't grow lilies, primulas and gentians any more.
I think I will be having the same problem in time, there are so many trees around my garden, and so far I have made new beds with a good soil, but the older woodland beds are now around 10 years old, and I have only top dressed them with new compost and leaf mold. I have been following your bulb log for a long time, so I should know what plants you can grow in those conditions, but would you say that bulbs in general do well in woodland soil conditions (or are the exceptions)? And which are the best perennials in your opinion in your garden? It would be interesting if you wrote a log post about this.

[Ian Y]

Leena, thank you for your interesting post and suggestions for future topics, I will work on that for a future Bulb Log.
The main reason we do not grow so many lilies now is that they tend to be short lived and I have not been raising new ones from seed - something I hope to rectify.

[Ian Y]

This Bulb Log looks at a garden without flowers!...........


http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2017Aug021501665440BULB_LOG_3117.pdf

[shelagh]

Absolutely terrific Ian thanks a lot.  You are right about fern sporelings we find them regularly around the garden and frame area often in the most inaccessible places.

[Ian Y]

Click the link for latest Bulb Log with Summer Time Blues and Wild Things.............


http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2017Aug091502275350BULB_LOG_3217.pdf

[Ian Y]

This week's Bulb Log celebrates Rhododendrons in the garden.


http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2017Aug161502868870BULB_LOG_3317.pdf

[ashley]

Wonderful rhododendrons Ian, and how exciting and rewarding when they flower after 20+ years.

[Maggi Young]

To be honest, Ashley, when the R. auriculatum opened its first flower buds a few years ago we both nearly fainted clean away!There kept being buds that Ian insisted were flower buds - but they never were - so when flowers did actually open we could hardly believe it.
Now that the plant is getting more light again we hope it will be a bit more generous with flowers. 
A garden seat was placed in front of it, when it was planted - the idea being that we could sit by the pond, taking tea  in August under the fabulous white scented flowers - it was such a long wait the wood of the seat was too far gone to sit on when it began to flower and has now  disintegrated completely!

[ashley]

Definitely time for a new seat Maggi - and table or holders for liquid refreshments
R. auriculatum and you deserve no less.

[Maggi Young]

Nice idea, Ashley!

[Robert]

Hi Ian,

I am catching up on some past issues of the bulb log (#27 5 July 2017). I was very fascinated to see Triteleia ixioides blooming in your sand plunge greenhouse. I was very curious if you grow any other Themidaceae? or maybe other gardeners in Scotland? Have you tried any in the outside garden? In its native habitat, species such as Triteleia peduncularis grow under very mesic conditions.

I noticed the Alliums too. California species such as A. validum grow at high elevations in very swamping conditions. Is this species grown in Scotland? Good forms can be quite pretty. Allium obtusum and A. campanulatum are very tiny xeric species. It seems like they would grow well in your greenhouse sand plunge.

From time-to-time, I get questions on the performance of California species in climates that are much different from their native habitats. Question I, too often, have no answer for. Perhaps you or other forumist have their experiences with California bulbous species.

[Roma]

Hi Robert

I have been growing Triteleia ixioides 'Splendens' in a well drained raised bed for over 20 years.  I live about 10 miles north west of Ian so, further from the sea my garden is colder.  It seems quite hardy.   

[Robert]

Hi Roma,

Thank you so much for the information. It seems that Triteleia ixioides is also tolerant of summer moisture.

Your plants look great! 

[Ian Y]

Robert
As Roma has already pointed out there are a number of Triteleia grown over here both in the garden and under some protection.
I am also grow an increasing  number of the smaller Allium including, some from North America, in the sand plunge which like the Triteleia flower after most of the other bulbs in the sand have died back and so extend my flowering season.