March 2007

[Anthony Darby]

This little scilla is just sitting on the surface of the gravel. Haven't located its name label yet so haven't a scooby as to what it is.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

It is one beautiful specimen Anthony.
Please let us know the name when you found it.
Thanks

[Lesley Cox]

A little beauty Anthony. A form of S. sibirica perhaps?

[SueG]

Due to it being fine this morning I took some quick pictures.
Firstly an orchid in my kitchen whose buds I've been waiting for since before Christmas - I've no idea what it is as I buy my orchids when they are going out of flower and are cheap! This is a baby separated from the parent who has many more flowers in it's spikes.
Then Primula moupinensis (wonderful name)
Tecophilaea cyanocrocus - the first time I've flowered these so i'm impressed!
finally a pot of cyclamen that I bought at a DIY store and have been in flower since the second week of September - pretty good value I reckon.

[David Nicholson]

Sue, that's a fine Primula moupinensis, really looks healthy. You obviously have the knack with the Petiolarids. I have not dared to try one yet as I don't think they would take to glass over winter and I don't really have anywhere wher they might be happy. Having said that I would be very interested to learn more about your cultural methods if you have the time. 

[Anthony Darby]

The scilla is Scilla rosenii from Jānis rukšāns.

[Lesley Cox]

So it's only half out Anthony? Have you a pic yet with its toes turned up? Sorry, I mean its ears pinned back, well, you know what I mean.

[Maggi Young]

Lesley, I think you mean, "trying to be an Erythronium".....Scilla rosenii is well known for this not-so-secret desire !! This is why it is the BD's favourite Squill.

[David Nicholson]

How is Scilla pronounced please? Is it SKILLA or SHILLA or something else??

[annew]

Scilla (I pronounce it as in Cilla Black) rosenii opened its flowers before it was hardly out of the ground with me, so the flowers became deformed through being too close together,

[David Nicholson]

Thanks Anne I will settle for that.  Cilla Black? Never heard of her, must have been before my time!!!

[jomowi]

Maggie you might want to start a new thread gripes.  I think we have rather too many short lived gripes so I have put one here.

Here is my gripe.  Has anyone in Scotland noticed how many times that interesting TV programmes come to an end prematurely or are not shown at all.  There was "Hands on Nature" which Mark was in now, then there was the Kew tree series (can't remeber the full title) which was never even started in Scotland, and now there is the super series "A Year at Kew" which has ceased suddenly.  It is still being broadcast down south but not up here.

That feels better having got that off my chest.

Brian Wilson Aberdeen

[Anthony Darby]

If you have "Sky" you can bypass the problem by accessing BBC from another area of the UK. My sister in Essex regularly watches BBC1 Scotland this way. I usually do when I want to watch Film 2007 an there's some hand knitted minority programme shoved in meaning I would otherwise have to wait half an hour (or more importantly, miss half an hour's sleep).

Anyone watching the eslipse of the moon? It's just started.

[Maggi Young]

Is that bog standard Sky, or expensive Sky, Anthony? I am aware of being able to get stuff in Welsh!!

Here, in Aberdeen skies, the shaow  can be seen quite clearly, creeping up the face of the moon. clouds clearing now but a  few minutes ago there was light cloud over the moon and lovely angular rainbows showing. Are the children sitting up to watch?


note on Sunday 4th: I have found the alternative BBC area channels on our (cheapest) Sky package.... I hadn't found them before because they come ( in the listings) after all the soft porn channels!!!

[Lesley Cox]

I agree with Anne re the Cilla - as in scientist - though I may have used Cilla Battersby as an example, being charmed out of my boots by that exquisitely brought up specimen of female beauty and sensitivity.