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General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: fermi de Sousa on December 01, 2013, 02:57:26 AM

Title: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 01, 2013, 02:57:26 AM
The start of summer today in Australia and it feels it - last week it almost felt like winter!
A couple of American geophytes are adding a bit of colour to a landscape which is rapidly drying out,
Triteleia ixioides
Triteleia laxa
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on December 01, 2013, 05:20:48 AM
Love the brightness of those triteleia. They look like a summer's day. Have a huge number of calochortus flowering and some amazing colours in the C. venustus but I was too lazy today to get any pictures. I did get a few bibs and bobs from my other block however.

Eremurus himalaicus is a favourite with such full, clean white flower stems.
Allium jesdianum Purple King - please excuse the pathetic shot. I had to crop most of it away because it was so out of focus.
Allium rosenbachianum
Allium schubertii x I think stipitatum - from memory. Its Janis' plant.
Tulipa sprengeri - a great late season species. Please excuse the fungal fleck on the flowers. Been soooo wet here.

Cheers, Marcus
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 01, 2013, 06:13:36 AM
Hi Marcus,
I have no luck establishing eremurus in this garden! That E. himalaicus looks stunning!
A few more (it's taking time getting smaller pics by first uploading them to NARGS Forum and having their software reduce them in size! Then copying back into my folder.)
Zephyranthes primulina x 2
Acantholimon hohenackeri
Triteleia'WWW'
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vanozzi on December 01, 2013, 12:43:47 PM
A few fuchsia species flowering now.The fulgens looks as though it may have a virus, so I had better collect some seed.

Regards Paul R
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on December 01, 2013, 12:58:54 PM
Nice!

Vanozzi - lovely Fuchsias, but splendens and speciosa are truly outstanding!
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Stephen Vella on December 02, 2013, 09:27:11 AM
Marcus nice alliums and that Eremurus is a stunner...whats the secrete?..I have seedlings in pots and trying to decide what position/conditions suits it best..

cheers
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Mini bulb lover on December 02, 2013, 09:51:10 AM
A few photos taken at the end of a hot (35 C) day. My Alstroemeria tall red threw up a yellow (blushed red) sport a couple of years ago but I only seem to get 1 flower stem from it. The allium had a halo from the warm setting sun. I thought I'd include a close up of Campanula glomerata nana.

Alstroemeria tall red
Alstroemeria tall yellow sport
Allium giganteum
Campanula glomerata nana
Arisaema candidissimum
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on December 02, 2013, 10:33:46 AM
Hi,  great to see such a diversity of plants.   Stephen,  I wish I knew the secret!  Right alongside the himalaicus is a row of very sad looking stenophylla. I think himalaicus likes cooler conditions when growing and good rain. Stenophylla seems to like less humid conditions.  I have tried a few more species but I have failed to grow them well including robusta. If you want big, bold and indestructible go for the Shetford hybrids. They are serious accent plants.
 Cheers,  Marcus
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on December 02, 2013, 11:09:01 AM
PS Shelford hybrid, M
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 02, 2013, 11:47:06 AM
A few photos taken at the end of a hot (35 C) day. My Alstroemeria tall red threw up a yellow (blushed red) sport a couple of years ago but I only seem to get 1 flower stem from it. The allium had a halo from the warm setting sun.
Hi Jon,
I wonder if the yellow/blushed red Alstroemeria was a piece mixed in with the red when you bought it? Was it a recent purchase? Is the red one as pink as your pic shows it? It looks a bit different to the ones I grow.
I like your Allium - I seem to have little luck with those big-headed sorts!
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Mini bulb lover on December 02, 2013, 12:32:11 PM
Hi Fermi,

I've been growing the red alstroemeria for at least 8 years so the yellow one wasn't mixed in with it. The photo doesn't represent the colour too well - it is more red in person.  :)
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 03, 2013, 10:25:18 AM
Hi Jon,
this is the red Alstroemeria we grow, I think it's sold as 'Red Fury', I can't remember what we bought the next one as but it is a yellow/orange with a pinky exterior,
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 03, 2013, 12:03:15 PM
Two other pink Alstroemerias we grow are this commercially available one -pink with yellow interior and one I grew from seed collected in California so we call it Californian Pink (quelle surprise ;D)
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Mini bulb lover on December 04, 2013, 01:42:10 AM
Hi Fermi,

Beautiful Alstroemerias. Although I purchased mine as being "red" it's certainly not as red as yours. Mine is more of a pink-red.
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: arillady on December 04, 2013, 11:13:31 AM
A couple of flowers still persisting in spite of the heat and dry.
A very late arilbred which I grew from seed from Lars Hoepfner in Denmark and is a reliable bloomer.
An allium whose label has faded and I need to reprint - rabbits have played havoc with many tags in this section of the garden.
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 05, 2013, 11:11:44 AM
Hi Pat,
That late flowering arilbred is very interesting, very subtle colouring, but it would stand out against a dark background - does it usually bloom so late? Have you sister seedlings to it?
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: arillady on December 05, 2013, 09:49:58 PM
I have never had such a late flower on this AB. No any sister seedlings would be in with it in the clump as I don't separate seedlings - just plonk in the whole lot without disturbing.
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on December 08, 2013, 10:47:34 AM
Managed to ID a Zephyranthes in flower last week as Z. primulina from Mexico.  8)
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 08, 2013, 12:03:36 PM
Managed to ID a Zephyranthes in flower last week as Z. primulina from Mexico.  8)
Did it look like the one I posted last week, Anthony?
This is a new plant for me - Ranunculus constantinopolitanus 'Plenus' (bought as "Flora Plena") which we got from the guys at Antique Perennials in Kinglake at the end of November (their nursery and their homes were razed by the "Black Saturday" fires in Feb 2009 but they've come back in great form with a huge range of plants).
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 08, 2013, 01:06:56 PM
Another American bulb which is quite showy this late in the season is Brodiaea californica,
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on December 08, 2013, 07:10:50 PM
Exactly like it Fermi, but I didn't twig then.  ::)
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Ezeiza on December 08, 2013, 07:17:01 PM
Do they flower WITH leaves, Fermi?

Do Conantheras flower WITH leaves with you?
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 09, 2013, 06:13:35 AM
Do they flower WITH leaves, Fermi?

Do Conantheras flower WITH leaves with you?
Hi Alberto,
yes, the Z. primulina are already in leaf and the flower has come up with the leaves.
The Conanthera campanulata usually has foliage but it has mostly dried off by the time it flowers,
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Ezeiza on December 09, 2013, 01:10:40 PM
Sorry, the question was


with you, Trieteleias, Brodiaeas and Dichelostemmas, Bloomeria, etc. flower without leaves? Because they and the S. American Leucocorynes, Zephyra and Conantheras all flower after the foliage is dry, at the end of the season.

Being your climate dry and growing them so well as you do, I was curious if they behaved exactly as in the wild.
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 09, 2013, 01:29:04 PM
Hi Alberto,
As you can see in the pic, the Brodiaea californica still has its foliage, but most of the others have leaves that are starting to dry off by the time the flower stems arise. Should they still be watered in that case? Or is the bulb already going dormant?
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Ezeiza on December 09, 2013, 01:35:14 PM
Apparently, it is the corm that is supporting the flower stem as all foliage is absorbed and dry by that time, when the season of rain is over. It seems the corm can sustain the processes of flowering and seed production without any additional water.
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 12, 2013, 02:23:04 AM
This is a hybrid emu-bush, Eremophila 'Summertime Blues', growing in a raised bed,
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 12, 2013, 07:20:35 AM
This is a dwarf Beschorneria  grown from  seed
It has finally flowered but I realsied that I didn't get any pics of the foliage!
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on December 12, 2013, 08:15:25 AM
I do like Beschorneria. How "dwarf" is that one?
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on December 12, 2013, 03:45:43 PM
meanie

This was collected high alititude in Mexico in 1998 as B. sp. but was identified by botanists as B. yuccoides when it flowered in BC  from selfed seed from here.   The dwarf one is 10"/25cm high with narrow bluish leaves; one sibling died in a wet summer and the other has wider leaves and pink-red flowers.  UBC flowered my selfed seed of the dwarf one in under a year.  It has wintered succesfully in Dublin, N. Vancouver & at UBC, I think in sthe second year from seed.  You might just find seedlings of the dwarf one at the Norfolk Plant Heritage AGM next year as I sent them seed!  Once we had the species id'ed we could then send seed to Fermi, it will be interesting to see if they retain their dwarfness as have the others.

Photo #1 dwarf
Photo#2 the other
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 13, 2013, 02:26:24 AM
Thanks for posting a pic of the foliage, John,
ours doesn't look as good! ;D
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on December 13, 2013, 08:54:21 AM
So it is a fair bit smaller than the B.yuccoides that I have.
Sadly, Norfolk is a bit of a trek for me. Only 150 miles, but with the UK roads being so busy probably a four hour trip.
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Mini bulb lover on December 18, 2013, 10:33:21 AM
Gladiolus flanaganii - photos don't do it justice. Unfortunately later that day I found a large caterpillar chewing through the flower after having taken chunks out of the other unopened buds.  :'(

I placed a pot of iris histrioides major under cover a month ago and I was finally going to lift the bulbs today. To my surprise not only was the potting mix still moist (it has been in a dry covered area) but one of the bulbs is shooting. I suppose I'll just have to let nature take it's course. I'd love it to flower out of season but with the temperature predicted to be 40 C here tomorrow, I don't think it will like it. I've never had this happened before.
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 22, 2013, 12:57:08 PM
An Eremophila bignoniiflora hybrid is enjoying the recent burst of hot weather
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on December 25, 2013, 10:27:26 PM
Happy Xmas Everyone!

Perfect day yesterday and took a few snaps when I arrived home after Xmas lunch.

Allium insubricum - close relation of A. narcissifolium and a lovely little summery onion.
Allium sikkimense - another lovely species.
Ebenus cretica - waited a long time to grow this here. The result of a few snatched handfuls of flower heads along the road from Omolos to Sougia. The bus was bearing down on me and there was nowhere to park off the road so I was pleased to grab a few viable seedfrom amongst the rest.

Cheers, Marcus
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lori S. on December 25, 2013, 11:20:18 PM
Nice!  I lust after Ebenus spp.... some day, they will be mine...  ;D
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on December 26, 2013, 02:17:42 AM
My Acis autumnalis has been out for two weeks now. Just two flowering stems. Ex 2012 Seed Exchange.
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on December 26, 2013, 12:14:02 PM
That is early! So its decided to skip summer altogether?

Jon if you want a viable bulb of Iris histrioides you should try and stop your plant from growing as quickly as possible even if it means cutting off the bud. It will then probably disintegrate into a bunch of smaller bulbs but better than exhausting itself to death trying to grow in completely unsuitable conditions. Bulbs like this have to replace themselves every growing season so with increasingly unfavorable conditions its a recipe for disaster.

cheers, M
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Mini bulb lover on December 26, 2013, 01:24:41 PM
Thanks for the advice Marcus.

I guess I'll be waiting a few years for more flowers. Some of my cyclamen hederifolium started flowering last month. C'est la vie!
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: olegKon on December 26, 2013, 04:27:38 PM

Marcus, are you sure the Allium in the 1st picture is A. insubricum?
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on December 26, 2013, 10:46:12 PM
The bells aren't that well defined - so what do you think it is? Cheers, Marcus

Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on December 26, 2013, 10:54:43 PM
That is early! So its decided to skip summer altogether?

I have a bulb labelled Nerine sarniensis with flowers almost out!
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on December 28, 2013, 09:16:01 PM
Mine don't get started for another 6 weeks!  M
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on December 28, 2013, 10:42:41 PM
BTW Any want to take a stab at the allium I posted earlier as A. insubricum???


Cheers, Marcus
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Mini bulb lover on December 29, 2013, 06:18:12 AM
Hi Marcus,

The picture of Allium insubricum in the book "Alliums, The Ornamental Onions" by Dilys Davies looks quite different to your photo. In the photo in that book the tepals flare outwards towards their edges, looking like "...the flowing skirt of an elegant ball gown". Your tepals are quite pointed. From your picture alone, it looks like Allium cyathophorum var farreri to me.
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on December 29, 2013, 10:35:20 AM
Hi Jon,

I think you are correct - Thanks! Heavens knows how I acquired it. I don't recall ever hearing this name before.

Been snapping while I in the grind of lifting bulbs for my catalogue.

Allium caesium - another lovely blue onion
Calochortus vestae - the goddess Mariposa
Calochortus clavatus - like a solid nugget of gold
Salvia ringens - one of my favourites. Elegant, cool and stylish.

Cheers, Marcus
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: olegKon on December 29, 2013, 03:53:24 PM
Agree with Jon. It's A.cyathophorum farreri. I'm sure you have never acquired the plant with this name and what you purchased was labeled A.insubricum. But it is a common mistake in trade everywhere: you buy any allium as a plant or seed and.... what grows is A. cyathophorum farrery, a nice thing in its own right but ...
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on December 29, 2013, 10:07:25 PM
Great that there is a forum on which these things can be discussed and corrected.

Few more holiday snaps from yesterday:

Allium heldreichii - a gift from fellow forumist, Fermi
Allium jajlae - a purchase from Janis
Allium dichlamydeum - seed grown from Ron Ratko collection
Allium senescens - seed grown from Alan Edwards gift
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 30, 2013, 04:56:50 AM
Marcus,
that Allium heldreichii is doing better for you than it did for me! I'll have to ask for a bulb back at some time as I think I've lost it as there's no sign of it this year :'( I do have plenty of Allium acutifolium and some A. amethystinum to trade ;D
It's OT time in our garden - the latest Orient-pet to flower is the wonderful Silk Road,
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on December 30, 2013, 07:41:01 PM
Fermi, I wonder why? I have found it most accommodating although I am sure it would prefer an alpine meadow than a polystyrene box to grow in! I'll send you a couple back as soon as it dies down.

Cheers,  Marcus
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 30, 2013, 10:58:41 PM
Marcus,
It probably got too wet or too dry at some point!
Another Lilium in flower today is the sparkling Oriental 'Table dance' which we got from Adrian at Club Creek Bulb Farm last winter,
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on December 31, 2013, 01:27:27 AM
Haven't been taking any lily pictures. Still stuck in the nursery and likely to be for a few weeks more :-[

Have you any calochortus left flowering Fermi? Here are a couple more from me and two interesting origanums.

Calochortus obispoensis - the craziest of them all. Looks like a ball of yarn on spindles
Calochortus superbus - easily grown and very rewarding
Origanum x - a variegated form which is a bit insipid but might have a future in the nursery trade
Origanum x - this is a good'un and has gone to trial in three continents

Cheers, and Happy New Year, everyone! M
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on December 31, 2013, 01:40:29 AM
A few more and that's my lot!

Allium myrianthum - in bud - an intriguing species with flowers that look almost good enough to eat.
Allium crispum - just going over but couldn't resist.
Calochortus simulans - horrible picture but interesting form so I thought I'd post it.
Allium oreophilum - one of Janis' but can't remember which form

Cheers, Marcus
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Peterwg on December 31, 2013, 05:28:26 AM
Hi All,
Ahh, I'm such a Klutz.  And alliums are hard in Sydney, it is too warm in winter.  But I did have a Stanhopea tigrina that thrives on neglect and perfumes the area with vanilla, even if only for a few days!
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on December 31, 2013, 09:08:50 AM
Hello Peter.       Hello Peter.    ;D
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: olegKon on December 31, 2013, 03:37:39 PM
You have wonderful Alliums, Marcus. I especially like your americans: A.crispum and A.dichlamydeum.
Happy new year to you and to all the forumists!
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: GordonT on December 31, 2013, 09:05:50 PM
I did have a Stanhopea tigrina that thrives on neglect and perfumes the area with vanilla, even if only for a few days!

Hi Peter,

That's a beautiful Stanhopea! I have a division of S. tigrina var nigroviolacea 'Goodwood' HCC/AOS that is slowly getting back to better condition. What is the material lining your basket? It looks far better suited for the job than the coconut fibre basket liner I use. Your material looks like it would retain more moisture at the roots, and shed less than my setup does.
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on December 31, 2013, 09:30:43 PM
Superb plant, Peter -  I can at least  imagine the delicious vanilla scent - wonder if 2014 will be the year that Fred gets us a forum scent button?

I was wondering about your basket liner too - I'll make a guess at dried banana leaves....... ???
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on December 31, 2013, 09:59:10 PM
Must join the local orchid society. "Thrives on neglect" I can do. I have practised it so often I'm almost perfect at it.  ::)
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: arillady on January 01, 2014, 09:09:23 AM
Peter an upside down plant for an upside down land!!! amazing.
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: ashley on January 01, 2014, 04:37:38 PM
I ... wonder if 2014 will be the year that Fred gets us a forum scent button?
Very possibly, according to this (http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/apps-that-can-communicate-touch-taste-andsmell-a-taste-of-whats-to-come-9025271.html) ;D ... and hardly far-fetched, if a firework display can be 'multi-sensory' (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jLQuAY9zG0TOPj5NY84CVftx852A?docId=1714bf05-4291-447f-a4c2-de13599aac44) ;)
Title: Re: December 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on January 03, 2014, 05:58:18 AM
Thanks Oleg, same to you. You can see a lot more Americans at my webpages http://hillviewrareplants.com.au/nursery-catalogues/buried-treasures (http://hillviewrareplants.com.au/nursery-catalogues/buried-treasures)

Cheers, Marcus
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