Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: ian mcenery on February 01, 2014, 12:59:50 PM

Title: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ian mcenery on February 01, 2014, 12:59:50 PM
I posted a picture of scoliopus biglovii a couple of weeks ago but it now has many more flowers so I thought it worth another photo
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 01, 2014, 01:14:55 PM
Super close-up  which shows the fine decoration and intricate shaping of these tiny flowers.  This plant is very much a favourite of mine.  I also  love the way the foliage is so  very spotted when it is young and fades to plain green as the leaves get older and larger.  The flowers are numerous and appear over quite a long period.  Just a great wee plant.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 01, 2014, 10:13:29 PM
Yes indeed. A great plant and yours is certainly doing well Ian.
I hope the UK and European/American weather of recent times is settling down and getting better. Such terrible storm damage we have seen on TV and I wondered how David N was getting along. I hope he can swim well. ::)
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on February 02, 2014, 04:36:19 PM
On the rare occasions when the sun comes out, Daphne bholua 'Jacqueline Postill' pumps out the scent.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: mark smyth on February 02, 2014, 04:43:24 PM
I posted a picture of scoliopus biglovii a couple of weeks ago but it now has many more flowers so I thought it worth another photo

Already! That is very early
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on February 04, 2014, 02:59:35 PM
Spring is just around the corner.Taken on Feb.1st
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on February 05, 2014, 07:34:40 AM
First bloom of the year on Fuchsia perscandens. As you can see it was hidden away a wee bit, but it is loaded with buds so I'm very happy!
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nrpMixX0QzQ/UvHlPMZYI5I/AAAAAAAADJY/AzIrjj7djlg/w545-h553-no/DSC_1896.jpg)

Iris "Katherine Hodgkins"..........................
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KBwVizi5kR8/UvHlPKN9V-I/AAAAAAAADJc/EWoDeANCKV0/w783-h553-no/DSC_1897.jpg)

You'll notice that the photos were taken in the dark - this is because I've had to continue my night time and early morning slug patrols throughout the winter. So mild has it been that in the north facing courtyard by the kitchen I have the following that have remained in the green and are actively growing; a Salvia patens seedling in an 8cm pot, Trachlelospermum jasminoides and Hedychium gardnerianum.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Anne Repnow on February 05, 2014, 03:01:22 PM
Spring is on the horizon - lovely pics!

In between showers I managed to prune most of my vines today. After a number of bad choices we planted two excellent Canadian grapevines: 'Ontario' and 'Vineland'. They are very healthy, good looking and the grapes are delicious.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on February 05, 2014, 04:03:48 PM

In between showers I managed to prune most of my vines today..............................

I would just have been satisfied if I hadn't had to dress up like the sailor chap who's picture used to be on Sardine tins for a trip to the dustbin :'(
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Anne Repnow on February 05, 2014, 04:16:08 PM
As long as you don't have to put on your wetsuit, fins and snorkel...  ;D
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on February 05, 2014, 04:18:15 PM
It could well come to that as well as a deep sympathy for Noah ;D
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: angie on February 05, 2014, 06:32:47 PM
Just watched the news it looks so terrible in some places. It heavy rain her now, I am getting fed up of this now.
David you should have taken a picture and cheered us up.

Angie  :)
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on February 05, 2014, 07:10:06 PM
What, a selfie in me wetsuit, fins and snorkel. That wouldn't half frighten the horses ;D

Pretty grim day all round here today and especially so for folks closer to the coast. The rail link to Devon and Cornwall via Plymouth after Exeter is broken at Dawlish and Teignmouth and passengers needing to travel further than Exeter will need to be bussed to Newton Abbot before continuing their journey by train, for some months I would have thought. A lot of people who lived quite close to the railway look likely to loose their homes. Worse to come by the weekend it seems too.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: angie on February 05, 2014, 09:01:49 PM
David I saw the pictures of the railway line on the news, unbelievable. Like you say it will take a lot of time to sort out. My heart goes out to the folks that are affected with all this flooding.

David with your smiley face you wouldn't frighten anyone.

Angie  :)
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on February 05, 2014, 09:13:20 PM

David with your smiley face you wouldn't frighten anyone.

That's not how Maureen puts it Angie ::) ;D
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 06, 2014, 08:52:39 AM
We've been seeing it here too David, on our TV news. The Levels area of Somerset looks deeply shocking and I was hoping, tongue in cheek, that you could swim  well, but I don't mean to take it lightly. It is terribly distressing for people whose homes are flooded. I can't imagine anything more depressing and heartbreaking than having to face that kind of clean-up, or even losing their homes altogether. I truly feel for you and all your fellows in the area.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Anne Repnow on February 06, 2014, 09:01:33 AM
Yes, it is distressing! So many people loose much that they have worked hard to build up. My heart goes out to all that are in weather distress.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ebbie on February 07, 2014, 02:58:01 PM
It starts now in my alpine house to bloom:

-Crocus nubigena

-Crocus korolkowii

-Colchicum hungaricum
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Anne Repnow on February 07, 2014, 05:03:14 PM
I like the way you chose differently coloured and shaped shales and pebbles to bring out the characteristic colour of your crocuses!

Took a trip to Bonn for a family gathering. The photo was taken today in the park of Schloss Deichmannsaue, formerly part of the American embassy. 
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: annew on February 07, 2014, 06:20:31 PM
Fantastic sight  :o
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Cyril L on February 09, 2014, 05:45:16 PM
Dionysias are flowering all too early this year.

Dionysia bazoftica in a 6" pot
D. 'Ewesley Theta' (afghanica GW/H 1308 × tapetodes) in a 4" pot
D. 'Zdenek Zvolanek' (afghanica GW/H 1308 × ? tapetodes) in a 3" pot
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: angie on February 09, 2014, 05:52:20 PM
Cyril if I had those Dionysias in my greenhouse I wouldn't care about all the miserable weather that we have been having, I wouldn't leave my greenhouse.

Angie  :)
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Yann on February 09, 2014, 06:08:45 PM
whaou Cyril what deep color your Dionysias have.
I guess you should ventilate a lot during these wet winter months.

Using a dehumidifier i still have too much hygrometry in the greenhouse and have lost a small plant of ZZ's one and Corona.
What's the hygrometry in your greenhouses?



Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on February 09, 2014, 07:23:49 PM
Camellia fraterna today, splattered with mud. We have had a lot of rain!
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Cyril L on February 09, 2014, 08:04:03 PM
Cyril if I had those Dionysias in my greenhouse I wouldn't care about all the miserable weather that we have been having, I wouldn't leave my greenhouse.

Angie  :)
Yes Angie, the dionysias do lift the spirits in this dull weather we are having.

whaou Cyril what deep color your Dionysias have.
I guess you should ventilate a lot during these wet winter months.

Using a dehumidifier i still have too much hygrometry in the greenhouse and have lost a small plant of ZZ's one and Corona.
What's the hygrometry in your greenhouses?

Yann, I have overhead fans running 15 minutes on/15 minutes off, all year round.  I am convinced they help keep plants more compact and keep botrytis away especially in this damp weather we have been having lately.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on February 09, 2014, 08:57:40 PM
Not quite warm enough but the Tommys are on their way.About ten days early.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on February 09, 2014, 09:59:17 PM
Dionysias are flowering all too early this year.
Dionysia bazoftica in a 6" pot
D. 'Ewesley Theta' (afghanica GW/H 1308 × tapetodes) in a 4" pot
D. 'Zdenek Zvolanek' (afghanica GW/H 1308 × ? tapetodes) in a 3" pot

Extremely beautiful Cyril en perfectly grown !
Here they start to flower to ....
Dionysia ' Mike Bramley '
Dionysisa ' Judith Bramley '
Dionysia ' Corona '
Dionysia  zschummelii
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Anne Repnow on February 10, 2014, 11:16:07 AM
Not quite warm enough but the Tommys are on their way.About ten days early.

Wow, John, that looks terrific! How long did it take you to establish so many 'Tommys'?
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on February 10, 2014, 11:37:25 AM
Eranthis and Crocus carpets seem so alien to me here at present, with our record heat waves we've been getting.  They seem SO far from summer.  ;)

Thanks so much for showing us.  And that glorious Scoliopus at the beginning of this topic as well.  Brilliant pics everyone.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Dionysia on February 10, 2014, 06:32:17 PM
A few afghanica f1 and f2 hybrids currently in flower, others have already gone over.
MK01458/3
MK06458/2
MK01221/2 Perlmutt
PMR-MK06459/2
MK9801/14 Zdenek Zvolanek
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Dionysia on February 10, 2014, 06:41:26 PM
And a couple of other hybrids.
MK9914/4 Corona, f1 ex curviflora
PMR-MK1155c/17, f1 ex esfandiarii
Cyril, your archibaldii/bazoftica is superb. I don't recognise the clone, do you know which it is as it's better than most around.
Paul

PS Maggie, this is the first time I've added photo's and although I shrunk the originals down to the max 200 I see they won't expand. Can you explain in terms a luddite who doesn't even use a mobile 'phone would understand?
Thanks
Paul
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Dionysia on February 10, 2014, 06:56:52 PM
Belay that Maggie, they do expand, albeit not as much as other peoples.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 10, 2014, 07:00:44 PM
Belay that Maggie, they do expand, albeit not as much as other peoples.

They look pretty darn good regardless of  photo size, Paul !
Seems extraordinary that you have had some go over already when we are not half way through February yet. What a year this will be at this rate - Show secretarys tearing their hair out even more than usual as they worry what will be entered.......
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on February 10, 2014, 07:10:05 PM
Lovely Dionysias! I have never grown them but am tempted.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Dionysia on February 10, 2014, 07:51:05 PM
Thanks Maggie/Ralph. Ralph, only a few weeks until Kent show. Those currently in flower will be over by then (even with judicious use of  fridges!) but there are more to follow even though the weather is as bad as it could be for Dionysias this year with incessant  rain and low light levels.
Paul
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Yann on February 10, 2014, 08:45:17 PM
Paul your plants are stunning.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Roma on February 10, 2014, 08:51:02 PM
I love those Dionysia afghanica hybrids with dark centres.  I do not have a suitable greenhouse and would not have the patience to look after them properly so will just enjoy looking at other people's successes on the Forum.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Cyril L on February 10, 2014, 08:51:28 PM
And a couple of other hybrids.
MK9914/4 Corona, f1 ex curviflora
PMR-MK1155c/17, f1 ex esfandiarii
Cyril, your archibaldii/bazoftica is superb. I don't recognise the clone, do you know which it is as it's better than most around.
Paul

Paul, the bazoftica (I believe this should now be archibaldii) clone is MK JLMS 02-87/2.  I thought I got it from Ian Kidman but according to my records it came from Nigel Fuller in 2011.  Not many dionysias do well in Scotland but this one seems to be well behaved so far.

Your dionysias are stunning, up to your usual standard.  I am particularly taken by the white with soft yellow centre, D. MK 06458-2.  Look a little similar to D. 'Geist' which I will (attempt to) grow for the first time when I get it from Aberconwy in April.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Dionysia on February 10, 2014, 10:28:36 PM
Thanks Cyril. Yes, you're right, bazoftica is an invalid name. When Liden determined that it was indistinct from archibaldii, most of we southerners were unconvinced at first but when it became apparent how variable 'bazoftica' was and how little 1970s archibaldii we were comparing it with, it became obvious he was correct. I raised two seedlings from the JLMS02-87 collection and whilst one was similar to the JCA3010 clone the other was far better. So my own two seedlings seemed to confirm his findings.
I've got two white afghanica hybrids and the colour of both is similar to Geist but they are naturally far smaller. My biggest Geist is over 30cm and as vigorous as aretioides but unfortunately has opened up in the centre and is likely to be going to Aberconwy as I have very limited space and can't carry passengers.

 
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Cyril L on February 10, 2014, 10:46:52 PM
Amazing that afghanica hybrids can be white!  That's reassuring to hear 'Geist' is a vigorous grower, maybe it will be happy in Scotland.  'Tess' (I think a sister seedling of 'Geist') is doing well so far and has persisted for 3 years, flowering well every year.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on February 11, 2014, 12:25:42 AM
Wow, those Dionysa are breathtaking.  So perfect.  I would so very much like to get over there and see one of your alpine shows, people.  Such amazing stuff and so beautifully presented.  Totally alien to our gardening shows here in Canberra, that is for sure.  ;)
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Dionysia on February 11, 2014, 08:56:43 AM
Cyril, yes Tess and Geist are both f1 seedlings of Emmely, possibly the only redeeming feature of Emmely is it's fertility as evidenced by the fact that they are 1997 seedlings numbers 15 & 30 respectively. Unknowingly Ju Bramley and I submitted both plants to the Joint Rock Committee in 2008 as unnamed plants and they awarded PCs subject to naming. Fortunately Michael Kammerlander was at the Kent show a week later and he asked us to name the white plant so we chose Geist (German for ghost) which we both felt appropriate. There are many other Emmely seedlings, photo's of MK99310/27 in and out of flower attached plus a seedling I raised in 2003 now named Lysithea which opens very pale yellow and quickly fades to near white and is smaller in all it's parts which is a bonus when space is at a premium.
If we can work out the logistics I can let you have one of the white afghanica hybrids if you would like one. Are you going to Kendal; if so I could give one to somebody at Loughborough to pass on to you.
Got to rush off now for the day for the first of two funerals this week. Tonight I'll try and post some more afghanica hybrids from past years. You're right the colour range is remarkable, olive green, dark gold, rust, pearl amongst the more unusual.
Paul
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 11, 2014, 09:04:05 AM
Fantastic Dionysias everyone. Just a never-to-be-realized pipe dream for us I'm afraid, so thanks so much for showing us these glimpses of HEAVEN! ::)
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Dionysia on February 11, 2014, 02:31:05 PM
Sorry you have to rely on pictures Lesley, but better than nothing I guess. Rather earlier than I suggested further afghanica hybrids attached. We didn't make it to the funeral as the car developed an electrical problem causing various things to malfunction so we had to return home. Puts our attendance at Caerleon in jeopardy unless the garage can get it fixed tomorrow or persuade our warranty company to supply a suitable replacement for Saturday.
Dionysia Gnom (MK94102/2) - Eric Watson x afghanica. Michael Kammerlander's hybrids are open pollenated and the pollen parent is usually unknown unless specific characteristics implicate the pollen parent. This is the case with Gnom which is a seedling of Eric Watson (bryoides x tapetodes) but which clearly has afghanica in it's make up.
Dionysia Ludek Zvolanek (MK9801/3) - f1 hybrid
MK01458/3 - f2 hybrid ex MK9701/4
MK01458/9 - f2 hybrid ex MK9701/4
Perlmutt - (MK01221/2) - f2 hybrid ex MK9301/3
Paul
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Dionysia on February 11, 2014, 02:34:09 PM
and finally PMR-MK06459/1, f2 sibling of a previously posted plant.
Paul
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on February 11, 2014, 02:44:41 PM
To Bolinopsis.The answer to your question is 45 years.Sorry about the picture size but I am struggling with a new computer.I am hoping that I have sorted it now and I managed to grab some more shots during a brief period of sunshine although they are not fully open.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 11, 2014, 03:16:09 PM
I think you have cracked the photo thing now, John - and what a pretty picture those crocus make.

Good to hear you are getting enough brightness to get them opening. So sad when they get stuck in wet dull weather - though they have such a slim elegant shape that they are still lovely.


Paul:  bad news about the car problems - it's certainly not weather up here to be stranded in with a broken vehicle. Fingers crossed for a quick fix.

Your  Dionysias are superb - I have a soft spot for both the Zvolanek brothers - the men and the plants!! ;)



Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Cyril L on February 11, 2014, 08:44:54 PM
Cyril, yes Tess and Geist are both f1 seedlings of Emmely, possibly the only redeeming feature of Emmely is it's fertility as evidenced by the fact that they are 1997 seedlings numbers 15 & 30 respectively. Unknowingly Ju Bramley and I submitted both plants to the Joint Rock Committee in 2008 as unnamed plants and they awarded PCs subject to naming. Fortunately Michael Kammerlander was at the Kent show a week later and he asked us to name the white plant so we chose Geist (German for ghost) which we both felt appropriate. There are many other Emmely seedlings, photo's of MK99310/27 in and out of flower attached plus a seedling I raised in 2003 now named Lysithea which opens very pale yellow and quickly fades to near white and is smaller in all it's parts which is a bonus when space is at a premium.
If we can work out the logistics I can let you have one of the white afghanica hybrids if you would like one. Are you going to Kendal; if so I could give one to somebody at Loughborough to pass on to you.
Got to rush off now for the day for the first of two funerals this week. Tonight I'll try and post some more afghanica hybrids from past years. You're right the colour range is remarkable, olive green, dark gold, rust, pearl amongst the more unusual.
Paul
Paul, I hope to go to Kendal, so would be very happy with one of the white afghanica hybrids.  Thank you.

Some more superb dionysias.  Must be very addictive especially when you raise your own very special plants such as 'Lysithea'.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Dionysia on February 11, 2014, 09:36:10 PM
I'll let you know who has the plant after Loughborough Cyril, it won't be huge though! First flowering is always exciting, the hope it might be gentian blue or pillar box red. So far nothing that dramatic but some have been well worth propagating, others not so. The first batch I raised from seed MK sent me in 2003 numbered over 500 and I had to knock the garden shed down to squeeze a new 6x6 into a tiny space by the house. Although I only retained around 10%, these of course grew so the space didn't last long and there have been further raisings since. Don't deliberately pollenate my own plants as I have more than enough to do but whenever a plant dies I always look for capsules and occasionally find a few seeds. It is one of the most satisfying aspects of our addiction. My mother calls it an obsession. A few of my seedlings attached.
Paul
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Dionysia on February 11, 2014, 09:44:00 PM
and finally.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Cyril L on February 11, 2014, 10:23:09 PM
Great range and variety of seedlings Paul, and superbly well grown.  Many thanks for showing.  I must try harder to grow them well but the problem is I like too many other plants also.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Dionysia on February 11, 2014, 10:35:14 PM
Don't we know it! At least give the rest of us a chance by having one genus you don't excel in. I never cease to be amazed at how you produce unmatchable plants across such a vast spectrum. I do grow other things but space (or lack thereof) is always a major problem.
Paul
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Anne Repnow on February 12, 2014, 06:55:44 PM
Hepatica transsylvatica 'Winterfreude' - it has flowered for 6 weeks now!
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Anne Repnow on February 12, 2014, 07:22:14 PM
The crocuses are coming along fine. All they need now is bit more sunshine.
Crocus etruscus 'Zwanenburg'
Crocus tommasianus 'Roseus'
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: fenius on February 12, 2014, 08:30:11 PM
Lovely flowers everyone!! So these are the dionysias I've come across in threads here, never realised how diverse and pretty they can be.... Nice job, Paul!
Loved the meadows too, and the crocuses..
This is my news:
our "frost",
my first ever hepatica blooms, after one failed attempt with the plant last year
...and lastly my heavenly scented daphne odora !!

Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on February 12, 2014, 08:54:45 PM
Well done Fenius, just keep on trying any genus you can get your hands on and you will get to know what will get by on your conditions.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: rosa on February 13, 2014, 11:40:26 AM
Do you grow Fuchsia perscandens outdoors, and if so, which part of the country are you in?
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 13, 2014, 12:53:04 PM
Do you grow Fuchsia perscandens outdoors, and if so, which part of the country are you in?

Welcome, Rosa!

This thread may be of interest to you :
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=6966.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=6966.0)
and this :
http://nfsnz.orconhosting.net.nz/nzspecies.htm (http://nfsnz.orconhosting.net.nz/nzspecies.htm)
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on February 13, 2014, 01:04:56 PM
Do you grow Fuchsia perscandens outdoors, and if so, which part of the country are you in?

Thanks to the encouragement on the other thread I've kept it outdoors the last couple of winters in a very sheltered spot.
I'm in Oxfordshire where it can be surprisingly cold.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: François Lambert on February 14, 2014, 12:51:20 PM
Dionysia, those flowering Dionysia's really look beautiful and cheer us up during this darker period of the year.  Not so much flowering in nature right here right now.  The snowdrops are slowly developing from bud stage to flowers and the hazelnut & alder trees have their catkins waving gracefully in the wind.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Dionysia on February 14, 2014, 10:46:52 PM
Thank you Francosi. First show of the year tomorrow and we've just had a nightmare trying to load the car in 60mph winds and occasional torrential rain. Only one pane broken in the greenhouse (so far) and I've been able to replace it. Must have happened within the last few minutes as the plants didn't get wet.
Paul
Title: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ikizzeki on February 15, 2014, 06:37:04 PM
I am not good at gardening and computing but eager to learn more. Early in the morning I have gone to garden which is 25 km away from city centre and almost in the middle of woodland, explored a new muscari in it. Now I am trying to identify it..
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 15, 2014, 07:02:07 PM
Izzet, if you email your picture to me at    info@srgc.org.uk  I will post it for you.

 Best wishes,

 Maggi
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 15, 2014, 07:23:45 PM
   
I am not good at gardening and computing but eager to learn more. Early in the morning I have gone to garden which is 25 km away from city centre and almost in the middle of woodland, explored a new muscari in it. Now I am trying to identify it..

The mystery plant :

[attachimg=1]


Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 16, 2014, 12:22:51 AM
Thank you Francosi. First show of the year tomorrow and we've just had a nightmare trying to load the car in 60mph winds and occasional torrential rain. Only one pane broken in the greenhouse (so far) and I've been able to replace it. Must have happened within the last few minutes as the plants didn't get wet.
Paul
 

Hope all going to the AGS Caerleon Show  got there and back safely.  I hear that Bob and Rannveig Wallis won the Farrer with a big pot of Iris hyrcana.  8)
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Catwheazle on February 16, 2014, 09:38:20 AM
"Sunday walk" Today, when my dogs.
Föhn (=warm wind from south over the Alpes) .... has caused a miracle last days.
Now spring has begun here between the snow remains.
Leucojum vernum, Hepatica nobilis in the woods...
Sturnus vulgaris  in my garden is back from south since today :-)

Bernd
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Dionysia on February 16, 2014, 12:51:25 PM
Maggi, you are right, Bob and Rannveig did indeed deservedly win the Farrer medal with Iris hyrcana. It was in fact only in a 19cm pot, part of their 6 pan, put was absolutely packed and evenly flowered. We did get our car back on Friday afternoon with a new £250 boot switch but the problem recurred on Friday evening on the way to our local group meeting! We eventually sorted it ourselves by spraying the mechanism with a water repellent. The car behaved impeccably on show day. The garage will be receiving a visit on Monday morning!!!!!
Paul
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Tim Ingram on February 17, 2014, 06:31:29 PM
Three very different plants flowering in the garden now: Iris 'Clairette' - one of the loveliest of all reticulata types that has settled down nicely in gritty soil (we've never done too well with many others, must try harder); Hacquetia epipactis 'Thor' - always very early and delightful to see appearing in February with the snowdrops (annoyingly difficult to propagate and of course everyone wants it!); and one of the legion of winter heathers (like dwarf conifers these seem to have languished in obscurity for a long time, but they really are lovely plants grown amongst others, and give a sense of the open moors).
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on February 18, 2014, 11:36:10 AM
Draba sphaeroïdes seeded around nicely over the years !
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on February 19, 2014, 10:15:22 AM
Maggi,

The mystery plant reminds of me Brimeura in that bud form.  Do Muscari have that crimped "cap" look to them?  For some reason that shape for Brimeura has lodged itself in my mind, but not for Muscari?  What do others think?
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on February 19, 2014, 11:01:25 AM
Hi, 

In what province did Izzet photograph the plant? Cheers, Marcus
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 19, 2014, 11:05:35 AM
He just says 25km from city centre of Antalya........ he will tell us more when he sees this, I hope.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ashley on February 19, 2014, 11:36:25 AM
I am not good at gardening and computing but eager to learn more. Early in the morning I have gone to garden which is 25 km away from city centre and almost in the middle of woodland, explored a new muscari in it. Now I am trying to identify it..

Izzet, I think it looks like Hyacinthella heldreichii but it's hard to be sure from the photo.  A lovely plant though 8)
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: fenius on February 19, 2014, 01:21:15 PM
Thanks David!  I have a few more this week, too!
My first ever galanthus - I think it is woronowii so no scent :-(
edgeworthia with a lovely scent
a cyclamen with an equally lovely scent - haven't id it yet
and finally, andromeda polifolia!
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on February 19, 2014, 07:42:23 PM
Hi,  I agree with Ashley, its in the right place and, even though it's part its prime, it matches the description. I grow this species and H. lazulina both from Archibald seed. Cheers,  Marcus
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on February 20, 2014, 09:23:05 PM
Asphodelus acaulis  , in pot (picture 1 & 2 ) and in the garden ( 3 & 4) .
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on February 21, 2014, 08:28:41 AM
Beautiful, Kris.  I hope to track some of these down one of these years.  They look great.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on February 21, 2014, 08:46:07 AM
Beautiful, Kris.  I hope to track some of these down one of these years.  They look great.

Thanks Paul . You can have a piece of mine when they go dormant (rootstock) but I think is not possible to sent it to your country ?   
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on February 21, 2014, 09:02:52 AM
Thank you for the offer, Kris, but as you say it isn't possible with our quarantine.  I appreciate the thought though.  :D
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Gerdk on February 21, 2014, 09:54:29 AM
Asphodelus acaulis  , in pot (picture 1 & 2 ) and in the garden ( 3 & 4) .


Kris,
Very interesting to see this species outside. I once cultivated it with the shelter of a greenhouse
and received very etioleted plants.
Did your plant survive more than the recent winter and are flowers expected outside?

Gerd
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on February 21, 2014, 03:20:46 PM
Kris,
Very interesting to see this species outside. I once cultivated it with the shelter of a greenhouse
and received very etioleted plants.
Did your plant survive more than the recent winter and are flowers expected outside?
Gerd

It is the second year (winter )outside Gerd and previous winter was much colder. Yes it flowers outside but not with so much flowers as in my greenhouse .
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: hadacekf on February 21, 2014, 08:01:57 PM
Bulbs in my meadow.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 21, 2014, 08:08:24 PM
Spring , perfect spring! I do feel sorry for those who do not know  how beautiful a garden can be so early in the year using bulbs and corms.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on February 21, 2014, 11:04:25 PM
I do agree, Maggi!

Franz, that is perfect!
Seems you have a lot of sun, or did you take the pictures the day the sun was shining?

I have also a lot of bulbs in my lawn but much gray weather and rain make it difficult to enjoy the display.

These are from the other day when we had a few hours with sun between the showers.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Tony Willis on February 22, 2014, 12:55:36 PM
A plant growing on the beach in the Cape Verde islands photographed by my daughter yesterday.

A type of orobanche,  Cistanche phelypaea
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Chris Johnson on February 22, 2014, 02:36:26 PM
A plant growing on the beach in the Cape Verde islands photographed by my daughter yesterday.

A type of orobanche,  Cistanche phelypaea

Wow, not seen anything like that before. Quite spectacular.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: hadacekf on February 22, 2014, 07:39:33 PM
Hoy,
Luckily, we had some days with sunshine.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ruweiss on February 22, 2014, 09:36:17 PM
Maggi, you are right. Bulbs and corms are simply great and excellent for eyes
and soul after wintertime. I am not quite sure, but think, that springtime is
extremely early this year.
Had a closer look at the Galanthus today and found these unusual forms among
the normal ones.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ruweiss on February 22, 2014, 09:38:54 PM
More pictures:
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on February 22, 2014, 10:13:02 PM
Spring is sprung.A few pics. from my garden  in the last few days.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on February 22, 2014, 10:17:23 PM
and more.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on February 22, 2014, 10:19:24 PM
Finally.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on February 22, 2014, 10:28:55 PM
and in the wood.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Lori S. on February 22, 2014, 10:29:40 PM
Wow!   :o :o
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 22, 2014, 10:35:03 PM
How happy must the bees be to have all those flowers?  8)
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on February 23, 2014, 04:38:17 AM
Really stunning displays.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: ArnoldT on February 23, 2014, 05:10:12 AM
Crocuses interrupted by an occasional Galanthus,  Hmmmm...

Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Leena on February 23, 2014, 08:12:56 AM
Really stunning displays.

I couldn't have said it better. Thank you for showing the pictures, they are very inspiring.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Matt T on February 23, 2014, 09:03:01 AM
Spring is sprung.A few pics. from my garden  in the last few days.

Absolutely incredible John! What a great place your garden must be to spend time at this time of year. Simply stunning displays. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on February 23, 2014, 07:37:25 PM
Spring is really getting under way here. 1. Camellia transnokensis; 2. Camellia 'Cornish Spring'; 3. Camellia japonica 'Margaret Davis; 4. newly emerging growth of Jeffersonia dubia.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on February 25, 2014, 12:23:07 PM
John G.

Those mass displays are breathtaking.  I wouldn't know where to stand if I came across that in a wood somewhere.  Just amazing.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: François Lambert on February 25, 2014, 12:28:12 PM
this is not a late heap of snow waiting to be melted by the spring sun ... these are the snowdrops in my garden.  And they spread all over the lawn, even if as long as they do not flower they get mowed from april on since it's almost impossible to distinguish them from the gras.  This spring I have spotted new lonely flowers 20 tot 30 meter away from the main clumps area.  It's going to be athletic mowing this spring navigating between all the snowdrops  ;D
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on February 25, 2014, 12:35:35 PM
Sigh!  If only they'd do that here.  Absolutely lovely pics, everyone.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Irm on February 26, 2014, 08:28:45 AM
Spring comes very very slowly here in Berlin, but a first Hepatica is in flower now.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on February 26, 2014, 11:42:57 AM
A few more pics.this time in the glade.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: johngennard on February 26, 2014, 11:50:07 AM
and cyclamen coum growing beneath deciduous azaleas and a single self-sown plant at the foot of my rockery with its seedlings helped by myself .
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on February 26, 2014, 12:41:01 PM
and cyclamen coum growing beneath deciduous azaleas and a single self-sown plant at the foot of my rockery with its seedlings helped by myself .

 :o  :o  :o  Stunning John , what a great show !
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on February 26, 2014, 03:43:42 PM
Ranunculus calandrinioides outside in the rockgarden .
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on February 26, 2014, 07:16:59 PM
My first ever Lachenalia. Not one of my seed grown ones, it was a bargain bin purchase last year......................
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g430/longk48/DSC_1913.jpg)

Sold to me as L.aloides, but here is a photo of the foliage for those wiser than myself.................
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g430/longk48/DSC_1917.jpg)

First Salvia to start blooming this year is this small cutting of S.microphylla that was over wintered under unheated glass.............
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g430/longk48/DSC_1920.jpg)
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on February 26, 2014, 09:41:39 PM
Wonderful Ranunculus, Kris.  I grow this one in an open cold frame with  no protection, where it blooms.  Haven't found a good garden spot for it yet - so much of my garden is sunny and dry.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Cyril L on February 26, 2014, 10:43:27 PM
Caltha palustris alba flowering as it is poking through the ground.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on February 27, 2014, 08:32:56 AM
Caltha palustris alba flowering as it is poking through the ground.

Hummm , Ranunculaceae again ..... yes I like them Cyril ! Wonderful group of plants ....
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on February 27, 2014, 08:42:32 AM
Wonderful Ranunculus, Kris.  I grow this one in an open cold frame with  no protection, where it blooms.  Haven't found a good garden spot for it yet - so much of my garden is sunny and dry.

Thanks Anne . Maybe he is strong enough to resist the dry conditions. He goes dormant very quick after flowering and then they could have more I suppose. Here he stays very warm and very sunny to but offcourse we have no summers like you. Altough my garden is very hot,sunny and dry .If you have more then one I would try it ....
My potbounded one is more compact because I kept it under glas and it is not repotted since several years . This winter I kept it very close to the roof of the greenhouse , so with maximum light. This result in a very compact plant. He stays in the greenhouse al summer when dormant and temperatures rises to 50 degrees celcius overthere ...  Maybe my plant outside have a to rich soil. I hope to grow this one a bit more compact in the future. Maybe I try to change soil conditions .But they do'nt like it to replant very often ....   
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on February 27, 2014, 12:29:13 PM
What a spectacular show the white caltha palustris makes. Is it available at nurseries in England?  Don't think I've ever seen it here.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: astragalus on February 27, 2014, 12:31:23 PM
Kris, it goes dormant here after flowering.  I only have the one plant and I'm not usually here when it makes seed (if it does).  So you can see why I'm reluctant to put it in the garden and maybe lose it.  Thanks so much for all the information.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Gerdk on February 27, 2014, 12:52:46 PM
Just from yesterday

1. + 2. Iris unguicularis ssp. cretensis - outside!  first time flowering
3.         a selection of Primula sibthorpii from Artvin/Turkey
4.         Primula megaseifolia
5.         Narcissus jacetanus

Gerd
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Gerdk on February 27, 2014, 01:06:25 PM
Some violets are flowering inside

1.       Viola jaubertiana            -from Mallorca
2. - 4. Viola mucronulifera        -not very floriferous but with unusually blue tinted leaves and a spiny looking leaf margin
                                                     - very special

both species with special thanks to the seed donors!

Gerd
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 27, 2014, 01:07:10 PM
What a spectacular show the white caltha palustris makes. Is it available at nurseries in England?  Don't think I've ever seen it here.
34 suppliers listed in the RHS plant finder  (http://apps.rhs.org.uk/rhsplantfinder/pfregions.asp?ID=73678)-    4 in Scotland  and you will see quite a few in England.....
"Abroad
   1 nursery listed
Eastern
   4 nurseries listed
London Area
1 nursery listed
Midlands
4 nurseries listed
Northern
6 nurseries listed
Scotland
4 nurseries listed
South West
6 nurseries listed
Southern
3 nurseries listed
Wales and the West
5 nurseries listed
28  are mail order suppliers"
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 27, 2014, 01:09:04 PM
Some violets are flowering inside

1.       Viola jaubertiana            -from Mallorca
2. - 4. Viola mucronulifera        -not very floriferous but with unusually blue tinted leaves and a spiny looking leaf margin
                                                     - very special

both species with special thanks to the seed donors!

Gerd

V. mucronifolia looks very special, I think.  Fine flower and  delicate foliage.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on February 27, 2014, 01:48:33 PM
and cyclamen coum growing beneath deciduous azaleas and a single self-sown plant at the foot of my rockery with its seedlings helped by myself .

Truly astonishing views you've been showing us over the last couple of days John !! Breathtaking !!!

Out here (on a more moderate scale), Callianthemum calandrinoides is at its best in the tufa garden !

Whereas Primula "Tantallon" does well in the peatbed

Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on February 27, 2014, 02:42:16 PM
Lovely 'Tantallon' Luc, I've never dared try it
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on February 27, 2014, 02:45:20 PM
Thanks David !
I have it in my peatbed where it survived its first (mild) Winter... I gave it a pane of glass as rain protection.  So far, so good !
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on February 27, 2014, 03:16:33 PM
Mmmmmmmmm ;D
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Cyril L on February 27, 2014, 08:58:45 PM
What a spectacular show the white caltha palustris makes. Is it available at nurseries in England?  Don't think I've ever seen it here.
I got the plant from Ian Christie in 2012 but it seems widely available in the RHS Plant Finder from Maggi's research.

Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Cyril L on February 27, 2014, 10:07:55 PM
Dionysia curviflora x, a hybrid from Jiri Papousek in 2003.

Dionysia curviflora Clone ENF 93/3 (Nigel Fuller)
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 27, 2014, 10:11:18 PM
Dionysia curviflora x, a hybrid from Jiri Papousek in 2003.


Is yellow a usual colour for a curviflora hybrid?
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on February 28, 2014, 06:48:01 PM
Nice to see your spring flowers down there while I am spending a week here at the treeline. It is still a couple of months till the first harbingers of warmer weather will appear here. (That will be Pulsatilla vernalis among others by the way.)

The weather hasn't been anything to boast of - and no aurora seen as the clouds are down to our ankles. But it is "warm" for the season. Usually this is the coldest month of the year with temperatures at -15 to -20C but now we -1. The mean temp is almost 10 degrees warmer than usual for the whole winter! We have normal snow cover but the areas south and east of us have more snow than anybody can remember. They had to dig down to find their cabins.

We have been out skiing every day despite the grey weather. here are a few pics - the trees are common birches (Betula pubescens), Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and juniper shrubs (Juniperus communis) under the snow. The spruces often make dense scrubs when the lower branches roots.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 28, 2014, 07:11:24 PM
Not the easiest landscape to navigate, Trond
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on February 28, 2014, 07:26:52 PM
Maggi, it is not that bad when you are in the open even when you just have 30m sight (the pictures were taken today in reasonably good weather!) I have a feeling of the way and we know the terrain pretty well. It is worse in the dense birchwoods where you loose your sense of direction when you turn left and right to avoid the densest stands of trees.

In such weather like these days we often get white-outs, that is you don't know the distance and whether it is up or down in front of your skis.

Edit: Forgot to include the picture of me in the birchwood.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Cyril L on February 28, 2014, 09:06:23 PM
Is yellow a usual colour for a curviflora hybrid?
D. curviflora is purple to varying degrees in all the clones I have seen, so it is interesting that hybrids can be a totally different colour.  It is akin to D. afghanica hybrids being white - see reply 29 from Paul who posted some pictures.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Cyril L on February 28, 2014, 09:14:02 PM
Leontice ewersmanii, from Jan Jilek seeds sown 1996.  It comes from Afghanistan.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: annew on March 01, 2014, 07:54:49 PM
Great to see pictures of Trond in his native habitat!
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Dionysia on March 01, 2014, 09:56:45 PM
Hi Maggi
The obvious examples of yellow curviflora hybrids are Monika and Annielle, siblings raised by Michael Kammerlander in 1988, the first of his extensive range of hybrids and still amongst the most easily available. Although open pollenated like all his hybrids he believes the pollen parent to be tapetodes. Having said that, Cyril's plant does not look like any curviflora hybrid I've ever seen and clearly has aretioides somewhere in it's make up.
Paul
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on March 01, 2014, 10:27:49 PM
Hi Maggi
The obvious examples of yellow curviflora hybrids are Monika and Annielle, siblings raised by Michael Kammerlander in 1988, the first of his extensive range of hybrids and still amongst the most easily available. Although open pollenated like all his hybrids he believes the pollen parent to be tapetodes. Having said that, Cyril's plant does not look like any curviflora hybrid I've ever seen and clearly has aretioides somewhere in it's make up.
Paul
Thank you , Paul.  I am familiar with D. ' Monika' and 'Annielle' (Mrs Lafong, of course) but I had
quite forgotten that curviflora was involved in their makeup.   
I did think that Cyril's plant  from Jiri ( hhttp://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=11357.msg296643#msg296643 )  did have a strong look of aretioides about it. 
Are there others of a similar parentage you can suggest?
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Dionysia on March 02, 2014, 08:48:26 PM
Sorry about the delay in responding Maggi. The foliage is barely visible in the photo' so it's difficult to make a reasoned suggestion. It's entirely possible it could be curviflora x aretiodes although I'm not aware of any known examples of such a cross.
Paul
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on March 02, 2014, 08:56:42 PM
I know you've been busy  at Harlow winning prizes, Paul, so not expecting you to be here until later.

Did you enjoy the day ?
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on March 03, 2014, 12:38:06 AM
My very small Dionysia and an Ypsilandra.
Title: Re: February in the Northern Hemisphere
Post by: Philip Walker on March 03, 2014, 12:39:04 AM
Try again
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