Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: fermi de Sousa on February 01, 2015, 11:51:54 AM

Title: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on February 01, 2015, 11:51:54 AM
Didn't notice that the "Autumn" Snowflake had started flowering!
Acis autumnalis in the Rock Garden, almost being swamped!
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on February 02, 2015, 05:14:40 AM
First of mine were about 3 weeks ago, Fermi.  In a pot in a sheltered position.  Pots more in the open and others in the ground have started in the last week.
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on February 02, 2015, 07:17:34 AM
Must check mine. Here is Zephyranthes macrosiphon "Hidalgo form" and Utricularia gibba, which must have arrived as a hitchhiker on another plant. It grows with my miniature water lilies in a half barrel, along with a breeding group of white cloud mountain minnows. It is found on all continents except Antarctica!
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 02, 2015, 07:33:59 AM
I love the Utricularia Anthony. You could try the native one as well if you could find it somewhere, Utricularia monanthos, little purple apron flowers.
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on February 02, 2015, 07:36:31 AM
I'd love to Lesley. Must look out for it. It's taken a couple of years to flower, possibly because I hoik it out by the bucket full a couple of times a year. I was about to again, when I noticed the little green flower buds just below the surface. I'd like to try some terrestrial ones too. Here's one of my white cloud mountain minnow fry. About 1 cm long max.
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on February 03, 2015, 08:19:11 AM
Hi Guys,

I'll keep the lilies rolling.

Lilium white henryi stem
Lilium "White Dragon - aptly named.
Lilium speciosum album
Lilium henryi hybrid

M
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on February 03, 2015, 09:38:12 AM
Hmmmm... definitely must find a white henryi at some point.  Looking better and better, Marcus.  Love the hybrid too.  Great substance to the flower on White Dragon.  Very nice.

Love the Utricularia, Anthony.  Flowering here too, or at least one of the close relatives (there are a few species similar I think, and I have no idea how to tell them apart! ;) )
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 03, 2015, 02:05:01 PM
Glorious white lilies   8)
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 03, 2015, 02:05:43 PM
This may primarily be of interest to readers in the Southern Hemispere, but  there is seed for sale which may be able to be ordered  outside Australia, and I am not sure if Lawrence T. ships bulbs or not - you can always ask him!
Lawrence Trevanion  (http://www.trevaniondaffodils.com.au)  has got new catalogues out   -  this for bulbs : http://www.trevaniondaffodils.com.au/Trevanion_Daffodils_Catalogue_2014_15.pdf (http://www.trevaniondaffodils.com.au/Trevanion_Daffodils_Catalogue_2014_15.pdf)
 and this for seed : http://www.trevaniondaffodils.com.au/Trevanion_Daffodils_SeedCatalog_2014_15.pdf (http://www.trevaniondaffodils.com.au/Trevanion_Daffodils_SeedCatalog_2014_15.pdf)

Postal address: 18 Terewah Circuit,
Kaleen ACT 2617, Australia

Phone: 61 - 2 - 6241 4543
Email: info@trevaniondaffodils.com.au
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on February 11, 2015, 06:07:42 AM
Ours is not a "Summer" garden but there are some flowers:
Ipomoea lindheimeri
Amaryllis belladonna (cerise form)
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vivienne Condon on February 11, 2015, 09:58:45 AM
I love the white Lilium's too Marcus. My Cyclamen colchicum is slowly increasing in size from Holland seed company.
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on February 12, 2015, 02:08:49 AM
Very nice, Viv.

Fermi, does the Ipomoea persist for you, or is it a self seeding annual?
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on February 12, 2015, 09:55:50 AM
Last night, at about 10 p.m., as I was getting out of my car, the whole sky lit up with a blinding blue flash, followed by a boom. Thought it was lightning, but the clouds were wrong. Turned out to be this: http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/66079293/bright-light-seen-across-northern-skies (http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/66079293/bright-light-seen-across-northern-skies)
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: anita on February 12, 2015, 10:57:47 AM
After a relatively cool though dry summer we're about to kick into some hot weather. 36C tomorrow and 41C on Saturday.
But I know autumn is around the corner.. the Amaryllis belladonna are up (the first ones by January 16), Rhodophilia bifida, and to my absolute amazement as I did my evening stroll around the garden to detox after work... a brave little Narcissus serotinus!
The picture is not too amazing as dusk was already falling... but I was so excited to see the first of the autumn narcissi that I had to share.
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on February 13, 2015, 06:43:27 AM
Did the meteor come down in the sea?

A couple of lilies and an Easter daisy.

Lilium nepalense Kushi Maya - seems to be out here in Australia in all the big catalogues.
Lilium lancifolium FP - Must be the ugliest of all!
and the pretty Easter Daisy "Monch".

Cheers, Marcus

PS If the pics are out of focus then apologies.
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on February 13, 2015, 07:44:21 AM
Did the meteor come down in the sea?

Cheers, Marcus

I think so. They are now calling it a bolide, which is a very bright meteor. It was certainly that. The whole sky lit up as it passed over at over 25,000 km/hour. http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/66079293/bright-light-seen-across-northern-skies (http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/66079293/bright-light-seen-across-northern-skies)
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hillview croconut on February 13, 2015, 05:39:51 PM
How exciting!  As long as it remained a bolide and not a collide! ;D M
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: melager on February 14, 2015, 07:20:53 AM
Didn't notice that the "Autumn" Snowflake had started flowering!
Acis autumnalis in the Rock Garden, almost being swamped!
cheers
fermi

Mine has started flowering also in NZ

Mel
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: PaulM on February 16, 2015, 12:05:43 PM
Ours is not a "Summer" garden but there are some flowers:
Ipomoea lindheimeri
Amaryllis belladonna (cerise form)
cheers
fermi

Dear fermides, the Ipomoea looks like it really thrives. It forms a huge caudex and sends up shoots in other directions, so you should probably keep it checked. It has survived for a long time here in Sweden for me. I've been considering digging it up and move it this spring if I can. The Amaryllis is also very beautiful.
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Mini bulb lover on February 18, 2015, 03:40:06 AM
Scutellaria alpina - a seedling from Fermi from the AGS bunfight last December. It's doing well in my raised garden bed.

This NZ bred Dowdeswell Delphinium hybrid "Dusty Maidens" has enjoyed the cooler summer here this year (and so have I!). This is the first year I've grown one of these hybrids and it's put on a lovely show (unfortunately they were battered by a storm last week, after I'd taken this photo). I've been following the advice on the Dowdeswell website on how to grow them in pots and I find it works a treat.
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on February 18, 2015, 05:49:22 AM
Dear fermides, the Ipomoea looks like it really thrives. It forms a huge caudex and sends up shoots in other directions, so you should probably keep it checked. It has survived for a long time here in Sweden for me. I've been considering digging it up and move it this spring if I can. The Amaryllis is also very beautiful.
Hi PaulM,
is yours the same colour? I don't think it varies very much and both the plants I have are the same shade of mauve. These are both about 3 years old and are welcome to stay in the bed where they are at present but the trellis is likely to rust away soon!
Paul T,
let me know if you want seed!
Jon,
I think that last heat-wave killed the last of my scut seedlings!  :o I hope yours sets seed ;D
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 18, 2015, 08:21:30 AM
Nice to see the Scutellaria. Mine died a few years ago too, in a very dry time. Seems not available now.

It seems too early yet for autumn but my Acis too is well into flower and I saw the first Cyclamen hederifolium flower and buds today.

I have a lily which was labelled as 'Black Spider', a creamy colour with a black stripe on each petal but the reality is rather different, not what I'd call spider-like.

Two Campanulas are good now, the 'Elizabeth Oliver' just starting but if I leave it until more are out, the bunnies could have had the lot as they have with some others. 'Maie Blyth' is in a trough and doing well, though perhaps a little less tight than she should be (perhaps I should say "compact" rather than "tight," though MB herself was known to enjoy her G and T in large quantities). The trough is under a crabapple tree in mostly shade.

Then a Hosta with the unlikely name of 'Fire and Ice.' I don't see where the fire is, though another similar form I have has flowers of a translucent rich purple and is very good. Not sure of its name though.
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 18, 2015, 08:25:10 AM
And
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: PaulM on February 18, 2015, 05:39:00 PM
Hi PaulM,
is yours the same colour? I don't think it varies very much and both the plants I have are the same shade of mauve. These are both about 3 years old and are welcome to stay in the bed where they are at present but the trellis is likely to rust away soon!

Yes, they are the same color. Maybe a little bit paler, but otherwise the same. It seems to be a quite hardy species as long as it stays on the dry side. It has survived six or seven years with me unscathed and it has been down to -25C, but not this winter when the lowest has been about -14C
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on February 19, 2015, 05:26:55 AM
Wow, can certainly take the cold then, Paul.
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vivienne Condon on February 22, 2015, 03:53:41 AM
A few of the Colchicum's that are out in flower in my garden, there are some that are names unknown please jump in if you think you know the names, as I would love to know. Marcus the ones from you, were all seed raised from Greece I think.
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vivienne Condon on February 22, 2015, 03:59:21 AM
Some more Colchicum's and one Merendera montana
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on February 22, 2015, 12:02:38 PM
My word Vivienne,  is it that time of year already?  :o
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on February 22, 2015, 12:31:06 PM
Wow Viv, you're a long way ahead of me as yet, well in many cases anyway.  I have had my pot of Merendera montana flower, and Colchicum autumnale (proper species I think too), but no sign of any others as yet.

Otherwise, the first of the Rhodophiala are open now, numerous Cyclamen (intaminatum, hederifolium, mirabile), first of the Nerine species (N. gracilis), Haemanthus coccineus just shooting buds this week.... very confused year as we had some cold nights a few weeks ago and some trees are in autumn colour and some things are up weeks early as they think it is autumn.   :-\
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vivienne Condon on February 23, 2015, 12:31:31 AM
Yes Maggi and Paul, our trees are turning here too, where does the year go.
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 23, 2015, 08:42:30 AM
We're still having good summer weather here, interspersed with almost alternate cooler days. First Colchicum ?byzantinum and first Cyclamen cilicium out at the weekend. Coums are coming through in leaf already and hederifoliums are starting to bloom.

I potted up 25 Iris cycloglassa today, seedlings from a sowing in Nov '13. The little bulbs have their juno roots already and the actual bulbs are about 1.5 x 1cm in size. Not bad for just a single season from germination. That was the harvest from one of 3 pots of seed. The other two I put in larger pots, the whole masses in one go to grow on for another year then I might plant them out to develop in the ground.

Still madly repotting Narcissus, Galanthus, Crocus, Erythronium et al. Irises are done and other smaller genera, dwarf bearded iris divided, some potted for sale in the spring and clumps replaced in the garden. It's taking a long time because I'm planting a lot in the garden instead of repotting so it's many trips between the potting shed and various garden places instead of a straight run at the potting. Then there's a bit of time off to listen to cricket (World Cup). Big game on Saturday between NZ and Australia. England regained some credibility today by beating Scotland comprehensively. Afghanistan (who knew it as a cricketing nation?) came close to beating Sri Lanka yesterday!

Does anyone know when Asteranthera ovata is supposed to flower? I had it at the last place in a cool tunnel and it flowered and seeded well, but it seemed to me not at any particular season, maybe late spring to autumn. Here it's growing well but no flowers in the two years we've been here. I've dosed it with soluble sulphate of potash a couple of times but no buds so far.
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 23, 2015, 08:50:40 AM
A quick Wikipedia search says summer flowering so my feeding probably is too late for this year. I think I'll try it on a tree trunk and encourage it to climb. I have a large conifer, not sure what it is, in a cool garden and both Mutisia spinosa and M. decurrens are rapidly scrambling up the trunk. The ground underneath is where I have a lot of primulas, meconopsis, podophyllums, hepaticas and my little bit of the precious Hylomecon japonicum, among many other things. So maybe the Asteranther would like it there too.
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on February 26, 2015, 01:28:21 AM
Yes Maggi and Paul, our trees are turning here too, where does the year go.
Indeed, Viv, where does it go?!
Some "autumn flowers" now in bloom:
Sternbergia sicula from seed from Rannweig Wallis from Crete
Colchicum 'Lilac Major' (which actually might be 'Lilac Wonder')
Crossyne flava
white Amaryllis belladonna (probably an inter-generic hybrid)
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: February 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on February 26, 2015, 01:40:01 AM
Crossyne are looking great, as usual, Fermi.

Pretty much none of the south african stuff flowering this year for me.  Almost complete failure on the belladonnas, even the ones that normally flower religiously for me (i.e not the common one that everyone can flower, but I can't).  Decidedly dispiriting.  :'(
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