Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: Anthony Darby on March 01, 2015, 06:32:25 AM

Title: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on March 01, 2015, 06:32:25 AM
My passion fruit is ready to eat. 8)
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on March 01, 2015, 09:44:53 AM

That's beautiful Anthony! What's the variety? Did you grow that from seed? I am great at killing passionfruit, all except for the annoying rootstock, Passiflora caerulea. That grows just fine!
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on March 02, 2015, 12:55:28 AM
Anthony,
that's not a variety I've seen before. What is the flower like? Have you posted a pic of it earlier?

This cluster of Sternbergia sicula is looking good but is yet to be joined by any others.
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on March 02, 2015, 04:17:48 AM
Passionfruit 'Panama Gold', Anthony?
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on March 02, 2015, 05:29:30 AM
Passiflora quandrangularis, the giant granadilla. Bought a wee plant from Bunning's and plonked it by the fence at the back of the rose bed in the hollyhock border. Several huge flowers, but only one fruit this year.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 02, 2015, 08:41:20 AM
That's a lot of passion Anthony! ;D I hope the flavour lives up to expectations. Please report in due course.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on March 02, 2015, 09:19:48 AM
Perhaps used as a topping to that Australian...er.. New Zealand Australasian specialty,  Pavlova  ;D
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on March 02, 2015, 09:30:31 AM
My wife rebecca does a mean pavlova.  ;D. She has it down to a fine art.

Autumn is officially here and I have to admit, there is a certain optimism in the air... This has been a very challenging summer and I'm glad to see the back of it.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on March 02, 2015, 09:35:39 AM
Picture when available Jamus please. At least two of the |Forumists will dribble. No names no pack drill! ;D
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on March 04, 2015, 09:20:29 AM
David, there's a few of the forumists that dribble anyway, but nothing to do with food.  ;)
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on March 04, 2015, 09:33:33 AM
David, there's a few of the forumists that dribble anyway, but nothing to do with food.  ;)
Drat! I hoped no-one had noticed.....
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Otto Fauser on March 05, 2015, 01:31:53 AM
Fermi , recently you posted a photo of a lonely Colchicum cilicicum . Here is a part of a clump of it in my garden , also of the showy Colch. bivonae . The white Cyclamen graecum is 4 years from seed .
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on March 05, 2015, 09:37:56 AM
Four years from seed to SO many flowers on the Cyclamen graecum??  Wonderful - and that, Otto, just shows why we hold you in such esteem - to produce such a plant in four years is just super. 
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on March 05, 2015, 03:05:35 PM
Four years from seed to SO many flowers on the Cyclamen graecum??  Wonderful - and that, Otto, just shows why we hold you in such esteem - to produce such a plant in four years is just super.

I agree he said after having yet failed to get a flower on 2008 seedlings
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 06, 2015, 02:47:58 AM
David, there's a few of the forumists that dribble anyway, but nothing to do with food.  ;)

Speak for yourself Laddie! :)
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 06, 2015, 02:58:12 AM
These two images are for Julie in Washington State of the USA. Prmula juliae, flowers and foliage.
Why are there so many queries about this super little species? Is it so very uncommon? So many people seems not to have the real thing. One source has in recent years distributed plants in our local garden centres as P. juliae, which are in fact, the same as those from Barnhaven's P x Juliana hybrids. They range through blues, purples, red shades and are quite good little cushiony plants but they are not P. juliae.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on March 06, 2015, 03:18:28 AM
I agree he said after having yet failed to get a flower on 2008 seedlings
You'd think out of 2008 seedlings at least one would flower ???
 ;D
David, there's a few of the forumists that dribble anyway, but nothing to do with food.  ;)
Speak for yourself Laddie! :)
Not being a Continence Physio I don't feel qualified to comment.....but there are exercises, y'know
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Shadylanejewel on March 06, 2015, 06:36:00 AM
These two images are for Julie in Washington State of the USA. Prmula juliae, flowers and foliage.
Why are there so many queries about this super little species? Is it so very uncommon? So many people seems not to have the real thing. One source has in recent years distributed plants in our local garden centres as P. juliae, which are in fact, the same as those from Barnhaven's P x Juliana hybrids. They range through blues, purples, red shades and are quite good little cushiony plants but they are not P. juliae.

Thank you very much Lesley! Look at those cute little smooth leaves which are wider than long. No tight little rosettes! Oh my little namesake plant - I'm determined to find you!

I have found a couple more nurseries which assure me their plants are the "true species".  I've placed orders and hopefully when they arrive, I won't have to pull my hair out!  ;)
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 06, 2015, 09:16:20 AM
I hope you can find it Julie because it really is a little treasure. The plant is mat-forming and not cushion-like, as in the Barnhaven seedlings, charming though they are. I've never had seed on mine and it's likely that all the plants in NZ are from a single clone. A person a few years back distributed a plant under the varietal name 'Mina' after a local gardener with the information that is is a smaller form, but it is not, and in fact is identical in every way to straight P. juliae so there is no justification for the 'Mina' name whatsoever.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Shadylanejewel on March 06, 2015, 04:51:19 PM
I hope you can find it Julie because it really is a little treasure.

Me too - Thank you.

I've never had seed on mine

Consensus seems to be P. juliae is self sterile. I've seen companies selling seed and have stayed away from them!

A person a few years back distributed a plant under the varietal name 'Mina' after a local gardener with the information that is is a smaller form, but it is not, and in fact is identical in every way to straight P. juliae so there is no justification for the 'Mina' name whatsoever.

Sounds like another gimmick to sell plants!

Thanks again for your help!

Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on March 08, 2015, 12:16:46 PM
Fermi!!   :o :o :o  ;)
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on March 08, 2015, 08:23:38 PM
LOL fermi.  ;D

Biarum davisii, A wonderful little arum, isn't it?

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8730/16756348022_86442066fe_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rwGEu7)
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on March 08, 2015, 08:33:46 PM

Look at these beautiful little apples. On a recent blackberry picking expedition we came upon this old old apple tree growing in a creek. I think it's Duchess of oldenburg, fits with the age of the tree and what we know of the history of this area.



Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on March 08, 2015, 08:47:51 PM
If they are half as tasty as they look they must be delicious. Worth trying a scion from the tree?
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on March 08, 2015, 09:18:38 PM

It could be Maggi, it's not a common variety now but not exactly rare either. I don't have room for an apple tree here. We planted a little red fuji but it's struggling... has one tiny apple on it this year.

The valley behind our house has a permanent creek in it and a lot of remnants of the settlers; figs, almonds, willows, apples, plums, zillions of olives and of course the blackberries. There are even hawthorn. Quite European.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 09, 2015, 09:47:10 PM
I phoned Otto last night to wish him a happy birthday. He sounds well but (like me) is suffering a little from creaky joints.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on March 10, 2015, 09:46:04 AM
Don't you need two varieties of apple flowering at the same time to get fruit? I think that's the problem with our peach tree.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on March 10, 2015, 10:02:32 AM
I phoned Otto last night to wish him a happy birthday. He sounds well but (like me) is suffering a little from creaky joints.

....... and I thought it was just me. I used to do a lot of my gardening on my haunches, but can't get down there (or get up once I'm down)!

Happy Birthday Otto.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on March 10, 2015, 11:20:02 AM
Don't you need two varieties of apple flowering at the same time to get fruit? I think that's the problem with our peach tree.
  You'll invariably get better fruiting with a pollinating partner, but there are quite a number of self-fertile fruit trees of many sorts which can mange as lone  examples.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Matt T on March 10, 2015, 05:13:38 PM
Self-fertile varieties will set fruit by self-pollination, but even they will set even more fruit if they have a pollinating partner of a different variety. To make things more awkward, triploid varieties require two other pollinating partners! The crab apple is an excellent pollinator.

Anthony, your peach should be self-fertile. My neighbour has a single peach tree (possibly the only on in the Western Isles, admittedly in a polytunnel) and she gets excellent fruit set. Early flowering when few pollinators are on the wing is the usual problem, so you might try tickling with a brush.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on March 11, 2015, 02:09:56 AM
Don't you need two varieties of apple flowering at the same time to get fruit? I think that's the problem with our peach tree.

Anthony,

I am a farmer and orchardist (with peaches), in one of the peach growing districts of California. I am aware of a few peach varieties that are not self fruiting, such as 'J. H. Hale'. Most are self fruiting. The varieties that are not self fruiting, of coarse, will not self fruit unless there is a different and compatible variety close by. Compatible is an important consideration as another variety may or may not be compatible. The local nursery folks should have this information and know the varieties that do best in your area. Right now, our part of California is not getting enough chilling hours for some of the fruit varieties, including some peach varieties such as 'Rio Oso Gem' to grow properly or set fruit. If you have been having unusually mild winters lately this may be a consideration too. It is easy to tell when a fruit tree is not getting enough chilling hours.

Good luck with your peaches!
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on March 11, 2015, 02:20:02 AM
I phoned Otto last night to wish him a happy birthday. He sounds well but (like me) is suffering a little from creaky joints.
And happy birthday to you for today, Lesley!
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Shadylanejewel on March 11, 2015, 03:44:47 AM
The following image is for Lesley Cox.

Looks like the real deal to me! No flowers but I'm very hopeful it is the true Primula juliae   ;D

Thank you again for your help!
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Otto Fauser on March 11, 2015, 05:14:42 AM
Thanks David for your good wishes . The joy of growing old -as I do most of my weeding on my knees due to 2 hip replacements I always carry a sturdy bucket with me which is a great help to stand up again . Large boulders in my Rock Garden serve the same purpose .
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on March 11, 2015, 08:15:33 AM
LOL fermi.  ;D

Biarum davisii, A wonderful little arum, isn't it?

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8730/16756348022_86442066fe_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rwGEu7)

Thouroughly wonderful! On my search list now.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on March 11, 2015, 09:43:28 AM
Thouroughly wonderful! On my search list now.

Rannveig Wallis may sell that ....
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on March 11, 2015, 09:46:31 AM
What a shame it is that Otto and Lesley are not nearer neighbours, or we could  enjoy the thought of them celebrating their birthdays together with some fabulous pastries!
My birthday greetings to both are equally sincere - here's hoping you both keep weeding, in Australia and New Zealand, for many years to come!
Hope you're having a super day, Lesley!  :-* :-*
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on March 11, 2015, 10:09:38 AM
What a shame Otto and I are not near neighbours! I'd be over there picking his brain daily. He'd have to chase me out with a rake.  ;D 
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on March 11, 2015, 10:22:20 AM
Rannveig Wallis may sell that ....

Does anyone have contact details?

I made the mistake of checking Biarum out on the PBS site - oh sweet lordy! Another bundle of "I wants"  ;D
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Matt T on March 11, 2015, 10:30:10 AM
Kurt Vickery also listed a good range of Biarum sp. last year. You can find his details on this Forum.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on March 11, 2015, 11:19:37 AM
Does anyone have contact details?

I made the mistake of checking Biarum out on the PBS site - oh sweet lordy! Another bundle of "I wants"  ;D

 Mrs Rannveig Wallis, Llwyn Ifan, Porthyrhyd, Carmarthen, Wales SA32 8BP
Tel: 01267 275205     rannveigwallisATuwclub.net   - replacingAT with @

Kurt Vickery also listed a good range of Biarum sp. last year. You can find his details on this Forum.
   Kurt's email :  kvickery67ATbtinternet.com   - replacingAT with @
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on March 11, 2015, 08:47:40 PM
Thank you Maggi  :)

I must stay away from forums as it's costing a fortune! I am seriously considering spending US$40 on some seeds for Tibouchina grossa..............

https://www.flickr.com/search/?tags=tibouchinagrossa (https://www.flickr.com/search/?tags=tibouchinagrossa)

Lord knows why  but I just want one.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on March 11, 2015, 09:03:38 PM
Meanie, why not buy a ticket to Colombia and pick some seeds yourself!

I did see a lot of other colours in Venezuela but not the red one! (It is endemic to Colombia)
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Tasmanian Taffy on March 11, 2015, 09:47:40 PM
I also wish that I lived closer then Otto would be chasing two of us with his rake Jamus  ;D  ;D  ;D
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on March 11, 2015, 09:49:34 PM
Meanie, why not buy a ticket to Colombia and pick some seeds yourself!

Ever heard of the Columbian Cocaine Routes  :o
Snakes, spiders and wild cats are one thing but Kalashnikov bearing cocaine lords are an altogether different proposition!!
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on March 12, 2015, 01:23:32 AM
Lycoris (maybe) radiata is in full flower!
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on March 12, 2015, 02:26:51 AM
Wow Fermi, I like that, a lot! What a statement that makes... like exploding fireworks. Keep seed please...  :)
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 12, 2015, 08:10:07 AM
Thanks folks, for the birthday wishes. I'm rather hoping that I can go to Australia in March of 2018 so Otto and I can have a joint (ha ha) party for our 80th and 75th birthdays, respectively. Will we have a joint? Will our joints stand it? Whatever, we'll enjoy it together. All Forumists welcome ;D

I had a quiet day, just some weeding and planting of a curved bed which defines the top of the nursery. It's made of limestone building blacks which were in place a few weeks ago and are already getting mossy. In the evening I took myself up to town for an NZSO concert of Beethoven works. The Egmont Overture followed by Piano Concertos 3 and 5, played and directed from the piano by Freddie Kempf. It was a wonderful evening and I enjoyed every minute.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 12, 2015, 08:16:02 AM
Well done Julia, it sure looks like the true P. juliae this time. :) You'll enjoy it very much when it flowers. My original plant some years ago grew in a shady crevice among rocks and even spread to colonize UNDER the rocks where they were not properly placed and over hung a path a little. It grew just about as tight and compact as liverwort but was so much prettier.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on March 12, 2015, 11:02:07 AM
Ever heard of the Columbian Cocaine Routes  :o
Snakes, spiders and wild cats are one thing but Kalashnikov bearing cocaine lords are an altogether different proposition!!

Can't be worse to walk in the Andes in Colombia than to cross the Sentral Railway Station in Oslo!
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Shadylanejewel on March 12, 2015, 03:41:27 PM
Well done Julia, it sure looks like the true P. juliae this time.

Belated Birthday wishes to you Lesley! I'm just thrilled to finally have the real thing. :D

It grew just about as tight and compact as liverwort but was so much prettier.

Glad it is really nothing like liverwort except for tight and compact! I'm seeing if fir needles (read that in one of Ian's bulb logs) will keep the liverwort at bay (it's all over the ground cloth in part of the shade house).

Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: meanie on March 12, 2015, 07:34:04 PM
Can't be worse to walk in the Andes in Colombia than to cross the Sentral Railway Station in Oslo!
Crikey - I though that was just in Jo Nesbo's books!
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on March 13, 2015, 11:16:57 AM
A Belated Happy Birthday for Lesley and Otto from me as well.  Sorry to have missed it on the day, folks.

All the best.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on March 13, 2015, 05:57:21 PM
Crikey - I though that was just in Jo Nesbo's books!

Don't trust all you read ;)
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Hoy on March 13, 2015, 05:59:34 PM
Lycoris (maybe) radiata is in full flower!
cheers
fermi

Fermi, that one was spectacular!
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on March 14, 2015, 03:38:42 AM

Not flowers or foliage YET, but the potential is definitely there. My first autumn sowing... included in this lot gifts from kind forum members and the goodies from my first SRGC seed ex.

The next job is to sort out the underachievers from last years seedling pots and decided whether to hang on to them for another season, just in case.


Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Matt T on March 14, 2015, 06:10:10 AM
I packeted up those Penstemon, Jamus! All the SRGC Penstemon see in fact, which I had never expected to to be so strongly scented - a rich, spicy, earthy smell.

The next job is to sort out the underachievers from last years seedling pots and decided whether to hang on to them for another season, just in case.

Keep as many pots as you have space for and for as long as you can. Of course, space is always the issue.  :(
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on March 14, 2015, 10:02:12 AM

Nice to know Matt, now if they don't grow I have someone to blame!  ;)

Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on March 14, 2015, 02:45:32 PM
Jamus,

These are the last of the Dodecatheon hendersonii - in containers. They are still looking okay.

I do not remember how long they have been in contains, maybe 4-5 years. The clumps keep getting large each season. Some are grown in the native clay around the farm with a little added sand. Some are in a quick draining "alpine" mix. Both soil mixes are a bit richer than the native soil so they bloom with more flowers than they normally would. They all seem happy regardless of the soil used. I never water the container during the summer.

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on March 14, 2015, 04:32:39 PM
They are incredible Robert, I must try that species. I'll hassle you for seed when they are ripe.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Robert on March 14, 2015, 05:25:05 PM
Jamus,

This all sounds great! Hopefully there will be a good seed set this season. I will let you know when they are ready.

Off to the big city again.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on March 15, 2015, 08:51:41 PM
Jamus,

Never throw out seed pots until you've given them a good number of years.  I've had Trilliums (for example) germinate at least 6 years after sowing.... admittedly that year I had first year sowings germinate as well, so obviously the season was perfect for Trilliums.  I also find that if something hasn't germinated after a few years, disturb the pot a bit and that often triggers it.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on March 15, 2015, 09:53:50 PM

I have 4 big trays of trillium seed purchased from John Lonsdale last spring which spent a couple of months in the refigerator, one of them partially froze (old dodgy fridge), they've been through the whole summer in a shady spot, have been keep moist (almost 100% of the time) and I'm hoping to see something this spring! I won't be throwing those away!
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 16, 2015, 08:16:18 AM
At the very least Jamus, keep any bulb seed for at least one extra season, even 2 or 3. Eight years is my record for Trillium. :) In fact they HAD been thrown out, into the vegetable garden but still came through eventually, after at least two crops of veg seed germinated and developed and grew before they appeared!
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vivienne Condon on March 18, 2015, 05:10:12 AM
Cyclamen graecum flowers and foliage, I don't know which I love the most, and a Colchicum troodii from SRG seed exchange 1994. Thank you who ever you are.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on March 18, 2015, 09:02:17 AM
Wow Viv.  That's a lovely graecum planting.  I have a bunch of them as well, but all in pots.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vivienne Condon on March 18, 2015, 09:21:24 AM
Thanks Paul, they are quite easy once you find the right spot aren't they. What type of pots do you grow them in they would have to be quite deep I suppose, it's a wonder they haven't split the pots.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on March 18, 2015, 10:16:51 AM
Indeed a super C. graecum planting, Viv.   Southern hemisphere advantage being shown there!
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on March 19, 2015, 07:33:19 AM
These are flowering now. Narcissus obsoletus, from seed sent by Rafa and sown in May 2011, and a pot of Cyclamen graecum Rodopou seedlings, seed from the Seed Exchange.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vivienne Condon on March 19, 2015, 09:07:42 PM
Thanks Maggi, what I would really love to do is create a drift of Cyclamen rohlfsianum, but it would have to be a very dry position because the water sits in the depression where the leaves come out of the tuber, I've heard. I don't have a lot of experience with Cyclamen rohlfsianum, I know you grow and flower this Cyclamen in your garden Fermi but your climate is a lot different to ours, what do you suggest?
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Natalia on March 20, 2015, 11:51:24 AM
Beautiful Cyclamens !!
In our gardens snow melts ....
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on March 21, 2015, 08:05:43 PM

Crocus banaticus, just opening for the first time here. I love them.


(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7616/16860139566_4dbe198ce2_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rFSC6u)
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vivienne Condon on March 22, 2015, 02:35:14 AM
Beautiful Jamus
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on March 22, 2015, 03:49:32 AM

Some plants really are immune to the drought. Haemanthus coccineus has never flowered so well for me. Eight blooms is a record!


(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7623/16269663983_53b62b8599_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/qMGhgZ)

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7609/16889662395_b87c4f7217_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rJtWcM)

Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Otto Fauser on March 22, 2015, 05:53:54 AM
Jamus , a wonderful photo of Crocus banaticus . it should be slightly more mauve . There were hundreds opening to glorious warm autumn sunshine in my garden  today ,also drifts of Cr. nudiflorus ,both enjoying cool woodland soils amongst dwarf Rhododendron species .
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on March 22, 2015, 06:13:34 AM

Hi Otto, my camera (I think digital cameras in general) struggle to capture violet/mauve/purple accurately. I didn't correct it in photoshop as I should have done.

Your cool woodland sounds so attractive right now. We took the kids for a walk at Mount Lofty botanic gardens this morning which was beautiful. Drifts of Cyclamen, various species... I can't wait to have a garden like that myself.

Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on March 24, 2015, 06:02:53 AM
Thanks Maggi, what I would really love to do is create a drift of Cyclamen rohlfsianum, but it would have to be a very dry position because the water sits in the depression where the leaves come out of the tuber, I've heard. I don't have a lot of experience with Cyclamen rohlfsianum, I know you grow and flower this Cyclamen in your garden Fermi but your climate is a lot different to ours, what do you suggest?
Hi Viv,
I don't have a lot of experience with it either and I think the flowers earlier in the year were a bit of an aberration - it has now produced a few more, so I hope it is settling in,
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on March 24, 2015, 11:22:54 AM
Fermi,

That is a fascinatingly different rohlfsianum form to the ones I have.  Yours have much broader, flatter petals that are held more outwards.  Mine has thinner petals that spiral elegantly and recurve right back.  Beautiful.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 24, 2015, 10:56:29 PM
A really bright spot here at present and for the last several weeks, has been the old dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff. I imported it years ago from Beth Chatto and it's only now when planted out at last instead of potted, that the Bishop is coming into his own. The flowers as they come out are genuinely blood red!

Can someone identify for me please, this lovely autumn gentian which is flowering in the garden of Steve Newall's dad, in Palmerston where I visited last weekend but one. The leaves are unlike those of say G. sino-ornata, stiffer and almost like thin branches of a conifer, It was a big plant and really lovely overhanging rocks.

On the same trip (Kindred Day, when Otago garden groups get together for a day of socializing and garden visits. The food on these occasions is always noteworthy, being supplied by the host group's members and oin this case, mostly by farmers' wives, so excellent and substantial home baking. ;D It's good to meet other like-minded people too and keep up to date on what's happening around the province), was this super Dianella species. I was given a chunk of it on a Kindred Day last year and it's doing well. I think it may be an Australian species rather than a NZer?
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on March 24, 2015, 11:08:42 PM

Lesley that gentiana is a ripper! Do you reckon it'd cope with 40degree summer weather in Adelaide?    ???
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on March 25, 2015, 03:15:10 AM
Could be Gentiana paradoxa? I tried to grow it in Dunblane.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: jandals on March 25, 2015, 05:37:33 PM
I'm fairly sure it is Gentiana paradoxa and I have plants at my place now grown from seed collected from that plant . Only problem is Dad has lots of G.septemfida not far away and there were lots of hybrids . I've weeded those out and now have a small patch of G.paradoxa flowering for the first time

If there was a gentian species capable of coping with 40C I think it would be either of these two mentioned .

I have seen G.septemfida flowering in amenity plantings in Denver CO and it gets fairly warm there over the summer

I have seed of both if you want to try Jupiter
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Tim Ingram on March 25, 2015, 06:11:49 PM
This is G. paradoxa at the Botanics last August - must be one of the best of all gentians for the garden! We have grown the hybrids that Steve mentions from Jelitto seed and these were superb too but had smaller clustered flowers like septemfida. Our garden is relatively warm and dry but we don't usually go above 30°C in summer. This is a plant we should introduce to the gardeners in our town!

Exciting to be able to grow Cyclamen rohlfsianum outside Fermi.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 25, 2015, 06:48:43 PM
Thanks gentlemen for the notes re Gent. paradoxa. Definitely one for my "wanted" list.

Exciting yesterday, en email from a North Island Iris grower of whom I'd heard but never met. He sent pictures of onco and regelia species and hybrids which he's growing with much success and says I can use them on the Forum. Will do so shortly, when the washing is done, the front border is weeded and my 3-hours-a-week-lady has had her morning tea. They look stunning and in some cases at least, are, I think, imported from Israel.

Anthony, wasn't that a great cricket match on Tuesday? Hardy a ball bowled that wasn't a thriller. I truly felt for the South Africans. They fought so hard and so well they deserved to win quite as much as we did. But...roll on the Aussies. Maybe India will win that semi but it would be fitting if Australia does, setting up a final between the two host nations. The one time I wish we had Sky TV!
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Jupiter on March 25, 2015, 11:38:18 PM

How this for different? Ceropegia succulenta, flowering in my bathroom at the moment. This flower is about 5cm long and quite alien looking.

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8714/16309217974_c82daaf769_z.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jstonor/16309217974/)
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 26, 2015, 09:16:49 AM
Looks like something anatomical Jamus!
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on March 28, 2015, 03:48:34 AM
Nice, Jamus.  Not a species I've seen before.  The flowers on Ceropegia are just so cool.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on March 29, 2015, 01:05:05 PM
Anthony, wasn't that a great cricket match on Tuesday?
Apparently there was one today as well but we were outside gardening so didn't bother with it. The Sterbergia sicula are coming into full flower and I'll try to post more pics soon,
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 30, 2015, 01:45:25 AM
Apparently there was one today as well
fermi

I don't want to talk about it. :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on March 30, 2015, 07:36:52 AM
Nevermind, Lesley,
NZ won one and Aus won one - we're even! ;D
Here are the Sternbergia sicula pics I promised (did you get any of those seeds to germinate, Lesley?); they were raised from seed from Rannweig Wallis - I think they were originally from Crete,
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on March 30, 2015, 08:46:39 AM
Sternbergia of any flavour is on my wants list. Anyone in New Zealand have bulbs spare? As for the cricket: live by the sword, die by the sword. Need to respect the bowlers.
Here are some flowering now, having grown them from seed sown 2011 or 2012. The Narcissus obsoletus is flowering for the first time, and it looks like I'll have 9 flowering stalks, and counting. From the left, Cyclamen hederifolium (Zakynthos); C. graecum (Rodopou, Crete); C. hederifolium (seed labelled Cyprus).
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Matt T on March 30, 2015, 08:52:14 AM
Is that Scilla/Prospero autumnalis also flowering there for you, Anthony? Having seen it growing on the Mani, I'd love to grow the subsp. latifolia, a more robust and attractive plant that the type but I haven't seen it listed by anyone.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Anthony Darby on March 30, 2015, 09:01:59 AM
Yes. I got a cocktail stick out to try and pollinate it. Usually get six or seven spikes in this pot. Only takes a year or two from seed. I didn't try to pollinate the first obsoletus flower, but it has a fat seed pod. I did notice a moth feeding on the flowers the other night, so that may be why?
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: ashley on March 30, 2015, 01:01:14 PM
I don't want to talk about it. :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

In a spirit of helpfulness :) I could point out that it's only sport Lesley, and nobody died. 
But judging from my son's response, that observation might not be appreciated ;) ;D
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on March 30, 2015, 01:23:00 PM
The words "don't want to talk"! In a post from Lesley? Nah, never ;D
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 31, 2015, 09:06:48 AM
The words "don't want to talk"! In a post from Lesley? Nah, never ;D

Cheeky! :)

Your Narcissus is a delight Anthony. Is it fragrant? Some flowers LOOK as if they would be.

David, in spite of your entirely unwarranted rudeness, I'll post 5 seeds tomorrow, of Iris decora. The pod opened a few days ago I think and by the time I found it yesterday, a few had fallen and vanished. But still 10 left so 5 for you and 5 for me. The main plant is in the garden now so should flower and hopefully seed morre generously this coming early summer.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vivienne Condon on March 31, 2015, 11:36:34 AM
Fermi, I can't even get any leaves on my Cyclamen rohlfsianum let alone flower, so much for having drifts of them. I think I will turn them out of the pots and see if they have rotted.
I't was a great game Lesley, quite exciting I thought New Zealand played very well, we alway's have great rivalry between the two teams. I went to see Sir Richard Hadley (correct spelling?) play Australia years ago and you beat us by 1 run. I went home very grumpy.
Title: Re: March 2015 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: vivienne Condon on March 31, 2015, 11:40:01 AM
Sorry I looked the spelling up it is Sir Richard John Hadlee my apologies.
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