Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: fermi de Sousa on November 03, 2008, 01:11:45 AM

Title: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on November 03, 2008, 01:11:45 AM
Time to start a new thread! It's still spring but feels like an early summer.
Here's a better pic of Salvia chamaedryoides with more flowers open,
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And Ixia rouxii
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And Dianthus haematacalyx ssp pindicola is just starting.
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cheers
fermi
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on November 03, 2008, 01:22:46 AM
At the FCHS Rock Garden Meeting last Saturday, we had a small but interesting selcetion of flowers on the Show bench,
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And a late arrival of urticularias!
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Otto was even well enough to attend, he avoided a photo but that was his hand holding up the label for U. reniformis! apparently a carnivorous plant from South America,
Here's close up of the flowers,
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and the foliage,
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And a tiny cousin from Australia, U. livida,
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cheers
fermi
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Carlo on November 03, 2008, 01:30:02 AM
Fermi,

LOVE the Ixia! What a beautiful little thing. I'll have to try finding it, even if I have to grow it in a pot.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Otto Fauser on November 03, 2008, 03:38:57 AM
After 10 days in hospital and a successful spinal surgery behind me , it's good to be home again. Still much in bloom in the garden on my first walk around it yesterday , though missed most of the japanese tree paeonies [there will be next year], but no gardening for the next 8 weeks- so all the weeds are smiling at me , they know they are safe for that period ! I am touched by all your good wishesfor a speedy recovery ,so many thanks to you all,
   ciao Otto.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on November 03, 2008, 03:55:19 AM
Still much in bloom in the garden on my first walk around it yesterday , though missed most of the japanese tree paeonies [there will be next year], but no gardening for the next 8 weeks-
   ciao Otto.
Ciao Otto,
at least you can do some "virtual gardening" here on the Forum!
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on November 03, 2008, 09:40:04 AM
Howdy All,

Just spent the last hour talking to Otto on the phone..... you can even hear in his voice how much better he is feeling.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything keeps improving.  You're going to be a new man by the sound of it Otto!!  8)

Here in Canberra the garden is motoring along in late spring.  Some of the late Rhododendrons are out, Maples have all leafed out, Paeonies, Roses, Heuchera, Poppies, Geraniums, Liliums coming into bud, Wiegelas of all different types are in flower, Cornus kousa in full bloom, etc. Definitely a good time to be here.  And at work at the ANBG the variety of different plants flowering is amazing.  Just today I took so many photos of so many things.... I just need to get them sorted and prepared for posting in the ANBG topic.  Along with the pics from the last couple of weeks that I still haven't prepared.  ::)  Not enough time for everything now that I'm working full time.  :o  Life is good!!!!!!  8) 8)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on November 03, 2008, 12:05:29 PM
Dearest Otto, I cannot tell you how delighted we are to have you "home" (in more ways than one)again... ... it is terrific to hear that you are well enough to make an excursion out to the FCHS meeting.
Our best wishes for a continuation of improvment and return to good health for you. :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 03, 2008, 09:01:43 PM
I have to second that! Great that you are able to cope with the Forum, if not the entire garden as yet.

Here are some from this neck of the woods. Some have been here before, but these are better pics I think.

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I guess this is one of the bedding type of Ranunculus asiaticus, not a plant I'd normally grow but I have a cunning plan for it.

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The flowers of Sorbus rerducta are very pretty to my mind and followed by pink fruit then fiery-coloured foliage, I think it's a great plant. The very kind gift of seed from Brian and Maureen Wilson now sees me with young plants of the non-running form but in the meantime, I'm planting the running form as a ground cover in a wilder part and it's doing a marvellous job. The autumn colour will be spectacular, en masse.

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A better pic of Cypripedium formosanum, which is still perfect after about 3 weeks.

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Iris 'Queen's Grace' is a hybrid between tectorum and another of the crested group, maybe japonica or wattii, but better than any of them with many more flowers to the amount of foliage. Flowers are larger too and a beautiful light, clear blue.

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The first weldenia flower for the year. This was last Friday. There were 15 yesterday. I'm removing the dead ones each day and hope to count how many for the whole period.

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I was very pleased to see yesterday that my other flowering plant of this white Primula reidii is pin-eyed, to this one's thrum. So I tore down the bells of each and cross pollinated. I didn't get any seed last year. The third plant isn't flowering for some reason.

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Arisaema taiwanense will go into the garden as soon as it dies down again. But it does do well in pots too.

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Better pics of Ranunculus parnassifolius if for no other reason than that I have weeded the trough since the last one.




Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: ashley on November 03, 2008, 11:50:31 PM
Wonderful plants there Lesley :o
Does the Weldenia ever set seed, because I've never seen it in the exchanges? That P. reidii is such a beauty too. 

Plans for the Ranunculus?  In view of your usual response to frilly narcissi or iris do we need to brace ourselves ;) ;D
I have a nice batch of seedlings of the wild form now beginning to re-emerge but unfortunately they are still some way off flowering size.   
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 04, 2008, 03:50:29 AM
The weldenia has never set seed for me and I think it may need pollinating from the other (Guatemalan) clone. Mine is the Mexican form. Having said that, I have once seen seed on the AGS list, could have been 30 years ago, never again. BUT it travels very well as a dormant plant if you are interested. I've sent it literally all over the world (incl the Republic of Ireland) andnot had any reports of its dying. It seems very easy to acclimatize.

I'll PM you about the Ranunculus as the information is not for the general public yet, nor does it belong entirely to me.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on November 07, 2008, 12:32:51 AM
A few from our garden before we head off to India.
Dianthus callizonus, grown from SRGC seedex 2007, first flowering,
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Verbascum dumulosum; I can take no credit for this one as it was a gift from Viv when she visited our garden in September,
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And one of its offspring, the hybrid V. "Letitia"; this is the regeneration ffrom the rootstock after the whole shrub died last year!
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Triteleia ixioides in the rock garden
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The first bloom on Conathera campanulata,
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First flowering on Allium dichlamydeum grown from AGS Sdx 2005,
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A slightly larger Allium in the Rock Garden, A. obtusum,
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A local endemic, Pelargonium rodneyanum, the magenta cranesbill, known as "Madge" at our place!
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cheers for now!
fermi
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on November 07, 2008, 01:25:44 AM
All lovely Fermi.  I think I must try to track down a V. letitia one of these years, as I love Verbascum.  I have a couple of small ones flowering at the moment which are white and mauve respectively.  I'm hoping that they might set seed as well, given that they were seedlings themselves form overseas.  Would like to get lots more Verbascum, but you don't seem to see them that much here at the moment unfortunately.

So how long are you going to be in India? Have a GREAT trip.  8) 
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Otto Fauser on November 07, 2008, 02:18:14 AM
Paul , there are a couple of mature plants of Verbascum "Letitia" in the Rockgarden of FernyCreek Hort.Soc., I will strike some cuttings for you, as soon as I can drive again .
 V. dumulosum were cuttings from my plants.
     Otto.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on November 07, 2008, 05:05:09 AM
Otto,

Thank you very much.  I love Verbascum, but rarely ever see them for sale.  A couple of years ago there were punnets around and I still have a couple of those going (but they haven't set seed), plus I have a white annual one that I got from a friend of mine, which I hope has seeded around a bit.  Other than that I was just pleased to find a couple of seedlings at a wholesale nursery.... they're the ones that are in flower at the moment and I am hoping will cross and produce seed.  They survived since last year, so maybe they'll be semi-perennial if I'm lucky.  I also have a small yellow flowered one, which some people find a weed but I just love.  I wish we had some of the ones here that I see posted by some of the UK people in particular.... they obviously have a good range of named ones over there, although I guess most of those are sterile so you have to rely on cuttings to propagate them.  Thanks again for the offer!!  8)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 08, 2008, 09:10:27 PM
There's a good low perennial verbascum Paul called 'Flush of White' which comes true from seed. I'll send some later in the summer, and I have a little shrubby species with yellow flowers which I can send now. I had it from a seedlist as V. acaule but it isn't, maybe V. arcturi in a dwarfish form. Not sure, but very nice. The V. phoeniceum hybrids come in pinks, purples etc and are very good too, and reliably perennial.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on November 08, 2008, 09:16:16 PM
Thanks Lesley.  That's appreciated.  I'll PM you in a moment.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Otto Fauser on November 08, 2008, 11:44:03 PM
Sorry Lesley, no cause for drinks or celebrations  :'( for you in N.Z.today,
       Otto.


Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on November 09, 2008, 02:56:32 AM
We had the same bad luck in Canada several weeks ago but at least a minority.

johnw
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on November 09, 2008, 03:44:39 PM
Au contraire... in fields other than politics, the NZers have much cause for celebration.... the All Blacks hammered the Scots at Rugby on the 8th November in Edinburgh...... nothing new ,there, then!!
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: mark smyth on November 09, 2008, 06:46:59 PM
I've had an email query from Melbourne

"Where in Melbourne can I buy Deacon Geraniums please. Jill Oakley"

Obviously refering to Pelargoniums
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 09, 2008, 08:21:56 PM
Well yes, the ABs did win at Murrayfield but I'm not sure we'd be keen on being linked with Edward 1st of England in that way Maggi (or was it Ed 2 or 3? Never can get them sorted. One was Ed the Confessor, one died with a red hot poker where it would hurt most, think that was Ed 2, and one was "The Hammer of the Scots.") My Ma always said life was easier if one had a wide general knowledge. I have this, but it rarely comes in useful.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Otto Fauser on November 10, 2008, 06:30:14 AM


Quote
"Where in Melbourne can I buy Deacon Geraniums please. Jill Oakley"

Obviously refering to Pelargoniums
 
   
 Try <ozgeraniums.com.au>, they list 9 var. ,-Deacon Geraniums {really Pelargoniums} are small bushy Pelargoniums with a touch of ivy in their breeding .
     otto.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 10, 2008, 07:47:46 PM
Otto, I take it you mean a touch of ivy geranium/pelargonium in their breeding? not Hedera helix ;D
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on November 10, 2008, 07:51:32 PM
Otto, I take it you mean a touch of ivy geranium/pelargonium in their breeding? not Hedera helix ;D
Oh, great idea for a bi-generic hybrid there, eh? Easy-growing ever-green with flowers, I'd think there could be a good market for that plant. ;D Otto, I will share the money with you!
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Otto Fauser on November 11, 2008, 02:18:32 AM
Otto, I take it you mean a touch of ivy geranium/pelargonium in their breeding? not Hedera helix ;D
Oh, great idea for a bi-generic hybrid there, eh? Easy-growing ever-green with flowers, I'd think there could be a good market for that plant. ;D Otto, I will share the money with you!
Maggi , unfortunately no Hedera blood in these 'Deacon Geraniums'- so no fortunes for us , so we continue to be happy and poor,
    Otto.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 11, 2008, 03:38:43 AM
Out at present are the following:

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Iris regelio-cyclus hyb 'Vera.' The lady is a bit weak-kneed. We had a southerly wind come up this afternoon and both stems have flopped over badly.

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Polygonatum humile has never flowered better than this year. Just starting but there are dozens of flowers. I don't think I ever had more than 2 or 3 before. I'll do a better pic in a day or two but I'll have to lie on my tummy.

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Saxifraga granulata flore pleno is not often seen nowadays. Pity, because it's a really nice plant for a coolish place.

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One of my favourites, Crambe maritima, the sea kale. It didn't flower last year but is making up for that this time. The flowers have a wild honey scent.

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Very pleased to have flowers on this little flat Convolvulus boissieri. There are a dozen more to come but not quite yet, just pinpricks of pink in the rosettes. It likes hot and dry.

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Rob in Tasmania sent me seed of Clematis gentianoides and a lovely thing it is. But just one germinated and while I waited for some more to come through before pricking this one out, it grew so quickly that I don't think I can now move it from the seed pot bed without killing it. :'(
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lvandelft on November 11, 2008, 09:14:53 AM
What a lovely little Clematis, Lesley.
I presume it will have a creeping habit. Hopefully long-flowering??
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on November 11, 2008, 10:04:46 AM
Lesley,

Great pics.  Love that Crambe, very interesting.  The Iris is beautiful, even with weak knees, and the Clematis is gorgeous.  We have some flowering at work at the moment as well, so I know how nice they are in person as well.  A friend here in Canberra grows it and it apparently grows very easily for her from cuttings too, so might be worthwhile striking a few and getting them going before you try moving yours from the seed pot bed.  Insurance!!  ;)   Not a species I grow as yet, but on my list!! (and isn't EVERYTHING!!  :o)  ;D
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paddy Tobin on November 11, 2008, 11:48:31 AM
Lesley,

A lovely set of photographs, great plants, all very beautiful. The nice streaking of blue almost saves the brownish colouring of the iris even.

Paddy
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on November 11, 2008, 04:35:28 PM
Great stuff Lesley !
Lovely Convolvulus and the Clematis is a little stunner !  You should be happy that it takes off so well !  ;)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paddy Tobin on November 11, 2008, 05:17:02 PM
Dear Otto,

They say that every cloud has a silver lining. I see that your enforced inactivity - in the garden, at any rate - may have benefits for the forum as you now may have time to contribute more frequently. Your contributions would be so very welcome, anticipated and appreciated. We might look forward to photographs of your wonderful garden and plants.

Paddy
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: annew on November 11, 2008, 10:20:10 PM
Vera looks like the type who would faint at the slightest opportunity  ;)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: mark smyth on November 11, 2008, 10:54:21 PM
Thanks Otto.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Otto Fauser on November 13, 2008, 05:26:08 AM
Pat Toolan sitting at Otto's computer after looking through his garden of very rare treasures. Of course it is not the right time - a few weeks ago was so much better. But beggars can't be choosers can they - we all accept what morsels we see. And so many are here in this high country garden.
We will try again to attach and post:
two flowers in the glasshouse ;D
Ramonda myconii or nathaliae?? would be grateful for the correct id.
the last of the Oncos to flower: Iris paradoxa
best wishes from Otto and Pat T
(By the way Otto is doing extremely well in negotiating the hilly terrain of his garden)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lvandelft on November 13, 2008, 08:25:56 AM
Quote
Ramonda myconii or nathaliae?? would be grateful for the correct id.
Otto, looking at the leaves I would at first say it is not R. serbica.
I put some pictures of serbica I made in 2003 here, so you can see what I mean.

What a beautiful Iris paradoxa!
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on November 13, 2008, 09:42:09 AM
Great pics PatOtto.  8)  Oh that Iris paradoxa!!  :o  Stunning.

Luit,

Elegant pics of yours too.  Beautiful plant. 8)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paddy Tobin on November 13, 2008, 01:11:15 PM
Yes, indeed, that iris has an amazing combination of colours.

Many thanks Pat for posting the photographs.

Paddy
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: ruweiss on November 13, 2008, 02:43:01 PM
In comparison with my plants, Otto's plant is definitely Ramonda nathaliae.
Greetings from cool Germany!
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on November 13, 2008, 05:23:49 PM
Nice to see you enjoying  your trip, Pat... and great to see Otto out and about, too!  8)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 13, 2008, 09:53:47 PM
Patto and Ot, LOVELY flowers in the alpine house! :) The others are great too, (do I mean Atto and Pot? or Potto and At?) Greetings to you both anyway. Looks like you had a friendly day. :)

My first reaction was well, it's not R. serbica. I think too that's it's nathaliae. I see the Tropaeolum azureum is still flowering. Mine died down ages ago. Maybe it needs a cooler place.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on November 13, 2008, 10:38:26 PM
I may just be being contrary... but I think  the Ramonda may be R. myconi..... I think the flowers of R. nathaliae tend to be more spidery, whereas those of myconi are fuller.  See Franz' photos in the old Forum, well down the page, Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 6:18 pm:    ....http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/283/31721.html

Franz refers to  R. myconi as Ramonda pyrenaica.... an oft used synonym.

Luit, I am now going to say I doubt your R. serbica  :-\.... this plant should have lilac/purple anthers... ???
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Otto Fauser on November 14, 2008, 06:23:01 AM
Conflicting ideas on the correct name of my Ramonda -Luit thanks for the excellent pic of your R. serbica , which I also grow in my garden- however my plant has purple anthers , as it is described in literature .
  Rudi [we met in may last year in Praghe], I tend to agree with you that it is R. nathaliae, as it has more glossy leaves than myconi , which I have growing in shades of mauve , pink and white ,and these 3 colours  of myconi are well known in cultivation .I also grow the hybrid between these 2 species :R. xregis-ferdinandi , obtained as a leaf cutting from Muenchen -Nymphenburg Bot .Garten. Greetings from warm Melbourne -33 celsius .
    many thanks to everyone
                       Otto.

Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: t00lie on November 16, 2008, 01:07:32 AM
Paul T posted a recent pic of Gladiolus huttonii in the Oct 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere thread.

Here is my plant grown from NZAGS seed sown July 03 having it's first flowering showing some variation.
(Sorry i don't know how to make the link or copy Pauls pic forward to here for comparison).


Another first flowering Paris delavayi .



Cheers dave
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on November 16, 2008, 01:55:49 AM
Dave,

Yours is much stronger in colouration, although definitely looks to be the same floral arrangement etc.  And that Paris is glorious!!!!!  :o
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on November 16, 2008, 03:13:00 PM
Paul's pix from Reply #31 on: October 11, 2008, 04:33:40 AM » of his Gladiolus huttonii...
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 24, 2008, 09:44:02 PM
November seems a very sparse month in the SH, largely, I suspect, due to Fermi's inability to post pics at present. Hurry home Fermi.

The weather here may have something to do with it too. Temps in the high 20s, low 30s with hot, searing winds and no sign of rain even though the weather forecasters promise some, every evening. What liars they are!

These have coped reasonably well with the weather this last week. First some saponarias.

Saponaria 'Olivana'
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Then a seedling of my own between 'Olivana' and ocymoides. I call it S. 'Gala Day' as my nursery is Gala Plants.
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This is a seedling from 'Gala Day,' the father being S. pumilio.
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Then S. pumilio itself.
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And S. lutea
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Unfortunately I've missed taking a pic of S. pumilio x S. lutea. In a batch of S. pumilio seedlings, 4 were dull instead of shiny leaved and even tighter growing, so I put them aside and when they flowered the colour was a peachy pink and the flowers in little, very short-stemmed clusters - as in S. lutea - rather than in single flowers - as in S. pumilio. The 4 are  identical. They're in a different place and flowered a little earlier and are finished by now. I'll get them next year hopefully. They are very small-growing plants, perfect for a trough.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 24, 2008, 10:04:05 PM
I had totally forgotten I had a batch of seedlings of Lilium japonicum, from Jim Archibald I think, until I saw this rather scruffy flower, the first to appear on a plant just 15 cms high, the result of ongoing wind and drought. There are about 10 I think so they'll be better treated from now on. The colour is really lovely.
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Then my annual pic of Lewisia rediviva alba. I'm always so pleased it hasn't rotted through the winter that I take its picture to celebrate.
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A small nursery batch of Primula cockburniana.
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Allium unifolium surrounded by dying foliage from earlier bulbs. It needs to be planted out.
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Back in the old Forum there was a super plant pictured, called Dicentra 'Ivory Hearts,' I think a hybrid of D. peregrina and another species. When it appeared on a seedlist two years ago I got 3 seeds only one of which came up but here it is and I'm delighted with it. I'd say the colour is pure white rather than ivory but it has the locket-shaped flower of D. peregrina over very pretty foliage.
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And last for today, the charming little Jasminum parkeri. My mother's plant of this made a huge ball about a metre high and wide but mine is staying small and flat. About 3 months ago there was seed which I meant to collect - little black berry-like fruits - but when I went to get them next day, every one was gone. Where? What ate them or took them away?
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Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on November 24, 2008, 10:17:44 PM
Now, Lesley, don't begrudge Fermi his holiday... you have some super tinhings to show us too.
I always think that Saponarias are rather neglected plants.... nobody seems to take much interest in them yet there are some really good plants, and colours, as Lesley shows us.  { I think some Silene tend to fall into this category too, with only a few small types being considered choice, when there is a HUGE plant of a Silene ????? ( name completely escapes me  :-[ :-\ :-X) in a front garden up the road from here which has grown, over about twenty years, to be over a metre and a half across and is a dome about 0.3m high and it flowers (white) from the early spring to most of the way through the winter... it's still flowering now!}

The Lewisia rediviva alba is exquisite, who could resist that?

Do you know, Jasminum parkeri never liked life here?  Sat around for years looking pathetic then died. :(
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lvandelft on November 24, 2008, 10:35:55 PM
What a terrible time of year for you Lesley.  ??? ::) ;D
If you were living in my area I would right away jump in my car and buy all your Saponaria hybrids.
They seem to hybridize very easy with you?  This one between 'Olivana' and ocymoides, S. 'Gala Day' must be
a very good plant, rich flowering and not so enormous as S. ocymoides.
S. pumilio would not grow with me but hybrids have a good chance.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: johnw on November 24, 2008, 10:37:42 PM

The Lewisia rediviva alba is exquisite

I'll say!

johnw
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 25, 2008, 12:21:44 AM
I no sooner wrote about the very dry conditions here - the soil is dust dry to a great depth - than we had a downpour! It lasted all of three minutes and then disappeared. No more rain but the temp has plummeted from 22C when I got up at 7am to 10C now. I have a heater on as I type!

Fermi's had QUITE enough time away.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on November 25, 2008, 04:27:04 AM
Fermi's had QUITE enough time away.
Not quite enough!
Very nice saponarias, Lesley. I grow S. caespitosa and even got enough seed to send to one of the exchanges this year! I'll have to look out for hybrids. I've never got seed of S. pumilio to germinate, so I might ask you for soem next season!
cheers
fermi
PS I'm back in Oz on December 1st but don't get back to work till the 8th; may have to sneak in to use the computer!
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on November 25, 2008, 04:54:47 AM
Lesley,

Thanks for the great pics!!  particularly that stunning Lewisia, and that wonderful orange Primula I've never heard of before.  Very, very nice!!

I have lots in flower here at the moment and took a bunch of photos yesterday so hopefully will upload some pics to this topic this evening.  Lots of post in the ANBG thread as well as SO much in flower there at the moment.

Thanks again for the pics.  8)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on November 25, 2008, 08:51:40 AM
Wow Lesley !  What a treat !
I agree with Maggi, I also find Saponarias underrated - perhaps many of them are too easy...  ;D

I "had" Dicentra "Ivory Hearts" as well - bought and planted it in May 2007 - it flowered it's heart out (literally) until late autumn, alas... it didn't survive winter...  :'(

.... and about that L. rediviva.... I hope you'll be posting more pictures of it for the next 10-15 years, I can never get enough of it !

Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 25, 2008, 07:52:52 PM
Thanks everyone. Unfortunately the white Lewisia rediviva has never set any seed though I do hand-pollinate. I suppose I need another clone. But there should be plenty on the Primula and the Saponarias. Of course you might get hybrids  :) as I grow all mine in a patch in a raised bed, close proximity. I agree that as a genus it is very under-rated, a shame because every one is a super plant, very floriferous, lovely colours and good alpine plant habit.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on November 25, 2008, 08:25:19 PM
That little white Lewisa rediviva is a beauty Lesley, I've been trying to get hold of one for ages. If I ever find any seed I'll share it with you.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Rogan on November 27, 2008, 09:55:06 AM
Hello All, I'm back after an absence of some months - and have I missed you and your interesting discourse! It is great to read your interesting posts once again and drool over your excellent pictures. I needed a period of time to sort my future out, which now seems reasonably assured - let no more be said!

I have a few things flowering in my collection right now (or about to) which give me great joy every year:

Sandersonia aurantiaca which grows in the midlands region of Natal, not too far from where I live and Tigridia durangense, a midget Tigridia with stunning denim-blue flowers from South America:

Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on November 27, 2008, 10:19:29 AM
Rogan,

Excellent pics.  The first is about 15cm tall in my garden at the moment, and the second is currently about 2cm tall in a pot on my back verandah at the moment.  You're well ahead of me flowering-wise obviously.  ;)  Lovely to see them both, and welcome back.  Hopefully all goes well for you now.  8)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on November 27, 2008, 11:14:33 AM
Rogan, so good to have you back again..... all best wishes to you, of course  :-*
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: David Nicholson on November 27, 2008, 12:48:09 PM
Nice to see you back Rogan.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paddy Tobin on November 27, 2008, 06:51:24 PM
Lesley and Rogan,

My compliments on beautiful flowers; really enjoyed them.

Paddy
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 27, 2008, 08:48:32 PM
Than you Paddy, and welcome back Rogan. The Sandersonia turned up in my garden a few years ago, goodness knows from where, maybe a seed in a pot from somewhere. The Tigridia is lovely.

I do hope Fermi is not getting caught up in all that beastliness in Mumbai. I imagine his homeward trip from Goa would include a flight from there.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Ezeiza on November 27, 2008, 10:46:28 PM
Hi Rogan:

Great to hear of you.
May I mention that T. durangense and a number of others come from Mexico (North America) and not from South America.



Quote
"Tigridia durangense, a midget Tigridia with stunning denim-blue flowers from South America:

Best regards
Alberto


Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on November 28, 2008, 10:33:17 AM
I do hope Fermi is not getting caught up in all that beastliness in Mumbai. I imagine his homeward trip from Goa would include a flight from there.
Hi Lesley,
thanks for your concern; we fly back tomorrow night via Bangalore, so hopefully no problems spring up there!
Looking forward to being able to download and re-size my pics to be able to post some to the Forum!
Welcome back Rogan! We've missed you.
Does the Tigridia set seed for you? ;)
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: galahad on November 28, 2008, 07:47:35 PM
Hi all

Just a couple of pics of some things that have just finished flowering

The Stenomesson, I asssume, is S. miniata.

The Romulea flowered a year after sowing the seed.  Not the most exciting flower but cute.

Ross

Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: t00lie on November 30, 2008, 09:17:33 AM
I do look the look of the Stenomesson Ross.

The following pics are of bulbs i've grown from seed flowering currently for the first time.

Firstly Geissorhiza ornithogaloides although my reference material does not mention a dark centre .While typical of a number of the species in having very small flowers the bright colouring would make a dazzling sight when grown in numbers.

Ixiolirion tataricum x NARGS sown march 05.A darker blue than what is shown.

The label is faded on this Gladiolus--however in having anthers longer than filaments i think i'm correct in keying it out as G.italicus.

Cheers dave.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on November 30, 2008, 09:30:14 AM
Ross,

Great pics.  Nice Urceolina (now Stenomesson).

Dave,

That Geissorhiza is a stunner!!  Beautiful.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Rogan on December 01, 2008, 09:24:59 AM
Fermi asks:

"Does the Tigridia set seed for you?"

Yes it does, and I normally have some to spare - I'll put you 'on the list' if you'd like? I do have some seed left over from last year, but I'd prefer to send you fresh...

Alberto wrote:

"May I mention that T. durangense and a number of others come from Mexico (North America) and not from South America.

My apologies to Tigridia durangense and Mexico - of course I know it comes from there but, I was writing without engaging my brain - once again!
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on December 01, 2008, 10:53:43 AM
Rogan,

I hope there are more Tigridia pics to come from you soon?  A genus I love, but still so many species out there that I don't grow and have yet to discover!  ;D 
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Rogan on December 01, 2008, 01:18:53 PM
I live in a climate bordering on the sub-tropical, so most species of Tigridia are not very happy here - even T. pavonia is lackluster at the best of times. For some reason though, T. durangense is as happy as a lark and grows and flowers prolifically for me. I also have several plants of T. orthantha, but once again they barely survive from one year to the next and only make an appearance above soil level in mid-summer and are gone by autumn. So I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed!  :-[
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on December 01, 2008, 07:44:41 PM
Rogan,

A shame, I was hoping that you would be showing more.  T. durangense is something you don't normally see, so usually indicates a collector, but I can see your reasons for not growing many more.  ;)  If they don't grow in your climate there is not really THAT much you can do.  ;D

So do you grow Cypellas?  Many of those like a bit more warmth?  I have Cypella aquatilis in lower here at the moment, in a water bowl.  Seems very strange to have a Cypella growing in complete saturation.  :o  Very happy though.  8)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: fermi de Sousa on December 02, 2008, 01:46:56 AM
I have Cypella aquatilis in lower here at the moment, in a water bowl. 
Lower than what - the waterlilies? ;D ;D ;D
cheers
fermi
(back in Australia! And very happy to be home)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on December 02, 2008, 03:33:27 AM
Er, Ok.... I have it in flower here at the moment.  :P

So are you home-home yet, or back in Aus but not yet actually home?  Glad to hear that you got through the Indian troubles and home safely.  Was a bit worried that you'd get caught up in some of the transport problems.  Great to hear that you weren't.  8)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Rogan on December 02, 2008, 06:55:16 AM
"So do you grow Cypellas?"

Fantastic! Just love 'em! Cypellas, Herbertias, Alophias, Calydoreas, etc. - but not a complete collection by any means.

If I had to choose a favorite it would have to be Cypella hauthalli opalina - just an amazingly beautiful little plant and easy in my conditions:
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on December 02, 2008, 09:04:52 AM
Rogan,

Well then you'll still have plenty of "nearly Tigridias" for me to enjoy!  ;D  That Cypella is a stunner isn't it?  It isn't one I grow, but I don't think I have yet seen a "bad" picture of it.  Yours is a particularly nice pic, thanks for posting!!  It has such a great form to it, doesn't it?  It will be interesting to see what other ones you are growing.... if you get time to post pics of them of course, as I understand how time just gets away from you.  I have numerous pics to post myself, but never seem to get the time to prepare and post them.  ::)  Too many nice things to view up here, rather than preparing my own pics.  ;)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Miriam on December 02, 2008, 11:23:48 AM
Rogan,

What a stunning Cypella!!
Here is my Cypella coelestis:
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on December 06, 2008, 08:23:03 AM
Howdy All,

Somewhat belatedly (given it is now a week into December) I have finally prepared some pics from the second half of November in my garden for your edification.  I hope you enjoy them!!

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A lovely orange Abutilon that has been flowering since October and will flower until at least June.

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A couple of pics of Crinum aff schmidtii showing the purity of the flower as it opens, with those wonderful stamens just breaking open, and then the flower when it is fully open.

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Dahlia merckii, thanks to see from Mark S a few years ago.  I just love it!!

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A Deutzia in full flower in late November.

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A couple of Epiphyllums, the yellow being a particularly bad photo with the tag in the pic, but I never got back to get a better one.  Great colour to it, with the flower around 17.5cm wide.

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Glaucium corniculata is a joy each year, but although it sets seed I have yet to have a seedling germinate.  ::)  G. flavum I have tried a couple of times and lost it, so maybe it is a bit more water requiring than the orange species.  Love the leaves on them, so wonderfully silver with a great shape to them.

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A yellow form of Ornithogalum dubium which, unlike the orange form, flowers and multiplies well every year.  If only the orange one would as I love the colour but it only flowers for a year then never comes out of dormancy again.  :o
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on December 06, 2008, 08:31:23 AM
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A selection of Ixia polystachya, the last of which is called "Baby Blue Eyes".  Intense blue/teal on the stamens is a feature to me, but I wonder how many people even notice it in a garden situation.

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I received this as Pelargonium carnasum but wonder whether the name is correct?  Tiny flowers which are quite intricate once you look at them, and a decidedly fleshy stem, tending to swollen.

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Rebutia muscula - schotte form with a fantastic display of flowers this year.

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A Tillandsia which lives outside in a tree year around.  This is the first year it has flowered for me.  Cute little thing.

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And lastly for this posting, a Verbascum with small yellow flowers with purple stamen.  I think this is most likely a species as it seeds true.  Can become a pest to some people, but I rather like it and will live with it.  I have also seen a white form of it.

I still have more to prepare for late in November if anyone wants to see more?  let me know if you do.  Otherwise I will just post current ones in the December topic instead of posting more here.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lvandelft on December 06, 2008, 10:35:30 AM
Quote
I still have more to prepare for late in November if anyone wants to see more?  let me know if you do.  Otherwise I will just post current ones in the December topic instead of posting more here.
Paul, please show more.
What you are showing us is always very interesting!
Everytime I am surprised what you are growing.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on December 06, 2008, 11:33:17 AM
Glad you're enjoying them Luit.  I've been posting lots in the Australian Native Plants at the ANBG topic as well, so there should be other interesting things to see in there as well.

I'll check through what else I have for the last couple of days of November and work out what else to post here, and I'll add a bunch to the December topic.  Will mostly come down to when I get a chance to prepare the pics.  Of course spending time on the computer sorting and preparing pics means I still get nothing done in the garden, and as I have worked the last 6 days and got nothing done today outside, that just leaves tomorrow to get some gardening work done or I won't get much done until next weekend.  ::)  I visited a friend's garden today and I was most embarrassed at the state of mine.... there is so much that needs doing in my garden at the moment but I never get out there to do much... even the watering is mostly handled by my wife at the moment as I am usually at work by 6:30am.

There's just never enough time to do everything you want to, is there!?  :o ;D
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: mark smyth on December 06, 2008, 05:40:40 PM
Happy I could help you with seeds. I cant remember sending you them.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on December 06, 2008, 07:31:33 PM
Mark,

'twas about 4 years ago now I'd guess.  It is a cute little dahlia, which I enjoy every year when it starts it's flowering.  "I" remember you sending it to me, even if you don't!  ;D ;)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Maggi Young on December 06, 2008, 08:12:06 PM
Mark,

'twas about 4 years ago now I'd guess.  It is a cute little dahlia, which I enjoy every year when it starts it's flowering.  "I" remember you sending it to me, even if you don't!  ;D ;)
I remember the talk of Dahlia merckii and seeds....... possibly in the Old Forum.......cute thing indeed.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Lvandelft on December 06, 2008, 11:02:28 PM
Quote
There's just never enough time to do everything you want to, is there!?   

Sorry Paul I forgot you belong to the working people.
And you might be able to be outside every day in not such a cold and wet winter weather like we have here.
I am happy do do things inside during this time of year.

Nevertheless when I am enjoying your pictures I always have the feeling you are
working in PARADISE. ;D ;D ;)

So whenever you have some spare time, let them come!
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on December 07, 2008, 01:09:50 AM
Nevertheless when I am enjoying your pictures I always have the feeling you are
working in PARADISE. ;D ;D ;)

Luit,

I think the same thing myself, regularly.  ;D 8)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: t00lie on December 07, 2008, 08:38:45 AM
A couple in bloom here today.

I was given a bare rooted piece of Paris polyphylla ,(var. yunnanensis ?), over the winter.
It had not produced new roots when i checked a few weeks ago and as i was unsure how long it would take to settle down,i'm 'rapt' to see it in flower.

Another gift from a good friend --Lilium grayi ---still in the 2 litre pot i placed them in last autumn because although i had planned to plant them into the garden proper when i found a spot ,that never happened .

Cheers dave.   
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on December 07, 2008, 10:03:22 AM
Dave,

I have that Paris in flower as well, but looking slightly different to yours, but I think only superficially due to settled in rather than disturbed?  I am thrilled to now have seed sent to me recently of this species, as I have just the single clone of it so never get seed.  I'd love to produce lots more of them.  8)

Click on the pics for a larger version.

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Paris polyphylla

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A brand new purchase this week.... Cornus capitata 'Ragdoll', which has very nice variegation and quite a good yellow to the flowers.  No idea where I am going to plant it as yet, but that hasn't stopped me before!  ::)

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An orange-red Lychnis with dark purple leaves.  Seed grown, so no name.

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Labelled as Geranium pratense 'Striatum' when I bought it, but I have seen similar I think under the name 'Splish Splash'?

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Sprekelia formosissima

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An unknown Scutellaria with purple and white flowers.

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Another unknown Scutellaria with white flowers with purple touches.

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This was labelled Scutellaria alpina albocorvalena, but I have no idea whether that is correct or not?  If anyone has correct names for any of these please let me know.

And that is all the garden pics for November.  I have more to post in the December topic though, but not tonight.  Still hoping to get some more into the Aussie Natives at the ANBG topic tonight.
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on December 07, 2008, 10:14:59 AM
Oops, forgot one.  And how COULD I??  :o

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Weldenia candida, producing 7 flowers on the 28th of November.  Very, very pleased with this plant.  So cool!  8)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: ashley on December 07, 2008, 11:34:50 AM
It is a cute little dahlia  ...

D. merckii I have, possibly from Chiltern Seeds about 10 years ago, is 2-3 m long rather than tall since it flops about and is hard to stake adequately.  Although flowers look very similar to Paul's and Mark's, dimensions of the plant must vary a lot.  It's a lovely thing though. 

D. coccinea also seems to vary widely in stature.  Does anyone grow a short form of this (< 1 m or so) that retains the clean orange-red colour?
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paddy Tobin on December 07, 2008, 06:23:05 PM
Dave,

Your Paris strikes me as a particularly fine form. Well grown!

Paddy
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on December 07, 2008, 10:30:34 PM
Ashley,

My D. merckii grows to around 1 to 1.2m, not needing staking at all.  No flop about it.

My D. coccinea grows to about 1.5m if it gets plenty of water, but otherwise to about 1.2m.  Great colour, isn't it!!?
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: ashley on December 07, 2008, 10:57:45 PM
Hi Paul,

Amazing the difference in D. merckii isn't it?  Your coccinea sounds very well-behaved too; does it perchance set seed...?  ;) 
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: Paul T on December 07, 2008, 11:24:57 PM
I have not had seed on either as yet, but I do tend to deadhead to promote more flowers.  Will see what I can do though.  You're just wanting the coccinea, or both?  Bear in mind that we do also have quite high light levels (read that as... get the bejeebers baked out of them every summer), which may help to make some of our plants a bit more statuesque.  ;)
Title: Re: November 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere
Post by: ashley on December 07, 2008, 11:52:44 PM
Cheers Paul, just one or two coccinea flowers discretely allowed to go to seed toward the end of the season would be great if you don't mind.  You may well be right about attenuation due to lower light intensity here but it would be interesting to try.
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