Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: fermi de Sousa on January 04, 2010, 05:48:53 AM
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A new month and a whole New Year!
Here's the long awaited Calochortus fimbriatus (already posted to the "Calochortus" Thread)
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Also a couple of Oenotheras which do well during the summer,
Oenothera acaulis
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And O. missouriensis syn O. macrocarpa
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cheers
fermi
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Lovely, Fermi. 8)
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Awesome Calochortus, Fermi!
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While visiting some friends for a few days with the campervan during the Xmas holidays in Oropi, we've taken some time off for one of the many nature walks in the Urewera Natonal Park.
As usual, I am always ready to take some pictures of the local interesting native flora. High on the list of New Zealand native plants which are taken for granted are the Toetoes, or pampas grasses.
The strictly New Zealand grasses are absolutely beautiful. Their plumes form in late spring and last throughout summer.
Toi Toi is a common spelling for this grass, though Toetoe is preferred by botanists. They are both Maori words, and both sound the same.
There are four similar species (Cortaderia toetoe, Cortaderia fulvida, Cortaderia splendens and Cortaderia richardii) found in different areas in New Zealand.
This particularly pampas grass species is Cortaderia richardii I believe.
They are all closely related to that undesirable introduced Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana or Cortaderia jubata, a coarse, agressive plant which is gaining pest status in many areas).
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Here are a few more native plants (mainly ferns) that I photographed while walking along the track (no names)
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Which fool introduced pampas grass to NZ!!?? ::)
The native ones are so much more interesting!
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Just a few more amongst the thousands of species growing in our national parks, to many for me to know them all. Enjoy
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Which fool introduced pampas grass to NZ!!?? ::)
The native ones are so much more interesting!
Sinchets, yes introduced plants by early settlers have always been a problem.
Like gorse, (Ulex europaeus) has been a serious weed in New Zealand for over 100 yr,
and continues to invade pastoral land, forest plantations, and vulnerable natural habitats.
Gorse was introduced to New Zealand as a hedge plant before 1838, and ribbons of
potential weeds were soon established across the landscape.
Gorse spread quickly, and by 1900 it was declared a weed by Act of Parliament.
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What a beautiful spot, Bill.
It is so nice to see all that green, nothing but white around here at the moment.
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Good pictures Bill. I hope no native terrorists leapt out to frighten you. ;D
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This picture of Myosotis capitata is to remind Helen in Canada, who has received a little seed from the AGS Seed exchange (where's mine ???). Probably sitting in a hot and dusty Auckland Mail Centre while the Hort inspectors are off sunning themselves on some sunny Northland beach!
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Lesley, it is gorgeous.
I am so happy I ordered some. ;D
Hope it flowers first year from seed.
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Lesley love that Myosotis,another plant I have never heard off. Could I grow this in Scotland?
Angie :)
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Hi Angie,
Myosotis capitata can be and is grown quite easily in the U.K., but it needs constant moisture at the roots and very regular re-potting. I exhibited a 12" pan of this gorgeous forget-me-not at Southport AGS Show a good number of years ago (possibly the first time it was exhibited in this country). It grows amongst the megaherbs on the Chatham Islands, Subantarctic Islands (see next post) off New Zealand and there it thrives in deep constantly moist moss.
One of the delectable megaherbs that tantalise us here in the U.K.
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Thanks to Dave for gently reminding me that M. capitata actually grows on Campbell Island and the other Subantarctic Islands and not on Chatham Island (as I stated above), which is much further north. Once the alcohol wears off the brain takes over again ... ::)
Interesting link to Myosotis species - http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-CheManu-t1-body1-d51-d2.html
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Cliff, thanks for the link.
I will be planting mine in the garden, watch this space. :)
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Which fool introduced pampas grass to NZ!!?? ::)
The native ones are so much more interesting!
Sinchets, yes introduced plants by early settlers have always been a problem.
Like gorse, (Ulex europaeus) has been a serious weed in New Zealand for over 100 yr,
and continues to invade pastoral land, forest plantations, and vulnerable natural habitats.
Gorse was introduced to New Zealand as a hedge plant before 1838, and ribbons of
potential weeds were soon established across the landscape.
Gorse spread quickly, and by 1900 it was declared a weed by Act of Parliament.
Shame we can't turn back time. I did weed clearance in different parts of Victoria, Australia. Some amazing plants- much of which had just jumped over the fence from people's gardens. Some plants which weren't quite so amazing and were a ****** to clear- like brambles, roses and gorse. I also worked on Rhododendron ponticum clearance in parts of Lancashire, UK. Again not much fun, but very necessary. This is why I am so passionate about plants being correctly labelled and understood.
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Cliff, enjoyed the link, any pictures of your plant from the show. Anyone know a nursery that sells myosotis capitata.
Angie :)
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OK, lets get back to a little warmer part of the world, down under, were we enjoy a nice spell of balmy, sunny weather for now.
The beautiful Gloriosa is a subtropical genus in the family Colchicaceae from Africa and India.
Previously several species like G.virescens and G.rothschildiana were recognised in this genus, but these are now considered to belong to one extremely variable species Gloriosa superba.
They have tubers with long fingers. Gloriosas are summer-growers needing warm temperatures, but can be grown in greenhouses and dried off and kept warm in winter. They need support as they twine.
Its gorgeous, colourful flowers in late summer make it exciting in the garden and in the vase. The flowers make long lasting corsages and come in shades and combinations of yellow, red and orange. This species can be grown in full sun, but partial shade is advisable in hot and dry districts. Drainage is very important to make sure they perform well for a good display.
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Just a few more of these magnificient pictures. Enjoy.
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Thanks for the lovely pictures of Gloriosa ,aren't they wonderful 8).Nice to hear that you are having lovely sunny weather at the moment just the thought of it has warmed me up.
Angie :)
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Bill your Gloriosas are just, well, Glorious. Too cold here for them. I did used to grow Littonia modest though, with some success. :)
Angie if you can't find the Myosotis locally I should be able to send seed later on. I have a dozen or so young plants at present but they won't flower until next year I think.
Pleased Dave corrected your geography Cliff. Chatham Is is cold and windy and wet (not always) but otherwise much like the mainland whereas Campbell and its mates are definitely sub Antarctic and not fit for human habitation really. Early attempts to settle were soon abandoned.
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The Myosotis capitata is definitely not iteself, a megaherb and grows to only a few centimetre in height (2-4?) and while I don't know about in nature, mine have never grown more than about 10cms across, so a 12" pan would be a mighty plant. But I have rarely kept one for a second flowering and never had to repot. Actually I don't have it in pots anyway but in a raised bed with small primulas, rhodos etc and it likes those conditions very well. Cliff's treatment could well make it a more perennial plant.
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Hi Lesley,
My large pan of Myosotis capitata consisted of a number of individual plants positioned in such a way that offsets grew around each hub plant to fill the pan - it proved a very low growing form with abundant flower heads held low down on the strap-like foliage. The deep almost purple blue flowers covered the pan and it was certainly a lovely exhibit. I managed to pass on seedlings/offsets to various growers before losing my own plant due to unintended neglect. Johnny D. was the recipient of one of the original progeny and he has kindly returned the favour by repatriating a couple of plants recently so that I can try it again.
By chance, does anyone happen to have a photo of the original plant that gained 'Firsts' when it was exhibited way back in 1997 at Newcastle Show, the Midland Show and at Southport AGS Show where it gained a Certificate of Merit?
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Ah so - the old "Several Plants in the Pan" trick. ;D I'd love to see a picture of the original.
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Ah so - the old "Several Plants in the Pan" trick
I always got disqualified for that.
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Bill,
your gloriosas in different colour forms are wonderful - I've only seen the "standard" one here! Do they come true from seed?
Strangely enough the only "allowed" species on ICON is listed as "G. lutea"!! ???
Lesley,
Myosotis capitata is allowed on ICON so I hope you can spare some seeds when you get some! ;D
cheers
fermi
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Fermi,
I used to have the orange and yellow superba, as well as the "standard" rothschildiana. The superba was actually a throwback from the roths, just appearing one year. I think mine are all gone now, been diminishing over the last couple of years. I think they just weren't getting enough water in that area. I too was most impressed by all the colour forms I didn't know about!! :o :o
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Hi Bill,the Kew register is saying that G rothschildiana is not a form of G superba,
and that it is G rigidifolia? Hope I have understood it correctly. bye Ray
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Cliff, enjoyed the link, any pictures of your plant from the show. Anyone know a nursery that sells myosotis capitata.
Angie :)
I found Myosotidum hortensis in a catalogue is this a similar plant and as nice as the above and also is it hard to grow, thanks for any help.
Angie :)
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Bill, your gloriosas in different colour forms are wonderful - I've only seen the "standard" one here! Do they come true from seed?
Strangely enough the only "allowed" species on ICON is listed as "G. lutea"!! ???
fermi, I am not 100% sure about the various species or other colour forms/hybrids coming true from seed, but with us most of them flowered true, with minor variations, (and visits by the bee population) which is sometimes most welcome.
Anyway, when they all set seed, you're most welcome to try some, but will have to send them as allowed species on your ICON G.lutea which of course is now classified under G.superba. ??? ??? Confusing!!?? We'll have to organise something later. ;D ;D
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Hi Bill,the Kew register is saying that G rothschildiana is not a form of G superba,
and that it is G rigidifolia? Hope I have understood it correctly. bye Ray
Ray, I am not sure what the Kew register says about the genus Gloriosa and the species.
There seem to be a certain amount of confusion regarding the classification of this genus.
Some synonyms, arising from the many variations, for Gloriosa superba include G. rothschildiana (or G. superba ‘Rothschildiana’), G. simplex, G. virescens, G. abyssinica, G. carsonii, G. minor, G. lutea, G. baudii.
Blame the botanists, they keep chopping and changing botanical names continuously.
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I don't know Myosotis hortensis as such, but I suspect it may be one of those which seed around hideously and can never be eradicated. I have avoided such forget-me-nots like the plague and will continue to do so. Others will have better information about M. hortensis. I would doubt if it has much similarity to M. capitata though.
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Lesley,
Myosotis capitata is allowed on ICON so I hope you can spare some seeds when you get some! ;D
cheers
fermi
Will do Fermi. :)
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Thanks Lesley, will give it a miss.
Angie :)
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I think Angie is referring to Myosotidium hortensia, Lesley ... the very beautiful and highly desirable megaherb, the Chatham Island Forget-me-not. Seed of this gorgeous giant should be cherished and nurtured. It does, of course, resemble an enormous Myosotis capitata because it is dark blue with large forget-me-not flowers.
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Another interesting bulb flowering at the moment is the rare Proiphys cunninghamii commonly called the Brisbane Lily or Moreton Bay Lily and is the only species endemic to Australia. It has dark green heart-shaped leaves and produces fragrant, white flowers in umbel-like clusters on long stems. It occurs naturally on the north coast of New South Wales and in south-eastern Queensland in lightly shaded conditions in the rainforest or forest bordering the rainforest.
Paul and fermi do you know this beauiful speces?
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I think Angie is referring to Myosotidium hortensia, Lesley ... the very beautiful and highly desirable megaherb, the Chatham Island Forget-me-not. Seed of this gorgeous giant should be cherished and nurtured. It does, of course, resemble an enormous Myosotis capitata because it is dark blue with large forget-me-not flowers.
Of course she is Cliff. So pleased you stepped in there and yes, M. hortensia is a very special and gorgeous thing. It is far too big for a pot or alpine house though Angie. You'd need to try it outside and it may not be hardy with you. It does (did?) grow to perfection at Inverewe though. Have I a picture somewhere? Yes, I have. The leaves alone are stunning.
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Another interesting bulb flowering at the moment is the rare Proiphys cunninghamii commonly called the Brisbane Lily or Moreton Bay Lily
Wasn't there a thread about this lovely plant somewhere on the Forum? I seem to remember everyone getting very excited about it. :D
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Yes, Lesley, here: http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2141.0 ...where there is also a link to a page of Paul's ANBG thread with another pic.... :)
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M. hortensia is a very special and gorgeous thing. It is far too big for a pot
The only one I have seen was flowering in Oregon in an oak half barrel.
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Lesley thanks for the picture, it is lovely, what a shame it grows that big, still I might give it a try. My husband laughs at me he said wouldn't it be easier to move down south than try and grow all these tender plants I told him I would but we are at the age we aren't wanted anymore :'(.
Angie :)
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Yes, Lesley, here: http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2141.0 ...where there is also a link to a page of Paul's ANBG thread with another pic.... :)
Thanks Maggi for that info, always interesting to hear of other people growing this beautiful plant.
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I know the feeling Angie. I sometimes think I'd like to go and live near my Australian friends but I'm too old and too poor for their govt to want me except for a short holiday. :(
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Well, when I was there, out in the country towns, nurses on holiday
were being begged to do a shift or two.
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Now, it is expected that NZ doctors will flock across the Tasman in even greater numbers than before because the Aust govt has lifted a restriction by which NZ doctors weren't eligible for some pension scheme unless they worked in the outback towns. Now they are.
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Well, Lesley, there's always the citrus-growing areas north of Auckland.
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Bill,
Yes, I grow Proiphys cunninghamii and Proiphys amboinensis (both from here in Aus). I have never flowered either as yet though, so have not been able to confirm identities for certain. I have definitely admired them at the Botanic Gardens here in Canberra though, as Maggi mentioned in her link.
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The Tigridias are flowering 8) what better way to celebrate the summer months?
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I think Angie is referring to Myosotidium hortensia, Lesley ... the very beautiful and highly desirable megaherb, the Chatham Island Forget-me-not. Seed of this gorgeous giant should be cherished and nurtured. It does, of course, resemble an enormous Myosotis capitata because it is dark blue with large forget-me-not flowers.
Of course she is Cliff. So pleased you stepped in there and yes, M. hortensia is a very special and gorgeous thing. It is far too big for a pot or alpine house though Angie. You'd need to try it outside and it may not be hardy with you. It does (did?) grow to perfection at Inverewe though. Have I a picture somewhere? Yes, I have. The leaves alone are stunning.
Now I'm not sure if it is still there, but there used to be a 'alpine house' in one of the parks across from the General Hospital in Aberdeen- if memory serves me well it was also growing in there.
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Rogan,
Yours are well ahead of mine..... I hope that mine are still going to flower for me this year? I rather like both those yellows you show..... I had a similar yellow with red bowl in the past but the pot turned up empty this year. ::) I have almost exactly the same tow but in white, not yellow. I also have a few seedlings coming along from a UK friend from assorted mixed colours, so hopefully something like yours will appear. I would love to get yellows, pinks, and anything interesting in colour combinations from them, so fingers are well and truly crossed. ;D They are just the coolest flowers. 8)
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If my memory serves me right (which would be quite a memorable first), a fine plant of Myosotidium hortensia was seen growing in the lovely garden of Dr. John Good in North Wales.
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The Gladiolus hybrids are starting to make a show
Bluet, Priscilla, Glory B, Hradec Kralove
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"I would love to get yellows, pinks, and anything interesting in colour combinations from them, so fingers are well and truly crossed."
I will have to set some seed on my plants then too...
I also had a plain white Tigridia for a time, but it hated my climate and slowly dwindled to nothing :(
Here's a lovely unspotted red form that's not particularly strong in my garden - hope it doesn't fade away too soon:
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Rogan,
The plain white (has a few greenish markings only) is not strong here either, but the white with the red bowl (i.e the same as your yellow with the red bowl, but white) does well here and sets seed if I let it. I must check they're coming up though, as I don't recall their leaves as yet. :-\
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Hi Paul,
I too have a range of Tigrida here from pure colours to spotted.
I had seperated the pure yellows, whites and pinks and would dig them up every 3rd year as they would increase, theyre very vigorous here and seem to like fresh ground. The patches that havnt been dug up dwindle with less flowering.
I have a nice dark red spotted...just never enough room for these guys.
If you want any bulbs remind me...must post some picks soon as the buds are swelling.
cheers
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Stephen,
Yes, I am very interested, although with your collection I doubt there is anything I have to trade for them. :-\
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We have grown Myosotidium hortensia in ther past but never so successfully as Harold McBride in Lisburn.
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simon, you are recalling the lovely alpine house ( as WAS :P ) in the Victoria Park.... now a sad ghost of things past. :'(
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Rogan..... loving that colour red. So cheering in our cold snowy world, where the brief sun is fading.... hope it is the brightest of days for your Birthday! Cheers,
Maggi
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Rogan i love tigrida its not a genus i grow but that will soon be remedied,its good to have your posts again there hasn't been any for a while.
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The Tigridias are flowering 8) what better way to celebrate the summer months?
Rogan,
the Trigidias you show are they all T. pavonia Hybrids?
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They are very nice Rogan. I used to but don't now for whatever reason. I must get a few. And a happy birthday to you.
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Some Tigridia pavonia hybrids
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And a couple more. I have a dark pink somewhere too
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A very smart collection, Ross.... you are obviously doing well with them. :)
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Ross are Tigrida hardy where you are?i have heard of people leaving them out here in parts of the uk in the winter but i would imagine they would have been hit hard this year
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David,
I overwinter them frostfree in a cold room. They need a little winter moisture.
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Ross are Tigrida hardy where you are?i have heard of people leaving them out here in parts of the uk in the winter but i would imagine they would have been hit hard this year
Yes, they just stay in the garden and do their thing
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Uli,
I think they'er all actually Tigridia pavonia selections, rather than hybrids. My understanding is that there aren't other species involved, just colours selections from pavonia itself.
I grow them outside here without a problem, plus a number of small species as well. I do lose some of the other species at times (I lament the loss of some of them, as they're so beautiful), but generally they go well form year to year. Some species are VERY slow to multiply for me here. ::)
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Paul your welcome to them and I wasnt expecting anything in return. :)
I think the key to get them to increase is plenty of moisture and some suplementry feeding in summer helps.
I also leave the bulbs in the ground. The ground would freeze solid at least for a month or two
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Stephen,
Do you really get cold enough to have the ground freeze solid?
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yea i wouldnt of said it otherwise. More so in the shade where it lasts for a couple of months cause its cooler and moist...
i use to have the inside kitchen window freeze on really cold winter nights..until i had central heating built in. I would hate to live in the northern hemiphere and have their cold..brrrr! i get enough here, although we havnt had a cold winter for a while but i think we're in for one looking at whats happening up north...extreme wether conditions fom hot to cold..climate change?? sorry gone off topic
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Just another picture of this healthy shade loving plant, growing on the cool south site of the house.
The large, deep-veined leaves are deep green and glossy, and if well grown are as large as those of rhubarb.
The heavily-textured flowers are bright blue, paling at the edges, and are of a soft velvet appearence.
There is also a recently discovered pure white form, so far not commercially available yet.
Myosotidium-hortensia
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This time a few pictures of the more exotic disa uniflora orchids, photographed at one of our neighbour's glasshouses just up the road.
These are all improved, selected hybrids specially bred for the cut-flower trade and export.
He kindly let us have a few stems to take home, and the flowers in the vase lasted more than 3 weeks.
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Hesperoxiphion peruvianum (syn. Cypella peruviana) indigenous to Peru, has large brightly coloured flowers that are yellow, yellow brown, orange or plain yellow lined, or dotted red-brown or red-purple. The flowers are only open for part of a day, fading in the afternoon, but if the seed pods are nipped off the flowering season continues sometimes for months. In the wild they bloom from January to May and can sometimes flower in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at the same time.
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Thanks Maggi, for quitely correcting some of our mistakes in the background without complaining, what would we do without you. :) :) ;D
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Thank you , Bill. It is obvious we have never met.... I have never been guilty of being quiet...... I was told at an early age to speak up and I've been doing that ever since... best advice I was ever given!
I complain plenty... its just that you can't hear me ;) ::)
What would you do without me?.....What indeed? Good grief, such a loss to the world is too awful to contemplate.... so I'll keep taking the vitamins! 8)
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Myosotidium-hortensia
Bill - Wonderfully grown! Funny you should post this today as I was just reading David Lyttle's thread on his visit to the Chatham Islands last night and was blown away by the border of Myosotidiums at Admiral Farm.
Is that a self sown seedling in the right hand corner?
johnw
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Ross are Tigrida hardy where you are?i have heard of people leaving them out here in parts of the uk in the winter but i would imagine they would have been hit hard this year
Dave, I have a patch of Tigridia pavonia in the garden grown from bulbs I bought from B&Q planted in Spring 2008. They flowered well in 2008 (pics below) and even produced seed, some of which I sent to PaulT. I didn't lift them and they flowered again in Summer last year in spite of a bad winter in 2009 although not as well as in 2008. Time will tell if I have any left this summer. At the same time I bought a pack of Ixia hybrids these flowered sparsely in summer 2008 before reverting to winter growers and flowered really well in spring 2009. They are in leaf now and don't show any frost damage so far. Again time will tell!
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Wow, Bill, your Myosotidium-hortensia is stunningly beautiful.
How big does it get? It looks much bigger than the hellebores next to it, which btw are lovely too.
Would love to see more of the area where these are planted.
How hardy is the Myosotidium-hortensia?
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"...its good to have your posts again there hasn't been any for a while."
Thanks for saying that Dave, I have not been too far away, just distracted by my 7 acres of wilderness in the southern Cape. I'm building a little "frontier" holiday cottage there with a magnificent view of the Cape fold mountains and the local "fynbos" ;D 8)
While there, I collected a large quantity of Watsonia aletroides and W. laccata seeds from a friendly farmer's property, so if anybody would like some, please let me know privately (with your address) and I'll send you some as soon as I've caught up with my long-neglected correspondence and trades.
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Wow, Bill, your Myosotidium-hortensia is stunningly beautiful.
How big does it get? It looks much bigger than the hellebores next to it, which btw are lovely too.
Would love to see more of the area where these are planted.
How hardy is the Myosotidium-hortensia?
Helen, here are a few links to this plant in the Forum......
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2510.msg58844#msg58844 ..... white form in the garden of Dave Lyttle in NZ
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3329.msg90556#msg90556 ..... blue form in the garden of Ashley Allshire in Cork, Ireland
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1000.msg23339;topicseen#msg23339 ........ as a grave decoration in the Chatham Islands ...... this shows what a lush, large plant this can be.
The Rankins of Kevock Nursery near Edinburgh say they overwinter plants successfully in pots under cold glass.
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Maggi, thanks for the links, you're a treasure as usual.
I am a sucker for blue flowers, the white is a real stunner too.
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What would you do without me?.....What indeed? Good grief, such a loss to the world is too awful to contemplate.... so I'll keep taking the vitamins! 8)
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I agree Helen what we do without Maggi, shes like a little book of treasures.
Thanks for the picture of Myosotidium hortensia 8), wast sure how big the plant was but showing it growing next to the hellebore's shows its true size.
Angie :)
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yea i wouldnt of said it otherwise. More so in the shade where it lasts for a couple of months cause its cooler and moist...
i use to have the inside kitchen window freeze on really cold winter nights..until i had central heating built in. I would hate to live in the northern hemiphere and have their cold..brrrr! i get enough here, although we havnt had a cold winter for a while but i think we're in for one looking at whats happening up north...extreme wether conditions fom hot to cold..climate change?? sorry gone off topic
Stephen,
I just hadn't realised that you get that much colder than us. We get cold overnight, but the ground pretty much always thaws out during the day, and would certainly never be frozen constantly for a month or more. I had no idea that you were that constantly cold. And I thought our -8to-9oC on occasions here was bad enough. ::) ;D
Does it remain frozen very deep? Here, we'd get maybe a cm or two at the top freeze, but almost always it would thaw during the day. Bulbs below ground would stay snug and away from freezing thankfully in most cases I think, well in the ground anyway. I'm sure a lot of the bulbs in pots get frozen at times.
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Dave thats incredible i wouldn't dare leave them out here i dont think my heart would take it,if you collect seed of them this season can i put my name forward,would love to try them from seed.
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Dave thats incredible i wouldn't dare leave them out here i dont think my heart would take it,if you collect seed of them this season can i put my name forward,would love to try them from seed.
I've made a note.
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Thanks Maggi, for quitely correcting some of our mistakes in the background without complaining, what would we do without you. :) :) ;D
There would be more chocolate left in the world, for the rest of us. ???
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Bill mentions a pure white form of the Myosotidium, not yet released comercially. I suspect it could be tissue-cultured then, as the "normal" white, in the link to David L's is easily available from seed and comes pretty much true I think. It's true to say though that it is often not PURE white, but has a slightly bluish cast in the centre of each flower, making the wholly blue a much lovlier plant, to my mind at least. A truly pure white would be very good.
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I also leave the bulbs in the ground. The ground would freeze solid at least for a month or two
I'm amazed.
I'm on the Pacific coast of Canada and I can remember only once in my lifetime that our ground froze. When I walked on the garden it felt as though I was walking on a road. It took me a minute or two to figure out why. It only stayed frozen a day or two.
I know you are growing North American plants. Perhaps ones from the East coast are used to being frozen, but West coast ones are not.
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Paul and Diane this is a mounatian climate and yes very differant from living on a mountain by the sea.
Diane interesting you say that your west coast natives dont freeze, explains why T chloropetalum and albidium show a lot of leaf damage here when emerging but they do wait and make a dash of growth at the last minute. They do perform better with some cover by evergreen trees.
Paul I cant say Ive dug into the ground in these shaded cold areas as I never plant anything at this time of year just bad practice and hate having cold hands.
Im also in a sink and you can feel the cold air coming down at night. Parts of the exposed garden can be frosted at night for 5 months. Its amazing to see what does brush off the cold/frost, perking back up in the sunshine.
Just to note that a compost of fresh leaf litter would blanket the ground and stop any freezing happening beneath it. Natures way of preventing deep freezes especially in deciduous woodlands. If the same ground was exposed it would freeze up. Same with pots in this location, i tend to cover these with leaf litter as it doesnt freeze them so much.
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The dark pink (wind bashed) Tigridia
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Wow,
Cracker of a pink!! :o
Stephen,
The sink effect can make such a big difference. We're on a bit of a slope, and it helps immensely. I know down lower than us get much worse frost, and I'm only talking a block or two away (well equivalent thereof anyway). You mustn't get the day temps that we do here. What altitude are you, just out of interest? I have no idea at all for the blue mountains. ???
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simon, you are recalling the lovely alpine house ( as WAS :P ) in the Victoria Park.... now a sad ghost of things past. :'(
I am sorry to hear that- it did seem to be relict of more pleasant times, when these things were appreciated rather than vandalised.
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rogan, sounds like a great project--any pictures of the property?
stephen v--interesting to know there is such a chilly climate there..
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That slope effect Paul, is called catabatic drift. It's a term I use whenever possible, to give the impression I know what I'm talking about and am possibly quite erudite, even though people know I'm nothing of the sort. ;D We have it here too, I'm pleased to say. Basically it means the slope always has moving air which keeps the temperature a good bit higher than in the places (Stephen's sink) where it is trapped and lies still.
Stephen, how do your own garden temperatures at Blackheath in winter compare with say, Mt Tomah or Mt Wilson/Irvine?
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What I'd like to know, Stephen, is what the Blue Mountains
are like in midsummer. Masses of wildflowers? Moderate
temperatures? Sunshine?
A worthwhile place to visit for someone who considers 28 hot, and
who would spend her days in a walk-in refrigerator if the
outside temp reached 32?
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Another interesting, fascinating bulb is the South African Cybistetes longifolia, now known as Ammocharis longifolia.
The inflorescence of the first plant pictured is an umbel of of trumpet-shaped, sweetly fragrant flowers and on opening they are cream-coloured but shade to deep pink as they mature, while the the second ivory coloured species pictured remains the same colour.
Flowers are normally born from December to April and produce a strong and pleasant frangipani-like scent.
The grey-green, strap-shaped leaves, which have a cut off appearance at the tips appear from May and die back from October when the plants normally come into flower.
The plants are deciduous and grow in winter, and occurs exclusively in the winter rainfall ares of the Cape.
The rootstock is a very large, thickly tunicated bulb, often with a long neck.
They prefer a well drained sandy soil with the bulb neck planted at soil surface, with dry summers.
Ammocharis longifolia.
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WOW, love the second one 8)
Angie :)
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Things seem to to be a bit quiet at the moment, everyone must be busy, or running out of plants and flowers to show this time of the season.
Lycoris are splendid late summer, autumn-flowering bulbs when their requirements are met.
The large number of species and hybrids make excellent garden subjects and provide a good supply of cut flowers.
They also perform well when grown in containers, they resemble Nerines with heads of 5-10 flowers carried on strong stems.
Flower colour ranges through shades of yellow, cream, pink, violet, blue and red.
They are dormant in summer, flower in autumn, and then grow in autumn, winter and spring.
The first two species to flower are the Lycoris aurea and Lycoris chinensis.
Lycoris aurea, the golden spider lily, originates from limestone areas from China, and can often be a difficult species to get into flower.
As with all Lycoris, it requires a hot dry resting period during summer to promote flowering.
Lycoris chinensis known as the Golden Surprise Lily has medium yellow to golden-orange spidery flowers with curved and ruffled petal edges.
Come on guys in the Southern Hemisphere, you must have something in flower in your garden or the wild at the moment??
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This excellent Crinum × powellii 'Album' flowering at the moment is a selection of Crinum × powellii (C. bulbispermum × C. moorei)
Depending upon the parent plants various colors have been produced ranging from pure white through various shades of pink Up to 15 trumpet shaped, fragrant white flowers often flower twice during the summer months.
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Absolutely stunning bloom, Bill ... many thanks for posting.
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Paul im at 1016m. Yes it does get warm during the summer but there is allways relief with a cool night to 13-16c. If it ever blows east or south off the ocean it will be a cool and wet day.
Lesley Blackheath known by the locals as bleakheath is colder and a little drier with more sunshine than Mt Wilson, Irvine and Tomah. Mt Wilson, Irvine and Tomah at 900m on basalt soil recieve hardly no frost and less snow and for some reason attract more rain maybe because its exposed more to the moist easterly winds. Theses 3 mountain tops all have cool temperate rainforets, they just seem to attract the clouds.I can be at work at Tomah and be in mist (in the clouds) and it will be sunny in Blackheath which is 30 min away as the crow flys south :)
Diane the Blue Mountains are very much worth a visit. Best to come in late spring October, November when most of the wildflowers are out and the gardens are at their best. Summer especially in Jan/Feb can be so hot, lots of sunshine,can be very harsh that everything seems to be in a dormant state but since we are having a wet summer everything is sooo green and taking advantage of this extra moisture.
Its also amazing in autumn, on a good day where the sky is sooo blue I dont think you will ever see it bluer anywhere else and the sunlight is just gentle. Temps can be to your liking..best in April.
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Thanks Stephen. We're attracting clouds at the moment too, but they are an abberation for this time of year and I wish they'd go away now, even though the summer rain has been very welcome. Some summer sun would be welcome too. ???
That's why there's nothing much here Bill, worth taking pictures of. The whole place is miserable and dank. Your Crinums are lovely though.
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Come on guys in the Southern Hemisphere, you must have something in flower in your garden or the wild at the moment??
You're way ahead of us with Lycoris, Bill! Ours won't start for another 2 months!
Summer flowers here include the "evening primroses" - one of my favourites is Oenothera acaulis with its sparkling white discs,
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And O. missouriensis has even larger blooms in yellow which fade to orange by late morning
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I've already posted pics of Zephyranthes flavissima to the "Amaryllid"Thread,
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cheers
fermi
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You're way ahead of us with Lycoris, Bill! Ours won't start for another 2 months!
fermi[/quote]
Yes, this has been a very funny season so far fermi, with lots of frosts last winter and now with little rain for the last 6 weeks, we're getting close to drought conditions, with some plants reacting out of their normal flowering season.
With the Lycoris this time, (which were very dry in containers), only removed the old top layer of compost and topped it up with fresh potting mix and slow release fertiliser, gave them a drink, and hey presto, instant reaction, with some species exploding into flower, with more coming into bud.
I've done the same thing with the Rhodophiala species with the same results.
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Rhodophiala are close relatives of Hippeastrum, under which many of the species were formely listed.
Rhodophialas typically have much narrower leaves and small bulbs with distinctive narrow necks.
They flower mainly in summer and have similar cultural requirements to Hippeastrums.
This Rhodophiala bifida is an specially selected outstanding red form of this genus and produces heads of small lustrous red trumpets with prominent golden anthers.
It is easily grown in a sunny position in ordinary well-drained soil or suitable container.
The bulbs pull themselves deep into the soil, unlike hippeastrums.
Rhodophiala chilense with dainty trumpets of yellow tipped with red, make this a very floriferous species.
R.chilense did not flower this time, so will post a picture from last season.
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This Rhodophiala bifida is an specially selected outstanding red form of this genus and produces heads of small lustrous red trumpets with prominent golden anthers.
Absolutely gorgeous Bill, lustrous is such a good word to describe the red Rhodophiala bifida trumpets in your photo :)
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Rhodophiala are close relatives of Hippeastrum, under which many of the species were formely listed.
Rhodophialas typically have much narrower leaves and small bulbs with distinctive narrow necks.
They flower mainly in summer and have similar cultural requirements to Hippeastrums.
This Rhodophiala bifida is an specially selected outstanding red form of this genus and produces heads of small lustrous red trumpets with prominent golden anthers.
It is easily grown in a sunny position in ordinary well-drained soil or suitable container.
The bulbs pull themselves deep into the soil, unlike hippeastrums.
Rhodophiala chilense with dainty trumpets of yellow tipped with red, make this a very floriferous species.
R.chilense did not flower this time, so will post a picture from last season.
both wow--but really love the colouring of the chilense!
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Waw ,stunning ,I am agree with Cohan.
Bought a small tuber of bifida this autumn and now can wait to see it growing ... :P
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Two in flower at present are Campanula zoysii (bought recently, so no credit to me) and Silene hookeri Ingramii Group. These are from my own seed and there is some small variation in colour. Both are now in a trough. (see A New Bit of Garden.)
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Two in flower at present are Campanula zoysii (bought recently, so no credit to me) and Silene hookeri Ingramii Group. These are from my own seed and there is some small variation in colour. Both are now in a trough. (see A New Bit of Garden.)
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I like the Silene hookeri Lesley .Seems it like to flower very good.Mine are more modest ,both in the size of the flowers as with number of flowers...
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Kris, the lower picture is of several plants together in a tray, all flowering for the first time. The individual flowers are about 3.5 to 4 cms across. If you think yours is smaller, would you like a little seed? There are several pods forming at present.
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Kris, the lower picture is of several plants together in a tray, all flowering for the first time. The individual flowers are about 3.5 to 4 cms across. If you think yours is smaller, would you like a little seed? There are several pods forming at present.
That wil be great Lesley .I am sure that mine are smaller ...
So thanks ! 8)
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send me your postal address by PM Kris.
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A very nice interesting Alstroemeria aurea with variegated leaves, recently photographed in the Parva Plants nursery, here in Tauranga.
Alstroemeria's of course make excellent cut flowers, with the variegated foliage as an extra bonus.
I am looking forward purchasing this beautiful plant as soon as it is released for sale.
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That is certainly spectacular Bill. Is it as rampant as the "old" A. aurea? It almost looks as if it is.
Parva Plants nursery is now in or near Christchurch. Is there still a branch or something in Tauranga?
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A very nice interesting Alstroemeria aurea with variegated leaves, recently photographed in the Parva Plants nursery, here in Tauranga.
Alstroemeria's of course make excellent cut flowers, with the variegated foliage as an extra bonus.
I am looking forward purchasing this beautiful plant as soon as it is released for sale.
:o :o :o
That is an amazing plant, Bill!
I'm sure there are a number of fans of all-things-variegated who would kill for it!
Do you know if it originated in their nursery or did they import it or buy iy locally?
cheers
fermi
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It certainly is a striking combination with the blood red flowers atop the variegated leaves - they look larger than normal and the whole effect more bushy, Bill.
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that is a stunning Alstroemeria
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Hi,
A few things coming up in the garden in Adelaide.
Just in bloom this week Hymenocallis festalis (or Ismene festalis depending on which reference I'm looking at). Also Crinum powelli alba which has actually been flowering for about two months now. Amaryllis belladonna, which for some reason goes by the common name of Easter lily here, although my garden diary indicates that the first blooms are up on or around January 10. I'm always amazed how fast these blooms move. The first shoot showed above ground on Jan 13 this year and 5 days later they were 60 cm high and in full bloom.
I've read that it's possible to hybridise Crinum and Amaryllis and given that both are in bloom I might give it a shot, although I'm not sure if C. powelli is actually fertile.
I'm also attaching Hymenocallis littoralis which actually bloomed back in December but I haven't had a chance to download the images until today.
Cheers Anita
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Wow, Anita,
that's early for Belladonna lilies (also called "Naked Ladies" because the flower comes up without foliage) but I said that to Bill about his Lycoris and look what flowered on the weekend!
Lycoris incarnata on 24/01/10
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And starting to fade by 27/01/10
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cheers
fermi
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Beauites Anita, the Hymenocallis littoralis is a classy little number!
More reasons to be jealous of the Southern Hemisphere! ;) ;)
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Fermi, I love the way your Lycoris incarta flowers are growing through the silver grey foliage of ? - the colours and forms complement each other perfectly :)
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...
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2510.msg58844#msg58844 ..... white form in the garden of Dave Lyttle in NZ
This white Myosotidium hortensia is wonderful Maggi ! ::) ::) ::)
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This white Myosotidium hortensia is wonderful Maggi !
It is lovely, isn't it?
I was just thinking how beautiful the pure white Crinum powellii alba is, that Anita shows us.....just a delight to see. 8)
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I love all white flowers... and dark purple also :D
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Fermi, I love the way your Lycoris incarta flowers are growing through the silver grey foliage of ? - the colours and forms complement each other perfectly :)
Hi Robin,
this is one of those "serendipitous associations" as the artemesia mat has grown over the bulbs without any prompting from me.
This was bought as Artemesia schmidtiana "Nana" but isn't herbaceous, so is possibly something like A. pedemontana. If anyone knows for sure what it is, please let me know!
cheers
fermi
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A. pedemontana lanata?
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This was bought as Artemesia schmidtiana "Nana" but isn't herbaceous, so is possibly something like A. pedemontana.
I'm amazed to hear that A. schmidtiana 'Nana' would be herbaceous in your climate, given that the woody lower branches tend to winter over even here... ?
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Just a couple more things from the garden.
Lilium leucanthemum, the photo's not the crispest as the flower stem is about 7ft high (2m +)and sways in the slightest draft (and I'm not the steadiest on the step ladder either!). I've three plants established in the garden that seem to be thriving despite the spells of 41degC and above that we've had over the past couple of years. Two year old seedlings raised from these plants are coming into bloom for the first time this year but are only about three feet (1m) high, which is nice as I can actually smell the lovely scent at that height.
Zephyranthes Big Dude, which is actually about 5cm across has just come into bloom... probably thinks the deep soak I gave the bed last week was summer rain, I expect more over the next few days as they usually flower as a small clump. According to the Pacific Bulb Society website Big Dude is a selection of Z. Labuffarosea.
And finally a very early Cyclamen libanoticum. I don't know what it thinks it's doing up so early... usually it's at least another month before I see any flowers.
Cheers Anita
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Fermi this is what my Oenothera acaulis looks like - dead showing where flowers and seeds were, the flower and Colchicum cupanii coming up from under a plant
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You will likely get self-sown seedlings of the Oenothera in the spring Mark.
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Anita, like your from of labuffa rosea, I have a smaller flowered form here ( as a windowsill subject :( )
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Fermi this is what my Oenothera acaulis looks like - dead showing where flowers and seeds were, the flower and Colchicum cupanii coming up from under a plant
Hi Mark,
thanks for the pic - I'm happy to trade seed for that one - and yes, it's on the "allowed list" on ICON. :D
Hi Anita,
that 7 foot tall Lilium maybe a form of L. formosanum or L. phillipinense as L. leucanthemum looks a bit more like L. regale, having a shorter more substantial trumpet. Zeph. "Big Dude" looks spectacular - please get a pic of the clump when it flowers!
In part of the Rock Garden which has been watered this week a lone Acis autumnalis (syn Leucojum autumnale) has emereged,
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cheers
fermi
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This was bought as Artemesia schmidtiana "Nana" but isn't herbaceous, so is possibly something like A. pedemontana.
I'm amazed to hear that A. schmidtiana 'Nana' would be herbaceous in your climate, given that the woody lower branches tend to winter over even here... ?
Hi Lori,
I was told that the plant in the pic which has woody branches wasn't the true Artemesia schmidtiana "Nana" because of this! Do you have pics of the one you grow? I'd love to finally get a name to ours! Is there an Artemesia expert out there who can say definitively?
cheers
fermi
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I haven't grown it myself for a very long time, so I don't have any of my own photos, but will check out and provide a link to some later. (It's a very commonly grown plant here, and, frankly, not something anyone here would waste rock garden space on!)
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Some Eucomis and Gladioli flowering now.bye Ray
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Hi Ray,
Your Eucomis look very happy and healthy, have you got any names to go with them please? :D
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Hi Hristo,no I don't have any names for these Eucomis,I was hoping some one in the forum could help me and you out.the only one I had a name for was No 1 which was E comosum but I can't find a species with that name and the nearest to that is E comosa and when you see all the forms of that on the net you really couldn't say it was E comosa.bye Ray
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Ray,
Have you checked out the PBS page for eucomis?
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Eucomis (http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Eucomis)
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Hi Hristo,have had a look at the PBS site but I think the link to the David Fenwick
site will be a better site to try and ID these Eucomis,so now to do some homework.bye Ray
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Sorry folks, I have had a little problem with our computer, which we finally managed to fix, with a new motherboard.
Fortunetly we had most of the important info, email and pictures backed up on a external harddrive, a must and a big relieve.
Anyway, to start where I left off with the with the variegated Alstroemeria aurea, and the questions by Lesley and Fermi.
Lesley, I am not sure about the rampant nature of this plant, if any, but who cares, it will always look spectacular and eye-catching in the garden.
Yes Parva Plants is finished in Tauranga, and now Christchurch, but Ian Duncalf I think still have a few projects ongoing and and this variegated Alstroemeria is on of them.
Fermi, like so many variegated plants, this one undoubtly started of as an sport or mutation, when one part of a plant produces a different form or colour, and with tissue culture wouldn't take long to mass produce.
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Ray, please let me know how your homework turns out! Your post jogged my memory and I ordered E.comosa in my annual Silverhills order, so many thanks! ;)
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Last evening I went to visit a friend close by and came away with many plants and cuttings, some I've not seen or grown for years. They included Aphyllanthes monspeliensis, 2 Convolvulus (boissieri and compactus), Teucrium subspinosum, Frankenia laevis, Potentilla x Tonguei, a couple of Salix species, Origanum microphyllum, a little procumbent, grey-leaved species with bright magenta flowers, and the silver Artemisia pedemontana which Fermi showed recently. I'll go back in a month and collect cuttings from cassiopes and rhodos, phyllodaces etc.
My friend who is getting on in years, is anxious to pass along propagating material of as many plants as possible while she can. She has many things which are no longer available from nurseries, so it's great that her nature is a generous one.
Her Cosmos atrosanguinea is in full flower so there will be some seed later. Mine is struggling in drought and hasn't opened a single flower yet.