Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: Tecophilaea King on October 02, 2010, 01:26:15 PM
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October 2010 in the Southern Hemisphere. trying to organise a new topic/subject for the month of October.
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Yesterday on my way to Auckland to attend a national Clivia show, I was passing through the Karangahake gorge, a site of the original gold rush in 1875 and steeped in gold mining history.
When I stopped at a picnic place for a well-earned cappuccino fix, I could not help but notice these vast area's of Allium triquetrum which streched for miles on either site of the river and the roadsites.
To many people, to see all these pure white pendulous flowers striped with green, may be a pretty sight and experience, but in our temperate climate this onion weed has the potantial and tendencies to invade large area's of land and become a problem.
Anyway, I could not resist to take a few pictures to show you these sites, and was thinking that Mark our OnionMan might have been impressed and enjoyed the experience.
Would you like me to dig up a few bulbs for you Mark? There will only be a few trillion bulbs left.
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Bill,
There is a lot of this in the Dandenongs, near Otto's place. I hadn't seen it up here. Our "Onion Weed" is a very different thing.
You might also want to add to the subject of this topic to make it "October 2010 in the Southern Hemisphere", to save future confusion. 8)
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Bill,
You might also want to add to the subject of this topic to make it "October 2010 in the Southern Hemisphere", to save future confusion. 8)
Good idea: Paul do you know how/where to modify/edit the subject and changed it to "October 2010 in the Southern Hemisphere"
Otherwise we might need our beloved Maggi to do it for us ;D ;D Thanks.
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If you hit "Modify" on your original message I think you can change the subject line there?
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If you hit "Modify" on your original message I think you can change the subject line there?
Think I managed Paul, Thanks
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All good, Bill. All good! 8)
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How does the Bulbine handle frost? If it is so good for cuts and burns etc, and it were frost hardy, then it might be a good alternative to Aloe Vera in colder climates? Or is it tender as well?
Paul, Bulbine frutescens is frost hardy, the container has been sitting outside all winter.
In addition, someone mentioned that test done with the plants chemical substances on bald people looks promising and possibly promote new hair growth.
Another theory goes that if applied liberally for cosmetic reasons, could make you look 10 years younger ;D ;D. How about that?
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This colourful, little Geissorhiza radians aka winecups, is always welcome, and never fails to brighten up someone's day
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The last posting for the day, this charming miniature Iris gracilipes, with its lilac-blue flowers is one of my favourite species in the Iris genus.
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Yesterday on my way to Auckland to attend a national Clivia show, I was passing through the Karangahake gorge, a site of the original gold rush in 1875 and steeped in gold mining history.
When I stopped at a picnic place for a well-earned cappuccino fix, I could not help but notice these vast area's of Allium triquetrum which streched for miles on either site of the river and the roadsites.
To many people, to see all these pure white pendulous flowers striped with green, may be a pretty sight and experience, but in our temperate climate this onion weed has the potantial and tendencies to invade large area's of land and become a problem.
Anyway, I could not resist to take a few pictures to show you these sites, and was thinking that Mark our OnionMan might have been impressed and enjoyed the experience.
Would you like me to dig up a few bulbs for you Mark? There will only be a few trillion bulbs left.
Thanks for thinking of me Bill :D Wow, there's certainly a bazillion Allium triquetrum; a good example of invasiveness. I don't grow this one, I need not tell you why ;D The scenery is fascinating yet somewhat incongruous to my eyes, to see such herbaceous lush growth and then items that look tropical to me, is that a cycad in the first photo, and a giant Cordyline in another view. Very pretty to see such flowering masses, but I'm glad its not here, also glad the invader is not an American species ;D
By the way, love Iris gracilipes, one of the most elegant species!
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Bill,
your images of invasive A. triquetrum are amazing. I'm happy that I have now a 'small clump' in my garden after the first trials ended up in rotted bulbs after strong frosts... ??? ::) Unlike many muscari who are sprouting leaves in NH autuum too, A. triquetrum leaves are not strong frost-hard in my continental climate.
Your Geissorhiza radians are pretty nice.
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A cycad, yes Mark, we have a few native species and in general they are hardy and tough as old boots, especially the south Island species. Likewise the Cordyline (australis) aka cabbage tree. It will take any snow or rost that our climate can provide. We have so many of them around that we take them for granted. There are thousands of the Corrdyline growing on the hills near me, with kowhai, Sophora tetraptera.
I smell onions every time I drive into my nearby town of Mosgiel and hated the Allium triquetrum for polluting the atmosphere but then realized - when it wasn't in bloom - that the smell was coming from a nearby factory which only makes salads for local hotels and the like. ::)
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Bill: Thanks from me too for these great images of mass three-cornered leeks! Brought back memories to of a trip to NZ in 2002 (conference in Auckland) about this time of year. I may even have been at the same spot as I have similar pictures (on slides so not easily accessible) of masses of triquetrum! Not hardy here although I can keep them going a few years, covered in winter.
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As I'm 'snowed under' with this white menace at the moment , perhaps I should use it as a substitute in French Onion Soup' and feed the poor ?
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As I'm 'snowed under' with this white menace at the moment , perhaps I should use it as a substitute in French Onion Soup' and feed the poor ?
An act of charity, Otto, that could be useful in more ways than one!
Bill: Good idea:...l do you know how/where to modify/edit the subject and changed it to "October 2010 in the Southern Hemisphere"
Otherwise we might need our beloved Maggi to do it for us Grin Grin Thanks.
Many thanks , Guys, for getting this sorted yourselves in my absence at the Discussion Weekend. ;D
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People, I knew an English lady who pickled Allium triquetrum bulbs and they tasted like pickled young onions. Don't know the details of the recipe but at least they were edible and really good that way.
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"In addition, someone mentioned that test done with the plants chemical substances on bald people looks promising and possibly promote new hair growth."
It's far easier just putting a hat on, Bill, I do it all the time! ;D
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A cycad, yes Mark, we have a few native species and in general they are hardy and tough as old boots, especially the south Island species. Likewise the Cordyline (australis) aka cabbage tree. It will take any snow or rost that our climate can provide. We have so many of them around that we take them for granted. There are thousands of the Corrdyline growing on the hills near me, with kowhai, Sophora tetraptera.
Not a cycad Lesley; a Cyathea which is a tree fern and an entirely different thing. You have to go to Australia to find cycads. And while I am in a picky mood the local kowhai is Sophora microphylla. Sophora tetraptera is a North Island species and does not grow naturally in Otago.
Bill, your pictures of Allium triquertum make me shudder. It is invasive here as well and seems unstoppable once it gets going. I have a small infestation which I carefully dig out each year as it appears but I have not succeeded in getting rid of it. I think a proportion of the bulbs remain dormant and do not sprout and evade the annual weeding.
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Our Rock garden Group went to visit the garden of Shirley Carn who is an Aussie Native Plant Enthusiast (but not exclusively!)
Here are some pics, the first being the wonderful Waratah (Telopea) - this might be a hybrid. '
Then a very unusual grevillea which from a distance looked like a wattle!
More to follow - later!
cheers
fermi
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The pictures of Allium triquetrum is so beautiful, but I can see that there is a little too much vigor in them. I bought a bag of Allium triquetrum, two years ago. None of them survived the winter.
Different climate, different conditions.
Ulla
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The pictures of Allium triquetrum is so beautiful, but I can see that there is a little too much vigor in them. I bought a bag of Allium triquetrum, two years ago. None of them survived the winter.
Different climate, different conditions.
Ulla
A couple years back someone sent me some Allium triquetrum bulbs, planted in the fall, a few barely came up in spring, and that's the last I have seen of it here... not hardy enough to survive the winter. Probably a good thing too, I was prepared to pull these if they showed any inclination towards invasiveness in my climate, after all, even The Onion Man has his limits and avoids the weedy ones.
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As I'm 'snowed under' with this white menace at the moment , perhaps I should use it as a substitute in French Onion Soup' and feed the poor ?
Otto: It's nowadays more likely gourmet food for the rich/middle classes than the poor with the back to nature/ slow food movements. Has been traditionally used as a wild foraged onion in some Mediterranean countries (Italy, Albania etc). It has a mild garlic flavour and the flowers also make an attractive and tasty addition to spring salads. Here's a picture with sign from Orto Botanico in Firenze, Italy in early April explaining how it's used in cooking:
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As I'm 'snowed under' with this white menace at the moment , perhaps I should use it as a substitute in French Onion Soup' and feed the poor ?
Otto: It's nowadays more likely gourmet food for the educated rich/middle classes than the poor with the back to nature/ slow food movements. Has been traditionally used as a wild foraged onion in some Mediterranean countries (Italy, Albania etc). It has a mild garlic flavour and the flowers also make an attractive and tasty addition to spring salads. Here's a picture with sign from Orto Botanico in Firenze, Italy in early April explaining how it's used in cooking:
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Otto: It's nowadays more likely gourmet food for the rich/middle classes than the poor with the back to nature/ slow food movements. Has been traditionally used as a wild foraged onion in some Mediterranean countries (Italy, Albania etc). It has a mild garlic flavour and the flowers also make an attractive and tasty addition to spring salads. Here's a picture with sign from Orto Botanico in Firenze, Italy in early April explaining how it's used in cooking:
Stephen, I am in the wrong business, I'm thinking of starting a new venture in exporting Allium triquetrum bulbs to the gourmet market in Italy ;D ;D
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It's far easier just putting a hat on, Bill, I do it all the time! ;D
Rogan, what does your wife/partner or girlfriend think of wearing your hat in bed "all the time", not very romantic, wouldn't you agree? ;D ;D ;D
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Bill, your pictures of Allium triquertum make me shudder. It is invasive here as well and seems unstoppable once it gets going. I have a small infestation which I carefully dig out each year as it appears but I have not succeeded in getting rid of it. I think a proportion of the bulbs remain dormant and do not sprout and evade the annual weeding.
David, have you tried Roundup as a last resort? just this ones?
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What an absolute pleasant surprise to see this stunning, exquisite, charming Weldenia candida treasure flowering once again.
Picture taken before breakfest, to make sure flowers are fresh and upstanding, although spent flowers are constantly replaced by new buds.
I don't know why this Weldinia is so early this season, these tubers/roots came from Dave Toole all the way from the deep South in Invercargill.
This clone is as tough and hardy as old boots according to Dave, perhaps originally they all came from Lesley's well established collection.
What do you think Lesley? Whatever the reason I am in Weldenia heaven.
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Bill,
Weldenia noses are just above ground here!! And I mean only just. 8)
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""all the time", not very romantic, wouldn't you agree?"
All right then Bill, only while the sun shines here - in this hemisphere and time zone - just to be on the safe side! ::) ;D ...and yes, my wife would probably object if I wore it to bed, as it is old and smelly - and here I'm talking about my hat! ::) ;D
Now to get back on the subject of plants: here are three interesting bulbs I encountered in flower on my recent trip to the southern Cape. Sorry, I've been a little lazy and not looked up any specific names as yet:
A little Cyanella that grows abundantly in the area;
a Bulbinella;
and a Gladiolus.
If someone doesn't beat me to it, I'll look up the names when I have a spare moment.
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Wow, a treasure indeed! I missed your Weldenia candida Bill, it is so beautiful and perfect. :o
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Yes, I think all the current weldenias came from me tho' there was a different clone in NZ many years ago, the one with little tufts of white on the leaves and I think from Guatemala whereas what we have now is from Mexico. I always hoped to locate a plant of the other for cross pollination purposes. Yours is very early Bill, mine aren't through the surface yet.
Sorry for the mistakes David. Thanks for putting me right. I thought all tree ferns were cycads. Obviously not. The kowhais here are very big in the foliage compared with what I have as S. microphylla, but I'm quite happy to be wrong about that too. What's new? ???
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A few things out here now. Actually there's heaps in flower but all struggling through weed mats so not worth photos.
Erthronium 'Ruapuna Dawn,' Joan Whillans' superb hybrid, so easy, vigorous and with super foliage too.
Then two for ID please. They are virtually in rough grass.
Narcissus cuatrecasassii, or so I have it as. A good 3 weeks earlier than rupicola, freer flowering and the pod is a different shape.
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Scoliopus bigelovii is out at last. Doug Logan's was a good month ago.
Corydalis ambigua. I admit to a little colour enhancement here in order to get the flower colour right. It IS right but the foliage is slightly too bright. It should be a little more glaucous.
Primula x Juliana 'Jill,' a close relative of 'Wanda' and the two, alonh with P. vulgaris 'Sibthorpii' will make a beautiful tapestry in a year or two when they've grown together. The true colour is that of the newly opened flowers at the bottom of the picture. All my flowers have speckling at present. It is pollen from the pine trees. There's a layer of it over everything every morning.
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Lesley,
Sophora microphylla can be quite variable in terms of leaf shape but can be distinguished from Sophora tetraptera by the posession of a persistent juvenile form which Sophora teraptera lacks. The latter is favoured for planting in gardens for this reason as it matures and flowers earlier. There are presently eight species of Sophora recognised in New Zealand. The cultivar ' Dragons Gold ' is a selection of Sophora molloyi from the Cook Strait region and Sophora longicarinata which has the smallest leaflets of any kowhai is also commonly sold. A lot of plants in cultivation are hybrids as they all get mixed up in gardens and people grow random seedlings and pass them on.
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Doing us good to see the Erythroniums and my favourite Scoliopus, Lesley..... Ian is working on his laptop on the BulbLog in the same room and can see the pictures over my shoulder!
I expect we have all been given a boost by the startling white perfection of Bill's Weldenia... what fabulous flowers those are!
Some words about the yellow erys in the appropriate thread, where Lesley has also posted the pix...... http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=5082.new#new
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Lesley your Scoliopus is wonderful. I managed to pick up a Weldenia candida in one of our local shows, it's so wonderful. I kept looking at the perfect white flowers and has flowered for so long. I am glad that it flowered for me, I have put it in the greenhouse for the winter as I wouldn't like to lose it.
Now I will have to source out the Scoliopus, stop showing all these wonderful plants ;D
Angie :)
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Angie is yours still in flower? A weldenia in flower in both hemispheres at the same time must be something of a record. Mine usually start late Oct and finish early February but sometimes there are some new flowers on the new shoots late March or April. I'm grateful for them all.
Thanks David for remarks concerning the Sophoras. But the hills at present are alive with the sound of - sorry sight - of gorse at present. Fantastic perfume as I drive down the road with the car windows open.
And thanks Maggi for the ery thoughs. I'll go there now.
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Lesley, I am pleased to report that my Weldenia from you stopped flowering about a fortnight ago having performed beautifully throughout the year. It has given me an enormous amount of pleasure this year. Many thanks :-* :-* :-*
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Lesley my last flower on my Weldenia only finished a few days ago.The plant I bought was a good size so I broke into two, thought I would stand a better chance with two plants. It must be one of my favorite plants now.
By the way Lesley the seeds I got from you are coming along fine. I think I am getting the hang of it finally. Thanks.
Angie :)
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Today I found another little treasure, this time the elusive, charming Iris lacustris alba flowering for us for the first time.
I had given up hope of ever flowering this exquisite species, no need to say that I am pleased and proud to show off this picture.
Equally difficult, but delightful just the same is this Iris minutoaurea, I only managed the odd flower every season, this time a tiny little flower, barely one inch (25 mm) across, ahead of the still semi dormant roots.
Any reason why this species is so problematic, what am I doing wrong?
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A fine pair, Bill.
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Bill,
Crackers, both of them. That minutoaurea is a stunner..... such delightful markings by the look of it. Thanks for showing us both of them, neither of which I've seen other than here on the forums. So many new things to see. ;D
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Today I found another little treasure, this time the elusive, charming Iris lacustris alba flowering for us for the first time.
I had given up hope of ever flowering this exquisite species, no need to say that I am pleased and proud to show off this picture.
Equally difficult, but delightful just the same is this Iris minutoaurea, I only managed the odd flower every season, this time a tiny little flower, barely one inch (25 mm) across, ahead of the still semi dormant roots.
Any reason why this species is so problematic, what am I doing wrong?
Bill, congratulations on both little Iris, they're such cute little plants. I used to grow I. lacustris alba but eventually lost it due to persistent mole tunneling in a particular plant bed. What sort of conditions are you giving Iris minutoaurea? Mine is growing at the top of a raised mound, in part shade but getting approximately 1/2 day of sun, planted in native acidic clay soil amended with decomposed pine bark mulch. The spot tends to be rather dry. My clump has grown large and needs dividing, but I held off from doing it this year due to our extended drought. I just love the little paddle-shaped petals.
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We had the Weldenia with the little white tufts on the leaves when I worked at the Cruickshank Garden but I don't know if there are any plants still alive. It's a lovely plant and those I have seen in this thread are absolutely beautiful. Much better than I used to grow it.
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Weldenia candida is a very nice plant I have never seen :D I would be very delighted receiving some seeds ::)
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Nicole,
Unfortunately, Weldenia don't set seed as they tend to be a single clone that was introduced into cultivation some time ago. That is why the discussion on whether the one with white tufts on the leaves is still around...... as if it were located it would mean that someone could possibly have 2 different clones and therefore there is a possibility of seed in cultivation. I seem to recall rumours that there was seed at some point somewhere, but I don't know whether anything came of it. :'( We need to try to get the two clones together so that there are some seedlings produced, so that the "single clone" effect is broken and then seed can be regularly produced. 8)
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Bill, congratulations on both little Iris, they're such cute little plants. I used to grow I. lacustris alba but eventually lost it due to persistent mole tunneling in a particular plant bed. What sort of conditions are you giving Iris minutoaurea? Mine is growing at the top of a raised mound, in part shade but getting approximately 1/2 day of sun, planted in native acidic clay soil amended with decomposed pine bark mulch. The spot tends to be rather dry. My clump has grown large and needs dividing, but I held off from doing it this year due to our extended drought. I just love the little paddle-shaped petals.
Mark, I have my Iris minutoaurea plant growing in a reasonable size pot/container, with ordinary potting mix, perhaps not the most suitable condition or potting mix, they clump up very nicely, except no bl....flowers, (that should read blasted) ;D ;D
I will try (anything) again with a medium with more decomposed pine bark and in a partly shaded area, perhaps our climate (warm and humid at times) might also have some influence on its performance.
What ever the reason, I will try it in the garden as well, and/or find a slightly cooler area in the nursery,
Thanks anyway for the cultural advice, it might just do the trick.
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Lesley, I am pleased to report that my Weldenia from you stopped flowering about a fortnight ago having performed beautifully throughout the year. It has given me an enormous amount of pleasure this year. Many thanks :-* :-* :-*
Brian, I'm pleased that you're pleased. ;D If nothing else, it's a great little traveller isn't it, right round the world with many stop-offs.
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Fleurebleue, Paul is right, there seems no way to get seed of the Weldenia in cultivation at present. The late Jim Lecomte here in NZ produced seed at least once, way back in the 70s I think but he had the other clone.
If you remind me later in the year (actually, if you send your address right now) I could find a smallish one to send to you. We know it's a good traveller and seems to acclimatize to the change in hemispheres quickly. I don't think it's too late to send now. Mine aren't up and were recently repotted so can't have big root systems yet.
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Bill, again you are much earlier than I. I noticed the first new foliage on I. lacustris just yesterday. No buds visible yet. I may have lost my white and I've definitely lost minutoaurea I'm afraid, another victim of recent drought summers. Next northern seed season I plan to send a passionate begging letter to our friend the Onion Man and in the meantime, am saving for the postage to the USA of a bottle of really good wine. ;D
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Bill, again you are much earlier than I. I noticed the first new foliage on I. lacustris just yesterday. No buds visible yet. I may have lost my white and I've definitely lost minutoaurea I'm afraid, another victim of recent drought summers. Next northern seed season I plan to send a passionate begging letter to our friend the Onion Man and in the meantime, am saving for the postage to the USA of a bottle of really good wine. ;D
Lesley, would you like me to send you a still dormant, small clump of Iris minutoaurea next week?
You don't have to send me an expensive bottle of really good wine, an ordinary bottle of whiskey will do. ;D ;D
Alternatively, I'll keep it as a rain check or exchange for a piece of that beautiful Scoliopus bigelovii sometimes.
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Bill, again you are much earlier than I. I noticed the first new foliage on I. lacustris just yesterday. No buds visible yet. I may have lost my white and I've definitely lost minutoaurea I'm afraid, another victim of recent drought summers. Next northern seed season I plan to send a passionate begging letter to our friend the Onion Man and in the meantime, am saving for the postage to the USA of a bottle of really good wine. ;D
Lesley, would you like me to send you a still dormant, small clump of Iris minutoaurea next week?
You don't have to send me an expensive bottle of really good wine, an ordinary bottle of whiskey will do. ;D ;D
Alternatively, I'll keep it as a rain check or exchange for a piece of that beautiful Scoliopus bigelovii sometimes.
Oh, I though maybe the Onion Man would be getting a fine bottle of a NZ Pinot Noir.
Regarding Iris minutoaurea, I got mine from Darrell Probst some years ago, he reported it as being very floriferous. The first 5 years it just grew bigger and bigger but never flowered once. Then suddenly one year it decided to flower, with lots of flowers, and it's been flowering extremely well ever since over the past 4 years... so maybe this Iris is like a fine wine, it is not to be rushed, but needs to age and mellow, and when ready, it'll pop its cork.
In most years since it started flowering, the pods have aborted, only one year did a few pods out of 50-60 that were set, was viable seed formed. Typically I miss the seed when I'm working long hours and with a long commute, but was around this summer to check the pods daily. No seed was set this year on I. minutoaurea in spite of a heavy flowering, and only 2 pods on I. henryi out of maybe 200 pods set viable seed... so seed on these is still an iffy proposition. However, if I do get seed on these next year, and on the many Iris cristata forms (several did set seed abundantly) then I will be happy to share/swap.
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"Oh, I though maybe the Onion Man would be getting a fine bottle of a NZ Pinot Noir."
Well that's what I had in mind Mark. If Bill will make do with a mere Scoliopus, that will work out well. ;D
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"Oh, I though maybe the Onion Man would be getting a fine bottle of a NZ Pinot Noir."
Well that's what I had in mind Mark. If Bill will make do with a mere Scoliopus, that will work out well. ;D
Just hang on one cotton picken minute Lesley, don't presume, forget about the Scoliopus deal, that only applied to the Iris minutoaurea exchange ;D ;D
When it comes to these beautiful Iris cristata forms, a different objective altogether, we should/could pull resources and share the seed, introduction and share the risk of getting these treaasures established into New Zealand.
I could even throw in another bottle of the gold medal winning Sauvignon Blanc from the well known Hawke's Bay wine region ;) ;)
Anyway, whatever seed you might have to spare Mark, we would be very grateful. :) :)
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The Pacific Coast iris seedlings popping up everywhere, just a few more to enjoy.
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Just a few more of these wonderful, versatile PCI seedlings flowering at the moment.
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Lovely show of PCI's Bill. I thought I had read somewhere that they thrive best in soil on the acid side have you found that?
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Iris setosa var.nana is a nice blue-violet iris with purple streaked falls and short standards flowering all summer over narrow leaves.
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Lovely show of PCI's Bill. I thought I had read somewhere that they thrive best in soil on the acid side have you found that?
David, I always add a bit more peat or composted bark into the PCI mix to increase the PH a little, just enough to keep them happy.
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I couldn't pick a favourite I like them all so much 8).
Angie :)
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The Pacific Coast iris seedlings popping up everywhere, just a few more to enjoy.
Hi Bill. You really should register these with the AIS and introduce them into commerce.
They are GEORGOUS.
John B
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Bill, I dream of PCI iris, and all that you show are mouth watering, thanks for showing them. I particularly like the yellow and red types. PCI seedling 2-4 are truly special.
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Lovely irises, Bill. I saw an exhibition of paintings of these at the RHS and had to look at them through a magnifying glass to see so many wonderful colours in each flower.
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Bill are you growing the PCs from your own seed and breeding them or is there a commercial source in Australia/NZ? I haven't seen anything like these in the South Island. Will be in touch privately re Scoliopus/Iris minutoaurea. :D
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Bill, I dream of PCI iris, and all that you show are mouth watering, thanks for showing them. I particularly like the yellow and red types. PCI seedling 2-4 are truly special.
Mark, I am pleased you appreciate and enjoyed these fascinating, versitile PCI seedlings I have shown so far, and hopefully when they set seed, (especially the yellow and red types you mentioned), I am more than happy that I could return the favour with some of these PCI seeds as a possible exchange.
In New Zealand and especially the North Island we are lucky to have one or two very keen, knowledgable, mainly amateur breeders and growers of the Iris includind the PCI's, I also grow a few PCI seedlings I selected myself, that may look promising, and perhaps pick for futher consideration.
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Bill are you growing the PCs from your own seed and breeding them or is there a commercial source in Australia/NZ? I haven't seen anything like these in the South Island. Will be in touch privately re Scoliopus/Iris minutoaurea. :D
Lesley, its a combination of buying/acquiring plants and seed (and the exchanges) of the mainly local growers and friends in the BoP, Waikato and Auckland, and other parts of NZ.
Here in the Bay of Plenty we have one of the largest, most enthusiastic and knowledgeable Iris group belonging to the NZ Iris society, we have regular shows and meetings at the members residence, and was fortunately enough to entertain this local group at our place last Sunday, members often bring along various Iris and irids flowers for competition, sometimes seed, we have discussions and generally enjoy ourselves.
If I have any seed to spare, along with other local growers, I might contribute some seed to the NZ Iris Society seed pool, and/or share with other members.
Anyway, will send you that promised small clump of the Iris minutoaurea species tomorrow, and hope it will grow well and produce flowers for you.
And don't forget that mere piece of Scoliopus bigelovii when its dormant ;D :)
BTW: are you a member of the NZIS?
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This is the same charming little Iris lacustris alba a few days later, does anyone know if this species sets seed if any?
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Two more beautiful PCI seedlings showing colour the last couple of days
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Bill,
Those two are dead ringers for named varieties here in Aus. The white one here is 'Flotilla', and I can't recall at the moment what the other one is. 'Endless something-or-other', but I can't remember the rest of it...... or is that the burgundy and mauve one? Anyway, it is interesting to see your seedlings that match in appearance others that I already have here. 8)
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Seedling 11 is another stunner Bill ! 8)
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Thanks Bill, I'll look forward to your little parcel and will duly send some Scoliopus when ready, probably summer will be best. I've not divided it before and it has never set seed though I know some others do. So it will be a learning cueve for me, the division, I mean. Yes, I do belong to NZIS, have done since I was 17, so 50 years, and my mother gave me a life membership when in my early 20s. The South Cant group has always been very good and active (Brian Harris and Gwenda Harris are members and both very encouraging) but the Otago group when I moved to Dunedin spent any occasional meeting deciding what to do at the next meeting, and that seemed never to be anything more than have a cup of tea and a gossip. I couldn't afford whole afternoons on such stuff and gave up in disgust so don't go to any group meetings now. They may be better now, maybe not.
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Today I visited another nursery in Hamilton, specialising in one of my favourite classes, the beautiful, charming Pacific Coast irises.
Most of these PCI hybrid seedlings are still under number, but was informed a number of these will be registered and released shortly, I can't wait, something to look forward to
Hopefully, I might be able to exchange or buy some of that valuable seed, keep fingers crossed.
Enjoy.
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Just a few more.
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Not sick of the Pacific Coast irises yet?
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The nursery in Hamilton, full of glorious Pacific Coast irises.
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Beautiful, Bill. I wish I had that resource to draw upon. Very hard to get here in Aus, unless you have a seed source. I really must do some crossing of mine again, to see the results. If only I had more room! ::) ;D
Thanks so much for showing us these beautiful blooms. Some of the ruffling on some of those is absolutely amazing. 8)
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The nursery in Hamilton, full of glorious Pacific Coast irises.
Thanks Bill for the nursery view, and the many overhead close-ups... :o :o :o :o :o Amazing group of Iris.
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Bill, can you tell me which nursery please? So I can get in touch? Thanks.
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Bill,
that is an amazing co9llection of hybrids.
Fortunately we have our own version here in Australia as Heidi Blyth (daughter of Barry, who is well known in the Iris world) has been specialising in PCI under the name "Sunshine and Dirt". She had released a number of her hybrids via a mail-order catalogue but has now decided to only sell via markets and other events (like the Mt Macedon Plant fair in September). We bought a few last winter and hope to see some blooms soon.
The first blooms on a couple I grew from seed are in bloom this week,
a seedling of "Big Money" looks similar to its parent
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And this one was grown from seed from Diane W in Canada,
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cheers
fermi
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Bill, can you tell me which nursery please? So I can get in touch? Thanks.
Lesley, you probably know the lady, Mary Barrell from Cambridge not Hamilton as I mentioned before.
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A dwarf pelargonium called "Mallee Magic" has been flowering for the last 2 months since we bought it at a Market,
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Notholirion thompsonianum has produced a flower spike this year,
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One of our last tulips is Tulipa maximowiczii, though not the most brilliant form,
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cheers
fermi
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Thanks Bill, yes I do know Mary quite well. Let's face it, when you've been around as long as I have, you know EVERYONE! I'll drop her a line or two in hope some of her irises mightfind their way south. The climate here suits them very well.
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I bought a little Eutaxia last week at my market. No species name with it but I'm assured it is small and relatively prostrate. The flowers are red and yellow and nicely perfumed. Of course if I'd picked the ones with lots of flowers I could have shown a picture for ID but I took the one with lots of cutting material instead. :D
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Fermi,
That little Pelargonium is brilliant. I remember seeing it flowering when I was there a month ago, so it is a definite long term flowerer. Never seen it other than at your place. 8)
Fermi,
Was that the guy who was selling a few PC irises at Mt Macedon, or was there another one that I missed? I bought a couple, one of which (Europian Mist) is in flower at present unless the snails took it out in all the rain today. I photographed it yesterday though, thankfully, before all the rain. 8) Still on my camera, so nothing to post as yet.
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This interesting genus has unique flowers shaped like a starfish, usually with a frilled edge to the petal.
The most unusual shape and coloration of the flowers make this genus worthy of more attention.
In most species the flowers last but a day or two, but they are produced in profusion over a fairly extended period of time.
Ferraria crispa
Ferraria foliosa
Ferraria uncinata
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Fascinating flowers Bill, I think I might quite like them ;D
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Fascinating flowers Bill, I think I might quite like them ;D
Brian, that's the quickest reply I've had for a while, you must have been watching me downloading the pictures ;D
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This stunning Allium shubertii is one of the most popular Alliums in the garden with a volleyball sized, loose, spidery, rose/purple flower filled with star shaped florets-each on stalks unequal in length; looks a bit like a bizarre spaceship with many antennas.
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Fascinating flowers Bill, I think I might quite like them ;D
Brian, that's the quickest reply I've had for a while, you must have been watching me downloading the pictures ;D
I've just been looking at this fascinating family on the PBS site. They are amazing :o :o
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...is the scent worse than stapelia?
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...is the scent worse than stapelia?
Brian, some species have an unpleasant scent similar to rotting meat and are pollinated by flies, while others have a pleasant scent.
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This stunning Allium shubertii is one of the most popular Alliums in the garden with a volleyball sized, loose, spidery, rose/purple flower filled with star shaped florets-each on stalks unequal in length; looks a bit like a bizarre spaceship with many antennas.
Bill, I wish I could grow A. schubertii, such an amazing species, but it is not winter hardy here. Your photo, with black background and water droplets along the pedicels, is perhaps the most artistic view of this plant I've ever seen.
Loved the Ferraria too, wonderfully weird colorful flowers.
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Mark, it's surprising that Allium schubertii would not be hardy for you, as it is hardy here.
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Mark, it's surprising that Allium schubertii would not be hardy for you, as it is hardy here.
Are we truly talking about A. schubertii, or A. cristophii (sometimes spelled incorrectly as christophii)? The latter is perfectly hardy, whereas I have tried A. schubertii many times, and it will not over-winter for me. A quick search on the species (schubertii) give zone ranges all over the map, this garden chat link from someone in Massachusetts suggests others have had difficulty overwintering them too.
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/allium/msg0315420829948.html
I wonder if there are different clones in cultivation, possibly the species from Israel would be more tender than those from places like Central Asia. Maybe I'll give it a try again sometime, it's been years since I last tried, but I was getting tire of wasting money on them.
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I do actually mean A. schubertii, Mark. I don't have any at present, but I and people I know have grown them here in Calgary, zone 3, and had them winter over successfully and last at least a few years. (I used to correspond on a different forum than the one you linked to, that was specifically for cold zone growers, and if memory serves, I seem to recollect that people were successful even in zone 2... that's a shakey point though, my memory being what it is these days. ::))
The bulbs are sold locally at the garden centers here in fall, and as well, here is the supplier I used to get bulbs from (and still occasionally do), to show you what they are selling as A. schubertii:
http://www.botanus.com/products/Allium-schubertii.html
If you agree that it is indeed A. schubertii, then perhaps the problem is not cold hardiness, per se, but some other condition... winter wet, maybe?
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Lori, I believe you, regarding A. schubertii. It's the only species of melanocrommyum allium that has repeatedly given me difficulty and not once made it through winter, after trying 5 or 6 times, but I haven't tried in the last 10 years or so. The same is true of several common Mediterranean types; roseum, neapolitanum, and sadly, the beautiful yellow A. scorzonerifolium var. xericiense, the latter never overwintering, the others barely persisting but not living more than 2 year in a row.
But you've given me renewed inspiration to try it again, maybe the stocks now being grown come from hardier C. Asian stock. And if I do try it again, I'll be sure to give it extra extra good drainage, instead of just extra good drainage. :D
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Hmm, very interesting... I also grow what is supposed to be A. roseum, and have had no trouble overwintering it. I wish I could "vet" its ID with you, but I just went looking for photos of it and found I don't have any of it in flower, oddly enough. I've never been able to overwinter A. neapolitanum.
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Fermi , a late flowering tulip to dazzle you -from Ruksans and not to my taste .but the others growing and flowering at the the moment in semishade in my garden give me much joy .
Looking forward to welcome Ian Christie and wife here in 2 week's time .
Otto.
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Otto, is that a Nothoscordum in back of the Tulip? One of the little yellow ones like N. montevidense, minarum, ostenii perhaps?
Good healthy flower show on the Anemonella.
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Ferraria crispa
Ferraria foliosa
Ferraria uncinata
Are you fond of tarantulas Bill? ;D
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Best wishes for your time with the Christies Otto. I know they'll be most interested by all your collection. But don't overcook the fennel! ;D
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Ferraria crispa
Ferraria foliosa
Ferraria uncinata
Are you fond of tarantulas Bill? ;D
Lesley, I suppose you're referring to the smell of the flowers? Can't be much worse than a dead, smelly possum in a watertank ;D ;D
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Just another picture of Allium schubertii, and Allium dichlamydeum I think. Not 100% sure, lost the label.
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A few nicely shaped and subtly different selected seedlings out of a batch of Herbertia pulchella flowers.
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Bill , such intense blue in your Herbertia pulchella seedlings - striking!
I have lost Allium schubertii on several occasions ,but I always replace it : such a wondrous flower and name .
Lesley , I won't go to sleep again while the fennel is baking in the oven . As it is Asparagus season at the moment it will be that delicious vegetable with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and some shavings of parmigiano reggiano.
Otto.
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Dear Maggi for you : a few photos taken today at the Golden Jubilee Conference of the Australian Rhododendron Soc. , held in the Rhododendron Garden , only a few minutes from my home .
Ken Cox from Glendoick Nurserywas the guest/keynote speaker and he sends his regards to you . The titles of his lectures were : 'Woodland Gardens of the 21st. century' and 'Riddle of the Tsangpo Gorges ' . very informative and enjoyable , and very important ,he has a sense of humour ,
a few Vireya Rhodos . I specially liked the tiny red species in the beer can ( a popular and quality australian brand),
much thought went into the theme of colour coordination !
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What a treat for me and for the other Rhodo lovers , Otto, thank you.
Kenneth is an entertaining speaker indeed and of course his expereince of travelling far and wide in pursuit of rhodos is pretty remarkable.
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Ferraria crispa
Ferraria foliosa
Ferraria uncinata
Are you fond of tarantulas Bill? ;D
Lesley, I suppose you're referring to the smell of the flowers? Can't be much worse than a dead, smelly possum in a watertank ;D ;D
Well no, I was referring to the size, the shape and the frilly furriness of the flowers. I've seen tarantulas just like them. :o
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Trilliums are fascinating, unique woodland plants. Trilliums are not hard to grow, but they can take awhile to become established.
They also make great garden plants. These are just a few of the Trillium species I grow up in the North Island, not easy, but growing them in the coolest part of the nursery and plenty of TLC I manage.
Trillium grandiflorum
Trillium luteum
Trillium pusillum var.ozarkianum
Trillium rivale
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A very nice clear yellow form of T. luteum Bill. I hope you've been down on your knees to have a sniff at it. ;D
And by the way, there's no i in ozarkanum. :)
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Hippeastrum is a popular bulb flower for indoor growing. The bulb is tender and should not be exposed to frost, but is otherwise easy to grow, with large rewards for small efforts, especially those that flower inside during the winter months.
Hippeastrum papilio, the butterfly amaryllus, surely one of the most remarkable and beautiful of all Hippeastrum, and has greenish white petals dramatically marked with burgundy stripes.
This magnificent Hippeastrum Bogota is a yet another crossing between H.cybister and H.aulicum.
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While working in the nursery I managed to snap this beautiful monarch butterfly in the process of depositing its eggs on the swan plant or milkweed (Asclepias fruiticosa) which is the main food for the beautiful monarch butterfly and hopefully will produce the caterpillar, pupa and eventually the monarch butterfly again. Will take more pictures later when the eggs will hatch.
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The name of the Hippeastrum is Bogota, which incidentally is the capital city of Colombia.
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The name of the Hippeastrum is Bogota, which incidentally is the capital city of Colombia.
Thanks for the geography lesson Alberto, have corrected the name accordingly.
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With an accented "a", Bill. Great pics.
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This is a section of a rock garden where a few nice things are flowering,
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including Conostylis candicans (with the bright red new growth of Banksia petiolaris in the background)
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and this little Dianthus gracilis
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While this Iris siberica "Bluebird" brightens up the lower area of the slope.
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Elsewhere, the matting Dianthus anatolicus is now in bloom
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and another dianthus is almost unnoticed being the same colour as Achillea ageratifolia,
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A seedling Pacific Coast Iris is also just open (thanks to Diane W for the seed)
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cheers
fermi
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Xeronema callistemon aka Poor Knights lily is a species of flowering plants which is endemic to the Poor knights Island and Taranga Island in the north of New Zealand
The spectacular red flowering Poor Knights lily, is an outstanding but little know plant, which was discovered on the Poor Knights Islands in 1924.
It has handsome tussocks of bright green flax-like foliage from which spring the three feet flower spikes which terminate in great trusses of blossom.
The flowers are made up of nectar-filled florets crowded on a horizontal stalk, almost in the manner of a bottle brush.
This unique plant will always be a real showstopper in any garden..
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This beautiful Cyrtanthus falcatus from South Africa with its curious 'shepherd's crook' flower stem and long arching leaves is very easily cultivated and deserves to be grown more widely.
Cyrtanthus falcatus flowers in early spring, the color of its flowers are between red and pink, These are infused with green on the outside and lined with red on the margins
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WOW!! and WOW AGAIN!!
Both worth seeking our in the future.
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Bill,
The Xeronema is spectacular. It looks wonderful!
The Cyrtanthus is another matter..... if yours is flowering then I guess mine is yet again not going to flower this year. :'( :'( Sigh! Your pic is beautiful, but disappointing as it means mine should be flowering now and isn't. ::)
All excellent pics. Thanks so much for posting them. 8)
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A fabulous Xeronema plant Bill, as you say, a real show stopper!. It turns up in the garden centres down here from time to time but the couple of times I've tried it, the first frost has killed it outright.
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Bill amazing Xeronema callistemon, for sure a show-stopper 8)
Angie :)
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I've had an incredibly frustrating hour or so being unable to upload to hard drive, some pictures on my camera. It wouldn't accept them at all, wouldn't recognize files, told me to do this and that which I did, only to be blocked time and time again. Then I realized that the card reader and my external hard drive were sitting on one side of the monitor, and their cords and plug in bits were round the back of the monitor, and I'd plugged in the wrong one!!!. How stupid can one be? ???
Anyway, here are a very few. I've no time at present for pictures, trying to spend as much time weeding as possible.
This first I took in Australia. I know it's here but thank heaven I've never seen it. I believe it has been named but to my mind is ugly and dangerous, the ultimate in virused plants. Iris unguicularis.
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Gentiana acaulis is doing its reliable thing inspite of having been dried out almost to extinction last summer and already in need of a good water. The little yellow in the middlw is Frit. carica. I have half a dozen flowers this year, none taller than 5cms.
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Anemone nemorosa 'Winterwood Pink' is an Australian selecton and honestly, this picture says nothing about it. It is much deeper pink, a real deep raspberries and cream colour but my camera won't show it accurately. Seems to be growing well too.
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Rhododendron hanceanum nanum has never flowered so well as this year, again, following a real drying out last year.
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And finally, yesterday I found this tiny Narcissus growing at the side of a plastic bag of lilies (auratum x speciosum). It is just about 5cms high, the flower 2 cms across. One parent must be N. triandrus albus but what's the other? If it continues the same next year I feel it will need a name, something like 'Sweet Star' or similar, though do say if that would be too sickening. It is very cute and will be rescued as soon as it starts to yellow off.
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Gentiana acaulis is doing its reliable thing inspite of having been dried out almost to extinction last summer and already in need of a good water.
And finally, yesterday I found this tiny Narcissus growing at the side of a plastic bag of lilies (auratum x speciosum). It is just about 5cms high, the flower 2 cms across. One parent must be N. triandrus albus but what's the other? If it continues the same next year I feel it will need a name, something like 'Sweet Star' or similar, though do say if that would be too sickening. It is very cute and will be rescued as soon as it starts to yellow off.
Lesley, I do love your Gentian acaulis, If only I could grow it here up north (sigh). :( :(
The other parent could have been another white? N.bulbicodium ? Whatever, its a very nice flower.
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To my eyes, nothing beats a good clump of Gentiana acaulis Lesley ! And soooo floriferous ! :o
Love the tiny Narcissus as well !
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Re. Iris unguicularis: Ugh! keep it away Lesley - I hope plant virus can't spread through the internet! ::) ;D
I love your Cyrtanthus falcatus Bill - does your's ever set seed on its own? After having my plant for nearly 20 years, this year, for the first time ever it has decided to set seed! No other Cyrtanthus were flowering at the time, so what gives? I'm expecting the pods to turn yellow and drop off at any moment, but so far so good... ???
This is a little Dendrobium fimbriatum orchid adding some bright yellow to the verdant landscape of spring:
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Lesley,
I grow an Iris unguicularis here which is indistinguishable from the one you have shown above. Here it is named, I. u. 'Kilbroney Marble'. Despite the virus it remains a very healthy plant and has been in the garden ten or more years.
We accept, with delight, the many fabulously coloured tulips where virus has provided the colour breaks and it seems churlish if, at the same time, we thumb our noses at virused iris.
Paddy
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Paddy, what if from the start it was named 'Kilbroney Virus'?
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Here it is called "Blue Stripe', as far as I know. Never passed any signs of striping to any of my other irises, so whether it is a virus or a chimera I don't know?
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Does anyone know the botanical name of this plant? Some sort of fringe flower perhaps? Flowers are only 20-25 mm. across.
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Two containers of Rhodohypoxis flowering, the double pink is rather nice and always reliable to put up a fine display.
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Does anyone know the botanical name of this plant? Some sort of fringe flower perhaps? Flowers are only 20-25 mm. across.
your plant is called Trichopetalum plumosum Bill
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Bill, you do have some most extraordinary plants!
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Paddy, I'm well known for being churlish, so I'll stick with my opinion of this iris. Having said that, yes, I like the bizzarely striped tulips but I think that's because I've become accustomed to them in old Dutch flower paintings, before I had to face the live material.
I have no problem with someone else enjoying the striped flower of the iris, but there's nothing so lovely as a few pure coloured I. unguicularis, in winter, in my little French glass vase which is basically amber but so iridescent that it seems to be the same colour as the iris.
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Bill, is your double pink rhodohypoxis the one Parva Plants released years ago as 'Bright Eyes?' Because THAT one, is so far from reliable down here as to be not worth growing. Perhaps we're not warm enough (though all the others flourish and flower wonderfully) but the double has never yet over 15 or so years, properly opened a flower to full extent. They remain as rather nasty, muddled-looking buds.
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So Lesley, are the doubles a NZ introduction, or were they bred somewhere else? Anyone know if they've made it to Australia as yet? The "normal" varieties are starting their wonderful display here right now, but I'd love to try more of them. Then again, I think I only have a fraction of the single varieties that are already here, although many of them superficially in pics look similar to each other. ::)
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Bill, is your double pink rhodohypoxis the one Parva Plants released years ago as 'Bright Eyes?' Because THAT one, is so far from reliable down here as to be not worth growing. Perhaps we're not warm enough (though all the others flourish and flower wonderfully) but the double has never yet over 15 or so years, properly opened a flower to full extent. They remain as rather nasty, muddled-looking buds.
Lesley, this particular double pink rhodohypoxis is not the Bright Eyes you mentioned from Parva Plants.
I did acquire it from a lady in Timaru as an exchange a few years ago, I am not even sure if it is a NZ introduction, or an import.
This neat, compact Rhodohypoxis variety called "Hope" I vagely remember has double, pale pink flowers and has a long flowering period with good weather resistance.
There suppose to be another good red double rhodohypoxis in commerce, called "Kiwi Joy" another novelty to look out for.
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I love your Cyrtanthus falcatus Bill - does your's ever set seed on its own? After having my plant for nearly 20 years, this year, for the first time ever it has decided to set seed! No other Cyrtanthus were flowering at the time, so what gives? I'm expecting the pods to turn yellow and drop off at any moment, but so far so good... ???
Rogan, unfortunately our Cyrtanthus falcatus clone has never set seed and never will I think, but fortunately is a vigorous grower and has produced many offsets over the last few years. One day with another clone I am looking forward to producing seed.
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Thanks one and all for your kind comments, that's what makes this unique forum so much more interesting and educational, I am more than happy and pleased to show pictures of some of the more unusual, charming treasures and novelties.
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This time two more interesting, charming Iris species, namely Iris graminea and Iris cristata
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Thanks for that Bill. I don't know 'Hope' but will ask around when possible. There's also 'Kiwi Girl' a double red and these were bred by Terry Hatch at Pukekohe before he became disinterested and virtually threw them out I think. I've never heard of them available in NZ but I'm pretty sure Mark S in Northern Ireland has the latter.
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As with all the iris species you've shown Bill, mine are a week or so later than yours. Just as well we're not having a race with money on it! ;D
Here are two though that haven't been shown so far. First Iris kemaonensis which I bought last year and had a single flower. Three buds this year but too much to hope they'd all be out at once. I bought another about a month ago but dormant at the time, there is still no sign of it coming through.
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This little standard dwarf bearded is called 'Rebus.' I don't see much sign of Ian Rankin's famous anti-hero in it, but it is lovely, the combination of purple and orange surprisingly perky and attractive.
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Nice to see all those plants in flower while everything here is turning brown and going dormant. Love the Irissses, especially I. graminea and I. 'Rebus'.
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This stunning Hippeastrum cybister, one of my favorite Hippeastrum species, has narrow, orchid like petals, along with having one of the most artistic shaped flowers of all, and has, in some forms, stamens with long, swooping, green filaments and pistils with even longer, even more swooping, green styles.
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Lovely, Bill. I was going to post a pic myself, but I don't have your capabilities for studio photography and colour enhancement so I can't match that. ;D I must compare closely at some point and work out how mine differs from yours...... mine is apparently the "Reggae" strain, according to people when I posted it in previous years. Aren't they just the most amazing arrangement of petals. So artistic, and yet so little substance actually in the flowers. So much attenuation in the petals, but so little actual petal surface. ;D I just love them!! 8)
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Strange flower Bill :D My Hippeastrum papilio, 7 or 8 years old and now with four bulbs, has never given me flowers ???
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Bill, fantastic Hippeastrum and photo. :o
Also, your Iris cristata flower looks particularly dark color, is the color accurate? Is it a named form of I. cristata? Looks to be a very good form.
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Got this plant of Rhodohypoxis Kiwi Joy from the Schleipfer Nursery. Eugen had and has
very good contacts to New Zealand.
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Got this plant of Rhodohypoxis Kiwi Joy from the Schleipfer Nursery. Eugen had and has
very good contacts to New Zealand.
And I was told by a NZ forumist at the Discussion Weekend that he is still very well known and famous there :)
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Thought this little Chocolate lily (Dichopogon strictus) flowering for me at present might be of interest. I think it 's a sweetie.
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Very nice, John .... for all sorts of reasons! ;D ;)
This is another of these plants which suffer under name changes.... the PBS still has it under Arthropodium strictum on this page:
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Arthropodium ..... where we can see that there is even argument over which family it belongs to. :-X ::)
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Thanks for that info Maggi.
I will change the label. I can confirm that your info is correct (as if I would have the temerity to doubt).
University of Tasmania has an index of Vascular Plants which suggests the changes in nomenclature is relatively recent. So now I need to check other Tasmanian plant names for accuracy.
Aside from all that, it is a joy to see it bloom.
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John, there are as many folks opting for one name as the other....taxonomy is SUCH an inexact pursuit.... as many opinions as there are days in the week ! ;D
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Ah, but how many days there are in a week is open to negotiation!! An advert recently on TV for the show "Beauty and the Geek" featured one lovely blonde lass who said something along the lines of...... "I had 4 boyfriends at one stage. One for each day of the week!" So there are obviously only 4 days in the week, as the television said so. ;D I mean we all know that everything on the television is true and to be believed... don't we? ;D ;D
Needless to say, I didn't watch the TV show. I think I'd rather swallow razorblades. :o
OK, I'll stop digressing now. :-[
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This beautiful Alstroemeria pelegrina alba add an exotic touch to any garden and a refined look to any flower arrangement with their pure white colour and intricately marked flowers.
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OK, one more picture of this little charmer, Iris lacustris alba
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Ah, but how many days there are in a week is open to negotiation!! An advert recently on TV for the show "Beauty and the Geek" featured one lovely blonde lass who said something along the lines of...... "I had 4 boyfriends at one stage. One for each day of the week!" So there are obviously only 4 days in the week, as the television said so. ;D I mean we all know that everything on the television is true and to be believed... don't we? ;D ;D
Needless to say, I didn't watch the TV show. I think I'd rather swallow razorblades. :o
Paul, I believe you this time, but don't lie again ;D ;D
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Bill, fantastic Hippeastrum and photo. :o
Also, your Iris cristata flower looks particularly dark color, is the color accurate? Is it a named form of I. cristata? Looks to be a very good form.
Mark, this Iris cristata is one plant with this colour and flowering for the first time that I selected from a batch of seedlings, grown from seed from our own NZ Iris Society seed pool, and hopefully will retain this good form.
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Alstroemeria peregrina alba is a pure beauty Bill !
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Ah, but how many days there are in a week is open to negotiation!! An advert recently on TV for the show "Beauty and the Geek" featured one lovely blonde lass who said something along the lines of...... "I had 4 boyfriends at one stage. One for each day of the week!" So there are obviously only 4 days in the week, as the television said so. ;D I mean we all know that everything on the television is true and to be believed... don't we? ;D ;D
Needless to say, I didn't watch the TV show. I think I'd rather swallow razorblades. :o
Paul, I believe you this time, but don't lie again ;D ;D
Bill,
Just the thought of the show is nauseating. I just don't understand why people like to embarrass themselves on national (international!) television. ::)
Maybe the razorblades was a bit harsh...... but only a bit. ;D
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These plants are out at present here in the south. We've had occasional beautifully warm days, and many more chilly, even miserable days. Not the nicest spring. Today started warm but by lunchtime has turned very cold with fog rolling in off the sea.
These first ones are in a raised bed which is badly in need of refurbishment and weeding. It surprises me that everything seems to come through the cover of weeds. This Dactylorhiza maculata is itself a seedling, blown in from elsewhere. It flowered last year and will soon put up another stem. I see I have around 50 in various places to lift and pot for later sale.
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Haberlea rhodopensis virginalis is at an odd angle for a photo, so is sort of sideways.
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Haberlea ferdinandi-coburgi is at the base of a trough in one of the very few cool spots I have. Planted just before the winter it is doing well.
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This little native clematis is hiding its light inside Euphorbia dulcis 'Chameleon,' another "seeder arounder" here.
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Iris lacustris is, in effect, a smaller version of Iris cristata.
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I love this little Rhododendron 'Oban' but can't capture the true colour which has a touch of terra cotta in the pink. One of Peter Cox's little gems.
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A favourite for total reliability, very free flowering and generosity with seed, as well as sheer beauty of course, is Lathyrus laxiflorus. It is never watered, in a hot trough which it totally fills now.
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This odd little fritillaria, I have as F. ojaiensis, apparently closely related to F. affinis but the flowers - and they're very late - are just 1.5cms across, fully out. The inner markings are very pretty, red spotted on light yellow. These are the first flowers from seed, Jane McGary's I think.
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And finally today, the first of my crevice troughs, with Daphne petraea 'Persebee' in flower. The other, is still in bud in a cooler place. This is the lanky one which was in my tunnel for quite a time. The plants to the right are seedlings of Degenia velebitica and the little mist of green immediately to the right of the daphne, is Campanula zoysii, come through the winter and actually beginning to move about. Saponarias are in bud as are Myosotis capitata and M. Hokonui. Pictures of those later.
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Enjoyed the pics Lesley. Particularly like the Rhodo and the Daphne.
I have a Clematis which I bought as "Sweet Heart" some years back which I have previously noticed resembles the NZ one.
Do you think they are are the same?
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I enjoyed them too. The clematis/euphorbia combination is lovely.
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John, Clematis 'Sweet Heart' is a NZ hynrid with C. paniculata in its make up and I would guess one of the greener species. As your picture shows, it has a nice scrambling habit rather than a climber. I rather think it should be 'Sweet Hart' for Jenny Hart whose garden it came from (I think) but anyone not knowing that would automatically use Heart. It is quite like the x Cartmanii 'Joe' clematis which flooded Europe some time ago.
Mine is also a hybrid but between green flowered species, and in fact is a seedling of a seedling and I'd be hard pressed to name its original parents now. It too is a scrambler, or even quite flat-growing unless held up as this one is.
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Thanks for that info Lesley. I seem to be correcting a number of names lately. But it adds to the enjoyment to know the provenance.
Sweet Hart is my wife's favorite clematis and it always provides a great show.