Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: fermi de Sousa on August 01, 2011, 02:03:18 AM
-
A bright and sunny winter's morning here in Central Victoria!
Some pics from the garden,
Crocus sieberi sieberi
[attachthumb=1]
A first flowering on Crocus cyprius from Marcus Harvey last autumn, a tiny jewel (the crocus not Marcus! - though he is a gem for supplying us bulbaholics with a great range of stuff here in the Antipodes - we were so envious when we saw the range of things available in the UK)
[attachthumb=2]
citrus scented Moraea macronyx,
[attachthumb=3]
and the sumptuous Romulea sabulosa
[attachthumb=4]
cheers
fermi
-
I nearly missed this Romulea as I wasn't expecting any to be in flower in the old sand-bed which is now over-shadowed,
I think it might be Romulea tortuosa ssp aurea
[attachthumb=1]
[attachthumb=2]
The next is the first flowering on a muscari from the AGS Seedex 2008 as M. anatolicum but it looks like it's just a purplish form of M. armeniacum! Still quite nice to me as it's different to the other forms we grow!
[attachthumb=3]
Iris "George" the first to open this year - well behind others like Bill in NZ!
[attachthumb=4]
A potful of seedlings raised from AGS Seedex as ex Narcissus romieuxiii "Julia Jane"; this one seems to have flattish flowers like their mum,
[attachthumb=5]
cheers
fermi
-
Lovely stuff Fermi
-
A reminder to new readers that clicking on the small photos will enlarge them ;) :)
-
I have quite a few Julia Jane seedlings flowering for the first time from my own seed but they are not so flat, and tending to be quite frilly, but then I wasn't sure that what I had as JJ was correct, in the first place.
-
Hi Lesley,
I find that the seedlings from JJ are fairly variable and this is the first one I've raised to demonstrate the flattish flowers - but I find them all delightful :D .
Here's that amazing little DBI which is probably "Waranui Wanganui Gem" which was raised by Jean Stevens in NZ many years ago. Thanks Bill for the correction
[attachthumb=1]
cheers
fermi
-
I think you're right Fermi. It always used to be simply 'The Gem' and I don't know where the Waranui came from.
-
Here's some pics of Narcissus 'Polly's Pearl' from Bill Dijk. He gave me 10 dried bulbs. I planted them outside and thought I'd compare with 10 'Paper Whites' bought from "The Warehouse". The latter produced 1 flowering stem! In the UK I'd have taken them back! Bill's 10 bulbs have produced 10 flowering stems, some of which are still to open.
-
And it is easy to see the "pearly" influence in the flowers.... what a very pretty narcissus. My greedy nose and I are a pushover for these beauties.
-
That is REALLY nice. I must bully Bill into sending me his list. I only have an old one and when I've asked for recent editions, I don't get them. Can't buy if I don't know what he has. ::)
-
Very nice, All.
Fermi, that sieberi ssp sieberi is outstanding. Very nice markings. The first Iris retic type for me is 'Angel Tears' with one flower, and 'George' is about to open one today, as is Iris 'Katharine Hodgkin' which I purchased again from Marcus this year having lost mine that I bought a dozen or so years ago. I hope this one fairs better. :D
Heaps of Hoop Petticoat type daffs out, plus assorted Crocus. Anyone know if Crocus chrysanthus 'Herald' is supposed to be stoloniferous? Mine has done so since last year when I bought it from Marcus. I've had 3 corms appear in 3 separate directions from the original, one about 8 inches away amongst a clump of another species. When unearthing them I found that the 2 corms I dug up were sitting right at the bottom of the poly-box so there is no way they could have been disturbed by anything to get them there..... they must have headed out on stolons from the parent? Anyone seen this is a chrysanthus or in this particular variety before? I'm very pleased as I just love the flower. A friend Lyn here in Canberra has had hers for a few years and it has never multiplied at all, so I don't know why mine has done so like it has. ??? I am not complaining though, as the two that were in the way of other clumps in the box have now been moved into a garden elsewhere to see how they go in the future. No other Crocus near them so they can be virtually as stoloniferous as they would like. ;D Also Anemone blanda coming into flower, including my 'Radar' seedling that is similar to the parent. Fingers crossed it will do better than 'Radar' does here in Australia. ::)
21oC here today, the same as yesterday. Quite a contrast to the -8oC morning we had last Friday, which was the coldest July night in 17 years. By the end of this weekend we're back to our more normal 12oC day temps, as today is 7 above average for this time of year. Very, very strange weather, and it is going to confuse a lot of things. Prunus mume pendula is in full flower, as will be Prunus campanulata within the next few days. 8)
-
My 'Herald' is also from Marcus and behaves impeccably, a nice little clump getting slightly larger each year. No sign of it getting wanderlust. :)
-
Lesley,
I am by no means complaining about it. ;D The more the merrier. ;)
-
This is such a colourful combination that I couldn't resist the impulse to show it here, despite the terrible quality and composition of the picture: Geissorhiza radians; Gladiolus alatus and Moraea serpentina.
-
Wow, Rogan. Beautiful. I miss both the radians and that colour form of the Glad. Used to have both of them but have lost them over the years. Such wonderfully STRONG colours. ;D I'm sure too strong for some people, but I just think that the red and purple together in particular is an absolute cracker!! ;)
Thanks for the pic.
-
A lovely trio and the Moreae certainly brings out the colours in the other two.
-
Here's that amazing little DBI which is probably "Waranui Gem" which was raised by Jean Stevens in NZ many years a
cheers, fermi
Just catching up with all the postings, have been very busy with a few other jobs.
Fermi, that's a very nice little iris, one of my favourite as well, but that should read "Wanganui Gem" by Jean Stevens from Wanganui NZ
In Stevens Bros Catalogue 1949-1950 Page 34 the following;
THE GEM
This is a little rich red purple of our own raising which we offered in our bulb catalogue some years ago.
It resulted from crossing the old blue germanica of Europe with a red purple dwarf chamaeiris .It has the additional merit of blooming almost all year round, giving several major displays, the first being in very early spring. Ten Inches 1/6
Waterson's Iris Garden, Wanganui 1960-61 Page 50
THE GEM
An old favourite which not only flowers in very early spring but has bursts of blossom off and on throughout the whole year. In early spring it contents itself with the height of a true dwarf being then only about 6 inches high, with flowers in proportion but later in the year the stems often attain a height of 12 inches. The colour is a light pure purple. Extremely vigorous. 2/6
As a registration by Jean Stevens was not apparent the following registration occurred ;
AIS Checklist 1999
WANGANUI GEM (registered for Jean Stevens, deceased, by Bay of Plenty Group, 1999). MDB. Stem 6-8", (15-20cm), M & RE. S. dark mauve; F. purple; beards white, tipped yellow; slight fragrance. Summer bloom taller, branched. Purple chamaeiris X Madonna. In commerce in NZ since circa 1930 as “The Gem"
-
That is REALLY nice. I must bully Bill into sending me his list. I only have an old one and when I've asked for recent editions, I don't get them. Can't buy if I don't know what he has. ::)
Lesley, you poor old girl being neglected, what's next, and now employing bullying tactics, not very ladylike wouldn't you agree? ;D ;D
My apologies, must send you a price list this time in October, we can't have you complaining on the net, bad for business.
Anyway, you're most welcome to half a dozen of the "Polly Pearl" when they're dormant, I have plenty of this variety.
Feel free to remind/torment me if I forget ;D
-
A potful of seedlings raised from AGS Seedex as ex Narcissus romieuii "Julia Jane"; this one seems to have flattish flowers like their mum, fermi
Fermi, I like your Narcissus romieuxiii "Julia Jane" , I have got something similar from the Julia Jane seedlings, but yours are just that little bit more flatter, very nice.
-
And it is easy to see the "pearly" influence in the flowers.... what a very pretty narcissus. My greedy nose and I are a pushover for these beauties.
Maggi, I could always send you a couple as well when dormant.
Nothing like a little bribe, I could always keep it as a rain check, next time I like to ask for a favour. No harm in trying. ;D ;D
-
This is such a colourful combination that I couldn't resist the impulse to show it here, despite the terrible quality and composition of the picture:
Rogan, that's a very nice trio, you're way ahead of the same species in NZ. Do you have them in the glass-house?
-
Yes, the Iris reticulata George and Gordon, are flowering as well, and always bring a most welcome early colour/display to the garden.
They may be the common varieties but they're always delightful.
Iris reticulata George
Iris reticulata Gordon
-
And it is easy to see the "pearly" influence in the flowers.... what a very pretty narcissus. My greedy nose and I are a pushover for these beauties.
Maggi, I could always send you a couple as well when dormant.
Nothing like a little bribe, I could always keep it as a rain check, next time I like to ask for a favour. No harm in trying. ;D ;D
I work better for chocolate, as a rule, Bill, but I'd love to try your pearly queens!
-
And it is easy to see the "pearly" influence in the flowers.... what a very pretty narcissus. My greedy nose and I are a pushover for these beauties.
Maggi, I could always send you a couple as well when dormant.
Nothing like a little bribe, I could always keep it as a rain check, next time I like to ask for a favour. No harm in trying. ;D ;D
I work better for chocolate, as a rule, Bill, but I'd love to try your pearly queens!
Now Maggi if you really had a choice it would have to be pearls, chocolate you can get anytime ;D ;)
Angie :)
-
Bill, I hardly expected that reaction to my post, but yes please, I really do want a copy of your new catalogue and I'll remind you, early October. The pearly ones would be lovely too.
Thanks as well, for the information about Jean's iris. I knew Waranui wasn't right but forgot about 'The Gem' being registered as 'Wanganui Gem.' (Do we have to spell it as Whanganui now? ???) This is/was one of the first if not THE first of the remontant or re-blooming (in the autumn) bearded irises recognised and so is valuable for that alone, as well as for its associations with the late Jean Stevens.
-
Thanks for clearing that up, Bill! I have enough trouble remembering Aussie place names, let alone Kiwi ones! And I'm not even going to try to pronounce that name, with or without the "h"!
Here's a little bulbinella flowering in the rock garden; we got it as seed labelled "Bulbinella cauda-felis" but it isn't the same as others I've seen under this name. Maybe it's B. eburnifolia?
[attachthumb=1]
[attachthumb=2]
A nice little clump of a cyclamenius hybrid I got from Doug Bryce as "Tatiana x N. cyclamenius" (I wonder if it's meant to be Titania?)
[attachthumb=3]
cheers
fermi
-
Eburniflora (ivory flowered) is in flower right now but it is smaller than caudafelis, Fermi.
-
A selection of single violets (only ones that survive here) out today.
Iris bicapitata - purple blue form
PT0022
Iris kirkwoodii x Iris atropurpurea
(Edit : to show kirkwoodii is listed as Iris kirkwoodiae Chaudhary )
Yet another flower on Iris planifolia - this is the most amazing juno for having blooms for months.
Hermodactylus tuberosus in the sun spotlight
Must find the name of this iris as the tag has faded over the years. You can see that terrible grassy South African bulb which has spread everywhere.
-
Lovely irises Pat. I looked as the last and thought "I don't know that species (ingrass)" then realized it was actually in grass. ;D
-
The first week in August is always the mainflowering period for many snowdrop species and cultivars in my garden -they give me and visitors much joy each year.
here are a few wellknown and easy ones . I find G. 'Spindlestone Surprise ' the easiest of the yellows and soon makes handsome clumps .
-
and a few more in my garden
-
Otto you have me yearning for the Spring. I wish I could get my G. x allenii to look like that, I don't think they like my garden :-\
-
Good one Lesley :D Where is the laughing face???
-
Lovely to see those images Otto...
Thank You for sharing them.. ;D 8)
Warren
-
Otto you have me yearning for the Spring.
Same here, as we are having no summer in Aberdeen it might be better just passing us by and getting us to spring. I just love that time of year. All those lovely snowdrops to see 8)
Otto love your snowdrop pictures 8)
Angie :)
-
Midnight sun season is over for this year. We still have light nights, but darker times are slowly creeping in on us. What a pleasure then to see the spring flowers again. You sure have have a great time to look forward to there down under. :)
-
The Tecophilaea King will probably laugh, but I still think it is special when you flower your first Tecophilaea cyanocrocus from seed... 8)
-
More bright spring colour :
Lapeirousia oreogena and
Lapeirousia silenoides.
-
I have been fostering a couple of Bonatea speciosa orchid plants for a few years now. They have excelled themselves this spring by producing dozens of their interesting blooms. Highly scented during the evening; they are probably pollinated by a species of hawk moth:
-
More bright spring colour :
Lapeirousia oreogena and
Lapeirousia silenoides.
Rogan WOW you have blown my socks with these pics,Lapeirousa are the reason why i grow African corms,but sadly never germinated any seed that i have had,if the good people reading this has never seen the pollinator of Lapeirousa oreogena you must look it up its incredible.
-
More bright spring colour :
Lapeirousia oreogena and
Lapeirousia silenoides.
Cor!!!!! ;D
-
Some spectacular plants, Rogan, especially that orchid which is a new one to me. But I do know exactly how exciting it is to flower your first Tec. from seed... ( first flower on anything from seed, in truth, eh?) it's a great feeling... and yours is a super flower. good colour, nice big flower... happy days, eh?!!
-
Davey, Lapeirousias are not the easiest of SA corms. Seed seldom germinates the first year so keep the pots with it. Second, commercial seed is not s good as fresh seed from a grower. Nuff said.
I saw a documentary on South Africa on TV time ago and after showing wild animals and birds, they showed a few plants and amazingly there was this moth with a monstrosity of a long tongue that actually was pollinating a Lapeirousia oreogena plant! Yet, the emphasis was on the insect and no mention of the fabulously showy plant.
Again on Lapeirousias they need deep pots and grit as a medium. Most are dryland plants.
-
Wonderful plants and photos Rogan. I guess they're taking your mind off the rugby? ;D
Alberto you have a super knack of providing all sorts of information we've not necessarily asked for, but it's there and so useful, when we need it. I only grow Lapeirousia cruenta or whatever it is nowadays and had never though to give a deep pots, though mostly it seeds about the garden. I'd love to grow these other wonderful colours.
-
Have you left a door open Lesley? There's a terrible draft coming from you direction!
-
Of course "Lapeirousia cruenta" is that easy. Here it also sets seed about freely and surprisingly it is a great shade plant. For a number of years has been placed in the genus Freesia as Freesia laxa. Michael Campbell has produced a great range of forms.
True Lapeirousias like those shown by Rogan are dryland plants, need deep pots, etc.
-
Have you left a door open Lesley? There's a terrible draft coming from you direction!
It's from the dog door, which Roger cut in the front door some time ago. Entry and exit for Cain and Teddy but as the edges are not yet finished properly, there is a shocking draught on any windy day.
-
Well, it seems to have blown some snow over Auckland! :o
-
Did you enjoy that Anthony? Lovely TV pics of Aucklanders rushing from their offices and holding out their hands to catch a snowflake, squealing with childlike delight when they had one landed on them. The flakes seemed to fall at about the rate of 3 per sq metre, every minute or so. Down here, I'm SO over it by now. I haven't seen a crocus, narcissus, iris or cyclamen since Saturday. Snowdrops could be there but too well disguised to see. :D
-
Not sure if this will work as I can't see the pics once they are posted! But here goes:
Retic iris "Springtime"
[attachthumb=1]
"Clairette" - which differs from the above....by???
[attachthumb=4]
"Pauline"
[attachthumb=2]
"Alida"
[attachthumb=3]
cheers
fermi
-
Fermi - those Iris retics. almost make me look forward to next winter! 'Clairette' is one of my favourites, not so readily available, and it is rather distinctive with those really deep coloured tips. There is a species, bakeriana, which has the same look and I have always wondered whether 'Clairette' derives from this?
Despite these irises being thought of as relatively easy in the garden I have had trouble keeping them, but 'Clairette' has done well in the sand bed so I am learning!
-
Tim , I. ret. 'Springtime' and 'Clairette' are also in flower in my garden just now . Both have I. bakeriana in their breeding -easily seen in their leave structure . I. bakeriana has 8 sided leaves and these 2 hybrids usually 6 ( or sometimes 5 or 7 ).
-
Hi Tim,
our climate in central Vic seems to suit the retic iris and we have a reasonable increase in them each year. When I lived in Melbourne I would possibly get a flower the first year, then basically leaves for the rest of the bulb's life! Apparently the spring heat without the cool nights meant they never built up enough bulb to re-flower!
Some non flowering bulbs released into the garden when we first got here took a few years to get to flowering size, but not all have thrived. 'J.S. Dijt' seems to have died out as have 'Gordon' and 'Marguerite'. 'Harmony' is most profilic followed by 'George'. I've now invested in some McMurtrie hybrids (via Janis via Marcus) and I hope they prosper here despite being bred in Ontario!
cheers
fermi
-
So far as I can find out, Iris 'Clairette' is bakeriana x reticulata and 'Springtime' is reticulata x bakeriana, hence their similarity to bakeriana and to each other.
-
This vireya rhododendron is little peely wally for my liking. The magnolia pic was taken on 11/8 and they are looking a bit battered a week later.
-
Of course "Lapeirousia cruenta" is that easy. Here it also sets seed about freely and surprisingly it is a great shade plant. For a number of years has been placed in the genus Freesia as Freesia laxa. Michael Campbell has produced a great range of forms.
True Lapeirousias like those shown by Rogan are dryland plants, need deep pots, etc.
Alberto,
Now you've got me intrigued. Anything that needs a dry summer. I'm off to read up on Lapeirousia. Anita
-
Anita, thousands of species from the winter rainfall regions of South Africa grow fantastically well in winter rainfall Australia and good number of bulb species are naturalized in Oz. But, there is a list of forbidden species.
-
I like the Rhodo Anthony. The flowers look less Vireya than many tho' it's obvious in the foliage. Was this one there when you moved in?
-
Anita, thousands of species from the winter rainfall regions of South Africa grow fantastically well in winter rainfall Australia and good number of bulb species are naturalized in Oz. But, there is a list of forbidden species.
Thanks Alberto, With the guidance of Messrs Goldblatt and Manning and Madam Snijman (not to mention the contributors to this website), I'm learning as much as I can about the flora of the Cape regions of S. Africa in the hope of adding to the species which flourish in my garden (Mr Duncan's new book is ordered!). I'm on my way with various Freesia, Sparaxis, Gladiolus and Babiana but I'm on my first steps on a long (and enjoyable road). Of course I can't help roping in the the species from Southern California and the Mediterranean either, not to mention the parts of South America which share the dry summer, winter rainfall pattern. But the of joys of mixing geographies are many.. today in the garden I've got Arum creticum, Chasmanthe floribunda (both orange and yellow variants), Clivia, Freesia leichtlinni, alba and refracta in bloom plus Gladiolus tristis, Ixia Golden Empress, Iphieon and Sparaxis in bloom and spring's just kicking off..in coming weeks more Ixia, Sparaxis, Babiana and a slew of Watsonia . I'm conscious of the potential of some species to escape.. Freesia, Chasmanthe and Watsonia have all escaped cultivation here and are smothering native annuals but as I'm deep in the heart of suburbia there is little risk. I'll grab the camera and post some pictures later. Anita
-
I like the Rhodo Anthony. The flowers look less Vireya than many tho' it's obvious in the foliage. Was this one there when you moved in?
No, I bought it in March when it was in bud. This is its second lot of flowers since then.
-
Vireyas tend to flower when the conditions are right, not strictly seasonally. I suppose that's because there's usuallly no summer/winter in their native homes but rather, wet/dry. I don't grow any here, a bit cold for them but a friend who lived in Timaru had several in a glassed in porch and she watered them copiously at various times so they'd flower when SHE wanted them to, like for her daughter's wedding and other events.
-
That Lapeirousia oreogena is truly lovely!
-
"I guess they're taking your mind off the rugby?"
I'm feeling a little more positive about the rugby now, Lesley! :o
"That Lapeirousia oreogena is truly lovely!"
They are really worth trying. I grow mine in 125mm (5") pots and they take about 3 - 4 years to reach flowering size. In Namaqualand this species and L. silenoides make sheets of colour often growing together with Lachenalia carnosa and Cotula and Felicia daisies.
-
This Romulea is labelled monticola, but I think I must have transposed labels? The two pics were taken a.m. and p.m. yesterday.
-
Anthony,
it looks suspiciously like the weed we have in our "lawns"! ;D
A few new pics from the weekend:
Retic iris Pixie
[attachthumb=1]
Retic iris Natascha
[attachthumb=2]
Muscari muscarimia
[attachthumb=3]
And one that I thought I'd lost, Anemone coronaria ex Iraq from Goteborg, so though the flower is tiny it is very welcome!
[attachthumb=4]
cheers
fermi
-
You must have an interesting lawn if romuleas are weeds, Fermi? 8)
-
I was thinking the same thing Fermi as it is a dratted weed here - zillions of it if it is the same. There seems to be two forms here - one with long 'trip' leaves and the other more upright thin leaves. At least the kangaroo grasses are taking off instead of the salvation jane.
-
We have that Romulea weed as well.... I think it is somthing like Romulea rosea var Australis?
Yep, just went looking online. Here's a bunch of photos.... (http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-genre=Plant&where-taxon=Romulea+rosea+var.+australis)
P.
-
Must be nice to have weeds like that ;D
-
I'm feeling a little more positive about the rugby now, Lesley! :o
Touche (with an acute.)
-
Romulea rosea is NOT a nice weed David. It seeds everywhere, especially into mats and cushions and you can't get it out because the bulbs go deep and if you pull the leaves they just break off leaving the bulb which comes again and again. A potful with a square metre of bare gravel all round it would be fine. :D
-
Lesley it would probably find the gravel to its liking!!
-
You're right Pat. The pot would need to be on solid concrete and then the seeds would wash to the edges and make a grass-like fringe around the concrete. >:(
-
Anthony,
as you can gather from the above some Romuleas can be a real pest! We grow most of the "cultivated" ones in pots to make sure they don't get weeded out by mistake! The exception is in the original sand-bed we made for South African bulbs but which is now shaded out but some bulbs persist there.
Here's a pic of 2 Narcissus which came as N. hispanicus but which is the correct one?
[attachthumb=1]
next to them is the clump of Retic Iris "Alida" which has built up steadily from 3 bulbs 3 years ago - though all we got the first year was 2/3s of a flower!
[attachthumb=2]
cheers
fermi
-
Fermi,
Alida seems to be a good multiplier. I bought it last year I think, and this year the single bulb was 3 flowers at least. Not bad at all. ;D
-
Nothing as sophisticated here.
daffodils on the drive
reliable scillas
Narcissus jonquilla(?)
bulbocodiums
two other narcissus
-
Your narcissus 2378 and 2379 are very sweet, Pat.
Your "scilla" however, is a Muscari.... a grape-hyacinth..... they are reliable here, too. ;)
-
Nice to see the narcissi when ours are still asleep.
-
Hi Pat,
the Narcissus ? jonquilla is probably the hybrid between jonquilla and tazetta known as N. x intermedius.
We also have daffs in the drive!
[attachthumb=1]
[attachthumb=2]
A good place to grow them as it is the high side and they are well drained.
cheers
fermi
-
thanks Maggie - I had that niggling feeling that I was wrong with the name and should have thought further that of course it is Muscari!!
Fermi lovely driveway planting
-
2 plants in flower at the moment , both raised from SRGC seed . A great pity that none of those more recently bred english and czech Kabschia Saxifragas are available here ,due to the strict Australian Plant Quarantine Regulations . Sadly also seeds of these never appear on the seedlists , ofcourse they will not come true to name ,but some should prove to be attrative .
Pat , as always your oncos are a delight .
-
You're right Otto, a real shame we are unable to import some of those amazing Czech forms, or even any of the more recently discovered species. My tiny batch of seedlings is even tinier now, down to about 9 or 10, and all looking much the same but still way too small to handle, except perhaps with fine tweezers. I'll wait until the winter has really finished then pot them in pure sand I think.
A happy find yesterday though, I had 30 pots of Trillium seed, mostly from NZ Trillium Group and sown in 2005 and 2006. Not a single germination over the few intervening years to the extent I became disheatened with them and didn't even bother to water them after about 2009 I think. (They have been outside all the time.) Yesterday I went to tip them out and after I scraped off the accumulation of rotting gum tree leaves, found new seedlings and seeds just sprouting, in 8 pots so I'm tidying them all and will persevere and hope more come through. Unfortunately most of the labels are unreadable by now but any trillium is a good trillium.
I also found, in equally poor conditions a little pot with a single Richea seedling. It is 5cms high so must have come up at least a year ago I would say.
My Frit stenanthera is in bud but still a week away or more and many others are close too, much earlier than last year. F. alburyana which I was hoping for a new photo of, was so badly damaged by snow then rain that is is just a pinkish mush really. I found a really nice Corydalis solida seedling among the Trillium pots. How did it get there I wonder. I'll post a pic later today. Still a bit dark for a photo with heavy cloud.
-
First the snow then heavy rain and southerly gales, have all mashed my irises and crocuses so Narcissus are doing thir best to keep me cheered up at present. I have some nice seedlings from 'Gambas' crossed by cyclamineus. Maybe some pics soon. In the meantime, a couple of irises and crocuses but none of them very good pics. First though, the Corydalis mentioned above. The flower was visible yesterday among the pots of what I assumed were useless trilliums but which are showing a little life after all.
This is a seedling from some seed Martin Baxendale sent me a while back. The seed must have fallen or been taken out of its own pot and dumped in the gravel in the bottom of the trough where the other pots were. So far this is the first in this colour, and I like it a lot.
[attachthumb=1]
Iris retic 'Pauline' and 'Harmony' need a good weed but the ground is still a bog following the recent weather. A couple of nice days have helped but today is cold and damp again.
[attachthumb=2]
[attachthumb=3]
'Natascha' is better, with 14 flowers out at once, and later than the others, but again, needs weeding.
[attachthumb=4]
-
Does anyone know the name of this crocus please? It has opened in the last few days in a patch of C. cancellatus ssp mazziaricus which has been in flower since early autumn. The colour of this one is a little deeper than shown.
[attachthumb=1]
Crocus x Bornmuelleri is a nice yellow but quite different in the bud with beautiful colour and markings.
[attachthumb=2]
[attachthumb=3]
And the last crocus pic for me this year (probably) is C. olivieri ssp. balansae 'Chocolate Soldier' which I'm happy to say is increasing nicely even though in a cold trough. I should probably move it.
[attachthumb=4]
I'm putting all germinated seed outside and these two concrete troughs show the beginning of my spring/summer workload. I still have dozens to put out as I clear the troughs of rubbish. In the first trough are 8 pots of Eranthis hiemalis, all coming up like crazy, the two strongest ones being the orange form, aurantiacus. A most generous western Canadian Forumist sent the seed and I think every one is coming up. I plan to have a totally yellow early spring lawn, in maybe 5 years time. :D
[attachthumb=5]
[attachthumb=6]
-
Yes you will be busy Lesley.
09MB448 Iris pumila ex Jensen seedling #2 flowering for the first time.
Otto please post more of your gems
-
Wow 8) Lesley can you pop over here and share your secret with me.
Angie :)
-
Lesley, those pots look so tidy and clean. (Green with envy)
-
Alberto those are just the beginning of a major clean up. Don't be green with envy as I assure the rest of the place (2 acres) is green with weeds and long grass, with the occasional small spot of yellow, pink, purple or whatever as bulbs are flowering.
No secret Angie. I sow heaps of seeds and most come through. The eranthis have taken an extra year. I thought they would come last spring as the seed was sent very fresh but they've waited as many NH bulb seeds do, an extra season before coming to life. I'm getting too old to be waiting for a long time. ???
-
They look great anyway!
-
Very nice I. pumila Pat, I love this colour ::) ;D
-
Some more daffs,
A GBF "Breeder", 'Staten Island x Swagger'
[attachthumb=1]
Narcissus 'Cindy-Lau'
[attachthumb=2]
[attachthumb=3]
'Timothy David'
[attachthumb=4]
And back to Iris, here's an old MBI which graces many a garden around the State:
[attachthumb=5]
[attachthumb=6]
cheers
fermi
-
Fermi you certainly have some lovely plants.
This morning I went to the landscaping supplies with my chook food bag and a couple of buckets to get some 7ml gravel so that I could plant out the EC arils and other irises etc that have germinated lately. I had a medium pot of Iris aucheri Leylek Station seedlings which had been sitting in a foam box up the paddock acclimatising for a while. I lifted the pot and one seedling was left behind standing up in the box by its one tap root firmly entering the foam base. :o :o
-
Very nice I. pumila Pat, I love this colour
The clump is certainly a standout in the garden.
-
I wonder if the Iris pumila Austrian x Caucasian form shown here is in the background of Elm's seedling?
Trying to stop the parrots from chomping on the arils - but now one of the stems has flowered so the birdnetting will have to remain ::)
Home in the middle of the day today so was finally able to catch the tulips fully opened - thanks Marcus.
I think this juno is Iris vicaria - plus guests.
-
09MB448 Iris pumila ex Jensen seedling #2 flowering for the first time.
Pat, that's a lovely clump of Iris pumila, I hope they'll produce plenty of seed ;) ;)
While we're on the subject of Irises, found a couple of the juno's flowering in the nursery.
The first one is Iris vicaria I think, the second is a Iris magnifica, always magnificent.
-
Yes, after all that nasty weather and the polar blast from the South Pole, the spring like weather and temperatures we enjoying at the moment have certainly pushed the miniature narcissi into action, with many species, hybrid seedlings and cultivars bursting out all over the place.
I always get a kick out of seeing the mini's in flower, especially the new cyclamineus seedling flowering for the first time.
They're easy to grow in pots or containers, and provide flowering and enjoyment over a long period, from May until Oct. (Southern Hemisphere) with their own charm, appeal and popularity, one of my favourite genera.
Enjoy
-
A container of Narcissi cyclamineus species, and as can be clearly seen, many nicely shaped, specially selected flowers have been ripped open (butchered) and pollen removed for hybridizing without the anthers and stigma actually being damaged, so that the flowers can still produce plenty of seed.
-
Very nice, Bill. We could do with a link from the Narcissus thread.
-
Very nice, Bill. We could do with a link from the Narcissus thread.
Good idea Anne.... I have done just that. ;)
-
Bill,
you'll be giving Graham a run for his money with those seedlings! ;D Have you got the breeding of these seedlings or was it bought seed? The bi-colours are particularly interesting, not to mention that 6W-W!
This may not elicit much excitement anywhere else, but corydalis aren't the easiest things in our garden and here's the first flowers on Corydalis ruksansii imported from the man himself! (legally!! via Marcus Harvey's quarantine house!)
[attachthumb=1]
I'm hoping it proves amenable to our climate.
Narcissus bulbocodium obesus seems to be true to name and I have some about to flower grown from Seedex seed too.
[attachthumb=2]
This Iris attica was given to me recently and I'm pleased to see it flowering even though it's still in its pot!
[attachthumb=3]
From the same donor I also received this Fritillaria persica which did get planted out!
[attachthumb=4]
cheers
fermi
-
I'm still very fond of this little 'Gambas' x cyclamineus seedling which is so vigorous it trebles in number every year. It needs a name.
[attachthumb=1]
[attachthumb=2]
I assume this is N. bulbocodium nivalis. It came from Tasmania with a totally different (white) name.
[attachthumb=3]
And I'm delighted with this which I guess is a white form of Corydalis solida or ice-green actually. It too had a quite different label on the pot. ::)
[attachthumb=4]
-
Bill,
you'll be giving Graham a run for his money with those seedlings! ;D Have you got the breeding of these seedlings or was it bought seed? The bi-colours are particularly interesting, not to mention that 6W-W!
Fermi, most of the initial yellow cyclamineus seedlings were crossed with fertile trumpet varieties like Little Gem, Atom, Weebee, Kibitser etc. and other suitable cultivars all used in the breeding and later generations seedlings back crossed again for better form, vigour, colour, and suitability for the (rock)garden.
With the current crop of our bi-colours seedlings I used mainly fertile white and bi-coloured varieties for breeding, like Snipe and Mitzy and again used the resulting hybrid seedling to further improve the shape, colour vigour and hopefully remain fertile.
There are few plants more fascinating than breeding miniature daffies, it makes a delightful and most interesting hobby.
-
Thanks, Bill,
It's good to hear about "serious" breeding of mini-daffs
cheers
fermi
-
Does anyone know the name of this crocus please? It has opened in the last few days in a patch of C. cancellatus ssp mazziaricus which has been in flower since early autumn. The colour of this one is a little deeper than shown.
Lesley,
why do you think it couldn't be C. cancellatus subsp. mazziaricus? It looks like it is....but I'm just a beginning croconut, so I'm far from sure.
Maybe it's better to post your question here too: http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4369.0
09MB448 Iris pumila ex Jensen seedling #2 flowering for the first time.
WOW :o :o
-
Pat, Lesley, Fermi, Bill, our weather is getting more "autumnlike" by the day... :( :( so good to see your Spring goodies on these pages !
Thanks all !
-
And I'm delighted with this which I guess is a white form of Corydalis solida or ice-green actually. It too had a quite different label on the pot. ::)
It's not C. malkensis, then? C. solida usually has divided bracts. Lovely Narcissus!
-
Lesley,
why do you think it couldn't be C. cancellatus subsp. mazziaricus? It looks like it is....but I'm just a beginning croconut, so I'm far from sure.
Maybe it's better to post your question here too: http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4369.0
It's what I have as C. cancellatus mazziaricus. Can't remember the source but it was one of the English nurseries. It is late summer through autumn flowering and is creamy-white with black stripes on the outside and has rather pointed petals. Sorry you can't see the outsides here.
-
And I'm delighted with this which I guess is a white form of Corydalis solida or ice-green actually. It too had a quite different label on the pot. ::)
It's not C. malkensis, then? C. solida usually has divided bracts. Lovely Narcissus!
Mmmm I think it is. It now has 3 stems of flowers on such a little plant.