July 2025 in the Northern Hemisphere

[ashley]

No watering yet but Haemanthus humilis are waking up

[Knud]

What a beauty, Ashley. I have a H. albiflos after my mother, it has probably been in this house for forty or more years.

Two blue onions are in flower, Allium sikkimense and Allium cyaneum. Or rather, A. sikkimense is in bloom, the A. cyaneum is still working on it.

Side by side in the rock garden or in a trough, here, A. sikkimense flowers 2-3 weeks before A. cyaneum. A. sikkimense is also about 50% taller, leaves and flower stalk, and both are taller in the rock garden than in troughs. In the rock garden, first picture below, the flower stalk is 30 cm (12’’) tall, an A. cyaneum next to it and about to open is 20 cm (8’’).  The A. cyaneum in the second picture started flowering several weeks before any of its kind in the rock garden or throughs. It may have had a warm spot during our cool spring.

In the plants I have there is a distinct difference between the two when in bud, those of A. sikkimense are blue and those of A. cyaneum are a greenish white. I do not know if these are general characteristics.

I have had my Allium cyaneum for many years, and had its identity confirmed in 2011 here on the SRGC forum by Mark McDonough, see this link   https://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6685.270

From Mark’s posts I have concluded that the A. sikkimense I have is very likely an A. sikkimense and not an Allium beesianum. Its tepals measures to 8-11 mm, none longer than 11 mm.

Knud

[Hans J]

This year, my Eucomis pole evansii is blooming more beautifully than ever before 
This plant has been growing in the garden without protection for approximately 15 years.
The flowers are just under 1.20 metres tall....
I always saw these plants at Hügin's old nursery (also outdoors).
At some point, I bought a small plant with fruit...the seeds germinated well!
In my area, they can be kept outdoors.

Have fun 
Hans