bulbous Corydalis

[Gerdk]

These woodlands surely become  little paradises - please continue for the yellow anemones (nemorosa also if there are some).

Gerd

[Hristo]

Hi Gerd,
Currently not so little, at the last count Bulgaria was 50% wooded, this figure is dropping as the current price of electricity is so high it encourages logging for fire and cooking wood. One of those EU things, one of Bulgarias entry requirements was that it should shut down its Chernobyl style nuclear reactor ( with a perfect safety record! ) On entry to the EU Bulgaria became a net importer of power instead of exporter. Still this allowed EON to move in, buy up the power system and hike the proces up enormously, thus encouraging the random destruction of the woodland and the natural beauty thta is Bulgaria. Incidentaly the EU funded a project called 'Beautiful Bulgaria', aimed at maintaining and promoting the natural beauty of this country! I don't pretend to understand the workings of the EU, I gues my mind simply isn't convoluted enough! Sorry, I shall stop ranting!

[Pete Clarke]

Corydalis Abant Wine x ? G P Baker cross. I only got 3 seeds, the other 2 were vigorous & purple, this is choice but a weak grower & will not bulk up!

[Maggi Young]

A terrific deep colour, Pete. Love it!

[Hristo]

That is a very seductive colour Pete!
Some more C.cava from Bulgaria, photographed today, some flowers showing strong hints of blue!

[Lesley Cox]

Incredible colour Pete. Maybe some seeds from the more vigorous blues would come close?

Chris, your tale of EU stupidity is common enough. Govts make sweeping and draconian rules without considering consequences further down the line. They can cope with a single step - nuclear power is BAD and especially anything close to Chernobyl type reactors - so get rid of it. Oh damn, we didn't think so far ahead as electricity going up in price, and certainly not so far as the consequences of THAT - people looking for cheaper means of powering their homes. Pity the countryside has been destroyed, but we did the right thing in the first place.

[Hristo]

I am hoping with a bit of selective breeding a stromger blue might be possible, cava can get to flowering size in 3 to 4 years so it's an attainable goal!

Yes this issue with governments is like the old saying, 'The opperation was a success but the patient died'

[gote]

Chris,
i am very impressed. Especially about the cavas.
I have never seen such beautiful cavas before. Will they grow larger than the solidas?
Göte

[Hristo]

Hi Göte,
The cavas rarely attain the stature of the more robust solida types  , especially if you consider the Penza Strains!
A large cava tuber which I guess can be the size of an average tomato ( but hollow - like a bell ) may produce four to five stems 20 to 25cm high with flowers. The overall effect is much different from solida, maybe more ethereal, not so robust, and does not I suspect ( though I could be horribly wrong here! ) make a very good pot subject!
Commercially it is a problem because unlike solida it is not given to dividing and increasing vegetatively, you can take the risk of cutting up a mature tuber or you can grow from seed.

[gote]

Thanks Christo,
I was asking because I have a cava that is much larger than my solidas.
Now my solidas grow well and multiply but never attain the size they have in Gothenburg (which is at leaast 2 zones warmer)
Göte

[Hristo]

Just when I thought it was all over, up came Corydalis bracteata! 

[gote]

Three pics of solidas  from the weekend:
The first is 'Evening Shades' from Janis
The second is a self sown seedling that I am rather fond of.
The third is another self sown There were more but the mice had them for supper.
I try to move the self sown if good looking but I cannot put a net over them at that time.
These are among the earliest. I have hardly buds on my bracteatas yet.
Göte

[Hristo]

Hi Göte
Those are some super corydalis!
I think this is the last from me for the year, Corydalis x allenii with its first flowers opening.

[Diane Whitehead]

The Corydalis bracteata that I photographed April 5 is still blooming,
and is noticeable in the garden because the stem keeps elongating.

[Hristo]

Interesting pic Diane, I shall look forward to seeing if my bracteata behaves in the same way!