Re: Monthly Bulb Log Diary 2025

[Ian Y]

Dear Fermi, Robert, Jasmine, Susan and Anne,

Thank you so much for your loyal support and having stuck with me through all 23 years it means so much to me.

I intend to continue making the videos so you can stay in touch with the garden that way plus if I do decide to write then Bulb Log updates will appear in the IRG as appropriate.

Best wishes to you all.
Ian

[Ian Y]

Find out what windows and paths are for in a garden in this months Bulb Log.
 There are also plenty autumn flowering Crocus and other flowering bulbs to see if you click on the link.

https://srgc.net/documents/bulb%20logs/251015104210BULB%20LOG%201025.pdf

[Robert]

Hi Ian,

Thank you so very much for your latest Bulb Log.

I too want to get our Sternbergia out into the open garden. With our climatic conditions I think that we have a good chance at success. Pictured below are a few from our cinderblock garden.





In California, commercial strawberries taste terrible. I have been attempting to breed good tasting day-neutral strawberries. ‘Sequoia’ is a good tasting, old day-neutral strawberry and I have been using this variety in many of my new hybrids. Pictured below are a few hybrids that I have not planted out yet. The results so far are okay, but I have not been “wowed” by the flavor of any of the new hybrids to date.

Alpine Strawberry seed is available here in the U.S.A. Maybe I will try growing some this year. They do taste great, however I am not sure they will like our hot summers. They definitely do not hybridize with commercial type strawberries. This has been attempted many times in the past. Maybe I can get some of the Alpine Strawberry to survive our summer heat and breed for heat tolerance. I already have many projects going. Maybe it is better that I do not add another project.

[Robert]

Dear Ian,
    It was such a treat to wake up the other day to your garden (Bulb Log).  I have been mulling some thoughts when this article came my way.
    It was a delight to look out your windows, and it is a good thing you do not clean them much—it reduces their mirror-like, reflective qualities. 
    Birds have very fragile, pneumatic bones; hollow and air-filled yet strengthed by struts.  This gives them their light weight compared to mammals of similar size.  They still have marrow-filled bones, but these are in their torso where all their weight is centered.  Some of their pneumatic bones are connected to their air sacs, their breathing/respiratory system. 
    Crashing into windows and window doors the invisible hard surface or the reflections of nature that isn’t there, the seasonal fighting with their reflection all are lethal.  Not cleaning these window surfaces; leaving patterns of streaks; placing patterns, decals, and in some cases a frame of netting (not very artistic rendering)  do reduce collisions.
    Enough of my bird lover’s soapbox!  A very delightful tour.

Jasmin



https://www.npr.org/2025/10/17/nx-s1-5571014/bird-migration-collisions-glass-buildings

[Ian Y]

The wee alpine stray berries are great Robert, they seed around among the cracks between the slabs and as long as they are not a trip hazard I leave them. Just had a few this morning.

Jasmin thanks for giving me another reason not to clean the windows. WE do occasionally get birds flying into them and I have a wee box ready to put them in until they recover consciousness. Most are able to fly away after 15 mins.

[PhilG]

Ian, always a pleasure to read through your Bulb Logs - Even when I forget for a month or 2 (I just read them a little late).

Like others I understand if you feel the need to roll back on them.
But being selfish, I'd miss them.
The real value of records of any kind, lay in their continuity over time. I'm sure you have noticed many changes over the years as the weather changes. What might you record over the coming years?

You asked if they are still relevant - with well over 68,000 views so far for this years logs, I'd say that figure speaks for itself - YES.