September 2025 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Robert]

Fermi,

I thought you might enjoy this. Tulipa clusiana ‘Peppermint Stick’ blooming in our garden.

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Fermi,

I have been enjoying the Narcissus and Tulipa photographs. Thanks for sharing.

Here is one for you. Do you grow Acis tingitana? It is a fantastic January blooming species in our garden.
Today is a work day up at our El Dorado County farm. It is harvest season and cover crops need to be planted. Our Tells Peak trip to the Sierra Nevada Mountains is next week. I am looking forward to this.

Hi Robert,
yes, Acis tingitana is one of the first bulbs I got from my friend Otto.
I have a different clone from Hillview in Tasmania before they shut down.
Tulipa 'Peppermint Stick' looks close to the type species Tulipa clusiana f clusiana with the dark purple central blotch. I prefer the name "The Lady Tulip"
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Last few from last month:
1 & 2) Gromwell, a type of Lithospermum, which spreads by suckering.
3) Moraea tripetala
4) Anemone coronaria
5) Hybrid Narcissus triandrus 'White Marvel'
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Hi Fermi,

I have one seed accession of Acis tingitana. They are quite variable in plant height and flower size. I have attempted to self the flowers several times without success. During January of this year, I hand cross pollenated the flowers and have a good crop of seed that I just planted. Some of the resulting seedlings can be tested in the open garden and some tested at our El Dorado county farm for cold hardiness.

Currently I am out several generations with Acis autumnale and A. rosea. With Acis rosea I am breeding for enhanced pink coloration. I have one blooming accession of Acis nicaeensis and hope to cross pollenate them this coming spring. Results are slow.

I also grow several clones of Tulipa clusiana. Currently I am developing a new site where it will be easier to work with them. To date, I have no results to show for my efforts with them. Hopefully the new site will change this situation. According to Jepson's Tulipa clusiana has naturalized at a site near Riverside, California. They do produce seed easily here in Sacramento.

'White Marvel' is a nice N. triandrus hybrid. I enjoy working with Nacissus triandrus. I will likely have a new crop of blooming hybrids this spring. Maybe something good will show up.