PBS Forum

Jim and Georgie Robinett sold west coast native plant seeds and bulbs prior to 1999. I am interested in obtaining any copies either actual or  scanned copies of their price lists for any years.
If you may have one  available please get in touch with me if available.
All the best, Michael Homick michaelhomick@gmail.com

X Amarygia 2024
Back in 2006 we were fortunate to meet Mike and Carol Willits who were growing a number of X Amarygia from seed they had obtained from Les Hannibal. We were allowed to dig as many selections as we wished for a donation to one of their causes they supported in the area in which they lived. The soil was like an adobe clay and difficult to dig and full of large cracks when dry. They said the best time to dig and transplant X Amarygia was during flowering. We dug a selection of colors and brought them home.
They produce an abundance of seed every year and back a number of years ago we had access to an x-ray machine that was used commercially to scan jars of food produce for foreign metal on a conveyor belt. When work was completed for the day we started it up and passed a selection of seed through the unit multiple times (30+). Last year we noticed one of the seedlings was producing leaves of a spectacular size and it is now in flower. The flower scape is 33 inches (83cm) tall which is probably 1.5  times our normal flower scapes for this intergeneric hybrid. The flowers are also much darker and intense color than the parental group involved.      We are not sure if the enhancements are due to the x-ray treatment or some other factor. In an article by Les Hannibal, located here: https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/IBS/website/GALLERY_OF_THE_WORLDS_BULBS/GRAPHICS/Amarygia/LesHannibal.html ,he mentions that occasionally you may get a "throw-back" seedling of higher vigor and size than their siblings. This may be the case in this instance. 
All the best, Michael

I have decided to go through my lot of MV pots of oxalis , & check against a list I originally obtained from Charles Hardman and now with the updated version from David Pilling. Anything that does not match the descriptions and is very similar to the others correctly? labeled pots will be trashed. The unnamed stuff has to go. I need to make room for known specimens in the future. I have been meaning to do this for some time.

The only thing I would add is you have to be logged in to make / reply to a post. As a guest you are in read only mode. All the best, Michael

I am still working on the project as I get time. I have scanned 1937, 1940 to 1961. I am currently scanning 1939. I have OCR'd 1937, 1941, 1949, 1950, 1951,1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961. I do disassemble the books to get a better quality scan image. If someone does have a particular issue they need / desire let me know and I will prioritize the work flow of that issue. All the best, Michael 

Galanthus nivalis, also known as the common snowdrop, is a species of flowering bulbous perennial plant native to Europe. It is widely cultivated for its delicate, white, bell-shaped flowers that bloom in early spring, often appearing through the snow. Snowdrops have a long history of cultivation and are considered a symbol of hope and renewal. They are popular garden plants and are widely used in the cut flower industry. The genus name "Galanthus" comes from the Greek words "gála," meaning milk, and "ánthos," meaning flower, referring to the white, milky sap that is produced by the flowers.

I just put in "what is the conservation status of Lilium occidentale?" and received the following reply. 

"Lilium occidentale, also known as the western lily, is a species of lily native to western North America. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the conservation status of Lilium occidentale is "Least Concern." This means that the species is not considered to be threatened or endangered, and is widespread and abundant in its native range. However, as with all species, it is important to monitor populations and take measures to conserve their habitats, especially in the face of habitat loss and degradation."

I sent an email to Diana and she responded there was minimal damage with a few of the benches collapsing or just dropping with pots remaining in place. She mentioned it was very frightening for the dogs and cats.

Has anyone heard from Diana Chapman how how she fared with the earthquake 6.4 near Ferndale?

I just received today, a shipment of seed from the Arisaema Enthusiast Group (AEG) into the USA. The inspector notified me that the invoice must list the country of origin for each lot of seed. He did not wish what country the seed originally grows in the wild, but the country each donor lives in. I was able to pull this from the AEG web site and send him an amended invoice which he accepted this time. So for the USA members please be aware of this new (to me) rule for importation under the small seed lot permits.  This would mostly apply to importation of seed from exchanges abroad.

Nerine laticoma
The nerine season is starting with the species Nerine laticoma

flowering. The bulb and plant enlarges a little each year but has not split. It is however self fertile and has crossed with other species.

I store pollen from the geophytes I grow in empty gelatin capsules. I can write on the gelatin capsule with an extra fine sharpie. I place removed dehisced anthers inside the capsule and then toss the labeled capsules in a small jar with silica gel. The silica gel will draw the moisture out of the anthers through the capsule wall. I can then when required used the capsule ends to assist in pollenating the stigma of plants latter on. If the pollen will be used within the same growing season they are refrigerated, otherwise for long term storage the pollen is frozen after drying. I have some Boophone disticha (pink) pollen (collected May 2022) if interested.

I have  Habranthus tubispathus and Habranthus tubispathus var. roseus growing in the same pots. I am not sure if they were obtained as mixed bulbs or if seed contamination has occurred between the pots. On the PBS wiki page for tubispathus it states that the roseus form is no longer treated as a valid variety. So my question is what is the roseus form then? I have separated two of the mixed pots by 20 feet in a greenhouse where there should be few insects to transfer pollen between the two pots. I have been selectively dead-heading the flower scapes before opening, one only allowing the tubispathus to flower and the other to allow only roseus plants to flower. I have collected the seed separately of each pot and plan on planting the seed. Not sure if seed will grow true to female parent or if the pots are already hybrids of the two and seedlings will be a mix of both. Am I wasting my time trying this method of separating the two or is there a pure source of the two available? 

what material do you use for the black background, may I ask?