March 2025

[Wylie]

A Moraea elegans started flowering. Because of the constant clouds, I had to put it under the grow lights to get it to open fully.

[Too Many Plants!]

Here's our M. Elegans from a couple days ago...

[Too Many Plants!]

Here's a complete progression of G. Bonaspei SH Silvesmere locale, with rain drops from last night...

[Emanuele Mura]

Early spring in Sardinia between endemic and newcomers.

[Too Many Plants!]

Here is somewhat of a first. I can't seem to track down when/where we got this, but am sure it's been in the ground for YEARS, from our early days of SA bulb interest. Only maybe showing minor signs of Life last year.

Tagged as Cyanella Orchidiformis. Any thoughts or opinions are welcome...

[Uli]

Hello All,

Some greetings from my garden....

This pure white Cyclamen persicum was selected from seedlings raised from AGS seed. It has particularly elegant fragrant flowers.

Gladiolus virescens 

Onixotos triquetra likes it wet but also performs well in normal conditions if kept moist.

Gladiolus liliaceus 

Ranunculus asiaticus next to one of the Lachenalia quadricolor forms 

Not a geophyte...... Ceanothus ,Blue Jeans'

Uli 

[CG100]

Tagged as Cyanella Orchidiformis. Any thoughts or opinions are welcome...

Hmmm..... leaves here are far more grassy, although it has never flowered here.
I have two clones, one from Silverhill seed, one from a reliable "horticulturalist's" nursery in the UK.

If you take a look at the PBS Cyanella page, the leaves better fit at least a couple of other species. Hopefully the buds will open and the "mystery" will be solved.

[Too Many Plants!]

Tagged as Cyanella Orchidiformis. Any thoughts or opinions are welcome...

Hmmm..... leaves here are far more grassy, although it has never flowered here.
I have two clones, one from Silverhill seed, one from a reliable "horticulturalist's" nursery in the UK.

If you take a look at the PBS Cyanella page, the leaves better fit at least a couple of other species. Hopefully the buds will open and the "mystery" will be solved.

Well, I searched the web and saw mostly pictures that somewhat resemble my plants foliage, albeit a bit smaller. This bulb may be very good sized as it's been bulb planted in the ground I believe since 2018/19. One of the pics I noticed that came up is a PBS pic of Cyanella cygnea. Though to me the foliage looks more shade grown.
I'm adding another pic of C. Orchidiformis in habitat, flowering near Vanrhynsdorp, Western Cape- for reference. To me, that foliage matches my plant very well. I checked the flowers this morning, still not opening. I will post asa they do...

[Too Many Plants!]

More flowers on my Moraea Elegans.

[Too Many Plants!]

These were in a gift grab box of surprise- plant and find out bulbs, from a very generous long time SA bulb aficionado.

I believe them to be Sparaxis Metelerkampiae. Which I already have, but these have a bit of a different form. 

Sparaxis Metelerkampiae ?

Input is always welcome...

[Too Many Plants!]

New pics of my Gladiolus Bonespei.

Wondering why this species is not listed on the PBS wiki???

It's on the web, and SH shows it as a species they offer...

Any thoughts out there?

[Too Many Plants!]

Sparaxis Villosa

Slowly spreading in my garden...

[Too Many Plants!]

Hello All,

Some greetings from my garden....

This pure white Cyclamen persicum was selected from seedlings raised from AGS seed. It has particularly elegant fragrant flowers.

Gladiolus virescens

Onixotos triquetra likes it wet but also performs well in normal conditions if kept moist.

Gladiolus liliaceus

Ranunculus asiaticus next to one of the Lachenalia quadricolor forms

Not a geophyte...... Ceanothus ,Blue Jeans'

Uli

Love those Gladiolus! 

Funny...Ceanothus is native to California, I live where there is a wild shrub/bush species in the hills around my home. And I've planted a few other species too. But, I'm not familiar with that species or cultivar.

[CG100]

Ceanothus is reasonably poplular in the UK, probably in the warmer parts of mainland Europe too.

"Blue Jeans" is supposedly a hybrid, but there must be dozens of cultivars/varieties in cultivation here, no doubt many bred/selected in the US, from groundcover of maybe 30-40cm tall to small trees. Lots of claims are made about flower colour, but apart from white, you usually need two cultivars, side by side, to see any variation in the shade of blue in most cases. To me, there always seems to be at least as much variation in the leaves as flowers.

Two drawbacks to them to be really great garden plants - they hate being pruned and don't respond well at all, and they are also short-lived.

[Too Many Plants!]

Ceanothus is reasonably poplular in the UK, probably in the warmer parts of mainland Europe too.

"Blue Jeans" is supposedly a hybrid, but there must be dozens of cultivars/varieties in cultivation here, no doubt many bred/selected in the US, from groundcover of maybe 30-40cm tall to small trees. Lots of claims are made about flower colour, but apart from white, you usually need two cultivars, side by side, to see any variation in the shade of blue in most cases. To me, there always seems to be at least as much variation in the leaves as flowers.

Two drawbacks to them to be really great garden plants - they hate being pruned and don't respond well at all, and they are also short-lived.

Funny. In habitat, well at least our habitat, they are not short-lived. I also have a good friend who is south of me on the north end of San Diego, and he has a different native ceanothus that's more like a dainty miniature tree and his have been around for many years. But these are all on native soils, with only the water that falls from the sky. Never irrigated! That could make a big difference. It's been my observation they take time (many years) to get to full size under natural conditions.

Here's a pic of wild Ceanothus in habitat right around our home. Probably a mile or two away as the Hawk flies.

Some of them smell wonderful in flower!