[Australian_Bulbs] What's flowering
Robert Hamilton (Tue, 23 Jul 2002 03:04:43 PDT)

Hi all, I'm holidaying after the birth of twins Katie and James on 12/7/02, they are asleep and its raining again, so I have decided to write about whats flowering. I am still digitally challenged so here are some pen pictures. All the following are flowering for me at present - mostly grown from seed (except the Iris and Galanthus).
Crocus angustifolius ( Crocus susianus of gardens)- lovely yellow marked heavily with bronze externally.
Crocus malyi - white with yellow throat and contrasting red style.
Crocus oliveri - striking orange yellow crocus Crocus pestalozzae - a small lavender blue crocus
Crocus sieberi Firefly - lavender blue with a pale yellow throat.
Crocus sieberi sublimus tricolor- rich lilac blue with yellow throat and a band of white in between.
Colchicum bivonae- first flowering from seed - small flowers like most of the winter colchicum - deep pink with white petal tips. I wish there was a definative work on colchicum. Colchicum diamopolis- cream flowers Colchicum kesselringii - white flowers marked deep lavender externally
Colchicum luteum -yellow flowers over the last month Meredera eichleri- white flowers with petals tipped lavender.
Iris reticulata Harmony - one of the easiest reticulata's
Iris reticulata Purple Gem - deep purple as name suggests.
Iris stenophylla 'Alisonii'- a juno with deep blue falls with paler blue edges , with central yellow keel with white lines and that juno 'sheen' to the flowers.
Galanthus gracilis , worowonii , x Elcatus, Ophelia - very desirable when you dont have any but all white and green and very similar when you do !!!
Cyclamen coum (several forms), pseudoibericum, repandum Pelops .
Still have lots of varieties of "hoop petticoats" out - with new to me Narcissus bulbocodium graellsii - a tiny gem. I appear to be getting a midwinter flower on a clone of Biarum carratracense which I have had for 5 years without seeing a flower. This follows a wet summer - perhaps the dry mild autumn did the trick.
Cheers,

Rob

Dr R F Hamilton