Myster bulbs Watsonia
David Fenwick (Sat, 31 May 2003 14:15:21 PDT)

Hi Lauw,
Thanks for the confirmation of W. 'Ardern's White'.

Us Europeans have to be a little careful in identifying American Watsonias,
especially those from California.

Identification can be a problem anyhow and because Watsonia easily hybridise
as you well know; but in California there is an added problem, there were
many hybrids bred by a local breeder called Mrs. J. H. Bullard of Los
Angeles, which we know very little about.

Her hybrids were described as remarkable and of a wide colour range. There
is further mention in the book I have that refers to a W. iridifolia
'O'Brienii', which must have been available, and I never seen a 'modern'
reference to this one at all.

Book ref: Garden Bulbs in Colour by McFarland, Hatton and Foley, 1948.

Does anyone know or can anyone find out more about Mrs. J. H. Bullard and
her hybrids ?

I grow 'Bullard's White' here and from an IBS exchange but it would be nice
to try and trace further hybrids to try and build a collection of them
somewhere.

Best Wishes,
Dave (Plymouth, UK)

Websites:
http://www.theafricangarden.com/
http://www.crocosmiaheritage.com/

Address:
David Fenwick
NCCPG National Collection of Crocosmia with Chasmanthe and Tulbaghia
The African Garden
96 Wasdale Gardens
Estover
Plymouth
Devon
England
PL6 8TW

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