Mary Sue wrote:
>I dug Babianas and cleaned them off and sent them to the BX.
>They were not all claimed and Dell had them left over for the sale. I'm not
>sure why they were so unpopular,
> I guess they just don't grow for
>many of you in different climates. Some of the later blooming
>species/hybrids do so well in the ground here.
The only Babiana I've grown is the one offered by Park Seed,
among others (B stricta??). It arrived in the spring, and didn't flower.
Next spring it came up, but didn't flower. It slowly dwindled, and after
about five years didn't return. I never saw a flower.
I suspect some Babianas would make it here, but would have
to grow various ones to trial. Given that they are seldom available to me,
it hasn't been a priority. "Blue" or blue-purple flowers also do not show
as well as brighter colors in our winter drizzle.
Ixia hybrids have been successful for a number of years--almost
to the point of being a weed, by bulblet propagation. A very limited amount
of seed has set, and I've been trying to grow it on--we haven't had a real
killer winter for a number of years, and I'm unsure just how hardy they
really are. Interestingly, Ixias are usually listed as growing to 18",
but some of these which have been undisturbed grew to nearly 36".
Agapanthus--Headborne Hybrids from seed are taking their own
sweet time about flowering, but I'll admit they haven't had a good spot.
Local garden centers now offer Agapanthus in flower, about $10 for 1 gallon
pots. I suspect a lot of them are buy-and-die plants.
Chasmanthe bicolor, seed from PBS exchange, is up for the
third year, but the last few winters have been mild, this year maybe
it will take off and grow?
A number of Gladiolus species seem to tolerate conditions
here, but for now I've been growing summer growers and winter growers
under the same conditions, and some of them don't seem to like it.
Gladiolus hybrids have been grown commercially in the area, and many/
most home gardeners leave glads in the ground overwinter.
Oxalis aff obliquifolia has multiplied madly, and if the
bulblets/corms
spread, it could be weedy. I'm trying other Oxalis, so far so good, but again,
we haven't had a hard winter. It is rainy/dreary here in winter, so Oxalis
should either be able to open when the sun doesn't shine, or flower in Spring,
summer, or early fall. O. aff. obliquifolia, whatever it is, has a very showy
spring season of pink/rose flowers, but also has dribs and drabs for some
time in the summer.
Tritonias are borderline--a well chosen site might be best.
Was looking at pots of seedlings yesterday, and one pot of Brodia
californica has a small spike starting. I'd have to look at the label, and it
is raining, but I think the seed was planted 12/04. Oh, and that is a 3 1/2"
seed pot, not a gallon can.
Erythronium oreganum var leucandrum, seed planted fall 2001, had a
few flowers this spring. One had strongly mottled foliage, most were plain
green leaves. Be interesting to see what comes next spring. Oh, yes--
everyone "Knows" that Erythroniums take seven years to flower.
Liatris--I can't remember anyone mentioning liatris--surely I'm
not the
only one who grows it? Not the most exciting thing, but blooms make nice
"fillers" in the garden.
New this year is Gloxinia tubiflora, and am interested in seeing what
it will do--so far it has grown about two inches and stopped.
Begonia boliviensis is another I'm looking forward to seeing.
Begonia seed germination continues to elude me. Even B. grandis alba
from last summer did not germinate this spring, it usually germinates
moderately well.
Ken, western Oregon