Lycoris and Rain - A theory - 2 and OT Passiflora misc.
James Waddick (Mon, 20 Aug 2007 06:38:43 PDT)

Dear all,
On September 9 I wrote:

Last night we had almost 1 1/4 inch of rain. Maybe too much of it ran
off, but some soaked in. Will this bring a new flush of Lycoris bloom
as I think or was the spring freeze too damaging to make a
difference, now.?

Well so much for theories and cooperation by the 'weather gods'.

We have continued extremely hot and dry and Lycoris bloom has
increased, but well below the norm.

'Spotty, at best" seems appropriate.

I suppose the inch of rain did help, but with the spring
freeze damage to overcome as well as the dry heat... well the theory
may just have to wait unless we do get a good soaking rain and fast
response, but that does not look likely.

Hope others are experiencing better weather and blooms.

On a better note and explained by heavy watering with the
direct hose - Crinum 'Super Ellen' has put up a third 6 ft high bloom
stalk and dazzled all. A late stalk on Crinum 'scabrum' (?) has put
up a very late stalk, but the heat has not been kind to the flower -
life.

Very OT, I have been growing Passiflora incarnata easily here
for a few years and tried other cvs for hardiness. The well known
'Incense' failed here and I was told most clones are now virused.
This spring I put in the new similar hybrids 'Tempation' and 'Blue
Eyed Susan' both 1/2 P. incarnata and they have bloomed nicely. I
managed to get fruit crossing incarnata back to 'Blue Eyed Susan'
hoping for the hardiness and larger flowers. Dreaming, or counting
chickens (seeds) before the germinate.
I also got a plant of the hardier P. lutea which may be too
far off the genetic line to use in hybridizing, but I'll try it for
hardiness this year.

Anyone else dabbling along these lines to report?

Best Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +