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Today's Topics:

1. Re: Paramongaia, lapageria (pelarg@aol.com)
2. Scilla natalensis in flower (Boyce Tankersley)
3. Re: Scilla natalensis in flower (Jim McKenney)
4. Re: Bagging the big five; was RE: Gladiolus tristis (Lee Poulsen)
5. Re: Paramongaia (Lee Poulsen)
6. Where to order large roll of copper tape (Theladygardens@aol.com)
7. Re: Scilla natalensis in flower (Mary Sue Ittner)
8. Re: Paramongaia (Alberto Castillo)
9. Re: Paramongaia, Scilla (pelarg@aol.com)
10. Re : Scilla natalensis in flower (lucgbulot@aol.com)
11. Re: Where to order large roll of copper tape
(MARK MAZER AND FREDRIKA MAZER)
12. Re: Scilla natalensis in flower (Tony Avent)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 16:42:39 -0400
From: pelarg@aol.com
Subject: Re: [pbs] Paramongaia, lapageria
To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
Message-ID: <8CBA86BD0DF3E63-D00-1E74@webmail-mh22.sysops.aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I? have some Paramongaia grown from seed, though they are still too young to flower. This plant is a strict winter grower, when I worked at the NYBG I grew it with Cape bulbs in a cool greenhouse.? It will not remain green over summer, allow seedlings to go dormant, they will reemerge in the fall.? It is not a fussy plant, surprisingly, just think of it as a daffodil on steroids.? It appreciates good soil and fertilizer when in growth, but wants to be bone dry during its dormancy.? Bulbs offset fairly readily, I managed to get several pots of it it from one underpotted starving plant at NYBG in my?6?years?I?was there. ?I suggest refrigerating seed, it will stay viable for some years, and DO NOT start seedlings now, unless you are in the southern hemisphere.? My home plants grow under lights for the winter, and do fairly well, though I am sure they would grow much faster in a cool greenhouse.
Lapageria is also not hard to grow and flower, I have had two plants and a number of seedlings I sprouted for almost 2 years.? I got two flowering sized plants at Sonoma horticultural nursery in CA, north of SF, two summers ago.? I barerooted them for the flight home with a hose, bagged the roots in a ziplock plus wet paper towel, and repotted them the next day.? They have grown well since, flowering off and on, though oddly the two plants rarely flower at the same time.? I keep the plants in my classroom?for the winter, where they get north light (large windows) plus flourescent light , and set them in a shaded position in my backyard for the summer. So far so good. Only seeds that havent dried out seem to grow for me, they must need to be fresh or nearly so--mine came from a source that sent them with a moist towel in a plastic bag. Those from other sources, ones that arrived dried, never came up.? The seedlings are slow to germinate and grow.? I started mine on paper towel
s in ziplock bags in the fridge and transplanted them into soil once they began to germinate.? Pics of flowers are in my blog.
Ernie DeMarie Z6/7?? plantblog: http://geraniosgarden.blogspot.com/

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 16:11:30 -0500
From: "Boyce Tankersley" <btankers@chicagobotanic.org>
Subject: [pbs] Scilla natalensis in flower
To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID:
<52857FDB394B7E45BA1F2E60D7313E2A0FCC1D70@cbgmail.chicagobotanic.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

It was a very pleasant surprise to find flowering outdoors in USDA zone
5b, just northwest of Chicago, Illinois, a Scilla natalensis (Merwilla
plumbea) grown from seed obtained through the PBS seed exchange 10 years
ago.

For years I coddled the Scilla in containers indoors in anticipation of
spikes with dozens of flowers; then a post came through PBS that
mentioned that they never bloomed in containers. Uggh, 7 years of
misspent effort. Given that my collection of non-hardy plants had
exceeded the available space in our home, the Scilla and a number of
other 'probably not hardy' bulbs were planted in a south facing flower
bed that receives reflected heat from the aluminum siding.

It is a good foot away from the house foundation in an area where Canna
freeze out.

I kept 1 container indoors - and indeed it still has not flowered.

For those not familiar with the Chicago winter of 2008-2009, we spent
most of the winter with temperatures well below freezing and dipped for
almost a week into temperatures in the -10 to -16 degree F range.

Not hot enough for hallucinations yet; am I just lucky or have others
had it survive outdoors in continental climates?

Boyce Tankersley
Director of Living Plant Documentation
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road
Glencoe, IL 60022
tel: 847-835-6841
fax: 847-835-1635
email: btankers@chicagobotanic.org

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 17:54:27 -0400
From: "Jim McKenney" <jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com>
Subject: Re: [pbs] Scilla natalensis in flower
To: "'Pacific Bulb Society'" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <000001c9da5e$bb0c8270$2f01a8c0@Library>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

That?s good, encouraging news, Boyce.

My plant has been outside for several years and is slowly bulking up. But it
has yet to bloom. It grows near a house wall on the SSW side of the house.
It?s not in a cold frame, but the site is by nature very sheltered. This
site does not get full sun during the summer, and that might be one thing
holding my plant back. Perhaps a move out into the sun might help; the plant
seems to be fully winter dormant here, so it would be easy to protect with a
heap of leaves.

Boyce, how tall is the inflorescence of your plant?

Jim McKenney
jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com
Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, 39.03871? North, 77.09829? West, USDA zone
7
My Virtual Maryland Garden http://www.jimmckenney.com/
BLOG! http://mcwort.blogspot.com/

Webmaster Potomac Valley Chapter, NARGS
Editor PVC Bulletin http://www.pvcnargs.org/

Webmaster Potomac Lily Society http://www.potomaclilysociety.org/

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 15:01:54 -0700
From: Lee Poulsen <wpoulsen@pacbell.net>
Subject: Re: [pbs] Bagging the big five; was RE: Gladiolus tristis
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <4A15CF52.2010909@pacbell.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I like Rogan's Big Five (including Jim's addition). (9 years ago on my
only trip to South Africa, we spent 4 days in Kruger National Park, and
managed to see all the Big 5 animals. What a fantastic country you have.)

And just like him, after years and many many attempts at trying, not
only did I managed to get 2 or 3 seedlings that have actually continued
growing all season, but one of them surprised me by opening a bunch of
the small blue flowers for me a week ago! It was great.

Now those other four (Tecophilaea, Worsleya, Lapageria, and Paramongaia)
simply have to be seen in person, whether you grow and bloom them
yourself or someone else does.

--Lee Poulsen
Pasadena, California, USDA Zone 10a

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 15:34:29 -0700
From: Lee Poulsen <wpoulsen@pacbell.net>
Subject: Re: [pbs] Paramongaia
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <4A15D6F5.1020404@pacbell.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

pelarg@aol.com wrote:

There are two strains of Paramongaia weberbaueri. The one from the
coast, which is the type I have, is just as Ernie describes. I grow it
just like my Cape bulbs and treat it the same way. It does very well in
this climate. (However, I have to warn people that if you grow it
outside during the winter in mild climates, it does not like any frost
on its leaves, so I grow mine near the house or under some protection
against night time radiation freezes.)

The other strain is from the Andes (I think around 10,000ft/3000 m
elev.) and its growing season is shifted from the coastal strain. I have
been told that it doesn't leaf out until late winter/early spring and
doesn't go dormant until the latter half of the summer, and that it
doesn't like winter rains while it is still dormant and the temperatures
are chilly.

--Lee Poulsen
Pasadena, California, USDA Zone 10a

------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 19:05:26 EDT
From: Theladygardens@aol.com
Subject: [pbs] Where to order large roll of copper tape
To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
Message-ID: <cab.46e8831b.37473836@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Some time ago someone told us where to purchase a large roll of copper
tape to repel snails and slugs. I lost this information. If someone knows
please post it again.
Thanks, Carolyn
**************Huge savings on HDTVs from Dell.com!
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/…
t%2Fclk%3B215073686%3B37034322%3Bb)

------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 16:07:10 -0700
From: Mary Sue Ittner <msittner@mcn.org>
Subject: Re: [pbs] Scilla natalensis in flower
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <5.2.0.9.2.20090521155600.033e4cf0@mail.mcn.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Sir Peter Smithers used to grow and flower this plant in containers. I have
one expanded to many growing in a container that has bloomed for a number
of years now and a couple planted in the ground that have yet to bloom. I
know they flower them well at the UC Botanical Garden in Berkeley in the
ground. I tend to garden on the dry side in summer however when we don't
have any rainfall and it is a summer rainfall plant. So it's possible that
it is happier growing in a container where there is better attention to its
needs than in the dry ground. And it probably would be happier still in
the ground with regular summer water.

So Boyce you still may have luck with your container grown plants. Mine
stay outside year round, but somewhat sheltered from our rain. Maybe your
inside one wants cooler temperatures or a range of temperatures? Still if
you can grow it in the ground, it's certainly easier.

Mary Sue

------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 23:29:29 +0000
From: Alberto Castillo <ezeizabotgard@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pbs] Paramongaia
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <BLU104-W364BA66C1A1C1BE49DFAD4AE590@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi:

Yes there are two strains, the winter grower I saw in flower in February at the UC Irvine Arboretum.

I have grown the winter dormant form and also a supposed additonal species, P. superba, that was also a winter dormant plant. What Lee says about these Andean plants (only some of which are alpine) is true, many receive rainfall in late spring lasting to early to late fall.

Both Paramongaias were very easy plants in drained mix and the glaucuous pruinose erect foliage was very elegant and attractive on its own. They obviously enjoyed warm conditions and full sun. In the wild they grow in fully exposed slopes in rubble. The bulb is found deeply in the ground.

Best

_________________________________________________________________
?Invit? a todos tus amigos de una sola vez! Probalo ahora
http://microsoft.com/argentina/windows/…

------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 21:13:30 -0400
From: pelarg@aol.com
Subject: Re: [pbs] Paramongaia, Scilla
To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
Message-ID: <8CBA891A7372B1B-D00-2817@webmail-mh22.sysops.aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Wow, learn something new every day.? I did not know there was a summer growing form of Paramongaia, for whatever its worth, the plant at NYBG came from Longwood, I remember checking the accession records.? A summer growing form might be easier to grow as a summer outdoor bulb, dug up (or potted) and brought in, over most of the US, although I wonder if it might want cool night temps in view of its habitat. Hope it becomes more available some day.
Didn't think Scilla natalensis would like really cold winters, since the bulb does not go deep, but now I will put some of my bulbs (also unflowered) near the wall at school.? Gladiolus "Atom" has no problems wintering there,and are coming up strong right now.
Ernie
Tuckahoe NY z6/7?? plantblog:? http://geraniosgarden.blogspot.com/

------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 06:35:24 -0400
From: lucgbulot@aol.com
Subject: [pbs] Re : Scilla natalensis in flower
To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
Message-ID: <8CBA8E02676484C-934-1436@mblk-d42.sysops.aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Hello all,

A long time since I posted something on the forum.

I?purchased my?S. natalensis?in April?2007. The plant was?transfered from container to its actual spot, a south facing mixed bed were I also grow botanic species of Iris, Tulipa and Allium, Scilla, Sedum and Dianthus, in May 2007. The soil is well drained. The plant bloomed for the first time this year and the inflorescence is about 50 centimeters high. Compared to last year I must say we have had a much milder and wet fall, winter and spring. It should also be noted that the plant was fully covered by snow for a full week in January.

Luc, zone 8b, South East France

-----E-mail d'origine-----
De : Mary Sue Ittner <msittner@mcn.org>
A : Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Envoy? le : Vendredi, 22 Mai 2009 1:07
Sujet : Re: [pbs] Scilla natalensis in flower

Sir Peter Smithers used to grow and flower this plant in containers. I have
ne expanded to many growing in a container that has bloomed for a number
f years now and a couple planted in the ground that have yet to bloom. I
now they flower them well at the UC Botanical Garden in Berkeley in the
round. I tend to garden on the dry side in summer however when we don't
ave any rainfall and it is a summer rainfall plant. So it's possible that
t is happier growing in a container where there is better attention to its
eeds than in the dry ground. And it probably would be happier still in
he ground with re
gular summer water.
So Boyce you still may have luck with your container grown plants. Mine
tay outside year round, but somewhat sheltered from our rain. Maybe your
nside one wants cooler temperatures or a range of temperatures? Still if
ou can grow it in the ground, it's certainly easier.
Mary Sue

spikes with dozens of flowers; then a post came through PBS that
mentioned that they never bloomed in containers.
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ttp://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/

________________________________________________________________________
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------------------------------

Message: 11
Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 07:41:23 -0400
From: "MARK MAZER AND FREDRIKA MAZER" <markmazerandfm13@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [pbs] Where to order large roll of copper tape
To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <410-220095522114123656@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

McMaster-Carr

http://www.mcmaster.com/#copper-foil-tape/=1zedl3

Mark Mazer
Hertford, North Carolina US

------------------------------

Message: 12
Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 11:02:01 -0400
From: Tony Avent <tony@plantdelights.com>
Subject: Re: [pbs] Scilla natalensis in flower
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <4A16BE69.7070303@plantdelights.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Boyce:

We're certainly far south of Chicago, but Scilla natalensis flowers
great here every year, with a low in 2008/9 of 9F.

Tony Avent
Plant Delights Nursery @
Juniper Level Botanic Garden
9241 Sauls Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 USA
Minimum Winter Temps 0-5 F
Maximum Summer Temps 95-105F
USDA Hardiness Zone 7b
email tony@plantdelights.com
website http://www.plantdelights.com/
phone 919 772-4794
fax 919 772-4752
"I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself...at least three times" - Avent

Boyce Tankersley wrote:

------------------------------

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End of pbs Digest, Vol 76, Issue 23
***********************************