Almost G. byzantinus are G. italicus Old names G. byzantinus ssp. byzantinus and G. byzantinus ssp. italicus in the trade is most of the time the ssp. rest lost because to complicate G. italicus is much smaller Roland bulborum@gmail.com 2010/3/9 James Waddick <jwaddick@kc.rr.com> > Dear Friends, > Yes the Winter Aconites have been blooming here for over a > week as the weather suddenly went from deep cold to spring-mild (not > really spring, but "spring-mild"). The overnight low was almost 50 > with light rain. Sounds like spring, doesn't it? > > The Aconites continue to bloom, but so have the many other > early Spring bulbs at least started: various crocus from sieberi to > "tommies". I do love these especially when they seed around a bit and > show a range of shades from palest blue-violet to deeper colors akin > to 'Ruby Giant'. > > > Staying on aconites for a bit..... > > Last Saturday I was able to go to a couple Open Houses at two > large nurseries. At 'Pine Knot Nursery', fellow PBSer John Lonsdale > had pots of the semi-double Winter Aconite for sale so I had to pick > one up. This looks like a good double, but John says it has retained > enough of the reproductive parts to seed lightly near by - a bonus. > It is pictured on his web site. > > > http://edgewoodgardens.net/Plants_album/… > > Very nice. > > At the same Open House I also picked up a collected Galanthus > nivalis 'Croatian Orchard'. This is a small plant in all parts. It > has proven very vigorous there, clumps up and seeds about nicely. I > have high hopes. It doesn't seem to be pictured on the web anywhere, > sorry. > > I also visited Plant Delights Nursery where I purchased a > plant labelled "Gladiolus communis ssp. byzantinus 'Cruentus'". This > should not have been, but was a new name to me. It is apparently > larger than most plants grown under the name of Gladiolus communis > and has deeply colored flowers. It is apparently more common in > southern gardens. It should not be confused with the name Gladiolus > cruentus which refers to an African species. I am hoping it will > prove as good in the garden as other G. communis forms, but I am > wondering if any PBS growers have tried this in the colder climates > of Zone 4, 5 or 6 ? > > I should also mention that Adonis amurensis is in bloom this > week too - at least one clump. Another smaller clump blooms later for > some reason (deeper snow cover/). Barely passing for 'bulbous', this > is a great early blooming perennial for colder climates. Large > yellow flowers and finely cut deep green foliage. Very garden worthy. > > Appreciate any comments on the Gladiolus. Thanks 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 + > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ >