Spring is Sprung
J.E. Shields (Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:36:40 PST)

Hi all,

Yesterday both Galanthus elwesii and now G. nivalis were in
bloom. Trillium nivale is up, but was buried under leaves until I
uncovered them two days ago, so they are yellow and small.

This morning, just a few minutes ago in fact, we had our first thunder and
lightning of the season. It must really be Spring in Indiana!

In the South African House, Scadoxus puniceus is almost finished
flowering. Scadoxus membranaceus are shooting up green leaves, Scadoxus
(multiflorus katherinae X puniceus) F2 are sending up foliage as well; I
don't think any of these are big enough to flower yet. The S. multiflorus
katherinae are still laying low. I have just repotted them, so maybe that
will encourage them to grow and bloom again.

In the Clivia House, the Clivia are at peak bloom. Interesting things in
flower for the first time here include Clivia 'Chubb Pretty Pink', also C.
['Gladys Bleackbeard' X Umtamvuna Dark Pink], and my first plant from the
cross Clivia ['Sunrise Sunset' X 'Tessa'].

I'll post pictures of these in my blog over the next several days. The
Clivia Open House is this coming Saturday afternoon, so probably only after
that.

Happy Springtime!

Jim Shields
in warm and rainy Westfield, Indiana
USA

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Jim Shields USDA Zone 5 Shields Gardens, Ltd.
P.O. Box 92 WWW: http://www.shieldsgardens.com/
Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA
Tel. ++1-317-867-3344 or toll-free 1-866-449-3344 in USA