Dave's Garden Picture

Can someone tell me the name of the flower the bird is siting on at the Dave's Garden Logo section.

It looks like the ones I saw at the farmer's market yesterday, and the man sold every one he had. For the life of me, I can't remember what he said it was.
Thank's Gin

Crocosmia. :)

Thank's Dave....Now, off to read up on it to see if it's the same. I want one!!

Ginlyn: Isn't that the best photo of Crocosmia with the Hummingbird perched there!

Check out all the pretty Crocosmia's listed in Plant Files: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=crocosmia&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&searcher%5Bgrex%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search

Plantlady, I just came from the plant files and it is the same flower.
The market guy said he might have some more next saturday, but wasn't sure of the colors. I need to get there early before they're all gone The ones he had yesterday were brilliant orange.

Gin, you can buy bulbs at a reasonable price at quite a few online retailers during the spring. They're really nice flowers and add a little pizazz to any garden!

Ginlyn: Even if the guy at the Farmer's Market is out today, keep checking back! You can purchase the bulbs online as lakesidecallas suggested too. The guy at your farmers market may very well buy the bulbs elsewhere, growing them out for selling at the local marketplace. It's always nice if you can get them from a grower in your area, helping the local economy.

Lin

Crocosmias come in orange, reddish orange, and yellow/gold. Some of them are very prolific about spreading.

I believe the cultivar of the above photo is 'Lucifer'

I think I recall a posting in the past, where someone was asking about the plant in the banner photo, and I think the photographer responded that it is indeed Crocosmia 'Lucifer'.

I would love to have a little cottage sitting smack dab in a field of Crocosmia! ^_^

One of mine is blooming right now. It's about the third one this summer to bloom. However they really don't like the heat. Or it may have been the round up that son splashed on it.

Anne

:(

If they don't like the heat they wouldn't be happy down here, that's for sure! This is the hottest summer I remember in many, many years! Of course I'm getting old and my rememberer ain't what it used to be! ^_^ These mid 90º temp's with humidity hovering around 80% makes it unbearable for a lot of plants, critters ... and me as well! I sure am thankful for AC!!

A fellow master gardener here gave me 6 of them last Spring, and I planted them but unfortunately they died. I'm not sure why, but the soil was good and the watering was regular.

I'm wondering if maybe some of them don't do real well with the heat we have here in the South. I've been googling and reading and apparently Crocosmia can be invasive in some areas. I might have to give them a try as container plants. I found one in PF that someone who lives in my area grows and it sure looks like one I tried from seeds years ago that didn't live long: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/82/

I don't think it's the watering or lack thereof. I think it's just the heat. Mine dried up last year but came back this spring. So although the tops of a lot of mine browned and dried up, I suspect that they'll grow back next year.

Anne

They don't like the cold either...I planted a bunch of them and they bloomed fine that summer but none cane back this spring :(

Gin,

I have quite a bit of Lucifer. It's over 5 feet this year. They grow from corms, and are easy to divide. If you don't find any locally, let me know in the early fall, and I'll send you a couple:)

Lucifer is the only one that seems to be hardy for us, so far, that I've tried, but it's a good spreader, but no way invasive. I think some of the others are better for more southern areas, but Lucifer should do well for you in MD.

Polly

Thank you Polly... I appreciate your offer. Hopefully, I'll find one around here but if not, I'll let you know. It sounds as though Lucifer is probably the one I need for my area.
I want to plant it in the front of my house, but it gets the afternoon sun so that might be too hot. May have to go in back.

You're welcome. Do let me know.

The banner shot one grows in Oregon. I wonder if this is the same hummer that the photographer captured for this shot? http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/82228/
Thanks Kin for your yearly cheerful banner shot and for Dave adding it for our enjoyment!

It certainly must be, but I won't speak for Kin.

I will say about Kin, though, that he is clearly a master photographer. I think his photos have been featured as "Bloom of the Day" more than anybody else.

Speaking of Crocosmia "Lucifer", I just came across this post. They sure can increase!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=6887547

Stunning!! I'm green with envy. I guess I'll try again next year. ^_^

Now, that is one Amazing grouping of C. 'Lucifer'! I had no idea they got so tall! Guess I need to read more on these beauties!

Holey cow! That's really a lot of plants! Mine sure never got that big. Maybe I'll have to try again with them next year, too!

Wow, gorgeous. Mine are that tall, but I sure don't have that many.

My offer extends to you too Dave. I'll have plenty to send you some next year if you still want some then.

I just looked at the photo again, it looks like they posted a small sign in front of the flowers. Maybe a name with what they are, maybe a "don't pick the flowers!" sign.
Ah, I'm consumed with lust and envy...

In zone 5b in mid-western Ontario, Canada I have a beautiful 5 year old stand of 'Lucifer' and a small stand of 'Walberton Yellow' - just planted last summer - that seems to be happy right next to it. I wish I could tell you why they're doing so well but I don't know :-) I just planted them in well amended soil in a sunny location with lots of room to breath - no other plants crowding too close.

Dave - If you just planted those this spring, give them another year. I got some at a CSRU a few years back in the spring, planted them, and thought they had died as they did nothing. But the next year, they all came up and bloomed. The next year after that, they all came up with a whole bunch more. This year has been bad for them - and lots of other stuff in my yard, and I attribute it to the heat.