This is one of my alliums 'Gladiator'. She's not as big as I expected, but am told that another couple of years will change that.
Their size and shape fascinate me. ;0)
This one is almost as tall as I am.
Joan
An Allium
What a beauty Joan! It's one I've always meant to grow......they are sooooooo cool (and tall)! Ü
I have 5 Alliums too, Joan. I am so impressed with them. You are right, it is amazing how tall they get. I was also surprised at how early they bloom. My 3 Purple Sensation Allium, which resembles yours above, are all but finished, but now I have 2 Schubertii starting to open up. They are shorter than the Purple Sensation. I will take a photo of them when they are in full bloom.
Thank you gals. Will look forward to the Schubertii. I'm tempted to plant some more this Fall. {:=)
Joan
p.s. I just took another look and that is a gorgeous close-up!!! What kind of digi do you have Joan?
Pam, I have a Canon S1 IS, which I got last Sept. The IS stands for Image Stabilizer, and is good for me because being in my later years, I have a small tremble (not as steady as I was at 20 ~ laff). I'm using my tripod more and more these days too.
Still learning though ~ there's always some new little trick to learn.
Joan
Joan it's lovely
Sigh... more Camera envy. It is a very nice close-up, Joan. It really shows how they appear to the eye. Gorgeous Flowers!
Excellent photo of Gladiator, Joan. I just love the alliums. I only have the sphaerocephalon & the azureum. Hope to get the white one this year.
Love that coolour, Joan. I love the aliums too--nice bridge between tulips and summer flowers. You'll like Schubertii- large headed like a sputnik. Peeps here are inclined to dry them and stick them in the ground later, sometimes spraying them first purple or blue. I got as far as drying--and discarding after a year.
Hmmmm, great tip Dawn. May try that. :)
Will have to take that into serious consideration. Ü
No kidding, I will do this.
Joan
Actually, I know it sounds rather ghastly but I just saw some this week in the Vancouver Garden Show (at VanDusen) and they were deep grayed purple, and rather effective, with silvers and blues, not gaudy.
So Sunrize, when do I cut them to start the drying process?
Joan
I saw some shots of the Vancouver Garden show on TV with Thomas Hobbs hosting. It looks like it was a terrific event. How'd you enjoy it Dawn...Elaine...Liz...Lana?
You'll know, Joan as the flower heads start drying on the stalk. The stalk might bend with the weight, but they become straw like--so harvest as wheat. Dry on a bit after cutting--just to make sure no moisture, do not have to be hung upside down. Easy.
Donna: I had only 2 hrs to skip over to the Van Garden Show, but yes, I did enjoy it. Most of the non garden craft show stuff is gone, so emphasis on plant material and design. I really had no overview, as I am needed as nursemaid to huge dog who just underwenmt knee surgery. Very demanding schedule of exercise, food, meds, etc. Too expensive, emotionally draining and putting him through pain, restraints, etc. to take a chance at leaving him. I have only been away twice (for 2 hrs) in the last 17 days. However, I consider it a privilege as he is a special creature. Aren't they all?
Hi Donna...I thought that the Show was marvelous. Under new management this year and definaSolomon.tely going in the right direction. Many vendors and some amazing plants for sale.
I wll ask SO to post some pics.
Sunrize, thanks, I thought it might be Fall.
Hope you'll keep us updated on pooch's progress.
Joan
That is so beautiful,Joan
How big is the flower?
yumiko
Thank you. It is about the size of a large grapefruit. This is the first year I've had them and I understand that they increase in size as they get used to their location.
Joan
That's good to know, Joan. This is my first year with them too. :)
OK, I thought alliums were like chives.
I have chives and they aren't big like that.
Is this a cousin or something, or am I totally mixed up here (that's a thing I always try to take into consideration in this gardening stuff - I've got a brain like a sieve for it still)?
~marilyn
Oh...my! this show was enjoyed by all! We manned our booth all four days, and the people were all sporting smiles on their faces! Plant material for sale, trops, perennials, and almost all the good growers had a stand or display! Three exhibits on roses, and sales too! Almost every gardener, regardless of the rain on a couple of the days, .......so very loyal.aren't we all? The first prize winner a display of a bedroom, all coated in Irish Moss! WOW!!!!!!!! Can you believe it, I did not , DID NOT.......purchase a rose at all! Did buy some perennial Hibiscus though! And, and, a water plant. A great time had by all! Elaine
What water plant did you buy Elaine???
Sounds like it was a terrific show, you lucky west coast peeps! We had a garden show here too, but I was so disappointed when I went. I was expecting a lot of garden stuff and plants, and there was hardly any. Mostly had a lot of hardware and building supply stuff displayed. :( The Castlegar Garden Tour is this Sunday, though. I am hoping I have the time to go. It is put on my the Castlegar Garden Club, which I am thinking of joining.
Marilyn, Alliums are of the onion family. Ornamental onion. If I am wrong, Todd will slap me with a wet Gunnera leaf!
They're in the same family. Chives are low growing - about a foot or so tall. My alliums were nearly as tall as I.
http://www.cookinglight.com/cooking/cs/allabout/package/0,14343,443590,00.html
Joan, is that how tall mine will grow? This was my first year with them and the Purple Sensation grew the tallest, about 4 feet tall, but the Christophii and the Schubertii were only about 2 feet tall. Will they all get taller with age?
I believe there's so many varietys of allium that it's hard to say what yours will do. Here's a link for the Purple Sensation.
http://www.naturehills.com/new/product/fallbulbsdetails.aspx?prodid=2908
Joan - That is a great close-up photo!
This is my first year growing allium as well. I have a couple of questions:
- When can they be cut back? The foliage is looking rather messy and I would like to tidy it up. Should I be waiting until it has completely dried up?
- Will they multiply or continue to grow as one bulb?
Thanks - Susan
Welll according to your link Joan, my Purple Sensation was even taller than the norm. Bu there was no info on the Allium Christophii or Schubertti. Guess I'll just have to wait until next year and see. :)
dirtcom: My foliage has already died down, which it does just as tulips and other bulbs do, so I've cleaned it out. I left the flower stalks as I want them to mature and become dried out, then I'll cut them out and use them in dried flower arrangements. I believe this is a common usage for them.
This means that they have to be fertilized while the leaves are still green in order to supply food and strength for the following year.
Joan