...and wear a red hat

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me.



I think I am on to a plant for the 'I shall wear purple...' party - what do you think: http://www.americanmeadows.com/SpringPlantedBulbs/Others/GorgeousGloryoftheSunLilyLeucocoryneAndes.aspx

going to try and find a better picture - bear with me. This is interesting: http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Leucocoryne Or this one: http://www.leucocoryne.cl/

This message was edited Feb 7, 2007 12:02 AM

Lovely, I'll join the party.

...and I will wear my Gaucho Hat with Dingle Balls.
http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/ProductImages/fritillaria/Fritillaria_Crown_Imperial_Red.jpg
http://www.offthedeepend.com/popup.aspx?src=images/PRODUCT/large/1363.jpg

the party has just begun. Is red/orange still acceptable?

Oh, growin, you win! A tutu of imperialis, and that groucho hat! Excellent combination!

I wish I could find that Chilean bulb though. I'm looking for Chilean plants. Is it hardy?

Growin, did you click on the first hyperlink for someone called american meadows - they seem to have it on sale half price. I believe it is hardy to -5C (sorry, can't find my converter - i think that is about 24F), so would appreciate a bit of bracken over the top if you are going lower.

Laurie, that's a winner!!!!! How fun - I am definitely going to find that bulb, whether on this site or locally. Thanks for sharing!!

I thought you would like that Murmur - shall we all grow them and catch seed? What an amazing site that wasted woodland would become! AND, I have just found out that they are also fragrant! Finding mixed info about hardiness - but with a good dusting of compost or bracken should be okay. I think it is a definate must. I have found Bloms Bulbs has them, so I am going to order some for the cutting bed (at much higher price than American Meadows! GRRRRRRR - but worth the investment.) And with growin coming in her gaucho hat and fritallaria tutu, this is going to be a must.

Laurie1, we actually use celcius here and I can never figure out the conversion anyways. After doing tons of research into the Chilean plants, talking to my friend who went there it appears it's not as much about hardiness but drainage and soil composition. The soil is very rocky, sharp drainage and even with snow, does not hold moisture. This one is summer dormant so I'd assume it would require sharp grit to do well and would increase hardiness. It's a real nice plant thought that I will try and get for the botanical gardens.

ps. I'm a guy. I just thought the Frittillaria looked like the gaucho hat.

Laurie1, I'm rolling on the floor on that one!!!!!! sorry growin, it's funny,Jim

I actually have a flower bed that I call the "Red Hat Garden," mainly because the majority of the plants in it were gifts from friends on my 60th birthday (and a few from the birds as well). I just ordered some of the bulb from American Meadows (among other things, doggone me anyway!) and they should do well in that garden (eastern exposure).

You mean Growin won't be wearing a tutu? Then I'm not wearing mine either (and I can't tell you how lucky you all are!!!).

Well....I'll wear the tutu if you do Murmur. But only "briefly". Maybe do a Pixy dead plant danse. I still get to wear the gaucho hat, though.

Growin, I'm crushed! I had this fab image of a woman driving that lovely truck (gawd how I envy!) and breaking for exotic folliage! Ahhhh, projective identification, one of my favourite pasttimes. (When we were driving into London the other evening there was a lovely old Chevy in front of us, complete with split screen - so yummy). Oh, that is definately a truck for a woman, I am going off to sulk. But not before I make a plea that gender should not restrict the wearing of tutus! Have you never seen the gardia in Greece - heart stoppingly mmmmpf. Yes indeed. And there is nothing so sexy as a man in a formal kilt - those tight cut short jackets, sharp pleats and perfectly turned long socks. I think it is the contrast between masculinity and vulnerbility. Too good. An academic gown, with the soft doctoral cap is another one. Lovely.

Thanks for the info on soil requirement. We are on such a steep slope (15 degrees top to bottom of the garden) that our drainage, despite being clay, is quite good. But I suspect, since this little plant likes gravel, ours is going to need a lot of loosening up before we plant out. Are you sure about the summer dormancy - I thought it lists blooming for June/July - ahhhh, but our June/July is Chile's winter?

Your's in confusion - L

Laurie, as usual you bring a smile to my face - and I will repeat from a post awhile back that your writing is superb. It's descriptive and invites the reader to "see" just what you are saying.

Growin, looks like the wearing of the tutu is on!!!

Laurie, have you tried Gypsun to break up the clay. I was using it for other reasons but i read on the label that is one of it's uses. maybe when it's hot in August I'll try the Tutu. and a floppy hat. Jim

The mental picture of all of us prancing about in tutus is more than I can take - lol!!!

I was just going to write, but I can't stop laughing.

Okay, I have recovered.

Gypsum - we have it under us! Honestly. Running under our valley is one of the last big gypsum mines in the UK. About once a month we hear a muffled explosion as they loosen up the next sector. The weird thing is the plant is about 10 miles away. Makes the mind boggle how big this place is. And what our house is standing on. If I disappear (did I hear a muffled hurrah!) one day, please come look in the hole for me. Or at least plant up some Leucocoryne. And wear Tutus.

Wondering what adding gypsum would do to the acidity balance. Any thoughts? More research.


Hope all of you get a nice little valentine treat. I did.

This message was edited Feb 13, 2007 7:56 PM

Happy valentine day for all of you! Wondering if Tutu is an appropriate outfit to celebrate this holiday?

Laurie, gypsum has no effect on soil pH. It's main purpose is to penetrate the many clay particles in heavy or the layer of hard subsoil type soils and loosen the soil structure. Then this creates air and moisture slots that will loosen and break-up the soil structure, but it takes years for it to work.

I'm in no hurry, I will give it a whirl.