All this rain

I knew it had to good for something. We had a total of about 6" here Wednesday and Thursday. This is Zephyranthes x 'Ruth Page' a Howard hybrid. Not the first one I expected to bloom--but an unexpected surprise, nonetheless.

Apparently tonight or tomorrow night, this Habranthus martinezii will bloom. Definitely neither one of these would I have expected to bloom first.

Cool Debbie! I love the first one, that is a great color! I wasn't expecting blooms for another month or so....I'll have to be on the look out! Thanks for sharing.

Fran

Thanks Fran....it opened up OK, despite more impending rain; a little "tattered" but for so early can't complain.

The first Spring flowers are always a blessing.

I have a lot of stuff blooming right now--this is just the first of the rain lilies. =)

No rain here, just fresh lilies....and they have set seed, oh boy!

This is Habranthus martinezii and this species is native to Argentina and Uruguay and was first identified by Revenna in 1972. It has large, solitary white (usually, but can be pinkish too) flowers with a really nice brownish-purplish-reddish throat and obviously begin blooming in late March here. It is closely related to Habranthus tubispathus but the blooms are larger; almost as large as H. brachyandrus. This is a very robust grower and offsets easily. Recommended for growing in zones 8-10.

This shot shows the base pretty well--its a good 6-8" tall (the bloom scape) too.

This is not as good a shot but shows the reddish-purplish-brownish throat (a color that's hard to put into words).

Love the last one Deb!

Is rain preferable to snow slinging at you in strong winds with freezing winds at 4C and wind chill factor of -3C? Sun was nice though.

Oh goodness Janet! I guess if I had to choose, I'd choose the rain. Of course I have a bias--the rain makes for really great rain lilies and Louisiana Iris. I also have about 8 of those going to bloom within the week.

Janet thank you very much; I prefer the species bulbs too; I just couldn't believe the 'Ruth Page' was the first to bloom here this year--made me go in and check my numbering system--lol. Thought for sure it must be the native Cooperia drummondii (also sometimes known as Zephyranthes chlorosolen) which is the one dale posted--I have about a zillion of those--lol. Not sure why the natives didn't respond to all that rain; I can't wait for the Giant Prairie Lily (Cooperia pendunculata--also sometimes known as Zephyranthes drummondii) which is the prettiest of the spring natives; and my personal favorite native rain lily. They usually steadfastly hold to that April first date. I do fertilize my rain lilies a lot--which a lot of folks don't do. They respond well to it. But I'm all organic so things tend to bloom a little later (but much better, in my opinion because of that--makes healthier plants overall).

I have been drooling over your crocus and snowflake's. Of course I can only grow them here in my dreams--lol. But I do dream about them a lot! Just wanted you to know they are beautiful, just didn't think I could contribute much to that discussion--lol. The red laxa's are blooming their little heads of but the blue and white hasn't yet. Here's some red until yours bloom.

It's gorgeous! Mine won't bloom for some time, I have yet to sow the seed! It might have been done if the weather had held out as it 'should' have, nothing like the 11-12C promised.

I did sow the Cooperia pedunculata, Cypella coelestis and your cross Zephyranthes, it still gets warm in the greenhouse so it might suit them, nights close to freezing. Most of the seeds which need sowing 'might' have been sown by now!

Thanks Deb, crocus are lovely at this time of year, something has to brighten our days! They haven't lasted long though, I think we had some warm weather, long ago now, they love some sun to open up in but decided to go to seed.

What do you use for fertiliser on the bulbs? Wood ash has been my latest. Most plants do better in the long run with natural food, leaf mould seems to be good for bulbs too.

Most of the Leucocoryne have a few germinated, they sprung up and raced away, I don't remember seeing L. vittatum, must check!. Trichopetalum plumosum is very eager too, I'm so pleased that one germinated!

Janet, I'm sorry--I knew you had asked about fertilizer somewhere I was going crazy last night looking for the post! I'm glad to see I haven't completely lost my mind.

Because I have to be accountable for what I use--I use this foliar:
http://www.spray-n-growgardening.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BPF20&top=3

I use this supplement:
http://www.spray-n-growgardening.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SNG&top=3

I also use these products in the growing medium; different ones for different kinds bulbs (in different proportions, etc--now you are getting into my "secret sauce" recipes--if you know what I mean).
http://www.espoma.com/content.aspx?type=p&id=22&intCategoryID=4

http://www.espoma.com/content.aspx?type=p&id=24&intCategoryID=4

http://www.espoma.com/content.aspx?type=p&id=21&intCategoryID=4

Now in the my general garden areas where I just grow MY stuff--I do what you do (compost, leaf mould, etc)--just not wood ash because we are alkaline not acidic. I am certified organic commercial. I also use soil sulfur and holly-tone together on the Louisiana Iris beds.

It seems everyone here is losing their mind! Thanks for going to the trouble, I didn't think you would be using so many formulae. Greensand sounds interesting, what is that? They all sound good, secret sauces!

My secret sauce I thought was good enough to eat when the sun shone yesterday and I managed to clean most of the Dahlia bed. It's 4 years since it was composted, going from a sad, heavy sand to this.....

Greensand is this:
http://www.spray-n-growgardening.com/prodinfo.asp?number=TXGREENSAND&top=10

Its actually harvested from West Texas and is one of the things they use as "drilling mud" to shoot down the shaft to cool the "drilling" head when drilling for oil. (I know this because I have a master's degree in Geology). I use it too; but not for that purpose. These ammendments I only use in containers because I use a professional grow mix that is sterile. I don't need them in general gardening soil--my soil started much like yours but on the heavy alkaline clay side to begin with.

Another thing I use is:
http://www.spray-n-growgardening.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MINERALS&top=10

You have to realize I get really good prices on this stuff because I buy wholesale not retail.

This guy STILL looks good 3 days later--that's pretty unusual for a rain lily--usually look good for 2 days, max.

Another really bizarre thing I noticed late last night when it was about to get dark was this crinum sending up a scape. This guy is out in a kind of "holding pen" I have for some plants I haven't quite decided what to do with. Me and several other pro or semi-pro growers trade stuff with each other in Oct in sort of a co-op arrangement. This one was just quickly put into a gallon pot with mulch on top and "tucked in" for the winter with mulch around it. Been sitting there, outside, all winter. I did foliar feed them a couple of times this month, but other than that; ignored. Went to pull something for an order last night and noticed this one. Noted the number, took its pic, and came in thinking "great! I'm finally going to be able to ID this unknown Ismene I have!". Well no such luck there, its just 'JC Harvey', but it definitely should not be blooming this early! I've never seen crinums bloom here prior to mid-May. Since it got 28F out there 5 times this winter--it can't be due to a mild winter! So I guess the only thing I can attribute it to (since obviously it has just broken dormacy itself) is all the "nitrogen-fixing" from all the thunderstorms and rain.

Looks like TX has some good natural fertilisers! 17 percent weight of iron is a huge amount! Lucky you to have a masters in Geology, that is what I was going to do given the chance but my father didn't want to pay the price. I also wanted to do Physics, but Geology was my main interest. We must be twins!

The rain lily must be liking all that rain......

My crinums were growing too until the hard frost in Feb knocked them back, but most of them are still very young, some were getting to a good size last year and I had high hopes, the -5C's didn't seem to bother them in the GH but the -9C did. They are all growing again now, and I have no experience of when they should flower as this is a new adventure for me, very few people grow any here and there is a very limited choice. Your JC Harvey would not be available, amoenum is one now seen, others bulbispermum, Ellen Bosenquet, mooreii and x powellii but I don't know anyone growing them, other than me (I don't have the last two but have others). It's only a fe specialist nurseries that sell them.

I think the mild autumn and winter may have prepared the bulbs for growth, even with frosts the process may have started within the bulb. I found the same with the fuchsias, they were making buds up to mid Feb when the hard frost hit them but -5C didn't damage the buds on those by the wall, they were in the process which doesn't usually happen until summer! Nitrogen fixing probably played a major part too, no amount of watering does the same as rain.

Well the thing has shot up another too inches today. I'm still shaking my head about that one--I've NEVER seen a crinum bloom that early down here that wasn't in a greenhouse. I've never seen one in a greenhouse bloom this time of year either.

There are a few other things I've been meaning to show you--so I'll just "stretch" it and attribute it to all this rain. ;)

This is a Northoscordium felipponi (formerly Ipheion felipponi) that I've been told a million times won't grow in hot and humid Texas--well here is the wee little thing making a mockery of all the naysayers. I think its so cute--native to Uruguay in acidic clay soil--likes year round rainfall with a brief dry period late summer.

Here's some stuff right outside the back door (this lovely shot--and I say that tongue in cheek--the yellow water hose really makes the pic--was taken last night after work) that might interest you for various reasons:

#1 is another JC Harvey crinum I was considering keeping for myself and putting out front--perhaps I might should re-evaluate that choice and keep the other one. ;)

The Gladiolus dalenii 'Halloweenie' is a single bulb a buddy sent me in November. I think its big enough to bloom later this spring/summer. It's just emerging...

Those Triteleia's (Butte Co strain) came from Telos--I'm really impressed by them. They are still in bloom and began blooming 2/17--I think that's a long bloom span for this bulb in this climate. After all, this hasn't exactly been southern CA here this winter with all this rain--lol

These red laxa's I started from seed in September--they sulked most of the way thru winter, but I never pulled them in during frost. I left them by the door to keep them far away from the ones in the ground to keep seperate seed strains.

These Freesia leichtlinii's are on their second year. I did them from seed and I believe they are going to bloom before it gets too hot. Was expecting to have to wait 3 yrs on these.

These Cypella coelestes are from the same seed batch as I sent you some from--I started this particular pot of seeds in August. They re-emerged like a train wreck waiting to happen. Just pointed them out to let you know what to expect.

The white circle is where I attempted to circle the tag on the Ipheion sellowian above but it turned into a "blob". I'm obviously not very good at the "paint" feature--lol. The pic above was 3/17 but it is blooming again today--but it was too late to get another shot before I realized it.

I tried to circle the Ipheion

These are the Freesia laxa's started fairly recently. These are in that same area as the picture above but crammed in between two tall pots to protect from full, all day, blazing hot sun--lol

They are as follows (I'm hoping I can get a bloom out of these before it gets too hot!):

171A--extreme 3 upper right--These are some F laxa 'Joan Evans' I traded some one from your side of the pond some rain lily species seeds for. They are real thickly sown in those pots. (sown 12/31--started indoors but promptly moved outside after germination)

142--The 2 pots with no tags at all, and the 2 bottom from the left, the one extreme upper left--the blues--you will notice they are taller than all the others, I think they look noticibly different--we shall cross our fingers. (sown 12/10 but outside all winter)

189--some NARGS seeds simply labeled "F laxa--white with red eye". Sure sounds like 'Joan Evans' to me. (these sown 1/27/2007; started inside but moved outside right after germination)

I don't know how you can mention all day blazing hot sun, when I am sat here huddling in dull, windy, 44F weather! We need to do a weather exchange..

The Cypella look very similar to Dietes grandiflora, mine do well in the GH over winter, never get frosted, they are growing quickly now.

I think F laxa should do well here, I should have got some blue and white too, will do another time. The hybrids can stay green over winter if not too frozen. I have a few in a tray I should have potted but they don't always do well and this year they look alive and might flower, yours are looking great, lots of buds! I'm wondering if I should sow the seeds of the red I have in early Autumn, as they usually go dormant for summer.

I would expect your G dalenii H to flower, they are really keen, mine flowered within 18 months from seed with an April sowing. There were a few returnees besides that look thin and wispy, this year I have around 8 good looking plants growing now. I think that's how many germinated and yet they were only there briefly, weak, short and thin, for a start. I will have to take pics of them, if I defrost before the day is finished!

Actually its not hot blazing sun here yet--still highs 75-80F; but when it does turn hot, it tends to do it rather quickly. I just don't want them to fry. I'm waiting until October for all the rest of the Freesia laxa seeds I have. Just so much to do and so little time.

Cypella coelestes is nothing like dietes (the latter are weeds here and not at all desirable) it is much more well behaved and flowers over a greater period of time:
http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/Detail/03735.html

Also likes a lot more moisture and acidic soil so they should do well for both of us.

How tall did that G dalenii get for you? I need to get it out of that pot and into the ground--quickly!

I have a lot to do today--have 4 varieties of wholesale Zantesdeshia's to try--majestic red (thanks to your plantfiles pics!), white albo, amethyst, and the biggest black forest bulbs I've ever seen. Two Lachenalia's to plant, some Schizostylis, Sprekelia, and Schizostylis, Zephyranthes 'Batik' and 'Krakatau', some more Hymenocallis eulae or H. galvestonensis (as I prefer). These are all wholesale bulbs. I have one more really large order of wholesale bulbs coming in the next week and that will pretty well do it until October. Then its sorta catch as can from various sources until fall. May they all grow and multiply! Last weekend I got a bunch of Polianthes and Leucocoryne done; I need to be much more productive this weekend. I think the only seeds I'll be doing until fall are some Aristea's and more rain lilies; everything else is just going to have to wait--its getting too late in the year down here now.

Here's some blue-eyed grass from Florida.

That's an unusually hot summer's day for us! I thought the Cypella foliage resembled Dietes, they are both Iris family, and Dietes are a touch and go plant here, oneof those that very few people will try. Iwill try some outside when they are bigger.

I like the blue Sisyrinchium and have often thought of getting some, I have had a yellow short one self set from the nighbours, she lost hers, but it was getting to be invasive and as I don't like the neighbour neither did I like her invasive plants! They get a bit shabby over winter then take over.

My Ipheion Wisley Blue has gone ape this year, it's flowered since early winter but now is full of flower. They are amongst the Fuchsias and G byzantinus ssp communis, it looks to be a battle for supremacy! The glads are very tall now, Fuchsias regrowing from most of the stems, moles lifting soil around them and I can't tread it down, a happy healthy lot!

I 'wanted' to do a lot today in that lovely sunshine they promised us! I might have to get my head around it and just go mix up some compost to get warm anyway, I used all the last lot when I tipped out Zant. Majestic Red yesterday. They had gone to near the bottom of the pot, and it was jam packed full! Each of the 4 huge ones I put in their own pot, 3 of the four small ones I'm passing to others, the smallest I will grow a bit more. The small ones are about the size you would normally buy them, the biggest is 3.5" across, they don't look so big in the pic but are deep and heavy. The pots I put them in are fairly large, smaller cut flower buckets, but they were only just big enough really with the roots going around the edges. I think it was summer 2003 when I got it in a very small pot already flowered, the next year it had several tiny bulbs near the surface, I repotted the lot and in 05 had large leaves and 3 flowers. Last year the leaves were huge, and as you see it increases well! It likes my compost.

Think about this Ipheion (mine are doing well too) for fall. It really is a purple not a blue--bad shot it was raining, as usual that day. I can "smuggle" you some soon--it also seeds the best of any this year. Froyle Mill.

I know what you mean about the Sisyrinchium. But this one plays well with others and is definitely not invasive--I'll see if its setting any seeds.

I need to be out working and instead I'm trying to set up trades--I've got to get off this computer--lol

That's pretty! I went out to feed Straypuss, no way am I going out there today to do anything! It's arctic! Tomorrow, a whole sun with no clouds and 10C they say, and up to 14c next week, aha, get ready for it!

It's 3.45pm here, another 2 hours at least of daylight or greylight, just lighting a fire to warm up! Tonight clocks go forward an hour, they lie about the weather really so we are not so depressed, have to have something to look forward to!

I forgot to answer your height question on G dalenii, the flowering one was around 3', I'll post a pic of mine emerging on the Glad forum.

My Dietes grandiflora sown 24th April 05, I have 5 but one's not looking good. These went through the last winter, which was very cold, easily in the GH and they of course we much smaller.

This is what I mean about Sth African bulbs being slow, here at least! Geissorhiza radians sown 19th December o4, not sure whenm they germinated but I imagine sometime in the following spring. They were miniscle last year after one year with very fine, tiny grassy growth. When they were nearly dormant in the summer the top had become so caked I took them out and replanted, some were like pinpricks,. the biggest not even a pinhead.

This year 5 emerged although I had more, one got chewed off and I have 4 but they are finally gettng a little size! Two years for tiny things!

Another, Babiana ringens, sown 8th Feb 05 so germination about the same time as the Geissorhiza. It was very small last year but bigger than the Geiss., 2 only but that is better than none! This year they are putting on some weight, due for their annual decake and top up, it's a wonder they survive with the black stuff that grows on top over winter. I could almost transplant these into their own pots, but as they are small yet I think a top-up will suffice until next year.

Well the Dietes look real good now! Wow--I'm excited about that G radians. I think it will bloom for you this year, they are rather small species and its been long enough. I'm definitely doing a bunch of them from SilverHill next fall--ran out of time this winter. That Babiana looks very healthy too--I'm still out on the fence whether or not to try them here. I might buy a few bulbs sometime and see how they do. That silly crinum I decided to put in a place of honor in my back border--watch it offset like crazy and never bloom again!

.I don't know when the Geiss. radians flowers, but it would be great if they flowered this year!

Ixia viridiflora flowered last year and it was sown about the same time. I didn't get a pic of those, they are tall (but floppy) and multiplied like crazy. I should have more than 2 spikes this year.

Babiana does look sturdy, I really want to try more but, you know, too much! Silverhill certainly does tempt me though, their prices are much better than here and of course they have almost everything!

I daren't hope for flowers on the Dietes this year, but........they are racing! The poor one isn't in the pic.

I have 3 nice looking Irises I got from seed off Kinkajou Shrew too, it set seed in 05 it's first year. I should have had more but some little vermin ate the ends off the seeds! They were sticky and brown, quite large, not at all like normal iris seeds. I think it's expecting too much for flowers this year, but they look good! I want to see what the flowers are like.........

AND I have seeds growing from my Hemerocallis Night Beacon, I have 14 or 15, I think I sowed 17, it looks like they will all grow. Oh heck, where is it all going to go??

I would think the G radians would bloom soon maybe. Says right here in the Encyclopedia of Cape Bulbs (and the picture is a stunner too!):
Plants 8-16 cm high; flowers Sept-October in damp sandy or granitic soils SW (Malmesbury to Gordon's Bay). Sounds like our kind of dirt to me!

Those 'Night Beacon' look really good too! The Hymenocallis do really well in not that big of pots for me. Or do you mean Hermodactylus--I think I'm confused (probably the direct result of being excessively tired, dirty, and hungry). I've just got to go in the kitchen and make a quick sandwich or something so I can get out and get some stuff done prior to dark.

Come back refreshed! Daylily!

Hmm, 8cm high is close to what they are, but it's hard to imagine them flowering yet.

Got some more rain lilies over here:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/706080/

Got LA IRIS over here:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/705912/

Got his lovely native US bulb yesterday (the picture); Nemastylis geminiflora common name Prairie Celestial

Herbertia pulchella and Cypella herbertii are budded up well; and should bloom really soon.