Another picture of the Crocosmia ...

Updated at last with the Crocosmia and the great big bumblebees.

Karin ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Wow! I've had mine for about 4 years, and they haven't multiplied but a tiny bit, and this year, they are late blooming, too. Just now getting little buds.

I must have mine planted int he wrong place.
Deb

I am looking to trade with someone to get some of those. Just curious how long do they bloom and when?? Thanks.:o)))

rebecca30

Rebecca,

I got mine in a trade at the Raleigh swap in 2007. I planted it when I got home and it looked like blades of grass. (about 6 inches high)

The plants are lovely now. (3-4 ft. high) I will be bringing as many divisions as I can to trade, while leaving myself a small section.

Karin ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

P.S. If you have some out of the way xeric plant, that's what I'd like to have.

I wont be at the trade unfortunatly this weekend.

rebecca30

rebecca...no trade needed. I have the same ones that karin has. I'll be glad to give you some. They are lovely:-)

I won't be able to attend the outing today. ya'll have fun.

tggfisk - you have DM about your crocosmia offer

r30

This is Blackberry Lily isn't it?

No, Birdie...Blackberry lily is something else. This shows a yellow one, but mine are orange like you're thinking.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56526/

I have a single yellow one, it looks just like the blackberry Lily escept for a yellow flower that is just beginning to bud.
HELP!! I really need some soil prep advise. it is my first year for sun gardening so starting with solid red clay, of course. Well a friend came in to help me and added a VERY sandy dirt mis, but only worked it down a couple inches ( I cannot even get a trowel all the way into it easily, so what should I ammend it with to have a healthy bed? ( topsoil, mulch, manur, peat??? I ordered A LOT of %50 off plands from Bluestone perrenniels and am keeping them in a shady area, but desparately want soil advise.
Its like I went from bad to bad at opposite extreems!

I would go to your local Lowes/HD and buy lots of pine bark soil conditioner(may be called pine bark fines) and a little less composted manure(Black Kow if you can afford it) dig it in as well as I could- then plant and mulch. I have never had it available but you may be able to get some compost/leaf mold from the town/city you live in for little cost.

Thanks chamthy,
This is my 1st "sun" garden and I am so nervous...afraid that I'll put things that say "sun to part sun" ...in too much sun and that with this now very well sraining soil sitting over clay that is packed liike a rock.........well that any water will just fun off, then away...........But I am really , re ally trying to put my trust back where it goes and just do my best and then...watch

Can those of you who have grown crocosmia tell me if it usually flowers the first year? I planted quite a few in spring, some in full sun and others in part shade. Have gotten foliage growth, but no flowers. Thanks!
Ruth

Mine didn't, so don't lose heart. This year it was fabulous! I believe though that it will eventually overcrowd and need dividing to keep up the blooming. Y'all let me know if I'm wrong:-)

Mine didn't bloom the first year either. 2nd year, only one plant bloomed. Now the 4th year, still the same ONE plant blooms.
From what I've read, this is not normal. :)

If anyone has any thoughts on how to make them bloom, I'd l-o-v-e to know! Mine are in full sun and have multiplied.
Deb

Does Crocosmia seed or is it one that must be clump divided. I see some "lucifer" I think, that I would love to have. That has been a few years ago though. I would deffinatelly plant seeds if that is a possibility!

This message was edited Aug 4, 2008 9:02 PM

OK, thanks, I'll wait and see what they do next year. Guess I'm spoiled by the spring-flowering bulbs, caladium, etc., that all do their thing the first year.
Ruth

Back to soil discussion. I am working also with the challenge of this clay soil and amending it as much as I can. I'm trying a lasagna garden now and will look forward to how it works. Also, making and using as much compost as I can. Seems as if I will be working the rest of my life to get it in good condition. Looking foward to the mulch giveaway in the fall.

But, here's my question....what grows well in clay soil without amending it. Any suggestions will be appreciated!

sawpalm, if you look in my journal in the category labeled 'bank', there are quite a few plants, like, sedums, buddleias, yarrow, and the crocosmia above (which I believe to be densiflorum)...etc that might work for you...when I planted a lot of that stuff years ago my idea of amending was throwing a cupful of compost in the hole and then planting. I will note that it is a steep bank, very sunny, so drainage is not a problem but runoff is. I'm sure all those plants would perform better under better conditions and definitely with better soil....but they survive total abuse abuse and neglect, so I'm leaving it alone :)

Sawpalm - what works well without amending clay soil are daylillies for sure. I never amend the soil for them and they do quite well. I also don't amend the soil for gardenias and azaleas.

rebecca30