Miscellaneous summer bulbs

[McDonough]

Bloomeria crocea var montana started opening flowers today.  Curiously CalFlora has sunk the three varieties under the main species name, however the other more encompassing authorities maintain the varietal status, so based on Flora Of North America and ITIS, the variety stands.

This plant never ceases to impress me, now perfectly hardy for the last 5 years, considering it is found in chaparral, yellow pine forests; 300--1000 m, with var. montana restricted to the southern Coast Ranges and the Tehachapi Mountains of Southern California.  It does make seed (a tiny bit) and I do have some seedlings coming along.

It blooms late here (although earlier than normal this year, usually I have to wait to July to see the blooms).  The stems are wire-thin, yet perfectly erect and never fall over or lean, even after last night's series of thunderstorms and torrential downpours, looking as fresh as ever this morning. The open inflorescence is very large, to about 8-9" in diameter (20-22.5 cm) on stems 18"-24" (45-60 cm).  The flowers last a very long time.  Some forms of B. crocea have brown midveins, although in my var. montana the flowers are pure bright yellow.

At peak flowering, I'll post again.

USDA
http://www.plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=BLCRM

ITIS
http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=526938

Flora of North America
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242102175

CalFlora
http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=1101

[Hoy]

An airy and elegant plant!

[Kelaidis]

Where do you find all this stuff you maniac? It's marvellous: and I have been content with mere Triteleia ixioides...

[McDonough]

Where do you find all this stuff you maniac? It's marvellous: and I have been content with mere Triteleia ixioides...

Many Trits from Jim Robinett before he passed away, his bulb offering was unparalleled for the more unusual California bulbs, like Trits and Brods.  And this particular "bloomie" from Jane McGary; I hope one day she reinstates her modest annual bulb list; always a great list with affordable pricing, with things hard to find elsewhere... still waiting for Fritillaria eastwoodiae to bloom, the single leaf was bigger this year   And then I get some other great stuff, like the world's best blue Allium caeruleum from some other maniac... let's see, what's his name.........? 

[Lori S.]

I'm usually conscientious about adding new plants to my maps and notes, but I seem to have had a brief lapse last year!  I really don't remember planting... Ornithogalum nutans??  Can anyone confirm if that's what it is, please?
 

[McDonough]

I'm usually conscientious about adding new plants to my maps and notes, but I seem to have had a brief lapse last year!  I really don't remember planting... Ornithogalum nutans??  Can anyone confirm if that's what it is, please?
 

I'm not familiar with it, but a cursory look at photos on the web seem to match.

[Lori S.]

Thanks, Mark.
Here's the last of my non-allium summer bulbs... Brimeura amethystina, somehow surviving in sunflower seed litter in the area that is now used for birdfeeding...

[deesen]

Endemic to South America, seed grown sowed in February 2008 and flowering for the first time hence a slightly immature flower.

Cypella herbertii

[Fermi]

Mark,
that Bloomeria looks great! I've planted one recently so hope to see it bloom like yours soon!

David,
nothing immature about your Cypella _ it has all its bits!

Summer was a long time ago for us in the Southern Hemisphere! Some pics from January and February:
Calochortus fimbriatus

Habranthus martinezii x robustus

Lycoris incarnata

And an Aussie native bulb, Calostemma purpureum

cheers
fermi

[RickR]

Fermi, that Callochortus!  I am not sure I'd put it in the "beautiful" category, but it is so interesting... right down to the incurved anthers and angled pistil!

And that bract just under the umbel of the Callostema sure can be whimsical!

[deesen]

Tigridia pavonia.

From a three year old clump, the results of a purchase of a cheap pack of bulbs from one of the large Sheds. It's survived out in the garden through the last three pretty cold winters (by SW England standards!) and has come back every time and sets seed regularly.

[Tony Willis]

two of my lilies in flower now,the first from Greece

Lilium chalcedonicum

and the second which is from a garden centre and may be a hybrid? It is about three feet tall and very rigid in habit. Either way it is a wonderful plant

Lilium auratum

[Tony Willis]

Another of my lilies in flower now from N Vietnam
Lilium poilanei

[RickR]

That Lilium poilanei sure is elegant.  The thick petals suggests it lasts a long time, too (?)

The others aren't too shabby, either.  L. chalcedonicum from seed has so far survived its first winter season here in zone 4!

[Tony Willis]

Strange to be posting this here in summer bulbs as it flowers in about March/April in the wild.

Biarum ditschianum