Autumn bulbs

[Michael J Campbell]

A few Cyclamen.
Cyclamen Graecum from Angistri . cyclamen soc seed.
Cyclamen hederifolium silver leaf

[Michael J Campbell]

And a few pics from the garden.

[RickR]

Very nice, both of them.  What happened to the pollen (and anthers) on the one Cyrtanthus flower?  It almost looks like you snipped the ends of the stamens...

[Lori S.]

Wow, what exquisite plants, Michael! 
Really nice exhibit of colchicum, Rick - now those I think I could probably grow here!

[Michael J Campbell]

Rick, I snipped them of for cross pollination purposes. 

[RickR]

Really nice exhibit of colchicum, Rick - now those I think I could probably grow here!

That group of C. agrippinum (http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=428.msg11424#msg11424 ) is particularly photogenic this year.  Last year I had some bouts of heavy rain just when they were blooming, and I could hardly get even one decent photograph.  I had the opportunity to buy 25 small non-blooming size bulbs in 2008 for a ridiculously cheap price.  Didn't know if they would survive here or not, but who cared?  I tried them all over the garden and in pots, too. The ones in pots, did not do as well and all but one has since succumb.  This, even though my potted materials are winter protected.  At least in my climate, they seem to do fine in rich clay based soil, too, although it does drain fairly well.

And remember the cool foliage on this species as well.  Not every one is so artistic, but they all wave, twist and undulate.

               

[WimB]

Flowering now:

Colchicum 'Lilac Bedder'
Colchicum 'Poseidon'
and Sternbergia greuteriana

[RickR]

I just can't get enough of those white centered lilac colchicums...

[Hoy]

I just can't get enough of those white centered lilac colchicums...

Neither can my slugs >  Almost all mine have damaged flowers thanks to the slugs.

[RickR]

Slugs are funny animals here.  Last season we had a cool temperatures and low rainfall, and LOTS of slugs.   This year, warmer than normal temperatures (but still only two days of 100+F) and extra rainfall, and virtually no slugs!

[Lori S.]

Slugs are funny animals here.  Last season we had a cool temperatures and low rainfall, and LOTS of slugs.   This year, warmer than normal temperatures (but still only two days of 100+F) and extra rainfall, and virtually no slugs!

Boy, I'll say they are!  Honestly, up until this year, I was used to noticing a very few slugs through the season every year (mostly just noticing a slug trail across the stepping stones or one on the bottom of a pot), but in this wet year (at least into August), I cannot believe the number of slugs!!  Seeing them converge every evening on my tufa garden has brought my baser nature to the surface (it is only shallowly concealed at best, I admit  )... I squished 50 (!) of them one night, then 30 the next night, incredibly, and have dispatched many more since then.  Sheesh!  What gives?!?

On a less slimy note , here's what is supposed to be Colchicum speciosum 'Ordu'.  Does it look correct?  (It has floppy stems, unfortunately, as you've noted, Rick, for some other Colchicum.)

[Hoy]

Slugs are funny animals here.  Last season we had a cool temperatures and low rainfall, and LOTS of slugs.   This year, warmer than normal temperatures (but still only two days of 100+F) and extra rainfall, and virtually no slugs!

Boy, I'll say they are!  Honestly, up until this year, I was used to noticing a very few slugs through the season every year (mostly just noticing a slug trail across the stepping stones or one on the bottom of a pot), but in this wet year (at least into August), I cannot believe the number of slugs!!  Seeing them converge every evening on my tufa garden has brought my baser nature to the surface (it is only shallowly concealed at best, I admit  )... I squished 50 (!) of them one night, then 30 the next night, incredibly, and have dispatched many more since then.  Sheesh!  What gives?!?

On a less slimy note , here's what is supposed to be Colchicum speciosum 'Ordu'.  Does it look correct?  (It has floppy stems, unfortunately, as you've noted, Rick, for some other Colchicum.)

I can't tell you which Colchicum it is but you have to be satisfied with the collection of slugs you've got A friend of mine tallied about 3000 of the beasts last year but only 1500 so far this year in her garden I don't count mine - i just kill them >

[Lori S.]

I can't tell you which Colchicum it is but you have to be satisfied with the collection of slugs you've got A friend of mine tallied about 3000 of the beasts last year but only 1500 so far this year in her garden I don't count mine - i just kill them >

Yeah, I'm thrilled with it!  Can't you tell?    I'm just glad I'm not counting them in the thousands!

[RickR]

Lori: even the tufa crumbles you have aren't sharp enough to kill the slugs?

[Lori S.]

No, I'll have to top dress with razor blades next time...