What's flowering today

[RickR]

I too thought like Lori that you meant a monospecific genus

That didn't even occur to me.  I said it was one species because I thought that some would think there were two kinds of foliage, when if fact there is only one.  My previous responses must have been very confusing... 

[bulborum]

I said it was one species because I thought that some would think there were two kinds of foliage, when if fact there is only one.

Exact what I thought
but my English isn't that good

Roland

[Hoy]

I too thought like Lori that you meant a monospecific genus

That didn't even occur to me.  I said it was one species because I thought that some would think there were two kinds of foliage, when if fact there is only one.  My previous responses must have been very confusing... 

I realized what you meant when I suddenly saw the white "thing" as conifer foliage

[McDonough]

I too thought like Lori that you meant a monospecific genus

That didn't even occur to me.  I said it was one species because I thought that some would think there were two kinds of foliage, when if fact there is only one.  My previous responses must have been very confusing... 

Oh, me too, that's why I suggested Microbiota, it's a monospecific genus, and the leaves (at least the green side) look similar to your plant.  I also didn't realize that the white foliage was the backside of the leaves.  It is amazing that the backside is so completely silvery white compared to the top side of the leaves, is that color difference perceptable on the plant as the leaves present themselves?

[RickR]

It is amazing that the backside is so completely silvery white compared to the top side of the leaves, is that color difference perceptable on the plant as the leaves present themselves?

Though I try to bring things outside to photograph in good ambient light, and get better detail and less shadowing, I had to take the vase photo with flash.  In fact I took several pics at different settings, and you see the best of the lot.  Sheesh, you should see how white the back sides were when the green side was true color!

The photos below show the contrast more truly.  (And yes, the "white" does have a slight blue tint to it.)  

        

On my small tree, you don't normally see the white undersides without physically picking up and turning over the branches, except at the top where there is a little temporary natural twisting of the foliage (as shown in my previous post).  As the tree grows taller and one looks up at, it will be a glorious site!

The species is normally an understory shrub with a wide, sprawling growth habit similar to Taxus canadensis.  Branches are always ascending, but lay down as they get too tall and heavy.  There are tree forms that are much sought after, as the open bush habit is not very attractive.  I don't think you'll ever find the bush form for sale or even to see, except at botanic gardens.

My specimen was grown from a cutting, legally taken from the Morton Arboretum in Chicago, 14 years ago.  Though the Arboretum had both bush and tree forms, the tree forms didn't seem very healthy, comparatively speaking, so I only took a few cuttings from the bush form.  There were two specimens, each about 12ft in diameter and 3ft high, living in the open shade of a tall pine grove.  It was interesting that every sprawling branch end attained the exact same height.

I grew the cuttings in full sun and eight years later, I detected the beginnings (maybe) of strong vertical growth.  Imagine my cautious excitement, that I might be able to grow a Korean arborvitae TREE!      Now six years later, my tree is up to 6ft (and 9ft wide).  As is often the case with conifers, the leader is building steam and seems to be stealing vigor form the sprawling branches, which now only stand up to 2ft.  So the specimen is looking more and more like a real tree, but with a skirt of sprawling branches.  It is just to the point where a strong wind can pick up the elevated branches on the vertical stem to flash a glimpse of the white undersides. It's so cool.  The white you see in this photo is morning frost on top of the foliage.

              

[RickR]

Wanting to "flower" today, high up in the 25 ft tree,

  Salix chaenomeloides catkins

               

[Hoy]

Wanting to "flower" today, high up in the 25 ft tree,

  Salix chaenomeloides catkin

Did you climb to the top, Rick?

Rick, is it possible for you to send me a twig or two from T. koraiensis? (All I want for Christmas is a twig or two... )

[RickR]

Wanting to "flower" today, high up in the 25 ft tree,

Did you climb to the top, Rick?

The advantage of a 10x optical zoom on my little point and shoot camera...
 (I was on my tippy-toes, too.)

I'll pm you, Trond, regarding the Thuja cuttings.

[Hoy]

 

[bulborum]

A few from the last Nerines in flower
Nerine Hawaii a sarniensis hybrid
and Nerine Elspeth
a tiny one just 25 cm tall

[AmyO]

A few from the last Nerines in flower

I've got 2 N. sarniensis bulbs in pots that bloomed last year, they were outside in part shade all summer and are now still dormant inside. Any tips on getting them to rebloom? I've been watering them every week or so, but still no sign of growth.

[Hoy]

I never start watering till they send up a scape, usually after a dry and warm summer rest.

This one has one has still one flowering scape. It has been in flower or months. (It is only one pot)

[bulborum]

Amy

It depends on how you treated the Nerine the year before

Most Nerines make the flower-but one year before
this means what you did wrong last year
can result in no flowers this year

Roland

[AmyO]

Amy

It depends on how you treated the Nerine the year before

Most Nerines make the flower-but one year before
this means what you did wrong last year
can result in no flowers this year

Roland

OK, I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best.

I never start watering till they send up a scape, usually after a dry and warm summer rest.

This one has one has still one flowering scape. It has been in flower or months. (It is only one pot)

It had leaves on it through most of the summer, so I kept watering it! Doh!! I'll know better now.
Thanks to you both for the advice!!

[Hoy]

Amy, my plant starts producing leaves in winter/spring and the leaves die down in summer when the weather gets warmer. I stand the pot in a place where it is warm and dry all summer. In fall, about August-September almost all the bulbs in the pot produce scapes but no leaves. I water a little but not much till the leaves start developing later in winter.