Summer Bulbs July to Sept 2015 - Show Photographer's Diary - Gardeners' Diaries

Show Photographer's Diary

This entry: Summer Bulbs July to Sept 2015 by Jon Evans

I'm sorry I wasn't at the Pershore Show, and don't have a host of photos of the event to post for you. Particularly sorry since my pans of rhodohypoxis were in fine condition and might have won me this year's first in the Open Section. However, this was the one chance we had to schedule a holiday with my two boys, this year spent on the Gower in rather patchy weather. In fact, I spent much of my time in the dune slacks, wandering for hours in a landscape clothed with thyme, centaury and restharrow, with carpets of Geranium sanguineum in the longer grasses, punctuated by the cries of seagulls.

Haemanthus humilis subsp hirsutus

I was surprised and delighted when I returned home to find that this, the earliest of the Haemanthus, had produced a flowerhead. These are bulbs I grew from seed from George Elder sown in September 2007, and are flowering for the first time.

Allium species

Also flowering for the first time was this lovely little allium (5in high). The label, long since reduced to illegibility, suggests it was grown from NARGS seed sown in Jan 2012, and I think it is probably Allium flavum subsp tauricum - I certainly received and sowed seed of that that year.

Haemanthus humilis subsp humilis

Now, two weeks later, two other bulbs of Haemanthus humilis, both pink, are producing flowering stems (the second has never flowered before).

Haemanthus carneus

In addition, my first ever flower is appearing on Haemanthus carneus. I can only think that the hot spell we had earlier this summer has provoked them all into flowering.

Urginea olivieri

Elsewhere in the greenhouse, two of the small Urgineas have produced flowering spikes.

Urginea undulata

I grew this for years without flowers, just for the fabulous foliage, then lost it. This new bulb, from Kurt Vickery, seems much more inclined to perform.

Daphne gemmata Sceringa

Finally, not a bulb, but a novelty for me, a head of flowers on this little daphne.

Haemanthus humilis subsp humilis

A week or so later and the Haemanthus humilis are fully out. This is the first plant, which has flowered for me several times before and is more mature. First as it was opening, and then fully out.

The other plant, which is flowering for the first time, doesn't have a full ball of flowers, so this photo taken from the front is rather deceptive.

Haemanthus carneus

The bud on H. carneus has progressed, but is not open yet.

Haemanthus humilis

Elsewhere, three year old seedlings are starting to sprout, looking impressively carnivorous.

Urginea olivieri

The Urginea flowers are also opening.

Urginea undulata

The flowers of U. undulata are very attractive in a modest way.

Urginea fugax

The tiny Urginea fugax is also putting up a flowering shoot.

Habranthus tubispathus

Elsewhere in the greenhouse, the thunderstorms brought out some rainlilies. This plant was acquired as Habranthus martinezii which it is not. Sorry for the poor photo.

Habranthus martinezii

On the other hand, these are H. martinezii.

Zephyranthes

This was grown from seed as Zephyranthes rosea, which it is not (does anyone have the real thing - I would love some seed). This flower is akin to Z.Labuffarosea.

Zephyranthes aff primulina

This was acquired as Z. Pink Beauty which it clearly isn't! Very pretty though

Sarcocaulon vanderitae

Finally, a little succulent bush from South Africa, in the Geraniaceae.

Gladiolus Ruby

Taking a quick look at some of the bulbs in pots which have come out of the greenhouse and are standing on the patio for the summer.

Agapanthus Northern Star

The Agapanthus in pots have performed really well this year, perhaps because they are getting pot bound.

Tigridia pavonina

Tigridia vanhouttei

A smaller, and much more refined beauty than its sister T. pavonina

Lilium leichtlinii

Absolutely magnificent, in the shade under the cherry tree.

Haemanthus carneus

The H. carneus I showed earlier had flowers which never really opened, but a second seedling, flowering for the first time, was delightful.

Rhodophiala bifida pink form

Another surprise this month was that my single bulb of the pink form of Rhodophiala bifida, which I was given a few years back by a kind exhibitor who had not persuaded it to flower, produced a flowering scape.

Strumaria gemmata

This is always the first of the Strumarias to flower.

Strumaria karooica

Urginea undulata

One final look at the Urginea, now over for the season.

Strumaria gemmata

By the end of August, the Strumarias are fully out.

Strumaria karooica

Strumaria aestivalis

Three years from seed. Twelve flowering scapes in a 3in square pot - fabulous.

Tulbaghia violacea subsp mcmasteri

The Tulbaghia is fully out now as well.

Salvia buchananii

This fantastic, exotic thing is Salvia buchananii. If I try to grow it outside it is cropped to the ground instantly by slugs, but it has gained a new lease of life in the greenhouse.

Haemanthus incarnatus

A few of the later Haemanthus are appearing. This is the most regular flowerer of all.

Cyrtanthus sanguineus

Finally, the fabulously exotic Cyrtanthus sanguineus has produced a scape of flowers. Much the same colour as C. elatus, but the shape and texture of the petals puts it a rung higher up the ladder for me.

Haemanthus incarnatus

Looking at some of the things that have flowered in the first half of September, this Haemanthus was lovely, but is now going over. I am a bit puzzled by this one; H. incarnatus is supposed to have been subsumed within H. coccineus, but this plant doesn't have the large bracts typical of the latter.

Haemanthus coccineus var coarctatus

This Haemanthus has produced two flowers this year. I think the two really hot weeks we had this year must have helped them.

Haemanthus buds

Two more Haemanthus are budding - H. sanguineus and H. King Albert. That means that all my established, non-seedling bulbs will have flowered this year.

Calochortus barbatus

Also in the greenhouse, C. barbatus is flowering very late this year. It was out on the patio, and got mowed to the ground by molluscs about the time it normally flowers in mid-July.

Cyclamen graecum

My C. graecum are starting to flower. They are not quite up to the standard of the wonderful specimens we see on the show bench, but I seem to have learnt how to get them to flower reliably, and I am very pleased with them.

Hannonia hesperidum

The rare Hannonia hesperidum from North Africa has two flower scapes for the first time - another bulb which enjoyed the brief heat wave. Normally regarded as 'for botanical interest only', but I think the very delicate flowers are lovely.

Massonia seedlings

Massonia seedlings are springing into life everywhere - older bulbs seem slightly slower to awake from dormancy.

Oxalis speciosa

This pot of yellow oxalis has performed well this year, but it will be over before the Kent show.

Strumaria aestivalis

This little strumaria is still going strong. I'm not sure whether it is named correctly.

Urginea undulata

The Urginea undulata has started to produce two rosettes of leaves that are the main reason I grow it.

Tulbaghia violacea subsp mcmasteri

There are more flowers out now on this tulbaghia grown from seed.

Scilla obtusiloba

This little North African scilla has bloomed for the first time for me.

Scilla madeirensis

My single bulb of S. madeirensis has produced about six shoots this year, and at least two flower spikes - I expect there will be more, they tend to stagger out from among the leaves.

Rhodophiala bifida

I was hoping to delay the flowering of this pot of Rhodophiala until the Kent Show, but after the storms we had at the end of August it started putting up scapes whilst still bone dry, so I gave in and watered it so the full flush of flowers developed.

Sternbergia greuteriana

This little Sternbergia was a real thrill when it flowered. Thanks to a very generous fellow member for giving it to me.

Sternbergia sicula

Outside in the blub frames, most of the forms of Sternbergia sicula have flowered.

Sternbergia sicula Arcadian Sun

Sternbergia sicula

This is a very fine form of S. sicula - another gift from a kind exhibitor. It looks as though most of the bulbs in this small pan will have two flowers on this year, but again I don't think it will last another two weeks.