Hi all, Enjoy these Nerines! I am new to the group. have not officially joined yet but I am receiving the e-mails,and just want to say that this looks like an excellent group to be a part of. real active subjects, and less politics than other groups!. I already know some of you (Hi to Jim S., Harold K. , Lee P., Daryl G. ,and John I.) How are you all. Attached is a photo that I took this morning of some great Nerine sarniensis hybrids. these are old Exbury hybrids. With about 75 bulbs growing, I have about 90% blooming, which has me very pleased since last year I only has 3 bloom. These have been potted for about three years. I live in Central Massachusetts, which is USDA Zone 5, where I keep many bulbs in a glass greenhouse which is approximately 30' by 23'. I have two plunge beds of S.A. bulbs, of various species a-z, as well as some bigger tubs of the larger things like Chasmanthe. All new for me this year, as I get sucked into the new interest of South African bulbs even more. You know how it goes! I have a passion for Clivia as many of you know, and for breeding Nerine sarniensis and Lachenalia, a new passion (Thanks Jim for getting me interested in these!, I now have about 25 species I think, without counting. That database discussion is starting to make more sense! in the greenhouse today the Winter Oxalis are just starting to bloom, I have over 30 species ever since seeing the lecture at the IBS Huntington symposium) with some O. hirta and O. Purpurea 'primrose" opening today in a larger clay pot where it is even bigger than last year, I am suspecting that not disturbing the bulbs during their summer rest is key. Also, I do have a mature Cryptostephanus currently in bloom, it is white, with a pale pink blush. (A gift from visiting Mr. Yoshikazu Nakamura). This is the first time that it has bloomed. Cheers to all( Mary, it this how I should send in a pic? How do I join the group, through the Web site?) Thanks warm regards Matt Mattus Worcester, MA 01607 USDA Zone 5A (5-F-10F) Note from Mary Sue: This post did not get through to the list since it had an attachment which is not allowed. I have downsized Matt's picture as I am sure many of you would like to see it and it was way too big for the wiki. And in addition since the upload file part of the wiki is still not working, I have transferred this in through ftp which only Mark M. and I can do. To see it, http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/… Welcome to our list Matt. If you want to join the Pacific Bulb Society and be able to participate in the BX from now through 2004 you can find an application form on our wiki and web site: http://pacificbulbsociety.org/MembershipForm7-03.h… I'll write you privately about how to use the wiki. Mary Sue
