I was a wee bit concerned to read all you folks commenting about Paeone smells, good or bad, as I thought I had a tolerably acceptable sense of smell so today I went around all the Paeones currently in flower, admittedly many more still to do so, but not one of them has a discernable smell, to me, of any sort. Is it at all possible that scent in Paeone is effected / produced by variable soil types or chemical versus organic fertilisers? Apart from P.macrophylla [related to P. wittmanniana] are there any other P. species which are scented? I regret I don't have the Waddick & Halda book so I can't check, maybe Jim can elucidate. I would imagine mixing / messing up [take your pick] species in pursuit of hybrid Valhalla might result in bad smells but smells of any sort must be derived from some source surely Iain By the way for those seduced by lovely scented plants it take a lot to beat Syringa swegenzowii. Anybody not moved to amazement is not entitled to share the same air as the rest of the world's normal folk, it is a stunner !!!!!!!!! There are almost all the Syringa species in the collection here and nothing can beat it although several come close ----- Original Message ----- From: <pbs-request@lists.ibiblio.org> To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2008 6:21 PM Subject: pbs Digest, Vol 64, Issue 25 > Send pbs mailing list submissions to > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > pbs-request@lists.ibiblio.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > pbs-owner@lists.ibiblio.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of pbs digest..." > > > List-Post:<mailto:pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > List-Archive:<http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbslist/> > > Today's Topics: > > 1. re Hyacinthoides (jflintoff@aol.com) > 2. Paeone (Iain Brodie of Falsyde) > 3. Re: Fragrance/Peonies (Leo A. Martin) > 4. Wiki Additions--Lachenalia (Mary Sue Ittner) > 5. Re: Fragrance (James Waddick) > 6. Re: re Hyacinthoides & T. sprengeri. (James Waddick) > 7. Re: Beauty and Fragrance (giorgio pozzi) > 8. Sulphate of Potash (pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 14:55:46 -0400 > From: jflintoff@aol.com > Subject: [pbs] re Hyacinthoides > To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > Message-ID: <8CA840B40B9A25B-1F08-88@webmail-nb14.sysops.aol.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > ?? My rummaging through old gardens in the Puget Sound area, especially > Tacoma and Seattle,Washington, has produced only one?finding?of what > appears to be pure Hyacinthoides hispanica and one of H. non-scripta.? All > the other plants appear to be various forms of the hybrid H x massartiana > ( H. x variabilis? ).? There must be millions of them here locally. > ???? Some of the trade material of H non-scripta that I've seen or grown > seems to be hybridized as well.? > ? > ???? Hycinthoides?? ' Rose Queen ' , ' Dainty Maid ' and ' Excelsior ' all > appear to be manifestations of H. x massartiana. > > J. John Flintoff > Vashon Island,Washigton, USA > Zone 8 > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 21:53:29 +0100 > From: "Iain Brodie of Falsyde" <auchgourishbotgard@falsyde.sol.co.uk> > Subject: [pbs] Paeone > To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > Message-ID: <021e01c8b604$90419280$0501a8c0@homepc> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Its nice to see divergence from monocot bulbs from time to time especially > when it raises the subject of these beautiful Paeones. > > I am rapidly bringing together a collection of botanical species here, the > hybrids and multibrids are a way too blousy for my tastes and anyway this > is a botanic garden after all so they would be seriously out of place > here. Our peonies are starting into flower just now and the first one to > kick off was P. mascula ssp. russoi [I saw somewhere that this is a > synonym for another but can't find the reference, is a large sharp clear > pink open cup which last year got clobbered by frost before finishing but > is now nearly over, its always first in and out. P. mairei is next up and > in full throttle right now with masses of darker shades of pink upward and > also out facing cups. Just literally beginning for the first time this > year is P mascula ssp. willmottiae now this has stunning white blooms, a > wee bit shy to open wide so far but as its the first year non too sure if > that's normal, but as white globes they stand out from a distance like > large tennis balls . P. tenuifolia seems to b > e ready to flower very soon, probably by the weekend and one of my clear > favourites partly because of the unique leaves. Others such as P.P. > peregrina, lutea, delavayi, potaninii, ludlowii, rockii, emodii, > lactiflora, obovata, etc, etc have still some way to go as they are barely > out of the ground so far. I await P. ostii each year with great pleasure > but it is also currently still well 'back'. > > Generally plants of this stype I try to plant in groups of three or five > for each species and accession per species, always wild origin seed > originated..... the wait is worth it, and it helps ensure a minimum degree > of genetic diversity is maintained for the future. I do have P. clusii as > young plants but am ready for a disappointment, coming from Crete in the > Mediterranean I suspect I am too far north, too cold and too wet, this > taxon does not "do" damp maritime climates but I reckon nothing ventured > nothing gained. There is also a putative hybrid here between P.tenuifolia > and P. a.n.other which is due to flower too, it grew from the same batch > of seed as P. tenuifolia and has lovely mid pink flowers with a cut leaved > foliage mid way. A large batch of seed arrived this spring from China > allegedly sold as P. rockii with the caveat "open pollinated may contain > hybrids" We shall see, anyway a couple of hundred of the seed has been > sown with lots more in the fridge if anyone wan > ts a few to try, getting them officially into the USA / Canada might > require some ingenuity. > > > Iain > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 17:53:34 -0700 (MST) > From: "Leo A. Martin" <leo@possi.org> > Subject: Re: [pbs] Fragrance/Peonies > To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > Message-ID: <21201.209.180.132.162.1210812814.squirrel@possi.org> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > Clayton wrote > >> ...I still have to >> conclude, if it doesn't have fragrance, >> I usually will pass it by. >> ... >> Just curious if anyone else feels the same way? > > I feel this way about lots of groups of plants. I don't plant roses unless > they have a very strong fragrance, and I don't mean the ones that smell > like apple leaves. I've learned not to trust Armstrong's fragrance > descriptions. When browsing bulb seed listings I start with genera and > species listed as having strong fragrances. If I still like the genus > after the first ones bloom I might get some non-fragrant ones later. > > Peonies just won't grow here in Phoenix, but I remember them from the > Midwest. My former neighbor across the street went to law school with the > proprietor of Cricket Hill Peonies (mostly tree peonies), who sent a large > tree peony to my neighbor early one spring. It bloomed, which enticed me > into buying a smaller tree peony that fall. Both lasted until about the > next July, even though planted in spots with dappled shade and excellent > drainage. > > Leo Martin > Phoenix Arizona USA > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 06:56:00 -0700 > From: Mary Sue Ittner <msittner@mcn.org> > Subject: [pbs] Wiki Additions--Lachenalia > To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > Message-ID: <5.2.0.9.2.20080515063424.01619050@mail.mcn.org> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed > > Hi, > > I've been working on enlarging the Lachenalia pages on the wiki (split > them > up more and added three new ones so none would take too long to load) and > have added a lot of new pictures from a number of sources, both additional > species pictures and additional pictures of species already illustrated. > It > would take too long to note all the additions with links so I'll just give > you the link to the index page and the table and those people who are > interested in Lachenalia can check it out. > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/… > New species added : L. angelica, congesta, gillettii (from seed from a > reliable source, but not the color expected so could be something else I > suppose if any experts want to check), isopetala, longibracteata, > mediana, > namibiensis, salteri (in bud as it is just about to bloom), zeyheri > > Also illustrated (we had text from Don Journet but no pictures) now are L. > arbuthnotiae, L. bolusii, L. fistulosa, L. framesii > > We still have no pictures for described species L. algoensis and L. > schelpei so if anyone has pictures of these two species, we'd love to add > them to the wiki. > > Other species already illustrated with just a picture or maybe two now > have > additional pictures. > > Some unknown person uploaded a picture of L. zebrina very recently and > needs to edit the page and add the credits for it. > > Mary Sue > Coastal Northern California where it's going to be unusually blazing hot > today and we have no air conditioning. It may finish off some of my bulbs > and open up some of the Calochortus. Having a drier than usual spring this > year has meant a good year for Watsonia coccinea (perhaps as I'm never > sure > why some years they come up and other years they do not). I'm very fond > of > this species which is a nice color and nice size and does not spread too > much and I hope it will hold on for another day or two. > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 09:39:11 -0500 > From: James Waddick <jwaddick@kc.rr.com> > Subject: Re: [pbs] Fragrance > To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > Message-ID: <p062408b7c451f94807a6@[192.168.1.100]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" > > I guess I have to put in my 2 cents that I really don't care > if a plant has fragrant flowers or not. The form, color and quantity > of flowers is far more important and fragrance is a plus. I can > certainly enjoy coral peonies (including the just finished 'Coral > Fay' a real beauty with single hot coral flowers) and I don't find > their fragrance to carry much in any case. > Since I rarely cut any flowers, but prefer to enjoy them in > place on the plant and in the garden, again fragrance is a peripheral > plus. > Plants grown for fragrance have to have other qualities too > like Viburnum (esp carlesii) Daphne (various) and Lilacs all fragrant > enough to scent large areas of the garden without having to stuff my > nose into their centers. Each has excellent form, nice abundant > flowers and ease of care. > > If a plant can carry its charms without fragrance, no > fragrance will win it over for me. And some plants with an abundant > 'nasty' fragrance such as Dracunculus and other aroids, also doesn't > necessarily restrain my enthusiasm for their other qualities. > Right now the Peony 'Windflower' is charming me endlessly by > its small, anemone-like blooms on elegant cut foliage in light shade. > I stop every time I walk near it to admire its whole vision of > balance, proportion and dignified beauty. I don't have a clue if it > is even fragrant at all. Never sniffed it. > > And allergies have stuffed my nose enough to make fragrance a > theory only. best Jim W. > -- > Dr. James W. Waddick > 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. > Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 > USA > Ph. 816-746-1949 > Zone 5 Record low -23F > Summer 100F + > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 09:29:02 -0500 > From: James Waddick <jwaddick@kc.rr.com> > Subject: Re: [pbs] re Hyacinthoides & T. sprengeri. > To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > Message-ID: <p062408b6c451f81fc210@[192.168.1.100]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" > > Dear all, > Taking a closer look here, it does appear that ' Dainty Maid > ' , an "alba" and ' Excelsior ' are manifestations of H. x > massartiana. > I also have at least a typical blue H. non-scripta and one > small clump of H hispanica, but the latter is not very hardy and does > not bloom much. > > Of course none seed around here and are very well behaved in > this climate. It is nice to see these bulbs blooming late after most > of the spring bulb 'surge' (to borrow a term). > > And speaking of late bulbs, flower buds are now forming on > the latest of al tulips T. sprengeri and I am wishing I had more. It > doesn't seem to seed around (either) and does not clump up. It does > mark the final show of tulip season. > > > -- > Dr. James W. Waddick > 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. > Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 > USA > Ph. 816-746-1949 > Zone 5 Record low -23F > Summer 100F + > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 17:07:32 +0200 > From: giorgio pozzi <studio.pozzitaubert@tiscali.it> > Subject: Re: [pbs] Beauty and Fragrance > To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > Message-ID: <CDACEE6B-BC46-401F-B23B-3EDCE0F1736B@tiscali.it> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed > > > > Il giorno 15/mag/08, alle ore 16:39, James Waddick ha scritto: >> The form, color and quantity >> of flowers is far more important and fragrance is a plus > > > I agree with James, due to my love for Arisaema which have no scent > even if someone writes > A.candidissimum has fine/light scent in first blooming, I tried to > capture that scent but couldn't > sniff anything..... > However, walking in the lawn fiftheen days ago near a flowerbed I > setted two years ago, > the scent of a rich clump of Narcissus Poeticus, (about 200 flowers), > that of yellow Azalaea Mollis and that of Wisteria sinensis alba, > were all around > and even without looking directly to the flowers I was able to "see" > them, > now all of them have whitered and only Convallaria majalis may spread > a pleasant scent there... waiting for Lilium....now about 60/70 cm. > tall . > > > > Giorgio Pozzi > Travedona (VA) > Italy > zone 7/8 > > studio.pozzitaubert@tiscali.it > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 8 > Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 03:07:36 -0400 > From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org > Subject: [pbs] Sulphate of Potash > To: voltaire@islandnet.com > Message-ID: <mailman.0.1210835256.17051.pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes > > > From: Judy Glattstein <intothewoods@bellewood-gardens.com> > Date: May 14, 2008 11:58:45 AM PDT > To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > Subject: Sulphate of Potash > > > Just from curiosity I e-mailed John Harrison at Espoma, asking about > sulphate of potash. Here is his reply. > > ------------------------------------------- > < > snip > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Thank you for your mail. > > Bulbs like all plants are best fed with a complete plant food rather > than a single ingredient. We produce a product called Bulb-tone that > will provide all major, minor, and trace nutrients required. A fact > sheet is attached. > > Sulfate of potash (SOP) is a mined mineral with an analysis of 0-0-50. > It is generally considered an acceptable input for organic gardening and > agriculture. It is superior to the muriate because it is lower in salts > that can harm plants (particularly tender emerging roots of bulbs). > We no longer produce the SOP as a single ingredient. We do use the > material as a potassium source in our blended plant foods. We do have > the muriate, but plan to discontinue that as well. > ------------------------------------------------- > <snip>-------------------------------------------------------- > > Judy, the ever-curious in New Jersey > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > > > End of pbs Digest, Vol 64, Issue 25 > ***********************************