PBS Forum

Jane's idea about an LX would be terrific. There are books I want, but as she points out, new book prices are very high. I only buy new books when I must absolutely have them. Donating to the local library is not an option as many have found out. I received several books as a result of Jane's first library cleanout and I am using them as reference because it's all there is on that genus or new books are too expensive or can't be found.

There is Andersen Horticultural Library in Chaska, Minnesota (suburb of Minneapolis or thereabouts?) who wants my printed catalog for their archives every year. I don't have an email although I'm sure you can find one, but the phone is 952-443-1405. It's always better to speak to a human anyway.

Have to say I'm still chuckling over hurricane denial, which is quite different from zonal denial...

It was 93 here yesterday with smoke and while plants wilted, mostly the more newly planted ones, everything responded to a little water reviver. In terms of good growing conditions, I have to say I've lived a number of places in Oregon and this area - Coquille Valley, 12-14 miles upriver from the Pacific - is the best yet.

However, considering I'm a member (and have been since birth) of the James G. Blaine Society, I will echo Gov. Tom McCall's famous words, along the lines of "you're welcome to visit, but please go home". Not the exact quote, but never mind.

And yes, I"m sticking to hurricanes - they don't seem to care which ocean they originate from and they still make an incredible mess and create long-term damage.

Well, the rest of our lifetimes promise to be interesting, no matter what. In the meantime, the water bill increased substantially but our chances of losing power here from shutdowns to avoid fire danger are nil.

Interesting that these storms on the west coast are now being called "hurricanes". I forget the previous name which never made sense to me as even when we had the Columbus Day storm in the early 60s here on the Pacific Northwest coast it was, simply, a hurricane. It will be forever imprinted on my conscious brain.

Interesting also that the maps to Bern's link show no hurricane activity at all further north than southern California. I would suspect that we are somewhat more likely to have an occasional hurricane these days because of climate change.

Robin Hansen
Southwestern Oregon, smoky, hot, humid

My son was recently posted to Tyndall AFB in the (northwest) panhandle. I do hear there is not the vulnerability to hurricanes compared to other parts of Florida, but if the panhandle doesn't get them, how is it those hurricanes land in Louisiana and Mississippi right next door???

Am I crazy to go there for Thanksgiving???

Robin Hansen

Having been a long-time member of the Cyclamen Society and a specialist grower as well, I have to question the listing of Cyclamen hederifolium var/ssp africanum.  To my knowledge this is not an accepted name. It should be just C. africanum. For anyone who has grown this, yes, it does superficially resemble C. hederifolium but there are distinct differences and it does not grow where C. hederifolium does by any stretch of the imagination.

Can someone on the list justify this name change?

Robin Hansen
Hansen Nursery
(in business for more than 30 years, specializing in Cyclamen)

I can't seem to find much information on this bulb which is not tall - maybe 6 inches or so, with large white flowers on several stems. Just a very nice plant and it doesn't seem to multiply very rapidly or even set seed although I'm so mean to it that it's not a surprise.
Can anyone help me on this?

Robin

The latest edition of The Bulb Garden is in the mail today. For members in the US, it will arrive shortly. For overseas members, please watch for it. If you haven't received it within a couple weeks, please contact Arnold Trachtenberg. The main article is written by one of our Mary Sue Ittner Bulb Grant recipients on the genus Tigridia, with lots of photos.

Upcoming articles in the next issue will feature Uli Urban's Part 2, Companion Planting and other reports. Just a reminder to members - articles are welcome! Feel free to contact me with any questions. This is not a scientific journal as such but is a journal for members to learn about unfamiliar plants and plants they have difficulty growing and related information.

Enjoy,

Robin Hansen
Editor, The Bulb Garden

Bulb Garden journals older than two years are now available at the following link with many thanks to David Pilling:

https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/TheBulbGarden 

Robin Hansen
President, PBS

Martin makes a good point about data vs. perception. We've all been locked away for two years and not always able even to be in our gardens due to restrictions like weather and others. I've noticed as your graph points out that there are always ups and downs depending on time of year and weather, never mind other factors. Right now I'm spending much more time outside and mostly ignoring computers... As in a very windy, not warm walk on the beach yesterday for well over an hour in fog so dense, we could barely see a couple hundred feet. But, Andy the dog and his new best bud Kora ran circles around us, chased sticks and birds and played with one another. Better than any computer. But yes, I was COLD at the end and grateful for a warm car. So today it's gloomy with rain coming and I'll focus on making an announcement with the link for the BG...

Guess I haven't mastered the behind the scenes stuff, i.e. conversations privately...

Marc,

I've noticed the same issue with forum/list traffic and the upcoming edition of the Bulb Garden will have an article about the change encouraging people to join. I'm hoping this encourages and informs members and others about how much better it is in many ways. That is not, however, to say that I'll ignore any and all emails directed to me. I've already done some redirecting and will continue to do that.

Robin

I do find our western native much showier than the eastern Polygonatum biflorum, but both plants make this lovely architechtural arching all in one direction when clumping. It appears seed I was sent as M. racemosum is instead M. stellata. Bummer.

From Hawer Leiva ('Hawer Leiva' <yleiva@uco.edu.co>)

A cordial greeting to you, the reason for my message is to ask for help with the identification of the parts of the bulb, either bibliography or an expert. To put you in context: we are doing a project where we make cross-sections of the bulbs of the Phaedranassa lehmannii species and look at it under a microscope, but we have a big problem, there is no bibliography that describes its parts. We can easily identify the xylem and phloem, but we don't know about the other cells, we appreciate your help. A good day.

This student wrote to me requesting the above assistance. Can anyone help them? Please contact them directly at the above address.

Thank you, Robin Hansen

Does anyone have any experience with Jelitto Seeds  when ordering from the US? My two very old experiences were interesting which is why I haven't ordered again in years. I'm hoping things have improved... 

Robin Hansen

PBS is delighted to have Bridget Woscyna as our new bulb exchange director and Jan Jeddeloh as our new seed exchange director.  Bridget lives in Pennsylvania and Jan in Oregon.

I believe both directors will be announcing requests for bulb and seed donations in the next few weeks in preparation for our first major exchanges in the US.

Watch for the announcements here on the Forum and on the List.

Robin got the link and yes, I've had no time to get further with the "big reveal". Shame on me. Spring is here and it's time to do the quarterly, articles all ready, just need lay out. I will pull myself together tonight and continue with the forum. Life keeps interfering...