PBS Forum

Dear All,

Right now I am sorting my bulbs and try to update labels and lists.

I have a problem identifying an Oxalis. The label says O. luteola MV 96013. I checked the Michael Vassar accession list on the Wiki and such a number does not exist. His numbers stop with 7693. It is listed as MV 96013 in the bulb list of ELDA, that is where I got it from. My label says: golden yellow winter flowering.
I know that Michael Vassar sometimes added a capital ,B' to his field numbers, maybe someone has taken a capital B for the number 13? But even with this in mind I cannot find it. The first figure 9 does not exist in the MV field notes.

Can someone help?

Thank you very much 

Uli 

See my dormant Oxalis collection below...... smile....

This is the set of tubers from Dracunculus canariensis. Interesting to see that it produces stolons. Some are still attached to the mother tubers, whereas with others the attachment point had withered and the stolon is detached. These are seed grown plants but I remember having seen wild plants in habitat in Tenerife always growing in colonies. The ball pen serves as a comparison for scale.

Here is another link to another reputable nursery in Austria, I checked Jelitto and Chiltern seeds, they do not list it.

https://www.sarastro-stauden.com/shop/winterharte-stauden/erodium-reiherschnabel/erodium-chrysanthum/

The owner of the Sarastro nursery often travels to the US, I do not know him personally but he might be able to help.

Uli 

Hello Bern,

Here is a link to a reputable German nursery specializing in perennial plants, often rare ones. No idea if they would be sending to the US. They do not state that the plant is dioecious.

Maybe this helps?

Uli 

https://www.gaissmayer.de/web/shop/themenwelten/mit-stauden-gestalten/kiesgarten-gravel-garden/14/erodium-chrysanthum/3204/

Thank you, David for this explanation 

Uli 

What do you mean by horses for courses?
Please don't forget that not everybody in this world is a native English speaker.....
Uli 

Hello Peter,
Waking up dormant winter growing bulbs in autumn seems to depend on several separate factors. As you say, cooling temperature, especially soil temperature and moisture. I dont know about day length because underground bulbs cannot really "see" the daylight, but it might also play a part.
I find some bulbs do seem to have an internal clock because they sprout regardless of temperature or moisture (are they the day length dependent ones?) and with others it seems to be a combination of all factors.
I do not water my adult dormant bulbs, neither in the ground nor in pots. But I use large pots of at least 6 litres (see my article in the Bulb Garden about Companion Planting) But I do water my dormant seedling bulbs with a light overhead watering by hand with a fine rose every 4 weeks or so. They are in square 8x8x9cm pots and would dry too much if not lightly watered. All pots with dormant plants are kept in shade during dormancy because otherwise the black plastic pots wout become far too hot. If I do not move them early enough the plastic labels would deform from the heat.
Uli

No, don't discard them. That has also happened to me. I recommend fertilizing them and gradually give more light but take care not to burn them. The fertilizer will probably induce a new set of ,,normal" leaves and the problem is solved.
Uli 

I pot my seedling bulbs up into bigger containers only after they start to grow in their second season. This way it is easy to judge which ones need potting up and which ones don't. If the pot looks overcrowded I repot,  if not I leave them in the original pot for another season or even two. I have never ever lost seedlings this way. But of course, I don't undo the rootball and would not dream to separate them. 
Regardless if potted up or not, all seedlings which start into new growth get their first dose of a balanced fertilizer low in nitrogen.

Uli 

Hello Wylie,

Also more color intensive than mine, very nice!

Uli 

Hello Wylie,

Is the picture showing the Crinum or the Amaryllis? I know that Rose Foncé is variable in color but this one is exceptional if it is not the Crinum.
The bulbs I photographed are stealing some water from a nearby irrigation, all the others, including Fred Meyer's White are still dormant. It is very hot and dry here.....

Uli 

Amaryllis belladonna Rose Foncé is always the first belladonna to flower at this time of the year. Here in front of Petraea volubilis. This is a combination made by the plants themselves, the Petraea was meant to cover the wall below this terrace but decided to scramble up....
Uli 

 EU Seed and Bulb Autumn Exchange 2023 now open for donations
 
Dear Members of the Pacific Bulb Society living in the EU,
Please read this information carefully and entirely.
The donation time window is now open for seed and bulbs for autumn sowing and planting. Martin has discussed the timing with me, this year we start earlier than usual. The weather in central Europe has been swinging between extremes resulting in some bulbs having already started into growth which is earlier than in previous years. Even here in Portugal we had a very late rain which moistened the compost in the pots of dormant bulbs. Some do not care but some have also already broken dormancy. It may be wise not to send bulbs which are clearly growing.
Please send your donations to
Martin Bohnet
Ludwigstr. 1
73035 Göppingen
Germany
Please send only healthy material cleaned of soil and debris. Please label each packet with the name of the plant and your own name, so that all donations can be traced to their donors.
If you are willing to do so, we would appreciate 5 portions of pre-packed seed, if you have much more or if you know the seed is very popular, you can add a larger amount in a separate envelope. This is no obligation but will reduce Martin's workload considerably. A seed portion should contain enough seed for a good potful of seedlings, in very rare seed a minimum of 3 seeds.
Free of charge seed envelopes can be requested at Martin's  <garak@code-garak.de>
Please do not pre-pack bulbs.
Every paid member with a postal address in the EU is entitled to order, you do not need to be a donor, but of course, this kind of exchange depends on the generosity of the growers. Please consider a donation of surplus material.  Every donor gets a refund for the postage in form of a bonus with a minimum of 5 US$.
The precise ordering information will follow once ordering has opened.
As we start this exchange early, the donation time window will remain open for longer, closure will be announced through the same channels in due course. There will be most likely a second round this autumn, and then another Exchange in spring for summer growing bulbs.
And.... Last but not least: Please send Martin an email  <garak@code-garak.de>  or a PM through the forum to announce your donation. This is important because there may be delays in postal services from some countries.
Please do not hesitate to contact me (Uli) in case of questions <johannes-ulrich-urban@t-online.de>
 
Martin and Uli

Dear Mary Sue, Dear Mike, Dear All,


Thank you very much for sharing your memories of Bob Werra who must have been a remarkable person. I have never met him but there is a lot shining through your words which does not need to be outspoken.

After reading Mary Sue's and your contribution in the email list I thought that it might be a good idea to save Bob's notes for the future, for example in the Wiki. You describe his notes like a condensed lifetime experience of a meticulous grower and good observer.

I do not know how the practical side of preserving these notes would look like, though.

Several years ago I found myself in a similar situation when the plant collection of John Lavranos was distributed after his death. John was a plantsman of the old school, generous, extremely knowledgeable and a language genius. I received about 80 pots of dormant bulbs, but unfortunately most of them without labels. I am still in the process of identification of some, there is a responsibility to preserve and care for this legacy. John's field notes are available but without labels I cannot really use them. 
I try to distribute as much as I can, his collection contains some real gems.

Bye for now 

Uli 

Hello Steve,

This all sounds very interesting indeed. Will you try to make them set seed?

Uli