PBS Forum

I know these Amaryllis are common now- seasonally available at HD, Lowe's, and many nurseries, but thought I'd share this one. I've picked up mainly all red ones along the way when I find the bulbs on clearance, and have planted them in various spots in my South African-ish themed hot and sunny garden. Even my red and white one that gets full afternoon shade never seems to look good- flowers are hammered in short order. But this year for the first time this red ones flowers are looking nice for many days in full sun, seeing upper 70's and low 80's! Quite pleased to see these are possible to get looking good in the ground in my garden. I should note the snails LOVE the flower stems and often eat them 'til the flower buds practically fall off...

Hi, Rimmer, I am surprised by the staminal cup in Stenomesson leucanthum. If I'm not mistaken, the biggest expert in South American Amaryllidaceae, Alan Meerow, was the one to transfer it from Pucara to Stenomesson. But he also changed Clinanthus milagroanthus, also with a cup, to Paramongaia milagroantha, so maybe further studies should be carried out.

In the meantime, I look forward for seeds.

 Merwilla plumbea
Zephranthes drummondii

The seeds of Cypella herbertii easily germinate when the seeds fall into a pot.

Some small white Stenomesson from Peru blooming now.

Caliphriria (Stenomesson) korsakofii 3-6" tall with pure white flowers and pollen

Pucara (Stenomesson) leucanthum 12-14" tall
With white flowers, yellow pollen and an internal cup like a daffodil.

I hope they make nice babies.

And today I have what looks what will be the last of my calochortus to bloom this year, though there are still several buds yet to open on my C. luteus plants.  Calochortus vestae opened this morning on a long, nearly 50cm stem.  

I was happy to see that both forms of C. superbus I have are forming seed pods which I will be watching very closely.

Hi, Randy, I wasn't suggesting that you sent any bulbs... but please do haha

Thanks, Martin, s I said I did not take the photo. I have discovered that Iberian Muscari can be as attractive as Eastern ones.

Moving to Peru, here is Caliphruria  (now Stenomesson, according to Alan Meerow et al.) korsakoffii, again thanks to Rimmer de Vries.

There are some populations of Calochortus albus that only bloom for a couple years after a forest fire, then put up a leaf every year or so in the deep shade, very very slowly building up energy storage for the paroxysm of blooming and chance at reproduction.

In less unfavorable locations, they tend to have some sort of bloom synchronization (presumably a weather trigger) so there is a group blooming every several years rather than a yearly dribble. It may be that the cultivated ones aren't getting their trigger satisfied even though the bulb is blooming size.

@Carlos: what a beautiful color palette on that muscari! love it!

OK, I've been lazy with the may postings so there's something from the backlogs...

1st one is Anemonoides soyensis, which is only a fraction of A. nemorosa in size, as the euro coin provesTiming may be off as I planted it only this year. Also from the first days of the month: Tulbaghia simmleri

, and a comparison of Anacamptis morio

Height:	20-45 cm (0.7-1.5 ft)
Flower Colors:	pink, purple, white
Flower Season:	mid spring to late spring

(front) and Orchis mascula

Height:	45-60 cm (1.5-2 ft)
Flower Colors:	pink, purple
Flower Season:	late spring to early summer
Life form:	tuber

(background).

Next ones, second week of May are Libertia grandiflora

and the proof that Camassia leichtlinii

is a truely beautiful weed, pops up everywhere.

More up to date: Moraea simulans

and Gladiolus anatolicus

Height:	20-30 cm (0.7-1 ft)
Flower Colors:	pink
Flower Season:	mid spring

.

And, getting back to the main topic:  Calochortus.  I have germinated many different species and have pots of bulbs that have never flowered.

Hmm - I'd better start tipping those pots out,  Maybe there's nothing in them.