PBS Forum

While I saw very few slugs and snails this early spring through mid-summer, as I'm potting up a lot right now, I'm finding baby slugs in and on the bottoms of pots which are watered regularly. An unusual situation because normally, I find a lot of adults in spring and early summer.
 
 My questions are about your experiences this year, perhaps as compared to last year, what species you have seen, which plants you find the most vulnerable, and what control methods you use. There are some of us a bit squeamish about disposal methods, so may I suggest only brief descriptions of methods of attack without details, if that's possible??? Remember, many of these little animals are imports so please distinguish between what you know to be native slugs and their habits, and European or other slugs and their habits.
 
Methods change, the chemicals we are allowed to purchase changes and our gardens change. We may stop growing some vulnerable plants and find others that work better. Please tell us about those also.
 
10 degrees warmer than last summer on the Oregon
 Southwest coast. Not a drop of rain since May

Many thanks to David Pilling, our PBS web site manager, for making the Bulb Garden issues searchable!. I think this will make it much easier for everyone to find specific information in our journal.

Here's the link: https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/TheBulbGarden 

I'd appreciate some feedback. If you have any difficulty searching let one of the board or especially David know what your specific problem is.

Happy searching!

If you review the APHIS website you will see references to an amendment form for PPQ 587. However, in all my searches I have not found said permit.

Does anyone know if there is such a form or would it simply be easier to file for a new PPQ permit. (Small Lots of Seed Permit for those unfamiliar with this USDA-APHIS form.

Thanks,

Congratulations are in order for two successful applicants for the MSI grant funds:

They are $500 each to Dr. Guadalupe Munguía Lino for field explorations on The Mexican lirios (Iridaceae: Alophia)
and Carlos J Jimenez, MSc, for electron microscope studies of Allium paniculatum.

Just a reminder that applications for grants are available on the PBS website and the deadline is usually about March 31 of each year.

As required of successful applicants, each is required to provide an article on their research work for The Bulb Garden when their grants are finished.

Greetings, all PBS members,
 
The PBS board met on Sunday and is excited to announce the appointment of several board members. For the first time I recall, we have more volunteer applicants than positions available. Some time ago the board voted to increase the number of board members from 9 to 11. Although we've had 8-9 in the past, we decided to fill several positions. We can't say enough for the great response from PBS members who volunteered and the qualifications listed. It was a terrific turnout!
 
The positions of secretary and vice president were filled by Emil Friend (California), as secretary, and Bridget Wosczyna (currently Bulb Exchange Director) as vice president. Two other positions for members-at-large have also been filled: Kathleen Sayce from Washington state, and Kristen Henty from New Zealand.
 
In an effort to increase the geographical diversity and range of experience such as we have with PBS members, we are, for the first time, welcoming a southern hemisphere member. The time zone challenge has been met (who knew how significant that could be for countries down south) and we are excited to have such a range of board members with widely diverse gardening education and experience, and as all members are – crazy about bulbs!
 
Please join me in welcoming the new board members. We will in the coming months include brief biographical sketches of each new board member so that you can become acquainted with their various interests and experience. These will appear in the Bulb Garden so that all members can read them.
 
Best regards,
 
Robin Hansen, President
For the PBS Board

This is a reminder that MSI grant applications are due March 31, 2023. PBS did not receive any applications for nor award any grants in 2022 and we're hoping to receive requests this year. Information is available on the PBS website
https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php?page=grant

Click on Application PDF in the first paragraph to begin the process. If you have any questions, please contact me or another board member.

This is also a reminder that we have  special funds available for a grant to study microwave pollination. Please write for details as this is separate from our usual MSI grant process. The application will be the same but there are some specific requirements to obtain funding for this grant.

These funds are typically awarded to a university student or graduate working on a masters' or doctorate in the field of bulb studies. If you know someone who is studying in this field, pass the word! PBS has funded studies in such countries as India, Mexico, and the United States, so even if you don't live in North America, you may still qualify.

Regards,

Robin Hansen
President, Pacific Bulb Society

Good Morning, or Evening, wherever you are,
 
We are still trying to find volunteers to staff the Pacific Bulb Society board of directors. While we have been contacted by possible volunteers, we'd like to remind all of you that our society runs on the willingness of its members to help keep the society going, which means supporting the seed and bulb exchanges, the forum, the list and the monumental bulb encyclopedia on our website. Every one of us potentially benefits from these perks and they are all the result of willing volunteers.
 
Most positions take a minimal amount of time. For board members in general, that time consists of meetings of about an hour via Zoom four times a year. That's not much, is it? Your input is needed on the board, particularly as our society grows and needs guidance and new ideas.
 
Two positions need to be filled: Vice-president – four meetings a year and standing in for the president should they be unable to attend a meeting. The secretarial position does require a bit more work, good spelling (ok, there's always Spellcheck, sort of) and making a record of the board proceedings, again four times a year.
 
If you're hesitant, don't be. If you're a lurker, step forward. What training you might need is on the job. You'd be joining a board that has a strong ethic of working together in a congenial manner with a willingness to listen and speak up.  
 
Your real-world expertise might be in building satellites or running a flower shop or selling shoes. You may not realize how much experience and knowledge you have that would apply to helping run a group of total plant nuts. Contact me or any board member. We're listed with email addresses in each Bulb Garden or through the PBS website.
 
Please think about volunteering. Without volunteers we would not have such an incredible  and special (not to say unique) plant and bulb exchange and a wonderful website well-known all over the world for information on bulbs.
 
So you may not want to volunteer for the board – well surely, you must have some special knowledge that would be helpful to others via our journal. Anyway, jump on board!
 
Best regards,
 
Robin Hansen
President
The Pacific Bulb Society

Help! I have this 8-inch or more clump of Scoliopus bigelovii and am trying to divide it. I've been gently tickling the roots and loosening the soil, have sprayed it with water  and am to the point where I have such a tangled mess of roots that my only solution seems to be to slice a half- to an inch off the bottom to give more access to separating the roots.

I wouldn't hesitate to slice the bottom off of other plants in this situation but these are thick fleshy roots. I divided Scoliopus hallii yesterday with little problem but it was a much smaller plant. It's also much slower growing and does not set seed the way S. bigelovii does.

In the process of working on S. bigelovii, I found about 16-20 seedlings (tiny - half to one-inch) and potted those on. Am I better off to not cut the bottom of the roots and pot into a bigger pot or? They are such slow little critters that the more seedlings and plants I can pot on, the better.

Members,
 
Please consider volunteering a bit of your time to PBS. We are in need of two board members – a Secretary who takes minutes at our quarterly board meetings, and a Vice-president who mostly serves as backup to our PBS President. Neither position takes much time and in terms of qualifications, there are few requirements.
 
For the Secretary position, good spelling of course and attendance at all board meetings (usually four a year) but missing one is not a problem if arrangements are made ahead. For the Vice-president, a good knowledge of Robert's Rules of Order is helpful but can be learned and a willingness to step in and lead a meeting on the rare occasion the President is not available. In both cases, members who have a little plant knowledge and have been members for at least a couple years is helpful because a knowledge of our organization provides an understanding of PBS.
 
In both cases, you can live anywhere but need to be available for Zoom meetings since the board does not meet in person. If you're in one of various time zones this is not a problem. One board member is in Portugal, another in Germany, some in the eastern U.S. and so on. We accommodate our meeting times so that everyone can attend.
 
Please consider volunteering! PBS is unique in the world of non-profit plant societies in that we have frequent seed and bulb exchanges that cover many countries and in order to continue these benefits to our members we need the support of board members to make sure we can all take advantage of these special benefits. I know there are lurkers out there who may be hesitant, so you're welcome to sit in on a meeting or visit with some board members via Zoom to get an idea of what we do. Just contact me and I can arrange a Zoom meeting. It's easy and fun to serve on a board whose members are scattered all over the world (well, not Antarctica...).

I was just rereading an article by Dale Sullivan from a number of years ago regarding propagating Trilliums by notching a circle around the rhizome below the terminal bud.

Has anyone tried this, and if so, does it work? He says that disbudding could be fatal, and I've not done that but wouldn't risk it in any case.... My normal propagation method is seed, but T. ovatum is a cantankerous dude and less likely to set seed for me that any of the other trilliums I grow.

https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php?PHPSESSID=r4jboanef5v6rjhaepm6apbi7g&page=grant 
 
There was no room in The Bulb Garden you will soon be receiving (it's at the printer's) and I wanted to reminded you all of an important service the Pacific Bulb Society provides to academics and other qualified applicants for financial assistance in studying some aspect of bulbs.
 
Details are available at the above link. If you have questions, please contact me. PBS did not award any grants for fiscal year 2022, so the board hopes you will consider spreading this announcement around and if you have a project, please apply. Applicants must be members to receive these grants.
 
Also, a generous member has donated a sum to be used for microwave pollen studies of a specific kind. If you are interested, please contact me. Depending on the number of qualified applicants, there could be some additional funds available to supplement this donation.
 
Enjoy the holidays. As gardeners I do believe the Winter Solstice is our signal to look forward to the new year ahead.
 
Best regards,
 
Robin Hansen
President, PBS

Good Morning,
 
Although only one member to my knowledge has noticed, the last issue of the Bulb Garden, Vol. 20 Issue 2, was mis-numbered. It should have been Vol. 20 Issue 1.
 
Vol 20 Issue 2 will reach you by the end of this year as it is now in layout.
 
I'll take this opportunity to remind you of some important details:
 
1.    PBS dues are now up for renewal since PBS is on a calendar year. Those payments are encouraged to be made via the PBS website. Please do not use PayPal directly but go through our website.
2.    As always I welcome new authors and articles for our journal. Please contact me directly and remember, don't be concerned with spellings, or other minor details. Those will be sorted out before publication. Just sit down and write about what you know best, whether it's one plant or several, a trip you've taken (now that we can fly a bit) or an article on propagation, concern about cultivation or what you've learned about bulbs. We like to see a mix of topics that cover hardy bulbs, South American or South African, etc. so don't hesitate to write about something not available at your local garden center or specialist nursery. You nurserymen are also encouraged, now that the days are shorter, to sit down and put your thoughts on paper (metaphorically or otherwise).
3.    We do have openings from time to time on the PBS board. If you think you have a little time and would like to volunteer, let us know. For most board members, that really only involves quarterly Zoom meetings and perhaps an occasional committee meeting. We keep our meetings to an hour or so. You do not need to be a guru of bulbs, but some knowledge is best.
4.    Let's all save Arnold some time and pay our invoices when we order bulbs or seeds and not six months later. Most importantly, indicate on your payment the number of the exchange. If for example you have an invoice for $16.00 but pay $20.00 and don't write down something like "$16.00 for Exchange xxx plus a $4.00 donation), he may assume you are renewing your membership.
5.    Once again, a reminder: if you have a significant credit because you've donated seeds and/or bulbs, you may use that credit to pay for a year's membership for another person...
6.    And lastly, a gentle reminder that if you are in arrears for bulbs or seeds, at some point your requests for bulbs or seeds may be denied if not paid immediately when notified. Our society is a 501(c)3 organization and is run by volunteers. We have a unique membership structure that involves making seeds and bulbs available to members multiple times a year. I can't think of another plant society that does this, so please, support PBS by paying your invoices in a timely manner.
 
Carry on and please accept our grateful thanks for your continued support of our unique society.
 
Best regards,
 
Robin Hansen
President, PBS

I lost track of how much time I spent on the phone with APHIS and on the computer renewing (or in this case filling out a new application for a PPQ 587) the Small Lots of Seed permit.

Chris in the Maryland APHIS office freely admitted there are glitches in the eFile software and they are still working on it. Too bad they didn't thoroughly test and take feedback before going live....

One thing or several - make sure you give both street and mailing address if they are different. There isn't a place that I could see that asks specifically for street and mailing addresses, just address. He advised me that if not using Google Chrome, you may not see all the boxes you may need to click! Really?

When I called the help number, only limited help is available and if your problem isn't solved they refer you on to the Maryland number with the 301 prefix. You can bypass email help, etc. and just call that number directly. Less time is wasted. Just leave a detailed message as they're quick to call back.

I was able to get into the system eventually, going through 3 passwords before filling out a new application but when I clicked "Save and Exit", I missed another box to tick? When I went back in to try to sort out, it told me I had a draft, but no message saying I was finished. Chris went ahead, sorted that out, sent me the permit and the shipping certificates, both in PDF format.

There is no barcode on the new shipping certificates and you can ignore the numbers assigned to each one, instead using the same one over and over. Furthermore the permit is good for three years.

There is a YouTube video that was ok, but the PDF documents I received by email were hopeless, designed on 16x9 paper, full of so many colored shapes and muddled design it was difficult to read through. I gave up at that point and just called Maryland.

So, good luck and feel free to contact me or anyone who has experience with this not so well tested application. I will say the YouTube video (there are several - choose the one for PPQ 587) gave specific words to use in each section which I wrote down as I watched and those worked well when I finally was able to fill in the application.

Good Luck!

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

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.

As some of you know, due to the overwhelming popularity of the seed and bulb exchanges (US), the PBS Board has split this position into separate bulb and seed exchanges. The bulb exchange will occur 2-4 times a year, the seed exchange 2 times a year.

We are taking applications form volunteers to run the bulb exchange. If you are interested, please contact me or another board member. These exchanges are an extremely important part of membership in PBS, and are unique to PBS. Other plant societies have one exchange, nearly always of seeds only, once a year.

You need to know about plants but don't need to qualify as an expert and you will use MS Word and Excel software as well as stamps.com software. Supplies are provided and expenses are reimbursed. We prefer your location not be Siberia or the US equivalent due to the nature of our exchanges.

Please contact me if you have any questions.