PBS Forum

How to turn a bare patio into a year-round flower yard

"Arthur Parkinson shares his advice for gardening in pots for year-round character and interest, even in the smallest of outside spaces"

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/how-to-grow/how-to-turn-a-bare-patio-into-a-year-round-flower-yard/

Farmers turn to tech as bees struggle to pollinate

"Based on a moshav, or collective farm, in central Israel, Mr Sade is the founder of tech firm BloomX. He says that the company has found a way to mechanically pollinate crops in a similar way to bees."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66807456

Does vinegar kill weeds? Expert advice on getting rid of unwanted plants

"Get the lowdown on whether vinegar can destroy the weeds that invade flowerbeds and borders"

https://www.homesandgardens.com/gardens/does-vinegar-kill-weeds

Cyclamen hederafolium
Colchicum spp.

Many thanks all.
I very vaguely remember using the bunch of stamens in tweezers method, but on what and when, with what degree of success................. I had certainly forgotten all about that, so my OP contains a white lie.

Early this year, I had numerous L. a. in flower over a couple of weeks so just used the brush every few days between as many flowers that "appeared ready" as I could be bothered with. I did not check for pollen on the brush or receptiveness. It was curiosity as much as anything as the very few Lachenalia that I had previously, had never set seed, but I did expect at least a few seeds.........

I wil pay more attention this next time around (they are around 5-10mm above the top-dressing currently).

Lachenalia are indeed easy from leaf cuttings, as are Eucomis, or the very few that I have tried are.

Ledebourias - I had two L. luteola in flower at the same time and one appeared to have a partial seed-set after just wiping one spike over the other a few times, but we then had a week or so of scorching weather (35+C in the greenhouse even with a fan running - it was (very) high 20's outdoors), and any seeds that had formed, perished.

Yesterday I received a similar message from the Hobby Greenhouse Association:

          This issue marks a new era for HGA with going with an all-digital format/delivery system. We have reduced our membership rates to $10 per year and $18 for 2 year memberships to reflect the lowering of overhead of printing and mailing the paper copy.  This was a very difficult decision for the HGA Board as everyone loved the paper copy.  The loss of our printer and being unable to find another printer forced us to make this decision.  We hope you will stay with us through this difficult time.  We have a lot more indoor plant knowledge to share along with the articles members submit to help others grow their plants to their full potential.
          Enjoy the Fall Magazine as you ease into the next season.  Stay safe and healthy.

Alan Titchmarsh mourns closure of world's oldest gardening magazine

"Amateur Gardening publishes its final issue in October after rising costs of print and cover-mounted seeds and a fall in advertising revenue"

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/27/alan-titchmarsh-amateur-gardening-closure-percy-thrower/

More Prospero...

Prospero album, Zakynthos (Zante,) islznd, Greece





Prospero corsicum, Corsica and Sardinia
 Perhaps the tiniest Prospero.



And the first Narcissus × perezlarae (cavanillesii × deficiens)



Carlos

I like Diane's method using tweezers, I want to give that a try.  It cuts out the middleman - I have never had good luck with swabs, and have not tried a brush.  My only successful pollination was the Urginea maritima, and I just used my thumb.

The stigma must be receptive.  When the flower first opens, the stigma looks like a tube that just ends.  At some point the tip splits slightly into 3 lobes and pollen will now stick to it.  I think the pollen must also be ready, but am not sure how to tell if it is or not, except when it will stick to the stigma.

Hi, Gastil, yes, Autonöe madeirensis grows in shady places and it seems to keep growing well into the summer. The temperature difference between summer and winter is faded by effect of the ocean, and this seems to have been set into the 'biological clock' of the plant.

They are robust plants which can make bulbs the size of a small plum in their first year if you keep watering until it's just too hot. I discovered this by neglecting the plugs.And the fleshy roots, similar to those of Oncostema (S. peruviana group), also surprised me. It has many traits which show that it is not a real Scilla  including fleshy, berry-like capsules, if I recall correctly.

I have just sown its Canarian relative, A latifolia, I hope it does only half as well. I had to sell many extra bulbs of madeirensis and still repotted a fozen or so..

Carlos