bulb garden topics

James Waddick jwaddick@kc.rr.com
Fri, 17 Feb 2017 09:48:44 PST
Dear PBS,		Uli and others wrote about developing a ‘domesticated’ vernal pool. 

	I think this would be very difficult outside of those climate areas where they occur naturally.  These temporary pools pretty much demand no water for all the rest of the year. 

	There are a variety of places on earth - probably in every continent - each with endemic plants and animals. 

	Perhaps the best known of these are the common brine shrimp and in CA the vernal pool fairy shrimp. These fresh water shrimp are quite amazing and I suggest if you are interested that you google 'Triops’. These fairly good sized prehistoric looking crustaceans are sold and as dry eggs and grown world wide as temporary pets. Now is the time to order a packet of dry eggs and set up a spring/summer aquarium to enjoy these unusual critters. 

	Similarly there is a specialty tropical frish hobby devoted to annual killifishes primarily of S. America and Africa. These fish develop from eggs buried in vernal pools. With the onset of rains they hatch, grow and reporduce before the water is evaporated from their temporary ponds. Some are quite beautiful. 

	Their success is based on aquarium growth and I think the same may be the way to grow vernal pool plants. Allowing aquarium to dry out, then get covered and transported out of the natural rainfall. This is the same regiment you need to grow plants that require summer dry and baking ( such as Oncocyclus Iris and a number of middle eastern bulbs). Anhthing is possible, but it demands careful attention to plaant needs.

	But- bottom line - I know of no one or no group devoted to growing vernal pool plants of any sort except possibly for a Nymphaea or two (??) of Australia and that only dimly. Google is your friend.

	Good luck Uli. 		Jim W. 

On Feb 17, 2017, at 11:17 AM, Jane McGary <janemcgary@EARTHLINK.NET> wrote:

Uli Urban wrote about his dream of a seasonal pond using winter rainwater:

"Is this a realistic concept? 

Dr. James Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd
Kansas City, MO 64152-2711
USA
Phone     816-746-1949





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