bulb garden topics

Johannes Ulrich Urban johannes-ulrich-urban@t-online.de
Fri, 17 Feb 2017 01:22:39 PST
Hello Robin,

Thank you for asking what we would like to read! First of all I would 
like to state that I have always very much enjoyed reading the Bulb 
Garden as it always contains information one would hardly find anywhere 
else.

What I personally find the most fascinating tuberous and bulbous plants 
are the aquatic ones. This is the highest adaptation possible to a 
changing environment from submerged to dry. I would be happy to 
contribute  a small article on tuberous Nymphaea, of which I have 
donated leaf tubers to the BX in the past. They fall into this category. 
But there must be much much more. I have the idea in mind that there is 
an aquatic Oxalis that has leaves and flowers floating on the surface of 
shallow water when in growth (would love to grow it....). Aponogeton, 
Crinum are others. But what about the Vlei (seasonal ponds in South 
Africa) and what about seasonal ponds in Asia, Tropical Africa and South 
and Central America and their plants? Even the US might have this kind 
of habitat. I would love to learn about bulbs or tubers adapted to this 
kind of environment.

I will soon retire to Portugal which has a winter rain climate and I am 
thinking of imitating a Vlei or similar habitat in the garden by using 
the rainwater from the roof of the house. At present it is flowing into 
the garden without being really used and a seasonal pool that dries out 
in summer would not cost any precious water in summer and might be a 
lovely thing in winter and spring. Is this a realistic concept? Has 
anybody done it and can share the experience? Problems with mosquitoes 
before drying out? Would be another topic for the bulb garden because I 
think many members of the society live in winter rain countries.

.... as you can see, I am a water addict...


Bye for today


Uli




More information about the pbs mailing list