Diverse bloembollen 2011

[Kris De Raeymaeker]

Just a few more. Does anyone on the forum grow these species?
Enjoy

Lachenalia pearsonii  
Lachenalia contaminata  
Lachenalia splendida  
Lachenalia viridiflora

Amazing Bill . Neen , die heb ik nooit gekweekt. Ik twijfel zelfs of je ze wel kan kopen hier bij ons?

[Frankie Wulleman]

Hello Bill, hartelijk welkom op dit forum.
Wat een start! Uw Tecophilaea's zijn verbluffend mooi.
Wat Lachenalia betreft, ik had er zelfs nog nooit van gehoord, maar het zijn eveneens sublieme planten. Hoe zijn die planten in cultuur?

[Pim Hols]

Good morning folks or should I say good afternoon.
I just accidently stumbled across your very interesting Bloembollen-Knollen-Wortelstokken forum and as an ouwe Hollander from Utrecht (and now a Dutch Kiwi) from the 1960-70 when we emigrated to green, clean, and yet unspoiled beautiful New Zealand as a “just married” couple, I trust I might qualify for this forum.
I have not lost my native Dutch tongue yet after all these years but English (of course) after nearly 50 years is the language we speak and use, but please use the Dutch language  in your posts and replies all the times, I do understand perfectly. (most of the times)
Here in New Zealand we grow and operate a small mail-order nursery (mainly bulbs and a few alpines), both hardy and tender, which originally started off as a hobby.
I am now semi-retired (whatever that means) but I seem to work harder than before retirement. No rest for the wicked they say.  
We are now Oma and Opa with kids and grandchildren scattered and establishes all over New Zealand.
My favourite geophytes are Tecophilaea (in full glorious flower at the moment) Iris species and varieties, miniature Narcissi species, Cyrtanthus, Lachenalia, Romulea, Lapeirousia, Fritillaria, Hippeastrum, Brunsvigia, Oxalis, Leucocoryne,  Rhodophiala, Tropaeolum, Trillium, Gladioli, Moraea, Ariseama, etc. jus to mention a few.
Some of you will recognise me from the SRGC  Southern Hemisphere forums, which is another very friendly, very knowledgeable group of rock garden enthusiast and bulbophiles.
Anyway enough of the introduction and look forward to meeting other knowledgeable like minded people. Glad to be onboard.

Cheers,  
Bill Dijk
Tauranga New Zealand

Hallo Bill. Dat is een mooie introductie en zeer sprankelende plaatjes.

[Wim Boens]

Just a few more. Does anyone on the forum grow these species?
Enjoy

Lachenalia pearsonii  
Lachenalia contaminata  
Lachenalia splendida  
Lachenalia viridiflora

Die Lachenalia viridiflora is "breathtaking".

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Ook voor mij een totaal onbekende soort, maar daarom niet minder mooi !!! 

[Sven de Groot]

Ik twijfel zelfs of je ze wel kan kopen hier bij ons?

Die Lachenalias zijn mooie planten, inderdaad  .
Paul Christian (rareplants.co.uk) heeft behoorlijk wat verschillende. Op dit moment niet in de verkoop, trouwens. Ze staan op zijn "inactive list".

[Bill Dijk]

The beautiful Lachenalia (Hyacinthaceae) or Cape cowslip is a indigenous genus of more than a hundred species, all natives of South Africa.
Most are found in the winter-rainfall Cape Province, growing during winter and dormant for a long period in summer.
Different species can be had in flower over a long period from autumn until mid-summer, with most species at peak in late winter and spring.
They are particularly suitable for growing in warmer climates, in cooler, wetter climates they are probably better grown indoors as container plants, otherwise strictly plants for the glasshouse.

They are bulbous plants, of somewhat fleshy texture, making large, thick leaves, which are often maroon-speckled and handsomely spotted.
The mainly tubular flowers, vary enormously in colour, ranging from yellow, orange, red, and white to blue, green, and purple.
They are often bi-coloured or tri-coloured as well; for instance, green tipped with cream or pink with dark tips.

Some species are sweetly scented, others are not. All species, however, are winter growing and dormant in summer.
Most Lachenalia species prefer full sun or light shade but prefers well-drained, humus-rich, sandy soil.
Plants in full flower are good to brighten up the indoors in winter
Most of these Lachenalia species are often on display and available at larger show like RHS, Lentetuin, Floriade and Keukenhof.

BTW: if you Google Lachenalia species and click on images on the left you get a lot more info to look at.
Cheers,  Bill

PS: next time when I get to many dormant Lachenalia bulbs for replanting, I might send some of the spare bulbs to the VRV.

[Bill Dijk]

Tropaeolum: this fabulous climbing genus contains many colourful species from South America, 
Thin twining stems producing many dazzling multicoloured flowers from the leaf axils of delicate, attractively lobed leaves.
Dies down to deep resting tubers. One of the ultimate container and alpine house plants.
They require good drainage and tolerate full sun or partial shade.

Tropaeolum tricolor
Tropaeolum azureum
Tropaeolum pentaphyllum
Tropaeolum brachyceras

[Bill Dijk]

Just a few more of these colourful Lachenalia species

Lachenalia splendida
Lachenalia rubida (closeup)
Lachenalia  pearsonii (in bud)
Lachenalia mutabilis (closeup)

[Kris De Raeymaeker]

PS: next time when I get to many dormant Lachenalia bulbs for replanting, I might send some of the spare bulbs to the VRV.

Dank je Bill voor je vakkundige toelichting . Je aanbod zou ons wel plezieren .Kunnen daarmee  onze tombola van de vereniging weer wat aantrekkelijker maken.

[Bill Dijk]

Kris, pardon my ignorance, but what is a tombola?   

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I'll take the liberty to answer in Kris' place Bill : a tombola is what the british call a raffle.  We have a raffle where everybody can win some plants on every VRV meeting. 

[Bill Dijk]

I'll take the liberty to answer in Kris' place Bill : a tombola is what the british call a raffle.  We have a raffle where everybody can win some plants on every VRV meeting.  

Thanks Luc and while we are on the subject, what's it like sending dormant bulbs or seed from the Southern Hemisphere countries to the VRV?
Just curious!!  You could drop me a pm if you prefer.

[Wim Boens]

Hier nu in bloei:

de niet zo welriekende Biarum arundanum

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I'll take the liberty to answer in Kris' place Bill : a tombola is what the british call a raffle.  We have a raffle where everybody can win some plants on every VRV meeting.  

Thanks Luc and while we are on the subject, what's it like sending dormant bulbs or seed from the Southern Hemisphere countries to the VRV?
Just curious!!  You could drop me a pm if you prefer.

I sent you a pm Bill !