Feburary 27th, 2012

Iris histrio var. aintabensis
Southern Turkey native, growing in pockets of limestone rocks-Phillips and Rix. I don't add any extra lime to my bulbs, but I do top dress some with crushed oyster shell. The whole limestone grower and adding additional limestone will be discussed further as soon as I have time. I do fertilize with a dilute liquid feed and this will be discussed later as well.

Crocus reticulatus

Not the best picture, but this is a species that occurs in the wild from Northern Italy through Hungary, the Ukraine and into Turkey. It can be foud from Sea Level up to 2100 meters. Ruksans book has some interesting statements about what Brian Mathew has said about this bulb. Mr. Mathew apparently recomeded it for pot culture with a dry summer rest. Ruksans says that the Turkish specimens need this treatment but that others do well in the open garden. I don't know for sure where Jane's form is from but this picture is from a raised bed that is uncovered. I don't currently have this in the greenhouse but I will try some in there next year and see if I notice a difference.



Muscari psuedomuscari
Can anyone of my 5 blog followers tell me about this one? It's not in any of my books and I am too lazy tonight to do a web search.

All for now, just to fill you in. There a lot's of bulbs coming on strong in the greenhouse and garden now. The temperature has been topping out in the 40's with lows forecasted tonight for 23 degrees. It snowed off and on this weekend. I decided to not cover the bulbs and I haven't even moved the kerosene heater in. I did water the bulbs early this morning. Remember a moist pot insulates better than a dry one. If this weather pattern holds, I will probably put frost blankets out, but generally I don't get too worried unless temperatures are going to go into the teens

Late Feburary

"He was a very inferior farmer when he first began, but a prolonged and unflinching assault upon his agricultural difficulties has had its effect at last and he is now fast rising from affluence to poverty."

-Mark Twain, A Curious Dream.

Crocus biflorus ssp. pulchricolor

So, the greenhouse is alive and many bulbs are starting into vigorous growth. The weather man says that we may have the coldest first week of March that we have ever had. The kerosene will be a burning!

Galanthus plicatus

Of course weather men can be wrong. I hope so, because Kerosene runs around $5-7 a gallon these days.

Crocus imperati
  From Mr. Ruksans, this species is distributed from Naples South to Calabria and on the Isle of Capri, growing from Sea level to 1350 meters in thin woodlands and grassy areas. Easy in the rock garden.

Iris 'Sheila Ann'
What a delight this hyrbid is, the pale blue flowers thrusting up through without leaves. Fairly short lived the blooms lasted about 5 days before they faded away.

Iris unguicularis
Why wouldn't you buy this? To have this much color so early in the year.

Well my friends, that is all for now. I have another 20 or so pictures that I need to post. Will do as soon as time allows. The first Fritillaria's are open and the rest of the lot seems to be coming on quickly.