[pbs] Fall odds and ends
James Waddick
jwaddick at kc.rr.com
Thu Oct 25 21:53:10 EDT 2007
Dear All,
Not a big bulb season here, except to plant... hundreds
awaiting the right day.
We finally had a couple decent rains and the temps have
cooled into the 50s.
Galanthus olga-reginae is in bloom. Reliable even after
dividing this spring.
Crocus speciosum is almost done. I think this is 'Oxonian' -
the immense flowers on skimpy floral tubes get blown over in our
winds. They look sort of ethereal popping up here and there.
Another palest blue, smaller crocus is in bloom. Label is
lost, but I should try to key out the species, at least.
No sign yet of the usually reliable Crocus banaticus, but
Crocus sativus has a few leaves visible. Flowers should follow soon
and I'l pick enough Saffron for a pot of rice. It is said that fresh
saffron doesn't produce as strong a flavor as dried saffron, but it
is still wonderful. Last year I bought some saffron in a small town
in Tibet - Himalayan Saffron. The shopkeeper must have had a nearly a
pound of it and it was stored in a large air-tight glass container.
When the top was removed to serve me, the scent was tremendous and
filled the small shop. A fond memory.
Surely someone else has some fall bulbs in bloom. I wish I
could grow Crocus goulimyi here. I used to have it when I gardened in
the slightly protected garden in the middle of the city, but out here
in sub-sub-urbia it has not flourished. I love the Champagne glass
shape of the flowers in both pale lilac and pure white (Mani White').
Any one else ? Best Jim W.
ps After stubbornly refusing to bloom all summer, my Crinum 'Mrs
James Henry' is sending up a flower stalk ( the rain and cooler
weather? ), but will it bloom or get frosted. Jay any thoughts?
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +
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