On the Dry Side: South Africa offers treasure trove of winter-growing bulbs

 South Africa has an extraordinary number of plant species found nowhere else, including hundreds of species of bulbs. Some of these bulbs are well-established in the gardening world, such as Agapanthus or Amaryllis belladonna, but others are little known except to bulb aficionados. They vary greatly in size — from large ones, with bulbs as big as a football, down to miniatures, with bulbs smaller than a pea.

While some grow and flower during the summer months, others spring to life toward the end of the year and grow through the winter. The winter growers come from the western part of the country, which has a Mediterranean climate much like that of California. With very little rainfall during the summer months, these plants respond by sleeping through the dry summers and waking up when the rainy season begins in autumn.

Often, they are so strongly adapted to this regimen that they do not last long when grown in places with wet summers. Happily for us, they present little difficulty in the coastal parts of California, where winters are not too cold and the rainfall arrives just when they need it.

Among South Africa’s treasure trove of winter-growing bulbs is the large genus Lachenalia, with 133 species. These are small plants with delightful flowers, the great majority of them found in the southwest corner of the country, in the winter-rainfall zone. Many of them have spires of tiny short-tubular flowers, but some of the showiest kinds have larger, vividly colored long-tubular flowers, which are pollinated by nectar-feeding birds.

One such species is Lachenalia punctata, which grows mostly in sandy coastal locations both north and south of Cape Town, though there are a few places where it occurs farther inland. This plant has long been known by the name Lachenalia rubida, but recent research shows that the older name, Lachenalia punctata, refers to the same species, and should be used because it was published first, in 1788.

Lachenalia punctata emerges from its summer dormancy in the fall, coming up about late October to November at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek. The flowers develop rapidly, beginning to bloom even before the leaves have developed fully. Each mature bulb produces a single slender flower stalk, which may in some cases grow to a height of 10 inches, though they are usually shorter than this. The cylindrical flowers are 2½ to 3½ inches long and come in various shades of red or pink. In some cases, the red comes in the form of speckles on a background of pale yellow, and this is the source of the name “punctata,” which means spotted.

The flowers are not the only part of the plant with spots, since the pointed leaves often have dark purple spots, though these are not always present. They grow through the winter months, going dormant again when summer approaches.

Lachenalia punctata makes a fine garden plant or potted specimen, requiring sun and good drainage. Heavier soils should be amended for successful growing.

Researcher Studies Pollinator Plots for Warm Season Grass Lawns

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The nation's pollinators are in need of food and housing. Michelle Wisdom is stepping up.

Wisdom, a graduate student in horticulture, is researching ways to incorporate bulbs and other flowers into lawns and other turfgrass areas as a means of providing much needed habitat for pollinating insects.

Bees may be the most widely recognized pollinators of flowering plants, and they are the main pollen spreaders for fruits and vegetables, according to information from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. But many animals help spread pollen about.

Other insects like butterflies, moths and beetles contribute to pollination. So do birds and bats.

Pollinators are in trouble, according the NRCS and other sources. They face challenges from environmental contaminants, disease and parasites. But the most pressing challenge is loss of habitat.

Wisdom said urban spread is the biggest contributer to habitat loss. According to USDA sources, more than 50 million acres of manicured lawns, golf courses, roadsides and other managed turfgrass surfaces make grass the largest agricultural crop in the U.S. Add Monoculture farmlands and the result is that pollinator habitats have become fragmented.

When Wisdom was looking for a master's thesis research project in horticulture, turfgrass professor Mike Richardson suggested she work on the use of bulb flowers in warm-season turfgrasses.

Richardson had done some research on using bulbs to add color to dormant, warm-season grass lawns in early spring, before the grass begins greening up. He had identified a couple bulbs that could persist in lawns planted with aggressive bermudagrass varieties. He thought Wisdom might be able to continue and expand that early work.

Wisdom, a hobbyist beekeeper, wanted to expand that research to study the potential of flowers to add pollinator habitat to warm-season grass lawns.

She began by looking at more efficient methods for planting large numbers of bulbs. If you're doing a few, just dig a hole put one in. If you're planting several dozen, that's a lot of work. She found that opening a trench with a sod cutter, tossing them in and covering them up works well.

"After two years, you can't tell the difference," she said.

Wisdom observed them to see if bees or other pollinators would use them early in the spring. She was delighted to see bees feeding on the flowers as early as February.

"Bees will come out of the hive on mild winter days to relieve themselves," she said. "And while they're out, they'll feed if blooms are available."

Wisdom also wanted to see if she could find flowering plants that could coexist with bermudagrass or buffalograss during the insects' active season. She said her goal was to create a succession of blooms from early spring through late fall.

"A succession of blooms is best for pollinators," she said. "Most require diverse pollen sources for good health. And they also need a season-long succession of food sources."

The trick with the later flowers was finding plants that not only could coexist with the grasses, but also survive repeated mowings. She was able to find a combination of bulbs, white clovers and a couple other flowering plants that provided a succession of blooms.

In addition to contributing to pollinator habitat, the white clovers are legumes that make their own nitrogen and leave enough of it in the soil to help fertilize the grass.

The combination provided a succession of blooms from as early as January through as late as November. So far, the plants have persisted for two years in her test plots.

Wisdom concedes that those who want a nice, green, manicured lawn will probably not want clover and other plants popping up through the grass.But results of her research will be useful to homeowners who don't mind allowing other plants in their lawns in order to lend a hand to pollinating insects.

Wisdom said another area that would be ideal for adding pollinator habitat would be grassy roadsides. The need, there, would be to use low-height plants that won't block drivers' visibility on the roadways.

About the Division of Agriculture: The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation's historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Leeds Castle's Festival of Flowers: From medieval fortress to enchanted castle

 

There were roses tumbling over the walls, orchids gracing the tables and a forest of delphiniums turning a royal bedroom into a magic glade.

And in the Tudor courtyard flowers told the story of Beauty and the Beast, even down to the blood-red rose under a glass dome.

More than 20 displays by designers from around Britain brought 898-year-old Leeds Castle near Maidstone in Kent to life within its state rooms and in the grounds.

Outside was a “Magical Tree” complete with flower-garlanded dream catchers while the moat arch was bedecked with a cascade of colours from roses, purple and white hydrangea, pink chrysanthemums and moonlight carnations.

Even the ruined barbican got the five star treatment with hard-wearing silk flowers hanging before its portcullis.

Many of the flowers are from Colombia in South America, the world's second biggest grower of flowers, and were carried in the bellies of scheduled passenger planes.

The Festival, which runs until Thursday, is the fifth in its current format, and was formally opened by TV gardener Joe Swift.

But the first ever Leeds Castle flower festival was run in 1901 and in the 1930s wealthy owner Lady Olive Baillie was famous for her floral displays at parties attended by Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson and Hollywood stars Errol Flynn and David Niven.

Keeping up the tradition inside the castle was an avalanche of roses tumbling out of a fireplace in the Yellow Silk Drawing Room and a four poster bed of roses and autumn fruits in the Seminar Room.

The Henry VIII Banqueting Hall was given a sumptuous makeover by royal florist Simon Lycett who decorated it from top to bottom with orchids, Chinese lanterns, roses and dahlias.

The winner was declared by Mr Swift to be a vast display of delphiniums and roses on the front lawn called "Once in a blue moon" created by Dennis Kneepkens who had flown in from Beirut the day before to set up the arrangement.

Also in the prizes was the Queen's Bedroom, which was turned into a magical forest by Amy Curtis.

Missy Dress – Elegant and Understated Wedding Dresses This Season

Today is definitely a good day and I'm smiling as I'm writing this. You see, sometimes images land in my inbox that literally take my breath away and today, I get to share them with you. It's such a pleasure to introduce you to the truly exquisite latest collection from independent wedding dress designer and maker, Missy Dress.

Before I tell you more about these wonderful dresses, I should introduce you to Missy Dress herself. Missy Dress studied fashion at university but, after graduating with a First, she took a year out to travel and then started working for a charity. However, when a best friend asked Missy Dress to make her wedding dress, she realised that designing and making bespoke wedding dresses was something she loved.

Missy Dress hasn't looked back since and recently has moved into her latest Sheffield studio. Housed in a converted cutlery factory, it's the perfect place for Missy Dress and her small team to make dresses and meet brides.

So, now you've met Missy Dress, let me hand you over to her to tell us more about the beautiful latest collection:

My latest collection is very much a continuation of the last one: soft, romantic, elegant and understated. I've opted for luxurious fabrics in a refined palette of ivory, oyster and silver tones that look great and feel fantastic on. I've remained focused on how brides will feel wearing their dress on their wedding day; everything is super-comfortable and unrestrictive, lined with silk so feels deliciously soft against the skin.

The made-to-measure nature of my work means that I really get to know each bride – I do every consultation and fitting – and these incredible women are my main source of inspiration. I remember the feedback I've had from brides when planning out a latest Collection, and try to ensure that the final designs offer enough variation to please as many people as possible, while remaining true to my own aesthetic. Designs are still fully adaptable by brides – sleeves can be added, necklines altered and fabrics changed etc.

I haven't tried to create a range of dresses that are perfectly of the moment, but rather continued to produce gowns that are timeless and romantic, and sit comfortably alongside my previous collections, which remain available to order at my studio.

I absolutely adore Missy Dress's refined, pared-back style. She keeps things simple and just lets the heavenly fabrics speak for themselves. Missy Dress says her current favourite in the collection is Clematis and this design caught my eye too. There's a real contrast between the full swishy skirt and the delicate lace top.