Book about specialty bulbs
In May 1999 the former publisher Balkema International Publishers published my 'Bulb book' . In this book bulbous plants are described which can be grown indoors or in a greenhouse. In a practical way I have explained which species can be grown and how they are tended. Up till now I have heard and read only positive reactions. Click 'here' for more information about this most interesting book.
Now and then people ask me by e-mail if I sell certain specialty bulbs. I don't sell bulbs, I'm just an enthousiastic amateur grower of these bulbs. On this site you can find some links to some suppliers.
If you are interested in South African bulbs and growing them, then join the IBSA; The Indigenous Bulb Association of South Africa. The costs are about 20 Euro/US $ a year. You can apply as a member on P.O. Box 12265, N1 City 7463, South Africa or on sa.da@mweb.co.za. IBSA also has its own website: www.safricanbulbs.org.za.
The Indigenous Bulb Society of South Africa (IBSA) organised for the second time a Bulb and Corm Symposium at the Goudini Spa, near Worcester, which was heldfrom Monday 28 August to Friday 1 September 2006. The first two days of the Symposium consisted of lectures, slide shows and talks covering cultivation, morphology and identification of South African bulbs and corms. On the next three days there were visits around the Worcester area where it was be possible to see some of the exquisite bulbs and corms. Just like in 2003 I got the opportunity to visit the symposium. After the symposium I have spent some days in Nieuoudtville. For the first time in 4 years the North and West Cape area got the normal amounts of rainfall. This year it rained earler than normal, so they had an early spring. When we arrived, the Romulea species had already flowered. But there was still more than enough to see. It was just fantastic! I have been to places I visited 6 years ago as well. In 2000 it had hardly rained and very few plants flowered. Nw it was completey different. Fot the first time in 4 years the area, or better West and North Cape, got the normal amounts of rainfall. What I have seen is undescribable. So click on the links below to get an impression of what I have seen.
Terrain near Swellendam
Lachenalia orchioides
Boophone disticha
South Africa 2006 pictures 2
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| Massonia depressa | Veltheimia bracteata | Veltheimia bracteata |
The News of week 6 of 2012
Today I lifted the foliage in order to check the plants. I could see they were doing well. Not all, to be honest. One plant, Hippeastrum vittatum, hasn't survived the cold. I should have thought about the plant earlier. My fault! As a memory you see on the left a picture of Hippeastrum vittatum.
If you want to check the news of the past weeks,
In volume 55 of Herbertia, the annual of The International Bulb Society, an article of me about propagation of specialty bulbs has been published. Finally an article with detailled technical information about partitioning and scaling of specialty bulbs. The results show a lot of possibilities with these techniques. If you want to know more, let me know by sending me a message .
Unexpectedly the temperatures dropped below zero about a week ago. The picture of a real Winter was complete when we had a day of snow fall a couple of days ago. I really enjoy this weather, especially the point that it's freezing during the night and during the day. Earlier today I was in my greenhouse to check how the plants are doing. When the freesing weather, I was just in time to cover the plants with protective foliage.