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 and how to order it. Up form today you can also buy the book from me directly
Now and then people ask me by e-mail if I sell certain specialty bulbs. I don't sell bulbs, I'm just a enthousiastic amateur grower of specialty bulbs. On this site you can find some links to some dealers.
If you are interested in Southafrican 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 sympsoium 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
The news of week 16 of 2008
What else is there to read at this site
De Hortus Bulborum in Limmen, a small town near Alkmaar, is open from 6 April until 16 May. You can see here a lot of 'antique'tulips as well as hyacinths and daffodils. De Hortus is open on Monday till Saterday from 10.00 till 17.00 hours and on Sunday from 12.00 till 17.00 hours. I can recommend a visit to this lovely Hortus. For more info check 'the information page of the Hortus Bulborum'.
At the beginning of 2002 I started with a weekly chancing start page with actual information on growing specialty bulbs. 'The news of week ..' is changed weekly and you can read the news of the past weeks in
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 .