Here comes Chico!!!

Here comes Glee!!

Frozen scene after the blizzard!!

Good news, my severely damaged bulb of Jungle Star from RC is finally putting out roots as it sits on warm perlite. I think that it is saved!!

The birdfeeders are all full and everyone is warm and cozy in the house during this weekend which is reported to be the coldest air we've experienced yet, hard to believe it could get colder!!

Early morning before the storm but the bay is frozen, has been for several weeks.

\

Oh, and by the way, all Ferrari seedpods have failed, so much for my Dragon Blood quest! This is the time that the seedpods start to fail, I have many others too but a few have survived!

Everyone stay warm this weekend and don't forget to feed the birds if it's at all possible!!!!

Donna

Anja - I love that pic of the rainbow and the cat! Did I understand correctly its not your cat?

I love rainbows for some reason they fill me with joy and a sense of hope! What part of the world are you in? Germany? How come there is no snow on the ground?

Donna - your Chico and Glee are beautiful! I am particularly loving the glee - might have to get that one at some point!

Glad your Jungle Star is recovering - too bad those seed pods failed!

Joy

Hi Joy,

maybe I can answer that for you? If you're not in a mountainous area in germany, there's no garantee for snow in winter. We are very much affected by the Gulf Stream, so even though the latitude is quite high, our climate is very "atlantic". If you go futher east, it gets more continental as in North America. Hope that'll help :)

Donna,

beautiful pcitures! I'm thinking about adding Jungle Star to my collection. I'm lacking very slender cybistery bulbs ... has anyone seen Tarantula or Night Star offered?

Glee is stunning. I love the crisp colouration! It oviously has papilio influence!

Carl, Night Star hasn't been available for several years now and I regret that I never got one. I have never seen Tarantula for sale although I believe it is available through the cut flower market. There may have been a few in the terrible mix up by Royal Colors several years ago when everyone was getting things they didn't order.

I got an exotic cybister in place of Kahlua that I think might be Octopussy, what do you think? Octopussy was not offered but somehow this one happily snuck in my order and I'm not the only one who got one of these. There were only two flowers but the bulb was small and stressed but it is alive and thriving now. Hoping for 4 flowers the next time it blooms.

Donna

Donna,

They're both very beautiful :-)))

Donna , Thank you for the photos, this bay is beautiful, I never get tired of seeing it in all seasons! All is well for you , Fred and Joy ?

Glee is superb, mine has decreased in size, this year I will not have anything terrible.

My Glee is a new bulb also, I can't take any credit for the flowers!! This may be another one for me like Chico that I have to buy a new bulb if I want to see the flowers!!!???

Hi Beatrice,

We're doing ok, just buried in snow and extremely cold -12C and very windy that makes it feel like -28C. There is some hope for next week, the weather forecasters are saying it may go up to freezing for the first time in a long while :-))) I hope you're well and please keep sending pictures of your lovely blooms.

Warm Hugs,

Fred

Donna, your pictures are gorgeous! I'm freezing when I look at this frozen bay and I would buy a Glee immediatly if I could :-)) And I love that sunset! Your maybe Octopussy looks very interesting, can't wait to see pictures when it blooms with four flowers!

Joy, you're right, Oskar isn't my cat but I know him for many years now and love him very much. My old cat Vincent died last summer and no new cat has found it's way to our home yet. I'm patient, he or she will be very welcome when the time has come...

Carl is right about the Gulf Stream and this year we have an extremely mild winter. The picture with the rainbow was taken on an island in northeastern Germany and they haven't had any snow this winter there. But I also remember very cold winters with lots of snow at that place, especially when I was a child.

Carl, my Jungle Star from RC is doing nothing but growing offsets - I could share one someday...

In Berlin the weather felt like spring today and I was thinking of you guys suffering the severe cold!

Anja

Wow, Octopussy is exactly my type! :D More cultivars to dream of ... ;)

Hey Carl, I remember falling in live with Tarantula. I only found it offered as a cut flower and it was out of stock. I would have ordered the just to get the pollen.

Donna, Fred, and Joy, I hate that you all are having bad weather, but I am glad the power has remained on.

Fred -12C is cold! The coldest I have experienced is -15 C here in South Korea. The city I live in doesn't get much snow. All that cold in addition to snow would be just awful!

Donna, you know my Glee is that "problem bulb" which routinely experiences the outer layer mushy problem.

Donna, Fred and Joy, we think of you, it's true that I too benefit from the softness of the gulf stream ... but for a month it's only been raining, the water can no longer evacuate it's not very happy except for my ducks :-)

there is something to find in the culture of chico and glee that escapes us, for chico I tell myself that I can not reproduce its semi-desert climate, but Glee ???

Today it's supposed to get -6 °C here in Northeastern germany. But the general weather situation is very mild! In 2010 we had a really "good" winter with big parts of the baltic sea frozen solid!

Yes! I would love to get my hands on Tarantula pollen too!

Anja,

wow - thanks for the offer! Just get back to me via Email if that suits you!

Well, the good news for us New Englanders is that it's going to warm up starting tomorrow and by the end of the week it might be in the 50s F !!

Anja, that was a sunrise just before the sun comes up over the land across the bay, once the sun comes up you have to wear sunglasses in the winter. We don't see any sunsets here, too many trees.

I know Tarantula may be out of our reach but a few of finally got Melfi which is close.

Mine did very poorly after its initial bloom and just sulked for a year or more. I think the mother bulb finally died off and I have one or two very small bulblets growing I guess I should give it more TLC this summer as this is one that we most likely won't ever see again.

Donna

Donna that is beautiful - I am continuously amazed at the variety of bulbs available and each has its own beauty!

Estoy fascinada, de semilla, primera floración

Nice shape!

Just wanted to add my currently blooming Bogota, new this year from WFF. Unfortunately, there are no roots so this poor bulb is supporting 11 flowers opening all at once so I don't imagine they will last all that long but it sure it lovely. I might try to pollinate a few flowers but in the past the only success I ever had with growing viable seedpods on Bogota was x Sweet Lilian of which I have a pot with about 4 healthy seedlings. Any suggestions from those of you who have had success with something else on Bogota would be greatly appreciated.

Donna

Donna,

They look absolutely glorious :-))) I love the shape and color!!!!! I tried crossing a bunch of stuff with Bogota last year and let me tell you....she is one picky chick...cuz nothin' took!!!!!

Thanks Fred, well maybe I've got a few tricks up my sleeves that she's never met!!

Donna...Do you just want to make Bogota seeds or are you aiming for something? There are some in here that got blessed with Bogota X seeds and have bloomed their seedlings. Bogota should be a good parent as it is a performer and robust. What to partner it with I think will depend on what you are aiming for.

Maria,

Well, I'm just aiming for something cybistery that is pretty and different! I am actually growing on some Bogota selfs that someone gave me a few years ago and I do remember the gorgeous flower that was a Bogota self that was posted here not too long ago! And of course as I mentioned above the only other Bogota seedlings I have are x Sweet Lilian.

I particularly like Bogota because as you say, it's a strong grower, beautiful color, a cybister and most always gives at least 4 flowers per scape; these two scapes have 11 flowers!

Unfortunately, unlike Joey, I don't really have any long term goals, just hoping to end up with something exotic and lovely like you did with your Jungle Lady and her siblings!
I guess it all depends on who Bogota likes for a partner if anyone this year!

I just put her on Chico, and I'll try the reverse, I don't think I've tried that combination before but as with Bogota, Chico is a new bulb with no roots! So on and on I go, something will take sooner or later!!

Both my Jungle Star and La Paz gave me mostly pock marked seeds and lots of chaff, but I did get a few good seeds from each pod but not what I hoped for with the large pods that I had.

Donna

Hi Donna,

I'll try Merengue (which is afer comparing your pictures not quite similar) x aulicum this year again! Your Melfi is gorgeous, maybe that'll be a good partner? Or something else that'll profit from the larger amount of blooms?

Carl

Love pics of your bogota Donna and will be interesting to see the crosses you create!

x papilio??? I remember I got blessed with Bogota X papilio seeds a few years ago.

Yes Donna, you should definitely try Papilio since you have fresh pollen! Exotic Star might be a good choice too. And if you still have Santos or anything variegated...

Good luck with everything you may try!!!!

Thanks everyone, I will try papilio and Exotic Star for sure!!

My Merengue and Melfi pollen is too old if I even still have it.

I do have a small Santos bud but I would have to try the reverse cross and I'm afraid I'll only have 2 flowers looking at the size of the scape and bud.

I thought I had one taker on my Glee but that has failed too, and it was x papilio!

I have a rather good looking pod on Exotic Star x Chico though but it's really early and I've not had much success in the past pleasing Exotic Star with pollen but I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!

That's my excuse for my not taking down my Christmas decorations yet, I can't do much with all my fingers crossed all the time!!! ;-))

For Donna: Here is a photo of the maiden flowering of my seedling of Bogota x H. papilio. The leaves were attacked by slugs, but they spared the flowers. The scape produced four blooms.

Like Kristi, Ray, Pavel, and many others, I’ve been battling serious illness and also mourning the loss of my mother. My Hippeastrum bulbs have stepped up and accompanied me constantly throughout this journey. I have lots of photos to post, and zip energy. Happy belated 2018 to everyone!!!

Kind regards,

Blanca

Dear Blanca,

Your seedling is very lovely, thank you for posting her. We all look forward to enjoying your other blooms as you are able to post them.

I will talk to you later....Donna♥♥

Blanca, very beautiful seedling!

I am so sorry for the loss of your mother and your illness:(

Praying thst this year brings good things your way. Jody

Blanca,

Your flowers are very beautiful. I hope their color and beauty help bring you some peace. I'm a very strong believer in prayers and positive thoughts and I'm sending you lots of them.

Thank you very much Donna, Jody, and Fred.

I'll try my best to post photos soon.

Blanca , tous mes voeux de prompt rétablissement ,j'espère que tu vas vite retrouver toute ton énergie. Je serai si heureuse de voir tes prochaines photos :-))

Chère Béatrice,

Merci beaucoup pour les souhaits aimables.

Blanca, your seedling is something special! I wish that 2018 brings you renewed health and enough good things to uplift your spirits.~ Joey

Hi Joey,

Thank you so much for the good wishes. I'm happy that you like the seedling.

I wish you success in achieving your goals. Keep visualizing your dreams and grow, grow, grow!

Some old and new blooms for me, one of last season's Magical Touch is showing her pretty face. There are 5 flowers, two of them are conjoined but only on the outer leaves and the pedicels, the flowers themselves are separate so they don't look too

distorted. Don't forget to click on the pictures to see the large size!!!!

Next I have a bulb that grew from seeds that Ashley gave me (some of you may remember her) that were labeled Doneau x Exotica. There are 4 flowers, on the small to med size and they aren't all that lovely but the color is good so I will try some crosses on them. Unfortunately, Doneau's genes didn't add much to the mix. I'll give her another year to see if she improves and see what I get for seeds before deciding if I will keep her.

I saved the best for last!!!!

May I present my long to have owned, but first time blooming of Evening Butterfly!!!

I have to admit that this was stuffed in the back on one of my shelves and the only reason I even saw this was because I was outside taking pictures of Magical Touch and I happened to look back through the window and OMG, she had wormed her way up the back of 3 shelves and her flower was mostly hidden from inside by theleaves on the top shelf!!! I had to have help getting out out in one piece!!

Sadly, she only has the two flowers but I know she can produce 4 but I'm not complaining, she is lovely!! Her colors are strong and the green is well, REALLY green!!

She is extremely tall and as I only found her 2 hours ago, she is dripping in nectar!!

You can see here how tall she really is!!

She isn't a large bulb by any means and I actually have another that is much smaller.

Thanks for looking......Donna

Evening butteryfly is lovely Donna! And so is magical touch - what a beautiful spring look on this beautiful day in MA!

What is blooming next to magical touch? Is that Gervase?

Thanks Joy, No, the little peach one is Doneau x Exotica grown from seeds that were given to me years ago!! And yes, what a gorgeous day, another one tomorrow just to give us hope that spring is indeed just around the corner!!!

Hi Donna! I did not know of evening butterfly, it's lovely! I like the curled wings and of course the intense color! Cybisters seem to produce the longest scapes, my Emerald reached once 95 cm (~37,4 inch) from bulb to bracts!

Donna, your 'Evening Butterfly' is beautiful, so big , what a surprise !

I got one who is missing now I realize it by reading your message (!), It gave 4 flowers, so it is certain that yours with this force will give you 4 next year!

it makes me want to raise a lot of small chicoXpapilio to have a chance to discover such beauty

Carl, This is a Komoriya bulb and the last one that they had for sale was just $15.00 of course, the postage is another matter but the more you buy, the less they charge per bulb.

Yes, Bea, I was very happily surprised too!! Do you think this is a Chico and papilio cross? I made Chico x papilio this year and was successful so I will be sowing these seeds a few at a time for a few years!

This year I also made the reverse cross, Exotic Star x Chico and got a few seeds that I'm soaking now. Hopefully, I'll get some to germinate successfully as I'd like to see what the difference in the flowers would be reversing the cross.

This particular Evening Butterfly is particularly spidery, every petal is undulated every which way, I love it!! Now if I can just get a Secret Alleys to bloom!! :-)))

Donna

Donna, do you have plans to cross with it? Maybe Giraffe? ;)

Donna , I have no certitude but I think he could be . AS you....I made the cross again for enjoing growing them and have the surprise , they are all so beautifull !!. I remember when I discovered this forum , dreaming viewing Han's Werner Chico X papilio pictures !

Hi Donna,

Your blooms are beautiful :-))) My Evening Butterfly was very tiny when I got it last year, but the bulb is beginning to bulk up and is growing new leaves. Hopefully, it will bloom...but I doubt it. Thank you for showing what it looks like in "real life" rather than the re-touched ones you see on the internet. If it does bloom and if I have any mandonii x yungacense pollen left, I will try to cross a bloom or two. Something tells me that the offspring would be quite pretty and along the lines of Beatrice's and Frank's glorious masterpieces :-)))))

Well, I've been trying to think about what I might put on Evening Butterfly's two flowers. I do have some fresh Giraffe, I have just about every fresh pollen this year including Santos but I don't know which to choose. Two flowers is such a tease....

Fred, this bulb is about the size of a lime, still small but certainly larger than many of my other Komoriya bulbs.

Carl, I might try Giraffe as the colors about the same but much more saturated on Evening Butterfly. When I only have two flowers to work with I'm always so tempted to mix at least 2 pollens so as to double my chances. I suppose I could mix Santos with Giraffe, it should be easy to tell which took when the seeds start to germinate. Should I mix something for the second flower or just stick to papilio? Too many pollens and not enough flowers, now that's something different for me!!

Donna

Donna, it is very beautiful! And I would try Santos for sure!!! Do you still have pollen of your Thai Thai? Just to keep the twisting of the petals...

Hi Anja, I do but it didn't take on anything..I know, I do love the twisting of the petals!!