In August 8 2012, I harvested the bulb boxes I sowed two years prior with seeds of local wild flowers. I wrote about the initial sowing here, the harvesting here, and the subsequent planting out here.
I sowed four sets -- one of them a mystery - some labeling faux pas occurred somewhere along the line.
As of early April, the Chlorogalum pomeridianum, soap root plant, are growing all over the place - the Calochortus albus, fairy lanterns, is growing in one shady spot, getting ready to bloom, and Toxicoscordion Fremontii, Fremont's Star Lily is growing in two places, blooming in one. I'm pretty happy about them all!
But there was little sign of the mystery bulbs, which look like this:
Just one large leaf emerging from the ground, like the others I had seen in the bulb box.
And then -- in a pot - a thing I thought must have come from somewhere just by chance!!
And then - it bloomed!
I'm so happy I can't stop looking at it. It's been a few days and the flowers are wilting - I'm not sure if I'll get seeds.
Thanks to this Curbstone Valley Farm post - which I got to by Googling "Fritillaria Santa Cruz"-- I connected the dots - or I should say the leaves! The broad single leaf is a "bulb leaf"which occurs in non-flowering plants.
This is not an unusual flower, really. It needs to be kept somewhat moist and cool in summer, and also needs excellent drainage. This flower was growing in pots that are in a regularly watered shady place.
My little story illustrates that plants don't have to be unusual to have a special place in our lives. It's taken me a couple years to learn what this mystery bulb is. Now I know what it wants to thrive, I can give it the care it needs, and, hopefully, I'll see a lot more of these lovelies.
I sowed four sets -- one of them a mystery - some labeling faux pas occurred somewhere along the line.
 |
| What the heck ... ? |
As of early April, the Chlorogalum pomeridianum, soap root plant, are growing all over the place - the Calochortus albus, fairy lanterns, is growing in one shady spot, getting ready to bloom, and Toxicoscordion Fremontii, Fremont's Star Lily is growing in two places, blooming in one. I'm pretty happy about them all!
But there was little sign of the mystery bulbs, which look like this:
 |
| Do you know what plant these will grow into? |
Just one large leaf emerging from the ground, like the others I had seen in the bulb box.
 |
| Until recently the mystery bulbs had produced nothing but one fat leaf each. |
And then -- in a pot - a thing I thought must have come from somewhere just by chance!!
 |
| Where did this come from? |
And then - it bloomed!
 |
| Turns out it's Fritillaria affinis, checker lily |
I'm so happy I can't stop looking at it. It's been a few days and the flowers are wilting - I'm not sure if I'll get seeds.
Thanks to this Curbstone Valley Farm post - which I got to by Googling "Fritillaria Santa Cruz"-- I connected the dots - or I should say the leaves! The broad single leaf is a "bulb leaf"which occurs in non-flowering plants.
This is not an unusual flower, really. It needs to be kept somewhat moist and cool in summer, and also needs excellent drainage. This flower was growing in pots that are in a regularly watered shady place.
My little story illustrates that plants don't have to be unusual to have a special place in our lives. It's taken me a couple years to learn what this mystery bulb is. Now I know what it wants to thrive, I can give it the care it needs, and, hopefully, I'll see a lot more of these lovelies.
Comments
Couldn't agree more..