Re: South African bulbous plants

Hello Armando,
I hope you hear from some others who share your
interest, and I can say that I share your enthusiasm,
especially as I am here in South Africa seeing the
bulbs in bloom in these areas you mention, and the
show has been fantastic, along with the incredible
show of annuals this year.  I am on a botanical tour
being guided by John Manning, the resident local
expert and author of several books on Cape bulbs and
plants, and thoroughly enjoying the itinerary put
together by Geostar Tours of California, and
Travelquest Tours here in Cape Town.  I can highly
recommend a trip down here in late August through mid
September to see the bulbs in habitat!

I find myself asking over and over, why don't we have
more of these bulbs being grown back in California,
using the species rather than the Dutch hybrids?  We
have probably seen over 25 varieties of Lachenalias,
20 species of Gladiolus, many Spiloxenes, Ixias,
Babianas, Moraeas, Bulbines and Bulbinellas, etc.
etc...  The wealth of terrestrial bulbs here has also
been fascinating.  The show has been fantastic, and
the fynbos vegetation with all the Leucadendrons,
Leucospermums, Muraltias, Podalyrias, Nylandtias,
Proteas, Restios, and many new to me genera such as
Brunias, Berzelias, Eucleyas, Agathosmas, etc. have
also been an eye opener.  I am ready to place a huge
order of seed with Rod and Rachel Saunders of
Silverhill Seed to get started on growing all of these
new acquaintances.  

Regards,
David Feix, in Cape Town, South Africa

--- ARMANDO SEIXAS <arseixas@netc.pt> wrote:
> 
> Hello
> 
> My main interest in gardening is with South African
> bulbous plants from Cape Province, Namaqualand and
> little Karoo, i.e. regions with a Mediterranean type
> of climate which matches well with my own climate
> here in Portugal. So, I would like to contact other
> fellow gardeners faced with the some kind of
> problems I have and interested also in the same type
> of plants. 


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