[Fermi]

Alisdair,
that must've been a wonderful sight!
Will you be posting more pics from South Africa?
It's some place I would love to see in spring!
cheers
fermi

[Alisdair]

Yes, I hope to, Fermi. Today's MGS Facebook cover picture is of a Romulea we saw flowering in a recent burn site, but at the time couldn't decide on the species (even though I was with Brian Mathew and Oron Peri, as well as a few other friends).
But it'll take me time to sort out some pics!

[Fermi]

Last year we had severe frosts and all the flower buds on Babiana odorata were killed, but they have survived this year to produce some lovely blooms
cheers
fermi

[Alisdair]

Is that light hoar frost on them now, Fermi? Looks it from the second two pictures.

[anita]

Hi Fermi, odorata suggests there's a scent. Is it easily discernable?

[Fermi]

Is that light hoar frost on them now, Fermi? Looks it from the second two pictures.

Hi Alisdair,
I think there had been a light frost and those are the residual dew-drops.

Hi Fermi, odorata suggests there's a scent. Is it easily discernable?

Hi Anita,
it has a lovely sweet scent which is quite pleasant.
Sadly it crosses easily with Babiana pygmaea so there are hybrids around the garden and I didn't notice that they are in flower now so seed will most likely be hybridised. However if you're willing to take the chance I'll try and collect some seed for you,
cheers
fermi

[anita]

Hi Fermi, I'm no purist - happy to take the risk of hybrids. Would love some seeds. Thanks!

[Fermi]

Here are some pics of the hybrid between Babiana odorata and B. pygmaea
cheers
fermi

[Alisdair]

It looks as if you have wonderful growing conditions for those Babianas, Fermi!

[Fermi]

Alisdair,
it's been a good season for these sorts of bulbs because of good winter rain.
These Babiana seedlings have sown themselves into raised beds as well as on the edge of beds where they have "good drainage".
We don't water the areas where they grow if we can help it during the summer.
The seedlings have been quite variable and the best open up wide and have a creamy yellow colour, but the two parents are excellent in their own rights,
cheers
fermi

[Fermi]

Babiana pygmaea is now in flower,
cheers
fermi

[Fermi]

The Babiana odorata x B. pygmaea hybrids are making quite a show in the rock garden!
cheers
fermi

[Fermi]

Babiana villosa "Red Form" flowering nicely this year,
cheers
fermi

[Alisdair]

Terrific, Fermi!

[Fermi]

Here's quite a different one - it looks like one of the "orchid gladiolus"!
Babiana sinuata, grown from seed from Being Seed, R.S.A, 2012, first flowering this week,
cheers
fermi