Fritillaria group

[Palustris]

www.fritillaria.org.uk
Again part of the Alpine Garden Society

[ideasguy]

Excellent site, Eric. Thanks once again for the introduction.

Ive had a play with the Chiltern Catalog (sorry didn't get it uploaded yesterday, but hope to do so tonight) and find that they have six species of Fritillaria.
Of those six, the web site above have photos for 5 of them.
The one not on the Fritillaria group web site is Fritillaria montana

I have the Fritillaria meleagris already.
I click in the NEW CATALOG and I see there is a Web photo available:
http://www.plantguide.lynandmalc.co.uk/plantguide0467.htm 

Its the only species in that Genus that I have so far, but I see one I really like that Chiltern can supply:
Fritillaria pallidiflora and I note that it has the AGM 
Have you grown it, Eric?

[Palustris]

Not actually grown any Frits. They are not one of my favourite plants and most of them are very hard to grow. I am friendly with the chap who wrote the Plantfinders Book on them, Kevin Pratt though, if that is any help.He used to have a Web site for selling, but mainly seeds of various Poppies.It does not seem to be working at present.

[ideasguy]

Gosh Eric! Thats a great guy to have as a friend!
An introduction would be much appreciated!

I had an F. imperialis but it flowered ONCE (one flower) and didnt re-appear.
I went looking, and dug up the (BIG) bulb late in the season last year, with a view to planting it somewhere more favourable, and put it somehere safe ( )
Thanks for reminding me!!

I find the F. meleagris very easy to grow. They come back reliably, and they even compete with grass!!
I fell in love with them as soon as I saw their beautiful chequered blooms. Gorgeous. Ive grown some from my own seed in a tray and they were successful. Best sown outdoors, I suspect.
Photos will follow soon in a WPG, so I can add them to Chiltern catalog.

[Palustris]

Better to grow F. meleagris from seed as almost all the bulbs sold are dead as doornails.
Not seen Kevin for a while now. He used to be a regular shower and judge but not recently. I will keep an eye out for him this year.

[ideasguy]

Found these web pages Eric:
http://www.rhs.org.uk/Learning/Publications/pubs/garden1003/problemshared.htm

Kevin Pratt?s garden is filled with treasures. Kevin (above) specialises in bulbs, many of which need little space.

We should all take heed of that!

He now holds a National Plant Collection of Fritillaria, with more than 100 species and 250 cultivars.

The trouble he finds in his garden is that he grows fewer shrubs than most people, just because they take up too much space.

A man sharing my feelings about shrubs. (I find I should have been far more selective in what I planted.)

?Most gardeners start off with Fritillaria meleagris (snake?s-head fritillary) and often fail to get it to grow well, but it is not the easiest species in most gardens as it likes a moist but well-drained, cool soil,? he explains

Interesting! I find mine dead easy to grow. Confirms the conclusion Ive reached about my plot - I have moist well drained soil.

Attractive F. pallidiflora has pale yellow flowers, grows to 15cm (6in) and thrives in sunny borders.

OK, OK - I'm convinced... Will add to my Chiltern list!

   ...Kevin first noticed this species a year ago, it entranced him, and the collecting bug struck once again.

Yeah, yeah -  happens 

Well, I enjoyed that read!

[ideasguy]

and he's got a book!
http://www.bokkilden.no/SamboWeb/produkt.do?produktId=209189&rom=MP

[Palustris]

Guess who has a signed copy!

[ideasguy]

Is there an emoticon for "Envious" ?

I see he lives near Manchester.
If I planned it right I could pay a visit to my daughter over there and book a visit to his garden.
I'd love to see that garden when the bulbs are at their best.

[Lyn and Malcolm]

We have a few meleagris at the back of our "pond" and they do seem to self seed a bit.



And these michailovskyi are quite pretty to.



Malcolm

[ideasguy]

Indeed they are Malcolm. That F. meleagris photo is linked up in the Chiltern catalog (thank you for the approval), but they dont supply seed for P.  michailovskyi.

I was given the 2008 Catalog list (Excel file) to work on, so I have to make an update when I receive the new list.
I notice on their website that they have bulblets for sale in 2009!
http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/chilternseeds/321142/moreinfo/d/fritillaria+mixed+bulblets/pid/9368667

Included in this mix are F.alfredae glaucoviridis, F.assyriaca, F.carica, F.elwesii, F.pontica and an unknown species. Packet of 10 bulblets.

What do you think guys?