tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87057109655613401672024-03-05T21:38:20.499+11:00The Pitcher Plantation, AustraliaA blog on growing Sarracenia pitcher plants in Australiapitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-20414387055953039572022-04-22T14:14:00.002+10:002022-04-22T14:14:10.636+10:00Old Sarracenia photos - Part 1<p> As the last few seasons have been quite iffy for plants locally (the spring winds are the killer, wrecking the pitchers), I haven't taken so many photos of them. Here's what I did take over the last few years since I stopped posting.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50596891156/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia collection, November 2020"><img alt="Sarracenia collection, November 2020" height="600" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50596891156_b7a3f7ac15_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50596891156/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia collection, November 2020"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></a><p>This was the collection in early November 2020. The <i>S. flava </i>flowers are finishing up and the pitchers are in full cry.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50596191421/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora “nearly all red lid”; 2020-21 season"><img alt="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora “nearly all red lid”; 2020-21 season" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50596191421_e3697b583c_c.jpg" width="480" /></a> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50619790766/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora “FRT 1”; 2020-21 season"><img alt="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora “FRT 1”; 2020-21 season" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50619790766_7557b510c4_c.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50596191421/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora “nearly all red lid”; 2020-21 season"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></a><p>The above pitchers are of a <i>S. flava </i>var. <i>rubricorpora</i> with a nearly all-red lid. It was seed grown by Gotcha! Plants and can fill in very red mid-summer. I've had it since early 2018.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50619053548/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia flava var. ornata “big mouth, compact lid”; 2020-21 season"><img alt="Sarracenia flava var. ornata “big mouth, compact lid”; 2020-21 season" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50619053548_88ea0494a2_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">This handsome <i>flava </i>var. <i>ornata</i>-looking thing is actually a hybrid of unknown parentage. Owen O'Neil of Strange World Carnivores sold it to me as a <i>flava </i>in December 2017 (see this post for pics from the day), but its since become apparent its a hybrid. Owen now sells it as "Sullivan's Legacy", recognising Richard Sullivan from Bathurst who originally bred it. Richard had a huge collection of carnivores, but has sadly disappeared from the scene. I met him once at an AUSCPS sale at Mount Tomah, and he invited me out to see his plants, which were beautifully grown. He was a top guy.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50619903592/in/dateposted/" style="text-align: center;" title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea “Ross Rowe”; 2020-21 season"><img alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea “Ross Rowe”; 2020-21 season" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50619903592_358df8710e_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50619922872/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea “Gotcha Plants heavy vein”; 2020-21 season"><img alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea “Gotcha Plants heavy vein”; 2020-21 season" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50619922872_c558c566a7_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p>Now for some <i>flava </i>var. <i>cuprea. </i>At left is a plant that is one of the best <i>flava </i>var. <i>cuprea </i>around. I call it 'Ross Rowe' after its originator, a local Canberra grower very active with the Canberra chapter of the AUSCPS. You can buy plants direct off him via Facebook (I don't have a link, but if you look him up, you should be able to find him). Almost as good is a heavy veined <i>cuprea</i> from Gotcha! Plants grown from seed supplied to John Creevey from Allen Lowrie. I've sold a number of divisions of this plant over the years, so its around if you look for it.</p><p>I'll leave it there for today, and post more pics over the coming days and weeks.</p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-2953434219636163032022-04-22T13:53:00.001+10:002022-04-22T13:53:13.912+10:00A fluke mobile phone shot...<p>I managed to pull off a very nice fluke shot while out taking a few idle pics of the few decent <i>Sarracenia </i>pitchers yesterday.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/52020917616/in/dateposted/" title="Cabbage white (Pieris rapae) feeding at a Sarracenia leucophylla pitcher"><img alt="Cabbage white (Pieris rapae) feeding at a Sarracenia leucophylla pitcher" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52020917616_38c5977832_c.jpg" width="533" /></a></div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/52020917616/in/dateposted/" title="Cabbage white (Pieris rapae) feeding at a Sarracenia leucophylla pitcher"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></a><p style="text-align: left;">This female Cabbage White butterfly (<i>Pieris rapae</i>) was having a good feed at a seed-grown <i>S. leucophylla </i>that had recruited itself into some flytraps Owen of Strange World Carnivores sold me a few years ago. As I hit the shutter, I managed to fluke a nice shot of the butterfly taking to the air:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/52019877877/in/photostream/" title="Cabbage white (Pieris rapae) feeding at a Sarracenia leucophylla pitcher"><img alt="Cabbage white (Pieris rapae) feeding at a Sarracenia leucophylla pitcher" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52019877877_abc47bc55a_c.jpg" width="533" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: left;">Zooming in, there's actually a bit going on in that shot...</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/52021173669/in/photostream/" title="Cabbage white (Pieris rapae) feeding at a Sarracenia leucophylla pitcher"><img alt="Cabbage white (Pieris rapae) feeding at a Sarracenia leucophylla pitcher" height="535" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52021173669_65af763307_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">Not only did I score the butterfly in decent focus, I caught its proboscis midway through being re-coiled, and an ant (probably White-footed house ant, <i>Linepithema humile</i>) traversing the downward-pointing hairs under the pitcher's lid.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I very much prefer my DSLR though...</p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-66196302225164703652022-04-12T19:27:00.006+10:002022-04-12T22:20:03.379+10:00A few autumn Sarracenia leucophylla pitchers<p>Despite 2021-22 being such a lackluster season, the <i>Sarracenia leucophylla </i>are putting up a few nice traps this year. As I parted with most of my <i>S. leucophylla </i>in 2019, I have only a few left, including this plant from Strange World Carnivores with lovely white windows and strong venation.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/51999761375/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia leucophylla (autumn 2022 pitchers)"><img alt="Sarracenia leucophylla (autumn 2022 pitchers)" height="683" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51999761375_9d6c125209_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/51999761375/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia leucophylla (autumn 2022 pitchers)"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></a><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/51999284648/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia leucophylla (autumn 2022 pitchers)"><img alt="Sarracenia leucophylla (autumn 2022 pitchers)" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51999284648_f1e0db2a55_z.jpg" width="427" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/51998213757/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia leucophylla (autumn 2022 pitchers)"><img alt="Sarracenia leucophylla (autumn 2022 pitchers)" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51998213757_786f432d8c_z.jpg" width="427" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: left;">I managed to catch this incredible view of it lit up by the setting sun the other week - beautiful beyond words! The photo doesn't do it justice...</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/51998213792/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia leucophylla (autumn 2022 pitchers)"><img alt="Sarracenia leucophylla (autumn 2022 pitchers)" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51998213792_84a576769e_z.jpg" width="426" /></a> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/51999284618/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia leucophylla (autumn 2022 pitchers)"><img alt="Sarracenia leucophylla (autumn 2022 pitchers)" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51999284618_b669c549b5_z.jpg" width="288" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: left;">My <i>S. leucophylla </i>collection now consists of only the above clone, some cv. "Tarnok", a pink plant that I call 'Pink English' for Carol English who grew it from seed (noting it may be the same plant that Triffid Park sell as 'Ruby Joyce'), and a rather white hooded clone also from Strange World Carnivores. </p><p style="text-align: left;">To finish off, here's the white hooded clone. I did briefly have 'Hurricane Creek White', which is much, much whiter than this plant, but it unfortunately died in an extremely hot summer before I could divide it.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/51999486509/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia leucophylla (autumn 2022 pitchers)"><img alt="Sarracenia leucophylla (autumn 2022 pitchers)" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51999486509_0b98d0a046_c.jpg" width="533" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">JN.</p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/51999486509/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia leucophylla (autumn 2022 pitchers)"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></a>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-1743088059860643682022-04-11T21:31:00.003+10:002022-04-11T21:43:24.654+10:00Fun things to do with your Rapid Antigen Test UV-LED torch...<p>Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) are an unfortunate fact of post-COVID life in Australia. But here's a nerdy use for the LED torch that comes with the test kits - you can make your <i>Nepenthes</i> and <i>Sarracenia</i> pitchers glow brilliantly under the UV torch light!</p><p>Here's what my <i>Nepenthes maxima </i>x <i>alata </i>looks like under UV light:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/51821986999/in/dateposted/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Nepenthes fluorescing under UV light"><img alt="Nepenthes fluorescing under UV light" height="1024" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51821986999_3697664f3c_b.jpg" width="768" /></a></div><p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p>We are still figuring out what this means from a biological perspective. <a href="https://cpn.carnivorousplants.org/articles/CPNv49n4pe1_31.pdf">An excellent paper published in the ICPS journal a few years back</a> notes that UV fluorescence is not the same a UV visibility. Fluorescence is instead where the wavelength of UV light is altered, moving it into the visible spectrum. The biological significance of fluorescence vs. reflectance of UV light is still uncertain and much research is needed in this area.</p><p>Its worthy to note that <a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-8137.1985.tb02864.x">a paper that does use actual UV photography</a> (i.e. photography through a filter that excludes anything but UV wavelengths) does resolve the glowing peristome - something that the authors appear to have overlooked at the time...</p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-13065814873404448672022-04-10T21:57:00.008+10:002022-04-12T17:46:11.419+10:00The 2019 Triffid Park Open Day<p style="text-align: left;">I just realised I never got around to posting about the Triffid Park open day back in 2019... so here goes!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Triffid Park is Australia's largest CP nursery and has some lovely plants. Just before COVID reared its nasty head, they held their annual open day, which I managed to make. My aim was to acquire a few <i>Sarracenia flava</i> clones missing from the collection.</p><p style="text-align: left;">While I have been to Triffid Park three times and knew what to expect, a first visit is quite overwhelming due to the sheer volume of plants.</p><p style="text-align: left;">To show what I mean, here's a view of the main <i>Sarracenia </i>greenhouse:</p><div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50504934157/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia house, Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia."><img alt="Sarracenia house, Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia." height="256" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504934157_4cf4eb99ba_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a> </div><div>And here's a view of just the <i>S. flava:</i></div><p style="text-align: left;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50505009252/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia flava; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia."><img alt="Sarracenia flava; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia." height="276" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50505009252_7613f49ded_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></p><div>Triffid Park grow beautiful <i>Sarracenia</i> - here's a few pics of their plants...</div><div><br /></div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50504100198/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia flava; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia."><img alt="Sarracenia flava; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia." height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504100198_f39c056e65.jpg" width="500" /></a> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50504103848/in/dateposted/" title="Random Sarracenia; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia."><img alt="Random Sarracenia; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia." height="354" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504103848_7bcc3b25e6.jpg" width="500" /></a><p style="text-align: left;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50504974502/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia flava et al.; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia."><img alt="Sarracenia flava et al.; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia." height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504974502_151db74098.jpg" width="500" /></a> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50504820516/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia ‘Paradisea f. Red’ et al.; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia."><img alt="Sarracenia ‘Paradisea f. Red’ et al.; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia." height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504820516_29f4d2e9e5.jpg" width="500" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">Their <i>Nepenthes </i>house is extremely impressive too. The racks were quite bare within hours of the doors being opened!</p><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50504788951/in/dateposted/" title="Nepenthes house, Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia."><img alt="Nepenthes house, Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia." height="227" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504788951_f110937a63_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><div><br /></div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50504941662/in/dateposted/" title="Nepenthes house, Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia."><img alt="Nepenthes house, Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia." height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504941662_ea561025f1.jpg" width="500" /></a> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50504070468/in/dateposted/" title="Nepenthes house, Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia."><img alt="Nepenthes house, Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia." height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504070468_c69230a03d.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p style="text-align: left;">Their massive specimen plants of <i>N. truncata</i> and <i>Heliamphora</i> were stunning!</p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50504804186/in/dateposted/" title="Nepenthes truncata; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia."><img alt="Nepenthes truncata; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia." height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504804186_49e823a6af.jpg" width="500" /></a> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50504085268/in/dateposted/" title="Heliamphora; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia."><img alt="Heliamphora; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia." height="402" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504085268_12654d2034.jpg" width="500" /></a><div><p style="text-align: left;">Carpets of <i>Pinguicula emarginata </i>x (x '<i>Wesser</i>') grew under the <i>Nepenthes </i>in the cooler intermediate conditions.</p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50504791691/in/dateposted/" title="Pinguicula emarginata x (x ‘Wesser’); Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia."><img alt="Pinguicula emarginata x (x ‘Wesser’); Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia." height="604" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504791691_5b411665d4_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><p style="text-align: left;">Here's the Triffid Park clone of <i>N. veitchii</i> x <i>maxima,</i> and a <i>N. clipeata </i>x <i>ventricosa</i>.</p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50504836811/in/dateposted/" title="Nepenthes veitchii x maxima (= x allardii); Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia."><img alt="Nepenthes veitchii x maxima (= x allardii); Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia." height="1024" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504836811_01b089dc20_b.jpg" width="497" /></a> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50504990962/in/dateposted/" title="Nepenthes; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia."><img alt="Nepenthes; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia." height="1024" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504990962_c84af39c8b_b.jpg" width="497" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p style="text-align: left;">And to round it off, here's the VFT house. Triffid Park offer a huge number of VFT clones, and seeing so many in one place was spectacular indeed.</p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50504095368/in/dateposted/" title="Flytrap house; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia."><img alt="Flytrap house; Triffid Park’s 2019 open day, Victoria, Australia." height="768" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504095368_7a20b0f694_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p style="text-align: left;">I'm hoping this was not the last Triffid Park open day... may there be many more to come!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Till next time!</p><p style="text-align: left;">JN.</p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-67904538749941084962022-04-10T18:05:00.003+10:002022-04-10T22:16:07.684+10:00We're back online!<p> Its been a while... and with COVID blues, a new job, a new computer with no offline blog writer, locking myself out of the blog and being waylaid mid-COVID with a secret project, times have been... interesting. But with some encouragement (thanks Damo!), the blog is back!</p><p>Speaking of which: Damian Poromboka (said Damo above) has just started a beautiful website for CPs here in Canberra. Its well worth a visit and is much more slick than mine! Here's the link:</p><p><a href="https://carnivorousplantsbydamo.com/">https://carnivorousplantsbydamo.com/</a></p><p>The 2020-21 season was surprisingly better than 2021-22 season that is just ending up. Here's how it started:</p><p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50596891156/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia collection, November 2020"><img alt="Sarracenia collection, November 2020" height="768" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50596891156_b7a3f7ac15_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p>Spring 2020 was not too windy, so the plants looked ok for some time. I didn't take too many photos at the time unfortunately, so here's what I have:</p><p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/50619167878/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea “FRT 1-1”; 2020-21 season"><img alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea “FRT 1-1”; 2020-21 season" height="768" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50619167878_bd988792a8_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p>I have to re-start the blog with my favourite plant of course - FRT 1-1. When newly opened, the pitchers do develop the bluish sheen seen here...</p><p>I'm also keen to not write such long blog posts, so I'll trickle feed the photos on over the next few days...</p><p>Till then...</p><p>JN.</p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-43854625309251561022019-04-22T21:14:00.001+10:002019-04-22T21:16:22.738+10:00Autumn 2019 roundup – its been hot, hot, hot!<p>Last time I blogged, it was quarter of a year ago and midsummer. The <em>flava </em>were just finishing up, and I was making a <em>Drosera schizandra </em>terrarium.</p><p>So then what happened?</p><p>It got hot. Seriously hot! And it stayed hot well into March, with April also being hotter than normal, but bearable. In late January, we had 10 days of maximums not below 36°C (most of the week was above 40°C!) with windy conditions, and this set everything back very badly (even though we kept water up to everything). By this time next week, we will have had our first real frosts, with the weekend set to get 1°C minimums, so autumn has been very truncated.</p><p align="center"><a title="Autumn pitchers of Sarracenia leucophylla, 2018-19 season." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/40629761253/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="240" height="320" alt="Autumn pitchers of Sarracenia leucophylla, 2018-19 season." src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7803/40629761253_8031950a6d_n.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Autumn pitchers of Sarracenia leucophylla, 2018-19 season." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/40629761223/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="240" height="320" alt="Autumn pitchers of Sarracenia leucophylla, 2018-19 season." src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7880/40629761223_180d486f11_n.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Autumn pitchers of Sarracenia leucophylla, 2018-19 season." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32653389817/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="240" height="320" alt="Autumn pitchers of Sarracenia leucophylla, 2018-19 season." src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7861/32653389817_0d49a183e9_n.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Autumn pitchers of Sarracenia leucophylla, 2018-19 season." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32653389827/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="240" height="320" alt="Autumn pitchers of Sarracenia leucophylla, 2018-19 season." src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7903/32653389827_9ce7e4bb69_n.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Autumn pitchers of Sarracenia leucophylla, 2018-19 season." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46871743934/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="240" height="320" alt="Autumn pitchers of Sarracenia leucophylla, 2018-19 season." src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7907/46871743934_9e4d6bfc32_n.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Autumn pitchers of Sarracenia leucophylla, 2018-19 season." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32653389847/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="240" height="320" alt="Autumn pitchers of Sarracenia leucophylla, 2018-19 season." src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7921/32653389847_417d17a6cc_n.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Autumn pitchers of Sarracenia leucophylla, 2018-19 season." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/40629761233/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="240" height="320" alt="Autumn pitchers of Sarracenia leucophylla, 2018-19 season." src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7812/40629761233_9af43a4231_n.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Autumn pitchers of Sarracenia leucophylla, 2018-19 season." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46871743924/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="233" height="320" alt="Autumn pitchers of Sarracenia leucophylla, 2018-19 season." src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7879/46871743924_8152c3ee35_n.jpg"></a></p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>As a result, no-one in Canberra had decent pitchers from their autumn <em>Sarracenia </em>(i.e. <em>Sarracenia leucophylla </em>and <em>S. rubra</em>), with the pitchers arriving in early April. Most of the pitchers we did get were tiny. I managed to get a few half-decent ones (see above), but nothing like previous years. The pitchers above are close-ups, they are not very big at all.</p><p>I’m thinking it may be a safer bet to stay with the spring peaking species like <em>S. flava</em>…</p><p align="center"><a title="Drosera prolifera" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32723537647/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Drosera prolifera" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/32723537647_01dd6c3d5e_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Drosera prolifera terrarium" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/33789078268/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Drosera prolifera terrarium" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/33789078268_dd1f095c1e_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>On the plus side, I managed to get the trifecta of <em>Drosera </em>Section <em>Prolifera </em>in the collection and growing successfully. The last addition was a <em>D. prolifera </em>via AUSCPS Canberra coordinator Barry (thanks Barry!). Its been going strong for about two months now and is putting up several leaves a week. So far, its still one plant, but I’m hoping it will be in flower by the end of winter and busily proliferating across its bowl. The setup is a slightly smaller glass bowl than the <em>D. adelae</em>, with a glass saucepan lid on top. I diffused the light from a 7W Vaxer lamp using a sheet of plastic foam paper (the type that manufacturers use to protect appliances when you buy them) folded into 4 layers) and a sintered glass plate, with the lamp on top.</p><p><a title="Drosera adelae terrarium" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/47613615872/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="600" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Drosera adelae terrarium" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47613615872_2c27311b6a_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>The <em>D. adelae </em>is also going very well, with its roots now reaching all around the bowl. There should be a huge number of pups coming up soon (guaranteed if I help by taking to the bowl with a pair of scissors!). The parent plant, which was at death’s door at the end of last winter, is now about 400 mm across! Impressive!</p><p align="center"><a title="Drosera schizandra" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/40699990753/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Drosera schizandra" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40699990753_e881c38776.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Drosera schizandra" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/33789156248/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Drosera schizandra" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/33789156248_a9ee0a5fb4.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>The <em>D. schizandra </em>terrariums have been a lot more hit and miss. The first one I set up (left) was inadvertently put in a spot where it got a hour or so of full sun daily, which set it back. Fortunately, they give you some warning before they die, so I managed to catch it and fix it up in a new spot. However, a second terrarium that was positioned better has done well, with the plant not missing a beat – its been glistening in dew continuously from when it was re-potted.</p><p align="center"><a title="Nepenthes ampullaria terrarium" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32723857097/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="360" height="480" alt="Nepenthes ampullaria terrarium" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/32723857097_0a909b73f9.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Nepenthes ampullaria terrarium" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32723857117/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="640" height="480" alt="Nepenthes ampullaria terrarium" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/32723857117_0805cc4023_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>The <em>Nepenthes ampullaria </em>and <em>N. hookeriana </em>terrarium was also tidied up, with the plants repotted into fresh mix. I also reduced the wattage of the lamp, replacing the 20W downlight with a 12W LED light bulb. The green form <em>N. ampullaria </em>responded by putting up a large pitcher a few days ago, so all good so far.</p><p align="center"><a title="Cultivated Nepenthes ampullaria showing habit of basal pitcher production" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/47234755752/in/album-72157681368433030/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Cultivated Nepenthes ampullaria showing habit of basal pitcher production" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7905/47234755752_ac53bf6f26_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Cultivated Nepenthes ampullaria showing habit of basal pitcher production" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/40322357383/in/album-72157681368433030/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Cultivated Nepenthes ampullaria showing habit of basal pitcher production" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7853/40322357383_0fee40b108_z.jpg"></a></p><p>Here’s how the green clone looked when de-potted. Note how the basal rosettes attach to the rhizome.</p><p>On the <em>Sarracenia flava </em>front, its repotting time. I’ve long been wondering why my <em>flava </em>var. <em>rubricorpora </em>have not been very red, and I’ve put it down to recycling peat from the bog 3 seasons ago (which would make it 6 seasons old – no wonder they weren’t happy!). I’m experimenting with a new formula of 2 peat: 1 sand: 1 scoria: 1 chopped pine needles. I’ve only managed one pot so far due to unexpected rain today, but the mix looks and feels very good. I’m hoping the scoria will help aerate the media more than using just peat, and am also hoping the pine needles will help reduce the amount of peat needed. Next time, I’ll put aside the pine needles and compost them for a full year before using it. I’m very interested in the peat-free mixes the UK growers are now using – the issue here is that the only remotely suitable material has lime added to it to increase pH, making it unsuitable for use in CP mixes (except <em>Nepenthes</em> – the mix I refer to is an orchid bark that I’ve used for them before with great results).</p><p align="center"><a title="Collector’s corner display, Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46779924154/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="365" alt="Collector’s corner display, Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show." src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7805/46779924154_40ec2682ee_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Collector’s corner display, Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46588263955/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="600" alt="Collector’s corner display, Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show." src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7855/46588263955_30b9d77094_c.jpg"></a></p><p align="left">I also managed to make it to Melbourne for the flower show a few weeks ago. Collector’s Corner had an impressive display with numerous CPs. </p><p align="center"><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Pillar of Sarracenia x courtii; Collector’s corner display, Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/47503644011/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="375" height="500" alt="Pillar of Sarracenia x courtii; Collector’s corner display, Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show." src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7909/47503644011_47e607d7bf.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Nepenthes x dyeriana; Collector’s corner display, Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46779937034/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="375" height="500" alt="Nepenthes x dyeriana; Collector’s corner display, Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show." src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7885/46779937034_a434413327.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>They even had a mound made entirely of <em>S. x courtii</em> (left)! At right is a <em>N. x dyeriana</em>.</p><p align="center"><a title="Triffid Park’s display at the Melbourne International Flower Show, 2019" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/47613817292/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="600" alt="Triffid Park’s display at the Melbourne International Flower Show, 2019" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47613817292_45db2f849f_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Triffid Park’s display at the Melbourne International Flower Show, 2019" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32724000687/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="600" alt="Triffid Park’s display at the Melbourne International Flower Show, 2019" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/32724000687_f7a52cdc02_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Triffid Park’s display at the Melbourne International Flower Show, 2019" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32724000877/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="600" alt="Triffid Park’s display at the Melbourne International Flower Show, 2019" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/32724000877_1dab41bc01_c.jpg"></a></p><p>Triffid Park also had an impressive display too, with some beautiful <em>Sarracenia. </em>It was great to also have an opportunity to spend some time talking with Donna and Jason.</p><a title="Red-Bodied Swallowtail (Pachliopta polydoras queenslandicus); Melbourne Zoo Butterfly House, Victoria, Australia." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/47451611262/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="600" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Red-Bodied Swallowtail (Pachliopta polydoras queenslandicus); Melbourne Zoo Butterfly House, Victoria, Australia." src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7925/47451611262_3be4ccc27c_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p align="left">And I even made it to the Melbourne Zoo, where I added a butterfly to my twitch list – the Red Bodied Swallowtail (<em>Pachliopta polydoras queenslandicus</em>). Its one of the few swallowtails in Australia I had not seen alive (the others being the alpine <em>Graphium macleayanum </em>and <em>O. priamus macalpinei</em>).</p><p><a title="Cairns Birdwing (Ornithoptera euphorion); Melbourne Zoo Butterfly House, Victoria, Australia." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/40538544293/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="600" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Cairns Birdwing (Ornithoptera euphorion); Melbourne Zoo Butterfly House, Victoria, Australia." src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7871/40538544293_745a897257_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>To close, here’s a male Cairns Birdwing butterfly (<em>Ornithoptera euphorion</em>), also in the Melbourne Zoo’s butterfly house.</p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-81703721615431849632019-01-20T18:22:00.001+11:002019-01-20T18:22:28.254+11:00Making a Drosera schizandra terrarium<a title="Setting a terrarium up for Drosera schizandra with live Sphagnum moss" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32932943598/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="829" alt="Setting a terrarium up for Drosera schizandra with live Sphagnum moss" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4913/32932943598_bb06089360_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>I’ve been thinking about doing a terrarium for my <em>Drosera schizandra</em> for some time now, and decided today was the day. The above photo shows the materials used – a 45 cm glass bowl from the local $2 shop, some washed scoria in a layer 2 cm deep in the bottom of the bowl, some leftover live <em>Sphagnum </em>from the <em>Sarracenia </em>bog gardens and of course, a <em>D. schizandra</em>.<a title="Finished Drosera schizandra terrarium bowl" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46756285722/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="841" alt="Finished Drosera schizandra terrarium bowl" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7923/46756285722_b65e42ba99_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>Here’s the finished product, hopefully set to grow from years to come. I had to use a hammer to break the coffee jar terrarium open, as there was no other way to get the plant out!. Setup was easy – layer the scoria, spread the root mass of the plant across the scoria and cover the roots with the <em>Sphagnum</em>. The finished terrarium uses a glass plate as a lid to seal in the humidity.</p><p>Here’s what I’m hoping it will grow into (the below plant is grown by AUSCPS Canberra member Barry):</p><a title="Drosera schizandra grown by AUSCPS Canberra coordinator Barry Bradshaw" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45307996065/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Drosera schizandra grown by AUSCPS Canberra coordinator Barry Bradshaw" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4806/45307996065_241979c02b_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>On the <em>Sarracenia </em>front – its hot and miserable outside, with Canberra breaking an all time temperature record with four consecutive days above 40C. The plants are looking pretty miserable as a result, with the red <em>flava </em>in particular all washed out and green. The <em>S. leucophylla </em>will be up next when temperatures cool down in a few weeks, so I’ll probably hibernate ‘till then for the next blog post.</p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-84819333172765786712019-01-10T21:52:00.001+11:002019-01-10T21:53:28.576+11:00Some midsummer Sarracenia<a title="Sarracenia collection, midsummer 2018-2019 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31745718717/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Sarracenia collection, midsummer 2018-2019 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4845/31745718717_b8837d9ddc_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>Here’s a few pics of some of the nicer <em>Sarracenia </em>pitchers around in midsummer. At this time of year, the <em>S. flava </em>start to brown off with our hot weather here in Canberra, but a few of the more robust plants will keep looking good well into March. As you can see in the photo above, some of the plants more exposed to the spring-summer winds (annoyingly the <em>S. flava </em>var. <em>atropurpurea</em>) have been blown over. They and the <em>leucophylla </em>may have to swap spots next year… the <em>lecuophylla </em>flop everywhere anyway in Spring, and they won’t be as affected by the winds while providing a windbreak for the <em>flava.</em><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea, Blackwater SF, Florida" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32810661278/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea, Blackwater SF, Florida" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7833/32810661278_c4cde96cd6_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea, Blackwater SF, Florida" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45961068074/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="454" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea, Blackwater SF, Florida" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4897/45961068074_414f3651e9_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center"><em>S. flava </em>var. <em>atropurpurea, </em>Blackwater SF clone, backlit (left) and front-lit (right) to show their colour. The pitcher in the right photo is on the right in the first (left) photo.<p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia x moorei ‘David Martin’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46633018932/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Sarracenia x moorei ‘David Martin’" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7906/46633018932_c44c14816a_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center"><em>S. </em>x <em>moorei </em>‘David Martin’ showing its magnificently veined and subtlety dappled hood.<p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea, Gotcha! Plants heavy vein" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46685998761/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea, Gotcha! Plants heavy vein" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4857/46685998761_746faa603d_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center"><em>S. flava </em>var.<em> cuprea</em>, Gotcha! Plants heavy vein clone<p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea ‘Ross Rowe’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45961093284/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea ‘Ross Rowe’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4906/45961093284_bd334b1451_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center"><em>S. flava </em>var. <em>cuprea </em>‘Ross Rowe’<p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea, FRT 1-1 x Reyter’s slow clone" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46685992201/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea, FRT 1-1 x Reyter’s slow clone" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4913/46685992201_7f75587304_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. maxima" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45961070404/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. maxima" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7926/45961070404_0c14ff0080_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center"><em>S. flava </em>var. <em>atropurpurea ‘</em>FRT 1-1 x Reyter’s slow clone’ (left) and <em>S. flava </em>var. <em>maxima</em> (right)<p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. ornata (NSW clone)" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/39720949723/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. ornata (NSW clone)" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4835/39720949723_f64f152383_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. flava ‘Dragon’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45961078774/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. flava ‘Dragon’" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7836/45961078774_1c3af3fed1_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center"><em>S. flava </em>var. <em>ornata </em>‘NSW Clone’ (left) re-acquired via Owen O’Neil late last year, and a <em>S. flava </em>var. <em>flava </em>clone I’m thinking of calling ‘Dragon’ (right).<p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia leucophylla ‘heavy red veined’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46633032722/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia leucophylla ‘heavy red veined’" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7821/46633032722_271bb8f3de_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center">And to close, a red-veined <em>S. leucophylla </em>spring pitcher (its not quite 2.5 cm across).<p align="left">The autumn <em>leucophylla</em> pitchers should be up in full force in late February. Until then, its a bit of a lull time for the collection as the heat of summer passes.pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-37150042373028830892019-01-09T17:57:00.001+11:002019-01-09T17:57:21.923+11:00Terrariums, Pings, tropical Drosera and a Roridula at the Canberra AUSCPS meeting<p align="center"><a title="Pinguicula terrarium" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32797236158/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="486" height="640" alt="Pinguicula terrarium" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7869/32797236158_66ae0ace92_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Pinguicula terrarium" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31730412327/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="526" height="640" alt="Pinguicula terrarium" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4871/31730412327_4cf76a2e1a_z.jpg"></a></p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>I love terrariums – the idea of creating a miniature world really draws me in, as well as being able to have nature close to you in sterile environments such as the office. While I have had <em>Nepenthes </em>in a terrarium on my work desk before, I decided to try <em>Pinguicula</em> on a bright windowsill at work using one of those el cheapo glass terrariums you can get at discount stores. I think the ventilation holes will work well for Pings.</p><p><a title="Pinguicula terrarium" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32797236518/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="600" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Pinguicula terrarium" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7864/32797236518_112cbd50a8_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>I made this terrarium using a blown glass terrarium brought for $9 at a local discount shop and from some live <em>Sphagnum </em>scavenged from some other projects. The plant is a small <em>Pinguicula </em>x <em>sethos</em> (= <em>P. ehlersiae x P. moranensis</em>) that I scored at last week’s AUSCPS meeting for the princely sum of $5. I’ve grown Pings in the office previously without a terrarium, so this plant should do just fine. I have found Pings thrive in small self watering pots designed for African violets if planted in <em>Sphagnum</em> and placed on a bright windowsill without direct light. Unlike <em>Drosera</em> (see below), Pings don’t look so miserable when transplanted. If this terrarium goes well (which I am 99.99% sure it will!), I’m thinking trying <em>P. gypsicola </em>and <em>P. cyclosecta</em>, both of which I have grown well before without much effort.</p><p><a title="Drosera adelae bowl with Ikea Vaxer 7W LED lamp" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45757774825/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="768" height="1024" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Drosera adelae bowl with Ikea Vaxer 7W LED lamp" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4806/45757774825_9627924024_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>While I was at it, I finally got around to sorting out my <em>Drosera adelae</em>, which have recovered well from the abuse I was forced to put it through last winter. The lamp is a 7W Vaxer LED from Ikea, which works a treat. Interestingly, this clone of <em>D. adelae </em>produces red flowers in full sunlight, and green-white flowers in shade. I know because the last flower stalk it produced grew out of the bowl, with the same raceme producing red flowers under the lamp and green flowers on the part that poked out of the bowl. The terrarium has fogged up nicely and the plants are, well, looking miserable as they re-adjust to their new home. Based on how others have fared here with this species in an identical setup, it should bounce back and grow like crazy in the next month. Here’s how I hope it will look (this is a plant grown by an AUSCPS member, Barry):</p><p><a title="Drosera adelae grown by AUSCPS Canberra coordinator Barry Bradshaw" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31281934167/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Drosera adelae grown by AUSCPS Canberra coordinator Barry Bradshaw" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4808/31281934167_514e7b6a39_b.jpg"></a></p><p>On the topic of <em>Drosera, </em>the <em>D. schizandra </em>in the coffee jars continue to power along. Here’s the most robust plant, which will need its own bowl soon:</p><p><a title="Drosera schizandra in coffee jar terrarium" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45948318824/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Drosera schizandra in coffee jar terrarium" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4815/45948318824_8d39a3552a_b.jpg"></a></p><p>And to close, the plant of the month at the January AUSCPS meeting was this beautiful <em>Roridula gorgonius. </em>It was also grown by Barry, who grew it from seed brought from Allen Lowrie.</p><p align="center"><a title="Roridula gorgonius; AUSCPS Canberra plant of the month, January 2019" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44779242330/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Roridula gorgonius; AUSCPS Canberra plant of the month, January 2019" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7800/44779242330_f6c66673c4_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Roridula gorgonius; AUSCPS Canberra plant of the month, January 2019" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45872836334/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Roridula gorgonius; AUSCPS Canberra plant of the month, January 2019" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4913/45872836334_0f10b089d2_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-30336355207806527702019-01-07T22:22:00.001+11:002019-04-22T21:23:06.974+10:00Growing Darlingtonia–third time’s the charm?<p>Cobra lillies (<em>Darlingtonia californica</em>) are one of my favourite plants – not that you’d know it at the moment given I mainly post about <em>Sarracenia flava</em>. But if you look back through this blog, you’ll see I used to grow it to a reasonable size (at least by Australian standards) until I lost my plants during hot, still weather soon after we moved house. I’ve tried it a few times since (including in my bog gardens) and lost it each time. When the AUSCPS meetings started up here in Canberra, I brought some to try a few ideas on how to grow it here.</p><p>The first two attempts failed because a bird (magpie?) uprooted the plant and dropped it on hot concrete while we out, and the second because the plant was not watered while I was away with work.</p><p>The third time seems the charm – I managed to get the plant through the first batch of hot weather (including 11 days straight above 35C and nights above 20C). I did this by keeping the plant in a ventilated site in the shade. That said, it looked very miserable.</p><p>My experience with <em>Darlingtonia </em>is that they like an open and airy mix in a broad, shallow tray that is regularly flushed with water, with the plants kept in a shady and breezy (but not windy) position. The plants I got recently were all in a standard height unglazed terracotta pot in 1:1 peat: sand media with <em>Sphagnum </em>top dressing, which I felt was not open enough based on how slowly it drained if wetted (the smell of the media at the bottom of the pot also told me the conditions were anaerobic and thus stagnant).</p><p>After the Christmas heat wave, I repotted the last remaining plant into a very coarse mix of 1:1 scoria: <em>Sphagnum</em>, which has worked well for me previously. A note in preparing this mix – it is important that the moss strands are completely separated, as they tend to form clumps or balls that don’t mix evenly with the scoria. I try to mix it by layering spread strands of <em>Sphagnum</em> across the pot and then covering it one stone deep with scoria and repeating.</p><p>Here is the result:</p><a title="Cobra lilly repotted" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45730465635/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Cobra lilly repotted" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4911/45730465635_22664aa9b1_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>The plant is clearly not happy given previous treatment – but it had a good, healthy root and rhizome system, so its capable of trying. The new mix drains very quickly, which is a good thing for keeping the medium aerated, while the <em>Sphagnum </em>holds a lot of moisture. The trick will be to flush it out with water every day to keep the moisture up to allow evaporative cooling across the terracotta. I think shallow Terracotta planter bowls work well because they have a larger surface area than a tall pot (if you consider the surface area of the top of the pot as well), which maximises cooling and aeration potential. Not sitting the pot in a deep tray of water also forces water to evaporate from the sides of the pot. I have this plant next to the door of our sunroom where it gets bright, indirect light and a good breeze blowing across it most of the day to help keep it cool. Despite an air temperature of 28C this afternoon, the pot was almost cold to the touch, so it seems to be working.</p><p>Here’s hoping!</p><p><em>Postscript – this approach seems to work – if you keep the saucer full of water! The plant romped through 10 days with maximums above 36C and even a full week of maximums above 40C. It sadly didn’t survive not being watered by the designated waterer while I was away in February, so it dried to a crisp.</em></p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-54901725247953097752018-12-11T16:37:00.002+11:002022-04-10T22:14:57.696+10:00A farm visit & the AUSCPS Christmas party<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45342618955/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia beds; Strange World Carnivores collection, NSW."><img alt="Sarracenia beds; Strange World Carnivores collection, NSW." height="768" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4866/45342618955_06371007c0_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p>Last Friday was a good CP day on all fronts. Having managed an afternoon off, I visited Owen O’Neil at Strange World Carnivores. Its always a treat to see the tens of thousands of plants he grows.</p><p align="center"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45342618685/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia oreophila x leucophylla; Strange World Carnivores collection, NSW."><img alt="Sarracenia oreophila x leucophylla; Strange World Carnivores collection, NSW." height="640" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4890/45342618685_87429fe1de_z.jpg" width="480" /></a> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46255446181/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia oreophila x leucophylla; Strange World Carnivores collection, NSW."><img alt="Sarracenia oreophila x leucophylla; Strange World Carnivores collection, NSW." height="640" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4864/46255446181_443f9dbe1c_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br /></p><p>One plant that Owen has loads of is this handsome hybrid between <em>S. leucophylla </em>and <em>S. oreophila</em>. It produces decent spring and autumn pitchers.</p><p align="center"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45342618335/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia flava x purpurea backcross; Strange World Carnivores collection, NSW."><img alt="Sarracenia flava x purpurea backcross; Strange World Carnivores collection, NSW." height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1928/45342618335_aac969e6ea_z.jpg" width="480" /></a> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44439394550/in/dateposted/" title="Sarracenia flava x purpurea backcross; Strange World Carnivores collection, NSW."><img alt="Sarracenia flava x purpurea backcross; Strange World Carnivores collection, NSW." height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1954/44439394550_a16cfc4d97_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p>Being a <em>S. flava </em>fiend, I also admired this <em>S. x catesbei </em>looking cross.</p><p>Owen will be attending the Bus Depot Markets in Canberra right up to Christmas this year, and had some very nice plants on offer last weekend.</p><p>After catching up with Owen, I headed back to Canberra for the AUSCPS Christmas party, where I came across one of the most impressive CPs I’ve ever seen: a massive <em>Drosera schizandra </em>grown by meeting coordinator Barry Bradshaw! Here’s the plant, with my hand for scale:</p><p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45307996015/in/dateposted/" title="Drosera schizandra grown by AUSCPS Canberra coordinator Barry Bradshaw"><img alt="Drosera schizandra grown by AUSCPS Canberra coordinator Barry Bradshaw" height="768" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4824/45307996015_f0377d1d33_b.jpg" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="1024" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p>A few meetings back, David Colburn brought some of these beauties down from Sydney to sell (two of which are on my windowsill). They were growing them in coffee jars, and Barry dryly commented “what are you going to do when they get big?”. Now I know what he means! The tube at the bottom of the image is for watering; Barry uses pure live <em>Sphagnum </em>as growing media, with marbles in the base of the bowl for aeration and a water reservoir. The plants get no direct light and are grown indoors, with the temperature not dropping below 20 Celsius.</p><p>Barry also brought in the two other Tropical Queensland sisters: <em>D. adelae</em> and <em>D. prolifera.</em> There were all sorts of comments made about The Three Wise <em>Drosera…</em></p><p align="center"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31281934167/in/dateposted/" title="Drosera adelae grown by AUSCPS Canberra coordinator Barry Bradshaw"><img alt="Drosera adelae grown by AUSCPS Canberra coordinator Barry Bradshaw" height="375" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4808/31281934167_514e7b6a39.jpg" width="500" /></a> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31281922387/in/photostream/" title="Drosera prolifera grown by AUSCPS coordinator Barry Bradshaw"><img alt="Drosera prolifera grown by AUSCPS coordinator Barry Bradshaw" height="375" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4915/31281922387_7914437e1e.jpg" width="500" /></a></p><p>Barry grows all his plants in oversized goldfish bowls, with the <em>D. schizandra </em>and <em>D. prolifera </em>getting some cling wrap over the opening to bump up the humidity. I have some ideas for my plants now, and hope to re-try <em>D. prolifera </em>again next year.<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p align="center"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46185438102/in/dateposted/" title="VFT with prey"><img alt="VFT with prey" height="375" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4850/46185438102_7f642aeb3f.jpg" width="500" /></a> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32383488948/in/photostream/" title="Sarracenia leucophylla with male Common Brown (Heteronympha merope)"><img alt="Sarracenia leucophylla with male Common Brown (Heteronympha merope)" height="375" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4806/32383488948_8e0e25e820.jpg" width="500" /></a></p><p>To close, here’s some CPs in the collection with prey (and an escapee). More photos to come from the collection soon.<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-57740358306534482582018-11-27T17:48:00.001+11:002018-11-27T17:48:11.397+11:00Collection photos – 27 November 2018<p align="left">Here’s some photos of the collection to show how the colour of the plants has developed since the last photos.</p><p align="center">
<a title="Sarracenia flava ‘Dracarys’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44252596170/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava ‘Dracarys’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4814/44252596170_db5ee2f955_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <a title="Sarracenia flava ‘Dracarys’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32197205228/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava ‘Dracarys’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4884/32197205228_c9476639bb_z.jpg"></a></p><p align="center">This is a clone of <em>S. flava </em>I call ‘Dragon’ for the intense red of the pitcher mouth, which is reminiscent of a fire-breathing dragon. It is one of the first seedlings I have grown to maturity, the cross being made in 2011 as a selfing of a form of <em>S. flava </em>I’ve called the NSW clone elsewhere on this blog.</p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia x moorei backcross ‘David Martin’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45344142114/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia x moorei backcross ‘David Martin’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4869/45344142114_012cffcfd3_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia x moorei ‘David Martin’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31129673237/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia x moorei ‘David Martin’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4823/31129673237_7eab1a1ed2_z.jpg"></a></p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. flava ‘Helmut’s giant’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46068375691/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. flava ‘Helmut’s giant’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4838/46068375691_3657c4111c_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. flava ‘Helmut’s giant’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31129666007/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. flava ‘Helmut’s giant’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4817/31129666007_e3e2bdc4b9_z.jpg"></a></p><p align="center"><em>Sarracenia flava </em>var. <em>flava </em>‘Helmut’s Giant’ showing its very fine and faint throat venation.</p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. flava, ex Gotcha Plants" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44252454510/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. flava, ex Gotcha Plants" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4865/44252454510_8274b9dfb8_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. flava ‘Helmut’s Maxima’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46018617082/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. flava ‘Helmut’s Maxima’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4905/46018617082_b176478a91_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center">Some more <em>flava </em>var. <em>flava – </em>a clone from Gotcha! Plants (left) and Helmut’s Maxima.<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center">
<a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32197166058/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4809/32197166058_44ef7c099f.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44252440890/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4912/44252440890_82eab8e253.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46018571302/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4864/46018571302_c1abaa68bb.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44252440940/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4874/44252440940_ba2452d77b.jpg"></a></p><p align="center"><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44252659280/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4909/44252659280_ea3e2ec292.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44252659190/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4885/44252659190_9fac107e8c.jpg"></a></p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><em></em><p align="center"><em><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44252484510/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="600" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4869/44252484510_7ccb663b5a_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></em></p><p align="center"><em>Sarracenia flava </em>var. <em>atropurpurea </em>‘FRT 1-1’.</p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’ x atropurpurea (Phil Reyter’s clone)" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45156911575/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’ x atropurpurea (Phil Reyter’s clone)" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4905/45156911575_fb8aee7317_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora FRT 1-1 x atropurpurea ‘Phil Reyter’s clone’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31129969707/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora FRT 1-1 x atropurpurea ‘Phil Reyter’s clone’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4865/31129969707_d624ddab0a_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center">Some years ago, I asked John Creevy if he could try making a cross for me – FRT 1-1 crossed with a very slow and stunted <em>atropurpurea </em>I grew that came from Phil Reyter’s collection. The plant above is the result. This is the first year its been big enough to see the results.</p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea (seed grown)" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46018797132/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea (seed grown)" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4837/46018797132_e99524b665_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘all red traps’ ex Ron Abernethy" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32197437478/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘all red traps’ ex Ron Abernethy" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4871/32197437478_06f5b841e0_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center">I also made this cross, and the seedling at left is what resulted. Its still got a while to go. At right is another <em>atropurpurea</em> from Ron Abernethy’s collection.</p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ex Owen O’Neil" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31129893977/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ex Owen O’Neil" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4908/31129893977_fe2422b2e5_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ex Owen O’Neil" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31129893867/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ex Owen O’Neil" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4881/31129893867_01995bddd5_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center">Another <em>atropurpurea</em> that I am pretty sure came from Owen O’Neil’s collection.</p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ex Blackwater S.F., Florida" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32197260238/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ex Blackwater S.F., Florida" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4837/32197260238_3109f5fba5_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ex Blackwater S.F., Florida." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44253841590/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ex Blackwater S.F., Florida." src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4846/44253841590_796263bfb2_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center">Two clones of <em>S. flava </em>var. <em>atropurpurea </em>from Blackwater S.F., Florida.<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center">
<a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-5’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31129773217/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-5’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4871/31129773217_7941c02a12_c.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-5’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44252501030/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-5’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4886/44252501030_851c606b1e_c.jpg"></a></p><p align="center"><em>Sarracenia flava </em>var. <em>atropurpurea </em>‘FRT 1-5’ </p><p align="center"><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea ‘Ross Rowe’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31129800257/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea ‘Ross Rowe’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4879/31129800257_3acdc33418_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea ‘Ross Rowe’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32197276148/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea ‘Ross Rowe’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4900/32197276148_762bdf64ff_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea ‘Ross Rowe’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46068495611/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea ‘Ross Rowe’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4880/46068495611_01bb06c6a8_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea ‘Gotcha Heavy vein’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46068545581/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea ‘Gotcha Heavy vein’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4840/46068545581_363c6a1a7e_z.jpg"></a></p><p align="center"><em>Sarracenia flava </em>var. <em>cuprea </em>‘Ross Rowe’</p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea ‘Gotcha heavy vein’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45344173464/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea ‘Gotcha heavy vein’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4869/45344173464_efb26ba37a_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea ‘David Martin F1’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44252448490/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea ‘David Martin F1’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4836/44252448490_f503666bfe_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center"><em>S. flava </em>var. <em>cuprea – </em>Gotcha heavy vein (left) and ‘David Martin’s F1’ (right).</p><p align="center"><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii ex Phil Reyter" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46068483231/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii ex Phil Reyter" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4869/46068483231_29863b65ee_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii ex Phil Reyter" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46068557601/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii ex Phil Reyter" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4811/46068557601_0471c1394f_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii ex Phil Reyter" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44252586890/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii ex Phil Reyter" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4884/44252586890_49ac9bbabf_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii ex Phil Reyter" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46068564911/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii ex Phil Reyter" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4807/46068564911_cdef0968b6_z.jpg"></a></p><p align="center"><em>Sarracenia flava var. rugellii,</em> ex collection Phil Reyter.</p><p align="center"><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii ‘Triffid Park clone’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46068549911/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii ‘Triffid Park clone’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4870/46068549911_cf8512d4b4_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii ‘Triffid Park clone’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45156958875/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii ‘Triffid Park clone’" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4868/45156958875_45bd634b09_z.jpg"></a></p><p align="center"><em>Sarracenia flava </em>var. <em>rugellii </em>‘Triffid Park clone’ (note – this is not Triffid Park’s ‘cut throat’, which is a clone that has never done well for me at all).</p><p align="center"><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a title="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii (seed grown)" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31129924287/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii (seed grown)" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4837/31129924287_d9914636b2_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea FRT 1-1 x self (seed grown - own cross)" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46018781912/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea FRT 1-1 x self (seed grown - own cross)" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4829/46018781912_534ed17927_z.jpg"></a></p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p align="center"><span class="wlWriterPreserve">Some more home grown plants – a var. <em>rugellii </em>and a selfing of FRT 1-1…</span></p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora (seed grown)" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44252464470/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora (seed grown)" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4858/44252464470_11a709e042.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora (seed grown)" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/46018595102/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora (seed grown)" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4910/46018595102_e5af49f70f.jpg"></a></p><p align="center">And to close, a very nice home grown clone of var. <em>rubricorpora.<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></em></p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-76787801192849671012018-11-18T15:37:00.001+11:002018-11-18T19:24:49.744+11:00Growing Drosera adelae under the Ikea 6W Vaxer grow light<a title="Drosera adelae, Sakuya Konohana Kan" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/21863543588/in/photolist-zj1nN5-24z5R6M-EJB6We-zDm8XJ-LmHuh-MVdn2-8UEWc7-LmVeF-MBsuL-4Cfsfy-vP89E-bT2QGB-3LaR3W-fL3e4P-cnaHcU-dQme4J-m8qFu-yQ3a-3dQoaA-3dQnRA-dXm7J5-5XDGVK-KNLJz-3dQnTW-nGBRmM-3L6uUK-8P4JsG-QjRGBL-341JHr-bxk5g6-oXcP8s-9GetfT-yQ38-rLSPrK-ruqxie-bVoV3d-4AnRbi-9CkZUn-HTBhL-3atdhL-fL3ani-Fatvyx-CPAWXi-AniMp6-PjMpxy-CooGik-P8CJU7-HWjMpb-sQbef6-QjRGTN" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="680" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Drosera adelae, Sakuya Konohana Kan" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/578/21863543588_f8594dfa07_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p><em>Drosera adelae </em>has long been one of my favourite carnivorous plants. As a kid in Queensland, I had no trouble growing it. But here in Canberra, I have really struggled with it. Summer growing was no problem, but every winter, I would loose it to cold.</p><p><a title="Drosera adelae terrarium; AUSCPS meeting" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/40412152835/in/photolist-N1atja-24z5R6M-EJB6We-DV5PGA-zj1nN5-zDm8XJ-29QzpGc" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Drosera adelae terrarium; AUSCPS meeting" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/874/40412152835_476e306236_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>This year, we did some work on our house that made it a lot warmer and this allowed me to keep <em>D. adelae</em> alive through the winter. “Alive” being the operative word though - my plants looked miserable to say the least by spring time. After seeing the beautiful plants grown by AUSCPS Canberra member Barry (above), I decided to set mine up like he had done – in a large glass bowl. </p><p><a title="Terraria for two of the Three Sisters - Drosera adelae & Drosera schizandra" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30194259217/in/photolist-N1atja-24z5R6M-EJB6We-DV5PGA-zj1nN5-zDm8XJ-29QzpGc" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Terraria for two of the Three Sisters - Drosera adelae & Drosera schizandra" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1980/30194259217_07d92659c2_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>As the plants were so miserable, I decided not to stress them further by de-potting them. So I sat the pot directly into the bowl and covered it with a sintered glass plate as a lit. That solved the humidity issues, but not light. Some of the root suckers perked up with the humidity, but the parent plant was still etiolated and green, with saggy leaves and no dew.</p><p align="center"><a title="Drosera adelae recovering from a harsh winter - progress after 1 week under an Ikea Växer grow lamp" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45207601044/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="280" height="450" alt="Drosera adelae recovering from a harsh winter - progress after 1 week under an Ikea Växer grow lamp" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4826/45207601044_6fecc94742.jpg"></a> <a title="Drosera adelae - after one month under an Ikea Växer grow light" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44115742730/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="600" height="450" alt="Drosera adelae - after one month under an Ikea Växer grow light" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4844/44115742730_86c9c0bbb0_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>About a month ago, I noticed Ikea sell a LED grow light called Vaxer. I brought one of the 6W lamps and its cord set to try out on the <em>D. adelae </em>bowl, with the resting lens down on a sintered glass dish lid. The results were impressive – see the before (top), one week under the lamp (left) and one month under the lamp (right) photos above. The plants coloured and dewed up within days, and within a week, new leaves had unfurled, were showing colour and staying erect. </p><p><a title="Drosera adelae flower (Triffid Park clone)" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32060677638/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="479" height="500" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Drosera adelae flower (Triffid Park clone)" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4833/32060677638_5daa3a9339.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>After a month under the lamp, the plant has produced beautifully coloured new growth, flowered, and is covered in dew. Curiously, under bright light, this clone produces red flowers, but under lower light produces white flowers. I am feeding the plant using fish food (flakes) sprinkled on the leaves. Next up is to plant it out into the bowl after its recovered for a few more weeks, maybe around Christmas.</p><p align="center"><a title="Drosera schizandra plants grown in coffee jars" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45207834204/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Drosera schizandra plants grown in coffee jars" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4905/45207834204_17f58c1cb9.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Drosera schizandra in coffee jar terrariums" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30993141047/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Drosera schizandra in coffee jar terrariums" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4890/30993141047_a8b9ff4817.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>Speaking of the tropical <em>Drosera</em>, I’m very happy to report the <em>D. schizandra </em>are also growing well in their coffee jar terraria, and have produced a few new leaves each – one even produced a small offset (see right photo). If they get any bigger, I’ll see about getting them a larger home. If I can keep these plants growing as well as they are, I’ll see about getting some <em>D. prolifera </em>for another try.</p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-33512393277640499672018-11-18T14:52:00.001+11:002018-11-18T14:52:59.737+11:00A guided tour of the Sarracenia flava ponds at their peak, Spring 2018<a title="Sarracenia collection, late November 2018" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45880126222/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Sarracenia collection, late November 2018" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4821/45880126222_4520da4edd_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>The <em>Sarracenia flava </em>have now hit their peak for the year, and look fantastic (with one exception). Its always a bit of an anxious time as the plants come up – will the wind topple them over this year? Are they going to colour up as well as last year? Its a poor season for insects, is it going to affect pitcher production? And so on. But as the plants open and colour up, most worries evaporate and its time to sit back, relax and enjoy the plants.</p><p>Here’s a guided tour of the <em>Sarracenia flava</em> this season:</p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii (Phil Reyter’s clone), 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45204981984/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii (Phil Reyter’s clone), 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4900/45204981984_3f1eaf12d6_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii (Phil Reyter’s clone), 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45204982104/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii (Phil Reyter’s clone), 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4863/45204982104_8080da4365_z.jpg"></a></p><p align="left">These <em>S. flava </em>var. <em>rugellii</em> were brought at the 2011 AUSCPS Christmas party in Sydney from grower Phil Reyter. I’ve had mixed luck with <em>rugellii</em>; my first was a clone from Gotcha! Plants started out ok, but remained somewhat on the small side and is sensitive to repotting – it seems to be a bit of an underperformer relative to other clones I’ve had since, with Phil’s being one of the better ones. This clone is unfortunately slow to build up to a good size.</p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii (ex Owen O’Neill); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45929404771/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii (ex Owen O’Neill); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4878/45929404771_ef8ed2c3fe_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea x var. rugellii (ex Ron Abernethy); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45879940332/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea x var. rugellii (ex Ron Abernethy); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4869/45879940332_90845c5468_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="left"><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>A new acquisition from 2016 (thanks Owen!), this var. <em>rugellii </em>is another good clone. Its exceptional for being a strong divider that forms good sized clumps, and also for its huge lid. Like all <em>rugellii</em> I’ve ever grown, it only produces a pitcher or two per growing point, but the clumping habit makes up for this. </p><p align="left">Another plant still establishing in the collection after I re-acquired it from Ron Abernethy last year, at right is <em>S. flava</em> var. <em>cuprea</em> x <em>rugellii</em>. Ron tells me this cross was a mistake – he crossed the wrong flower! This plant is sold by Triffid Park and seems to have been exported to a number of countries, so its not done badly at all for an accidental production. Triffid Park now sell one of its siblings as “Brass Top” (ie. Ron tells me '”Brass Top” is from the same cross, but is a different clone). It is a very good clone that performs extremely well, and looks great with the cut throat and heavy veining.</p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p align="center">
<a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea (Gotcha! Plants heavy vein), 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45929389111/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea (Gotcha! Plants heavy vein), 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4875/45929389111_8e42a9f446_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea (Gotcha! Plants heavy vein), 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32058254878/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea (Gotcha! Plants heavy vein), 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4867/32058254878_19c294ce70_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea (Gotcha! Plants heavy vein), 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32058254908/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea (Gotcha! Plants heavy vein), 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4840/32058254908_43bae568a1_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea (Gotcha Plants heavy vein); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45880081252/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea (Gotcha Plants heavy vein); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4876/45880081252_15ac88e67f_z.jpg"></a></p><p align="left">A perennial good performer, this var. <em>cuprea </em>is one I call ‘Gotcha! Plants heavy vein’. Gotcha (John Creevey) brought it as seed from Allen Lowrie sometime during the 1980s or 1990s. The veins have not filled in fully yet, and the lid will be very rich copper in colour by midsummer.</p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea (ex Ross Rowe); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30990717737/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea (ex Ross Rowe); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4901/30990717737_3c9c664d00_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea (ex Ross Rowe); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30990718047/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea (ex Ross Rowe); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4894/30990718047_8fb0559972_z.jpg"></a></p><p>This beautifully coloured plant is a new one for 2018 – it is a clone grown for many years by fellow Canberra grower Ross Rowe. It outperforms every other var. <em>cuprea </em>I’ve grown in terms of how strongly coloured its hood is. I wonder if it may well come up as an all (or nearly all) red plant in years to come.</p><p align="center"><span class="wlWriterPreserve"><span class="wlWriterPreserve"><a title="Sarracenia flava seedlings (2011 crosses); var. cuprea and var. rugellii" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45879956092/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="479" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava seedlings (2011 crosses); var. cuprea and var. rugellii" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4859/45879956092_37a2d7eb2f_z.jpg"></a> <a title="Sarracenia flava var. flava seedling; 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45930759551/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. flava seedling; 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4857/45930759551_2b8f688f0b_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></span></span></p><p>In spring 2011, I selfed every <em>S. flava</em> flower I had open and sowed the seeds out in summer 2012. The first of these plants are now at flowering size (I didn’t use any fertiliser to help them along). The above and below plants are some of the progeny. Above left is a var. <em>rugellii </em>and a var. <em>cuprea</em>, and at right a var. <em>flava </em>with a pitcher mouth that fills in all red. They will need their own pots next year, so I’ll carefully put some labels with their rhizomes to mark out what plant is what.</p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora (seed-grown, FRT 1 x self); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30990638797/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora (seed-grown, FRT 1 x self); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4839/30990638797_dc3e13e2aa_z.jpg"></a> <a title="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora (seed-grown, FRT 1 x self); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30990638877/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora (seed-grown, FRT 1 x self); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4871/30990638877_5688c56dc9_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>Another seedling I’m very happy with is this <em>S. flava </em>var. <em>rubricorpora </em>(in fact, its the only <em>rubricorpora</em> that coloured up this season). Its the progeny of David Martin’s <em>rubricorpora </em>clone “FRT-1”, which has been badly set back (along with the other <em>rubricorpora </em>in my collection this year) for some reason.</p><p align="center"><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><span class="wlWriterPreserve"><span class="wlWriterPreserve"><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></span></span><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea (ex Owen O’Neil); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44113330420/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea (ex Owen O’Neil); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4809/44113330420_509cff6116_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea (David Martin’s F1); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45205344834/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea (David Martin’s F1); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4820/45205344834_9e9b47b25b_z.jpg"></a></p><p align="left">A couple of more var. <em>cuprea</em> – at left is a clone I got from Owen O’Neill in 2016, and at right David Martin’s F1, which is now approaching 40 years of cultivation.<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. flava (ex Gotcha Plants); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45929421061/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. flava (ex Gotcha Plants); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4905/45929421061_2123d48300_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. flava (Honeysuckle Road, Harleyville, NC); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45205340544/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. flava (Honeysuckle Road, Harleyville, NC); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4812/45205340544_8a998667fe_z.jpg"></a></p><p align="left">Here’s some <em>flava </em>var. <em>flava</em> – at left is a clone from Owen O’Neill, and at right, one of the plants I brought at the 2007 ICPS conference in Sydney that re-started my collection. It was one of a number of plants that Greg Bourke donated to the Sydney Botanic Gardens, grown from seed. The parent plant was from a <em>flava </em>population on Honeysuckle Road at Harleyville, North Carolina.</p><p align="center"><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. flava (Helmut’s giant); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45205326054/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. flava (Helmut’s giant); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4886/45205326054_7903d4d812_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. flava (Helmut’s giant); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45017215435/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. flava (Helmut’s giant); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4888/45017215435_e47db2a1be_z.jpg"></a></p><p align="left">Another var. <em>flava</em>, this plant is a very tall clone (biggest pitcher was 74 cm this year) that was grown by legendary Pinguicula grower Helmut Kibelis. Its the largest of my <em>flava </em>this year, but is a few centimetres smaller than one of the <em>leucophylla </em>spring pitchers. It looks like a var <em>maxima</em>, but always gets a tiny amount of red venation.</p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. flava (ex Gotcha Plants); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44113389570/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. flava (ex Gotcha Plants); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4884/44113389570_e486908661_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. flava (Helmut’s ‘Maxima’); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44113468420/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. flava (Helmut’s ‘Maxima’); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4893/44113468420_ede512b8f1_z.jpg"></a></p><p align="left">And to finish the var. <em>flava – </em>this handsome plant was also from Helmut, who told me he believed it to be the same as what people in Germany were growing as “Maxima” in the 1980s. As clones get circulated, it is easy for their identity to get confused, and that indeed is what happened with this plant. A quick search shows the plant grown by Slack and distributed as “Maxima” (now as “Slack’s Maxima”) is different, with a smaller hood and more venation. Nonetheless, this is a magnificent clone that always looks great. I’ll refer to it as ‘Helmut’s Maxima’ from now on.</p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p align="center"><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava vat. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’; 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45929535201/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava vat. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’; 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4852/45929535201_269c3d164c_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava vat. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’; 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45929535661/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava vat. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’; 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4867/45929535661_7dc142ca0a_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava vat. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’; 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45929535871/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava vat. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’; 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4852/45929535871_76a1097ddb_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava vat. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’; 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45017256125/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava vat. atropurpurea ‘FRT 1-1’; 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4846/45017256125_554c0975fe_z.jpg"></a></p><p align="left">On to the <em>flava </em>var. <em>atropurpurea.</em> FRT 1-1 is putting up a spectacular display as always.</p><p align="left"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea collection, 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45931045721/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea collection, 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4898/45931045721_b37e105901_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="left">My favourite plant, I’ve more or less dedicated an entire growing pond to it.</p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea (Blackwater SF via Ron Abernethy); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45929600961/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea (Blackwater SF via Ron Abernethy); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4913/45929600961_81e13fbb36_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea (Blackwater SF via Ron Abernethy); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45880120622/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea (Blackwater SF via Ron Abernethy); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4864/45880120622_34c07698f0_z.jpg"></a></p><p align="left">This is a clone of <em>atropurpurea </em>from Blackwater State Forest in Florida. It flowered for the first time this year, and it was used to cross pollinate every other <em>atropurpurea </em>in my collection!</p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea (David Martin’s FRT 1-5); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45205391764/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea (David Martin’s FRT 1-5); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4866/45205391764_500cd647b1_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. maxima (ex Ron Abernethy); 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44113425940/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. maxima (ex Ron Abernethy); 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4901/44113425940_497810ac3c_z.jpg"></a></p><p align="left">To finish up the <em>atropurpurea, </em>at left is another David Martin clone, FRT1-5. At right is a var. <em>maxima </em>I grew until a few years back when I accidentally sold my divisions of it to Owen. It is a tall but robust plant that will eventually produce a weakly copper hood.</p><p align="center"><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia x moorei ‘David Martin’; 2018-29 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44113407130/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia x moorei ‘David Martin’; 2018-29 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4819/44113407130_4688389ef1_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia x moorei ‘David Martin’; 2018-29 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44113407280/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia x moorei ‘David Martin’; 2018-29 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4906/44113407280_bcacf92dd6_z.jpg"></a></p><p>As a sort of segue into the <em>leucophylla</em> spring pitchers, here’s a <em>flava </em>x<em> leucophylla</em> (<em>= </em>x <em>moorei</em>) backcross from David Martin. Its a slow grower, but produces magnificent <em>rubricorpora</em>-esq. pitchers. This pitcher is 72 cm tall.</p><p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia leucophylla spring pitcher; 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45017318935/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia leucophylla spring pitcher; 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4831/45017318935_11fb1fa1b5_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia leucophylla spring pitcher; 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32058480788/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia leucophylla spring pitcher; 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4804/32058480788_8274a6011a_z.jpg"></a></p><p>Here are some of the <em>leucophylla </em>spring pitchers, which are always taller and have different patterning and colouration to the autumn pitchers. The pitcher at left is the largest in the <em>Sarracenia </em>collection this year, standing at 77 cm.</p><p align="center"><a title="Untitled" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32060117658/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Untitled" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4829/32060117658_05b970c376_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Untitled" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32060117338/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Untitled" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4873/32060117338_0a9ddef35e_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>And to finish off the <em>Sarracenia - </em>above left is <em>luecophylla </em>cv. “Tarnok”, with its unusual flowers, and at right, a red-veined <em>leucophylla </em>about to open. I’m half tempted to cash-in my <em>leucophylla </em>for <em>S. purpurea </em>after having seen <em>purpurea </em>in the wild earlier this year, but will wait to the end of the season to decide.</p><p><a title="Venus' flytraps (Dionaea muscipula), 2018-19 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45207148424/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Venus' flytraps (Dionaea muscipula), 2018-19 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4865/45207148424_18f82ec355_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>Here’s the VFT collection in their own minibog, which is doing very well considering I lost all my plants last year.</p><p align="center"><a title="Venus' flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) 'Biddlecombe Red clone'" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45207148294/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="360" height="480" alt="Venus' flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) 'Biddlecombe Red clone'" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4891/45207148294_732f7744c5.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Drosera burmannii seedlings and Drosera pulchella" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45931244391/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="640" height="480" alt="Drosera burmannii seedlings and Drosera pulchella" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4869/45931244391_9bb65bae4a_z.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>One plant I found buried under some <em>Sarracenia</em> late last season is the all-red VFT bred and circulated by Peter and Jessica Biddlecombe during the 1980s and 1990s. While not a bad clone, it seems to have been dropped by everyone for newer clones like Pink Venus, Aki Ryu and Red Velvet. I’m also using the VFT minibog for <em>Drosera</em>, which (besides <em>D. binata</em>) get overshadowed by the <em>Sarracenia</em>. The <em>Drosera burmannii </em>and <em>D. pulchella </em>I acquired last season seem to have taken to the garden well too.</p><p align="center"><a title="Venus' flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) cv. "B-52"" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45207147634/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Venus' flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) cv. "B-52"" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4863/45207147634_a4efc5a85e.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Venus' flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) 'Low, Giant'" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32060117688/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Venus' flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) 'Low, Giant'" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4804/32060117688_a145d24ab3.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>Some more VFT: at left: B52, and right: Low, Giant.</p><p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="center"><a title="Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen tibicen) bathing; Canberra, ACT." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/32056854298/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen tibicen) bathing; Canberra, ACT." src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4900/32056854298_d2f3f7f8d6.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen tibicen) bathing; Canberra, ACT." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45878509442/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen tibicen) bathing; Canberra, ACT." src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4918/45878509442_4395772f0a.jpg"></a></p><p align="left">And to close off – here’s one of the cheeky neighbourhood Magpies (<em>Gymnorhina tibicen tibicen</em>) having a wash in the bird bath next to the <em>Sarracenia</em>.</p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-78953648511318300762018-10-25T22:57:00.001+11:002018-10-25T22:59:27.967+11:00The Sarracenia flava collection in full bloom<p><a title="Sarracenia collection in flower, 2018-2019 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30604073167/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Sarracenia collection in flower, 2018-2019 season" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1928/30604073167_c645f6d56d_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The <em>Sarracenia flava </em>have hit their peak of flowers for this year, and they look spectacular! Here’s some blooms from assorted plants:</p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava in flower, 2018-2019 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44819552384/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Sarracenia flava in flower, 2018-2019 season" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1970/44819552384_665674855d.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <a title="Sarracenia flava in flower, 2018-2019 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44819589544/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Sarracenia flava in flower, 2018-2019 season" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1953/44819589544_e933b00504.jpg"></a></p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava in flower, 2018-2019 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44630883495/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Sarracenia flava in flower, 2018-2019 season" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1940/44630883495_71fac36dd7.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora in flower, 2018-2019 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45494701362/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora in flower, 2018-2019 season" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1931/45494701362_60bc669282.jpg"></a></p><p align="center"><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea in flower, 2018-2019 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31672484428/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea in flower, 2018-2019 season" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1948/31672484428_0ceee9efbd.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava in flower, 2018-2019 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30604006167/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Sarracenia flava in flower, 2018-2019 season" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1946/30604006167_016cf2e168.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p><a title="Sarracenia collection in flower, 2018-2019 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44630893145/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Sarracenia collection in flower, 2018-2019 season" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1943/44630893145_8da079ede9_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>These photos are actually showing the collection past its peak (25 October), as some petals were already starting to fall. As luck would have it, I was away with work when the peak came (I suspect Tuesday was the actual peak).</p><p align="center"><a title="Drosera burmannii; Newcastle Airport, NSW." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44613652725/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Drosera burmannii; Newcastle Airport, NSW." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1975/44613652725_d7acc662ce.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <a title="Utricularia australis; Newcastle Airport, NSW" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/43709779010/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Utricularia australis; Newcastle Airport, NSW" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1928/43709779010_f55ef00c1d.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>As a small consolation, I managed to find nice populations of <em>Drosera burmannii</em> and <em>Utricularia australis </em>where I was near Newcastle, NSW. Incidentally, the plants of <em>D. burmannii </em>I brought from an AUSCPS member last year self-sowed enough seed that I should have a lovely carpet of them shortly in the VFT pot.</p><p><a title="Drosera burmannii seedlings with VFT" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/43727639320/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="800" height="589" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Drosera burmannii seedlings with VFT" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1901/43727639320_09d38189a3_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>Speaking of which, the VFT collection has also done well and is emerging from dormancy. I’ve been busy nipping flower stalks off – I’ve never managed to get seed to set from my flytraps. Some <em>Drosera pulchella </em>gemmae I got off ebay Australia have also produced a goodly number of plants that are getting bigger, and each week I find a couple more between the flytraps. I’ll get the macro lens out and get some close-up shots of them soon.</p><p align="center"><a title="Venus’ flytrap collection, Spring 2018" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31672459668/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="441" height="331" alt="Venus’ flytrap collection, Spring 2018" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1942/31672459668_a8c098f46d.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Drosera pulchella and Dionaea muscipula" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44630829995/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="331" alt="Drosera pulchella and Dionaea muscipula" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1908/44630829995_3aaa3bc80d.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>Yesterday, I got in and pollinated as many <em>S. flava </em>flowers as I could. I selfed most things, but made a few strategic crosses. One was between two very nice <em>S. flava </em>var. <em>cuprea </em>clones, one from Gotcha! Plants and another from a local grower, Ross Rowe.</p><p><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea in flower, 2018-2019 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30603951477/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea in flower, 2018-2019 season" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1942/30603951477_57a239e4b7_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>The other was a forward and reverse cross between <em>S. flava </em>var. <em>atropurpurea </em>from Blackwater State Forest, Florida (this is the first year that clone has flowered for me) and the <em>atropurpurea </em>clones FRT 1-1 and FRT 1-5. Here’s a photo of the Blackwater SF clone’s flower:</p><p><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea (Blackwater S.F.) in flower, 2018-2019 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45494638942/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="768" height="1024" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea (Blackwater S.F.) in flower, 2018-2019 season" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1957/45494638942_c39278b96b_b.jpg"></a></p><p>One thing that I haven’t seen before this year is the honeybees taking an interest in the flowers. They seem to be efficient pollinators, as they enter the flowers via the stigma and thoroughly dusted in pollen. The below bee is not so covered, as she is a little de-fuzzed (setulae rubbed from the scutum) and probably did not pick up any pollen from the stamens as a result. Hopefully, they haven’t messed up my crosses…<p><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea with honeybee taking off after a probable pollination visit" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44821235024/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="600" height="800" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea with honeybee taking off after a probable pollination visit" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1935/44821235024_4a3358f36c_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>The first pitchers have opened too, with <em>S. flava </em>var. <em>maxima</em> from Honeysuckle Road, Harleyville, NC beating out a pot of <em>S. flava </em>var. <em>atropurpurea </em>by a few days.<p><a title="Sarracenia flava var. maxima (Honeysuckle Road, Harleyville, NC) in flower, 2018-2019 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/43727685180/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="600" height="800" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Sarracenia flava var. maxima (Honeysuckle Road, Harleyville, NC) in flower, 2018-2019 season" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1972/43727685180_ebcbcc48cc_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-30808138268428541632018-10-18T21:59:00.001+11:002018-10-18T21:59:22.831+11:00More flowers open…<p><a title="Sarracenia flava flowers emerging and opening 2018-2019 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44609078544/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Sarracenia flava flowers emerging and opening 2018-2019 season" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1923/44609078544_152f264b87_b.jpg"></a></p><p>Shot from earlier this week – more flowers have opened since, with the peak coming in the next week. I’m already starting to play bumblebee and get some selfings and a few strategic crosses happening. The first pitchers will pop open soon – it looks like <em>Sarracenia flava </em>var. <em>maxima </em>clones from Honeysuckle Road, Harleyville, NC, will be the first to open.</p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-91411835100916297462018-10-14T07:29:00.001+11:002018-10-14T07:29:39.354+11:00The first flower of the 2018-2019 season<p align="center"><a title="First Sarracenia flower 2018-2019 season: Sarracenia flava var. rugellii ‘Triffid Park tight throat’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/43428194580/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="First Sarracenia flower 2018-2019 season: Sarracenia flava var. rugellii ‘Triffid Park tight throat’" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1974/43428194580_37894e00f2_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="First Sarracenia flower open for 2018-2019: flava var. rugellii ‘Triffid Park tight throat’" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45211759202/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="First Sarracenia flower open for 2018-2019: flava var. rugellii ‘Triffid Park tight throat’" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1959/45211759202_68c68ae32a_z.jpg"></a></p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>This year, the first flower belongs to a clone of <em>Sarracenia flava </em>var. <em>rugellii</em> that I picked up at Triffid Park some years ago. Its not the plant Triffid Park sell as ‘cut throat’ (that clone has never grown for me – it looks good in their nursery, but on the two times I’ve tried it, the plant doesn’t pitcher the following season), but one that I’ve not seen before or since in other collections. Apparently, Triffid Park regularly buys plants off growers in the VCPS, so it seems this clone is from one of those acquisitions. It differs by having an incredibly tight column on the pitcher, so I’ve always labelled it as ‘Triffid Park tight throat’. Here’s some photos of it in previous seasons:<p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii "Triffid Park tight throat"" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37670019304/in/album-72157660263148191/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="270" height="480" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rugellii "Triffid Park tight throat"" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4583/37670019304_ceb8eb8005.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rugelli 'Triffid park tight throat'" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/22978768045/in/album-72157660263148191/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="640" height="480" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rugelli 'Triffid park tight throat'" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/626/22978768045_32c54d2415_z.jpg"></a></p><p align="left">I’m not sure if the veining at the base of the lid disqualifies it from being a rugellii though… but at any rate, its a beautiful plant and a strong grower.<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-60252143465542401902018-10-06T21:36:00.001+10:002018-10-06T21:36:07.035+10:00Rise of the Sarracenia flowers, a second try at Drosera schizandra and the Nepenthes ampullaria terrarium<a title="Sarracenia flower buds rising, 2018-2019 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45082166862/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Sarracenia flower buds rising, 2018-2019 season" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1914/45082166862_ae781224f8_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>The <em>Sarracenia </em>are preparing for another beautiful show of flowers. I did a quick head count this morning – 263 buds emerged and rising – which makes for a bumper year. The first flower looks to be about two weeks out still. I’m thinking of getting the pollination brushes out and doing some crosses. To make it easy, the plan is to self everything. Fortunately, the <em>leucophylla </em>almost always open up after the <em>flava</em> are done, so the chance of interspecies hybridisation is low.</p><p align="center"><a title="Drosera schizandra terraria" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30194259297/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="320" height="240" alt="Drosera schizandra terraria" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1962/30194259297_60ce97041f_n.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Drosera schizandra in coffee jar terrarium" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45082987102/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="320" height="240" alt="Drosera schizandra in coffee jar terrarium" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1950/45082987102_36c8833c46_n.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Drosera schizandra in a coffee jar terrarium" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45132030651/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="320" height="240" alt="Drosera schizandra in a coffee jar terrarium" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1901/45132030651_80769cb9e6_n.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>Last night was the October AUSCPS Canberra ground meeting, which had an emphasis on <em>Pinguicula</em>. I had an unexpected score – Dave Colburn from Sydney brought down some <em>Drosera schizandra</em>, a long-time favourite of mine and a plant I’ve only had the chance to try once. I currently have two coffee jar terrariums on my desk, getting indirect light through a north-facing window (southern hemisphere, so sun is to the north) and each growing a decent sized plant. Another AUSCPS member here grows <em>D. schizandra </em>to very large size, so I will have to take a look at his growing conditions.</p><p>On a sad note, <a href="https://thepitcherplantationaustralia.blogspot.com/2015/10/holiday-tales-part-2a-failed-attempt-to.html"><u>the friend who accompanied me to try and find <em>D. schizandra</em> in the wild</u></a> – Bob Miller – passed away a couple of months back. He was a very good friend who will be sorely missed.</p><p><a title="Terraria for two of the Three Sisters - Drosera adelae & Drosera schizandra" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30194259217/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Terraria for two of the Three Sisters - Drosera adelae & Drosera schizandra" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1980/30194259217_07d92659c2_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>Next to the <em>D. schizandra </em>is a large bowl holding a pot of <em>D. adelae</em>. The <em>D. adeale</em> are not especially happy (the spot they thrived last summer is not available at the moment) but that they are alive is still cause for celebration – I have lost <em>D. adelae </em>to the cold most years I’ve been in Canberra. Lack of light seems to be the problem (but I’m hoping this means there will be enough light to make <em>D. schizandra</em> happy). If it can hang in there a bit longer, it will get its old spot back and hopefully thrive again.</p><p><a title="Terrarium grown Nepenthes ampullaria" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31258987598/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Terrarium grown Nepenthes ampullaria" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1936/31258987598_090d4c2b60_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>There is another terrarium in my office, and it contains one plant each of <em>Nepenthes ampullaria </em>‘green’, <em>N. ampullaria </em>‘red’ (not that it gets very red!) and <em>N. </em>x <em>hookeriana</em>. The plants are doing very well, but the light has consistently been burning their leaves (and has bleached out the Sphagnum!). That said, both the <em>N. ampullaria </em>have been producing ground rosette pitchers, some aerial rosettes and decent sized lower pitchers. The light I’ve been using is a 20W LED floodlight producing 2000 lumens, mounted 20 cm above the plants. I’m now thinking of trying either a 15W floodlight (but the local Bunnings are out of stock), a 24W compact fluoro (which has worked for me before) or two of the Ikea grow lamps. All of these options get me to about 1400-1600 lumens, which should help reduce leaf burn. The plants grow above a heated water bath, which produces if anything too much humidity (the pots are too wet and I don’t water them – I just top up the water bath). I might need to put down a coir basket liner under the pots to trap more of the humidity in the water bath while I’m messing with the lights.</p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-64888289765167690182018-10-03T20:40:00.001+10:002018-10-14T07:42:08.474+11:00Sarracenia in the wild at last - Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa at Suitland Bog Natural Area, Marylands.<p><em>This post fleshes out a talk I gave to the Canberra meeting of the Australasian Carnivorous Plant Society (AUSCPS) in August.</em></p><p><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44159994175/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1980/44159994175_483d3c20d6_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br></p><p>In June, I had my first ever visit to the east coast of the US (Washington, DC). Of course, I was determined to see <em>Sarracenia</em>. I was prepared to go to a lot of effort to find a site, but in five minutes of web sleuthing, I had my spot identified and travel plans made – the Suitland Bog Natural Area at Suitland, MD, just outside of DC. So, on the somewhat overcast Memorial Day of 2018, I headed out to see if I could find some <em>Sarracenia</em>.</p><p><a href="https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/Metro+Center+Station,+607+13th+St+NW,+Washington,+DC+20005,+USA/''/@38.8713095,-77.0030104,13.13z/data=!4m15!4m14!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7b796e2792d93:0x8393f85a9038ccfa!2m2!1d-77.0287949!2d38.8983313!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7bea454bd1b83:0x97457435c3984dc7!2m2!1d-76.9037207!2d38.8370926!3e3!5i1"><a title="Central Market metro station, Washington, DC." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/43258740600/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="768" height="1024" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Central Market metro station, Washington, DC." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1973/43258740600_3e763e1e53_b.jpg"></a></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/Metro+Center+Station,+607+13th+St+NW,+Washington,+DC+20005,+USA/''/@38.8713095,-77.0030104,13z/data=!4m15!4m14!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7b796e2792d93:0x8393f85a9038ccfa!2m2!1d-77.0287949!2d38.8983313!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7bea454bd1b83:0x97457435c3984dc7!2m2!1d-76.9037207!2d38.8370926!3e3!5i1"><u>This link</u></a> gives you the lay of the land and public transport directions. Suitland is just over the border from DC and is serviced by the Washington Metro via Suitland Station. Although I read that the Washington Metro has a bit of a bad reputation, I found it very efficient and impressive, especially the architecture of the underground stations. Its then about a 45-minute walk on the sidewalk (or a five minute Uber!) to the bog itself.</p><p align="center"><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30134277167/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="360" height="480" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1926/30134277167_927dd955d1.jpg"></a> <a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44159878745/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="640" height="480" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1939/44159878745_553c81eeb5_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>Here’s the entrance to the preserve as seen from Suitland Road. The gate is a superb piece of metal art. Although it is locked to prevent car access (and presumably vandalism) further in, there is ample parking.</p><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44159878985/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1976/44159878985_5fd696c41a_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>At the entrance was a big clump of <em>Asclepias syriaca</em>, or butterfly weed, the host of the Monarch butterfly (<em>Danaus plexippus</em>). We take Monarchs (locally called the “Wanderer”) for granted here in Australia, but they are in serious trouble in North America. I saw no sign of them on my last visit to North America in 2012 (British Columbia and Colorado), but this time I saw some, as well as the similarly patterned Viceroy, and the Easter Tiger and Black Swallowtails.</p><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30134277507/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1952/30134277507_d1ed8a7d2a_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>The bog itself is a short walk in from the carpark and enclosed by a chain-wire fence with a gate. A boardwalk takes you out over the bog proper.</p><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30134334617/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1965/30134334617_52bb4009f5_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>I was quietly anxious that I might not find many plants, but this worry evaporated the second I entered the bog – the flowers announced the presence of the <em>Sarracenia </em>immediately.</p><p>I found myself in paradise, with <em>Sarracenia </em>everywhere.</p><p><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44351007464/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1947/44351007464_189efc268f_b.jpg"></a></p><p>The plants are growing along and in a slow moving creek in the midst of woodlands. Most were growing with their rhizomes either sitting in or just above the water. Their distribution within the bog was deceptive at first glance – most of the biggest clumps were growing under dense shrubs and small trees, with relatively few plants growing fully exposed to the sun amongst grasses.</p><p>It turns out there was a good reason why so many were growing under suboptimal conditions – read on to find out why!</p><p align="center"><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44351134244/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1953/44351134244_6d36dd130c.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44159994125/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1979/44159994125_54f3fb52e8.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa; Suitland Bog Natural Area, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/42443591501/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa; Suitland Bog Natural Area, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1730/42443591501_d0632d1b4c.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30134303737/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="375" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1966/30134303737_9faafd50ee.jpg"></a></p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>The density and vigour of the plants, especially those under the more optimal conditions, proved that this population was healthy. That said, even the plants growing under less optimal conditions were forming large clumps.</p><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/31198294978/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1976/31198294978_fa9f08604c_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>I was told there was a late spring in the US this year, and the weather before and during my stay was relatively overcast and wet. The plants did not have much colour when I visited for this reason. But if you looked beneath the new growth, the colour of last year’s growth was still visible.</p><p>Here is some of the variation I saw:</p><p align="center"> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45070879991/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="375" height="500" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1930/45070879991_1bdd249fe0.jpg"></a> <a title="Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa; Suitland Bog Natural Area, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/42443586521/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="375" height="500" alt="Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa; Suitland Bog Natural Area, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1728/42443586521_9684923a84.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa; Suitland Bog Natural Area, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/27573291517/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="375" height="500" alt="Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa; Suitland Bog Natural Area, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1724/27573291517_97a54c6550.jpg"></a> <a title="Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa; Suitland Bog Natural Area, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/40635274390/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="375" height="500" alt="Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa; Suitland Bog Natural Area, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1752/40635274390_5f53aba7e1.jpg"></a><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44159952755/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="375" height="500" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1933/44159952755_c1aa785061.jpg"></a> <a title="Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa; Suitland Bog Natural Area, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/42393013222/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="375" height="500" alt="Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa; Suitland Bog Natural Area, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1726/42393013222_79ef718de8.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><img width="375" height="500" alt="Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa; Suitland Bog Natural Area, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1752/41541282405_784726cf6f.jpg"> <a title="Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa; Suitland Bog Natural Area, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/40635440090/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="375" height="500" alt="Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa; Suitland Bog Natural Area, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1751/40635440090_7d1de6b3da.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>Given most of the “venosa” I’ve acquired and grown in Australia turned out to be <em>S. rosea</em>, it was great to see the genuine article.</p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44160005145/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1955/44160005145_f5e9ac349b_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>A small part of the bog has <em>Sphagnum </em>growing in it. I was later told by a member of the preserve management committee that the <em>Sphagnum </em>was translocated from another bog.</p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa habitat, Suitland Bog Natural Area, Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/43231366711/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" alt="Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa habitat, Suitland Bog Natural Area, Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1809/43231366711_3280c9af1d_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>The above picture links to a video capturing the ambience of the bog. Its soundtrack is the crickets and birds, occasionally marred by a speeding car or a C-17 on departure from nearby Andrews AFB (I was hoping for one of the UH-1N Twin Hueys of the USAF 1st Helicopter Squadron, but oh well).</p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/44351058324/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1921/44351058324_f55e17e10a_b.jpg"></a></p><p>Its worth noting that, from an ecological management perspective, that the <em>Sarracenia</em> are not the focus of conservation at the bog. In fact, the <em>Sarraenia purpurea </em>growing at the site are not the original population, which was extirpated many decades ago.<u> </u><a href="http://www.guitarfish.org/2009/08/02/suitland-bog"><u>Instead, they were translocated from New Jersey (I would presume from the Pine Barrens).</u></a> The main conservation aim at Suitland is to preserve the last local example of a Magnolia bog, and management focuses on preservation of the swamp magnolia and several rare grasses, not the <em>Sarracenia</em>. <a href="http://www.guitarfish.org/2009/08/02/suitland-bog"><u>This blog notes that <em>Sarracenia</em> removal is actually part of the management action suite there</u></a> - hence why so many of the older plants were growing under suboptimal conditions! Another post from the same blog notes (as did a 1970s hydrology paper for the site) that <a href="http://www.guitarfish.org/2007/09/01/suitland-bog-trip"><u><em>Drosera filiformis </em>once occurred here, as did <em>Drosera intermedia</em> as recently as 2007</u></a>. I either missed the <em>D. intermedia</em>, or they have indeed disappeared.</p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p align="center"><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Wyeomyia smithii (Suitland Bog, MD, 9 April 1986 ex pitcher plant); Smithsonian National Mosquito Collection, Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/40817840480/in/album-72157690296405310/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="382" height="297" alt="Wyeomyia smithii (Suitland Bog, MD, 9 April 1986 ex pitcher plant); Smithsonian National Mosquito Collection, Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1732/40817840480_aa6e53d817.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Wyeomyia smithii detail; Smithsonian National Mosquito Collection" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/27756947807/in/album-72157690296405310/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="297" alt="Wyeomyia smithii detail; Smithsonian National Mosquito Collection" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1734/27756947807_66eed0f7f0.jpg"></a></p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>I had hoped to see the pitcher plant mosquito, <em>Wyeomyia smithii</em>, at the bog. On Memorial Day, I saw – and was bitten by – a few mosquitoes, but they turned out to be <em>Aedes vexans </em>and <em>Psorophora ferox</em> (the latter has cute white socks!). As I was in the US working on mosquitoes, I was fortunate to visit and key out specimens in the mosquito collection at Smithsonian/Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit (also at Suitland), and made a point of examining and photographing some <em>Wy. smithii </em>specimens (which had also been collected at Suitland Bog). Some iphone-down-the-microscope-lens style shots are above.</p><p>Speaking with the Smithsonian curators, I was told that I must have been a couple of days too early, and that if we visited again, <em>Wyeomyia </em>should be flying. We called in on our way home to try our luck again and found them in abundance, flitting delicately from pitcher to pitcher.</p><p><a title="Pitcher plant mosquitoes (Wyeomyia smithii) and the purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa); Suitland Bog, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/41883305374/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Pitcher plant mosquitoes (Wyeomyia smithii) and the purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa); Suitland Bog, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1736/41883305374_0427b50e88_b.jpg"></a></p><p><a title="Wyeomyia smithii resting on the hood of a Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa pitcher; Suitland Bog, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/42608341622/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="680" alt="Wyeomyia smithii resting on the hood of a Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa pitcher; Suitland Bog, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1732/42608341622_fe01657a8d_b.jpg"></a></p><p>They were more interested in feeding on the red veins of the traps than biting us (most populations of <em>Wy. smithii </em> are amphibian feeders, with just a few records of human feeding). The overcast conditions unfortunately made it very hard to photograph them. The below picture links to an iphone video of them in action:</p><a title="Wyeomyia smithii mosquitoes feeding on nectar produced by its host, Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/43274115311/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="576" height="1024" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Wyeomyia smithii mosquitoes feeding on nectar produced by its host, Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1823/43274115311_2ef2dc8c74_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>In addition to the <em>Sarracenia</em>, a few other plants at the bog are worth mentioning. Rose Pogonia orchids (<em>Pogonia ophioglossoides</em>) were blooming right by the entrance:</p><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45070851291/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1978/45070851291_98eccbfd3a_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>Unfortunately, I was about a month too late to see blooms of the Lady Slipper orchids (<i>Cypripedium acaule</i>) also reported to grow there. Further in along the boardwalk were two species of Jack-in-the-Pulpit.</p><p align="center"><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30134428497/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="375" height="500" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1920/30134428497_b00cab0912.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/30134435767/in/album-72157695703040621/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="375" height="500" alt="Suitland Bog natural area; Suitland, MD." src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1977/30134435767_7c8a108f67.jpg"></a></p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>The downside of getting to visit the US is that I had no chance to plant the potted <em>Sarracenia </em>back into bog gardens this winter. Even worse, a broken glass door the afternoon before a –8C night cooked the few non-terrarium <em>Nepenthes </em>I had here (my <em>N. ampullaria </em>and <em>N. x hookeriana </em>are doing well though). As the plants are breaking dormancy now, the opportunity to re-establish the bogs has passed for this year. On the plus side - the collection is shooting up what looks to be a bumper year for flowers, so stay tuned for photos soon.</p><p>PS – and while I missed out on a flypast at Suitland, I did get to see a USAF 1st Squadron Twin Huey (in fact, I was even allowed to strap in and run through the startup checks by the pilots :D ). </p><p><a title="Bell UH-1N, 1st Helicopter Squadron, United States Air Force" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/45133205791/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="680" alt="Bell UH-1N, 1st Helicopter Squadron, United States Air Force" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1964/45133205791_6e34bffb64_b.jpg"></a></p><p>A great end to a fantastic trip.</p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-85673504689687095132018-05-18T22:52:00.001+10:002018-05-18T22:52:31.652+10:00Happenings<p>Yes, I’ve neglected the blog again, and the season has finished up with a handful of early blog posts to speak of. So here is the low-down on what happened this Summer, and what will be happening this Winter.</p><a title="Sarracenia collection, 5 November 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/24321430148/in/album-72157644049414086/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" alt="Sarracenia collection, 5 November 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4525/24321430148_63ff5c5846_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p><a title="Sarracenia collection, 25 November 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/38596644922/in/album-72157644049414086/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" alt="Sarracenia collection, 25 November 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4540/38596644922_8f37c536b5_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>The plants did ok, but just ok.</p><p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea garden, 25 November 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/38572980896/in/album-72157644049414086/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea garden, 25 November 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4539/38572980896_c352d4a741_b.jpg"></a><br></p><p>The best were the <em>Sarracenia flava </em>var. <em>atropurpurea</em>, but they were nowhere near as good as they were in the bog gardens – compare them with the below shot of the same plants in a bog garden:</p><a title="Red pitcher plants, Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea FRT 1-1" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/22964541475/in/album-72157660263148191/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="768" alt="Red pitcher plants, Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea FRT 1-1" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5712/22964541475_ae826e1246_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>Virtually every plant was a shadow of their former bog garden glory. As this was their second season post repotting, it looks like the trend has been set – <em>Sarracenia </em>just don’t do as well in pots under my current conditions.</p><p><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora, 25 November 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/38573002546/in/album-72157644049414086/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora, 25 November 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4559/38573002546_6eb28f04e6_b.jpg"></a></p><p>Here’s a comparison of the plants that had the biggest loss of colour – <em>S. flava </em>var. <em>rubricorpora – </em>between how they looked in pots this year (above) and in the bog garden two years back (below). </p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora, Reytter's clone" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/22640871209/in/album-72157644049414086/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora, Reytter's clone" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5638/22640871209_5f55a9083a_b.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora 'FRT 1'" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/22614961177/in/album-72157644049414086/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora 'FRT 1'" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5688/22614961177_c9f43f7390_z.jpg"></a></p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>The colours in the bog gardens were amazing, whereas they could have been mistaken for <em>S. flava </em>var. <em>flava </em>in the pots. Other than the change to pots, their growing conditions were identical. Clearly, the plants are not happy being in pots. Given how depressing the plants looked, I didn’t post anything.</p><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea collection, late summer 2017-2018 season." href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/38503528610/in/album-72157644049414086/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea collection, late summer 2017-2018 season." src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4620/38503528610_2ddc477159_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>Summer this year was hot, and arrived a little early. This resulted in the <em>S. flava </em>being over and done before Christmas, with the plants really looking good for a week or two – a real let down. But at least everything caught a lot of insects when the going was good, so the rhizomes are in good condition despite the lack of colour on the pitchers. The temperatures really bleached out the pitchers, again much more so than when they were in bog gardens. Pots just don’t have the same thermal mass, I suspect.</p><a title="Drosera burmannii with prey" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/26440779518/in/album-72157644049414086/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" alt="Drosera burmannii with prey" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4650/26440779518_4a27cf7914_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>The new year brought a very nice surprise – an announcement that the Australasian Carnivorous Plant Society (which I used to frequent when we would go to Sydney more regularly) was opening meetings in Canberra. The first meeting was at fellow <em>Sarracenia </em>grower Ross R’s place for a BBQ and much discussion of carnivorous plants and how the season had been in the Canberra area. I’ve been to every meeting since, and even gave a presentation on mosquitoes and how to control them in CP setups. In short – growing numbers of <em>Sarracenia </em>in trays will breed large numbers of <em>Aedes </em>and <em>Culex </em>mosquitoes, especially the Common Backyard Mosquito, <em>Aedes notoscriptus</em>. Here are some photos of that species biting me:</p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p align="center"><a title="Aedes (Rampamyia) notoscriptus (Skuse, 1889)" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/41688855901/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="332" alt="Aedes (Rampamyia) notoscriptus (Skuse, 1889)" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/975/41688855901_c8de0f2645.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Aedes (Rampamyia) notoscriptus (Skuse, 1889)" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/41649175672/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="332" alt="Aedes (Rampamyia) notoscriptus (Skuse, 1889)" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/972/41649175672_0c1bddc4da.jpg"></a></p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>Despite them being bloodsuckers, they are rather beautiful insects when seen under magnification. As far as control goes, either grow plants requiring a water tray in a bog garden following the mosquito-proofing suggestions I made elsewhere on the blog, or use chemicals. I use either NoMoz pellets (an insect growth regulator) or Aquatain (a surface treatment that suffocates mature mosquito larvae and pupae). FOLLOW THE LABEL DIRECTIONS when using any chemical! Neither product has caused harm to my plants, and both can be brought at Bunnings, albeit with Aquatain sold under the name Mosquito Drops. One thing that does not work – and is actually counterproductive – is letting water trays dry out (smaller trays can be emptied out, but you need to be on top of it for reasons that about to become clear). The reason it is counterproductive is because <em>Aedes </em>mosquito eggs are drought resistant, and actually need to dry out before they will hatch. They are perfectly adapted to water trays, and even if you dump out the water, more larvae will hatch as soon as you refill them. I even busted the myth that CPs are super mosquito catchers – a <em>Byblis </em>brought into the AUSCPS meeting I spoke at (ostensibly as proof that CPs catch loads of mosquitoes!) proved to have two mosquitoes and several hundred fungus gnats (Sciaridae) snared on the leaves! I must have done a good job, as I got a number of people come back to me saying how interested they now were in mosquitoes – and not because they were wanting to kill them off! Last meeting, I was asked by Ross R to dissect some of his <em>Sarraenia </em>pitchers to ID what insects were in them – lots of fun!</p><a title="Drosera adelae terrarium; AUSCPS meeting" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/40412152835/in/album-72157644049414086/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="640" height="480" alt="Drosera adelae terrarium; AUSCPS meeting" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/874/40412152835_476e306236_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Heliamphora tatei; AUSCPS Canberra meeting" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/41271599601/in/album-72157644049414086/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="360" height="480" alt="Heliamphora tatei; AUSCPS Canberra meeting" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/900/41271599601_ba4aabbd01.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>Some lovely plants have made their appearance at the AUSCPS meetings here, with loads of plants being offered for sale. Above are some of my favourites – a bowl of <em>Drosera adelae </em>grown by Barry, and a <em>Heliamphora</em>. Owen O’Neil (Strange World Carnivores) also brought in loads of <em>Sarracenia leucophylla </em>and their hybrids, plus some <em>S. alabamensis</em>. For those in Canberra, the meetings are great to come along to!</p><p align="center"><a title="Venus flytrap collection" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/25441593267/in/album-72157644049414086/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="281" alt="Venus flytrap collection" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4630/25441593267_0b1f518741.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <a title="Coseup of Venus' flytrap 'Big Tomato'" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/39601301254/in/album-72157644049414086/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="281" alt="Coseup of Venus' flytrap 'Big Tomato'" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4666/39601301254_23715dba02.jpg"></a></p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>A sad loss this season was virtually all of my flytraps due to my mishandling them, which was as depressing as the poor pitcher colouration. I had planned to put them into a minibog, but underestimated how long the sealant would take to dry. That meant the plants had to sit in a bucket of water for a few days. When I planted them out, they rotted. Thanks to Owen and members of the AUSCPS here (and a couple of judicious purchases), I have the flytrap collection mostly back, with a few extra forms. I was however very relieved to find a plant of Jessica & Peter Biddlecombe’s “Red Crescent” flytrap, which must be the only piece of it left in cultivation! Fortunately it got some size on quickly before winter, so I am confident it will not be lost to history. The only plant I am still in need of is John Creevey’s excellent selfing of Pink Venus.</p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia leucphylla 'Pink English'" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/40326772441/in/album-72157644049414086/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia leucphylla 'Pink English'" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4655/40326772441_8384ba7d56_c.jpg"></a> <a title="Sarracenia leucophylla " href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/25455418067/in/album-72157644049414086/" data-flickr-embed="true" pink="" english??=""><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia leucophylla " src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4711/25455418067_3e4b734e70_c.jpg" pink="" english??=""></a></p><p>Autumn brought out the <em>Sarracenia leucophylla </em>in their white-topped glory. This is their second year with me and they are looking great (thanks again Owen!!!).</p><p align="center"><a title="Meadow argus butterfly (Junonia villida calybe) feeding on a white-topped pitcher plant (Sarracenia leucophylla)" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/26300945677/in/album-72157644049414086/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="481" height="640" alt="Meadow argus butterfly (Junonia villida calybe) feeding on a white-topped pitcher plant (Sarracenia leucophylla)" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/787/26300945677_ef1e8ec095_z.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia leucophylla "Big Mouth" autumn traps, 2017-2018 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/40741155182/in/album-72157644049414086/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="480" height="640" alt="Sarracenia leucophylla "Big Mouth" autumn traps, 2017-2018 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4783/40741155182_50579da2de_z.jpg"></a></p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p align="left">But I can’t help think how much better they would probably look if grown in a bog garden.</p><p>As of last Friday came the first frosts – a relief after a record breaking Summer. We are indeed due for ongoing frosts nearly daily now. Fortunately, the <em>S. leucophylla </em>still look very good until well into winter here.</p><p>Outcomes from this season – I am going back to bog gardens. IME, if you want to grow the best <em>Sarracenia </em>possible, nothing beats a well prepared and well-sited bog garden. Sure its some hassle and a lot more effort to set up, but putting in the hard work up front means rewards of beautiful plants for years afterwards with little to no effort. I’ll make sure lots of photos are taken, so watch this space.</p><p>Till then,</p><p>JN.</p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-14790551517356701182017-10-21T20:46:00.001+11:002017-10-21T20:53:43.463+11:00The collection in flower, 2017<p><a title="Sarracenia collection i flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37113794434/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" alt="Sarracenia collection i flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4482/37113794434_46dcfd2e58_b.jpg"></a></p><p>Finally – the collection is in flower and the first pitchers are opening!</p><p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>
<a title="Sarracenia in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37153419103/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" alt="Sarracenia in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4511/37153419103_249947333a_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p><p>This is the <em>Sarracenia flava</em> var. <em>atropurpurea </em>/ all red <em>flava</em> pond - most of these are FRT 1-1.
</p><p><a title="Sarracenia in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37153421333/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" alt="Sarracenia in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4471/37153421333_ecb6d36628_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p><p>The <em>flava</em> var. <em>flava/maxima/rugellii/cuprea/ornata</em> pond
(so striped/veined/green and cut throat <em>flava</em>). The pot at right is a mini-bog I set up just for my VFTs. Behind it is the red tube (<em>flava </em>var. <em>rubricorpora</em>) pond.</p><p><a title="Sarracenia in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37823687061/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Sarracenia in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4502/37823687061_69b3321c70_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p><p>And finally, the <em>leucophylla</em> pond.</p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia leucophylla cv. Tarnok in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37153423503/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia leucophylla cv. Tarnok in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4471/37153423503_3345872aa5_c.jpg"></a> <a title="Sarracenia leucophylla flowers, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37153427803/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia leucophylla flowers, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4506/37153427803_2771c51299_c.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>There’s only a few <em>leucophylla</em> flowers open so far – cv. Tarnok and a random clone from my friend Owen. The majority of the other clones are still a week or so off flowering yet.</p><p align="center">
<a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea 'Gotcha Plants heavy vein', 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37153521473/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea 'Gotcha Plants heavy vein', 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4505/37153521473_8e222acbf3_b.jpg"></a> <a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea 'Gotcha Plants heavy vein' in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37153531843/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea 'Gotcha Plants heavy vein' in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4460/37153531843_6544b396a5_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p><p>This is a <em>flava </em>var. <em>cuprea</em> I got from Gotcha! Plants back in 2009. Its been a very solid performer.
</p><p align="center">
<a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea 'Fly Free Zone F1' in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37153545043/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea 'Fly Free Zone F1' in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4445/37153545043_741f454a5f_c.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea 'Fly Free Zone F1" in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37775079046/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia flava var. cuprea 'Fly Free Zone F1" in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4513/37775079046_98f295713c_c.jpg"></a></p><p align="left"><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Another coppertop <em>flava</em>, this is ‘F1’ (as in <em>flava </em>clone # 1) from Fly Free Zone (David & Felicity Martin). Over 30 years old and still one of the better coppertops around.</p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. maxima 'Harleyville, NC' in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/23971030528/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia flava var. maxima 'Harleyville, NC' in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4489/23971030528_0b14341630_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a title="Sarracemia flava var. maxima 'Harleyville, NC' in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37153704063/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="448" height="800" alt="Sarracemia flava var. maxima 'Harleyville, NC' in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4462/37153704063_62c1dd7955_c.jpg"></a></p><p align="left">Here’s the only <em>Sarracenia</em> with pitchers fully opened – <em>flava </em>var. <em>maxima </em>‘Honeysuckle Road, Harleyville, NC’. Greg Bourke imported a load of seed from this locality in the early 2000s, germinated some and gave the rest to other growers, one of whom was Ron Abernethy, who then gave this and a few other plants to me. Var. <em>maxima </em>are a surprising rarity here in OZ; most I’ve grown turned out to be a hybrid with <em>Sarracenia alata, </em>or produced a copper lid if grown in full sun.</p><p align="center">
<a title="Sarracenia flava var. flava 'Harleyville, NC via RSBG Sydney' in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37823894561/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia flava var. flava 'Harleyville, NC via RSBG Sydney' in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4486/37823894561_06f30aefca_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a title="Sarracenia flava in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37791780752/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia flava in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4468/37791780752_0b2faeee65_c.jpg"></a></p><p align="left">At left is another Harleyville, NC, plant, this time a var. <em>flava</em>. I brought this plant at the Sydney meeting of the International Carnivorous Plant Society in 2007; it sometimes produces very pronounced teeth on the umbrella of the flower. At right is another var. <em>flava, </em>this time fro Gotcha! Plants in Queensland.</p><p align="center">
<a title="Sarracenia flava var. flava 'Gotcha! Plants clone' in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37791822682/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" alt="Sarracenia flava var. flava 'Gotcha! Plants clone' in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4482/37791822682_f45c429048_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a title="Sarracenia flava in flower with Drosera binata var. multifida (Blue Mountains clone), 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37775000516/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia flava in flower with Drosera binata var. multifida (Blue Mountains clone), 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4474/37775000516_5b8a9961ec_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a title="Sarracenia flava in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37774964436/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia flava in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4486/37774964436_07806233ec_c.jpg"></a></p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. flava 'Gotcha! Plants clone' in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37791822682/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" alt="Sarracenia flava var. flava 'Gotcha! Plants clone' in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4482/37791822682_f45c429048_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a title="Sarracenia flava in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37113562054/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" alt="Sarracenia flava in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4480/37113562054_1cd1e2bdd9_b.jpg"></a></p><p align="left">A few more assorted <em>flava </em>flowers, noting also that the Blue Mountains <em>Drosera binata</em> growing in the same pots are also out of dormancy.</p><p align="center"><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a title="Sarracenia flava var. aropurpurea (FRT 1-1 x Reytter's atropurpurea), 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/23971133358/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia flava var. aropurpurea (FRT 1-1 x Reytter's atropurpurea), 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4512/23971133358_d0c0c23feb_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a title="Sarracenia 'David Martin' in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37153593233/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia 'David Martin' in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4479/37153593233_7000065a5c_b.jpg"></a></p><p align="left">Here’s a couple of special things from the all red <em>flava </em>pond. At left is a cross between FRT 1-1 and a clone of <em>flava </em>var. <em>atropurpurea </em>I used to grow from Phil Reytter of Lithgow. Phil’s plant was not very vigorous, so it went from the collection last year. But its cross with FRT 1-1 is very vigorous. At right is a <em>Sarracenia </em>x <em>moorei </em>backcross I like to call ‘David Martin’ after its breeder. It produces spectacular red tubed pitchers with very heavily veined lids. Its been a bit temperamental in the collection here, but I’m hoping that it will come good for me this year.</p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ' FRT 1-1' in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/23971067258/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea ' FRT 1-1' in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4506/23971067258_57d1c5d3ff_c.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea (leucophylla introgressed) 'FRT 1-1', 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37791635222/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea (leucophylla introgressed) 'FRT 1-1', 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4479/37791635222_9fed60508c_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p align="left">And to close, the flowers of FRT 1-1, a <em>leucophylla</em>-introgressed all red <em>flava </em>grown by David from imported seed in the 1970s.</p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea 'FRT 1-1' (leucophylla introgressed) in flower, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37775242696/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="767" height="1024" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea 'FRT 1-1' (leucophylla introgressed) in flower, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4509/37775242696_248fbda9af_b.jpg"></a></p><p align="center">‘Till next time!</p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-76763211075785532092017-10-06T18:05:00.001+11:002017-10-06T18:05:16.321+11:00Inching closer to the first 2017 Sarracenia flowers…<a title="The Sarracenia collection in full bud, 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/36857086313/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="The Sarracenia collection in full bud, 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4463/36857086313_427ec5b08a_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p align="left">The first Sarra flower of the year is getting close – nearly all the plants have produced scapes that have started to nod forwards. Note the pond at upper middle is less developed than the rest of the ponds; these are the <em>Sarracenia leucophylla</em>. </p><p align="center"><a title="Sarracenia flava var. ornata 'Biddlecombe's heavy vein', unopened flowers and pitchers" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37477621342/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia flava var. ornata 'Biddlecombe's heavy vein', unopened flowers and pitchers" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4472/37477621342_1b9bd18761_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a title="Sarracenia flava var. maxima (Honeysuckle Road, Harleyville, NC) unopened pitchers and flowers" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/36839581903/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="Sarracenia flava var. maxima (Honeysuckle Road, Harleyville, NC) unopened pitchers and flowers" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4485/36839581903_705ec1e4b2_c.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p><p>The first to open is going to be a coin-toss between <em>S. flava </em>var. <em>ornata </em>‘Biddlecombe heavy vein’ and a nice clone of <em>S. flava </em>var. <em>maxima </em>from Honeysuckle Road, Harleyville.</p><p>
<a title="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea flower buds, 2017-2018 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37460687996/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" alt="Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea flower buds, 2017-2018 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4505/37460687996_1920c5693a_b.jpg"></a></p><p>The <em>Sarracenia flava </em>var. <em>atropurpurea </em>‘FRT 1-1’ contingent may have been the first to appear, but they have been well and truly overtaken.</p><p><a title="20171006_172045" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/23674392198/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="576" height="1024" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="20171006_172045" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4466/23674392198_a8f1851abf_b.jpg"></a></p><p>As mentioned above, the <em>Sarracenia leucophylla </em><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>are usually always a little bit later to flower than the <em>S. flava. </em>These are the flower buds of cv. “Tarnok”. Its taken since 2009 when I first got them from Gotcha! Plants to get them to a decent population. I’m thinking it may be an idea to hybridize some of them with any overlapping <em>S. flava </em>varieties to see what I get.</p><p><a title="20171006_172159" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/36816360514/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="20171006_172159" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4448/36816360514_f3e80b0a64_b.jpg"></a></p><p>Elsewhere in the collection, the sundews are beginning to emerge from dormancy. These new leaves of <em>D. binata </em>only opened in the last few days. They are always a spectacular sight at this stage of their development…</p><p><br><a title="Drosera filiformis ssp. filiformis" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37268367820/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" alt="Drosera filiformis ssp. filiformis" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4447/37268367820_d5fbe5f461_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>As are <em>Drosera filiformis</em>. These are the typical variety.</p><a title="Pleiospilos" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/36857187653/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="281" alt="Pleiospilos" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4482/36857187653_a167632f95.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Lithops" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/23674549028/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="500" height="281" alt="Lithops" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4513/23674549028_a405131336.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>To close, here are some succulents – a flowering <em>Pleiospilos nelii </em>stone plant (which remarkably takes our winters with very little protection) and an unnamed <em>Lithops.</em></p><em>
</em><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-41729575321789020162017-09-25T21:21:00.001+10:002017-09-25T22:11:38.202+10:00A couple of quick pics from the lowland Nepenthes terrarium<p><a title="Nepenthes ampullaria f. green basal pitchers, terrarium grown" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37259420266/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" alt="Nepenthes ampullaria f. green basal pitchers, terrarium grown" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4350/37259420266_422dd1b4b6_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p><p><a title="Nepenthes x hookeriana (Triffid Park clone), terrarium grown" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37050635370/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="766" height="1024" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Nepenthes x hookeriana (Triffid Park clone), terrarium grown" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4407/37050635370_afdefb0304_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p><p>Just a quick post to show some of the pitchers in the lowland <em>Nepenthes</em> terrarium I set up a few years back. The amps are finally producing basals! I need to get in to do a prune and tidy up soon, so I will post a few more pics then.</p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705710965561340167.post-67684573592017900512017-09-23T15:21:00.001+10:002017-09-23T17:32:07.032+10:00The first pitchers emerge and a hot spring day<p align="center"><a title="The first Sarracenia pitchers emerging, 2017-2018 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/36547207344/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="The first Sarracenia pitchers emerging, 2017-2018 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4494/36547207344_646a83ae26_c.jpg"></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><strong></strong><a title="The first Sarracenia pitchers emerging, 2017-2018 season" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37399441135/in/photostream/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="450" height="800" alt="The first Sarracenia pitchers emerging, 2017-2018 season" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4395/37399441135_a9c8c94281_c.jpg"></a></p><p><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>The first pitchers of the season are beginning to sprout from the rhizomes, which is great - but it means the Sarras have broken dormancy a few weeks earlier than usual. Its been a warm winter on average here due to a string of high pressure systems over southern Australia, but that still meant some very cold nights with the clear skies. When I used greenhouses, I'd have the first pitchers appear in early September, but outside it would usually be sometime in October, so a September emergence is odd. Today is also very hot, with our garden thermometer recording 34 C as I blog this. I'm just hoping this does not mean I'll get lots of pitchers shoot up, only to have a late frost burn their tops off a few days before they open.
</p><a title="Bees stealing water from the Sarracenia, spring 2017" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/123449205@N06/37256890981/in/dateposted/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img width="1024" height="576" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Bees stealing water from the Sarracenia, spring 2017" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4477/37256890981_c32448f60d_b.jpg"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p dir="ltr">The warm and dry weather has also meant the honeybees have started raiding the Sphagnum and peat for water - again, a lot earlier than normal. Usually they start to become a bother in December.</p><p dir="ltr">Strange weather...</p>pitcherplantationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07770442213595268896noreply@blogger.com