BULBOUS PLANTS FOR SUMMER

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 78, 29 September 1938, Page 27

BULBOUS PLANTS FOR SUMMER

Besides the well-known Belladonna lily there ; are several varieties of bulbous plants which flower in late summer, the present being a good time to plant. One of the most striking among the summer-flowering bulbs is the Tigridia. Its gorgeous red and yellow flowers last only v for a single day, but as they are produced in quick succession they, make a good show for a considerable time. A warm, sunny position suits the Tigridias best, and the sbil for them shbuld be made quite light and sandy. As their average height is only abput lft they make a charming feature on the sunny side of the rock"" garden. Their foliage is not very dense; they can, therefore, be put1 in from four -to• six inches apart, with the tops of the bulbs two inches below the surface. , Another charming little bulb for present planting is Calochortus (Mariposa lily). This also likes a sunny position and very light, well-drained soil. A sunny pocket on the rock garden is just the place fof this little gem as when planted in the/open garden the rather tiny bulbs are liable to get lost. Iri^ warm localities Nerines do quite ,well outside in the Wellington district. These are= natives of South Africa, so require a fairly warm situation. The bulbs should be plarited with; the top sticking up through the soil or even: the whole btilb_j>n the surface like onions. The reason for this is that they must be thoroughly ripened —-baked by the suh-^if they - are to flower satisfactorily. i Nerines bear -their blooms on good long stalks, each inflorescence having from six to'twferity florets, and as cut flowers they last well in water for two weeks or more.

Nerihes may be had in white, pink; crirhson", scarlet, arid various shades c^ed. !