Nerines – October Jewels.

Nerine sarniensis

I expect most people know the famous tale of howNerine sarniensis , The Guernsey Lily came to Guernsey . It is probably apocryphal but it makes a romantic story . Bulbs were supposed to have been washed up onto the flaxen shores of Guernsey and taken root after the ship carrying them sunk in 1659 . However they get there from their aboriginal South Africa , they have been grown in Guernsey since the seventeenth one C . Hybridisers have been busy and they come in in the most exquisite colours . But they are not hardy . During their develop full stop , October until May they need to be maintain between 9 and 13 degree Centigrade . They get new leaves in winter and frost kills them . They need a good , free circulation of air because they are mountain plant . The one in my picture has finish up flowering now and is going to be a headache to me for the residue of the winter . I would love more but I really have n’t get the facilities to look after them .

But never mind , I have other nerines which are looking wonderful now and which are much easier to handle for . I keep them in pots because I am not sure that they are all completely unfearing , although the green goddess live in an unheated glasshouse in the winter . I have lose the endearing whiteNerine bowdenii‘Alba ’ before so I wo n’t chance leaving her alfresco again .

Nerine sarniensis

Nerine bowdenii ‘ Alba ’ .

I lie with the piddling stripedNerinewhich I bought this year . It is labelled ‘ Nerine albawith a Pink Flush ’ . I recall it deserve a better name than that , it is so pretty .

I would not growNerine‘Zeal Giant ’ alfresco because it is a crossbreed between bowdenii and sarniensis , so I do n’t conceive it is hardy . I would n’t like to risk it anyway . I have had it for years and it has only now deal three flower spikes . But it is so beautiful . The blossom are enormous and are a deep cerise pink . I think it looks lovely sit next to the hardyBegonia‘Silver Splendor ’ whose flowers are a everlasting couple . A friend gave meNerine undulataabout 17 years ago . when I trust it was calledNerine crispa . He differentiate me that it was hardy and I had it in the garden for a few years . But I have moved about over the last few years and so it has live in a pot and it is obviously well-chosen . Nerines love it when their bulbs are really congested . I keep thinking I should split up it up , especially as friends are always begging me for bits , but it looks so grand I ca n’t bear to separate it . I have number and there are 38 bloom spikes.(Don’t all gardeners count their flowers ? ) The flower ofNerine undulataare pallid pink and finespun , like spidery ribbons .

Nerine sarniensis

Nerine sarniensis

Nerine undulata .

I do it to keep all these beautiful nerines in tidy sum on a table outside my kitchen window so that they are always in view . They will stay here until hoar is threatened and then they will go into the glasshouse . out of doors in the gardenNerine bowdeniigrows mirthfully and increase every year . It is quite hardy . I arise this clump with the deep pink , doubleGypsophila paniculata‘Flamingo’ . As they increase so chop-chop I have clump all over the garden . Some people have asked me how I get them to flower . They are promiscuous as long as you remember that they need full sun to bake their bulb . They opt a light soil and they must not be planted too deep . They like the tips of their bulbs just above stain storey . Although they require to be baked by the Dominicus they must have mint of body of water from July forward . I mean the tearing is the key fruit to getting flock of flush . The name ‘ Nerine ‘ is hypothesise to come from the Greek give-and-take ‘ Nereis’which means sea - houri . What a beautiful name for such an exquisite bloom . Incidentally , even though they are called Guernsey lilies , they are not lilies at all . They go to theAmaryllidaceaefamily . I have just a few but there are so many more . I wonder which ones you grow ? If you do n’t grow any , put them to the top of your wishing list for next year . You know you really need nerines , we all do . If you have n’t get a greenhouse then plant someNerinebowdeniiin your sunniest spot .

54 Responses toNerines – October Jewels.

I especially sleep with the Bernie undulata . Will have to take care out for that one .

Oh , my goodness ! This is such a beautiful poster . I had no idea about the report of the Guernsey lily nor about all the vividness . The first moving picture of the vermilion is amazing ; never come across anything like it here . You must have the consummate clime for them or take care of them particularly well . Opened my eye to more beautiful peak , you have .

A newfangled to me story too Chloris . I have n’t grown nerines but can quite understand the attraction 🙂

I ’ve only ever grown Nerine bowdenii . I can see that my horizons involve boom .

I love the deep pinkish one but they ’re all beautiful . I do n’t see the bulbs here often so perhaps I require to resort to mail decree to take on some . You ’ve definitely top out my interestingness . My westerly garden usher says that N. bowdenii , N. filifolia , N. masoniorum and N. sarniensis will spring up here , although they require fond shade during our hot summers .

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Nerine bowdenii ‘Alba’.

Nerine bowdenii ‘Alba’.

Oh my goodness , they ’re beautiful Chloris ! They remind me of Lycoris Squamigera , Surprise Lilies , which I have in my garden . You have a great collection ! Thanks for sharing !

recherche and alien - sounding blooms ! I certainly will take your advice and move them to the top of my inclination for next yr ! Thank you for such adorable images and info !

Nerines – October Jewels.