Eden Garden ‘Bromeliad Glade’ BROMELIADS NEW ZEALAND 150 .7, .1 41» Elia Journal of the Bfomelia'd satiety of New Zealand Inc Vol 45 No 8 7 f " I I! ‘ BromeliadSocietyofNewZealandlnc BROMELIADS NEW ZEALAND Bromeliad Journal —-August issue 2005 CONTENTS President’s Page Neoregelia ampullacea — Peter Waters The Society’s July meeting news — Dave Anderson Are you interested in learning to judge bromeliads? ‘How I got started’ — notes from our July meeting Bromeliad tip — tillandsias do well in the bathroom 3 4 8 8 October / Spring Show conditions of entry 10 12 14 OFFICERS Patron: Patricia Sweeney President: Barry Uren (09)520-0246 Vice Presidents: Lester Ching (09)576-4595 Alan Cliffe (09)479-1451 Secretary: Glenys Guild (09)810-9669 Treasurer: Peter Waters (09)534-5616 Librarian: Noelene Ritson (09)625-8114 Life Members: Laurie Dephoff, Harry Martin, Patricia Perratt, Patricia Sweeney, Len Trotman Auditor: Colin Gosse Scientific Officer: Peter Waters (09)534-5616 C o m m i tte e : Dave Anderson Becky Cavit (09)638-8671 (09)482-2994 BeV Ching (09)576-4595 Jocelyn Coyle (09)416-8272 Andrew Devonshire (09)478—2562 Jason Lio (09)580-1984 Natalie Morris (09)520—0246 Andrew Steens (09)425-7474 Sandy Stonham (09)627-9658 Alan Thomson (09)620-6959 Des Yeates (09)838-6535 Cultivar Registrar: Gerry Stansfield Seed Bank Chairman: Barry Uren (09)834-7l78 (09)520-0246 MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION New Zealand: Ordinary membership NZ $35.00 ($5.00 discount if paid before the end of February) Dual membership (same household) NZ $45.00 ($5.00 discount also applies as above). Overseas: Important fertiliser notice — label error! 14 Seed Bank — Barry Uren 16 Eden Garden ...where we’re at — Alan Thomson 17 From the Registrar (Neoregelz'a ‘Samson’) — Gerry Stansfield 18 ‘Buy & Swap’ 18 ‘Show and Tell’ follow up (Aechmea ‘F ascicaulis’) — Gerry Stansfield 19 Get ready for our Spring garden Visits and workshop 20 Group News 21 Society officers, subs and Journal directory 23 Eden Garden ‘Bromeliad Glade’, in colour 24 The opinions expressed in articles or letters in this Journal are the contributors’ own Views and do not necessarily express the Views or the policy of the Bromeliad Society of New Zealand AUD $30.00 Australia, US $30.00 United States and other overseas countries. Send all pay- ments to the Treasurer, Peter Waters, 22 Half Moon Rise, Bucklands Beach, AUCKLAND. CORRESPONDENCE All general correspondence should be sent to the Secretary, Bromeliad Society of New Zealand, P.O.Box 108-168, Symonds Street, Auckland, New Zealand. The opinions expressed in letters or articles in the Journal are the contributors’ own Views and do not necessarily express the COMING EVENTS For details of Bromeliad group meetings, venues and times, see the Group news section, starting on page 21. AUGUST 21" Eastern Bay of Plenty Bromeliad and Orchid Group meeting 23"I Society meeting at Greyfriars Hall, comer of Mt Eden and Windmill roads, Mt Eden, Auckland at 7.30pm. Plant of the month: Guzmania. Andrew Steens will talk about the genus Canistropsis'. SEPTEMBER 4"I South Auckland Group meeting, Manurewa Botanical Gardens. Topic: Members’ floral arrangements 14‘” Bay of Plenty Group meeting 18"I Society garden visits and workshop, starting at 10.00am with Ann Groenewegen, 50 Hattaway Avenue, Bucklands Beach. (See page 20 for full details). 21't Bay of Plenty Group garden visits 25"l Wellington Tillandsia Study Group meeting 27"l Society meeting at Greyfriars Hall, corner of Mt Eden and Windmill roads, Mt Eden, Auckland at 7.30pm. Plant of the month: Bromeliads on rocks (lithophytic broms). Des Yeates will talk about removing pups. Front cover: After several working bees, the ‘Bromeliad Glade’ at Eden Garden, in the heart of Auckland, is looking great. In this issue on page 17, our project co-ordinator, Alan Thomson, brings us up to date on progress and on the front and back covers you can see a little of how it looks. Photos by Alan Thomson. views or the policy of the Bromeliad Society of New Zealand Inc. BROMELIAD JOURNAL Deadline For all editorial and advertising, the first Tuesday of publication month Editorial Committee Dave Anderson Murray Mathieson Barry Uren Peter Waters Regular writers Alan Cliffe Louise Joyce Gerry Stansfield Production Murray Mathieson Distribution Dave Anderson All enquiries and contributions welcome, please contact any member of the editorial committee or send to Peter Waters, 22 Half Moon Rise, Bucklands Beach, Auckland or email: waterspj@ihug.co.nz Display advertising Rates are: Full Page $60.00 Half Page $30.00 Quarter Page $15.00 ‘Buy & Swap’ Listings in ‘Buy & Swap’ are FREE for members of the Society (max 30 words). For advertising enquiries and material, please contact Murray Mathieson Ph (09) 418 0366 or email: mathieson.marketing@xtra.co.nz 23 22 from R2] hardy and prolific puppers. Andrew feeds his well with Osmocote or sheep pellets however he cautioned that too much feed and the flower goes green. On guzmanias, Andrew suggested that to avoid plant rot, all nursery plants should be repotted out of their peat mix into a chunkier, better draining mix. Reddening of the foliage is often a sign of stress, requiring less light or a fertiliser. Feed yearly sheep pellets or Osmocote till they lose the red tinge. Primarily, guzmanias are grown for their flowers. Feed your plants in spring once the temperatures are consistently over 9°C at night. Dark reds or purples are more frost hardy than light colours. Tauranga plants are best suited to growing indoors as they are prone to cold spots and rot. Anything below 5°C will cause cold spots. Their idea] is 14°C to 28°C with 70% shade. Scale can be effectively controlled with an oil-based spray based on canola oil available from Vegegrow. It can be mixed with Confidor. Competition: 1“ B. Chudleigh Neo. ‘Dr Oeser’ (variegated), 2"‘1 I. Clotworthy Till. ‘Creation’ Tillandsia competition: 1“ B. Schollum Till. carlsoniae, 2nd I. Clotworthy Till. ‘Paradise’, 3"d J. Elder Till. stricta The plant of the month was unusual genera with specimens of Deuterocohnia, xNeophytum ‘Firecracker’, Orthophytum ‘Copper Penny’, Dyckia marnier-lapostollei, Catopsis berteroniana and Brocchinia reducta displayed. Next meeting: Wednesday Sept 14 TYPBC at 12.30 pm. Plant of the Month, variegated bromeliads Guest Speaker, Brian Chudleigh ‘Birds of Tauranga’ Events: Garden Visits — Sept 21 10.00am, L. Wilson, 9 Sandhurst Dr, Mt Maunganui, I. Clotworthy, 223 Range Rd, Papamoa, W. Fitzgibbons,105 Dickson Rd, Papamoa. Tauranga Orchid Show -Sept 30 to Oct 2 at Tauranga Racecourse. Display & Sales table 10.00am to 4.00pm Wellington Tillandsia Group - Phyllis Purdie In July we met at the home of Phyllis and Bruce Purdie, with six members present. Andrew Flower pointed out that there had been an error in the minutes from the last meeting. The T xerographica took 5 months to flower after being treated with Ethrol, not two weeks. Plants discussed were: T tenuifolia, a large clump with several stems of dark blue flowers arising from pink bracts. This plant originated from Brazil and is sometimes labeled ‘blue’. T cardenasii, a white leafed plant with a long inflorescence and a flared lavender flower at the top. Pests being dealt with at the present time were wetas and mites. Andrew said that he could no longer export plants overseas as it required two inspections by officers from Palmerston North at a cost of around $800 which used to be $60 from Wellington. He brought along some of the photos he has been producing. ' Meetings will now be held on the 4‘11 Sunday to enable the orchid people to attend. Next meeting: At Merv and Lois Dougherty’s, 416 Warspite Ave, Waitangirua on Sept 25 at 1.30pm. Presldent’s Page ow lucky we have been with a warm winter in the Auckland area. HBroms that were looking sad last winter, with the mixture of cold and wet, are in fine order as we move into mid August and, hopefully, soon to Spring. The next three months will be busy for the Society and we are certainly hopeful of plenty of support from members to help with supporting and manning the interesting array of projects that we have planned: September 18th Members Spring Garden Visits and Workshop. October 14th -17th Bromeliad Conference in Queensland. October 24th-28th Bromeliad Society display at Milford Shopping Centre. October 29th -30"‘ Spring Show (for Novices) and sale at Milford Primary School. November 6‘h Broms in the Park, Totara Waters Gardens, Whenuapai. November 15“‘—20‘h Ellerslie Flower Show, Botanic Gardens, Manurcwa. February 3“‘-4“‘ Bromeliad ‘Fiesta 2006’, Alexandra Park, Greenlane. Ellerslie Garden Show special offer...HURRY! Tickets are available to all members and friends of members at the heavily discounted price of $27.00 This is a saving of $8.00 on the full price tickets. Get your friends, neighbours and relations together and support the Ellerslie Flower Show by ordering your tickets through us. Out of town regional groups can email me with their ticket numbers (bulweimagwihugconz) and post me a cheque and I’ll will send them to you as a group. Auckland members please put your orders in at the August meeting. We need to be pretty quick to take up this offer!. Broms in the Park...November 6‘“. This will be a very interesting day with the release by Kiwi Bromeliads, through their agents Peter and Jocelyn Coyle of Totara Waters, of a very nice range of new vrieseas under the ‘Fruit Crush’ series. Once again we’ll have workshops, an auction of some special plants and the release of approximately seven new vrieseas. There will also be an all day BBQ! Important notice re Fertiliser sold at our monthly meetings The label is incorrect. Please see note on page 14. Barry Uren l Neoregelia ampullacea ...there’s stlll a lot we have to learn about these attractlve llttle plants - Peter Waters eoregelia ampullacea is a small species originally described as Nidularium ampullaceum in 1880. After several name changes through the genera, Karatas, Regelia and Aregelia, it finally became Neoregelia ampullacea in 1934. Found in central eastern Brazil in the states of Espirito Santo and Rio de Janeiro, it exists as quite variable clones. The description reads: Plant propagating by slender rhizomes. Leaves 6—15 in a dense rosette, green, narrowly red-banded in life and variable in cultivation, 15-20 cm long: sheaths large, forming an ellipsoid tank constricted at apex, elliptic, entire, densely and minutely brown-lepidote, sometimes purplish; blades spreading, linear, rounded and apiculate, to 16 mm wide, laxly and obscurely serrulate with minute spines. Inflorescence few- flowered; outer bracts ovate-triangular, exceeded by the sepals, entire. Floral bracts oblong, acute, much exceeded by the sepals, entire, membranaceous; pedicels 3 mm long; flowers to 25 mm long. Sepals very short-connate, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, ca 15 mm long, glabrous, green with whitish margins; petals 3/4 connate, ca 20 mm long, acute, blades blue at least on the margins; stamens included, highly adnate to the petals; ovary subellipsoid, 4 mm long, epigynous tube short; placentae subapical. All of this tells us what is an ampullacea but it doesn’t allow us to identify one by the appearance of the leaves alone. I was lucky enough to find a clump of Neoregelia ampullacea in Brazil and it appeared exactly the same as the original clone we have had in New Zealand for many years. However, from the collection of Elton Leme, I received several other clones that show the very variable nature of this species. This leads us to some cultivars that been around for some time, such as Neo ampullacea ‘Tigrina’, ‘Zebrina’, ‘Midget’, and several more unnamed. Whether these are cultivars found in the wild or hybrids is hard to say. Until an in-depth study of Neo ampullacea is undertaken in Brazil we can do no more than retain the present names and hope that one day further light can be shed on this attractive little plant. The varieties in cultivation have been much used in hybridisation, with Joe Carrone, Bill Morris, Gary Hendrix, Margaret Paterson and Grace Goode to the fore. Because of the years of hybridising, the chances of our unknown types being hybrids is quite high. However, we should make some attempts to classify or name the various clones in New Zealand. The following photos from Peter Waters’ collection may help this process. Please remember, Neo ampullacea is adept at looking markedly different in various growing conditions. I NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY Eastern Bay of Plenty Bromeliad and Orchid Group - Christine Borlase Our July meeting was held in Allandale School so we could listen in comfort to our guest speaker, Greta Steen, who spoke on landscaping in the home garden. Greta’s home is in Matata, and was damaged by the May floods. However this has not put Greta off gardening, and the talk she gave, well illustrated by both books and plans, shows her firm belief that the first necessity for a great garden is planning. First, the hard landscape, secondly the plants, just the opposite of what most of us plantaholics do. She emphasized that house and garden need to be compatible - large natives do not fit in a city courtyard, and the visual weight of plantings is important. Sue Laurent thanked Greta for her informative talk, and a short meeting followed. Plant of the month was cryptanthus, however, only two were shown, although after discussion and pictures of various cultivars it is probable that many of us will be looking for these plants. Next meeting: August 21‘t at Raewyn Thompson’s place, 5b Peter Snell St., Whakatane. It will be a workshop on plant maintenance covering cultural practices and pups. Thames Valley — Coromandel Bromeliad Group - Kay Steen Our July meeting was one we had been waiting for. To have Andrew Steens to impart his knowledge with a group of run- away bromeliad lovers was indeed a privilege. As mature gardeners, our love affair with bromeliads is relatively recent, however Andrew explained he had been given his first bromeliad at the age of 13 by his grandmother. With a selection of canistropsis to visually accentuate his talk, we learnt about this species of bromeliad from its habitat, feeding, potting, fertilizing, and varieties. Questions abounded which were answered with clarity. Andrew is a confident speaker, and has an unassuming personality which made it very easy to relate to him. Our group thanks Andrew for taking the time to come down to the Coromandel, quite a trek from his home in Warkworth. I’m now out to have a fresh look at my plants! Bay of Plenty Bromeliad Group - Lynley Breeze 34 members attended our July meeting. Plant vendors were requested to provide clean clear labels with correct spelling. Thanks to Gwynneth Glentworth for donating plants for the raffle and congratulations to her for being one of just three local gardens to be visited by passengers from cruise ships through the Port of Tauranga, Our guest was Andrew Steens who spoke about canistropsis and guzmania genera. Twelve species of canistropsis exist with probably half of these extinct in the wild — some due to habitat loss. Many inhabit the Atlantic seaboard and are consequently salt resistant. They do best under dense canopy and many burn in sunlight. They are epiphytic and terrestrial and grow from long stolons which will grow round and through shrubs and then throw flowers out beyond the shrub. They are fairly frost cont’d R22 21 20 GET READY TO WELCOME SPRING... Sunday September 18th, BROMELIADS NEW ZEALAND garden vlslts and workshop will be held on Sunday September 18th 10.00am (wet or fmel). Thanks Te Bromeliad Society Members’ Spring garden visits and workshop to members, we will be visiting four gardens ...starting at 10.00am with Ann Groenewegen and then in order as follows: 1. Ann Groenewegen 50 Hattaway Avenue, Bucklands Beach. Take Pakuranga Rd to Highland Park lights, then Bucklands Beach Rd to Bucklands Beach. Hattaway Ave runs off this road on the right but quite a way down (near the sea). 3. Pat Lawson 30 Swan Crescent, Pakuranga. Swan Crescent is ofi'Tiraumea Drive which runs from Ti Rakau Drive, towards Botany.You need to take the Mattson Rd lights and follow that round to Tirumea Drive. Swan Crescent is first on left past the shops. 2. Carolyn Scholes 55 Drake Street, Howick. Carolyn has offered to supply morning tea, Please bring a cup.Drake St, is an extension of Nelson St, which runs left off Ridge Road at the top of Pakuranga Road lights (Howick Intermediate School) corner. 4. Lester and Bev Ching from approx 12.30pm — 1.00pm 32 Pandora Place, Pakuranga Pandora Place is the same as Pat Lawson (no 3) except it is first on the right past the shops. Bring your lunch and some meat for a BBQ. A workshop with Lester Ching and Des Yeates will be held after lunch, approx 1.30pm- 2.00pm Topics for discussion will be: ° Enjoying bromeliads ' Problem plants (bring any with you) 0 Cutting off pups ° Mounting plants (on wood, rocks etc) ° And your list of questions SEE YOU THERE. ENJOY YOUR DAY! asp 9‘ z ) , . Neo ampullacea This is the plant that has been in New Zealand for many years and is the common ampullacea as found in Brazil. Neo ampullacea From the collection of Elton Leme. Atrue species Neo ampullacea True species, collected by Roberto Kautsky Another collection by Roberto Kautsky in Brazil Neo ampullacea ‘Show and Tell’ follow up: Aechmea ‘Fascicaulis’ - Gerry Stansfield At the Society’s June meeting an Aechmea was on the ‘Show and Tell’ table. Because it wasn’t in flower it couldn’t be immediately identified. I felt it could have been a hybrid by Nat DeLeon called Aechmea ‘Fascicaulis’, which is a cultivar of Aechmea fasciata x Aechmea nudicaulis. I have since checked the plant out and found it belonged to Maxine Temm and that, yes, it was Aechmea ‘Fascicaulis’ and was made in 1984. The plant grows rather tall and is very silver banded, with lovely pink inflorescence, all of which it gets from Neo ampullacea Neo ampullacea ‘Bert’ Aechmeafasciata. Possible species present in New Zealand A cultivar of ampullacea from Florida, named . for many years afier Mulford Foster’s son, Bert. While the (PhOtO courtesy ofHerb Plever, Editor 0f the New York bromeliad journal ‘Bromeliana’ — photo taken at the World Bromeliad Conference, New Orleans, 1977.)- leaf-tips are more pointed, it may be a species. DON’T FORGET OUR SPRING SHOW ON AUCKLAND’S SUNNY NORTH SHORE Plus our Novice’s competition... October 29th and 30th at Milford Primary School, Shakespeare Road, Milford. If you have any queries...please contact either Neo ampullacea (purpurea) Neo punctatissima This appears to be similar to the cultivar, This is a species and although sometimes Barry U ren (09) 52 0 0246 or Punctatissima Rubra, which is most likely a thought to be ampullacea, Elton Leme hybrid. considers it to be the true punctatissima LeSter Ching (09) 576 4595 18 FROM THE RE ‘4‘ a , " This month’s new hybrid is Neoregelia ‘Samson’. Actually the plant itself is not new but it’s newly registered. ‘Samson’ was made by Avon Ryan in 1994 and was made by crossing Neoregelz'a johannis x Neoregelia ‘Royal Robe’. As you can see, it has taken on the qualities of both parents. The plant is very large and when fully grown can be more than a 1m across, and the very wide leaves can reach 100mm or more, so this is a very big showy bromeliad for the garden. The rich red colouring on the leaves come from joharmis and the lush centre colour comes GISTRAR - Gerry Stansfield from ‘Royal Robe’ as at flowering time it has a purple centre. Reg Doc May 2005 fcbs.orgl BUY 8. SWAP Wanted: Ncoregelia ‘Milagro’, Ncoregclia ‘Painted Delight’, Vriesea fosteriana ‘Speckles’. Ph Judy (09) 23 55309 Wanted: Neoregelia abendrothac, Neoregclia bahiana, Neoregelia cathcartii, Neoregelia eleutheropctala, Ncorcgelia paulistana, Neoregelia sapiatibensis, Neoregelia smithii, Neorcgclia tarapotoensis. Ph Barry (09) 522 4436 We will publish Buy or Swap notices from members of the society. Maximum 30 words-i email: malhieson.marketing@xtra.colnz or post to: 14 Matanui St, Northcote, North Shore City Neo ampullacea ‘Midget’ A cultivar of the species used for hybridization, particularly by Joe Carrone. One example is Neo ‘Pepper’ Neo ampullacea ‘Zebrina’ A cultivar that may or may not be a species. Has been much used as a parent plant A cultivar of ampullacea that has been used for hybridisation since 1963 Neo ampullacea x A probable hybrid that has been in New Zealand for some time and may have originated in Australia. Seems close to punctatissirna Bromellad' Soclety July Meeting News that the October Spring Show and Sale was only three months away. Would members wanting to sell plants please return the forms sent out in the July journal, asap. President Barry reminded members Some Bromeliad Society of NZ Journals are missing from the library. If you have borrowed any would you please return them. Peter Waters once again took us through the Show and Tell plants. First up for naming was Aechmea coelestz‘s var albomarginata a plant that has been in NZ for many years and grows very well in Auckland despite our cool wet winters. This medium sized plant is easily recognized with its white marginated leaves and flowers around this time of the year. Next was a plant that had been grown on from seed supplied by Karel Knize from South America as Tillandsia micans but was identified after flowering as Tillandsia latifolia var divaricarta. Peter brought in for show Racinaea pugiformis in full flower and like all Racinaea species the tall thin flower spike had racemes of very small white flowers. Another plant was Catopsis hahnii - a three-plant clump and like all plants in the genus not highly decorative but has appealing light green leaves. A number of neoregelia plants with reddish/burgundy leaves that had green spots and bands were brought in for naming. There are a number of hybrids with similar coloured leaves — ‘Sharlock’, Black Forest’, ‘Crackerjack’ and ‘Aztec’ to name just a few. They are very difficult to tell apart as they can vary so much depending on the light conditions, etc and where they have been grown. The fluorescent lighting in the hall does not make the task of identifying them any easier! Lastly, a plant purchased wrongly - Dave Anderson named from a nursery in Helensville as Aechmea ramosa (red form) but has turned out to be an Aechmea pineliana hybrid with its cone shaped flower head and not the branched flower spike of ramosa. COMPETITIONS Open Flowering: First was Peter Coyle with Neoregelia carolinae x concentrica (broad leaf) and second with Aechmea fasciata (variegated) was Gerry Stansfield. Also in the competition were Aechmea recurvata, orlandiana, chantim‘i x fendlerz', and ‘Pink Rocket’; Alcantarea vinicolor; Billbergia ‘Perriam’s Pride’; xNeophytum ‘Ralph Davis’; Guzmania sanguinea, multiflora, ‘Guinn’ and ‘Fireworks’; Neoregelia ‘Predator’, olens x, ‘Cabernet Wine; Quesnelia imbricata with its hot pink/red flower spike and Vriesea ospinae var ospinae. Open Foliage: Peter Waters was first with a Vriesea ‘Nova’ x ‘Red Chestnut’, and second was Gerry Stansfield with Vriesea ‘Kiwi Pink Supreme’. In the competition were Aechmea ‘Silver Streak’; Billbergia vittata x ‘Afterglow’; Wittrockz'a ‘Leopardinum’; Neoregeliapauciflora (large form), ‘Orange Crush’, ‘Painted Delight’, and a hybrid similar to ‘Rosea Lineata’; Vriesea ‘Sunspot’, ‘ag David Kalakaua’, ‘Lavender Lady’ and ‘Pacific Topaz’. Tillandsia: Win Shorrock was first with Tillandsia punctulata in flower and second was Bev Ching with a Tillandsia punctulata also in flower. Also on the table were Tillandsia gardneri, gymnobotrya, guatemalensis, latifolia var. divaricata, parryi and tenuififlia. Named Monthly Plant (Neoregelia- stoloniferous excl. miniatures): First was Neil Douglas with Neoregelia ‘Superball’ and second was Bev Ching with Eden Garden .. where we’re at wlth our ‘Bromellad Glade’ project - Alan Thomson (committee member and project co-ordinator) n Sunday July 3 1St we had another working bee and 18 turned up which was great. Eden Garden put on a morning tea for us all that was greatly appreciated. At the entrance to the ‘Bromeliad Glade’ we have an area that is mainly in shade and that has been planted out in nidulariums. Many are in flower right now and it looks impressive. We have a stairwell leading up over the rocks to an elevated seating area. To the left and right of the stairs are areas that have been tidied up, mainly with neoregelias and aechmeas. This part of the glade gets more sun. Particularly impressive are the Neoregelia ‘Red Velvet’ plants supplied by Andrew Steens. There are still gaps and room for more specimens in and around the mainly solid volcanic rock terrain. I’ve been told by the head gardener that some extensive pruning of the overhead trees is planned so by next summer there should be more light coming through. The Whole area has been left for years until we started to attend to it this year and I find it interesting to note that Aechmea caudata has turned out to be the dominant plant. Huge clumps have edged out other species. We hope to cull most of these out and perhaps move them to the fence boundary at the top of the garden to leave space for new and different bromeliads in the glade itself. John Mitchell and Peter Waters did a grand job affixing a number of specimens to the trees and pongas so that now there are quite a few ‘aerial’ plants on View. The stairs take a turn to the left and rise up another few metres and lead up to Wilkie’s Lookout. The lookout has been revamped with new crazy paving that looks great. You can lean out on the railing and look down into the old quarry and see all kinds of plants coming into flower. Just below the railing is a wasted, relatively inaccessible area that would be ideal for some larger specimens as people could look down upon them. The area leading up to the lookout needs planning. Bromeliads are used elsewhere in Eden Garden, particularly around the picturesque pond area near the cafe. We have discussed the possibility of laying pongas or logs across or into the pond and attaching colourful bromeliads. Also, at the top of the garden along the wire fence where hundreds of clivias have recently been planted, there is scope to plant complementary bromeliads. If anyone has bromeliad donations — particularly larger specimens - please contactAlan Thomson on (09) 620 6959. Photos of the ‘Bromeliad Glade ’ work in progress are on the front and back covers this month. Eden Garden is situated at 24 Omana Avenue, Epsom,Auckland. Well worth a visit! I 17 16 SEED BANK Aechmea - aquilega, bromeliifolia, caesia, cylindrala (large farm) coelestz‘s (from albomar‘ginata), lueddemanniana (rubra), nudicau/is v. cuspidata, mexicana. Dyckia - altissima, brevl/‘olia, fosteriana (bronze), pictophylla, remotiflora v. montevidensis, rariflora. Fosterella - penduliflora. Guzmania - berteronicma, sanguinea v. brevipedicellata, monostachia. Nidularium - amazoniczmz. Pitcaimia - lzeterophylla, "midifolia. Puya - mirabilis, venusta. Tillandsia - abdita, barlramii, balbisiana, butzii, capitata, fasciculata, gardneri, grandis, hamaleana, incarnata, juncea (large form), latifolia v. divaricata, limbata, polystachia, pseudobaileyi, pohliana, schiedeana, schiedeana v.major, tricolor v. melanocrater: viridiflora. Vriesea—altodaserrae, bleherae, ensiformis, erythrodactylon, fi‘ibul‘gensis, gigantea v. seideliana, gradata, guttata, hieroglyphica, maxoniana, platynema v. variegata, psitz‘acirm, saundersii, splendens ‘Splenriet’ No new seed this month. We are getting less and less stock of viable seed - please all members if you have seed from any species, even if you see that we currently have stock, please send some in as we need to keep all our stock fresh. ORDERING SEED: Send orders to Seed Bank Chairman: Barry Uren, 4a Hiriri Ave, Remuera, 1005. Auckland Email: bulweima@ihug.co.nz Phone evenings: (09) 522 4436 The seedbank will exchange two packets of 20 seeds for one (1) large packet of your seed. Please make sure it is labelled correctly. Please send in a large stamped envelope. Packets (of at least 20 seeds) - 50 cents. Limited to one packet of seed per kind per address. Maximum $5.00 per month. Remember to consult the current seed list when ordering. We reserve the right to provide a substitute for an out of stock seed with another packet of seed of the same or similar genus. Neoregelia pauciflora (large form). In the competition were Neoregelia ‘Inca Fire’, zacate, ‘Little Faith’ and ‘Martin’ Novice Flowering: First was Eric Wetting’s Aechmea weilbachil and second was Agatha Lambert with a Neoregelia ‘Autumn Leaves’ Novice Foliage: First was Trevor Astley with Vriesea gigantea and second with Vriesea gigantea var seideliana was John Mitchell. Gerry Stansfield gave a plant commentary on some of the above plants that caught his eye as follows: Vriesea ‘Nova’ x ‘Red Chestnut’ - a superb cross exhibiting features from both parents. Neoregelia ‘Superball’ - a 20-plant stoloniferous clump of this ‘Fireball’ x compacta hybrid that will even look much better when the green leaves have coloured up growing under brighter light conditions. Quesnelia imbrieata with its hot pink/ red flower spike however it does have a short flowering season. Vriesea ospinae var ospinae - has a lovely yellow flower spike as shown on this plant but it is cold sensitive. Guzmam‘a multiflora - a very pretty species that is only in a few collections in NZ. Aechmea ‘Pink Rocket’ - (fasciata x fendleri) always looks great and even more so in the summer when the leaves colour up as indicated by its name. xNeophytum ‘Ralph Davis’ - a 500mm diameter plant with long thin dark red leaves. Neoregelia ‘Predator’ - a highly coloured plant with cream/white margins. Aechmea chantinii x fendleri - a green plant with a nice branched flower spike - white/purple flowers. Alcamarea vinicolor - like many of these plants in Auckland it has come into flower this year and is a superb looking species with its wine coloured leaves. Neoregelia hybrid similar to ‘Rosea Lineata’ - a plant made by Andrew Steens that was a mutation of his hybrid ‘Exotic Velvet’. Wittrockia ‘Leopardinum’ - this black spotted green leafed plant always looks great, whether grown under high or low light. Neoregelia ‘Painted Delight’ - a lovely green leafed plant with purple splashes on all leaves. Tillana’sia punctulata - there were three clumps on the table and they all had beautiful flower heads. Tillandsia parryi — with its tall—branched flower spike. It is thought that there are a number of these plants in NZ and they are all wrongly named, being the species T illandsia sueae that unfortunately does not have pups after flowering. The Plant of the Month went to Peter Waters with Vriesea ‘Nova’ x ‘Red Chestnut’ and it was a beauty. Congratulations to all the winners. NEXT MEETING: Tuesday 23'“ August at 7.30pm. l J UDGING BROMELIADS Interested in learning how to get started? Any members interested in learning how to judge bromeliads - please contact Dave Anderson with a view to holding a series of proactive meetings. Ph Dave on (09) 638 8671. Next >