A. mayebarae

[Paul Tyerman]

>
> I got two of these a few years ago, and they are quite striking, with an
>almost black spathe. Unfortunately, I planted them in a bed with terrible
>drainage (made with the wrong kind of sand) and they, along with many other
>species, failed to reappear the following year. I may have to try again.
>

Jim,

By "wrong kind of sand" do you mean that you used Brickies sand or
something like that and it compacted really badly?  I know that here there
are so many different sands around that you virtually have to go and check
out the individual source before ever buying anything.  Some of the sand
around is so "dusty" with miniscule granules as well as larger ones.  This
stuff tends to compact and then set like concrete which can be
catastrophic.  Good coarse washed river sand is what I think we generally
want to aim for, but getting it isn't always that easy <grin>

It is a particular bummer that you lost your only specimens of certain
species.  That must be even more heart-breaking.  Good luck with finding
more of the species and growing it successfully this time!!

Cheers.

Paul Tyerman
Canberra, Australia.  USDA equivalent - Zone 8/9
mailto:ptyerman at ozemail.com.au

Growing.... Galanthus, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, Cyclamen, Crocus,
Cyrtanthus, Oxalis, Liliums, Hellebores, Aroids, Irises plus just about
anything else that doesn't move!!!!!