On Thursday, August 17, Grace Darby, of Kings Heath, Birmingham, gave a slides talk on bulbs, corms and tubers.

The subject of bulbs was so informative that time did not allow for corms and tubers to be covered. It is hoped these will come around again.

Based on two distinct families of hardy bulbs, the talk dealt with Amaryllidaceae and Liliaceae.

The first group was: Peruvian Lilies - a tuberous-rooted summer plant blooming late into the season. Amaryllis - a large bulb, usually Dutch, planted in a pot indoors. Common snowdrop - the speaker pays £7.50 for one bulb on the basis that "you get what you pay for".

A giant Snowdrop is Golanthus elwesie, with globular perfumed flowers.

At £3-£5, the Snowflake Leucojum vernum is tall and spring flowering. Ipheion is a bulb to plant under Weigela.

Of the smaller daffodils, so popular now are "Tete a Tete", ''Peeping Tom" with a long trumpet, flowers for three weeks. Bulbocodium "Golden Chimes" are similar.

The second group, the Liliaceae, the lily, has basal roots that never go dormant.

Scillas are best used as underplanting to shrubs

Of the smaller tulips, among the hybrids is "Toronto", a multi-flowered small plant with three flowers on one stem is "Georgette".

A lily flowered tulip "West Point" is yellow and widely available.

Erythronium dens-canis is another Liliaceae genus. Liking cool conditions is "Sun Dish".

The next meeting is at The Swan on Thursday, September 21, at 7.15pm. Scotland's Bill Moodie will give a slides talk and live-mushroom demo on fungi.

New members are welcome, as are visitors at a cost of £1.