In article ,
Roger wrote:

On 17 Oct 2006 07:01:35 -0700, "Mike Lyle"
wrote:

One of my books says the maritime pine grows, as an
introduction, in the Highlands; but none says anything about its
failing to fruit there.

Maybe I shouldn't admit to this but what can they do to me now?
I harvested only the biggest seeds from the cones, about 200 of them.
Over a period of 4 years I planted them out in individual plant pots
around about 20 to 30 at a time, depending on what I had left over
from the previous year (small plant pots). I planted out the following
year in remote inaccessible places all over Scotland in groups of 3, 5
sometimes 1. Most of the ones I have re-visited are growing well. Some
I planted on land just behind the sea shore. All of the sites are
remote well away from paths and roads. I would like to see at least
one fruit before the Grim Reaper decides to harvest me.

I'll certainly visit the gardens mentioned. I still do a lot of
walking and visiting.

Thanks.

Roger.

Its delightful to see someone spending time and effort on deliberately
contaminating our wild flora, though I have a suspicion that humans have
been doing this sort of thing sporadically for centuries anyway.

Why is the Norfolk coast solid with Holm Oaks? Why does
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) grow on Spurn head and
in the Lincolnshire coast and also the mountainous regions of China and
Russia?

Any chance of doing the same with Wollemi pine?