On 16/8/07 23:51, in article
, "Dave Poole"
wrote:

Sacha wrote:

...... Even though I'll be wrong. ;-) I looked at
Ruspolia and while I'd love to get it, that doesn't look right, either.

It doesn't because R. hypercrateriformis has somewhat bicoloured
flowers and if you Google it, you could easily allow that to dissuade
you. I need to look at the structure of the inflorescence and the
flower before I can be sure. What complicates matters is that
Ruspolia easily interbreeds with Ruttya a closely allied genus and
when that happens, all manner of dissimilarities can arise. I had a
very charming pink hybrid sent to me by Tim Longville about 8 years
ago and apart from the colour and its looser inflorescence, it could
have easily been your plant. Sadly, I lost it a couple of years later
due to excessive winter wet so I don't have a direct comparison.

I'll forward this pic to Tim, as well and see what your combined talents
make of it! Some of the young plants Ray propagated are in bud and the buds
are cone-shaped, I suppose and look a bit spiky. But you'll see it for
yourself when you come over.

BTW, could you have a look at the Noisy Neighbours thread started by Barb
who is having neighbouring parrot problems? You may be able to cast some
light there.

I saw that, but decided to leave it. Either the owner/s of the
cockatoo is failing to meet his/her/their obligations in terms of
providing ample distraction for the bird (thereby preventing much of
the yelling) or the complainant is being excessively complaining about
'noises backstage' and should realise that no-one has an absolute
right to uninterrupted quiet when out of doors. Can't make my mind
up, but that tit who inferred a shotgun response needs to understand
that such birds are extremely valuable and despite an inevitable
cruelty prosecution, subsequent court claims for a grand or two or
more in damages would be almost certain to succeed.

I think and hope that was a facetious remark but if the bird is going on and
on, it must be as irritating as a constantly barking dog. It does sound as
if the owners don't understand the needs of the poor creature.

Both of my parrots yell from time to time, usually very loudly and at
each other, but when they are outside they are too pre-occupied with
other flying things including clouds scudding past to get around to
ripping up the neighbourhood. Occasionally when the windows are open,
the cockatoo's yells can be heard right across the village. That's
when I know it's time to go home. No-one complains and the only time
the calls have ever been mentioned, it has been because of their
raucous, but decidedly exotic nature. I have over 30 species of true
palms growing here plus countless other exotic plants so the locals
almost expect a suitable 'soundtrack' to go with them.

You'll have to tape record them and play the tape at regular intervals to
add that jungly feel to the neighbourhood when the birds are having a quiet
phase. And speaking of birds, there is a sudden flurry of green finches and
sparrows on the feeder outside my study window, all of them trying to
frighten the others off it. As there are 4 or 5 footholds I don't know why
they have to be so aggressive about achieving sole possession!

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove weeds from address)
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'