"Gaby Chaudry" wrote in message
...
Jenny,
I forgot to mention that I just added some recent pictures to my homepage:
http://www.gaby.de/bilder/070804/070804.htm
And btw: your garden in the sky is *great*!!
Best wishes
Gaby

Where you keep all your 'exotics' in winter ??
Munich can be really cold (I lived in Salzburg for a few years and it was
freezing!)

I have recently been given a bougainvillea and was wondering how to store it in
the cold weather.

Jenny

Jenny,

Where you keep all your 'exotics' in winter ??

The subtropical ones (Laurel, Oleander a.s.o.) in the staircase (it's quite
spacious and my neigbours like the plants, therefore no problems), the
tropical ones including Bougie, Jacaranda and Hibiscus inside the flat.

Munich can be really cold (I lived in Salzburg for a few years and it was
freezing!)

Oh yes! I live in Munich since 1998 and my first winter down here was the
coldest I ever lived through with 15 to 25 degrees below zero... Brrrrr....
I'm from a small town near Cologne, where it's much warmer in winter (well,
like in the near Netherlands, I assume).

I have recently been given a bougainvillea and was wondering how to store
it in
the cold weather.

You can keep it cool at about 10 degrees - it will loose it leaves then, ut
you can bring it out earlier (i.e. after the last frost). Or at about 16-18
degrees. It may even bloom in winter then, but it will bloom less in summer.
Just like a Hibiscus.
Ah, and you should prune it well in autumn.

Btw, I just added another picture of my Samanea, now asleep :-)
(http://www.gaby.de/bilder/070804/samanea2.jpg)

Bye, Gaby

--
Mrs. Gaby Chaudry
http://www.gaby.de/bilder/

On Sat, 7 Aug 2004 16:55:26 +0200, "Gaby Chaudry"
wrote:


Well, it's more the unusual than the ornamental that tempts me..
Of course I know that the plants I'm looking for are not "easy to grow
backyard gardener plants", but rather ones that bear a high challenge.

Well, I admire your determination

only seen
Christia offered once or twice as growing plants (seeds are
occasionally available) and that was many years ago.

It seems that they are quite common in Eastern Asia, mostly Japan. At least
all the Google results I got where from this region.

It is widely distribute through the indo-pacific regions as well as
the Caribbean and South America.

Gossypium sturtianum requires highly specialised growing conditions

Aren't there really no collectors at all in Europe that have one??

The point to remember about this and one or two other natives of its
natural habitat is that the conditions are so difficult to emulate,
that few bother to try. It will only do well in regions of moderate
to low (or even nearly non-existent) rainfall and has a very high
light requirement. Otherwise it becomes weak, very leggy and prone to
fungal diseases. When you consider that it flourishes in the desert
regions of central Australia, it is hardly surprising. Another native
of its region - Sturt's Desert Pea Swainsonia (Clianthus) formosa can
only be successfully grown in cultivation if grafted onto the more
easily grown Clianthus puniceus. Even then it only has a lifespan of
a few years away from arid, brighter regions.

Boswellia seed is very, very rarely offered

I already got Boswellia seeds, but they don't germinate. I heard that they
are fertile for only 6 or 8 weeks after harvesting. The seeds you normally
get are much older.

I doubt that is the problem. Most plants native to arid and semi-arid
regions have seeds that can remain viable for a very long time. This
way, when prolonged droughts occur, the species can regenerate from
seed when conditions become more amenable. My guess is that you have
not been able to break the dormancy. Try prolonged soaks of several
days, changing the water daily and maintaining temperatures of around
25C. This way, any growth inhibitors present in the outer seed coat
might be rinsed out. You may need to experiment with long or short
soak periods coupled with a range in temperatures. Plants native to
some arid regions may also germinate best when given hot days and cool
nights ie. kept at around 28 - 30C or higher by day, allowing to drop
back by 10 or 15C at night.

Christia (if you can get the seeds) is relatively easy.

Sounds like it behaves like most other Leguminosae. Then it's really easy.
Still, I'm missing a source for the seeds. The only two German dealers that
have them in their catalogue, can't supply them this year. Shall I be more
patient??

Looks as though you will have to be. Its getting a bit late in the
year and ideally you should be sowing this kind of thing in late
winter or early spring to get the longest possible growing season
before the first winter.

Btw, Which plants do you have in your collection?

I usually only collect for growing out of doors. Luckily, the climate
here is generally so mild that most 'pot plants' do extremely well and
can make surprisingly impressive specimens. I'm an avid admirer of
true palms and have a modest collection of around 40 different species
- all with potential for growing out of doors here. I'm also fond of
big bold plants such as the bananas and their relatives, gingers and
tropical aroids such as Colocasia, Alocasia etc. I have to be
careful, because plants which require dry winters rarely do well and I
have to err on the side of more tender, but moisture demanding plants.

I tend to concentrate upon plants from sub-tropical/humid sub-tropical
regions that have ornamental merit. Plants from South Africa, New
Zealand, Madagascar and South America figure very highly. As to
rarity value, I pay little attention to this unless the plant in
question has good qualities. As a result, I'm equally as proud of a
large Plumbago auriculata (capensis) as I am some obscure Brunsvigia
or Haemanthus - more so if the former performs really well as it did
last summer.

So, around my garden, you are likely to see fairly common and familiar
'pot plants' such as Clivia miniata, Hippeastrum hybrids, Strelitzia
reginae, various Bilbergias and the like. Tucked amongst them may be
'treasures', but they are no more valued unless they out-perform their
commoner neighbours. I like challenges, but being a 'grower' at heart
(typical ex-nurseryman!) I like plants that can do well. If they
don't, I have no qualms about getting rid of them to make room for
happier 'bed mates'.


Dave Poole
Torquay, Coastal South Devon UK
Winter min -2°C. Summer max 34°C.
Growing season: March - November

On 8/8/04 10:50, in article ,
"Dave Poole" wrote:

snip
So, around my garden, you are likely to see fairly common and familiar
'pot plants' such as Clivia miniata, Hippeastrum hybrids, Strelitzia
reginae, various Bilbergias and the like. Tucked amongst them may be
'treasures', but they are no more valued unless they out-perform their
commoner neighbours. I like challenges, but being a 'grower' at heart
(typical ex-nurseryman!) I like plants that can do well. If they
don't, I have no qualms about getting rid of them to make room for
happier 'bed mates'.

This did make me smile, Dave. As you know, while enjoying the rarer plants,
Ray, like you, is a great one for growing the right plant in the right place
and chucking out that which doesn't 'do' very well. He sees no point in
planting something that is going to struggle and look utterly miserable,
just because nobody in England has ever seen it! He is also just a little
scathing about people who want to find some old variety, just because it
*is* old, if a modern hybrid is better. As I've heard you both say, the
reason some plants are rarely seen is because they're just not very good
plants!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

Janet,

Try Reads Nursery in south England. You'll find the address and
website with a search. They do a lot of tender/unusual plants.

thanks, I'm just visiting their website. I didn't find "my" plants there
yet, but they've got a beautiful collection that it's worth diving deeper
into it :-))

Best wishes
Gaby

--
Mrs. Gaby Chaudry
http://www.gaby.de/bilder/

Dave,

Well, I admire your determination

Thanks :-))

Aren't there really no collectors at all in Europe that have one??

The point to remember about this and one or two other natives of its
natural habitat is that the conditions are so difficult to emulate,
that few bother to try. It will only do well in regions of moderate
to low (or even nearly non-existent) rainfall and has a very high
light requirement.

The ideal plant for somebody who often forgets watering ;-))

of its region - Sturt's Desert Pea Swainsonia (Clianthus) formosa can
only be successfully grown in cultivation if grafted onto the more
easily grown Clianthus puniceus. Even then it only has a lifespan of
a few years away from arid, brighter regions.

I though Swainsonia is an annual plant? Or is it just grown as an annual?

[Boswellia seeds]
I doubt that is the problem. Most plants native to arid and semi-arid
regions have seeds that can remain viable for a very long time. This
way, when prolonged droughts occur, the species can regenerate from
seed when conditions become more amenable. My guess is that you have
not been able to break the dormancy. Try prolonged soaks of several
days, changing the water daily and maintaining temperatures of around
25C.

I shall try that, thanks!

Btw, Which plants do you have in your collection?

I usually only collect for growing out of doors. Luckily, the climate
here is generally so mild that most 'pot plants' do extremely well and
can make surprisingly impressive specimens.

Well, I'm not that lucky... Here in Munich this year we even had frost in
March..
My Oleander and Laurel were covered with snow - but fortunately it didn't do
them any harm. Temperatures here range from about -20 degrees in winter up
to more than 30 degrees in summer. Therefore, in summer, my balconies are
crowded - and in winter it's crowded inside...

I'm an avid admirer of true palms and have a modest collection of around 4
0
different species

Wow! I also would like to have palms, but I don't have the space

big bold plants such as the bananas and their relatives, gingers and
tropical aroids such as Colocasia, Alocasia etc.

Yes, I like them, too. But same problems as above. I've grown a couple of
Strelitzia nicolai from seeds, but I'm afraid I can only keep one of them.

So, around my garden, you are likely to see fairly common and familiar
'pot plants' such as Clivia miniata, Hippeastrum hybrids, Strelitzia
reginae, various Bilbergias and the like.

Do you have pictures on-line?

(typical ex-nurseryman!) I like plants that can do well. If they
don't, I have no qualms about getting rid of them to make room for
happier 'bed mates'.

:-)))

Bye, Gaby

--
Mrs. Gaby Chaudry
http://www.gaby.de/bilder/

Janet,

David Poole is too modest to mention it, but his garden website is
another treat. You'll find it in the urgring, and you'll find the
urgring via the weekly post called abc for newcomers.

Seems that his site is down :-((
I tried several times for two days now, but no response....
(the url I have is http://www.ilsham.demon.co.uk/)

David, if you read this: what's going on?

Bye, Gaby

--
Mrs. Gaby Chaudry
http://www.gaby.de/bilder/

On 10/8/04 20:39, in article , "Gaby
Chaudry" wrote:

Janet,

David Poole is too modest to mention it, but his garden website is
another treat. You'll find it in the urgring, and you'll find the
urgring via the weekly post called abc for newcomers.

Seems that his site is down :-((
I tried several times for two days now, but no response....
(the url I have is http://www.ilsham.demon.co.uk/)

David, if you read this: what's going on?


Given the extraordinarily busy life David leads, a web site is probably
pretty low on his list of 'to-do' priorities. What a shame you can't see it
but it's worth waiting for.
His garden is an object lesson in how to use a very small space to grow rare
and unusual plants in the southern English climate. And I'm lucky enough to
have seen the garden and not just the web site. It's absolutely
outstanding. The only pity of it is that it's too small to take tours!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 23:22:14 +0100, Sacha
wrote:

I tried several times for two days now, but no response....
(the url I have is http://www.ilsham.demon.co.uk/)
David, if you read this: what's going on?

Given the extraordinarily busy life David leads, a web site is probably
pretty low on his list of 'to-do' priorities. What a shame you can't see it
but it's worth waiting for.

Sorry, I missed this earlier. I decided to ditch Demon earlier this
year since it represented increasingly bad value for money.
Unfortunately, I didn't transfer the site and given my current
commitments, the likelihood of me finding time to write a new one is
pretty remote at the moment.

His garden is an object lesson in how to use a very small space to grow rare
and unusual plants in the southern English climate. And I'm lucky enough to
have seen the garden and not just the web site. It's absolutely
outstanding. The only pity of it is that it's too small to take tours!

Got me blushing again Sasha. I work on the illogical basis that large
and very large plants in small gardens actually give the impression of
space - even when they have coalesced into a jungly mass. It works if
there is one or two of you, but when 3 or more try to navigate around
huge tree fern and date palm fronds, the size limitations become all
too apparent. Since my patch is primarily for my own enjoyment this
poses few problems for most of the time.

However, growing so much together means that it is very high and this
year I've had very little time to spare. I mentioned to Sasha
recently that I think the time has come to renovate the lot, starting
more or less from scratch. When I started, I was experimenting with
sub-tropicals to see exactly what could be grown successfully as
opposed to what could be persuaded to survive. I've now moved out of
that phase and hopefully my manic plant collecting habits have eased
somewhat. This means that I will be looking more closely at making
the garden fit around me in future, rather than me making way for the
plants. It will be a lower maintenance garden with fewer plants, but
those that will be here will be very special indeed.

I hope to get started this autumn and will record progress so it can
go onto a website when I have time to put one together.
Dave Poole
Torquay, Coastal South Devon UK
Winter min -2°C. Summer max 34°C.
Growing season: March - November

On 15/8/04 4:04, in article ,
"Dave Poole" wrote:

snip This means that I will be looking more closely at making
the garden fit around me in future, rather than me making way for the
plants. It will be a lower maintenance garden with fewer plants, but
those that will be here will be very special indeed.

I hope to get started this autumn and will record progress so it can
go onto a website when I have time to put one together.

Any chance of you taking photographs now and putting them on the urg ring,
or something. Then we can see it before you start the massacre!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

The message
from Sacha contains these words:

Any chance of you taking photographs now and putting them on the urg ring,
or something. Then we can see it before you start the massacre!
--


Good idea Sacha, please David ...

.... and of course the aftermath of the 'massacre'.

Jennifer

On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 15:56:45 +0100, Jennifer Sparkes
wrote:

Good idea Sacha, please David ...

The problem is that I've already started shifting things about in the
attempt to see where I might gain some extra space. I've also hacked
a leaning Cornus capitata that suffered in the late winter gales, so
its all looking a bit of a mess. Also, my wonderful Pandorea which
has draped itself so gloriously around the back door for the past 6
years caught the worst of those gales and has decided to give up.
Pity because it has been truly magnificent.

However, I planted it in entirely the wrong spot (exposed to the full
brunt of north easterly winds) and I suppose its demise was
inevitable. There's a low, south-west facing wall between here and
next door and I'll erect a tall fence that can provide a much more
cosy home for the next Pandorea together with some contrasting
Passifloras and a rather exotic climbing Bauhinia that is now doing
rather well.

All of this, together with a near total surrender to weeds this year
means that I'd rather not take any pics at the moment and will wait
until I can start clearing the entire site in preparation for the main
work. I've got a few pics taken last year and the year before, which
can be accessed at:
http://groups.msn.com/Torbay-theEngl...ox.msnw?Page=1

Dave Poole
Torquay, Coastal South Devon UK
Winter min -2°C. Summer max 34°C.
Growing season: March - November

The message
from Dave Poole contains these words:

Thank you David and good luck with the re-organisation. Shame
about your Pandorea, I seem to remember you telling us about
it at the last 'urgmeet' at Landscove.

All of this, together with a near total surrender to weeds this year ...
snip

Don't talk about weeds. ((

... and being retired I don't really have an excuse! Well only that
the neighbours have let their Ash Trees get so big we have decided
all we can do is rearrange our back garden. This has made me lazy
since I know a lot of it will be demolished - just need the energy!!!

We look forward to the pictures, whenever.
Jennifer