Growing ferns from spore is a dark art I haven't mastered, sadly. I just end up with non-descript slime. But there are some glorious ferns there - some of the xeric ferns in particular are just amazing. Liz - the groups of plants that interest me the most are what would have been once described loos...

Thank you! I was beginning to think no-one had read it!

Yes, the 'encounter' was a game changer. No more plant hunting in Mexico for me!

Read it if you get bored over christmas. Bit of a surprise in there....

Link here

Leandra wrote:Paul, here are some articles that you might be interested in reading:

Interesting, in so much as these articles would appear to be a load of mumbo-jumbo presented as fact. I am actually disappointed there was no food for thought there.

Leandra wrote:Hi~
It is a fact that plants have feelings and feel pain, albeit in a different way to humans.

Really? I'd like to see the peer reviewed papers on that.

Given all the bad things happening in the world currently I am surprised to see anyone getting in a lather about this, frankly.

Eyes left - check out my avatar! A friend saw this and thought of me. Something to do with my extravagant moustache and liking of Mexico. Nothing to do with my spiky disposition...

What a fabulously kept collection! Lovely plants, beautifully grown.

I've only seen it in one place - the botanical gardens in Gran Canaria. Lovely thing, caught my eye!

O. spinosus can often be found for sale in the alpine section of many garden centres - whoever supplies the RHS gardens usually does it as I've seen it often at Hyde Hall and the one time I visited Harlow Carr. Other spp can sometimes be found at specialist alpine nurseries at flower shows or mail o...

Other people might be ok. I was more concerned it might be the same old folks having the same old arguments!