Succulent collection at Winterbourne (Birmingham)

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Christian
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Succulent collection at Winterbourne (Birmingham)

Post by Christian »

As some of you will know, some members of Birmingham branch volunteer at Winterbourne House and Gardens to help with the upkeep of the collection of succulents. It is quite an extensive collection with the arid house and then a large reserve collection which is also used to propagate plants for sale. There is still plenty to see should you be in the area - here are some pictures taken over the past few weeks.

The Arid House from the outside:
Arid house from outside.jpg
Arid house from outside.jpg (181.08 KiB) Viewed 3343 times


The picture was taken just after the plants bedded out for the summer were moved under cover; the Agave now received a rain cover too.
Winterbourne arid house (1).jpg
Winterbourne arid house (1).jpg (145.24 KiB) Viewed 3343 times

New this year were these wooden window boxes with smaller mesembs, particular Conos and Lithops. There are a good few in the reserve collection behind the public's view, but they were deemed too nice to be hidden away. Lots of nice comments from visitors on these, apparently.
Small mesembs.jpg
Small mesembs.jpg (308.66 KiB) Viewed 3343 times
Lithops.jpg
Lithops.jpg (228.5 KiB) Viewed 3343 times
Still plants flower, here is Parodia warasii.
Parodia waraisii.jpg
Parodia waraisii.jpg (154.14 KiB) Viewed 3343 times
A nice clump of what I think might be Mammillaria geminispina.
Geminispina.jpg
Geminispina.jpg (160.12 KiB) Viewed 3343 times
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Christian
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Re: Succulent collection at Winterbourne (Birmingham)

Post by Christian »

Here is a quick view behind the scenes:
Part of reserve collection.jpg
Part of reserve collection.jpg (162.8 KiB) Viewed 3341 times
Conos and Lithops.jpg
Conos and Lithops.jpg (166.97 KiB) Viewed 3341 times
Propagations:
Cereus rooting.jpg
Cereus rooting.jpg (123.86 KiB) Viewed 3341 times
Pachypus.jpg
Pachypus.jpg (201.85 KiB) Viewed 3341 times
And some of those plants that occasionally get an outing for public displays:
Agave.jpg
Agave.jpg (272.71 KiB) Viewed 3341 times
Aloe erinacea.jpg
Aloe erinacea.jpg (136.66 KiB) Viewed 3341 times
Member of Birmingham Branch
http://birmingham.bcss.org.uk/
Christian
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Re: Succulent collection at Winterbourne (Birmingham)

Post by Christian »

Many of you will know Derek Castle - here he is sitting at the potting bench.
Derek potting.jpg
Derek potting.jpg (165.21 KiB) Viewed 3341 times
And here are some of the driving forces behind the branch's work at Winterbourne: Derek, Arthur Tomkins, Gill Mills and Peter Clarke.
BCSS Winterbourne Volunteers.jpg
BCSS Winterbourne Volunteers.jpg (154.76 KiB) Viewed 3341 times
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Tony R
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Re: Succulent collection at Winterbourne (Birmingham)

Post by Tony R »

Great pictures, Christian, and outstanding work from you all!
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rodsmith
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Re: Succulent collection at Winterbourne (Birmingham)

Post by rodsmith »

This is a credit to all the volunteers who work at Winterbourne. My wife and I visited the collection several years ago with Northampton & Milton Keynes branch and judging from the photos it looks as good as ever, especially with some of the plants in flower. Thanks for posting these photos, Christian.
Rod Smith

Growing a mixed collection of cacti & other succulents; mainly smaller species with a current emphasis on lithops & conophytum.
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Re: Succulent collection at Winterbourne (Birmingham)

Post by Liz M »

An inspirational view of well kept plants. Great to know that you are there to care for them.
Obsessive Crassulaceae lover, especially Aeoniums but also grow, Aloes, Agaves, Haworthias and a select number of Cacti.
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juster
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Re: Succulent collection at Winterbourne (Birmingham)

Post by juster »

It's great to know about this Christian, what a marvellous and worthwhile project by your branch, plus good publicity for the BCSS. Well done! Thanks for posting the pictures.
Croydon Branch member, growing mainly cacti and Echeverias
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Paul in Essex
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Re: Succulent collection at Winterbourne (Birmingham)

Post by Paul in Essex »

Can only echo the others. I had the privilege of visiting when giving a talk to the branch - the display house is absolutely pristine!
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ralphrmartin
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Re: Succulent collection at Winterbourne (Birmingham)

Post by ralphrmartin »

I once went to Birmingham branch to give a talk, and no one came back after the break, so I went to find them. There was a Selenicereus grandiflorus in flower in the greenhouse, which was wowing everyone! :grin: It's the only time I've seen one in flower, and to use a much overused expression, it was awesome.

There's a wonderful collection of plants there, and friendly members too. Well worth going to see.
Ralph Martin
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Members visiting the Llyn Peninsula are welcome to visit my collection.

Swaps and sales at https://www.rrm.me.uk/Cacti/forsale.php

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conolady
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Re: Succulent collection at Winterbourne (Birmingham)

Post by conolady »

How wonderful and cheering that is. Good to know.
First it was orchids, then, since c.2001, cacti and succulents. I'm into South African plants, mainly conos, lithops and haworthias, with a few cacti, especially 'posh' mamms, turbs and other smalls. Now it’s stapeliads as well...
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