Went to Wisley Plant Sales this morning for large bags of potting compost (an excellent loamy JI2 from "Roffey"), grit (a Cornish grit as used/photographed by Terry Smale), and something useful for the garden
New stock in the C&S area included two connoisseurs' mesembs, Cheiridopsis cigarettifera SB768 - in flower!!- and Marlothistella uniondalensis. Handwriting on the labels suggested their usual supplier, Pugh Cacti, which is (despite the name) a reliable UK retail producer of many kinds of succulent plant. I began my close acquaintance with Lithops, other mesembs, and Gymnocalyciums with small plants from this source.
At the checkout I got a comment "All that compost and grit just for two packets of broad bean seeds?"
Ever hopeful, trying to grow plants from arid sunny climates in the UK!
Lithops, Haworthia, Adromischus, other south African succulents including Ceropegia and some Crassula.
But to set the record straight, RHS Wisley is hardly "yer average garden centre". I'd be really, really disappointed if they didn't know their stuff there.
BTW, the wife and I really MUST visit Wisley this year, since we didn't set foot in the place at all last year - how bad is that for RHS members??!!
Cheers,
Colin
FBCSS
FCSSA
Fellow of the Linnean Society (FLS)
Member of the IOS
Honorary Research Associate, The Open University
Hi Colin, The new Glasshouse at Wisley opens this summer which certainly is worth a visit. Not that you need any other reasons to visit Wisley, a lovely place!
Phil. (Kent, England) BCSS Herne Bay & District Branch.
Collecting Cacti-1961. Forum member-September 2004.
Favourites= Mexican miniatures. http://www.cactusplant.co.uk
Yep, I'm aware of the new Wisley glasshouse. Talked to Terry Smale at our Loughborough convention last August about this, since he has a hand in the "desert" section of the new place.
Cheers,
Colin
FBCSS
FCSSA
Fellow of the Linnean Society (FLS)
Member of the IOS
Honorary Research Associate, The Open University
phil Wrote:
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> Hi Colin, The new Glasshouse at Wisley opens this
> summer which certainly is worth a visit
Sounds like one for the Virtual Branch!
Ever hopeful, trying to grow plants from arid sunny climates in the UK!
Lithops, Haworthia, Adromischus, other south African succulents including Ceropegia and some Crassula.
Colin Walker Wrote:
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> Hi Lindsey,
>
> But to set the record straight, RHS Wisley is
> hardly "yer average garden centre
Agreed... but even the Wisley sales centre is only as good as its wholesale supplier. I've seen (and bought) "Pugh" plants elsewhere in Surrey; in Bristol; and I have a very nice Dinteranthus vanzylii CM55 from *your* local Frost's (we lived in Woburn Sands for 10 years). And I've heard that Pugh supplies succulent plants for sale at the Eden Project.
Ever hopeful, trying to grow plants from arid sunny climates in the UK!
Lithops, Haworthia, Adromischus, other south African succulents including Ceropegia and some Crassula.
I have bought Pugh's plants at a number of different garden centres. They are generally well-grown and usually accurately labelled, sometimes including collection details,Mesa garden numbers, etc and often there are more unusual species. Unfortunately, in most garden centres, after they have been there a while they are in a sorry state with mealy bug in evidence, lost labels, etc. The answer is to get there quick as soon as they arrive!
Thanks Lindsey, its a while since I was in Wisley, so must make the effort before long. The new greenhouse sounds good - hope for a sunnyday so my other half can admire the outside plants, while I am in the greenhouses.
