Mexico January 2007 Travelogue

[Vic]

Reminds me of this one that I have labelled as echinaria Chris:

[Trevor]

Looks good, I love reading about people's C & S travels !

Thanks for the link...

[Vladimir]

Chris, the pretty yellow mamm. is elongata echinaria indeed, bit Vic got "Nymph" - that is elongata X microhelia hybrid. Looks a little like both, doesn't it?

[CactusChris]

Paul,
Stunning - a most enjoyable read. The pictures were fantastic, I especially liked:
1) The broms - they look so good when in hot sun
2) The red Agave montana - was this a one off or did many do that?
3) Edward James's garden - I want one.

Best travelogue on the web I've seen - well done.

Chris

[Paul in Essex]

Well, thanks for the feedback. I enjoyed ploughing through the pictures and re-living the moments.

Julie - not sure I have seen 'plain' Agave americana anywhere. The 'common' americana form seen in the parts of Mexico that I visit are americana ssp protamericana, which is usually smaller with less twisty leaves than the plain species. But by far and away the most common ones in the centre north are representatives of a huge hybrid population of americana ssp protamericana x scabra - these are almost infinately variable, falling betwwen the extremes of either parent (plus some new forms, too) but always lovely. You have to throw away the books and your preconceptions when you see these things in the wild as most often the plant you look at doesn't conform to anything in cultivation.

Chris - Agave montana goes red (and yellow and orange) in the lead up to flowering. They become like bright beacons in the shaded forest understorey - a truely remarkbale sight. Some time I must go in spring when everything is flowering, rather than later in the year.

On the page for 14th, there are some pictures of some cacti - some opuntias (UFOs) plus a couple of others. Anyone have a clue as to the ID of centre right and bottom right? I'd take a wild shot and say an echinocereus and a mammillaria, but what do I know.

[phil]

Hi Paul,
Superbly put together, what a fascinating read & brilliant photo's. Thanks for all your hard work it must have taken some time? I particularly like your visit to ?garden at Las Pozas? it looks a magical place.

[Vladimir]

Nice travelogy indeed. My only complain is that you guys could look more under those strange tequila-producing monsters. I bet there is some life down there.. Mamm. elongata was definitely a bright spot

Vlad

[Paul in Essex]

What, you mean like this?

8A

[Paul in Essex]

Or this?
[attachment 2241 DSC_0112.jpg]

[Paul in Essex]

Or this?
[attachment 2242 DSC_0135.jpg]

What are all these things - anyone know? I have several other cactus pictures that need names....