The last Scottish Trip

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Liz M
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The last Scottish Trip

Post by Liz M »

I have just come back from the last Scottish trip, sadly. Mairi and John Frew felt that they had done enough of them and with all sorts of doubts over the Brexit discussions, considered that another was not possible. Unless someone else had the courage to take on, what has become, a very enjoyable and well organised visit to the nurseries and collectors in Holland and Germany.
It starts in Ayrshire in Scotland and travels to Hull picking up people en route. By the time we get to Hull there are about 40 people eagerly looking forward to a busy weekend of viewing and buying cacti and succulents and having a good time as well.
Overnight on the ferry, then docking early morning in Rotterdam and straight off to the first nurseries and finally ending up in Andernach in Germany at the delightful Rhein Hotel under the care of Freddy. It has a slightly Fawlty Towers feel about it, which just adds to the pleasure of the weekend.The next two days are packed with travelling, buying and the most important thing after that of de-potting and boxing up of our purchases. This is necessary to enable us to bring back the maximum number of plants in the available space, so pots are removed, compost is removed, as far as possible ,the plants are carefully wrapped up and packed tightly, so no movement will damage them. On Monday morning we move off, suitcases and plants in boxes in the boot of the coach and we are off. We still have buying in mind though. We stop in Holland at more nurseries and buy whatever we can that will fit among the seats and us on the coach. Then off to the ferry and home with our treasures. It's a very busy weekend and it goes extremely smoothly thanks to Mairi's stern but kindly organisation and the best driver in the world, Kevin, who gets us there and back with no fuss and huge amounts of skill round some very tight places. Is will be sadly missed by many and I am glad I managed to get on board these last few trips. Many, many thanks to John and Mairi Frew, Kevin and all the others who help to oil the wheels of our trips.
Here are some pictures to illustrate what goes on.
Arrival at the port of Rotterdam
Arrival at the port of Rotterdam
A private collection, with sales!
A private collection, with sales!
Tephrocactus
Tephrocactus
Cereus
Cereus
Agave
Agave
Obsessive Crassulaceae lover, especially Aeoniums but also grow, Aloes, Agaves, Haworthias and a select number of Cacti.
Liz M
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Re: The last Scottish Trip

Post by Liz M »

Next day.
Andernach in the morning
Andernach in the morning
The decorative trees by the Rhine
The decorative trees by the Rhine
Seedlings in the first nusery
Seedlings in the first nusery
Another private collection with sales.
Another private collection with sales.
A stunning ariocarpus
A stunning ariocarpus
Obsessive Crassulaceae lover, especially Aeoniums but also grow, Aloes, Agaves, Haworthias and a select number of Cacti.
Liz M
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Posts: 3018
Joined: 22 Dec 2007
Branch: MACCLESFIELD & EAST CHESHIRE
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Re: The last Scottish Trip

Post by Liz M »

A good potful
A good potful
Copiapoa
Copiapoa
Agave
Agave
A catful of Crassula
A catful of Crassula
Lophophora
Lophophora
Obsessive Crassulaceae lover, especially Aeoniums but also grow, Aloes, Agaves, Haworthias and a select number of Cacti.
Liz M
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Re: The last Scottish Trip

Post by Liz M »

A beautiful dark spined body
A beautiful dark spined body
More stunning spines
More stunning spines
At Piltz private collection, a sea of Cereus
At Piltz private collection, a sea of Cereus
Astrophytums, bizarre and beautiful
Astrophytums, bizarre and beautiful
More Astrophytums
More Astrophytums
Attachments
Dudleyas
Dudleyas
Obsessive Crassulaceae lover, especially Aeoniums but also grow, Aloes, Agaves, Haworthias and a select number of Cacti.
Liz M
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Re: The last Scottish Trip

Post by Liz M »

Hilderwintera
Hilderwintera
Copiapoa
Copiapoa
Wooly Mammillarias
Wooly Mammillarias
Lithops weeds
Lithops weeds
Astonishing crest
Astonishing crest
Obsessive Crassulaceae lover, especially Aeoniums but also grow, Aloes, Agaves, Haworthias and a select number of Cacti.
Liz M
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Re: The last Scottish Trip

Post by Liz M »

Well coloured Gymnocalycium due to the cold over winter
Well coloured Gymnocalycium due to the cold over winter
More colourful Gymnocalycium
More colourful Gymnocalycium
More cold wintered Gymnocalycium
More cold wintered Gymnocalycium
A bizarre Gymnocalycium
A bizarre Gymnocalycium
Sun capturing the spines.
Sun capturing the spines.
Obsessive Crassulaceae lover, especially Aeoniums but also grow, Aloes, Agaves, Haworthias and a select number of Cacti.
Liz M
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Re: The last Scottish Trip

Post by Liz M »

Euphorbias at Steinfeld
Euphorbias at Steinfeld
Oreocereus
Oreocereus
Kalanchoe beharensis flower remnants
Kalanchoe beharensis flower remnants
Varied Echinocactus grusonii
Varied Echinocactus grusonii
Pachypodium
Pachypodium
Obsessive Crassulaceae lover, especially Aeoniums but also grow, Aloes, Agaves, Haworthias and a select number of Cacti.
Liz M
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Re: The last Scottish Trip

Post by Liz M »

Ferocactus glowing in the sun
Ferocactus glowing in the sun
Assorted good-sized cacti
Assorted good-sized cacti
Colourful Aloe flowers
Colourful Aloe flowers
Agave coming into bud
Agave coming into bud
A double Agave victoria-reginae
A double Agave victoria-reginae
Apologies to those hoping for more names, I could not get that many and take photos as well , as there were so many.
Obsessive Crassulaceae lover, especially Aeoniums but also grow, Aloes, Agaves, Haworthias and a select number of Cacti.
Liz M
BCSS Member
Posts: 3018
Joined: 22 Dec 2007
Branch: MACCLESFIELD & EAST CHESHIRE
Country: United Kingdom
Role within the BCSS: Trustee
Location: The North West of England
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Re: The last Scottish Trip

Post by Liz M »

It has been a great trip round the nurseries and collections in Holland and Germany, the plants have been fascinating and the scenery wonderful. I can understand why people go for a cruise on the Rhine, it has steep sides and they are covered in castles. Many homes are old and are built in the unique style of Germany of a bye-gone age. Sadly we are unlikely to do another trip and our collections may not have the variety they would otherwise, there are many memories of a trip like this and we have the plants to remember them by.
I put on a picture of some of the plants I bought, I don't collect many cacti, mostly succulents, as you may know. I have bought some great plants in the past and more again this time, so I am happy to share with you. This has been more of a travelogue than an event but the plants are interesting, especially those kept in cold greenhouses, totally dry. That is why the colours are so intense.
Boppard
Boppard
Across the Rine from Boppard and a huge cruise ship
Across the Rine from Boppard and a huge cruise ship
The dock at Rotterdam in the sun
The dock at Rotterdam in the sun
The bridge of the ferry as the sun sets
The bridge of the ferry as the sun sets
Some of the plants I brought back
Some of the plants I brought back
Obsessive Crassulaceae lover, especially Aeoniums but also grow, Aloes, Agaves, Haworthias and a select number of Cacti.
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Paul D
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Re: The last Scottish Trip

Post by Paul D »

Lovely to see the pictures.
It would have to be stopping- just as I enter the time of life when I might have been free to come along!
Hope someone takes it on.
Paul in North-east Scotland (Grampian Branch BCSS)
National Collection Rebutia, Aylostera & Weingartia (inc. Sulcorebutia). Also growing a mixture including Ferocactus, Gymnocalycium, Lobivia, Mammillaria, Lithops, Gasteria, Haworthia.
http://www.rebutia.org.uk
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