Hi from Reading

New members, please take the time to introduce yourself and your collection.
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LexyBoy
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Posts: 3
https://www.behance.net/kuchnie-warszawa
Joined: 13 Sep 2016
Branch: READING & BASINGSTOKE
Country: UK
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Hi from Reading

Post by LexyBoy »

Hello!

I registered on the forum some time ago but as I’ve finally joined the BCSS I thought I’d actually post.

My main interest is in “exotic” plants – those that either give an exotic look in the garden, or are simply unusual, uncommon or curious. Until a couple of years ago I’d not grown any C&S since I was a nipper, excepting two which have survived since then – Agave filifera and Crassula ovata. Then my daughter bought me a cactus for Father’s Day and in trying to identify it I remembered how interesting they are, plus (most dangerously) began to read up on hardiness.

Before long the plan for my soon-to-be redeveloped small front garden went from a Mediterranean look to almost entirely succulent. My interests remain in the hardier plants (I don’t have a greenhouse) but I also have a couple of dozen Echinopsis hybrids which I love for their unashamed gaudiness. In the garden I have perhaps 15-20 species of cacti which are coming through their second or third winters now. I also love Aloe but unfortunately our winters have it in for them and only A. striatula has proven garden-worthy for me, though I have some young A. polyphylla that haven’t been troubled so far.

I’ll post some photos later.

Alex
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Chris in Leeds
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Re: Hi from Reading

Post by Chris in Leeds »

Welcome to the forum there is a lot of people in the Greater London area on here but I don't know if they grow stuff outside all year
Chris
BCSS MEMBER SINCE 2000 (NATIONAL SHOW)
FORUM MEMBER SINCE JUNE 2006
Interested in - TURBINICARPUS (Always looking for plants I don't have)
TEPHROCACTUS AND RELATED SPECIES
http://www.leeds.bcss.org.uk/ http://www.zone3.bcss.org.uk/
LexyBoy
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Posts: 3
Joined: 13 Sep 2016
Branch: READING & BASINGSTOKE
Country: UK
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Re: Hi from Reading

Post by LexyBoy »

Thanks! Many Readingites wouldn’t appreciate the Greater London label though, as I’m sure those in Leeds wouldn’t like being Greater Manchester :smile:

Some photos as promised. A bit of a random selection as it’s just what I’ve put onto Flickr (click though for more if you like).

Echinocereus arizonicus
Image

Agave ovatifolia
Image

Glad this has gone! Agave montana pretending to be a snowball.
Image

Two years ago, just started and looking more like a cat litter tray than a garden. I should really get a decent overall shot now, though there are still bare gravel patches.
Image
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rodsmith
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Location: Staffordshire, UK

Re: Hi from Reading

Post by rodsmith »

It's looking good. I hope your plants have all escaped unscathed after the really cold spell.
Rod Smith

Growing a mixed collection of cacti & other succulents; mainly smaller species with a current emphasis on lithops & conophytum.
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