New Forum member

[orrel]

I've just joined the Forum. I was a member since NCSS days & in due course was a BCSS Judge but had to sell my entire collection over over 1000 plants in 1998. I kept a few plants indoors, some raised from seed given me personally by Alfred Lau. My last BCSS contact was meeting Tom Jenkins in the tearooms at Helligan gardens 2 years ago. On 1st March we left Cornwall & landed in Spain & are now living on Costa Blanca (Orihuela Costa). My few plants came with us in the car. Have now started again, buying selected plants locally, especially white spined Mamms. Growing outdoors in this climate is a whole new ball game! The British-raised plants don't like the hot sun & I don't have a garden just a tiled patio. The price of ordinary plastic pots here is unbelievable. However there are some bargains. I bought a 7" pot filled with a beautiful Hoodia bainii in a garden centre for 3 euros & had to pot it on into a 9".
The coastal dune systems here which are wooded with Eucalyptus & dwarf pine are being swamped by mats of Hottentot Fig, Mesemb crystallinum, assorted Mesembs (Ruschia spp?), agaves & other 'escapees'. They look lovely but the native flora is under real threat but no-one seems to worry.
Would be glad to make contact with any enthusiasts in the area.

[rodsmith]

Welcome to the forum. It's wet and soggy in Wales today.

[dalesmatt]

Welcome, I envy your weather and hope you can connect with some local enthusiasts.

Rod, isn't it always

[rodsmith]

Rod, isn't it always

We get our fair share