Hello from West Yorkshire

[carletonexotic]

Hello everyone!

I'm Craig, based in West Yorkshire. I joined BCSS this week after attending the National Show.

Prior to Covid, I had zero experience with gardening or plants. During the first lockdown, I started planting up my blank canvas of a garden with exotics (palms, bananas, bamboos etc.) bought online after a bit of research.

In Spring 2022, I built a 4ftx6ft greenhouse with the plan of populating it with cacti and succulents. This comprised mostly of the generic shop-bought cacti I've had as houseplants for years (any help IDing greatly appreciated ), but after visiting a couple of specialist nurseries and reading up on the subject, I found BCSS and became more interested in this style of planting. I'm still figuring out my niche, but my favourites so far are the lophophora (bought from Southfield Nurseries) and ariocarpus (bought from David Quail). See below:

Next year I'm planning on creating a large outdoor arid / dry / desert bed. I have collected the following plants which I believe to be hardy (will ensure good drainage, cover in winter etc.): agave americana (both variegated and regular), agave ovatifolia, agave montana, aloe striatula, opuntia humifusa. Open to suggestions for other planting.

Looking forward to getting to know everyone on the forum, and attending a Leeds branch meeting in the near future.

[el48tel]

Welcome to the forum Craig.
You will be most welcome at Leeds branch of which there's a meeting on the 19th September.
According to where you are based, you might also consider Bradford and York. York has a rather special meeting at the department of botany at the University of York later in the month. If you contact the branch secretary directly or send me a private message through the forum I'll get him to send you the details.
You will find all Yorkshire branches friendly and welcoming.

[carletonexotic]

Thanks for the warm welcome el48tel.

I'm probably slightly closer to the Leeds branch than the York branch, but I wouldn't mind travelling a little further afield to join the Dept. of Botany meeting, which sounds great. Will have to check schedules.

I notice too there is a Zone 3 Rally coming up (https://www.zone3.bcss.org.uk/rally-2022.html) Is a rally different from a branch meeting? I assume from the blurb that this one is aimed at friends of the late Colin Norton?

[Paul in Essex]

Hi Craig

Welcome to the hobby, it appears the slippery slope to madness has been breached so good luck.

Growing C&S outside is my thing, been doing it for 35 years or so now. I hope it is a large bed because Agave americana is extremely large. The variegated version isn't as hardy so I would say leave that out and consider planting a different one out (unless you have a particular liking for variegates, that is). Agave gentryi is a favourite of mine and most clones seem hardy enough. The cultivar 'Jaws' is possibly the least hardy but seems ok under a cover. Agave bracteosa, lophantha, striata, heteracantha are all very good doers. Your Aloe aristata would probaby do well, too. Cacti - again, personal favourites are Soehrensia bruchii and formosa, also Denmoza. They get some size eventually and not so easily lost in the border.

All that said, I am down in the southeast. You could do worse than contact JoelR on this forum who has been growing C&S outside up the in the Penines for many years and can give you a better idea of what does well there.

[Tony R]

Thanks for the warm welcome el48tel.

I'm probably slightly closer to the Leeds branch than the York branch, but I wouldn't mind travelling a little further afield to join the Dept. of Botany meeting, which sounds great. Will have to check schedules.

I notice too there is a Zone 3 Rally coming up (https://www.zone3.bcss.org.uk/rally-2022.html) Is a rally different from a branch meeting? I assume from the blurb that this one is aimed at friends of the late Colin Norton?

Welcome to the Forum.
The Zone 3 Rally is a must!
I have only attended it once, as a speaker, as I live in Kent, but it will be an excellent day out.

[el48tel]

Thanks for the warm welcome el48tel.

I'm probably slightly closer to the Leeds branch than the York branch, but I wouldn't mind travelling a little further afield to join the Dept. of Botany meeting, which sounds great. Will have to check schedules.

If you look at the page
https://www.society.bcss.org.uk/index.php/branches.html
you can access the secretary's contact details and those of the branch

[carletonexotic]

Hi Craig

Welcome to the hobby, it appears the slippery slope to madness has been breached so good luck.

Growing C&S outside is my thing, been doing it for 35 years or so now. I hope it is a large bed because Agave americana is extremely large. The variegated version isn't as hardy so I would say leave that out and consider planting a different one out (unless you have a particular liking for variegates, that is). Agave gentryi is a favourite of mine and most clones seem hardy enough. The cultivar 'Jaws' is possibly the least hardy but seems ok under a cover. Agave bracteosa, lophantha, striata, heteracantha are all very good doers. Your Aloe aristata would probaby do well, too. Cacti - again, personal favourites are Soehrensia bruchii and formosa, also Denmoza. They get some size eventually and not so easily lost in the border.

All that said, I am down in the southeast. You could do worse than contact JoelR on this forum who has been growing C&S outside up the in the Penines for many years and can give you a better idea of what does well there.

Thanks for this, Paul. I'll be making a note of the plants you suggested, most of which I've never heard of! Forgot to mention I have a yucca rostrata too, which is one of my favourite plants.

Having had a quick browse of your website it seems I'm already familiar with your garden after seeing it discussed on instagram by Rob Stacewicz and others. It really is the gold standard of what can be achieved in a British climate, it seems. An inspiration!

Thanks again for the plant suggestions and warm welcome.

[TraceyM]

Hi Craig

I am secretary of Bradford branch and also attend most Leeds meetings. Leeds are having a trip to York Gate Garden next summer and the head gardener regularly attends meetings.

Bradford also have several hardy cactus and succulent enthusiasts. Joel did a talk at our branch this summer about his new garden.

[carletonexotic]

Hi Craig

I am secretary of Bradford branch and also attend most Leeds meetings. Leeds are having a trip to York Gate Garden next summer and the head gardener regularly attends meetings.

Bradford also have several hardy cactus and succulent enthusiasts. Joel did a talk at our branch this summer about his new garden.

Thanks Tracey, that's good to know that there is some crossover between branches because although I'm closer geographically to the Leeds branch, York and Bradford both have some interesting looking events and I wouldn't mind travelling further afield on occasion.

Looking forward to meeting some members and learning more about the hobby!