BCSS - Forum

Hi Guys,

The IOS (International Organisation for Succulent Plant Study) has been in the doldrums of late, but now has a new leadership team headed by Len Newton as President.

On Saturday 20 British members met up at Kew to thrash out ways to move the organisation forward and to drag it into the 21st century.

We also had time to look around the reserve collections not normally open to the public.

Here are a couple of dozen pics from my visit.

The day was gloriously sunny and I had a wonderful time.

First off is the Orangery where we had lunch.

[attachment 2894 Orangery1.jpg]

Here's the Princess of Wales Conservatory at a distance. I ran out of time and didn't get inside this wonderful glasshouse, because Kew closed at 5.30 pm - far, far too early!

[attachment 2895 PrincesofWalesconservatory1.jpg]

The Palm House.

[attachment 2896 PalmHouse1.jpg]

The Palm House with back lighting from the sun, with the Palm House pond in front and the statue, Hercules wrestling with the river god Achelous.

[attachment 2897 Fountain1.jpg]

First of a couple of general shots in the reserve research collection not open to the public.

[attachment 2898 Kew2007001.jpg]

Another view in the same large greenhouse - this time a view of the aloes.

[attachment 2899 Aloegroup.jpg]

So much to photograph - so little time.

My main focus was agaves and Canarian Island succulents.

This plant wasn't labelled, but might be Agave chiapensis.

[attachment 2900 Agavechiapensis2.jpg]

Agave guadalajarana. A couple of small plants - my own specimen is even smaller, but is a very attractive plant.

[attachment 2901 Agaveguadalajarana1.jpg]

Agave isthmensis. Again a small specimen and another I have. Rather similar to the last, A. guadalajarana I thought. A fairly recently described species.

[attachment 2902 Agaveisthmensis1.jpg]

Agave americana var. mediopicta f. alba.

[attachment 2903 Agavemediopictaalba1.jpg]