I also received a copy of the New Cactus Lexicon and a splendid book it is. This was accompanied by a contribution to the staging for the new greenhouse so a good year for me it was. Now I just need to put the book down and go into the wintry garden and start assembling the staging....or maybe tomor...

Hi Patrick I have had a Casio Exilim EX-P600 for about three years now and have been very pleased with the results. It is 6 mega pixels (now the norm but then high end for a pocket compact), easy to use, has a macro facility and a 4x optical zoom. Not sure if this model it is still available but if ...

I also still grow Mam. gracilis and like David my current plant is a direct descendant of one of my first plants. (It is in essence the same one I had 35 years ago give or take a few hundred lost offsets). I agree that if it were difficult to grow or new it would be much sought after. I also still g...

As the first batch of plants seem to have survived the last two weeks of unseasonally cold weather I am now inclined to try some others. I moved some of the duplicate Agaves over today and was wondering whether anyone has any experience of which Echinocerus are tough enough to try? I have engelmanni...

To add to all the Merry Christmas greetings above I would like to add Solstice greetings.
Today we can all contemplate the turning of the year and the start of the days lengthening......and look forward to all those flowers to come.

My experiment with an unheated greenhouse has got off to a very good start with a couple of weeks of cold (for SE23 anyway) nights and low daytime temperatures. The min/max in the greenhouse registered -4 0C on one night (although I doubt its accuracy as the watering can full of water left inside di...

Hi Len I used Photoshop at which I am a rank amateur. I selected a picture width in pixels and then lowered the quality untill it dropped below the .1mb size limit. I have been advised that the image size is too great for the quality level. The plant almost fills the pot. Rebutias always amaze me wi...

Hi Iann
A shot taken this morning.
[attachment 8150 Coryphantha-without-flowers.jpg]
Mike P

Hi Bill Comments Noted. I used photoshop which I would not claim to be an expert with. The images start off at 2.5mb or so and I just kept downsizing until they fell below .1 mb. Any tips as to which setting to use would be appreciated. When you say 'just reply to yurself' to add more images can you...

Hi Second photo. I have never really been sure of this one. I have it as Coryphantha compacta but if anyone can confrim / correct this I would be grateful. I find it does not flower every year. The photo is from september last year (hot sunny summer). This year nil flowers.... Mike P [attachment 811...