Two issues here. 1 ... 2 the fact that a nation has insufficient resources to feed its population, resulting in criminal acts carried out by individuals only trying to feed family. Really? This implies it would be acceptable for hungry people in the UK to go out and dig up wild bluebells to sell? I...

These are indeed awful photos. Thanks ChrisR for taking the trouble to publicise this continuing problem, the scale of which is alarming. Your write-up in the latest Mesemb Study Group Bulletin 37(1) is excellent, as is the accompanying article by Andy Young, which urges us all to do more propagatio...

Things are coming together nicely! We visited the convention site again this week, two years after the original booking. For lack of other events, the University has given us a much larger room, so we will have lots of space for circulation. As you would expect at a professional conference centre, t...

Cactus Convention in London It has been good to get out and about again. So far this summer, I've found that BCSS branch meetings and shows have got back to near normal attendance levels again after the pandemic.  Tickets will be available for another couple of weeks (until 12th July) for this Zone...

Very nice! Hybridising Hoarea Pelargoniums was popular in early Victorian times and P. auritum (P. atra) was found to be a good parent for producing pink flowers. P. ochroleuca is a good choice for the other parent since it has relatively broad petals. I wonder if this is fertile or even self-fertil...

The International Geraniaceae Group have been holding a series of online presentations. Their most recent was a well illustrated talk about "Secrets of Namaqualand Pelargoniums" by Florent Grenier, covering some of the contents of his recent book. Pollination of some beautiful succulent Pe...

Apologies to all - a search via Google lead me to that outdated page and I did not notice the difference late at night! Yes, at Chelsea today, the specimens that were judged were on display in the Plant of the Year corner. . Semonium Destiny P107025960.jpg Semonium Destiny note P1070260.jpg . Aeoniu...

Not completely accurate since × Semponium 'Sienna' was runner up. See: https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/news/2021/plant-of-the-year Mangaves featured on the short-list as well. Aeonium 'Jubilee' from Daniel Jackson was featured (for about a second!) on the BBC2 coverage th...

BCSS Zone 6 Convention at Brunel University, Uxbridge, NW London 10 am – 5 pm Sunday 24th July 2022 - Twice postponed - now let’s meet up again & talk about our favourite plants! - Speakers: Roger Ferryman: “Eriosyce - Home & Away” Ian Woolnough: “Mexico 2016 - Puebla, Oaxaca and More” Andy...

I can't recall ever seeing a moth caught on a yellow-sticky strip, although I have lots cut up among my plants to keep Western Flower Thrips under control. One large caterpillar did blunder onto one and was extremely difficult to extricate without exploding it!. There is chicken wire over the top &a...