Wow, Ron... Congratulations! Many of us have traveled down a similar path, only to find disaster along the way, as promised. Some may say that you've achieved one of the holy grails of horticulture, others may disagree. But regardless, you are fortunate to have obtained a legal bulb, and an achievement none the less to both your skills as a gardener and of your patience! I was just feeling pretty proud of my Boophane disticha bulb that I invested in last year, since it finally broke it's dormancy and has sent up a nice fan of foliage this summer. I hope that you have a camera at the ready, and will be sharing images. Can you share some of your cultivation facts with us? Soil, fertilizer , if any, temperature, any opinions on what, in your experience, triggered the spike? Not that many of us will ever have a chance to grow a Worsleya, I don't think I will again for obvious reasons of legality, morality and resources, since most bulbs are wild collected, I've been told, but one never knows when a cultivated plant may seed or be passed on. Since there is very little information out there on cultivating Worsleya, any notes are welcome just in case I wake up some Sunday morning and go out the front door to get my paper, and someone leaves an orphaned Worsleya on my doorstep... Matt Mattus Worcester, Massachusetts USA Zone 5b On 9/1/06 4:52 AM, "Ronald Redding" <ron_redding@hotmail.com> wrote: > Dear All, > > Today I have discovered a flower spike on a plant that is quite significant > to me. I have many others like it and have produced flowers from them. This > was the first of its kind that I ever obtained. I still remember the time I > eventually tracked down where I could obtain one and was amazed at the > asking price, I was able to convince the supplier I could grow this plant as > I had done an enormous amount of research and even though he only had a tiny > plant left he still could get a large amount of money for it he never sold > them so small. My (looking back now) tiny little plant arrived and ooh how I > loved it. I cared for it, sheltered it and brought it inside if it got too > cold. I tried everything to convince it to grow big and strong, gave it the > best food money could buy and even danced if front of it naked under the > light of a full moon. > > Year after year it still did not respond I did not realise it was me being > cultivated and that it was helping me become better and teaching me many > valuable lessons. After much trial and error the last two years have proven > that I am finally getting many things right it has flourished and as if I > have finally learned enough and now as a sign of respect a flower spike. The > man that I bought the plant from was Errol Cosh who provided me with much > guidance and encouragement who I am happy to say I have met and who has not > only shared his knowledge but stories, food and drink. The plant is a > worsleya and is truly something that you can fall in love with. > > > > > > > Kind Regards and Best Wishes > Ron Redding > Hervey Bay > Australia > > _________________________________________________________________ > Search for local singles online @ Lavalife > http://a.ninemsn.com.au/b.aspx/… > %2Fclickthru%2Fclickthru%2Eact%3Fid%3Dninemsn%26context%3Dan99%26locale%3Den%5 > FAU%26a%3D23198&_t=751140432&_r=emailtaglines_search_aug06&_m=EXT > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php