From: greenweed@btinternet.com> To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Date:
Sun, 8 Jul 2007 19:45:54 +0100> Subject: [pbs] Introduction> > Hi
Guys,> > > > This is my first post so an intro is appropriate I
think. I live in the> easternmost part of England and garden in
what is usually the driest part of> the UK on a very sandy soil,
half a mile from the North Sea. My garden is> mostly very
sheltered so I benefit from the warning effect of being near the>
sea without suffering too much from those Siberian easterlies that
hit us> occasionally for a week or so.> > > > I grow a lot of
Mediterranean plants which survive very well in the free> draining
soil, examples are an eight foot olive tree, Pittosporum tobirum,>
lots of Cistus and Halimium, and lavender both English and French.
I lust> after traditional blowsy herbaceous borders but can't
achieve them on such> poor soil sadly. > > > > I have a great
weakness for Echeverias and Agaves most of which have to be> found
space indoors or in un-heated cold frames over the winter. I have>
travelled a lot in Europe and have snaffled seed from various
places which> is how I have fallen into growing more bulbs.> > > >
I have a very happy Urginea maritima from Crete growing in the
open in> almost pure gravel (collected as a grapefruit sized bulb
which had been> dislodged by road works - honestly it's true, I
have a witness) producing> three flower heads each year now -
despite the trip's botanist being very> negative about it's
chances. This year's triumph was to flower Iris xiphium> from seed
collected in Andorra five years ago and two of my five bulbs>
flowered a deep indigo blue, much nicer than those wishy washy
blue> florists versions. I have lots of Anemone pavonina in pots
grown from seed> collected in the Peloponnese - scarlet, shocking
gorgeous scarlet ! not> those pretty pink and blues you get mostly
in the islands. I also have three> pots of unidentified somethings
collected on the southernmost point of the> Matapan peninsula on
the same trip. An iris of some sort I think but what ?> My current
bet is on Iris tuberosa but they are being real buggers and have>
refused to flower so far.> > > > I am going on a trip further
afield than usual in November, three weeks in> Ethiopia,
travelling about the country from high elevations to low. Is
there> anything I might find there that would be worth keeping an
eye out for?> > > > I used to post in the uk.rec.gardens newsgroup
a lot so hi to anyone who> knows me from there - I see Rodger
Whitlock continues being very helpful to> everyone.> > > > Finally
I'd like to thank all you guys for posting such fabulous photos
on> your wiki. I have spent many a happy lunch hour at work
browsing the pics> and drooling. > > > > Karen Mountford> >
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