New Zealand and Australia
Johannes Ulrich Urban via pbs (Wed, 29 Jul 2020 15:55:19 PDT)

Hello Bruce and all other members of the PBS in New Zealand and Australia,

Thank you for your mail to the list. You make an important point. I
understand your frustration only all to well! And I did expect some
reactions like yours. It is indeed very frustrating to read long lists
of interesting seeds or bulbs one cannot order from. I feel like this
when I see the many Narcissus on offer right now......

It is exactly this frustration which was and is the driving force behind
the idea to create a EU branch of the BX/SX. It is NOT because the PBS
would refuse to send us any goodies.  No,  the reason is to be found in
our own countries. Speaking for the EU the import of even small amounts
of seeds has been made practically impossible, not to talk about bulbs.
I had some very unpleasant (from the content) telephone conversations
with EU-officials in this sense. And a letter with a few small seed
packets from California stuck in the Portuguese customs and Plant Health
office for several months now, I will probably never get it. Another
issue is that Brexit approaching creates uncertainty concerning our UK
members.

The Commitee of the PBS has given me all the necessary support for this
new initiative, thank you very much again.

The EU countries are very diverse which is blessing and curse at the
same time.... we have a very old gardening tradition, each country in
its own right. There are many private plant collections, many botanical
gardens with a long history and many nurseries, often family run for
several generations. And not to forget the many different climate zones.

This strength can hopefully be mobilized into the new EU exchange. It
meant meting like minded people in person,speaking, writing and
telephoning with as many people as possible to find out if there is
motivation. And it needs a lot of attention to detail.

I am not familiar with the situation in New Zealand and Australia. Can
you ship plant material in between the two? If not, you would have to
see in each country separately if there is enough potential to set up a
comparable scheme. I want to state that we do not intended to split away
from the PBS, I do not believe in splitting resources which normally
turns out to reduce them.

Can you look at your current situation and try to make the best out of
it? I think both of your countries also have a longstanding gardening
tradition, impressive plant collections, good nurseries and well known
botanical gardens. AND devoted people! Not at least you have a native
flora many of us envy you for....

I am more than happy to share my experience with you

Bye for now

Uli

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