I live in northern Italy, equivalent to USDA zone 8. I have been growing plants since I was 13 years old. If I could (room, time and money) I'd grow all kind of plants from ferns to sequoia. As I have a little garden and winters are wet and cold, I began to collect summer growing bulbs that can be stored in winter in the garage; then I made a little conservatory where to care for winter growing bulbs. My particular interest is in Amaryllidaceae, but I have representatives of a lot of families. Beside bulbs I like and grow Orchidaceae (Brassavola, Cattleya, Vanda, Dendrobium...), jasmines (white, rose, yellow), Cactaceae (treasures from Mexico - Ariocarpus, Astrophytum, Pelecyphora, Leucthenbergia, Lophophora - and epiphytes - Selenicereus, Hylocereus, Rhipsalis, Disocactus, Epiphyllum), gingers (above all Hedychium), Hoya, Euphorbia from Madagascar, Aloe from South Africa and Madagascar, Pachypodium and other succulent plants from South Africa. Another of my interests is botanical books and prints. I usually write for a monthly Italian magazine (Il Giardino Fiorito) devoted to plants and gardens. My job is quite different from gardening; I am a physician. But I am studying for a degree in Natural Science. At the moment I am organizing a show of Italian contemporary botanical illustrations. I think my madness has no limit.
Alberto Grossi