BCSS Macclesfield & East Cheshire Branch

Newsletter March 2005 - Not the Chairman’s rambles

Have just been into the greenhouse before writing these notes to see if there are any reasons to be joyful. I can’t see any buds yet anywhere. Nothing on the Rebutias, the Mammillarias laugh at me.

Some of the Aloes have decaying flower stalks and one or two are showing new buds. The old reliable favourite in the porch, Aloe sinkatana has its regular double umbrella of acid yellow buds. In spite of my extra lighting in the greenhouse it doesn’t look as if any new buds have been speeded up there.

What is causing me rather more concern is the state of the plastic, mini greenhouse. About a year ago the tension on the zips was causing the threads to rip the front plastic cover but now I notice that the plastic has got so brittle, presumably due to UV rays, that holes are appearing anywhere, especially in the top.

The Two Wests and Elliot catalogue shows that spare plastic covers for the models they sell are available but mine is not one of their designs. If you know of a garden centre, B&Q or somewhere like that that does offer just the cover, I’d be grateful for the information.

I haven’t been splashing water about yet, except for some small Agaves that were starting to wrinkle and one or two of the Argyrodermas which had also started to wrinkle. Following the advice of the late Sonia Barker-Fricker I always keep them plump (and sucks boo to National Society judges of judges who don’t agree) Speaking of South African plants a neighbour has just returned after two weeks in SA and I loaned her several books on plant life in SA and she had a whale of a time, particularly in the Karoo, looking at gems.

Before she went she asked me if there was anything she could bring me back - legally. Having established that she was travelling light I forebore asking for a fully grown Aloe pillansii or Pachypodium namaquanum. I asked her to collect me a few seeds and she’s kindly brought me a Protea flower kit. It requires a mildly acid compost. How mild is mild?

Next Monday, 21st February, I’ve been invited on a magazine shoot with the magazine “Black and White Photography”. It’s not on merit. If you live in the area of the shoot and you’ve applied to go and you have access to a darkroom then you may get the call. My subject is a wind farm near Penistone. Not something I’m madly in favour of. Let’s hope that the weather doesn’t preclude some happy snaps.

Geoff Hough