BCSS Macclesfield & East Cheshire Branch

Newsletter March 2006 - Chairman’s chat

Thank you everyone who turned up for the AGM, and for voting me in as Chairman for another year. I sometimes feel I can't live up to expectations, because although I love cacti and succulents (and any plants in general really), and I do try to grow nice plants for my enjoyment, however I am not at all interested in showing plants myself. I hasten to add that I hate competition of any kind, always feeling sorry for the losers, so there you have it! In spite of that I will always endeavour to do my best for the Society and it's members.

I hope the saying "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb" is true, I can't believe how cold and miserable it has been. Apart from a few snowdrops nothing in our garden is doing very much, not even the grass is growing. This is the time of year We have to think about emptying the greenhouse of the plants that have been over-wintered, that are usually in the garden. I always worry about putting out plants that have survived a very cold winter outside only to have them ruined by a heavy unexpected frost. I have some large old opuntias and am always amazed that they survive the winter. They look rather dilapidated and I'm afraid some of the pads may end up as tortoise fodder.

I'm off again to Cyprus at the end of March, just need to get a bit of proper sun, I'll try to smuggle some back in my suitcase for us all.

Christine Foye