BCSS Macclesfield & East Cheshire Branch

Newsletter December 2006 - Chairman’s chat

Season's greetings from your chairperson.

I hope you are all ready for the forthcoming festive season. I'm afraid it has surprised me once again - I am not ready for it! I keep thinking when I retire from work I will be able to prepare in good time. It is a strange time, most of my plants are looking weary, my tortoises are all fast asleep ( lucky for some ), my money slips through my fingers so fast I can hardly believe I had any. Harry just does not seem to understand why I spend so much at this time of year, You would think after 6 grandchildren he wouldn't have to keep asking where it has gone! Men!!! They appear to be so oblivious to it all!!

We have filled the greenhouse once again with many of Harry's beloved geraniums, and a few of my succulents that were out in the garden over the year. The only cacti in there are large Opuntias and some demoted cacti that Harry has rescued after I tried to throw them out.

I acquired a very tall Didieria - no name on it - earlier this year, which should really have gone to Julia's, but it fell off my son's trailer down our road, the pot broke but thankfully no harm came to the plant. I could not bear the thought of trying to get it to Congleton after that, so it is in my conservatory. It will only need to grow about another eight inches before it hits the roof, then I will have to think again.

I bought another Jatropha a few weeks ago. It is called Jatropha multifida. Unfortunately it has the most awful smell, like some very cheap perfume. Has anyone else had this, and is there anything I can do?

I would like to finish by wishing everyone a very happy Christmas, and a peaceful, healthy New Year.

Christine Foye