BCSS Macclesfield & East Cheshire Branch

Newsletter December 2007 - Something to read

PACHYFORMS - A Guide to growing Pachycaul and Caudiciform plants

About three years ago "PACHYFORMS - A Guide to growing Pachycaul and Caudiciform plants" by Philippe de Vosjolii was added to the Branch Library and was favourably reviewed by the much missed Shirley Brennan. A second volume has now appeared with the author now in partnership with Rudy Lime and this one has the subtitle "Bonsai Succulents". It's again published by Advanced Visions Inc. and printed in China. The cost varies but it is around the £30 mark. The book focuses on promotion of SMOLA an abbreviation of Succulents as a Medium of Living Art, something of American origin that has emerged over the last thirty years. Guidance on plant selection, pot selection, cultivation, training and maintenance is provided. There are notes on species (continued from Volume One) and two extensive photo galleries, one covering bonsai plants and the other extending the range of Pachyforms covered previously. The latter gallery is very useful. There are some excellent photographs of some very fine plants often in very fine containers, as is the American style, and also of some of rather mundane plants which I think are rather flattered. I have some misgivings about the references to collection of wild plants which occur from time to time.

Volume Two and its predecessor don't reach the heights of Gordon Rowley's "Caudiciform and Pachycaul Succulents" book of 1987 but that's difficult to obtain nowadays so if you're into caudexes then the Pachyform Series might be the thing for you.

I regularly receive the Two Wests and Elliot Greenhouse and Gardening Catalogue. The firm's description of the catalogue is "Everything you need to get the best from your garden all year round" and that is pretty accurate, you can get anything from a ball of twine to a greenhouse costing thousands of pounds with an amazing variety of items in between. In my experience over quite a few years their products are excellent. You can order by phone, post or on line and have your things delivered or call and collect from Chesterfield.

A publication which is definitely worth a browse.

Alasdair Glen