Incoming.

[Chad]

I wasn't in when it arrived, so I don't know how the carrier got on, but it has holes on the sides in the right places to be handles and wasn't very heavy.

I moved it about with no issues.

But it wouldn't fit in a letter box!

Chad

[Paul S]

I reckon the Crug boxes are perfect for courier as it is hard to stack them any way other the the right way up. There is of course all the writing all over the boxes to say there are plants inside but as a rule couriers don't read that type of stuff.

I bought S. trevesioides last year, Chad, and it faced it's first winter outside. probably a low of -4C where it is planted. Seems to be sulking a weeny bit but generally ok. I hope.

[Chad]

I bought S. trevesioides last year, Chad, and it faced it's first winter outside. probably a low of -4C where it is planted. Seems to be sulking a weeny bit but generally ok. I hope.

I'm a coward! It is being planted in the soil in the tunnel until I can get some cuttings off it!

So is the Tibouchina grossa.

Chad

[AndyC]

There seems to be an unwritten gentlefolks agreement not to sell propagules of plants bought from people who will be selling there themselves, so since Crûg will [hopefully] be there on the day I won't sell 'their' plants.

What was in your less exciting box?

Chad

A very valid and noble agreement.
My box came from Ralph at the Cactus shop and contained two of both Euphorbia resinifera and Agave stricta 'Charcas'.
I spotted a thread on GOTE that Paul was involved in a few years ago where there was some 'mild' disagreement as to the attributes/identification of A.stricta and A.striata.
Ralph told me that the seeds for his plants were collected in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Don't know whether or not that settles any issues?

[Paul S]

From there, striata. A. stricta is from a lot further south.

[Paul S]

Well, to expand, I'd add the the caveat that the seed could have been collected from a cultivated plant of stricta, rather than wild collected from striata. But Agave stricta has a limited range in the south of Mexico, Agave striata is widespread across central and northeast Mexico. San Louis Potosi is slap bang in the middle of the country, so wild seed could only be striata. But to slightly muddy the water a little more there is a fairly newly described species tenuifolia from the middle of Mexico. This grows in shade and has a more lax habit but otherwise quite similar to look at.

It's a minefield!

[AndyC]

I'll enjoy growing them on whatever their proper handle. :)

P.S. The palm I was going to put in the middle of the new bed is now going elsewhere. The new bed will be devoted to spikies and succulents and will have a winter rain shelter.

[charlie]

Not come across Tibouchina grossa on my travels, what does it do and when (ears pricked up and interested!!) :)

[Chad]

Tibouchina grossa:

Its 'unique selling point' is RED flowers.

I suspect the shrub will be a rangy untidy thing, but it is reputed to take a light frost.
As so often, Strange Wonderful Things gives a voluptuous account.

Cuttings will be taken to trial across forumists' gardens once we are allowed to meet again.

Mentioning Jeff at Strange Wonderful Things reminds me;

With John's help I have bid and bought seed of Bomarea superba.

I know the red sarco-testa of Bomarea has germination inhibitors in it, but how do you get the red off?

I've been trying to 'squidge' it off some [as yet unspeciated] highland Bomarea seed and it doesn't want to separate.

Chad

[charlie]

I soak it, then put the damp seed on a whole newspaper then rub with a second lump of newspaper, makes a hell of a mess!