The 2020 picture Diary

[charlie]

Had the first couple of frosts here but the following still looking OK although its the usual suspects

When ever I berate myself for not having investigated Cornish micro climates before moving down and for not having moved just a few miles further west than I did, I am consoled that I at least I didn't end up in famous frost pocket!

Have you just had a grass frost or actually an air frost?

I don't think I've had either here yet, at least as with Andy I still have green Impatiens.

Chad

Just white grass so far no ice on ponds :) (I am probably not as windy as you :) )

[AndyC]

If the vasconellea was from mine, I used to dig that up every years for a few years on the trot and unceremoniously stuff it into as small a pot as I could get away with then bed it out again the following spring. Got to be worth a try, Andy.

What I have found in the past that with a lack of a fibrous root system and light sand soil it was difficult to dig the plant up and retain any soil around its roots. Last year the one I left out didn't survive the winter. I'll try using fleece for mild frosts and if we have a really cold spell forecast then I'll try digging it out and potting up for a spell in the greenhouse.

I kept the second plant Chad gave me in a pot so I've got another chance next year.

[Paul S]

A very few flower pics this morning. A couple late, one very early.

A first flowering for my Euphorbia veneris, grown from material I collected in Cyprus. Should flower early spring but seems confused.



A dahlia I rescued from my buddy Tim's garden after he died - he got it from Mark Fillan I think. I believe it is D. tamaulipana. Could probably do with more sun bt there you are. A superlative foliage plant, flowers don't add much and certainly not this late.



My Agave schidigera decided to reach for the sky really late this year. The spike has been growing steadily but recently slowing down - probably at full height now, around 4m. This morning i noticed that 3 flowers were out, so that is 3 down several hundred to go. How many more will make it?! I really hope so as it is going to die now!

[Paul S]

Indeed, yes. And, of course, Neil is his GP so I would have heard 'the worst' if it had happened. Dawn was actually fairly robust when I last saw her. Her dementia had made her regress into a sort of child like state, she was singing nursery rhymes, but still fairly robust. All the more worry for Rob now he can't keep her safe. I used to make a point of visiting whenever I went down to Cornwall but this year he put me off :(

I heard from Neil last night. Rob passed away on Saturday. :(

[charlie]

Indeed, yes. And, of course, Neil is his GP so I would have heard 'the worst' if it had happened. Dawn was actually fairly robust when I last saw her. Her dementia had made her regress into a sort of child like state, she was singing nursery rhymes, but still fairly robust. All the more worry for Rob now he can't keep her safe. I used to make a point of visiting whenever I went down to Cornwall but this year he put me off :(

I heard from Neil last night. Rob passed away on Saturday. :(

Oh, thats sad I had hoped to see him this year :( Thanks for letting us all know Paul

[Chad]

A hole in Cornish horticulture that can't be filled.

Requiescat in pace et in amore.

[Paul S]

A hole in Cornish horticulture that can't be filled.

Requiescat in pace et in amore.

Not just Cornish horticulture, Chad. Fair to say he has always been my biggest inspiration and influence - it was seeing Rob's garden for the first time back in the 90s that opened my eyes to the wider possibilities of growing cacti beyond the 'accepted' hardy bunch I had been dabbling with. Every year he was trying new things, always ahead of the game. And this was a man with no internet! So many fond memories.