Let me introduce myself ...

[Lesley Cox]

Well Tim, it's great to have you here at last. No-one sends you a bigger welcome than I do, but you know that already. Maggi could probably do with one of your wonderful big hugs, but she's not getting one you gave to me.

[Tim Orpin]

Thanks to all for the kind words of welcome. Maggi goddess it is!

Lesley, I can assure you that your hugs are not in jeopardy. They have been stockpiled and are waiting for you when you come over in a few months.

I will do my best to post photos of my little piece of heaven and some of Otto's rare treasures. Attached is a pic of the creek at the bottom of my garden. It is a wild and beautiful place.   

[fermi de Sousa]

Welcome back, Tim.
Just in case readers of the Forum think that all Australians have gardens with fern gullies, here are some pics from our garden in Central Victoria - definitely dryland gardening! And this first one is a winter pic so reasonable rain had fallen! The next ones are spring shots so you can see that "summer dry climates" are still worthwhile for gardening!
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

Some interesting shots there Fermi. Obviously little daffs like your garden very well. I'll have to see if Tim and Otto can be persuaded into a longish journey, come April. (I fly into Melbourne early on Easter Monday, the 9th).

[fermi de Sousa]

hi Lesley
Narcissus viridiflorus would be the the only daff possible at that time of the year! But, of course, you'd all be very welcome!
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks Fermi, I'll be trying.

Lesley, I'm saying nothing, though I may be thinking plenty!!  M

[Bjoerg47]

Hello, friends. I'm a woman from Telemark in Norway,at age 60 (soon) who has been gardening for many years. My main interests up to now are Clematis and Hosta. But we have a cottage up in the mountains of Norway, where I want to 'cover' the mountain with alpines. I like to read (browse?) on internet, and some years ago I was a member of SRGC, so I'm now a member again. Once a year me and my husband are cyckling in Great Britain or Ireland on holiday, so perhaps one day we can visit some of you. 

I think I will learn a lot just to read what you discuss, thank You for that.

[snowdropman]

Hi Bjoerg - a big welcome to the forum and thank you very much for taking the time to tell us a little about yourself and your interests, which is always appreciated.

[Mark Griffiths]

Hi, I'm Mark Griffiths, currently living just outside of Oxford, formerly Newbury and before that Worcester in England. I've been interested in alpines since I was about 14, my history teacher was John Hill, now at the AGS centre (though I didn't know of his interest until I moved to another school). I also got a lot of encouragement from Percy Picton, Joe Elliott, Tony Colmer and many others. I've built and lost several collections over the years, I prefer cultivation under glass. My interests change over the years, now I grow alot of Cyclamen (almost all from seed), Frits and Primula allionii forms plus a number of other odds and ends. I've written for the AGS journals, Cyclamen Society etc. I'm not however the Times Gardening correspondent who once wrote to me to ask me to state I wasn't him on my website!

[Maggi Young]

Welcome, again, Mark. Thanks for telling us a bit about your gardening interests. It is hugely satisfying to grow plants from seed, isn't it? Not that it isn't fun to buy plants but somehow, when you've grown them from seed there is the added treat of feeling it all your own work, that's how I feel, anyway

[PEAK]

So this is probably a good day to intruduce oneself, sitting home with a cold and fever! My name is Per-Åke Löfdahl, there is a possibility that my name looks strange on your computers because there are some dots and circles over some letters. I am 47 years old and live together with Lena in Tyresö (more dots), 30 km SE of Stockholm. I have two daughters but since I was an early starter both have left home. This is very convenient because it gives me more room for plants
I am working as a scientist at The Royal Institute of Technology and my research is in the area biotechnology / biophysics. I started my gardening career with growing cacti and other succulents, quite soon I began sowing them, and then I were hooked up! The best description of me is probably that I am a seedaholic! Last year I did sow 540 different species. Of course I like to keep the plants, but the most joy I find in germinating seeds and learn their requirements for breaking dormancy. Nowdays I don't have that many cacti left, I have more turned to alpines and bulbs. When it comes to bulbs my highest interest is in South African and Chilean winter growers. This is a quite stupid interest in Sweden since these plant grow when the levels of day-light here are almost none. So the electricity deliverer loves me, and the light of my 450W HPS lamps enlightens the whole neighborhood
When not at work in greenhouse or garden I do some running and cycling, last year I ran the Stockholm marathon but this year it will pobably be some cycling race instead!
Best wishes from a Stockholm where forcast says we can get below -20C tonight!

[hadacekf]

A warm welcome Per-Åke, I had 300 seed pots in my best time!

[Anthony Darby]

Döt and circle away Per-Åke - they all come through "loud and clear". By the way, the green bush cricket is.....?

[PEAK]

Thank you Franz, I do not intend to set a new personal best this year!

I äm häppy that the förum software is able to handle our strange letters. I am also glad that at least someone realized that the green guy wasn't me I am the grey one!
The green creature is living in South America and is a species in the Praying Mantis family, it is the most weird animal I have ever seen. But then of course I have never been to Scotland
If not stopped by moderators I will post a larger picture of it!

[Maggi Young]

It is okay to post a bigger picture of the green monster,Per-Åke , since I am sitting down with a can of pesticide ready!  I must say, I much prefer the grey guy!