Let me introduce myself ...

[ian mcenery]

I suppose I'd better follow suit.

Hi I'm Ian I'm a compulsive (obsessive) collector and occasionally manage to cultivate - most I struggle with - a catholic range of plants including alpines. I have a scree, humus beds, herbaceous and a woodlandly  type area which I love. My main loves are Rhodos and Ericaceous plants, Trilliums, meconopsis, orchids including a collection of cyps and woodland plants and Hellebores.   Lately I have taken an interest (obsession) in bulbs and have accumulated far too many bulbs and pots of seeds. I try to grow nearly all plants in the open garden and grow only a few bulbs in pots.

Our garden is not large but neither is it small and is situated at about 600 ft above sea level in the West Midlands. As we live in an area which could be described as open woodland although being high up we are protected from strong winds. Although it can be very cold here in UK terms - you can't get any further away from the sea here - we are not in a frost pocket so sometimes I get away with some very early flowering Rhodos like Macabeanum which flowers in February - but mostly it gets blighted

I am married to Pam and we are grandparents a few times over so maybe I can encourage them to be interested in plants as to date my sons have shown little interest. Maybe this skips a generation, as my grandfather was a very keen gardener. I still work but thankfully a little less these days.

Because my garden is unsuitable for growing veg I have recently acquired an allotment. The plans are also to grow on seedlings of plants such as hellebores to select better forms

[Lesley Cox]

Lovely to get all these notes about well-known friends and about new posters too. That's one great result from the new Forum. Ian, all the seedlings from your single and double black hellebores are growing on well. Thanks so much. Whatever there eventual shades turn out to be, I'm looking forward to them very much. Winter after next I expect.

[Magnar]

Hi all.

I am Magnar Aspaker from North Norway. I have been a memeber of SRGC for many years, think I joined some time in the 1980-es. If you want to see what I grow in my garden you can visit my home page at http://magnar.aspaker.no

I want to congratulate the club with this new forum , it looks great and I'm sure I will be visiting it often.

[John Forrest]

Thanks Maggi, Thomas & Sue I have found the symbols in word and am now not 1º under but am ØVĔŔ ŢĦĘ ΜƠŌŊ.

 

[Mick McLoughlin]

Hi,
  I'm Mick McLoughlin from near Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Married with 1 daughter at home, we moved house a year ago in order to have some garden space. Still developing the garden and an interest in alpines.

            Mick

[Paul T]

Hello All,

I'm Paul, and I'm a Plant Addict!!!

I live in Canberra, Australia with my long suffering (suffering from the affects of my addiction of course!) wife Yvonne who deserves at the very least a medal, but probably more than that she deserves a rest from me!!   Also present here in the house is my maltese terrier by the name of Elfinraer (which she only gets when she is in trouble.... her usual name is Elf).

I grow just about anything I can lay my grubby (from gardening) little hands on!!  Preference is given to unusual bulbs and perennials, but I'm adaptable!!    You name it, and if it can grow here then I've probably got it or a relative, or tried it at the very least.  WAY too addicted to this gardening caper.     In my usual email signature to gardening lists I include the following (which sums it up pretty well)....
Growing an eclectic collection of plants from all over the world including Aroids, Crocus, Cyclamen, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, Galanthus, Irises, Trilliums (to name but a few) and just about anything else that doesn't move!!

Welcome everyone who I haven't met before, and nice to find out more about some of you that I have!!!

[mark smyth]

hello Paul! Can we see a photo of the dog? I dont know it

[Paul T]

You mean that you haven't seen my dog, or you haven't heard of the breed "Maltese Terrier"?  A Maltese (white fluffy thing that is usually on speed or some other drug that turns it into a hyperactive bundle of energy. ) is a common breed here in Aus.

[John Forrest]

I suggest that you use a high speed setting on your camera to photograph Elf, if she is in hyperactive mode. I think you should also bite the bullet and post one of yourself on your profile. It's much nicer to see the person you are talking to.

[Paul T]

John,

I dunno about that..... I think you'd find it is actually much nicer to speak to the empty space without having to look at me!!

I do have pics of Elf when she has slowed down at times.  Pretty rare though.  Best done when she is asleep!

[Paul T]

By the way John...... where exactly is Blackppol?  Anywhere near Blackpool?    Sorry, couldn't resist!!

[John Forrest]

Paul, I think it's very unkind of you to make fun of my stttutter. Have now managed to correct my profile. Obviously everybody else was too polite to point it out.
Still waiting for that empty space to be filled and to see Elf.

[Paul T]

John,

Well unfortunately, that is me.... unkind! <sigh>  Sorry, couldn't help myself!!  

[Olga Bondareva]

Hi to everyone!

I am Olga. I’ve been reading old forum for a year but did not say anything. Think this is a good opportunity to stop hesitation and introduce myself.

I am alpine lover from Moscow, Russia. I am crazy about all kinds of alpines but mostly gentians, daphnes and primroses. I am very interested in our native plants. I make several trips every year looking for new plants or unusual forms.

I’m happy to join you! Your magnificent images and good advances were my good friends and assistants this year. Best wishes to new forum!

[Paul T]

Welcome Olga!!!!!  Glad to have you with us!