Vices, Daphnes and hybrid Lewisias....how's that for a thread?

[Lesley Cox]

This page was formed from a "diversion" in the What Ipheion" page !

Maggi, I don't think I should be on this forum as I don't like chocolate, and never eat any or anything that has chocolate in it. I can't stand the taste of it.
Will I get banished now ?

Michael you are an un-natural man!

[Michael J Campbell]

Michael you are an un-natural man!

Lesley, I don't smoke or drink alcohol either.

[Maggi Young]

goodness me, Michael, if you now  tell us you are single you'll have women queueing round to block to propose marriage to you on the 29th February... it's a leap year , you know!

[Michael J Campbell]

I am afraid I am married for over 40 years, but I suppose I could take a fresh look at any new offers.   

[David Nicholson]

I am afraid I am married for over 40 years, but I suppose I could take a fresh look at any new offers.   

....when a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of........

[Lesley Cox]

I don't smoke alcohol either Michael  but I do drink it.
My late mother would be asking what you Do do, because, in her words, "the old Adam has to come out somewhere."

[Maggi Young]

Lesley, that is a most indelicate question to Michael   .... besides, it's none of our business.  ... though, between you and I... if he's been married for over forty years, then whatever it is, he's making a good job of it 

[Michael J Campbell]

I don't smoke alcohol either Michael but I do drink it.

Two countries divided by a common language.

[Michael J Campbell]

Lesley, I am afraid it is a family thing,there are seven in my family and none of them drink alcohol ,or smoke tobacco ,or any other kind of  weed.
  I thought this was a casual forum, if you want to snipe at small mistakes in the postings that's your business,
I never professed to be an authority on the Queens English.(I am Irish)  I am a retired Nurseryman and was a manager for Sam Mcgredy who now lives in New Zealand. I breed and grow new varieties of plants and graft and propagate dwarf Daphne's. Some of the other forum members can support what I have said.
On another forum one smart person corrected a mistake that I had made, and included three mistakes in their reply.
So there you have it.
Cheers.

[Maggi Young]

Don't take offence at Lesley, Michael, she is only teasing you. Besides, none of us here are, as far as I know, trained typists, and that's where most of our mistakes come from!

 You worked for Sam Mcgredy? Isn't he the rose man?  Ian's little sister has as her godmother the sister of Mrs Nan Cocker , of Cocker's Roses in Aberdeen... they bred Alec's Red and lots of other fine roses... would you know of them?

 Since you are a Daphne man you will need to tell me what to do for the little dwarf devils to keep them happy here in Aberdeen. We have the most awful bother with them!

[Michael J Campbell]

Yes Maggi, I met all the rose people when I was Sam's private gardener, they used to come and visit all the time, Korde's, Polsen,Cocker's, and lots of others, some of  the names I can't recall at the moment. He had five acres of a private garden and I used to have to provide all the flowers and vegetables for the house.
He had over 600 acres of a nursery and 142 personnel if I remember correctly.

What is the problem with your daphne's?
 

[Maggi Young]

What is the problem with your daphnes?

 They die, Michael !   I'm not sure what their problem is, we give them nice homes in stone troughs, for the most part... I'm talking about the little ones, grafted forms of D. petraea, etc...  Rosebud for instance... I can't remember all their names.... they grow very slowly for a little while and then quietly die.  Do you think they might be happier of a little lime in their mix? Someone made that suggestion to me, but I wasn't sure. Our mix is only just  on the acid side.

[Michael J Campbell]

Maggi, they like a little lime and a handful of composted bark to keep away any root disease,and very good drainage. I plant mine in a scree bed in 6 inches of coarse gravel with just a handful of coarse sand round the roots. They have to search for the soil which is 6 inches below and that is about 60% gravel. I never plant them outside into soil, only coarse sand. They are all fed with seaweed  Tomato feed.  Remember, Drainage, Drainage, Drainage.

[Michael J Campbell]

Just for Lesley.

anomatheca hyb own cross
 003 Primula Hyb
 004 Primula Hyb
 Rediviva hyb
 rediviva hyb
 rediviva hyb
 Rediviva hyb
 Rediviva hyb 6
  Lewisia Longipetala x Rediviva
 Lewisia Brachycalyx X Cotyledon Hyb

[Michael J Campbell]

Sorry about the double post.
Here is the one I missed