Czech Alpine Conference and Tours May 2007

[Diane Clement]

Our second garden on the 1st day was Oldrich Maixner.  He had a garden several km away from his house (as did several we visited).  His potting shed was clinically ordered with tools and pots in serried ranks, and cleaner and neater than most kitchens (well, he was a dentist).  All necessities were catered for, with an installed toilet in the shed and a crate of beer.  

He had nice groups of trilliums and some good orchids in pots
general view
Trillium sessile and grandiflorum
T sessile
T albidum
Cypripedium parviflorum x calceolus
Cypripedium pubescens

[Paddy Tobin]

Mark,

What is a 'fake trough'?  - One pretending to be a trough but has no bottom? Can't hold its water? (or compost in its present use?)

No, I'm only kidding, I understand what you mean OK. No trough made from man-made materials.

There certainly were some interesting troughs, some fine long ones. I have seen some of these very  long troughs for sale but they were well beyond my pocket. I'm afraid I'm confined to old Belfast sinks or the home-made kind.

And, I have enjoyed all the photographs. The gardens are outstanding. What a treat it must have been to visit them all.

Paddy

[mark smyth]

he also had a bed in the shed

[Lesley Cox]

For those in to wildlife we saw lots of birds many new to me.  Greater Spotted Woodpeckers, Short-toed Treecreeper, Wood Warbler,

But has anyone ever seen a Splay-Footed Bumble Gobbler?

[David Nicholson]

There certainly were some interesting troughs, some fine long ones. I have seen some of these very  long troughs for sale but they were well beyond my pocket. I'm afraid I'm confined to old Belfast sinks or the home-made kind.

Paddy, had a look at a Belfast sink in a scrap yard (the owner would call it an architectural reclaimation area!)  a couple of weeks ago, he wanted £50 (E73, NZD 134.5) for it. Exit me muttering 'bl...y profiteer'

[Maggi Young]

But has anyone ever seen a Splay-Footed Bumble Gobbler?

Surely, Lesley, you must know that these have never been spotted in the Czech Republic.....and here, at the eastern edge of their range they are now extinct.... all killed for their delicious fur!

[ranunculus]

Then how come we can still see them hanging around on street corners here in Lancashire...their fur admittedly matted and in a range of exotic tints, but they are certainly of that particular genus.....one can tell by the distinctive call and embarrassingly short mating ritual?

[Lesley Cox]

So pleased they're still around, even if having had to resort to life in East Lancashire, a sad fate indeed.

Even though they've never been spotted in the Czech Republic, I wonder if the East Lancashire colony is spotted? If so, they would be of the sub species maculata which is characterized by acne-like spots among the matted fur, these appearing immediately before the embarrassingly short mating ritual, and are, in fact, the CAUSE of the embarrassing shortness of the mating ritual. And who cold blame the little critturs?

[Paddy Tobin]

You've said it so accurately, David.

My sinks came free, from skips or from people who were replacing their sinks.

Troughs must be home made. Here is one with Cyclamen coum.

Paddy

[mark smyth]

going back to avatars if you think mine needs changed Diane's looks nothing like her. She is much younger in reality

[mark smyth]

Paddy that one ones very nice almost like furrowed limestone

[Diane Clement]

Even though they've never been spotted in the Czech Republic, I wonder if the East Lancashire colony is spotted? If so, they would be of the sub species maculata which is characterized by acne-like spots among the matted fur, these appearing immediately before the embarrassingly short mating ritual, and are, in fact, the CAUSE of the embarrassing shortness of the mating ritual. And who cold blame the little critturs?

I think the East Lancs form is almost definitely forma inebriata and can only be found by careful surveillance on the day of an AGS show after lunch on the route from the pub back to show hall.  I am less experienced as to their behaviour on SRGC show days but certainly they turn out when joint rules apply. 

[ranunculus]

The East Lancashire brigade have always had a staunch methodist tradition......though that takes some saying when we've partaken of a few....

[Diane Clement]

The East Lancashire brigade have always had a staunch methodist tradition......though that takes some saying when we've partaken of a few....

Thanks for letting me know Cliff, I'll remember that on Saturday when it comes to buying drinks. 

[Diane Clement]

Jaromir Grulich's garden in Sedlonov was an incredible natural site in the hills.