Czech Alpine Conference and Tours May 2007

[David Shaw]

He had the greenest grass I/we have ever seen

And that from an Irish man!

[Mick McLoughlin]

Wonderful gardens and pictures Mark. Thanks for showing them to us.
How do you manage to keep a record of what the pictures are, as well as taking them at the same time?
I had enough problems with the few I took at Harrogate.

[mark smyth]

Mick there are more plants unknown than named. If it's gardens that you mean I took the photos off the cameras after dinner each night. And to aid me I took a photo of each gardener at the start of each visit. I would love to know all the plants.

Each garden was totally different from all others. Many said this is "fantastic I want to do this" at each garden. Most had water in the garden but one guy, a garden designer, had a lake with fish that he caught to eat. He brought us through the garden via what seemed to be the garden, a witch's broom pinetum, and suddenly there was the rockery with natural running water a little spoilt by the white hose that diverted some from the natural brook or what ever a tiny stream is called. All gardens had witch's brooms a couple had huge numbers. Vojtech's son, David, has his collection at the front of the house. Alas he has lost the love. Deciduous Rhododendrons, Azaleas, featured in four gardens. Why were we blown away by the selection of plants grown? They can't pop down to the local nursery as there isnt one. All plants are grown from seed and everyone props plants to share with friends and visitors. I'm sure those selling plants made a fortune last week. I bought a lot of plants, double figures  but some bought 100+.

Would I go again? tomorrow!!

Two of the longest travellers were forum members. Fermi and Otto

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Mark
 In post #14 the first unknown after the Trollius is the prophet flower, Arnica, I think; the next is a type of Eriogonum.
Unknown composite 3-2 is an erigeron, possibly "Canary Bird"???
cheers
fermi

[Anthony Darby]

I'm in awe.

[mark smyth]

elsewhere I mentioned a bug bite and swollwn ankles. Talking to The Bug Master he knew immediately what bit me - Anthocoris nemorum. You will see here why I described it as having the same pattern as the socks of female Scottish dancers http://www.biolib.cz/en/image/id30443/

[ranunculus]

...Could that be Arnebia echioides  in post #14, Fermi and Mark?

Wonderful images Mark....I know it is greedy but do you have any of the delegates please so that we can put faces to names?

[Anthony Darby]

I'm still curious about Susan's fascination with Mark's legs.......

[Maggi Young]

I'm still curious about Susan's fascination with Mark's legs

No mystery, there, Anthony... we've heard that the food wasn't very good: the poor girl was hungry !

[Luc Gilgemyn]

How many marvels Mark !
What a shower of great plants and immaculate gardens !

Thanks for showing us !

[Anthony Darby]

I wonder how many lurkers that you met are spying on us right now Mark? Come on guys, join in. We don't bite, and you won't get snowed under with emails, even if you do give out your name and email address. I don't even opt for the automatic emails that can be generated by 'new postings' as I prefer to look for new postings rather than have them rammed down my throat.

[ranunculus]

I presume there was alcohol available in East Bohemia....perhaps Susan was actually 'legless' herself?

[Anthony Darby]

No mystery, there, Anthony... we've heard that the food wasn't very good: the poor girl was hungry !

That might be another explanation for Mark's bites? Highland dancer's socks. Red herring more like?

[Lesley Cox]

Yes to the Arnebia and I'd say the two under it are one of the Eriogonums?

[Susan Band]

To dispel any myths that I have a fascination with Marks legs, here is a full length photo of Mark and Julia at the top of the garden of Jaromir Grulich. This was an amazing garden built from a huge cliff, He planted directly into the cliff face and natural screes. There were Daphnes, Lewisias, conifers and loads of other things all growing out of the cliffs.
A picture of Julia and our very patient guide for the bus trips, Vojtech Holubec, behind them the rocks are all planted up in a most natural way. Unfortunatly it was the only garden Mum didn't manage up.