Moan, Moan, Moan - 2012

[Lesley Cox]

They Anthony, along with the Royal NZ Yacht Squadron are so far up themselves that they think that only the braindead whom they permit to become members, are up to the honour. Disgraceful, I agree.

[Gerry Webster]

This morning I discovered that my Sorbus vilmorinii - planted about 30 years ago - was dead. Widely recommended at the time as an ideal tree for small gardens, it was never a great success here, only producing a few berries every year. Much  later I discovered it was very drought sensitive & so was not a good choice for my hot garden. However, the foliage was attractive & the light shade was useful. More important, the roots penetrated one of my sand plunges & kept it on the dry side during the summer - ideal for bulbs.
I have no idea of the cause of death. Two cold winters? Disease? Old age?

[ronm]

Have you checked that its not the Asian Longhorn beetle Gerry. Its a tree killer and just arrived in your area possibly. ?

[Gerry Webster]

Have you checked that its not the Asian Longhorn beetle Gerry. Its a tree killer and just arrived in your area possibly. ?

I've looked on the internet Ron & I've seen nothing like this beetle - they look very distinctive. However, I'll have a look for the exit holes tomorrow; this seems to be a good way of detecting their presence.

[ronm]

Unless you are (un)lucky enough to find the actual insect which is really difficult, the exit holes are the best way, you're correct Gerry. I hope you don't find them. I think these things are probably notifiable!

[Anthony Darby]

They Anthony, along with the Royal NZ Yacht Squadron are so far up themselves that they think that only the braindead whom they permit to become members, are up to the honour. Disgraceful, I agree.

NZ$2000 membership speaks for itself. During the NZ Open there in January one of the players had to stop and berate one of the members/corporate yuppies sitting at one of the court side tables for talking loudly on his mobile phone during games. Presumably this numpty will find his way to a prepaid expensive seat at the Olympics and do the same, meanwhile my sister and thousands of other locals can't get tickets to any event!

This morning I discovered that my Sorbus vilmorinii - planted about 30 years ago - was dead. Widely recommended at the time as an ideal tree for small gardens, it was never a great success here, only producing a few berries every year. Much  later I discovered it was very drought sensitive & so was not a good choice for my hot garden. However, the foliage was attractive & the light shade was useful. More important, the roots penetrated one of my sand plunges & kept it on the dry side during the summer - ideal for bulbs.
I have no idea of the cause of death. Two cold winters? Disease? Old age?

My goodness. In New Zealand we have an ad (for the "TSB Bank") where a man lands in a heap from outer space. His new found friend tells him to put his money in the bank and proceeds to tell him some banks don't give value for money. The stranger then asks "why?", where upon his friend suggests he sticks to easy questions. His next question "do trees die of old age?". Perhaps Gerry will be able to tell us in a day or two? BTW, if it's called the "TSB Bank" in New Zealand, what does the B in TSB stand for?

[Lesley Cox]

TSB and ASB respectively stand for Taranaki Savings Bank and Auckland Savings Bank so they are now Taranaki Savings Bank Bank and Auckland Savings Bank Bank. Very very silly silly. Years ago all the various provinces had community owned Trust banks named as TSB etc. Most were bought out by the bigger fish and merged into nothing in particular and ceased to exist. I think TSB is still owned within its community but may be wrong about that. ASB would like to think it has become a big bank, but hasn't. Otago Savings Bank became the Otago Community Trust and gives funds each year to assorted causes within Otago (including bringing Tony Hall here in 2000 to speak at Otago Alpine Garden Group's millenium celebration, an international symposium). ASB and most of the others became strictly for shareholders profit outfits I think. Communities losing out. I'll stick with Kiwibank which is NZ owned unlike all the rest, though I wish it didn't have such a Micky Mouse-type name.

[Gerry Webster]

Unless you are (un)lucky enough to find the actual insect which is really difficult, the exit holes are the best way, you're correct Gerry. I hope you don't find them. I think these things are probably notifiable!

No sign of any exit holes, so presumably not the beetle.
There are very large & wide longitudinal cracks in the bark. Frost damage? Surprisingly, some bits of the tree seem to be still alive; not for much longer I guess, judging by the base of the trunk.

[Martinr]

The cracks look a bit like I'd expect from canker type infections. Is there any black liquid in the cracks?

[fredg]

No sign of any exit holes, so presumably not the beetle.

Aw!

I had visions of Gerry camped outside an exit hole with his 12 bore resting over his legs.

[Gerry Webster]

The cracks look a bit like I'd expect from canker type infections. Is there any black liquid in the cracks?

I wondered about canker, but no liquid as far as I can see.

Aw!

I had visions of Gerry camped outside an exit hole with his 12 bore resting over his legs.

I keep this for the cats.

[fredg]

Darn it, I'm not too happy with the Fritillaria I bought in the autumn.
I posted about one error in supply but it gets worse.

So far.

Purchased      Supplied
F. graeca       F. uva-vulpis
F. pallidiflora   F. persica
F. minuta       F. hermonis amana
F. pudica       F. aurea

Please note ... so far and each mistake is a different supplier.
 

Fred,

Have you contacted each of them to let them know and ask for the correct one, or a refund, this coming season?  Their responses to that will be more telling.  Mixups can happen, but it's what they do when they find out about a mixup which tells you whether they were deliberate or accidental.

Of the 3 suppliers contacted.
1. Sorry it's wrong but they are all correct at this end, we will however replace this autumn. The wrong bag must have been placed in your order. ( Strange how the wrong bag had the right species name on it  )
2. OMG how did that happen, profuse apologies, full refund immediately.
3. Full explanation of the situation (cock-up) and full refund.

[Gerry Webster]

Darn it, I'm not too happy with the Fritillaria I bought in the autumn.
I posted about one error in supply but it gets worse.

So far.

Purchased      Supplied
F. graeca       F. uva-vulpis
F. pallidiflora   F. persica
F. minuta       F. hermonis amana
F. pudica       F. aurea

Please note ... so far and each mistake is a different supplier.
 

Fred,

Have you contacted each of them to let them know and ask for the correct one, or a refund, this coming season?  Their responses to that will be more telling.  Mixups can happen, but it's what they do when they find out about a mixup which tells you whether they were deliberate or accidental.

Of the 3 suppliers contacted.
1. Sorry it's wrong but they are all correct at this end, we will however replace this autumn. The wrong bag must have been placed in your order. ( Strange how the wrong bag had the right species name on it  )
2. OMG how did that happen, profuse apologies, full refund immediately.
3. Full explanation of the situation (cock-up) and full refund.

Fred - 2 out of 3 apologies + refunds is not bad. In my experience, the response - more than once -  from one supplier is : " this species is very variable". When I enquired, if that is the case, why is it sold under the name of a very distinct & easily recognisable  species I received no reply. Likewise, when I pointed out that, on the website, the same photo is used for two distinct plants.
I hope the offered replacement is what you want. In my case it was not - twice.

[ronm]

I also think you did pretty well there Fred.
I only complained once this year and was told ( I paraphrase ), "Don't worry because we aren't selling them anymore". 

[Lesley Cox]

Oh well, maybe those replies were more likely than the one received from my (late) friend when he ordered 100 Narc. cyclamineus from an extremely well known and respected bulb firm in Holland. It was very rare here at the time, in the 70s. They duly arrived but when they flowered out of season, all were found to be what we already grew in quantity, as N. lobularis, a little lemon and pale yellow trumpet. When Bob wrote and asked for a refund or replacement, he was told no, because the bulbs must have changed as they crossed the equator into the southern hemisphere. The letter was signed by someone whose name has been mentioned occasionally, especially in the AGS Bulletin, with great reverence. I won't mention the name here. Bob wrote back and repeated his request for refund or replacement, but never heard any more from the firm.