First shopping trip of the year

[Ade Shattock]

I had my first proper shopping trip today, went down to Hardypalms to pick a Jubaea x Butia and a small Butyagrus then up to Vale Exotics and CGF.

Nigel at Hardypalms has some amazing waggies, the best Ive ever seen for sale and really good prices as well, loads of fortuneis at good prices as well if anyone is after one.
I didnt get anything at Vales this time but picked up a few bits from CGF, I must have been in a variegated mood as I bought Acanthus 'whitewater' that Ive not seen before, Agapathus 'silver moon' and another Tibouchina urvilleana all variegated forms.
I also picked up a Rheum palmatum 'red herald' as its quite a few years since I have had one of these in the garden and a Lobelia 'tania' which I need to look up.

Good little trip out and much needed to get the season under way.

[Nick]

I had a delivery of palm trees from Nigel on Friday. The size and quality of them was much better than I expected, really good thick trunks. I will defiantly be getting some more later in the year. Only wish he was closer to me so I could go and have a look round myself.


Nick..

[Chrisg]

Funny you should do your first trip today, i did as well, mine was to the rare plant fair to see Charlie, and then back via Wisley.

I am pleased vale is still going, thought it had closed. Vale, CGF and Akamba is one of my favourite road trips.

[tony]

Me too, went to the Birtley rare plant fare, so nice to get planting again.

[Chrisg]

Sorry to have missed you Tony, I had to get back. So did you buy anything?

Ade what was CGF looking like. Have they re-stocked?

[tony]

Hi Chris,

Nothing too exotic apart from Podyphyllum spotty dotty, some phlox, euphorbia and a couple of climbers from Charlie. Annoyed I didn't see that eremurus :(

[Chrisg]

Hi Chris,

Nothing too exotic apart from Podyphyllum spotty dotty, some phlox, euphorbia and a couple of climbers from Charlie. Annoyed I didn't see that eremurus :(

There were nice euphorbias, fireglow seems to be the plant of the moment.

[DaveP]

Seriously impressed with Nigel's own-pollinated x Butiagrus narbonnandii (Santa Catarina Queen pollen) . I bought a 5L. 3 yr old spit leaved plant from him last spring and due to repeated illnesses, didn't manage to bring everything in under cover for the winter. The x Butiagrus spent all winter outside in the shadow of a large Callistemon and has come through superbly with only a few, slight wind burns to the leaves. A new pinnate leaf is emerging together with a decidedly firm spear. Having read several disappointing reports about narbonnandiis failing to withstand recent UK winters, its encouraging to see this form doing so well.

[Ade Shattock]

Yes Chris CGF was well stocked, of course its always better to go later in the season to see the gardens in full flow but I spent quite a time there.

The track into the nursery seemed much better, I think they (council or whoever) has top dressed the 'road' so less bumps and dips to shake your stomach up before the long trip back home :lol: .

Dave I had one of his 5ltr Butyagrus and he said it was Santa Cat Queen pollen on Butia catarinensis so possibly not far off the hardiest combination.

I felt sorry for Nige as I had arranged to buy a Jubaea x Butia that he had grown from seed, it was a cracking palm and really nice shape but it didnt travel well back from Brazil, many plants arrived really dried out and the JxB was one of them and also looked like it had suffered mechanical damage as well so probably something else had fallen on it all but snapping the middle of the palm, quite deep into the spears and maybe below the growing point.
Nigel ended up giving me the palm to try and rescue and if it makes it then I'll be paying up.
I offered some money for it but Nigel wouldnt take it, hopefully I'll get it going again and we'll both be winners.

Nige also gave me a Hesperola, I think I have the name right but I'll have to google it and see if I remember correctly.

Nick, did you get one of his waggies ? they are seriously nice palms, Vales had some at £200 and they were a quarter the size of Nigels and yellow, Nigels have leaves from the bottom of the trunk up, green as they come and thick chunky trunks.
If my garden wasnt overstocked with Trachies then without any doubt I would have bought 3.

[tony]

Hi Chris,

Nothing too exotic apart from Podyphyllum spotty dotty, some phlox, euphorbia and a couple of climbers from Charlie. Annoyed I didn't see that eremurus :(

There were nice euphorbias, fireglow seems to be the plant of the moment.

I have the dixter cultivar of fireglow, lovely plant but does like to wander quite alot! I bought some euphorbia rigida, if you haven't got it Chris it is definately one for your arid bed.