Tregrehan in Cornwall: advance notice of Plant Fair.

[AndyC]

It was a good morning out. At first I was a bit wary of the lack of social distancing but that soon wore off once I started spending my cash.
My purchases were -
A Clematis viticella from Charlie, already planted out to ramble through my large but underwhelming Philadelphus.
Aristea major (already planted out) and Aechmea recurvata (no idea what I'll do with that, it was an impulse buy) from the two sellers of 'Neotropical Rarities'
Cordyline indivisa and Sonchus fruiticosus (been on my list for a while)
and two more impulse buys, Beschornaria yuccoides and Euphorbia stygiana.
:D

[Paul S]

Nice to put a face to the name, Andy :)

I actually only bought 3 plants, all of which I have grown before but lost, for the princely sum of £24. Although I ended up taking lots home after being the recipient of some horse trading and generosity. My feeling was that the fair didn't quite have the same buzz as previous years with not so many 'exciting new' plants. The again I arrived 20 mins after it has started so possibly missed them all. :) And, of course, not international - I missed the Ducth/ Belgian contingent - Remko and co - they are good company.

Did Tom do a walk and talk through the garden at the end?

Still smiling at acquiring the Ruscus hyrcanus and getting back the one remaining Euphorbia margalidiana from Mark. Could it possibly be the only 'real' one left in the country?! This had seeds forming so hopefuilly, even if it is, it won't be for long.

Chad - what is your best guess for growing conditions of the nasturtium?

Edit - Andy, was your Beschorneria from Tom Hudon's table? If so it was septentrionalis rather than yuccoides. He had it mislabelled.

[Chad]

Chad - what is your best guess for growing conditions of the nasturtium?

In the unheated poly tunnel it is a rampant self seeding spreader.

I haven't tried it outside in case it is is unstoppable.

It has germinated in pots of things planted out, but I have been rigorous in its elimination. It was noticeably slower outside.

So I'm guessing not dry at the root and warmer than outside in Cornwall?

I shifted nearly everything I took; no one wanted Squamopappus skutchii, but since I was honest that I was trying to eliminate it from my tunnel I guess that isn't a surprise!

Some one bought a Passiflora umbilicata from me who actually knew the plant and was excited that these were seed grown and not 'the inferior European clone' that is circulating. Since I'd never heard of it before I was impressed!

I came back with;
Verbesina microptera from Paul, which isn't what I thought I had grown before and is very exciting.
Trozelia grandiflora under its old name of Iochroma, from Exotic Earth.
Calceolaria trilobata ssp. trilobata from Crug. A replacement plant; I left my first one in Crug compost and lost it before it was rescued. This one is being re-potted tomorrow!

Mike Clifford turned up with an embarrassment of gifts, which I've yet to sort out, including a Cecropia which is exciting because I've failed to germinate them in the past, but a bit frightening. It will be too big to 'come in' by the autumn.

Chad

[AndyC]

Nice to put a face to the name, Andy :)

Very pleased to meet you Paul :)

Andy, was your Beschorneria from Tom Hudon's table? If so it was septentrionalis rather than yuccoides. He had it mislabelled.

Yes it was from Tom's table. I'm not disappointed, I would have bought it just as quickly with the correct label.
I grew B. septentrionalis in my old garden and never got it to flower so the challenge is back on.
Can't claim to be able to tell the difference between the two looking at online pictures.

Edit: Numpty! It didn't come from Tom, it came from Kelnan Plants as described on the label. :roll: