Alpine Garden Society - Dublin Group
Alpine Garden Society - Dublin GroupHere are some extracts from the current Society Newsletter (Winter 2009), and previous issues in downloadable form as PDF files for easy reference. Billy Moore is the editor, and always welcomes contributions.
As usual Billy has done a fantastic job in putting together the latest newsletter, which begins our celebration of 25 years of the Dublin AGS Group. There are reports on activities, book reviews, fixtures information and a short history of the Group from Carl Dacus. Those of us accustomed to turning first to the useful articles on cultivation are not disappointed, with fine articles from two of our experts. Here's what Billy has to say about them, with the opening paragraphs:
'The main article was kindly contributed by Harold McBride of the Ulster Group. Harold's reputation as a highly skilled grower, propagator, hybridizer, exhibitor and lecturer needs no elaboration. In the article he muses on some of the superb plants he has raised from seed.'
SEMINAL SUCCESSES by Harold McBride
'Billy Moore's excellent article on seed sowing (Newsletter no. 49) has encouraged us to enhance our gardens with plants grown from seed, however, seed sowing and the resulting germination is perhaps the easy part, as major losses may be incurred at the pricking-out stage or in the days soon after this event. It is essential to give all young plants lots of 'TLC' if they are later to take their place in your rock garden, raised beds, troughs or alpine house.'
'My most faithful contributor, Liam Byrne, once again writes about a favourite plant, this time choosing the lovely Physoplexis comosa.'
THE DEVIL’S CLAW by Liam Byrne
'Physoplexis comosa is the pearl of the Campanulaceae. When I grew it first it was known as Phyteuma comosum. It is a native of the Southern Alps, especially the Dolomites, where it grows above 1800 m in deep crevices. It is a tufted perennial forming clumps of toothed leaves from which arise clusters of very striking flowers. Each flower is like a miniature minaret, pale lilac at the base turning to deep purple at the top of the flower. In full bloom it is a gem and on mature specimens I have counted up to sixteen flowers per cluster. Coveted because of its rarity is P. comosa alba, a white form which I have seen only in books. It is an odd looking plant but in my view a very beautiful one.'
(Physoplexis comosa was the subject of our Seasonal Focus in August 2006. You can see a beautiful photo by AnneMarie Keoghan here. Ed.)
If you would like to obtain a copy of the latest newsletter, which has much else to engross you in its 56 pages, with excellent photographs, many in colour, please Contact Us.