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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 21, 2011 2:17:09 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Mar 21, 2011 7:11:33 GMT
Endangered Species: Egypt’s tree of love www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/354295“The wasp in charge of transporting the pollen from one tree to another is extinct,”
In Cairo, some beautiful specimens of the sycamore tree can be observed in the Museum of Agriculture in Dokki, in Shubra and in Matareya.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 6, 2011 12:25:34 GMT
Bad news from Kew for me. Due to our "Government austerity meaures" vacant post will not be filled. The area I am inolved with (dry tropics) has lost 2 experienced growers within a couple of weeks one of whom had been in charge for 3 years, and had got the whole area in excellent shape. They have switched some part timers to keep it going ("not yet an emergency" ) but can't take any material from me in the foreseeable future as they can't look after it. I see the back collection dwindling back to square 1 again. How short sighted - a World Heritage Site, leading scientific research site and major tourist attraction.
A pretty sad indictment.
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Post by tod2 on Apr 6, 2011 12:43:36 GMT
Certainly is Mick - So sorry to hear the bad news about Kew.
I loved your Lily of the Valley, my Grandmothers favourite flower!
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Post by mich64 on Apr 6, 2011 13:53:10 GMT
Mick, is volunteering a possibility at the Kew to help maintain. We have nothing here where I live such as the Kew, but we have many municipal gardens that are maintained by a wonderful group of volunteers. Actually most of our green space/gardems are kept up by neighbourhood volunteeers. I am sure the employees at the Kew would not appreciate their jobs being replaced by volunteers as their positions are professional, just thought volunteering as a last resort. How about fundraising to offset some of the expenses to keep the personnel?
I just despise cutbacks, but understand we do not have money for everything.
Hoping for a positive resolution.
Mich
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Post by bjd on Apr 6, 2011 14:08:20 GMT
Another short-sighted government initiative. Mich, I think the problem with taking on volunteers is that the professional jobs will be lost forever. Even if funding is restored, the government will figure that since volunteers can be counted on, there is no need to hire professionals.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 6, 2011 15:04:03 GMT
Actually volunteers have worked there for some time.
I would also offer but I live too far away to make it practical.
Mich, you are right that we do not have money for everything and maybe I'm too close to it but to see a living collection possibly slowly die for lack of investment seems very sad. The only redeeming feature for cacti and succulents (which is what dry tropics are) is that they are pretty tough and can stand a certain amount of neglect.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2011 17:00:36 GMT
That is indeed very shortsighted. I just could not imagine Paris spending less money on all of its parks and gardens, and clearly it spends a bundle. I wonder what percentage of my taxes is used for it all -- but I don't begrudge a single euro in view of the results. www.paris.fr/loisirs/paris-au-vert/jardinage-vegetation/p8335 |
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Post by mich64 on Apr 6, 2011 17:38:03 GMT
I agree Mick, it would be tragic that the Government or Councils would let such a thing happen. In the past, our Council would budget and spend for gardens around the city and unfortunately during tough economic times that budget would be one of the first to be reduced. However, through community spirit, volunteering have kept the gardens thriving.
With respect,
Mich
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Post by mich64 on Apr 6, 2011 17:56:29 GMT
Yes bjd, I can understand how that could easily happen and how unfair that would be to the employees who make their wage providing their expertise. It is also who is on the Council that determines what services are to be reduced, we should remember that at election time and maybe decisions could be reversed. I am hoping for Mick and others who share his enjoyment there that they do not follow through with any closures or deductions maybe some compromises.
Cheers,
Mich
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2011 17:59:10 GMT
Actually, even in Paris I'm sure that decisions are often made concerning the expense of certain plants that are replaced with other more economical plants.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 7, 2011 20:01:58 GMT
Bad news from Kew for me. Due to our "Government austerity meaures" vacant post will not be filled. The area I am inolved with (dry tropics) has lost 2 experienced growers within a couple of weeks one of whom had been in charge for 3 years, and had got the whole area in excellent shape. They have switched some part timers to keep it going ("not yet an emergency" ) but can't take any material from me in the foreseeable future as they can't look after it. I see the back collection dwindling back to square 1 again. How short sighted - a World Heritage Site, leading scientific research site and major tourist attraction. A pretty sad indictment. Mick, this is not just sad, it is outrageous! For goodness sakes, this is Kew you're talking about. Someone, somewhere, who is making this decision is getting paid, and I'm betting quite handsomely. You need to rally plant lovers to create a public outcry through all the media. Even if gov't. remains deaf to reason, there's a chance a private concern will take an interest. Badger the Prince of Wales to help out, along with other benevolent organizations. Letter write! Rabble rouse! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2011 20:35:26 GMT
What about those future newlyweds? Shouldn't they be sponsoring something other than hideous tea towels?
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 8, 2011 13:06:15 GMT
Bad news from Kew for me. Due to our "Government austerity meaures" vacant post will not be filled. The area I am inolved with (dry tropics) has lost 2 experienced growers within a couple of weeks one of whom had been in charge for 3 years, and had got the whole area in excellent shape. They have switched some part timers to keep it going ("not yet an emergency" ) but can't take any material from me in the foreseeable future as they can't look after it. I see the back collection dwindling back to square 1 again. How short sighted - a World Heritage Site, leading scientific research site and major tourist attraction. A pretty sad indictment. Mick, this is not just sad, it is outrageous! For goodness sakes, this is Kew you're talking about. Someone, somewhere, who is making this decision is getting paid, and I'm betting quite handsomely. You need to rally plant lovers to create a public outcry through all the media. Even if gov't. remains deaf to reason, there's a chance a private concern will take an interest. Badger the Prince of Wales to help out, along with other benevolent organizations. Letter write! Rabble rouse! Possibly a little over he top but..... One of my clients is a senior Member of Parliament and I sent this all to him. He responded imeediately to the effct he wanted to forward it to Ministers concerned. However, the guy from Kew, Head of Glasshouses and Training, didn't want to take it any further. So my protest died........... |
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 8, 2011 15:03:06 GMT
the guy from Kew, Head of Glasshouses and Training, didn't want to take it any further. ~??~ And why does this pinhead get the final say? I assume his position is not going to be phased out nor replaced by a volunteer. |
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 8, 2011 15:56:31 GMT
Oh No. I haven't given up yet. I have written to Dr Steven Hopper the Director of Kew.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Apr 8, 2011 17:21:47 GMT
That's awful Mick. Kew is staggeringly beautiful, and the succulents and cacti collection is always worth a visit. I understand that they have a limited budget and have to make cuts but it's tragic to see such hard work go to waste.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2011 21:31:00 GMT
I am still outraged by authorities with misplaced priorities!  |
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Post by mickthecactus on May 26, 2011 16:25:58 GMT
I wrote today to the Head of Horticulture.
Off to Kew tomorrow btw with eldest grandson.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2011 5:16:48 GMT
Any reply to your correspondence?
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 8, 2011 5:40:21 GMT
Today I finally went to the JardÃn Etnobotanico, which I've been longing to see up close. (you can only get in if you go on the tour)
The tour was extremely disappointing, but I took lots of photos, so will do a thread soon.
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Post by mickthecactus on Jun 8, 2011 10:45:49 GMT
Any reply to your correspondence? Yes! They are going to fill the post and they promise to keep me informed. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2011 16:58:26 GMT
Good for you!
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 24, 2020 14:06:48 GMT
Lovely Lugg has been transporting us out of our virus doldrums with her reports on the re-opened public gardens in her area: anyportinastorm.proboards.com/thread/8599/public-gardens-herefordshireThis article is about gardens in the US, but should spur everyone into finding out what's open and waiting for them in their own areas ~ During the pandemic, a new appreciation for botanical gardens blooms... I have been taking the same three walks around my neighborhood since March, thanks to the novel coronavirus. ...
So when an acquaintance told me about a local public garden that had recently reopened after shutting down because of the pandemic, my imagination went into overdrive looking at pictures of it online. ... I looked at the garden’s address and saw that it was a short drive from my house, yet I had never visited. ...
[My daughter] and I weren’t the only visitors that day, but at times it felt like we were nearly alone in the 37-acre landscape, which was perfect for social distancing. ...
To find places near you, PublicGardens.org, the website of the American Public Gardens Association, includes a map of its member gardens that’s searchable by garden name or Zip code. Searching by location yields all the gardens within 150 miles.I sure hope this link gets everyone over the garden paywall ~ www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/during-the-pandemic-a-new-appreciation-for-botanical-gardens-blooms/2020/07/23/d03b76a8-ca78-11ea-b0e3-d55bda07d66a_story.html |
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Post by questa on Jul 24, 2020 14:39:07 GMT
As a money raiser for the gardens you could try to get corporate sponsorship for a plant that relates to the company, e.g. "These beautiful lotus flowers are sponsored by Lotus Motors who strive for excellence just as the flowers do" "Saveway Supermarkets are proud of their sponsorship of this section of orchard trees. We aim for our fruit and vegetables to be just as pleasing as these" etc.
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Post by lugg on Jul 24, 2020 20:04:02 GMT
Thank you Bixa , I really enjoyed reading that article and seeing the photos - in particular it expresses perfectly how I feel in the final few words
“While people are really feeling adrift and uncertain, gardens and nature itself can really offer a way to decompress and provide some guidance and solace,”
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 27, 2020 15:07:20 GMT
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