…here’s what we’ve tweeted about so far: https://twitter.com/bcssbirmingham
Regretfully we have to cancel Tuesday’s meeting which would have featured a talk by Peter Berresford. There are numerous and complex road closures due to the forthcoming Commonwealth Games and we feel it would be difficult for many people to get to Winterbourne. Also the warnings about the increased heat say it is due to peak on Tuesday which could have caused some people issues.
Obviously we are very sorry this has happened but think it is for the best.
Our next meeting will be Tuesday 16 August with Paul Spracklin talking about cacti/succulent gardening and we hope to see you then.
Arrangements are being made to sell the collection of Arthur Tomkins by auction. The collection has a number of significant plants for sale from his 50 years in the hobby.
Over 130 lots including Ariocarpus, Copiapoas, Mammillarias and many general cacti will be among the choice plants offered for sale by auction plus a number of sales plants.
The auction will be held at Winterbourne House & Garden, University of Birmingham, 58 Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham B15 2RT on Sunday 5th June. There is plenty of parking close to the auction room. The plants will be available for viewing from 10am and the auction will start at 11am.
Light refreshments (tea/coffee etc.) will be available but Winterbourne’s tea room on site can also do light lunches.
For more details of the list of plants and how to register for the auction please contact Arthur Tomkins tincatomkins@yahoo.co.uk
All plants will be sold as seen with payment on the day and cash is preferred. Arrangements will be made at the end of the sale for a scheduled collection of sold items.
Link to photos of auction plants here
Link to list of auction plants Arthur auction plants
We are sorry to announce that the meeting on Tuesday 15th March will be cancelled due to the council resurfacing Edgbaston Park Road. This means that for the next few weeks the road will be closed to all traffic from 7pm till 5am.
Lithops dorotheae/Gill Mills
It is with great pleasure that the Birmingham Branch is announcing that our indoor meetings are re-starting.
The first meeting will be held at Winterbourne Gardens on Tuesday 15th February. Arrival is from 7pm, and we normally aim to start at 7.30. If you are arriving just after 7 there’s plenty of time for chatting, using our branch library, making a drink and seeing if there are any tempting plants for sale.
Our first meeting will be a workshop on seed raising. Arthur Tomkins will demonstrate how he grows them from seed and afterwards I’ll lead a discussion on the relevant topics so everyone can share their own experiences and preferences such as what soil mix do you use, do you use a propagator, when do you replant etc. Feel free to join in the discussion or simply absorb (or discount) other people’s ideas. If you have anything to use as part of the discussion eg a favourite propagator do please bring items along.
To help get us into the swing of all things cacti and succulent, we will put up a display table and it would be wonderful if you can each bring along one plant you want to ‘show’ either because it’s looking stunning or maybe you want to know what it is or have a question about it. If so write a short note with your question and put it by the plant. No prizes this time.
If you have spare seed or fruit of cacti or succulents (or any plants!) please do bring them as well as envelopes and a pen in case you need them. We can compare growing success stories at our Christmas social!
Also we will have NO entrance fee as it’s the first meeting (Normally we charge £2.50 to go towards expenses) Bring cash in case anyone is selling plants!
If you have never attended our zoom or branch meetings in the last three years and are likely to come please can you let me know just so we can gauge numbers and I can give you more detailed directions and guidance re covid.
andysharris@hotmail.com
Mammillaria guelzowiana/Gill Mills
On Tuesday February 15th we commence indoor meetings at Winterbourne.
Please let us know if you are attending this meeting just in case covid rules force cancellations.
The first meeting will be held in our new meeting room and will be both a social and a chance to participate in a seed sowing and growing workshop. If you have surplus seed please bring to share and it may be helpful for you to bring small containers, labels and a pen in case you are able to take seed away. If you have great experience bring along anything to share whether its good techniques or physical things such as preferred seed trays or grow lights to show.
On March 15th and April 19th we will have external speakers. More info to follow.
Future meets will include talks on plant groups as well as expeditions to learn more about plants in habitat.
Contact: Andy Harris at andysharris@hotmail.com
Due to the building and room where we used to meet at Winterbourne being renovated and enlarged Birmingham Branch will be continuing zoom meetings without speakers on the third Wednesday of each month.
We hope to restart actual meetings at Winterbourne in February 2022.
For further details of the Zoom meetings please contact Andy Harris at andysharris@hotmail.com.
Puna clavarioides/Gill Mills
We will be holding our Birmingham Autumn Show at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Sunday 3rd October 2021.
Please enter if you can.
Due to Covid, events will be arranged at short notice as and when we are able to meet up, and could include meets to see collections, gardens and other activities.
Regarding meeting at Winterbourne, as soon as it is safe for all to do so we will resume indoor evening meetings, held on the third Tuesday of the month.
For the time being our Zoom meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month, unless indicated otherwise. For further details of the Zoom meetings please contact Andy Harris at andysharris@hotmail.com.
Wed April 21st Propagation discussion – QA or external speaker tbc
Wed May 19th Rodney Sims; Oxford expedition
Wed June 16th Cultivation discussion QA or external speaker tbc
Wed July 21st Paul Spracklin; Adventures in Mexico
Wed August 18th TBA
Wed September 22nd Roy Earle; Lithops
FRIDAY October 22nd Trevor Wray; Arizona Bi-ways
TUESDAY November 16th Indoor meeting Stan Griffin; Argentina
TUESDAY December 14th Indoor Christmas meeting
Andy Harris, who organises our speakers and is presently arranging the Zoom presentations, is now having a go at producing YouTube videos on cactus and succulents.
Here is the first in what he hopes to be a series of videos “What’s in a Name?”
Our regular Wednesday Zoom talk will feature an on-line talk by Jo Adderley about the Chester Zoo cacti collection.
We will have an informal talk and we will also have the chance to chat and ask questions of one another.
This talk is aimed at primarily at Birmingham Branch members or people interested in joining our Branch.
If you are interested please contact me at andysharris@hotmail.com
More info about Chester Zoo
