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Re: [IGS] census

Andrew,
I have tried Zonals in the garden, but they don't do nearly as well there as they
do under cover.  The temperature in summer is often over 40ºC for days on end,
added to that my half acre block is fully reticulated (from the creek) with
sprinklers.  I could put drippers in, but they are tiny and would block up with
gunk out of the creek.
Some of the more delicate varieties wouldn't stand up to the heat plus overhead
watering every day..  Ones like :- Downlands, Shonne Helena, Fringed Jean O'Berle
and the Highfields Hybrids.  My Zonals have huge rounded heads which don't stand
up to much rain & wind.
We use some of our plants and flower heads  in our monthly competitions at the
P&G Society.  It is also handy to be able to shift plants around to various shows
during the year.  We get invited to functions where we can show and sell, (& hand
out flyers!)  which is good advertising for out main show each year

We try to encourage members to grow  plants well... turning the pots regularly to
encourage growth all around. Trimming and cleaning is easier with pots as well.
It is quite a thrill to see  perfect  flower heads on a well formed plant.
Apart from anything else,  I have a back problem and all af my benches are table
height to avoid too much bending.
In the summer the Polycarbonate roofing is covered with shade cloth and side
ventilation, (mostly glass louvres in my case), is opened fully.  In my big green
house I have a fan as well, for summer ventilation.
During the summer days it is very hot and still, then in the night time it blows
a gale, a land breeze from the east.  If I don't close things up on the east
side, things get blown over ... which is a bit of  a bit of a pain.
I have about 340 different varieties, but intend cutting some of them out.  I
like to grow at least three plants of each variety, so it takes a bit of space.
I'm threatening to get rid of a lot of coloured leaf plants, having a preference
for the plants that have nice big blooms.
I do have a lot of miniatures, which are great because they take little space and
are so attractive.
I DID forget to mention my Ivies.  I had a lot more up until the middle of the
year when I had surgery on my spine.  I used to grow them in 14" tubs with a 3ft
cylinder of wire (4" mesh) standing up above & attached to the pot.  They would
grow up through the centre and then cascade down the outside.  They looked
terrific, but as I tended to shift them around to suit the seasons, it got a bit
much.  I have now just kept my most favourite ones, like Mahogany, Thornlands
Black, Alpine Glow, Yale, Rosie-O-Day, La France etc in hanging baskets which are
easier to handle.  Have got Blue Peter, Balcon Rouge. Nymphia, Summer  Showers &
Josh's Orange on trellis' around the place.  Sugar baby, Yarrabie Faries &
Tenerife Magic are small enough to be in small tubs with a trellis.

I have got about 250 plants ready to sell at our Annual show on 17th October.
we can never get enough for the public. One member has 1 000 Regals, ready to
sell. They will go like hot cakes as they are in full flower.  We give 20%
commission from sales to the society, which is a great fund raiser, allowing us
to give out quite a bit of prize money at our shows and what we call showettes,
at our monthly  meetings.  At each meeting we are allowed to take a maximum of 30
plants for sale as well.
Anyway I'm getting away from the subject.
Thanks for suggesting the census ... it brought some interesting responses.  I
really thought that you would get more though .... WHERE ARE ALL OUR MEMBERS??

Is anyone coming to the International Conference in Canberra October 1999?
The person to contact is    Diana O'Brien  98 Anzac Park,  Campbell  ACT 1612
Australia.   Phone/Fax  61  2  6248 0649.

Happy gerniuming everyone
From Joan
Western Australia


Andrew Wilson wrote:

> Joan,
> After your message:
> >I grow approx 1 200  ZONAL PELARGONIUMS,  all in  containers, mostly 5" - 6"
> >pots.  These are all under cover.
> >Also grow a few species and scenteds in the garden, but my main interest
> >is in the Zonals.
> I wondered why, in your excellent climate, you grow all these zonals iunder
> cover. Is it because you get them under better control?
> Andrew
> San Diego, California
> awilson@fda.net
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