Re: Languedoc seminar, a few final toxins and perhaps some spam

Thank you everybody for your messages concerning my comments on those who
seem hell bent on poisoning their children, the planet or both. One of the
privileges of old age is being able to say what needs to be said  without
fear of destroying one's career prospects etc. Certainly at that Kew
Conference only three of us mentioned that a mass spraying programme was
outrageous, but were held back by the fact that we were attending as
representatives of organisations rather than as individuals. Everyone else
either agreed with the man which is truly terrifying or more likely, simply
struck dumb out of misguided courtesy. I suspect that the reason so many of
us are regarded as bumbling old fools by the younger generation is that
those of us who should be guiding them are often inhibited by the inanities
of Political Correctness.  Well I'm not going quietly even if it does make
the children shudder

The prospect of a Corbieres seminar on medit-plants is great news, specially
as the MGS has just launched a new group in the area. It seems a splendid
opportunity to show solidarity with them and get them off to a good start. I
tried to dig out my list of discoveries on my ex-wife's farm but  I think it
is in the old computer in an unreadable format which is a good excuse for
going back and starting again. It is not a farm in the normal sense of the
word, more a large lump of garrigue too steep ever to have had a tractor on
it and therefore botanically unspoilt. It is too high for many of the
familiar Med species to flourish so no Rosemary, citrus or olives for
instance, but masses of Cistus, Lonicera, Buxus, Juniperus, Thyme and
Lavandula latifolia, and a pretty Lithosperm I haven't been able to identify
Lots of fascinating Eryngiums and thistles too so boots are essential.
Butterflies are the one flying thing that the French haven't managed to
blast into oblivion so it's an impressive and relatively untouched area for
lepidopterists as well. The Cathar Chateau of Peyrepertuse is on the
boundary, historically great, ethnobotanically a waste land, I think Penny's
goats and sheep have eaten everything worth while in it, but as they produce
the milk for her gold medal winning cheese, they are forgiven. However the
point of all this is not to give my ex an advertisement but to give some
indication of what there is to look at up in the mountains, one only has to
fall off the edge to find a totally different flora at the bottom. Also in
the area are B & T world seeds and Sandeman seeds and the local wine has
improved out of all recognition in the last ten years

I have been sent some advertising material on "Tim Johnson's Herbal
Ethnobotany Database" Has anybody else seen it? Is it some well respected
database I have missed out on or is it just more spam? Will I open it and
find Pris Hil..n.. inside (no, I can't write it or your filters will take it
out) comments and advice welcome

Anthony
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sean A. O'Hara" <sean@support.net>
To: <Lyman@lyman-dixon.freeserve.co.uk>; <Gemcopley@aol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2003 6:21 PM
Subject: Re: Languedoc seminar?


Jennifer & Anthony -

I know I had raised the idea on a Languedoc seminar on medit-plants - did I
miss another mention of this concept?  I'd love to talk more with you about
the items you mention, add to my notes regarding points of interest and
possible gardens/places to visit.  I've been researching this a bit and
have a contact in Roujan who seems interested in handling the
accommodations end of things, but nothing it yet firm.  I had actually
hoped for the event to be centered more in the Corbieres.  I have talked
briefly with a travel agent here who could perhaps help make
arrangements.  With all the research I've done so far, I am sure I'll
likely be fleshing out most of the itinerary myself.

I'd welcome more discussion with interested parties.
Best regards & Happy Holidays!
Seán O.

At 03:11 PM 12/15/2003, Anthony Lyman-Dixon wrote:
>  Jennifer, thanks for that.
>
>What sort of bile? Humourous, yellow and black? Pliny recommends rue
>Modern bile which makes liver taste disgusting? Consult your pharmacist
>(or butcher)
>Colloquial bile? Take a very large brandy
>
>Did anything come of your earlier suggestion about a Languedoc seminar?. I
>think it would be a great idea. My daughter is very enthusiastic about
>hosting one in the Corbieres but she hasn't the remotest idea of how to go
>about it. Obviously I would help her if sufficient people were interested
>(on condition that she doesn't force us to eat vegetarian food) My
>ex-wife's 500 acres is a botanists paradise and definitely to be
>recommended. Meanwhile Marisa Cohen who organises seminars for the Assisi
>nature council is trying to put together a tour of Provencal gardens next
June
>
>Anthony
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <G*@aol.com>Gemcopley@aol.com
>To: <m*@ucdavis.edu>Mediterannean Plants List
>Cc:
><L*@lyman-dixon.freeserve.co.uk>Lyman@lyman-dixon.freeserve.co.uk
>Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 7:22 PM
>Subject: Re: Datura or Brugmansia--Yes, very poisonous
>
>Wonderful stuff ! Thank you for going to the trouble to share your
>experiences. I used to grow Datura outside my kitchen in France which
>amused friends in the know. Never actually made use of it.
>How about something for bile?
>Jennifer

h o r t u l u s   a p t u s     -    'a garden suited to its purpose'
Seán A. O'Hara   sean@support.net   www.hortulusaptus.com
1034A Virginia Street, Berkeley, California 94710-1853, U.S.A.
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