I found two mealy bugs in my greenhouse today!!!!   I last treated my plants with Bio Provado Vine Weevil killer eighteen months ago and these are the first mealy bugs I have seen since then.  I have looked around very carefully and can’t see any more, but shall treat with insecticide anyway.  I have never before come across any insecticide that has kept my plants clear for so long.  It is not effective against red spider mite and I have had some visitation from these pests but they are never as much trouble as the mealy bugs. 

The variable weather in recent weeks has made me very glad that I am retired and can change the ventilation in the greenhouse at any time of the day.  Even with automatic windows the temperature can build up very quickly.  Although all the windows and doors were open, a temperature of 110 was recorded in the greenhouse in the middle of April.  Fans kept the air circulating otherwise some of the plants might have been scorched.

Lots of plants are in full flower now.  Gasterias in particular are a real joy at the moment with their profusion of dainty flowers.  My Aloe plicatilis produced a flower stem for the first time this year but most of the buds rotted before they opened.  There are only two buds left and they are large and look quite healthy.  I have never seen plicatilis flowers before and am quite looking forward to seeing what they are like

We are approaching the show season and I am already looking around to see which plants might like an outing to Bristol on May 17^th.  Both Bristol and South Wales Shows take place on that day and I hope to stage plants in Bristol and then go to see South Wales Show in Newport, returning to Bristol in the afternoon.  If we want other Branches to support our Show we must support theirs in return

Cactus Mart 21^st June

I hope you are all saving up so that you can treat yourselves to some choice plants at the Cactus Mart.  I will be looking for volunteers to help nurseries to load and unload plants, to sell plants at the Branch table, to collect money at the door and to serve teas to the nursery representatives.  If you can help in any of these ways please have a word with me. The more helpers we have for each job the more free time helpers can have to look at, and buy, plants. 

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