Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Seedy Subjects! => Seed Exchange => Topic started by: David Nicholson on November 18, 2006, 06:41:06 PM

Title: New Seed List
Post by: David Nicholson on November 18, 2006, 06:41:06 PM
Just got in todays post my copy of the new SRGC Seed Exchange List. Am like a child in a sweetieshop! :)
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Rafa on November 19, 2006, 12:49:02 PM
Hello,

I have also received, yesterday morning 60th Seed Distribution Papers, many thanks.

Rafa.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: charlotte on November 19, 2006, 02:51:40 PM
Thanks to all the members who have worked so hard to bring all of us another seed list of endless dreams!  My selections were made during that boring time of having ones hair "beautified"  (I hope!)

Charlotte :)
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on November 19, 2006, 03:30:40 PM
Charlotte: Great idea to read the list at the hairdressers'....... it's much more interesting than whether or not Tom Cruise has got married, which is the usual reading matter when I get my hair done!


Any new seed list is exciting... but I must say that our SRGC list and those from other specialist societies are really mouth-watering!  I hope to choose some species this year that I wouldn't normally try... maybe to be a bit more adventurous with what might like to live outside  here in Scotland.
Congratulations to Stuart Pawley for collating all the donations for the new SRGC Seed list. Good luck to those wonderful Volunteers packeting the seed, even as we speak. And, to the Distribution Team, revving up for the start of their task... are you taking your vitamins to keep your strength up?

I know that many people reading this forum will be involved in a seed exchange for their own speciality or society but perhaps the majority have no idea of the volume work put in by so many people to ensure the success of a seed exchange like ours.  Even if you do believe in  elves and fairies, I can assure you that in truth, nothing is acheived by magic, it all takes hard work ! Well done, all you Seed Folk, especially the donors... it couldn't happen without you!
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 19, 2006, 10:03:45 PM
Hasn't arrived down here yet, perhaps by the end of the week. How can I wait? Hopefully an online version will be available next year.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: fermi de Sousa on November 21, 2006, 10:21:34 PM
SRGC Seedlist arrived Monday at Redesdale! Very late night making selections and hopefully posted today!
cheers
fermi
Redesdale, Vic. Australia
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Susan on November 21, 2006, 11:10:53 PM
Seed list has arrived here today.  Looks scrumptious - am now looking for the list of must haves.  This is going to keep me out of the garden all day!

Susan
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 22, 2006, 07:00:56 PM
Mine's here too (22nd). One small query if any of the adminners or seed people are out there. Roger and I have a family subscription and in the past have applied for and received 2 doses of seed, accounting for the extra sub. Is this still the case? and if so, does one need to photocopy the form and fill out that as well? There's no indication anywhere in the list and the spaces for choices are hardly enough to cope with 2 applications unless every number asked for, was sent.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: ellenndan on November 22, 2006, 07:35:46 PM
Hi there, we are just in the process of putting down what seeds we would like off the seed exchange. We have lost our year book and can not find page 2. Can anyone help and let us know what is on page to before we send off the list.
Many thanks Ellen and Dan
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on November 22, 2006, 07:39:25 PM
Hi, Ellen and Dan: give me a minute or two, I'll get my personal photographer to snap the page for you.....talk among yourselves!
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on November 22, 2006, 07:50:51 PM
How's that? Obviously you can't read it till you click it to make it expand!
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Loripep on November 22, 2006, 09:04:40 PM
Hi there;

Just received my list here in Canada and was wondering if the listings with a bulb symbol beside them can be sent to Canada? I'm guessing no, but hoping yes.

Lori Peplinskie
Orangeville, ON
Canada
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on November 22, 2006, 09:52:18 PM
Hi, Lori, I don't know, but I'll find out for you.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Ian Y on November 23, 2006, 11:59:55 AM
Hi, Lori, sorry for delay. The items marked with a green oval in the online seed list , or with a little black bulb-shaped icon in the paper seedlist are designated as "live" material... that is: these are frit. rice, pleione bulbils etc and cannot be sent outwith the E.U.  So, you were correct, you cannot have those sent to Canada... you will have to have seed items instead! Not good news if you are a pleione lover, I grant you, but there is nothing to be done about, I'm afraid... rules is rules!!
Enjoy making your choices : I'd advise you all to get your orders in sooner rather than later !
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: ellenndan on November 23, 2006, 08:03:31 PM
Thanks Maggi for the information it has been a great help.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Cgull49 on November 30, 2006, 05:01:30 PM
It's November 30th and I still haven't received my 2006/07 seedlist. (Ottawa, Canada).  Were they all mailed out about the same date?  If so, would someone check to see that one was mailed to me?  Maybe it's in the mail but the wait is starting to affect my sleep and I can't concentrate at work!
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on November 30, 2006, 09:19:12 PM
Hi, Rob, yes, you should have got the seedlist by now. I will check for you and email you privately.
Cheers,
Maggi
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Linda_Foulis on December 01, 2006, 11:53:09 PM
I got the seed list about November 20th or so.  I didn't make it out of the D's before my choices were filled up.   ;D
Next year I will start at the D's and make sure I get my donations in on time so I can have more choices.  What a wonderful treat to be able to choose from such an extensive seed list. 
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on December 02, 2006, 12:05:09 AM
I know that feeling , Linda, but remember that the surplus seed is not expensive and you can order in blocks of numbers!
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Cgull49 on December 02, 2006, 06:29:10 PM
Well I'm happy to say I received my seed list yesterday and am now busy trying to decide what seeds to request.  Obviously the list needed the extra thoughts that I and Maggi generated to push it along, although that wouldn't have been necessary if my postal code had been correct.  I'll have to make sure I get the correct one to the membership secretary before the Rock Garden is distributed.

Thanks for your help Maggi. 
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: David Nicholson on January 11, 2007, 11:56:11 AM
Received a tranche of my seed request in this mornings post, so, they are on the way folks.

I would just like to thank all those involved in what must be quite a complex and difficult logistical exercise. I really appreciate your time and commitment.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on January 11, 2007, 04:24:14 PM
Many thanks for your kind words to the Seed Gangs, David. I will surely pass them along to the busy workers.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Ian Y on January 11, 2007, 06:56:19 PM
The first 700 orders have been posted, this covers all the donors and the first of the non-donors.

The Seed Team will be working hard all this weekend to get the next batch out.

All the USA orders that we have permits for are also on their way and the others are made up awaiting your permits, so USA Members send them on as soon as you get them.

Yes we should all thank the wonderful, hard working volunteers that make up our Seed Team.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: David Shaw on January 11, 2007, 07:27:37 PM
Whilst I type this Carol S is busy talking to Carole Bainbridge on the phone and saying thank you for the seed whilst David S is drooling over all the wonderful new plants to come :D.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Mick McLoughlin on January 11, 2007, 10:15:12 PM
My seed arrived today as well, my first time withnthe seed exchange. Many thanks to all involved.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: fermi de Sousa on January 11, 2007, 10:32:18 PM
I eagerly await the package from SRGC! Apart from the distance and travelling time, we also have to wait for the Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) to go through the packets and compare them to the lists we enclose. Last year my list got left out and I had to photocopy every page of the Seedlist that had a number that I'd recieved and send it to them before they'd release the seed to me! Sometimes the Postal service miss one of the packages, but we don't mention those! The inspection is a bit erratic as I've sometimes had seed refused which has been passed by another "inspector"! However they are usually just clerical workers rather than botanists so you can't blame them -
"They're just following orders"!
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: jim divers on January 12, 2007, 09:43:08 AM
I received my package of seed today. Many thanks to all those working behind the scenes.  I know what I am doing this morning!!!
Jim
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: hadacekf on January 12, 2007, 12:52:48 PM
I was so pleased when my seeds arrived this morning. Thanks to everyone involved.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: ellenndan on January 12, 2007, 04:52:19 PM
Hi there
 Received seeds yesterday, just what i hoped for so am delighted. Many thanks to everyone involved.
 Ellen and Dan
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: SueG on January 18, 2007, 02:59:32 PM
Can I add my thanks to all the seed list team and those who have contributed the seed - I went for some of the random seed and sat down last night with the list to work out what I'd been sent - end result one very happy gardener.
Now all there is to do is get it to grow!
Sue
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: t00lie on January 18, 2007, 09:51:07 PM
Seed arrived down here this morning and has been sown. :D

Great timing as we are receiving a nice steady drop of moisture after a couple of weeks of warm dry settled weather.

Many, many thanks to the donors ,organizers, helpers--all those people who have been involved in the seed setup.  :-*

Cheers Dave.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Diane Whitehead on January 19, 2007, 06:41:26 PM
I received 20 first choices today, which I think is remarkable.

It may be interesting to see what was already gone by the time my order was done:

Eranthis stellata, Iris winogradowii, Lithodora zahnii, Shortia, Tecophilaea

Are these the latest pop plants, or is it more a question of these plants
setting only a little seed?
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Lesley Cox on January 22, 2007, 02:10:34 AM
No SRGC seed here yet but MAF will have it I guess. You must have been lucky Dave. Fermi if our packets come through uninspected, we are obliged by law, to relinquish them to MAF for inspection. Of course we all do that.

I don't know if it happened to others, but for some reason AGS packers didn't send back our enclosed lists but instead, enclosed a copy of the whole seedlist. They must have had way too many to start with. But MAF aren't happy because they have to look through the whole list to compare seeds with numbers instead of down a single piece of paper. And we (Roger and I) therefore ended up with 4 seedlists instead of the one which would have been enough.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Lesley Cox on January 22, 2007, 02:12:18 AM
Diane, I think your second sugestion would be the one to go with. I doubt there would ever be enough of Shortia for instance and the Tecophilaea will always be highly desirable, no matter how many seeds it produces.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Linda_Foulis on January 25, 2007, 02:25:59 AM
Seed arrived here in Okotoks, AB Canada today.   ;D
Very exciting as this is my first time with SRGC seed list.  I received all but one of my first choices.


Still 10C at 7:30 pm here in the foothills of the Rockies, barely any snow to speak of, winter?
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: grannysmith on January 25, 2007, 02:36:55 AM
Has anyone in Australia got theirs yet? The waiting is killing me!  ???
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: fermi de Sousa on January 25, 2007, 04:37:09 AM
Hi Marjorie
at least one of our local AGS group definitely has, but no sign of mine yet! How do we check if our request was actually received?
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on January 25, 2007, 10:53:48 AM
Fermi, the Seed distribution team has been working furiously to get all the orders filled and I have been reluctant to send them too many queries as to status, on the grounds that checking those will slow them down from sending out seeds! ::)
I will, however, contact the Drs Bainbridge  to ask if they feel they could cope with some queries now, I'll get back to you!
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on January 25, 2007, 11:29:17 PM
The Seed Distribution Team has been working its socks off and reports that nearly all the orders are done and, apart from some waiting to get permits or lists made of surplus orders, all will be in the post by next week sometime. So, patience, chaps! We asked what the position was for checking to see whether individuals' orders had been received or not and it seems that since so many folks don't add their name and address to their order, other than for the label use, it is hard todistinguish orders once they have been made up. I presume that Dr Hayes can tell whether or not he got money from someone, but his mail-box is apparently full to the brim since I keep getting bounce back messages from his server. Ian Bainbridge will ask him about that problem.
If you are an American member who has not yet sent in your permit then please do so as quickly as possible, your orders are waiting for the paperwork to arrive.
Hope this cheers you up, you shouldn't have to wait too long now!
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Lesley Cox on January 26, 2007, 12:58:44 AM
My and Roger's seed arrived at the beginning of the week, this even with a short holiday chez MAF.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: PEAK on January 26, 2007, 09:49:04 AM
Nothing has arrived to me in Stockholm yet! I rush for the mail box each day coming home from work.
This is plain torture ;)
Keep up the very good work :)

Per-Ake
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on January 26, 2007, 12:05:16 PM
Welcome , Per-Ake. Congratulations on being our 200th registration to the Forum. I hope your seed arrives very soon and grows well for you, too!
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: PEAK on January 26, 2007, 01:01:51 PM
Thank you Maggi! The secretary knows where to send the prize ;D
Preferably seeds of Dipcadi concanense or reidii, or perhaps an Dodo egg :)
This forum is a superb source of knowledge, I am glad to be a forumer!
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Guff on January 26, 2007, 05:50:18 PM
I looked over the list, I think I will have to sign up in the fall.

I'm mostly interested in the crocus and cyclamen seeds. What I am wondering about is, how many seeds come in each packet? Can you get more then one packet of same, if seed per packet is few?

Also being in the USA, are we able to send seeds in to donate? I dont have any to donate right now, but I will have many cyclamen seeds in the coming years.

Thanks for info
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on January 26, 2007, 09:34:29 PM
Guff, there are not generally many seeds in the packet... the seed packeters have an idea of how many people asked for each type the year befroe and work out how many packets they can reasonably get out of the seed that has been donted and make the packets up accordingly. It is not possible to ask for multiple packets, but one can ask for more types in the surplus seed distribution.
There is no problem at all in donating seeds from the USa to the UK, or indeed from any other country.
You must abide by your own government's regulations to comply with those to enable you to receive seed from the exchange, of course. That is, you must apply for a seed import permit,etc, you can find notes about that elsewhere in these pages and in NARGS site as well, I think.

There are other benefits to overseas members of SRGC other than the seed exchange ; there is our truly excellent twice yearly Journal, a full colour publication called  "The Rock Garden", for instance, and this Forum and website, which would not be here without the SRGC working to fulfill its aims to inform and educate about the rock garden and alpine plants of the world.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Susan on January 27, 2007, 11:07:53 PM
My seed list arrived yesterday.  Thanks for all those goodies. They were inspected by MAF and I had nothing removed, so it was well worth it to use the MAF site and not order anything that was not allowed.

Thank you to all those involved with the seed list, for overseas members it is a marvellous way of obtaining seed and we do appreciate all the effort that goes into the list and its distribution.

Susan
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: grannysmith on January 29, 2007, 01:33:47 AM
My seeds arrived today. :) How exciting!  All else gets put aside until I see what goodies I have got. The dreaded Q people took 14pkts but thats ok. The others more than make up for it. Cant understand them though.  ???They took 1 pkt of hermadactlys and passed another as ok! Grateful thanks to all concerned, donors and packers and organisers. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. ;D
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: fermi de Sousa on January 29, 2007, 01:46:07 AM
Maggi,
thanks for enquiring on my behalf. My worries were groundless as the seed arrived at the end of the week! yay! Only one packet removed by AQIS, so not a bad result. Marjorie, it's worth a 'phone call to AQIS to find out why a aprticular packet was taken, but remember that they are clerical workers not botantists (or probably even gardeners!). Otto had to explain that a certain Frit had changed names and that was why it wasn't on their "allowed" list!
Thanks to all those involved with the SRGC Seedex, from the donors to the packers and the poor compiler who has to deal with late arrivals (usually including yours truly, but I do e-mail a list before the cut off date for printing) and all the vagaries of sequencing, printing and posting the seedlist.
Now I just need some cool weather and enough time to get the potting/sowing factory up and running!
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: PEAK on January 30, 2007, 09:06:18 PM
Still no seeds :(
Does anyone know if all seeds has been sent out by now? Normally mail to Sweden should take no more than a few days.
End of the grumpiness, the journal did arrive today :)
As always a magnificent piece, I am a member of quite many plant/gardening societys, (too many according to my girl friend), but I would say that this is the most interesting journal of them all! A big thanks to all of you putting effort into it :D
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on January 31, 2007, 12:09:41 AM
Per-Ake, your seeds should be on their way to you by now. Unless, you were one of those people who did not write their addresses on the form: there are a few of those waiting to be identified, believe it or not!
Ian Bainbridge tells me "All UK, European and almost all rest of world orders are now despatched.
 
Many US orders are ditto.
 
We have about 40-50 orders to compile lists of species for customs in US Aus and NZ; these will be sorted this week
 
We have about 20 other US orders waiting for resolution of their documentation. "

We do not all have our Journals, yet, even in this country, so the post can be odd!
So, that is how things stand: wait a little longer, perhaps there is just a postal delay.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: PEAK on January 31, 2007, 02:58:48 PM
Thanks a lot Maggi :)
I sure hope that I am not one of these absent-minders ??? So there is still hope, this evening I can approach my mail box with new energy!
The journal will surely make the wait easier :)
Again thanks!
Per-Ake
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on January 31, 2007, 03:27:54 PM
My pleasure, Per-Ake... and today our Journal has arrived !
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Cgull49 on February 03, 2007, 04:32:57 PM
I'm happy to say that I received my seeds about two weeks ago and managed to get 22 out of 25 first choices.  I'm thrilled.

Then on Tuesday of this week I received my surplus seeds and on Thursday I received the Journal. It's been an exciting 2 weeks.

I wanted to thank the seed distribution team who thoughtfully went through my second choices on the main seed list and were able to fill some of those requests while putting my surplus requests together.  Altogether I received another 11 of my second choices - fantastic.

The only thing that dampened my spirits what that my surplus seed shipment was opened by Canada's Border Services Agency who subsequently slapped a $10.00 fee on the shipment, import tax, GST, sales tax, which had to be paid before I could pick it up.  I wasn't too pleased, especially since the shippment was identified as having NIL value.

I'm in the middle of requesting a full refund at the moment,

Regardless of the minor hiccup at the border a BIG BIG thanks to all those who help with the organization and distribution of all those seeds to all us members.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 04, 2007, 12:08:36 AM
Rob, be grateful that it was just $10. When my seeds arrived a very few packets were retained by MAF and can either be destroyed at no cost or returned to sender at $76 for the pleasure. It it were just a matter of paying $10 for taxes etc in order to receive them, I'd have it paid like a shot, never mind a refund!
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 04, 2007, 12:09:26 AM
And about the new Journal - I think it's the best ever!
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: PEAK on February 05, 2007, 05:57:17 PM
Rob, I would happily pay more than 10$ if that would bring me my lost exchange seeds :(
I have now officialy given up waiting for them! Because of this I would like to bring up a bit off topic discussion (moderator warn me if I am pushing the limits to far). I am a member of quite many different plant societys and also order many things from abroad (mostly seeds), these last years more than one out of ten of the things sent to me are lost in the mail >:(
Internet and e-mail are wonderful inventions but at least here in Sweden the ordinary mail (or snail mail as we call it) has declined! When I were a kid the mail-man arrived twice daily except sundays, now I recive my mail once every weekday, if our mail-man is not sick or on leave. If thats the case the mail will arrive more seldom. Whene I speak to postal authoroties about this they only answer that if you are expecting something of importance you should have it send as registered mail or by a courir ???
So, do other forumers of different countrys have the same experience?
I can only second Lesleys opinion about the latest journal :)
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 05, 2007, 08:59:47 PM
That does sound quite a cavalier attitude to the mails doesn't it? While I moan plenty about ours, it is reliably delivered 6 days a week, (not Sundays and only once a day) come rain, hail or mailman's illness. We don't get it on public holidays like today (Feb 6th, Waitangi Day, anniv of signing of Treaty of Waitangi between the English crown (Queen Vic) and the Maori tribes of NZ, in 1840) or Christmas etc but otherwise, yes. I remember my Ma telling me that pre WW2, the mail was delivered twice daily but not since then. My main gripe is the quantities of junk advertising material that comes with it.

Unfortunately it doesn't seem possible here to send a registered item overseas. One either insures if really valuable or takes one's chances. But so far, even cash or cheques that I've sent to places like the Czech Republic, have duly arrived safely at their destinations.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: grannysmith on February 06, 2007, 11:26:53 PM
I was very lucky to be able to get Lilium sherriffiae in the seedlist. I had been looking for this species for my friend Essie Huxley for some time and was very pleased to see it on this years list. I have recieved the seeds and yesterday I took these precious seed over to Essie. She was thrilled to get them and asked me to tell the ones involved how much she appreciates them. She has been seaching for them for many years and at 90+ she didnt think she would ever find them. Here is a photo of her in her garden, holding the seeds, also one with me - I am the fat one. Once again, thanks to all involved for making a wonderful old lady so happy. :)
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on February 06, 2007, 11:34:15 PM
Marjorie, you must give Essie our warmest wishes, please. It is a pleasure to see such a happy result of the Club's efforts.  Thanks indeed to the Seed Exchange team and, of course, to the grand donor of the seed in the first place! Without those wonderful donors where would we be? It is growers like Essie who keep so many plants alive for the next generations and so good to see someone with a long lifetime of enjoying her garden. Cheers, Essie, and thanks to Marj for being her go-between. Does the heart good to see!
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 07, 2007, 02:19:04 AM
Ah Marjorie, so you like coffee and walnut cake too? I see you use that little strategy that I myself often employ, i.e. placing as much of me as possible behind someone else, when the pics are being taken. Works quite well generally.

Lovely to see a pic (2 pics) of Essie too (with very servicable boots!) as I expect to meet her in April with my friend and hers, Don Schofield. Perhaps you'll be able to be there too? Will let you know a date later when I know. It will between April12-16.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: KentGardener on February 07, 2007, 05:18:36 AM
Marjorie - thank you for sharing the story of Essie with us - it has really cheered me this morning.  I look forward to the pictures of Essie with the flowers in a few years time.

with my best wishes

John

Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: grannysmith on February 07, 2007, 05:45:11 AM
I am looking forward to meeting you Lesley. I will certainly try to be there if possible. My weaknesses are  chocolate eclairs and cream sponge. :-[
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: PEAK on February 07, 2007, 01:53:23 PM
Thanks for your sympathy Leslie! I had to look cavalier up in my dictionary, and it expresses my thoughts about postal services very well >:(
Although being glad for all those happy seed receivers, I have started to feel a bit like the guy who Santa forgot at Christmas Eve! I think I'd better avoid this part of the forum for a while.
From a Stockholm where real winter has arrived, -13C this night!
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Andrew on February 12, 2007, 05:48:09 PM
I see you use that little strategy that I myself often employ, i.e. placing as much of me as possible behind someone else, when the pics are being taken.

I find being behind the camera is best for me ;D
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 13, 2007, 12:07:38 AM
Well yes Andrew, for me too, but sometimes some rotten person.....
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: crazy4alpines on February 15, 2007, 09:59:27 PM
Regarding the Small Lots of Seeds Program for American Members

The proposed regulations were to have your parcel forwarded at no additional cost, but the final ruling published in the Federal Register on April 14, 2006 indicates otherwise.

http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a060413c.html

"Currently, importers who import
articles that require inspection, such as
will be the case with small lots of seed,
cover the costs of shipping the article
from the plant inspection station to the
importer’s address, using one of two
options: (1) Provide a shipping
container and the estimated amount of
postage necessary to the overseas
supplier who would then send it along
with the shipment to the plant
inspection station, or (2) provide an
account number for the United States
Postal Service or for a commercial
shipping service to be charged by the
inspectors at the plant inspection
station."

It has been suggested on other internet forums that "the US Postal Service has an agreement with APHIS to carry the seeds on from the APHIS office to your home delivery".  I am not taking any risks with the government, so I am sending a cover letter along with a large postage paid shipping envelope to my APHIS permit center in Jamaica, NY.

Below is a phone number and address link for current APHIS centers:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_imports/plant_inspection_stations_contd.shtml

I am still hopeful that "small lots of seeds" parcels will be forwarded at no extra cost as was previously assumed or implied. 



Current info from APHIS is that seed will be posted forward. M
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on February 15, 2007, 10:12:24 PM
Hello GWS and welcome to the forum.  I'm going to call you Gus, because I don't care to call people by an acronym any more than I would call you a number! Heck, even if I were Groucho Marx, I wouldn't "call you a cab" ;D ;D
I am sorry that the regulations that your government are implementing are, seemingly, changing in their application week to week. I am aware of the suggestions made elswhere that the postage was included.
I believe that Joyce Fingerut was under that impression, and that is a lady who usually knows exactly what is what.  If others are having the same difficulty as you, then I am sure they will find your advice helpful. I can only reiterate our advice, and that of others, for you USA Members to keep lobbying your politicians to try to sort out this situation.
Best of luck with getting your hands on your seeds, and good growiing when you do !
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 15, 2007, 10:29:22 PM
Don't call me early in the morning either Maggi.

What an unweildy system the Americans have to deal with. Sounds like typical bureaucracy with as many obstacles as possible put in the way of achieving simple and straightward goals.

I hope our MAF never pick up on it. All such similar packets/parcels that have to be inspected are forwarded following inspection, to the adressee, at no further cost.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Jim_in_mi on February 16, 2007, 06:55:31 PM
Importing seeds using the USDA APHIS inspection is new to me, as of yet no seeds have been confiscated on entry from many different sources outside the country in the last year without the permits.
That being said, I just spoke with the "seed person" at the office in Jamaica, NY, where my import permit goes through, and was told that the postage was "paid forward" and that the post office knows that if APHIS releases it, the seed had its postage paid for and it will be sent on to the address provided, including the small quantities. 
I was also informed that seed was a low priority since it isn't perishable, so it sits there until inspectors have time to go through it.  That particular center is about 3 weeks behind on the seed packages.
Now, I have not doubt that if I called again and spoke to a different person I might get a different answer, or another office.  I did get my package from the AGS this past Monday, and there was not postage on it, though it was post marked.
Getting anxious to plant seed....
Jim
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: claykoplin on February 19, 2007, 05:15:36 AM
I had a long talk with the APHIS office in Seattle Friday, and they explained how the new process works, and asked me to please post a few suggestions to help them out on the USA end.  The process is much more cumbersome than I could have imagined.  I'll explain briefly (or not so briefly):

When the large boxes full of SRGC seed arrives in Seattle (they say the SRGC seed exchange is growing rapidly in popularity/volume in their office), they have to open each envelope of up to 50 seed packets.  They have to enter the genera of each seed packet into a database that is very slow and takes time for the screen to refresh for the next entry.  Once all seeds have been entered, up to 50, they have to print them in triplicate and send the list on to the home office.  This is all very time consuming, about a half hour to each envelope of seed IF EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER, AND IT OFTEN ISN'T.  HERE'S THE SUGGESTIONS:
1)  Each envelope of seed packets must be accompanied by the full permit in the person's name who is receiving seed.  The permit number in the documents must match the name in their database.  pages 2 and 3 are apparently getting mixed up either by requesters or at the seed exchange, as one seed envelope will have different permit numbers on different pages.
2)  The green and yellow labels have to be taken off, and many were pressed on extremely firmly, if they can be lightly tacked at the corners or taped with the backing still on with 2-sided tape, it will help.  It's a small item, but each little bit helps conquer the mountain of work.  More importantly, THE PERMIT NUMBER ON THE GREEN & YELLOW LABEL MUST MATCH THE PERMIT NUMBER OF THE PERMIT PAPERWORK ACCOMPANYING THE SEED.  These two are getting mixed up either by those requesting seed or the exchange, and will definately result in the seeds being set aside: it's regulation and they don't have a choice.

If the permit paperwork isn't in order, the seeds get set aside until all the rest are distributed.
Realize as mentioned in previous post that live plants are the priority, so seed packets sit on everyone's desk and they process a few at a time as time allows.

Other suggestions include using clear seed envelopes.  This is actually a requirement of APHIS, and they are supposed to visually inspect the seeds which means opening each packet in they're not clear.  Xraying, etc. helps, but if there is any way to use clearer envelopes it would help.
Also, when seed hopefuls include their return addresses, please use self-adhesive labels with the backing still on.  APHIS has to glue or tape addresses on if they're not on a label.  Again, it's a small thing, but it's a game of inches.
Finally, the best way to speed the process for all is to request less seed as each packet takes so long to enter into the computers.  It's a proprietary program that will not allow excel or other database information to be imported, so electronic lists can't help, unfortunately.
I am among the guiltiest of being a seed hog and requesting the full amount allowed as I'm new to alpines and have a large empty lot and largely empty greenhouse.  As I'm now getting my own seed from many of my first year's selections and buying much more from JJA, etc. I will request a much smaller lot next year and take up the slack with Fritillaria Group, NARGS, and direct trading to give others a chance to get seed quicker.

Seattle office says the Seattle Post Office is absolutely responsible to pick them up and forward them, which they have been doing faithfully at no extra charge.  This may be due to my calls before SRGC seed was shipped and suggesting to APHIS to call the PO and make sure they were on board.

All the above aside, the folks are very friendly and working very hard to distribute the seed, and much has already been shipped out.  The suggestions above will help streamline the process as much as possible.  I can say that one lady who requested several large envelopes that went through the Seattle office has had her seed withheld due to mixed Permit numbers between the permit and the green/yellow labels, but APHIS has been calling and emailing people to let them know if there are hangups so they can provide the proper permit to get them from the office, so including your contact information and email with your permit will eventually get your seed to you if you're lucky enough to be working with the Seattle office which is, in my opinion, doing a great job.

Finally (deep breath) Thanks again to the dedicated staff of the SRGC and all the extra hassle involved with US seed, and the APHIS folks doing the best they can with a cumbersome process.

Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Diane Whitehead on February 19, 2007, 08:35:49 PM
You shouldn't have to cut down on the total lots of seed if you order species with lots of variations. This year there were five variations of Primula alpicola, 7 of Hepatica nobilis, and 11 of Narcissus bulbocodium.  That's 23 packets of seeds, and the inspector would need to type only three names.  It would be a good project for you, too.  You'd become an almost-instant expert on three species.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on February 19, 2007, 08:48:50 PM
Diane, what a smart cookie you are. Great suggestion!
By the way, there's a picture of you in the snowdrop page, have you seen it? ;)
Here's the page, it's reply no. 6 by Brian Ellis you want!
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=266.msg5830#new
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Diane Whitehead on February 21, 2007, 12:12:07 AM
Not me.  I used to be a redhead before I became a whitehead.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on February 21, 2007, 12:21:30 AM
Diane, all the redheads in my family, before me, became whiteheads, and very good they looked too, but My bright, red-gold hair is getting darker by the year. It is very dark chestnut (the nut, not the horse) when wet and really only shows the red when in bright sunshine or under a strong light... my hairdresser tells me I should be grateful it's not grey, but I wasn't expecting grey, I was expecting to keep the red till I got the proper white, like yours. Nice to have something trivial to moan about! My apologies to those follically (spelling?) challenged souls out there who are fuming gently!
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: claykoplin on February 23, 2007, 03:10:01 AM
I received seeds Tuesday, Wednesday, and the last of them today, so patience, the US seed is making the rounds, and more than 4 months earlier than last year!

Diane - If there were 10 ea. of fritillaria, lilium, and nomocharis sp. to choose from, I'd be in 'em.  With any luck, I'll be adding a lot more back to the seed pool in a year or few.

I see I was one of the culprits with hand written addresses on plain paper labels for return address, and have already purchased the larger 2"x4" Avery #5263 adhesive labels for next year's exchange.  Aphis had to tape the labels on, and would much prefer pre-printed self-adhesive labels.  Easy enough.

Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Diane Whitehead on February 23, 2007, 04:23:15 AM
I don't have frits, but I've just finished sowing dozens of packets of lily seed - mostly species - from the RHS Lily Group.  It's one of the club seed exchanges that sells its seeds to members, so I usually get everything I order.  I thought I would send you some of the seeds, and then remembered, you're subject to the rules to keep bad stuff from taking over Florida and California, even though you're isolated and bracketed by Siberia and Canada.

There are several U.S. lily growers who sell seeds in addition to donating them to seed exchanges.   Rainbow Francom collects throughout northern California,  donated a lot to NARGS this year and also sells:  http://www.lilyseed.com/index.html

Every few years I try some Nomocharis seeds but haven't succeeded in growing any to flowering.  I think it likes Scotland better.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: claykoplin on February 23, 2007, 04:04:14 PM
Diane - I look forward to a tour of Butchart Gardens in BC, probably sooner rather than later.  You live in a beautiful place.  You really do need a few fritillaria camschatcensis in a cool, moist corner if you have one.  The application of the agricultural rules are really rather ridiculous in many instances.  The clunky tools the Aphis folks are left to work with doesn't make their job any easier or efficient.  So it goes.  I've ordered from Rainbow Francom, Cascade bulb and Seed, Beaver Creek Nursery and especially JJA for species lilium and nomocharis and supplement with NARGS and SRGS exchange seed.  I'm trying as wide a variety of Himalaya species as possible to test them against our cool, wet summers.  I fear it's the mild, wet, winters that will make or break them.  At the present temperature of -23C, the 2nd coldest I've noted since I've lived in Cordova, "mild" is a bit of a misnomer.  Let me know if you'd like some fritillaria camschatcensis seed.  You can always toss them in a wet corner and let them have their way.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: crazy4alpines on March 08, 2007, 11:31:32 PM
I received my 40 packets of surplus seeds on Tuesday in the original envelope via the Jamaica, New York APHIS center .  I had sent them a postage paid shipping envelope just in case they needed it, but they did not.  They just cut out my address label from the postage paid envelope I provided and sent the remainder of my envelope (including the unused stamps) back to me inside the parcel with the seeds.  So it does look like APHIS is forwarding the parcels after all with no additional postage required.

However, I have a somewhat scary story regarding what happened when I opened the parcel.  First you have to realize that I have never received anything via an APHIS center ever, so I was confused when I found enclosed with my 40 packets of surplus seeds a "Mail Interception Notice" that I was in violation of quarantine regulations and that prohibited material had been removed and destroyed from my parcel!

Apparently one or more seed packets had a number which was illegible.  According to regulations they can either destroy/remove this technically illegal packet of seeds or the entire shipment since it was in violation of "Condition #6" of Regulation 7CFR319.37.  Since I  received all 40 packets of surplus seeds which I had ordered, I could only assume that this violation of quarantine regulations was from the first round of the seed exchange.

I immediately assumed that my entire original seed exchange (first round) shipment (All 25 original packets) had been confiscated and destroyed just because of one packet they could not read!  Wow was I freaked out!  Of course they can do this according to the regulations, as crazy as it may sound.  In addition, the "Mail Interception Notice" stated that these violations may result in criminal or civil penalties!  Well there goes my perfectly clean record I thought.


Since it was too late in the day to call the APHIS center, I had to endure a restless night wondering if they destroyed my entire original seed exchange shipment or just the one or two packets of seeds with numbers they could not read.  Finally in the morning I found out the fate of my seeds.  I asked if they had any seeds in quarantine or anyplace else there from the Scottish Rock Garden Club.  After several tense minutes of waiting they told me yes I still had seeds.  The destroyed seed packet (just one) was from the surplus seed shipment which I already received.  I quess I was sent 41 packets instead of 40 so I was wrong in assuming the worst.

Instead they said that I have a parcel from the Scottish Rock Garden Club which they recently recieved.  Apparently it was sent to the country of Jamaica instead of the Jamaica, New York APHIS center and that they would be processing it soon.  Wow what a relief.  So I verified once and for all that no additional forwarding postage would be required and they said that was correct.

So I should be getting my original seed exchange parcel soon.  I am sorry if I seemed too arrogant in my previous post by suggesting that forwarding postage was required by Federal Regulation.  Thank you Maggie for editing my prior post to let others know that APHIS is currently forwarding the parcels at no additional cost.

Since the seed packaging team has to put up with all this extra APHIS hassle to send USA members our seeds, I am going to try sending in a very good selection of seeds this fall for the upcoming seed exchange to help make up for this extra work.  Thanks to everyone involved in the seed exchange.  I am very excited when the seeds arrive!

Steve
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Jim_in_mi on March 12, 2007, 08:00:05 PM
Glad you received your second round Steve, Mine has not been received by the Jamaica station yet, or they have yet to inspect it. Obviously I do not yet have my first round....
I just spoke with an Inspector Ryd at the center, who informed me that her inspectors are always intimidated by our small lot seed since most of them are not familiar with anything we are importing.  She suggested radish seeds as an alternative that would get tied up in inspection!  Jokingly of course.....I told her that it should be easy to get through since the SRGC requires a list of seed to be included with our original request! 
One tip she said would be to include the recipient's, US member's, name on the outer envelope....then they could at least pick ours out when we called to complain that we had not received our seed yet.  She said it is a box of very neat looking, exactly the same replicas. 
In any event, our seed will not come until the end of April, unless they suddenly hire new inspectors because living plants take priority over seeds.
I do appreciate the chance to participate in this seed exchange, I just wish our government wasn't so inconsistent, putting it mildly, in enforcing the import laws.
Jim

 
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: PEAK on March 12, 2007, 08:24:50 PM
A letter arrived today, opening it I found a very interesting selection of seeds from this years seed-ex :D
Not many will be surprised when I say that this was sent by our own Maggi, when my original letter were lost in mail! I don't know how to express my gratefulness ower this, and I don't understand where Maggi gets the time to look after us all ???
Thank you Maggi :)
Isn't it time that our hero member becomes upgraded to the super-hero level, because superpowers she must have!
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on March 12, 2007, 09:28:52 PM
Per-Åke, you are too kind
[attach=1]
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Diane Whitehead on March 13, 2007, 06:09:24 AM
inspectors are always intimidated by our small lot seed since most of them are not
 familiar with anything we are importing. 

When I buy plants in the U.S. and take them for inspection, every plant name
must be looked up to make sure it is allowed in international trade, and in the
recipient country.  I know all the rules, so I never buy anything that can't be
imported.  Once though, I had bought an unusual cultivar of Euphorbia characias.
There was great consternation because some of the succulent forms are on CITES
Schedule 1, right up there with sea turtles and snow leopards.  I explained this
one was almost a weed, but they had to look through the entire list - would not
take my word for it, of course.

It takes the inspectors more time to process our small orders, whether of seeds
or plants, because we have one each of a lot of species.  A trucker with a semi
full of one kind of plant, whether it's lettuce or poinsettias, gets inspected a lot
faster.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Jim_in_mi on March 13, 2007, 04:22:51 PM
I admitt, all of that is understandable. But, I worked as a state Ag Inspector for several years, and witnessed the frequent "oversites" of the federal inspectors, with loads of virused plants coming from the Netherlands etc etc...and plants with other "maladies"
So it only adds to my frustration that they must inspect every seed in our little packets, yet open only 1 in every 20 boxes of lettuce or Euphorbia pulcherrima letting in the dreaded invasive exotic pests we now deal with. 
Im not sure what is more frustrating, that they miss all those pests in the big shipments, or the drastic delay in my small lot of seed....Im joking of course, its obviously the ones they missed! 
I won't get started on CITES...the US is inconsistent in that too....
Jim
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: chriswil on April 05, 2007, 03:07:27 PM
I thought other US members would like to know that upon returning from a vacation to New York, my wife and I both had received our parcels from the SRGC seed exchange. They were probably delivered to us last weekend and we are very happy. I think all of the seeds that were sent were still in the envelopes and none were confiscated. Although the small seed program is not as easy as the old days it did allow for the seeds to come through, so it is working. We would like to thank everyone who was involved with the seed exchange and look forward to seeing being involved with the SRGC for years to come.

Chris and Cynthia Wilhoite
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Maggi Young on April 05, 2007, 04:26:36 PM

Thank you, Chris and Cynthia for your kind words to the Seed Exchange Folks, who, I am sure, will appreciate your feedback. I will pass on your comments
I am happy also,for this chance to make mention of the person Ian Bainbridge calls our "super secret agent", Joyce Fingerut of NARGS, who has been unfailingly helpful to the exchange with her advice, assistance and interventions on all levels... Joyce has been FAB and the SRGC is very grateful for her involvement !
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: David Nicholson on April 05, 2007, 07:18:47 PM
I'm just glad I live in England and all I have to put up with is the frailties of our Royal Mail :D  We currently have a Postman who appears to be incapable of differentiating between No. 7 (my house number) and No. 2 because we always get each others mail. But having read the posts above I 'll put up with it.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: crazy4alpines on April 06, 2007, 01:26:49 AM
Yippee!!  My First Round Seeds Arrived this afternoon (April 5) and I am very gleeful!  Fortunately only one packet of seeds was confiscated by APHIS which was #4322 Saussurea sp. with no specific reason detailed for its removal.

Since Saussurea costus (= lappa) is on the CITES list, they may have removed it on the assumption that we are secretly trying to send the forbidden CITES species by attempting to hide its true identity!  I wish they gave our seed donors more credit, especially since it came from a Chadwell collection (CC 5362) and would certainly have known if it was Saussurea costus (=lappa).  If we are to assume this logic from the APHIS plant wizards, then any genus which has even just one species on the CITES list would suggest that they may confiscate any other plant from that genus (which is labeled only as sp.).

I am only pointing this out to alert other USA members that they may not receive their seed from an unknown species if any member of that genus is listed on the CITES list.  Fortunately I did receive Saussurea pygmaea and S. tilesii.  Hopefully someone will be able to identify the Chadwell collection species someday and I may eventually receive it that way.

By the way the forbidden Saussurea costus seed is available from the following vendor in the USA despite it being on the CITES list of forbidden plants (I do not wish to promote any business and if listing this link is taboo, please remove it).

http://www.horizonherbs.com/product.asp?specific=jpnqdoe4

Anyway, I wish to add my thanks of appreciation to Joyce Fingerut and all the seed exchange volunteers and donors for their wonderful contributions.  I am also pleasantly euphoric by the fact I received all but 3 of my first pick choices.
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: Diane Clement on April 06, 2007, 08:45:52 AM
If we are to assume this logic from the APHIS plant wizards, then any genus which has even just one species on the CITES list would suggest that they may confiscate any other plant from that genus (which is labeled only as sp.).

Yes, that's the rule I've applied over the last few years.  I check and catalogue all the US orders for the AGS Seed exchange and part of the guidance I was given, was that if there is a plant on a seed list labelled Genus sp which has any one forbidden plant in that genus, then any seed labelled as Genus sp should not be sent out with US orders. 

But it can get a bit more complicated.  For example: Fritillaria gentneri is a banned species as it is endangered in the US.  So we can't send the seed, even if it's garden grown, and we can't send Frit sp as it could be F gentneri.  But what about the seed listed as Frit sp Iran or Frit sp green - would the inspectors accept those, know that can't be F gentneri?  I have tended to assume they do not have that level of knowledge so I don't send it, and send something safer instead.  It would just be a waste if it were confiscated.  Some of the rules seem illogical, such as the Endangered Species Act - makes sense for tigers, doesn't make sense for garden grown Frit gentneri.  And seed of all parasitic plants is banned - I'd love to know who finds Castilleja a pest.  But at least the restrictive rules mean the US growers can legally import some seed relatively easily - which is an improvement!   

I would also like to echo Maggi's gratitude to Joyce Fingerut who is the fount of all knowledge on these things and has been immense help over the last few years.

 
Title: Re: New Seed List
Post by: winwen on September 20, 2021, 08:06:43 AM
I was very lucky to be able to get Lilium sherriffiae in the seedlist. I had been looking for this species for my friend Essie Huxley for some time and was very pleased to see it on this years list. I have recieved the seeds and yesterday I took these precious seed over to Essie. She was thrilled to get them and asked me to tell the ones involved how much she appreciates them. She has been seaching for them for many years and at 90+ she didnt think she would ever find them. Here is a photo of her in her garden, holding the seeds, also one with me - I am the fat one. Once again, thanks to all involved for making a wonderful old lady so happy. :)
As far as I remember, this has been the only occurrence of Lilium sherriffiae in the srgc-seedlist so far.
Since I don't know who the generous donor was nor the lucky recipients, I'd like to ask the group (whoever may feel concerned about this), if any plants have arisen from this donation and/or if the donor has them still in cultivation.
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