Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: Julia on November 22, 2013, 11:12:52 AM
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Just wondering if anyone has been to the Falklands and can tell me any good places to visit for the plants?
Also do we have any forum members that live there?
I will be visiting first week in Feb 2014
Hope some one can help :)
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Julia
I passed on your message to a website that deals with the Falklands. All the posters use nom - de-plumes to protect their identity from Argentinian trolls. There are two posting under the names pete bog and isolde who have shown an interest in plant life before.
Anyway, I hope they reply with some useful information.
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A few years ago we did have a member in the Falklands- I think on secondment to a research project - not there anymore I don't think - and I have forgotten the name :'(
Perhaps someone has at least visited this far-flung and fascinating place and can help Julia with some advice...... ( apart from "pack wind-proof clothing"?) ;)
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Julia - In the early 50's new neighbours arrived here from Aberdeen. I bumped into the youngest son (he must be close to retirement now!) in a local bank a few years ago, I was surprised as he had moved back to Scotland about 15 or more years ago. I was even more surprised that his wife lives in Scotland and he works as the only dentist on the Falklands. At the time I was interested in Empetrum rubrum (aka diddle-dee) and so he put the island botanist in touch. If you pm or email me I will track down his address.
By the way the reason for my interest in the Empetrum was a selection made by Barry Starling which he sent me in 1994, it was completely covered in white wool - var. tomentosum - and ever so choice with red berries. It's one you should have there in Scotland so you could send us a few cuttings ;)..........as I lost mine.
How's this for coincidence - Julia, you stayed directly across the street from the dentist's former house when you were in Hfx.
johnw
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the Davidsons who now run Abriachan nursery by Loch Ness lived and grew plants on the Falklands for years up to the conflict and would be the obvious people to talk to
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Thank you all very much, I will post some pictures in March :)