Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: johnw on February 03, 2010, 01:53:06 AM

Title: Puya
Post by: johnw on February 03, 2010, 01:53:06 AM
Wow wee!  Take a look at these Puyas from a shot on John Grimshaw's blogspot.  Amaaaaaaaaaazing.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sfvS6qSSxkA/SzsiAb3x9SI/AAAAAAAAAHk/Pv9uPiW-jB8/s1600-h/Puya+raimondii+-+bigtime+in+Peru!+-+14.12.09..JPG (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sfvS6qSSxkA/SzsiAb3x9SI/AAAAAAAAAHk/Pv9uPiW-jB8/s1600-h/Puya+raimondii+-+bigtime+in+Peru!+-+14.12.09..JPG)


The blogspot -  http://johngrimshawsgardendiary.blogspot.com/ (http://johngrimshawsgardendiary.blogspot.com/)


johnw
Title: Re: Puya
Post by: fermi de Sousa on February 03, 2010, 02:49:33 AM
Definitely amaaaaaaazing!
Is that John pretending to be a garden gnome under the flower spikes? ;D
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: Puya
Post by: johnw on February 03, 2010, 02:54:22 AM
Fermi - Go to the blogspot page link and scroll down for a write-up on the Puya pic.

johnw
Title: Re: Puya
Post by: TheOnionMan on February 03, 2010, 03:07:51 AM
Doesn't look real, like it has been photo enhanced scale-wise, but then again, such is the nature of Puya.

Here are two Facebook Galleries, but I think they are open to all internet users... some of the aqua-blue Puyas are fantastic (as is the entire photo gallery on the Flora of Chile, some exquisite alpine beauties)

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&gid=47405455016&so=375#!/group.php?v=photos&gid=47405455016&so=360

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&gid=47405455016&so=390#!/group.php?v=photos&gid=47405455016&so=375
Title: Re: Puya
Post by: ian mcenery on February 03, 2010, 09:49:42 AM
Wow wee!  Take a look at these Puyas from a shot on John Grimshaw's blogspot.  Amaaaaaaaaaazing.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sfvS6qSSxkA/SzsiAb3x9SI/AAAAAAAAAHk/Pv9uPiW-jB8/s1600-h/Puya+raimondii+-+bigtime+in+Peru!+-+14.12.09..JPG (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sfvS6qSSxkA/SzsiAb3x9SI/AAAAAAAAAHk/Pv9uPiW-jB8/s1600-h/Puya+raimondii+-+bigtime+in+Peru!+-+14.12.09..JPG)


The blogspot -  http://johngrimshawsgardendiary.blogspot.com/ (http://johngrimshawsgardendiary.blogspot.com/)


johnw

Wonderful plants John. I have tried to grow the smaller ones including alpestris  but they have always failed to come through the winter. Though what I would have done  when my grandchildren visit if they had survived I don't know because they are the most vicious thing on the planet  :-\ They seem to grow well in the South West of Cornwall and I have seen them at Tresco
Title: Re: Puya
Post by: Carlo on February 03, 2010, 12:38:54 PM
The ones I've grown never get near that size...and it's a GOOD thing...
Title: Re: Puya
Post by: Brian Ellis on February 03, 2010, 01:40:20 PM
I've always fancied growing P. alpestris since seeing it at East Ruston in Norfolk, but they are right by the coast and don't get the frosts.  I don't think I could find room for one of those monster -   ;) I wonder whether Tom Hart-Dyke will have any seedlings when I go this summer....
Title: Re: Puya
Post by: ashley on February 03, 2010, 04:20:21 PM
This winter I have lost PP. caerulea for certain, alpestris and chilensis probably (incl. big, well-established ones), and perhaps berteroniana and venusta too :'( :'( :'(
Here in southern Ireland 25 km inland our minimum temperatures were about -8oC, just a bit lower than usual.  However I suspect that the crucial factor was the extraordinary duration of the cold period (3 weeks or so).  White 'frostbite' marks that appear on the leaves most winters spread relentlessly day by day until eventually the plants had no green left.  It's unlikely that any will manage to reshoot from the base.  Perhaps it's time that I bowed to the inevitable and gave up on puyas entirely, wonderful as they are. 
Title: Re: Puya
Post by: Brian Ellis on February 03, 2010, 05:53:26 PM
Don't give up Ashley, they are sooo amazing - if dangerous!
Title: Re: Puya
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 03, 2010, 07:13:51 PM
I've seen the occasional one here but some super specimens a few years ago at the Mt TomahBotanic Garden in Australia's Blue Mountains. They were covered with nectar-feeding sunbirds.
Title: Re: Puya
Post by: TheOnionMan on February 03, 2010, 11:55:32 PM
I would like to grow Puya (not hardy here) just because I really really like to say Puya  :D
Title: Re: Puya
Post by: ashley on February 04, 2010, 09:33:12 AM
I've always fancied growing P. alpestris ... I wonder whether Tom Hart-Dyke will have any seedlings when I go this summer....

Brian, I forgot to say that they're very easy, and quite fast, from seed.
Title: Re: Puya
Post by: Brian Ellis on February 04, 2010, 10:31:20 AM
Thanks Ashley, I hadn't realised that...perhaps I should have a go ::)  I love the colour of the flowers on P.alpestris.  I shall look into it.
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