MSG Event Banstead

Don't know if I've ever blogged about this before but this my second trip to Banstead way out in Surrey at the edges of that London.  We have good reason to go there as there was an MSG event on in the hall there.  Its the Mesemb Study Group for those wondering what I'm on about.  A society dedicated to all things Mesembryanthemum, this includes popular genera such as Lithops and Conophytum and less popular genera such as Psammophora or the myriad weedy annuals such as Cleretum.

Being a mostly South African group of plants and such, they are currently in flower due to it being Spring there, so an autumn show is perfect to show them off.  A mix of 2 buses, the DLR and a Tube connection got us there and after last times failure to find the place we had a pretty good idea where it was.  Its off the main road as you head into town, for those wondering.

Its a nice hall and I paid my admission to go in. There was a bank of tables set out with show plants and at the edges various people I knew selling plants and such.  I got me a Titanopsis and a Mossia both plants I've never actually grown before along with a Conophytum Piluliforme which I've sort of grown (a few conos definitely not that species).

There are some decent show plants there including a giant of a Mestoklema in flower and an Astridia that was something special.  Also really old Mitrophyllum that was older than me.  I didn't stay for the auction which had a map of Namibia that was owned by noted field researcher Desmond Cole.

Going back was a nightmare, I decided to leave early to look around the charity shops and such, decided to take the Croydon bus back not realising that it goes around the houses.  Comes in the top end near the trams and there is a cracking piece of wall art of Astro Boy as you come in that's worth a look.  Took the tram and then some more buses before getting in about 6 ish, a good 3 hours travelling just to get home.

Edit Pics liberated from drop pox.

Astridia Hallii.

Astridia Halli a good 12'' / 30 cm in length.

Mestoklema Tuberosum Flower Details

One of the few tuberous rooted mesembs, this is a huge 2ft / 60cm tall and is around 50 years old.

Ebracteola Montis Moltkeri

A close up of this guy, grown by Eddy Harris.

Tanquana Hilmarii

A habitat type shot, that works so well.

Lithops

Finally some more familiar faces to end with.  Love this Lithops Karasmontana ssp Bella.

Conophytum Group

Comophytum group from Derek Tribble. There is a sneaky Othonna in there too if you can spot it.