tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207856767845378292.post8668952986766091314..comments2023-05-01T07:50:55.593-07:00Comments on My Life Among the Lithops (and Other Strange Plants): Miniature African Violets in WinterAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12888328097434089820noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207856767845378292.post-22926118645596563282014-12-24T07:15:28.344-08:002014-12-24T07:15:28.344-08:00Thank you for filling us in, Paddarotti! Where I l...Thank you for filling us in, Paddarotti! Where I live is much more in the swirl of world (read "corporate") markets, but it's almost impossible to find the old species. People have special "seed savers exchanges" for heirloom varieties and try very hard to keep these rare old plants viable for future generations, and away from Monsanto et al! I'm really glad you can grow Lithops well there. They survive in my climate but don't really thrive. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12888328097434089820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207856767845378292.post-50913685372255763602014-12-24T01:23:21.441-08:002014-12-24T01:23:21.441-08:00Hehe. No it's nothing as noble as that. We'...Hehe. No it's nothing as noble as that. We're a teeny tiny market on the tip of Africa. The consumer here is not at all discerning. In such a small market there is no incentive to update varieties. Our currency is worth nothing, importing is not economically viable in the short term, the market is dominated by a small number of players and there are intellectual property issues. But that does create niche opportunities too. From time to time someone steps in with something new and there are also individuals with a special interest in a particular species who wheel and deal to get more interesting and rarer things. But you're never going to walk into a supermarket or nursery and pick an Optimara off the shelf. For decades we have had 2 (yes two) oriental lilies available. Cassablanca and Stargazer. Commercially available hybrids in the rest of the world run into hundreds. A year or two ago we got the first pot oriental on the market and they walked off the shelf. Africa marches to a different beat. Actually we have our own orchestra. But fortunately the climate for Lithops is magnificent :-)Paddarottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07167452881826657793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207856767845378292.post-57735968119067435802014-12-24T01:06:06.813-08:002014-12-24T01:06:06.813-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Paddarottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07167452881826657793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207856767845378292.post-72808953128589573852014-12-24T01:04:44.087-08:002014-12-24T01:04:44.087-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Paddarottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07167452881826657793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207856767845378292.post-16194678620184129972014-12-21T17:16:49.265-08:002014-12-21T17:16:49.265-08:00Hi, Paddarotti! Glad to hear from you. Why are the...Hi, Paddarotti! Glad to hear from you. Why are the newer varieties not available for you? Is it because of concern of losing the genetic blueprint of the originals through hybridization?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12888328097434089820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207856767845378292.post-13243339725935612232014-12-20T03:27:15.528-08:002014-12-20T03:27:15.528-08:00Lovely green AV that! The varieties availble here ...Lovely green AV that! The varieties availble here date back to world war I :-(Paddarottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07167452881826657793noreply@blogger.com