|
Home Page / Succulents / Bromeliads / Contact Us /
______________________________ Toobees Exotics SPECIALIST GROWERS OF MADAGASCAN AND AFRICAN SUCCULENTS, BROMELIADS AND OTHER EXOTIC PLANTS ______________________________ About Toobees Exotics Toobees Exotics is run by Bob and Beryl Potter and started life 24 years ago as an extension to a hobby which started for Bob in 1957 at a very tender age! Initially a collection of cacti and common succulents was started and as time progressed more interest began to develop in some of the rarer succulents that were becoming available. In 1973 a three year stay in Yemen allowed both of us to travel extensively in that country and to discover many of the interesting and unusual succulents in their natural habitat. Many plants were bought back when we returned to U.K. and some of the rarer species were distributed after propagation to members of the Cactus and Succulent Society. Notable among the plants found in Yemen were Dorstenia foetida, Adenium obesum, Ceropegia rupicola and the then extremely rare species Rhytidocaulon macrolobum.
Ceropegia rupicola Dorstenia foetida Rhytidocaulon macrolobum. It was eventually decided to start a small nursery centered on the greenhouses in our back garden, the project got under way in 1981 and in the following years we had the pleasure of receiving many visitors to our small operation.
In 1989 we made a visit to Madagascar and explored much of this fascinating island and again brought back many new and exiting plants some of which still form the basis of our propagating stock. A few examples of Madagascan plants can be seen in the pictures below.
Aloe descoingsii v.augustina Euphorbia capsaintmariensis Euphorbia alfredii
Euphorbia Euphorbia Xerosycios Zygosycios croizatii primulifolia pubescens tripartitus
We entered into the ‘ Show World’ with the first ever Hampton Court Flower Show in 1991 and have continued from there, showing our unusual succulents at the large R.H.S shows which includes Chelsea, Hampton Court, Tatton Park and the B.B.C Gardeners World Show in Birmingham. We won a GOLD MEDAL at Chelsea on our first attempt in 1996 and have won numerous GOLD MEDALS at the other major horticultural shows, we also won another GOLD MEDAL for our last Chelsea Exhibit in 2004. We also attend small and medium events during the year both locally and further a field.
We eventually moved to larger premises and formed a Nursery that was open to the public, where we stocked a wider range of plants than was taken to the shows such as palms, carnivorous plants, bromeliads, tillandsias and any rarities that we obtained or grew. With the wider range of plants that we stocked we attended various Homes and Garden Shows such as the Ideal Home Show at Earls Court and The Daily Telegraph Show at Olympia and The Alexander Palace Homes and Garden Show where we were able to take some specimen plants for sale. Due to the site where the Nursery was situated being sold, we needed to vacate the premises, and had to go through the process of trying to find another suitable location. We eventually found a new location at the end of 2005 and as of now the site is ready except for some internal fitting out in the greenhouse. Once we are up and running we will only be operating a mail order business from our new premises although it will be possible to visit by appointment
SHOWS AND EVENTS WE WILL BE ATTENDING IN 2008
This section will be updated as and when any other dates are confirmed.
Our exhibit at Hampton Court Flower Show in July 2005 was rewarded with a GOLD MEDAL. The exhibit was constructed in association with Chris Edwards of Partan Rock Ltd who designed and manufactured the rock plinths and frontal landscape area. The rock plinths and rocky ledges were coloured to represent the red earth of Madagascar, and although of course not all the plants came from Madagascar we hope you agree that the plants were set of to the best advantage.
Home Page / Succulents / Bromeliads / Contact Us /
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
