“When you fall in love with succulents …
one plant is never enough!”
— Marina Welham, Editor
First, The Amateurs' Digest, and now The Cactophile Network: "The Hobbyist's First Choice".
“The Amateurs’ Digest … what I liked about it was that it had a very ‘down to earth’ ethos ...” — Anthony Murphy, UK
Plantae Furtivae (2)
Neoregelia nivea. Rare white center. Marina’s Plant & Photo. Volume 22, Issue #6, July 2010, page 11.One of Marina’s exceptional plants, on the grounds at Lochside. From the Wayback Machine, upscaled with AI.Billbergia windii. Plant & Photo: Marina Welham, from the 25th Anniversary issue of The Amateurs’ Digest, Volume 25, Issue #1, September 2012. Marina wrote: “Spring-flowering, after which pups are produced. Care includes keeping the plants in high light without direct sun. This plant has done well in my greenhouse at around 50F (10C) all winter.” Photo upscaled with AI.
Marina’s Mexican Firecracker
Marina’s Giant Mexican Firecracker is an Echeveria known as “Big Red“. Plant and photos by Marina Welham, on page 19 of The Amateurs’ Digest, Volume 24, Issue #5, May 2012.
Echeveria, “Big Red“, the Giant Mexican Firecracker, 32 inches in length and still growing. Photo of the flowering stem by Marina Welham, 2012. Upscaled with AI.
Marina’s Mexican Firecracker (base)
Aechmea recurvata, Plant and Flower
Aechmea recurvata,. Plant & Photo: Marina Welham.Aechmea recurvata, close-up of the flower. Plant & Photo: Marina Welham.
Source: Aechmea recurvata, one of Marina’s bromeliads Plant & Photo: Marina Welham. Volume 22, Issue #4, March 2010. Bromeliad Corner, The Amateurs’ Digest, page 20.
Aechmea Fasciata (Variety) – The Silver Vase
Aechmea Fasciata (Variety) – The Silver Vase. Volume 23, Issue #6, July 2011, Bromeliad corner, The Amateurs’ Digest, page 6,Aechmea Fasciata (Variety) – The Silver Vase. Volume 23, Issue #6, July 2011, Bromeliad corner, The Amateurs’ Digest, page 6,
Hildewintera aureispina Golden Rat’s Tail
Hildewintera aureispina. Plant & Photo: The Welhams. Volume 24, Issue #5, May 2012, page 4.
Marina wrote: “For a while the name of the plant became Cleistocacatus winteri but as too often happens somebody decided to return it to its former name for whatever reason … I did wonder about the flower which, unlike the Cleistocacatus flower which barely opens, on this cactus opens right up as you can see in the photo. Hildewintera aureispina comes from Bolivia. It was discovered in 1958.”
