We hope to have a video of Graham Duncan’s talk “Agapanthus, Lachenalia and a lifetime spent at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden: 1979 – 2024” available to SABG and NAAS members for viewing after the meeting. More details will follow when available. [27 March 2025]

The new Haemanthus book from Dee Snijman is available online at https://www.sanbi.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025_Strelitzia48.pdf [Jon Evans, 13 March 2025]

I’ve just added to our digital library a PhD thesis spotted by Carl Garnham: A systematic revision of Drimiopsis Lindl. & Paxt. (Hyacinthaceae) by Pearl Dijeng ‘Matlhapi Lebatha (2004). Although it’s a thesis,with much botanical information, there are also colour photos and paintings of the species. [13 March 2025]

I’ve just been asked a question about South African bulbs with prostrate or low-lying leaves. This led me to discover a botanical article on the subject, which mentions eight genera containing species with this habit, and seven potential hypotheses as to why they do it. I’ve added the article and a short note to our Digital library, under a new sub-heading “Botanical studies”. [11 February 2025]

Sadly we have to report that Audrey Cain died on 23rd January 2025. Born in Kenya in October 1936, she moved to the UK in the early sixties. On the steamer from Cape Town to the UK she met the chief engineer, whom she later married. He died in the nineties, but Audrey continued to live in their house in Woolston, where she grew many alpines – she was active in the AGS. She also served on the SABG Committee for many years. Although she had been unable to get to a meeting for a long time, she had been very involved and enjoyed working on the plant sales table and talking with other members.
She was known for her collection of both hardy and tender bulbs, which she photographed when they flowered and documented their growth. She was an early pioneer in publishing these photos and associated information on the Web as her “BulbWeb” website. Although no longer available in its original form, a modified copy of Audrey Cain's BulbWeb has been restored. During the last ten years she had the foresight to ensure that her South African bulbs were gradually transferred to the care of Exbury Gardens.
Audrey’s funeral was held at Southampton crematorium on the 13th February, attended by family, friends and SABG members. [14 February 2025]

Website address: The old sabg.tk domain name has expired, is no longer recognised and will not give access to our web-site. We have been using sabg.uk since 2022. Please make sure you change any old bookmarks (“favourites”) to sabg.uk as soon as possible. [31 January 2025]

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