| FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
15. How did this
web site come about?
Sine the 1980's, I have
had an interest in the genus Adromischus. After
finding them in South Africa, I wanted to name my
photographs. Over the years, encouraged by Chris
Rodgerson, I built up a private study collection.
Pots are restricted to a maximum of 2¾" and
specimens are admittedly not grown to show quality.
Since they are housed in rented greenhouse space,
registration as a National Collection ® is not
appropriate for access and security reasons, even
though I have been a Plant
Heritage (NCCPG of old)***
member for about 20 years!
In 1998, I jointly
authored The Adromischus Handbook with John Pilbeam and Chris
Rodgerson. Considerable literature research was
entailed and we had to refine our ideas about the
scope of each taxon. The book publicised these
lovely plants and was well received, and has sold
over 1100 copies.
Adromischus display at BCSS National Convention.
Photo: David Offord, Aug. 2002.
In 2002, the
BCSS National Convention at Loughborough
University gave an opportunity to stage a display of
Adro's. I prepared cards about each taxon, with
habitat photographs where possible, to compliment
the cultivated plants on display. These web pages
are developed directly from those cards.
For
Adro-nerds, here are some technical details about
development of this web site. The original cards
were authored using Microsoft Publisher software, on
my 1998-vintage home Gateway PC running Windows 95.
Photographic slides were scanned using a HP 5370C
flat bed scanner [recommended!] and massaged using
Paint Shop Pro [Awkward to use, but I can't afford
PhotoShop!]. The cards were printed on glossy,
photo-quality paper using a HP980cxi inkjet printer
and generated much favourable comment.
Automatic
generation of web pages from Publisher was too
clumsy and could not give enough control. Instead,
Microsoft FrontPage Express was used, now replaced
by Kompozer software upon a Dell Dimension E520 PC.
FAQ & Links pages were added to elaborate about
cultivation, propagation, etc. I hope you like the
straightforward, clean design!
*** The UK Plant
Heritage
charity provides a registration service for National
Collections ® for ex-situ conservation. Containing
both horticultural cultivars and natural species,
over 600 plant collections are now listed,
maintained by institutions, nurseries and private
individuals. This successful scheme has been copied
in other countries.
|
