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WINTER SALE
Bob & Tanya - A legacy !
Bob & Tanya - A legacy !
Robert Stewart and Tanya Balcar were self-taught botanists who were known for their research on the flora of the Western Ghats, along with some work on insects, birds and amphibians. Born in England, the two made Kodaikanal their home for thirty years. Founder members of the Vattakanal Conservation Trust, they were members of several conservation and eco-restoration groups.
Early Days
Early Days
Vattakanal Shola Tree Nursery
Vattakanal Shola Tree Nursery
The greenhouse in Vattakanal was completed in August 2001. Initially it was built to house our growing number of hobby plants, mainly cacti and succulents, many of which suffered during the monsoons. It soon became apparent that we could now propagate seeds from native species from lower elevations, especially endangered plants (Palnis) like the palm, Arenga wightii and the shrub Leea indica, reported extinct in the Palnis 1999, rediscovered 2003, and the tree Artocarpus hirsutus, previously known only from one pocket at 800m.
The glasshouse has developed into a very attractive feature of the nursery, where visitors may learn about several plants that have labelled written accounts. Attached is a display of our rare and endangered plants under cultivation. We wish to develop the educational dimension of both these features in the future.
Ornamentals and other plants cultivated here are also not for sale but surplus stock may be gifted to interested parties such as the Vattakanal gardening club.
The glasshouse in Pambarpuram was completed in 2006 and has more of an emphasis on greener plants requiring more humidity. A water garden is one of our favourite features
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