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How's this looking now ?

Hi Tt, it has a few more plants in now, but not much flowering at the moment, Derek.

Your garden seems to be on quite a slope ?

Hi Tt, yes it is, plus 17 steps altogether, in 3 lots, I used to think it had character, now it just has steps!!!, Derek.

That sounds like quite a challenge !

Wow just looking and found your Trachycarpus fortunii Derek looks fantadtic how long did it take to grow so tall.

Hi, it was about 2ft 6" when I bought it, which is about 10 years ago, but that photo is over 2 years old, so about 18" taller now, Derek.

You ve looked after it well then Derek its s a good size in the photo must look great now being larger your lucky to have such a beauty.

Hi, I thought I had paid a lot for it when I bought it,[£60], but looking on the internet for 1 the same size that mine is now, would cost me round about £400, so worth the initial investment, Derek.

Wow what a bargain you got Derek defiently a good investment . I know plants here are getting more expensive some more than double the price than they were two years ago.

I bet you get plenty of exercise too Derek!
Love the trachycarpus! Mine was damaged several years ago when an extension was built, sadly. Wasn’t a big one, but, they are expensive.
What type of tree is it on the left edge of the picture?

Hi Kate, you're right, I do get plenty of exercise, just going up and down the steps, without the jobs I need to do as well, the 'Trachy' trunk is now taller than the fence, which is 7ft, I took 22 fronds off it a couple of weeks ago, the tree you mention is a Pyrus calleryana, a member of the pear family, but only produces small inedible fruits, [just large seeds really about the size of a black pepper], I grew this from seed I collected about 14/15 years ago, when we visited my son in Atlanta, it first flowered a few years ago, and then didn't flower for about 4 years, then with the hot summer last year, the leaves turned a deep purply scarlet colour, and this year has been covered in blossom, this is also a lot larger than it looks in the photo now, Derek.

Hi Kate, I've just remembered there's a photo of this in flower in 2014, it's on page 2 of my photo's, 4th row down, 2nd 1 along, Derek.

Thanks Derek, that’s amazing! It sounds very pretty! Must’ve been lovely to see it start from a tiny seed to a beautiful specimen now!
I’ll pop on and have a look :)