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Cold hardy cacti and other exotics

Fabian Vanghele's hardy exotics Blog

Hardy cacti, succulents and others in Bucharest, Romania

I am Fabian Vincentiu Vanghele, born in 1973, ecologist, living in the southern end of Bucharest.

Ethnic, I am an Aromanian- or Makedonian, Makedo-Romanian- all that meaning a single thing: the Romanians from south of Danube. We all Romanians descend from the great people of Thrakians ("the second numerous people after the Indians"- as the Greek Herodot, the "father of history", said), which lived on a large territory from south of actual Poland all the way south to Central Greece, from the "beginnings of time", long before being latinised  2000 years ago.

 Finishing my short, proud presentation, back to plants. If I remember how all beginned, I keep in my mind a really cute plastic cactus in a plastic pot, not more than 5 cm, when 3-4 years old. I liked it. Then the great passion dissapeared in the favour of guns, destroying electric toys to see what's up inside, crocodiles, snakes and other boy things. Later, from 12 years old an aquarist, then a palmtrees lover. Both fish and palmtrees have disavantages: fish needed almost constant presence and palmtrees (I had only some datepalms grown from seeds...) will grow large and decided not to keep something that will become a tall proud tree in an poor appartament. Fish appeared sporadically in my life, and from the last winter, I intent to keep some from now on. Of course, winterhardy species Laughing.

Then I saw the cacti with other eyes the first time: flowers, spines, shapes etc! And not so dependent of a human presence and care! At 15 years I started, and at 20, after finding about them growing up to Canada and down to Patagonia, I was fascinated and looked for. The real tough and independent ones! Well, at least less concern about cold... but I put a lot of passion of youth into them!

I received the first ones, Opuntia fragilis and O. humifusa from Dr. Visinescu, the oldest and most reputed cactus collector at that time, one of the pioneers of the hobby here. They thrived and surprised me after the first hard winter.

 Next it was a weird plant from Prof. Dobrota, another "elder" of this field;  now it's weird, because I saw it's not like any plant but has more in common with cymochila then with others. This plant is a really special one, since prof. Dobrota received it longtime ago from the even older cactus pioneer Vida Geza (he was also a known sculptor). That plant should be a very old clone in Europe. 

 Then first order, the Internet and contact with a whole world of hobbysts and specialists. At that time, I was already focused on hardy species, beginning with the most hardy ones; in the '90 years I had the opportunity to read "Winterharte Kakteen" by Fritz Kuemmel/Konrad Kluegling (well, in a way, more intuition between few German words, but the result being quite correctSmile) and so, when seeing a catalogue, checked the most cold/wet location available for every species; so the "location-germ" got me early- many friends didn't understand me first, but now they too collect more locations for the same species -not necessarely hardy species- and take great care to keep the infos accurate- they know themselvesLaughing!

There is much to tell, but there are forums with many experienced people which discuss and exchange informations. I will describe only the worse winter they indured here:

after 3 dry years (2000-2002) the drought ended in August 2002 with warm rains which gave the plants an impulse to grow and fill with water. The autumn was humid  and warm enough. Until mid-December barely a single frost, but not even the Ricinus plants were damaged. And then, after a day with 8 deg C, a cold wind started in the evening and at 8 AM next morning were already -14 C!!! It was a quite horrible trip to do from work to home, wearing mild weather clothes. Then rain, snow, cold, thaw, freeze- to -27 near Bucharest, where I kept my plants. In the spring, I discovered some loses in the most fragile non-Opuntia plants. Looking around  at one of the places where I kept the plants (in the ground) I saw a small hillside planted with grape-vines, which looked weird: being seen from 500m, half of it was green, but half has the ground colour- the vines planted on that area were dead and no growth till May, so dead for sure, even the roots! Some cacti had some minor damage (at the tips, only to marginal-hardy Cylindropuntia as leptocaulis and kleiniae), but the rest were bone-hard!

Years before that, the winters 1995-1996 and 1996-1997 were very harsh, especially the first one- it beginned  somewhere in October and lasts till next April, with a little snowfall as late as Easter! Months of extended freeze, lacking the usually thawing windows, which normally occur one to few weeks after the cold blasts. The first serious thaw was in mid-February, before cold returns again. Temperature dropped that winter under -25 for sure, but I don't know how low.

The 1996-1997 was not so cold as average (maybe wrong, but I remember so- I was in the army and being quite acclimated with tough conditions, possible in error when appreciate that), but under -25C occured again. Maybe in terms of lowest temeratures that one was the harshest, but the first was quite remarcable- "the six months winter". It was not a very hard couple of winters for my plants, having at that time only the most hardy ones, which handled with those conditions easily .

Then I started to grow some more southern species and kept them with better protection. And so, less and less hardy till I had too many for my possibilities. Recently, I decided to restrain myself- no time, money and room for more plants, even for the ones I have. I will thin out my collection, keeping only hardy plants. But I will always love all of them and remember the good old times!

Old Opuntia cymochila clone (from prof. Dobrota) experiment- for all the "friends of the defeated and lost (?) causes"

It was the first/most abused species of mine, being the first I had many individuals from, and exposed it to all aggresions: cold, wet, shade, heavy soil, only sand, overheating etc. and survived undamaged to all.
 
I also planted a number of their seedlings in a very poor, heavy and thin layer of soil in a remote place in Bucharest (I call it "The Crater"), and checked it regularly. In the 4-th year, they still struggle, surviving floods and drought, and already becoming visible, with larger pads. The only reliable companion there is a dwarf Artemisia species, any other weed finding those patches too difficult.

Looking at them, in the silence of that place, I can say that those are plants with "spirit"- rugged, independent, integrated and subtle accorded with their environment. Mines, at home, are beautiful and strong growing, with lots of flowers, but lacking this feeling when looking at them. There in The Crater they are like native Americans in their confined reservations: not giving up dignity and humanity even under the worse conditions. Enduring in silence all that it is. They grow slow, but implacable. The spines are only for the most daring and aggresive intruder, not for the beings sharing the same spirit. They are a symbol of the threatened equilibre- at human and other levels- fighting without violence, only by patience and determination to endure, with no compromises.

When last visit there, a skinny stray dog watched the cactus patch- strange, since no humans there and so, no food source. The place was left even by the few nomadic Gypsies which builted a temporary dwelling there. Maybe he lives on rodents and lizards only, but it seemed not willing to live the place. Another symbol- when it will go too, it will be the end...The end there is maybe the real estate interest for that wide space- rumours heard about a hippodrome, a casino and others in plans.The swampy nature of most of that place hopefully will stop any action there.
The dog stayed a little further till we left, and than returned. I looked at it and named it "The Coyote Spirit", a brave defender this time, not the oldest of tricksters anymore... but who knows??

Plants in my collection

Some species as ursina, nicholii, basilaris, arenaria etc., cactoids and Agave are protected against moisture, since I have only small plants. The plants from drier/warmer locations are first let to grow and try their full hardiness with cuttings.  It's always safe to  have back-up plants and don't risk with all the plants exposed. Some will never be moisture tolerant, they are true xerophyles. Don't expect full hardiness or be surprised if excess humidity kills them.

  1. Cylindropuntia imbricata Stanton County, Kansas
  2. Cylindropuntia imbricata Delhi, Otero Co., Colorado
  3. Cylindropuntia imbricata El Paso Co., Colorado
  4. Cylindropuntia imbricata Fremont Co., Colorado
  5. Cylindropuntia imbricata Canyon City, Fremont Co., Colorado- lower, bushier, white flowers!
  6. Cylindropuntia whipplei Archuleta Co., Colorado
  7. Cylindropuntia whipplei Kaibab Plateau, Arizona
  8. Cylindropuntia whipplei Hamlyn Valley+ Indian Peak, Utah (mixed by mistake)
  9. Cylindropuntia whipplei Snowflake, Arizona
  10. Cylindropuntia whipplei Show Low, Arizona
  11. Cylindropuntia whipplei Pipe Springs, Arizona
  12. Cylindropuntia whipplei La Boca Ranch, Colorado
  13. Cylindropuntia whipplei Coconino Co., Arizona
  14. Cylindropuntia whipplei Vernon, Apache Co., Arizona
  15. Cylindropuntia whipplei Keams Canyon, Arizona
  16. Cylindropuntia whipplei x imbricata Querino Wash, AZ- peach-coppery flowered, natural hybrids!
  17. Cylindropuntia kleiniae Valencia Co., New Mexico
  18. Cylindropuntia kleiniae Otero Co., New Mexico
  19. Cylindropuntia leptocaulis Ladrone Mts., New Mexico
  20. Cylindropuntia leptocaulis yellow spines, hardy only to -18C/0F
  21. Cylindropuntia x  viridiflora Santa Fe Co., New Mexico
  22. Cylindropuntia x davisii, Chavez Co., New Mexico
  23. Grusonia clavata Albuquerque, New Mexico
  24. Opuntia arenaria El Paso Co., Texas
  25. Opuntia arenaria Vado, New Mexico
  26. Opuntia arenaria Dona Ana Co., New Mexico
  27. Opuntia aurea Springdale, Utah
  28. Opuntia aurea white (Hochstaetter)
  29. Opuntia basilaris Silver Peak, Nevada
  30. Opuntia basilaris Tonopah, Nevada
  31. Opuntia basilaris Clark Co., Nevada
  32. Opuntia basilaris v. heilii Wayne Co., Utah
  33. Opuntia basilaris v. treleasei Kern Co., California
  34. Opuntia basilaris v. brachyclada San Gabriel Mts., California
  35. Opuntia camanchica Bernalillo Co., New Mexico
  36. Opuntia compressa Lone Rock, Wisconsin
  37. Opuntia compressa Berrien Co., Michigan
  38. Opuntia compressa reddish pads, golden flower, more glochids than any!
  39. Opuntia cymochila Keith Co., Nebraska
  40. Opuntia cymochila Larimer Co., Colorado
  41. Opuntia cymochila green-yellow pads, brown spines (Dobrota)
  42. Opuntia engelmannii Grand Canyon, Arizona
  43. Opuntia engelmannii Brewster Co., Texas
  44. Opuntia fragilis Gunnison Co., Colorado
  45. Opuntia fragilis Peace River, British Columbia, Canada- northernmost cactus!
  46. Opuntia fragilis Wyoming
  47. Opuntia fragilis Deuel Co., Nebraska
  48. Opuntia fragilis Dunn Co., Wisconsin
  49. Opuntia fragilis Hot Springs, South Dakota
  50. Opuntia fragilis Chelan Co., Washington
  51. Opuntia fragilis dark pads, brown spines (Visinescu)
  52. Opuntia fragilis light-green pads, yellow spines
  53. Opuntia fragilis v. brachyarthra Whitewater, Colorado
  54. Opuntia fragilis Moab, Utah, spiny
  55. Opuntia fragilis Moab, Utah, spineless
  56. Opuntia fragilis "brooksii"
  57. Opuntia fragilis "denudata"
  58. Opuntia fragilis v. parviconspicua
  59. Opuntia fragilis "inermis"
  60. Opuntia fragilis x... "Bronze Beauty"
  61. Opuntia fragilis x... nice dwarf
  62. Opuntia x columbiana Stemilt Mill Pond, Washington
  63. Opuntia x columbiana Wenatchee, Washington
  64. Opuntia x columbiana Wishram, Washington
  65. Opuntia x columbiana Malaga, Washington, fat
  66. Opuntia x columbiana Keremeos, British Columbia, Canada
  67. Opuntia hystricina San Juan County, New Mexico
  68. Opuntia hystricina Belen, New Mexico
  69. Opuntia hystricina w- Bernalillo, New Mexico
  70. Opuntia ursina Little Colorado River, Arizona
  71. Opuntia ursina St. George, Utah
  72. Opuntia ursina Beaver Dam Mts., Utah
  73. Opuntia ursina Inyo Co., California 2073m
  74. Opuntia humifusa Monmouth Co., New Jersey
  75. Opuntia humifusa Franklin County, North Carolina
  76. Opuntia humifusa New Jersey very variable
  77. Opuntia humifusa New Jersey spiny
  78. Opuntia humifusa Dale Hollow, Kentucky
  79. Opuntia humifusa Benton, Tennessee
  80. Opuntia humifusa Ozarks, Missouri
  81. Opuntia humifusa v. robustior Shennandoah Valley, Virginia
  82. Opuntia humifusa v. rafinesquiana north Arkansas, weird, floriferous
  83. Opuntia humifusa intense yellow flower, red center (Visinescu)
  84. Opuntia mackensenii Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma
  85. Opuntia mackensenii Wichita Mts., Oklahoma
  86. Opuntia mackensenii Reagan Co., Texas undamaged at -18C/0F
  87. Opuntia macrocentra
  88. Opuntia macrocentra 
  89. Opuntia macrocentra 
  90. Opuntia macrocentra hardy and good flowering 
  91. Opuntia macrorhiza Montgomery Co., Kansas
  92. Opuntia macrorhiza Sturgis, South Dakota
  93. Opuntia macrorhiza Berthoud, Colorado
  94. Opuntia macrorhiza Jackson Lake, Colorado
  95. Opuntia macrorhiza Ft. Collins, Colorado
  96. Opuntia macrorhiza Sedgwick Co., Colorado
  97. Opuntia macrorhiza Texarkana, Arkansas
  98. Opuntia macrorhiza Stafford Co., Kansas (in fact is a "compressa"-type)
  99. Opuntia macrorhiza Black Mesa, Cimarron Co., Oklahoma red and yl. fls
  100. Opuntia macrorhiza Stafford Co., Kansas, red flowers, short white spines
  101. Opuntia macrorhiza v. riograndensis Valencia Co., New Mexico
  102. Opuntia orbiculata Seymour, Baylor Co., Texas
  103. Opuntia pottsii Prescott, Arizona
  104. Opuntia pottsii v. nova Albuquerque, New Mexico
  105. Opuntia pottsii v. montana Cuba, New Mexico
  106. Opuntia pottsii v. montana Manzano Mts., New Mexico
  107. Opuntia phaeacantha Belen, New Mexico
  108. Opuntia phaeacantha Larimer Co., Colorado, northernmost!
  109. Opuntia phaecantha Fremont Co., Colorado, 2 feet tall
  110. Opuntia phaeacantha Kaibab Plateau, Arizona 2000m
  111. Opuntia phaeacantha v. albispina
  112. Opuntia phaeacantha v. major Albuquerque, New Mexico
  113. Opuntia polyacantha Uintah Co., Utah 1616m
  114. Opuntia polyacantha Madison Co., Montana 1600m
  115. Opuntia polyacantha Stafford Co., Kansas, large pads, white spines
  116. Opuntia polyacantha Powell, Wyoming
  117. Opuntia polyacantha Keith Co., Nebraska
  118. Opuntia polyacantha s- Julesberg magenta flowers
  119. Opuntia polyacantha (heacockiae) Chaffee Co., Colorado 2530m, dwarf
  120. Opuntia polyacantha v. rufispina Lost River, Idaho, pink flowers
  121. Opuntia polyacantha (erinacea v. utahensis) pink fl, thick pads, few, thick white spines
  122. Opuntia polyacantha few spines, large pads, variable, "aurea"-type
  123. Opuntia polyacantha v. schweriniana Cuba, New Mexico
  124. Opuntia polyacantha v. juniperina Bloomfield, New Mexico
  125. Opuntia polyacantha v. juniperina Trout Creek Pass, Colorado
  126. Opuntia pinkavae Hanksville, Utah
  127. Opuntia pinkavae Torrey, Utah
  128. Opuntia pinkavae Hwy 95, Utah
  129. Opuntia kaibabensis House Rock Valley, Arizona
  130. Opuntia erinacea Wayne Co., Utah 2073m
  131. Opuntia rhodantha Cassia Co., Idaho purple flowers
  132. Opuntia rhodantha Cleveland, Utah
  133. Opuntia nicholii Marble Canyon, Arizona
  134. Opuntia pusilla-drummondii small pads/flowers
  135. Opuntia pusilla Georgia 
  136. Opuntia tortispina Bernalillo, New Mexico
  137. Opuntia tortispina Albuquerque, New Mexico
  138. Opuntia tortispina Belen, New Mexico
  139. Opuntia trichophora Blanding, Utah
  140. Opuntia trichophora Cibola, New Mexico
  141. Opuntia trichophora v. nova Roswell, New Mexico
  142. Opuntia trichophora v. nova Orogrande, New Mexico
  143. Maihuenia patagonica Malargue, Mendoza, Argentina
  144. Maihuenia poeppigii Volcan Antuco, VIII Reg., Chile 1677m
  145. Echinocereus coccineus- all next locations to be added later
  146. Echinocereus coccineus
  147. Echinocereus engelmannii
  148. Echinocereus engelmannii
  149. Echinocereus reichenbachii...
  150. Echinocereus reichenbachii...
  151. Echinocereus reichenbachii...
  152. Echinocereus reichenbachii...
  153. Echinocereus reichenbachii...
  154. Echinocereus reichenbachii...
  155. Echinocereus reichenbachii...
  156. Echinocereus reichenbachii...
  157. Echinocereus reichenbachii...
  158. Echinocereus reichenbachii...
  159. Echinocereus reichenbachii...
  160. Echinocereus reichenbachii...
  161. Echinocereus reichenbachii...
  162. Echinocereus reichenbachii...
  163. Echinocereus reichenbachii...
  164. Echinocereus triglochidiatus
  165. Echinocereus triglochidiatus
  166. Echinocereus triglochidiatus
  167. Echinocereus triglochidiatus
  168. Echinocereus triglochidiatus
  169. Echinocereus triglochidiatus
  170. Echinocereus triglochidiatus
  171. Echinocereus viridiflorus Larimer Co., Colorado
  172. Echinocereus viridiflorus s- Hot Springs, South Dakota
  173. Escobaria missouriensis
  174. Escobaria missouriensis
  175. Escobaria missouriensis
  176. Escobaria missouriensis
  177. Escobaria missouriensis
  178. Escobaria missouriensis
  179. Escobaria missouriensis
  180. Escobaria missouriensis
  181. Escobaria missouriensis
  182. Escobaria missouriensis
  183. Escobaria missouriensis
  184. Escobaria missouriensis
  185. Escobaria vivipara
  186. Escobaria vivipara
  187. Escobaria vivipara
  188. Escobaria vivipara
  189. Escobaria vivipara
  190. Escobaria vivipara
  191. Escobaria vivipara
  192. Escobaria vivipara
  193. Escobaria vivipara
  194. Escobaria vivipara
  195. Yucca arkansana Loess Hills, Iowa
  196. Yucca arkansana Waubonsie, Iowa
  197. Yucca arkansana Missouri River, Missouri
  198. Yucca arkansana Rockport, Missouri
  199. Yucca arkansana Moud City, Missouri
  200. Yucca baccata Rio Rancho, New  Mexico
  201. Yucca baccata Mora Co., New Mexico 2134m
  202. Yucca brevifolia v. jaegeriana Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada
  203. Yucca brevifolia v. jaegeriana Goldfield, Nevada
  204. Yucca elata Union Co., New Mexico
  205. Yucca elata Pedernal Mts., New Mexico
  206. Yucca elata Aztec Peak, Arizona 1800m
  207. Yucca elata v. verdiensis Corduroy Creek, Arizona 2000m
  208. Yucca faxoniana x glauca Albuquerque hybrid
  209. Yucca flaccida Beltzville Lake, Pennsylvannia
  210. Yucca aff. flaccida Pocono Mts., Pennsylvannia
  211. Yucca aff. flaccida Palmerton, Pennsylvannia
  212. Yucca glauca Belle Fourche, South Dakota
  213. Yucca glauca Smithwick, South Dakota
  214. Yucca glauca v. stricta Dodge City, Kansas 950m
  215. Yucca glauca v. stricta Elkhart, Kansas 1215m
  216. Yucca glauca v. stricta Old Santa Fe Trail, Oklahoma 1250m
  217. Yucca glauca v. stricta Felt, Oklahoma 1100m
  218. Yucca glauca v. stricta Beaver River, Oklahoma 1.200m
  219. Yucca glauca v. stricta Boise City,Oklahoma 1.300m
  220. Yucca glauca v. stricta Greenville area, New Mexico 1.850m
  221. Yucca glauca v. stricta Carrizo Creek, New Mexico 1.850m
  222. Yucca glauca v. stricta Springer, New Mexico 1.900m
  223. Yucca nana San Juan Co., Utah 2012m
  224. Yucca nana Utah 2020m
  225. Yucca nana Muddy Creek, Utah
  226. Yucca nana Canyon Wash, Utah 1600m
  227. Yucca aff. nana Utah
  228. Yucca neomexicana Cimarron Co., Oklahoma 1100m
  229. Yucca harrimaniae x nana? miniatur broad leaves Antelope Creek, Utah  
  230. Yucca recurvifolia fast grower, trunkforming
  231. Yucca gloriosa blueish leaves
  232. Yucca gloriosa variegata
  233. Agave havardiana Davis Mts., Texas
  234. Agave macroculmis Carneros, Coahuila, biggest hardy type        
  235. Agave macroculmis Conception del Oro 3000m, huge, hardy 
  236. Agave parryi Coconino Co., coniferous forest near Flagstaff, Arizona 2073m!
  237. Agave parviflora Santa Cruz Co., Arizona1220m
  238. Agave toumeyana v. bella Gila Co., Arizona 1524m
  239. Agave utahensis e Kingman, Arizona 
  240. Agave utahensis DJF1521 Peach Springs, Arizona, tiny rosettes, nice  
  241. Agave utahensis v eborispina Kingston Mt, California long dark spine
  242. Agave utahensis v kaibabensis w Cameron, Arizona
  243. Delosperma cooperii Orange Free State, South Africa
  244. Delosperma deleeuwiae Lesotho 3125m
  245. Delosperma nubigenum South Africa, yellow flowers, very hardy
  246. Portulaca mundula Tulsa, Oklahoma
  247. Phemeranthus confertiflorus, Williams, Arizona 2000m
  248. Phemeranthus teretifolius
  249. Phemeranthus sediforme v. okanoganense OR/WA, white flower
  250. Talinum brevifolium San Juan Co., Utah 1350m pink flower
  251. Talinum brachypodium similar to P. brevifolium

The list is not complete, many cacti still not added on it. That will be done someday Laughing...

The palm bug- an old one- made me start a collection again; these are the seedlings:

1. Rhapidophyllum hystrix Georgia
2. Sabal minor RPS
3. Sabal "Louisiana" Louisiana coast
4. Sabal minor Warren, Arkansas
5. Sabal minor McCurtain Co., Oklahoma
6. Sabal minor Carthage, Texas
7. Sabal minor Monroe, Louisiana
8. Trachycarpus fortunei
9. Trachycarpus fortunei Darjeeling
10. Trachycarpus "Nainital"
11. Trachycarpus wagnerianus Japan
12. Chamaerops humilis Italia
13. Chamaerops humilis v. argentea Atlas Mts., Marocco
14. Nannorrhops arabica "Silver" south Iran/Pakistan
15. Nannorrhops ritchieana Kashmir (near Muzzafarrabad), Pakistan 

I don't know how much protection will need those palms- because they will surely need that in Romania- but I know some over 34 years old Trachycarpus fortunei in Bucharest, in very protected microclimate, the palms themselves being never protected. Some- the tallest- died in the "legendary" killer winter 2002-2003.
Nannorrhops are very controversed; the "Silver" form is, without doubt, not for outdoor plantings, but the Kashmir one having potential as long being kept as an exigent xerophyle in winter.
Chamaerops could be similar in requirements about dry winter conditions and no prolonged freezes.
The most reliable ones should be, as usual, Sabal minor and Rhapidophyllum hystrix.
With the exception of Trachycarpus, all the species can benefit from being grown in hot microclimates and even in foil tunnels, as those for vegetables- that summer inferno is perfect for fast growth, if water is provided, especially for Sabal and Rhapidophyllum- moist habitat species. Also, the tunnels will keep the soil drier in winter, keeping chilling winds away, a plus in temperature, but lacks the protective snow cover wich can be useful sometimes.
I will try to grow more Sabal minor locations and test their hardiness, since it is one of the hardiest palms and seeds easy to find from more locations- thanks to American palm-loving fellows Wink! 
 
  

 

Available plants

  If you are interested, some Opuntia cuttings are available at the moment. I would like to swap if you have something of interest for me- hardy things, not tender ones.

Using the link below you will see a just started photo album- the last one was full of wild looking Opuntia, but that service was closed. The garden was destroyed in april 2007 Cry, but I took my plants into my own (weedy...) yard. They still recover to reach their former habit, but pictures will be added from now on.

Some other things I like

Other interests of mine are other hardy exotics like palmtrees, Musa species, Poncirus, Diospyros, Ziziphus, Olea etc; coldhardy exotic fish like Macropodus ocellatus, M. opercularis, Fundulus and Aphanius species, viviparous species. I look for wildtypes but in the trade there are many weird things and I choose the nicest ones when possible. I hope to receive some really hardy M. ocellatus!

Also hardy exotic reptiles- I was dreaming to have  a pair of Alligator sinensis and to breed them here; Chelydra serpentina, Macroclemys temminckii, Trionyx spinifer, other small turtles; Phrynosoma (blood-spraying horned-lizards) and many other crazy things! Of course, I am a conservationist and I have -within my physical, financial and time limits, which put me on an amateur level- to care for what is endangered here, and here is a lot of work to be done.

I am a "location freak" but in such cases, of a really hardy and nice plant or  animal (the fish are accessible, chinese alligator don'tLaughingLaughing) I will be happy to have it, even without location.

Water creatures:

Poecilia wingei- Endler's Livebearer- Laguna de Los Patos, North Lake- Original Type Black Bar- I keep them pure, colony bred!
Poecilia latipinna- South Florida wildtype
Heterandria formosa- South Florida, Golden form (selection)
Poecilia reticulata- wild type, unfairly called "feeders"
Poecilia reticulata- strong wonderful mix of various strains
Macropodus ocellatus "Yangzi"- cold hardy
Macropodus opercularis- reasonable hardy; wildtype
Corydoras paleatus- reasonably hardy; wildtype
Carassius auratus- various selected forms; hardy
Tanichthys albonubes- reasonably hardy; wildtype
Ancistrus dolichopterus- cleaning crew
Betta splendens- troublemaker
Gambusia affinis- renegades, maximum security outdoor pond
Procambarus alleni- swamp crayfish- Dr. Hannibal Lecter's relatives 

Spontane herpetofauna in my yard:

Lacerta agilis
Bufo viridis
Hyla arborea
Pelobates fuscus
Natrix natrix (just passing)

I like black teas and yerba mate, bier or wine (depending on the weatherWink) when, with family and friends, we enjoy the plants, fish, cats, lizards and frogs in my yard.