Hello, that was a bit of a palava to sign up to comment and someone is impersonating me too and nicked my name Lottie! I'm here for the housewarming armed with wine & choccies - nice new pad Emma! ( I'm sure there is/was a tradition to bring coal, bread and salt to a new home but I think wine & chocolate will be much better received!)

My plant? Another of those impossible tasks to choose just one - but make mine Verbena B and I'll sneak in a few Heucheras and Hellebores!

A pine. A pine that grew from a cone; from the pine that gre from a cone; that my son brought back from a holiday in Tunisia when he was six.

Pour the wine and get out the chocolate. I need it after managing to get this published

Zoë sent me an email because she gave up trying to sign up:

"In answer to the question though on your last post, I'd have to take a Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra' which is 19 and a half years old, and is known as Robyn's tree. Why you ask? I went into labour with my daughter whilst planting it! I'd have to take some of my roses too, although none of these wishes are feasible. Oh well - just wont move then!"

VP just emailed me this:

"And here's my comment, just to show you I did try...

It looks like I'm the first to arrive at the party - where do you want me to park this vat of rather good wine then?

My housewarming plant is that rather lovely Acer the builders managed to knock bits off a couple of weeks ago. It's followed us around for over 20 years now.

I hope I've got the hang of this new comment mularkey you have on here. Here goes..."

Well, I don't give up easily - not when there's a party at stake but those bouncers you've got on the door aren't very friendly!
Anyway, glad to see you've found the light switches, and where shall I leave this apple tree I've brought with me?

Nice new place :)

Two plants that have moved with me include an African violet and a Dragon Tree. One I left behind was an ornamental banana I had no space for.

That was the internet equivalent of having to walk over hot coals with a ferret entrapped in one's underwear. Why do they make it so very difficult? Well, the destination is worth the travel.
I am finding that monkey puzzle a bit threatening but then I have always been cowed by them. Too spiky and puzzly for their own good.
I would have to take a very manky gerbera that contributes healing waves to my office. I have had it for many years: it is regularly neglected, seldom watered, prone to outbreaks of virulent whitefly and still it flowers.

I come bearing gifts of twiglets and warm Lambrusco. And a few cans of Special Brew.

I tend not to bring plants with me (having moved once with a load of plants that ended up going into storage for a month due to moving problems - they didn't survive). However, I have left a host of Clematis 'Black Prince' in all the places I have lived. If you have one growing in your garden, it could have been me.

I feel vaguely comforted by Lila's comments about divorce. Me and typepad got a divorce, and now we are just arguing about who gets custody of the comments.

I think I would have trouble moving house without some of the euphorbias coming with me. BUt on the other hand they're not always that easy to move.

And if we are going to have salsa on the island, apparently Alys F recommends tomatillos...

"I would have to take a plant that my Grandmother gave me which she referred to as her 'Esther Reads'. She had it in all her gardens and I have had it in all of mine too (I do know its real name really but it has deserted me for the minute). I would also have to have auriculas for the same reason. These are the ones that I picked all year round as a child - my Gran was an amazing lady.
I hope I am allowed the 2, but if not it must be auriculas.
I've just spotted some ripe Brie and French bread to go with the Merlot - bon appetit."

Who objected strenuously to being asked to fill out her BIRTHDAY! I'm sorry... LiveJournal wasn't my choice!

"We are always hoping (against hope!) that, one day, we will be able to move to a house with a bigger garden so we always have plants ready to take with us.

At present, we have Cordylines in pots grown from seeds dropped by the ones from a previous house, little bay plants from the bay which has moved twice but is now higher than the first floor windows, a small rosemary from a bush which moved twice but then died a few years later . . . the Antarctica and the Chinese Windmill Palm live in pots specially so they can be moved easily . . . In a sense, we are already packed! (We'll rip up some mint and take some lavender heels in passing.)
Now all we need is to afford a bigger garden!
Esther Montgomery"

Slipped past security with my box of melted mint Matchsticks and a bottle of Blue Nun.

Top plant would have to be my Venus fly trap in a 50's black and white polka dot cup and saucer. Snappy, fussy and doesn't like to be disturbed, much like me...

One day I am going to breach the high security at the Perrone compound and get a look at all those houseplants. I'll liberate all your secrets for the rest of us who can kill a houseplant just by looking at it. Well, me and M Wilson, anyway

My 'Esther Read' is a Luecanthemum but not what is considered 'Esther Read' after all. My Gran was a formidable lady and it was extremely hazardous to disagree with her so I shall continue to call my plants Esther as I would prefer not to live in a haunted garden. I have to admit that as a plant it is quite rampant and has to be dealt with rather severely but I wouldn't be without her.

PS If it's houseplants you are after - my 35 year old Christmas cactus has to come with me too. As I'm being very greedy I'm bringing a bottle of Moet I found at the back of the cupboard to celebrate the fact that I can now post a comment on this site. Cheers everyone - I hope there's enough to go round.

PPS Was that the very last bottle of Blue Nun in circulation?

"Anyway, in answer to your question I would want to take the 2 of the plants that my sons have bought me. An Acer and a Birch - however they are both got far too big to move now so either I dont move house or I find a way of propagating them.
I suppose I'm far too late for the party so what about a cup of tea and a mince pie?"

consider the kettle on. I haven't quite finished making the mincemeat, but what about a taste of the christmas pudding mixture?