Fabian, I live in the area SW of Santiago where the last surviving Tecophilaea c. were found, but do not have the necessary strength to climb the mountains due to severe osteo-arthritis. Some years ago, a friend that shares my love for native flora gave me a bulb he had purchased from a person that said she had imported them (yeah!) and although I loved and pampered the bulb it only flowered the first season, just some green sprouted on the second and then it was gone.
This area has been suffering drought for 10 years now. I have been living here for the last 8 years and it only gets worst. There are still lots of Alstroemeria ligtu ssp. simsii around, but the later blooming Alstroemerias I saw on previous years (A. angustifolia and A. pulcra) die back before blooming because of the dry heath.
The Mutisia species I took pictures of are from the time I still lived in Santiago and were shot in the surroundings and in the Andes mountains around the ski centers, which were of easy access for me and my car.
Unfortunately, many people here still think that plants that grow wild are noting but weeds. However, I have observed a positive change during the last 15 years or so. Especially younger people are more motivated to make photo-safari field trips .
This area (not coastal) is not appropriate to grow Copihues due to the alkaline soil and the dry heath.
I had some lovely Geranium berterianum that I grew from seeds, but they succumbed (as so many other plants) to all kinds of rodents.
Many years ago I visited Magallanes Punta Arenas and Torres del Paine, and even more years ago I visited Bariloche (gorgeous surroundings!).
