A to Z of plants continuation

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John J

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Re: A to Z of plants continuation
« Reply #15 on: May 24, 2019, 07:48:12 AM »
Our Agave attenuata plants are all too small to produce the swan-neck-like flower spikes, but maybe one day.
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

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John J

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Re: A to Z of plants continuation
« Reply #16 on: May 25, 2019, 07:08:14 AM »
We have a variety of aloes so I have bundled a few together. Unfortunately none in flower at the moment, just a rather sad looking end-of-season Aloe vera.
Aloe arborescens
A.vera
A.variegata
A. ferox
A. ciliaris
A. juvenna
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

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John J

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Re: A to Z of plants continuation
« Reply #17 on: May 26, 2019, 05:23:44 AM »
Lemon Verbena Aloysia triphylla has fragrant leaves that make a refreshing cold drink for the summer, especially when combined with those of Melissa officinalis, Lemon Balm.
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

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Alisdair

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Re: A to Z of plants continuation
« Reply #18 on: May 26, 2019, 07:34:44 AM »
What's the little creature in sunglasses on the Aloysia, John?  8)
Alisdair Aird
Gardens in SE England (Sussex); also coastal Southern Greece, and (in a very small way) South West France; MGS member (and former president); vice chairman RHS Lily Group, past chairman Cyclamen Society

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John J

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Re: A to Z of plants continuation
« Reply #19 on: May 26, 2019, 08:20:11 AM »
Alisdair, I believe it is a Red Soldier Beetle, apparently commonly known in UK as the Hogweed Bonking Beetle due to the fact that it spends much of its short life mating! :o The second photo I got of it is not much clearer.
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

Umbrian

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Re: A to Z of plants continuation
« Reply #20 on: May 27, 2019, 05:47:22 AM »
Much as I love all scented leaf plants ,enjoying brushing my fingers over them to release the scent, beware of the Melissa that, with its propensity to seed , can soon take over areas of the garden and swamp other subjects!
MGS member living and gardening in Umbria, Italy for past 19 years. Recently moved from my original house and now planning and planting a new small garden.

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John J

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Re: A to Z of plants continuation
« Reply #21 on: May 27, 2019, 05:56:35 AM »
Exactly, Carole, fortunately ours is under the fruit trees so has ample space to spread and can be kept under control.
Last year we obtained a plant from Gryllis nursery in Greece that we believe to be Alpinia zerumbet. Obviously too small to perform as yet but we look forward to one day seeing it in bloom.
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

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John J

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Re: A to Z of plants continuation
« Reply #22 on: May 28, 2019, 05:18:01 AM »
A plant that does bloom every year and is one of the stars of the Spring display is Alyogyne huegelii 'Santa Cruz'.
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

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John J

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Re: A to Z of plants continuation
« Reply #23 on: May 29, 2019, 05:51:28 AM »
Several years ago we acquired an Annona cherimola tree (Cherimoya, Custard apple). Last year it produced quite a few flowers but no fruit. When I looked into things more closely I realised why. The whole process of pollination undergone by this tree is complicated and I won't bore you with it here. Suffice it to say that should it flower this year we'll be looking for a small paint brush!  ::)
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

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John J

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Re: A to Z of plants continuation
« Reply #24 on: May 30, 2019, 05:05:46 AM »
Another plant that we obtained from Sparoza, Anthyllis barba-jovis is very drought tolerant.
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

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John J

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Re: A to Z of plants continuation
« Reply #25 on: May 31, 2019, 05:58:44 AM »
Aptenia cordifolia can be used as a ground cover in succulent areas.
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

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John J

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Re: A to Z of plants continuation
« Reply #26 on: June 01, 2019, 05:12:05 AM »
Our Norfolk Island Pine Araucaria heterophylla deviates from the vertical due to the fact that when it was very young the apical growing point was damaged, so one of the lateral, side buds had to take over dominance.
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

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John J

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Re: A to Z of plants continuation
« Reply #27 on: June 02, 2019, 04:43:40 AM »
The Grecian Strawberry Tree, Arbutus andrachne makes up a lot of the understorey of the pine forests on the Troodos Range, along with the Cyprus Golden Oak, Quercus alnifolia.
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

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John J

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Re: A to Z of plants continuation
« Reply #28 on: June 03, 2019, 05:51:29 AM »
Devil's Fig, Prickly Poppy, Argemone mexicana is an annual that we grew from seed and that reappeared every spring until a couple of years ago when it failed to show. Then this year 2 plants put in an appearance a long way from where they had originally been sown. In fact they are in a newly created succulent area and so we will have to attempt to collect seed before it drops and relocate them to a more suitable site.
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

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John J

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Re: A to Z of plants continuation
« Reply #29 on: June 04, 2019, 07:27:45 AM »
Bauhinia forficata, B. variegata and B. variegata 'Candide'.
Our B. variegata trees were grown from seed collected 20 years ago from street trees in Lemesos.
The photos were not taken recently as none of the trees are currently in flower. The B. variegata have all finished and the B. forficata doesn't flower until the hottest time of the year, ie July/August. This may be one reason it is not as popular as its cousins, the flowers rapidly wilt in the heat. Another could be the fact that it's branches and twigs are covered in small spikes that can come as a nasty shock to the unwary.
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)