[Hilary]

Althea rosea. The accepted name is Alcea rosea- Hollyhock

This stamp, from Yugoslavia, was issued in 1961 and is one of a  series of nine named LOCAL FLORA.

The photo is of a Hollyhock which springs up every year in a narrow lane, here in Corinth. .
The women who live on either side of the lane take care of the line of Hollyhocks growing against a wall.

Hollyhocks are mentioned in THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN in issue number 14, Autumn 1998.
OUR GARDEN’S TENTH BIRTHDAY by Annemarie Kasteel

[Hilary]

Rosa,'Diamond Jubilee'

New Zealand issued a series of stamps named GARDEN ROSES in 1975.
I only have this one.

The photo was taken, one year in Kiato,Peloponnese, of an un named yellow rose flowering at the end of November..
I rather think my friend was holding an umbrella over it so that I could take the photo.

There are plenty of references to roses in THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN, even one to
Rosa ’Diamond Jubilee’ in issue number 42 October, 2005

ROSES FOR THE MIDI, FRANCE by Members of the Languedoc Branch

[Hilary]

Leptospermum scoparium, MANUKA

This stamp was issued by New Zealand between the years 1960-63 in a series named FLOWERS and the values in pence. The same series was issued a few years later between 1967- 68 with the values in cents.

Of the nine stamps I have seven.

THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN mentions Leptospermum quite a few times.
I have chosen issue number 29 July, 2002.
LEPTOSPERMUM  SCOPARIUM by Piero Caneti.
What more could you ask for, an article about  the plant on the stamp?

[Caroline]

There are some lovely Manuka cultivars in shades of pink and red, and a weeping variety which I am growing over my wall.  Till a few years ago, however, land covered in Manuka scrub was regarded as waste land with no economic benefit except the occasional bit of firewood.  However with the discovery of the unique properties of manuka honey - and the sale of counterfeit manuka honey in the UK and China - this has changed. But as usual, just when things are going well - bang!  In this case it's the discovery of myrtle rust in the far north, probably blown over from Australia.  This rust attacks pohutukawa - Metrosideros excelsa -  and other members of the Metrosideros family, as well as Leptospermum scoparium or manuka,  and feijoas.   In Australia the rust apparently goes for the Eucalyptus family.  Desperate attempts are being made to eradicate the rust before it spread any further but it's likely to be an uphill battle.

[Hilary]

Sialia  silalis, Eastern bluebird, Meriblue de l’Est
The USA postal service issued this stamp in 1996

Although I couldn't find a reference to this bird in
THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN
 I did find a reference to

“ wonderful blue rock thrushes”

In issue number 19 Winter,2000.
GARDENING IN ARCADIA by Duncan Graham

[Hilary]

Rosa, dark red

Republika Hrvatska, CROATIA
MEDIMURJE, a county of Croatia

This stamp was issued by Croatia in 2010 and appears to feature a dark red rose
Greece is blooming with roses now in May, we saw this one at Ancient Corinth

There is no shortage of references to roses in THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN
I have chosen number 56 April, 2009.
A’HISTORICAL’ ROSE GARDEN IN GREECE by Veronica Hadjiphani Lorenzetti

[Hilary]

Erythrina lysistemon, Coral tree, Gewone Koraalboom.

A stamp depicting this tree was issued twice by South Africa in 1961 and 1969

In THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN, number 18, Autumn 1999
an Erythrina lysistemon tree is mentioned in
AN OLD GARDEN ON THE ISLAND OF CHIOS
By Caroline Harbouri

[Hilary]

Pyrostegia venusta, Flame Vine, Orange trumpetvine

This stamp from MACAU, issued in 1953, is in a series named
INDIGENOUS FLOWERS.
Unfortunately of the ten stamps in the series I only have this one.

FLOR DE PANCHAO seems to mean Firecracker flower
PHAO CHE ONG FA I have not been able to find out what this means

Pyrostegia venusta is mentioned many times in
THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN
I have chosen PREPARING FOR WINTER IN SPAIN by Lindsay Blyth in issue number 42,  October  2005

See the MGS website for photographs relating to this article

[Hilary]

Arachis hypogaea, Groundnuts

A stamp issued by Nigeria in 1953

I had fun taking the photo of the unsalted, uncooked Monkey Nuts

Arachis hypogaea is mentioned by David Bracey in his article
 SOME DROUGHT-TOLERANT FOOD PLANTS:
PART II THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN, number 57, July 2009

[Hilary]

Iris barbata, Bart iris

A stamp issued by Poland in 1964

I wasn't able to find out much about this iris

The tiny pin dish was bought at the local street market for 50cents

In THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN NUMBER 52, April 2008.
Helene Pizzi writes

New repeat- blooming iris hybrids have been used, many of which had been first seen at the nearby Iris Garden flanking Piazza Michelangelo where an important International Iris Competition for new hybrids takes place in the second week of May.

To find this article read
BOBOLI GARDENS AND VILLA BARDINI:
MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN ORCHESTRATION

The cover drawing, by Megan Toms, on  TMG No 46 October 2006 is of an iris.

[Alisdair]

Hilary, I think the reason you couldn't find out much about this iris is that strictly speaking it doesn't exist! "Iris barbata" seems to be dog-Latin for Bearded Iris, and oddly enough doesn't seem to have been used as a species name for any of the various species of that type of iris, except on that Polish stamp and in a few other rather non-botanical places. (Bart iris is I think the German term for bearded irises.)

[Hilary]

Thanks for the information.
There does seem to be a lot of confusion in the flower name department.
Apparently in South Africa they call Melia azedarach Syringa  

[Hilary]

Nymphaea and Frog's legs

A stamp in the Royal Mail series WATER AND COAST issued in 2000

The only photo I have of a water lily is this one  from Malta

Several issues of THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN mention Nymphaea, water lilies.
Today I am pointing you to issue number 13, Summer 1998 of TMG
THE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF PALERMO by Sabine Rossini Oliva

[Hilary]

Salvia sclarea, Clary

Yugoslavia issued a series LOCAL FLORA in 1961
One of the stamps depicts Salvia sclarea

Looking through THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN, issue number 30,
October 2003, I came across Salvia sclarea mentioned in
SPAROZA IN SUMMER by Caroline Harbouri

[Hilary]

Viola tricolor , Pansy

A stamp issued by the Postal authorities of the USA in 1996.
There are five stamps in the series GARDEN FLOWERS of which I have two.

The photo was taken at a garden center somewhere in the wilds of Essex

Viola is mentioned a couple of time in THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN
I have chosen A GREEK GARDEN FOR GREECE 
 by A. T. Paraskevopoulou  Gibbins to read today.
TMG number 47, January 2007.

See the MGS website for photographs of the Aegean Garden
http://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/47-rostock.html