Walking around corfu

[kevin-beverly]

Hi

You have most probably heard about the bees. I hear you say what about the BEES

We are losing Bees These include habitat loss, climate change, toxic pesticides and disease. The interaction between these makes an unpredictable future for bees and many other pollinators. These threats have led to nearly 1 in 10 of Europe's wild bee species facing extinction.

I hear you say so what we don't need Bees they sting they buzz around you your flapping your arms around evryone aound you are ducking
Well if i say we do need Bees to survive on this planet

We need bees. We may take them and other pollinators like butterflies and hoverflies for granted - but they are vital for stable, healthy food supplies. They are key to the varied, colourful and nutritious diets we need and have come to expect.
Bees are perfectly adapted to pollinate, helping plants grow, breed and produce food. They do so by transferring pollen between flowering plants and so keep the cycle of life turning.
The vast majority of plants we need for food rely on pollination, especially by bees: from almonds and vanilla and apples to squashes. Bees also pollinate around 80% of wildflowers in Europe, so our countryside would be far less interesting and beautiful without them.
More than ever before, we need to recognise the importance of bees to nature and to our lives. And we need to turn that into action to ensure they don't just survive but thrive.
Thanks to bees we can enjoy a range of foods from apples and pears to coffee and vanilla. And if you are wearing cotton, that's because the cotton plant your threads came from was pollinated.

Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) is killing Bees

 commonly affects adult Apis mellifera honey bees and causes a chronic paralysis that can easily spread to other members of a colony. Bees infected with CBPV begin to show symptoms after 5 days and die a few days after. Chronic bee paralysis virus infection is a factor that can contribute to or cause the sudden collapse of honeybee colonies. Since honeybees serve comprise a vital force in ecological resilience, it is important to understand factors and diseases that threaten them.
Although CBPV infects mainly adult bees, the virus can also infect bees in earlier developmental stages, though developing bees typically have significantly lower viral loads compared to their adult counterparts. Death as a result of CBPV infection in developing bees or brood losses due to viral infection are low or nonexistent.
Bees that have been infected with CBPV may harbor millions of viral particles, with half of them concentrated in the head region of the infected honey bee. As a result, the virus has neurotropic activity, allowing the virus to cause nervous system damage in infected honey bees. Specifically, research has identified that viral particles concentrate primarily in two centers of the brain to replicate after infecting the host. The first replication center is the mushroom bodies, which play a role in sensory processing, memory, learning, and motor control, and the second replication center the central body, the center of the insect brain that primarily control locomotion, behavior, bodily orientation, and arousal
The parasitic mites attach themselves to honey bees externally and feed off of the hemolymph of their hosts. This exchange of fluids between the parasitic mites and the hosts allows for CBPV particles to enter fluid transfer systems in the honey bee body. The mechanisms by which chronic bee paralysis virus gains entry into honey bee cells is currently unknown.

Symptoms
Infected honeybees will begin to show symptoms of the illness within five days of infection, and the infection presents in two distinct ways, with Type I infection being the more common of the two infection types.
A Type I infected bee presents with a bloated abdomen due to a fluid-filled honey sac and weak or trembling wings. Type I infected honey bees tend to crawl on the ground or cluster near the entrance of the hive, as their weakened wings lead to an inability to fly.
A Type II infected honey bee presents with complete abdominal hair loss, causing it to appear black and greasy. These bees are still able to fly 2–3 days after symptoms begin to appear, but they lose their ability to fly shortly before succumbing to the disease.
A third type of infection that is a major contributor to the spread of the virus is an infection of CBPV in which the infected bee exhibits no symptoms of the illness. The infected bee does not present with any of the classic symptoms of the disease before death, and, as a result, is able to transmit the virus beyond its own hive.

Treatment
There is no known treatment for the disease currently. Often, infections of chronic bee paralysis virus die out on their own, but infected bees, if detected, must be removed from the hive immediately to lessen the chances of the virus spreading. Supplementing a smaller hive that has been severely affected by the virus with healthy bees from another colony can prevent colony collapse in struggling hives. The infection commonly surges in the winters rather than warmer months, for unknown reasons.
Treating the hive against Varroa mites has also proven to be an effective preventive method against viral infection. While bees should not be medicated against mites as a preventative measure because mites are quick to develop resistance; however, once detected, mites can be eliminated with the use of pesticides. Common pesticides include Apistan, Formic Acid, Apiguard.Home remedies for exterminating mites in a bee hive also include dusting the hive floors as well as the honey bees themselves with powdered sugar in order to suffocate the mites



https://friendsoftheearth.uk/bees/why-do-we-need-bees#:~:text=Bees%20are%20vital%20to%20a%20healthy%20environment%20and%20healthy%20economy.&text=Bees%20are%20perfectly%20adapted%20to,the%20cycle%20of%20life%20turning.

[kevin-beverly]

HI
I did not know about this plant growing on Corfu I was reading about Ancient Greece Corfu and found out about this plant

Mulberries

Morus Known as Mulberry trees growing wild and under cultivation in many temperate world regions.
Generally, the plant has three main species ostensibly named for the fruit color of the best-known cultivar: white, red, and black mulberry (Morus alba, rubra, and nigra, respectively), with numerous cultivars, but more than 200 species are identified in taxonomy. The name “white mulberry” came about because the first specimens named by European taxonomists were a cultivated mutation prized for their white fruit, but wild trees bear black fruit like other mulberries. White mulberry is native to South Asia, but is widely distributed across Europe, Southern Africa, South America, and North America. It is regarded as an invasive species in Brazil and the United States.
Mulberries are fast-growing when young, and can grow to 24 metres (80 ft) tall. The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, and often lobed and serrated on the margin. Lobes are more common on juvenile shoots than on mature trees. The trees can be monoecious or dioecious.
The mulberry fruit is a multiple, about 2–3 cm (3⁄4–1 1⁄4 in) long. Immature fruits are white, green, or pale yellow. The fruit turns from pink to red while ripening, then dark purple or black, and has a sweet flavor when fully ripe

Family:   Moraceae
Tribe:   Moreae
Genus:   Morus
L.
Species

Black, red, and white mulberries are widespread in Southern Europe, the Middle East, northern Africa, and the Indian subcontinent, where the tree and the fruit have names under regional dialects. Jams and sherbets are often made from the fruit in this region. Black mulberry was imported to Britain in the 17th century in the hope that it would be useful in the cultivation of silkworms. It was much used in folk medicine, especially in the treatment of ringworm. Mulberries are also widespread in Greece, particularly in the Peloponnese, which in the Middle Ages was known as Morea, deriving from the Greek word for the tree (μουριά, mouria).

HABITAT
commonly invades old fields, roadsides, forest edges, urban environments, and other disturbed areas. It prefers a warm, moist, well-drained loamy soil in a sunny position.

Hidden away in northern Greece, in the ancient province of Macedonia, near Thessalonica, are the rapidly vanishing remnants of a once numerous tree, Morus alba L. In this remote area are about 112,000 white mulberry trees, many of them 150 years old.
Most butterfly and moth caterpillars produce silk in their caterpillar stage, which they use to hang on to leaves, to follow each other, keep in touch and to string themselves as pupae or chrysalids on stems, and to enclose themselves in cocoons. The silk moth is no exception. However, the exception with the silk moth is that it has been domesticated for so many millennia that it cannot fly, so the silk moth does not go anywhere when it hatches from the cocoon. It has wings but they are stubby. They mate on their cocoons.
The caterpillars that hatch from the eggs are lugubrious and do not wander around like other caterpillars; they are just voracious ‘chompers’ of mulberry leaves. Pretty much any mulberry species will do, so long as it is mulberry, the Morus genus.
The white mulberry (Morus alba) was used exclusively across the Mediterranean for raising silkworms.
No other mulberry species would do, and other non-mulberry species were tried out, with no real success.  As the local economy was based on raising silkworms, the abundance of white mulberry trees shaped the landscape of the towns, villages and hamlets. The trees were pollarded, so that each year the long wands of leaves were cut off and taken to the hamlets for the silkworms. Pollarding  -- cutting the stems off above the height at which goats could graze -- meant that the top of the trunk swelled up at the end of each season, giving the trees a characteristic appearance. This can be seen today, where many pollarded white mulberries are still to be found on terraces and around hamlets.

Across the wold farming for silkworms is big business planting 1000s of Mulberry trees

Did You Know? In 1984, the city administration of Tucson, Arizona, banned the planting of mulberry trees citing that the amount of pollen produced by these trees was harmful for humans. Mulberries are the deciduous trees native to the warm temperate and subtropical regions of the world.

mulberries grow on a tree, not a bush. The first time you see a mulberry fruit, you might think you are looking at a blackberry with a bunch of tiny purple-black spheres stuck together into one compound fruit. But this resemblance is superficial—mulberries differ from blackberries. Mulberry tree branches are completely thornless without the prickly spikes that make harvesting wild blackberries such a challenge. Another difference is that while blackberry fruits are full of tiny hard seeds, mulberries have no detectable seeds, they’re just fruit all the way through.
Mulberries taste sweet and juicy, with lots of delicate fruity notes. Most varieties turn purple-black at maturity, and these types generally have a sweet flavor, with just a touch of tartness that gives a nice balance to their sweetness.





Toxicity: All parts of white mulberry, except for the ripe fruit, contain a milky sap (latex) that is toxic to humans. Although humans may consume ripe mulberry fruit, ingestion of unripe fruit can result in stomach upset, stimulation of the nervous system and hallucinations.You can eat mulberries. Just make sure they are ripe because eating under riped mulberries can result in puking and diarrhea.


Landscape,Cooking,Drinks,Jam,Silk,





Good For Vision
Build Bone Tissue
Mulberries contain Vitamin K, calcium, and iron, which is the best combination of nutrients to maintain and build strong bone tissues and bones

 Rich Source Of Antioxidants
Mulberries contain an abundance of antioxidants. They contain a high concentration of the powerful antioxidant resveratrol, which is a natural antibiotic and helps in reducing heart risks. It also keeps a check on the blood pressure

Prevent Flu And Cold
Flu and cold are a menace. Don’t you agree? Well, eating mulberries could solve that problem for you. The white mulberry fruit, in particular, has been used in folk remedies for cold. White mulberries are considered to be an astringent, bactericide and tonic and work correctly to prevent and treat flu and cold. They also contain Vitamin C and flavonoids, which prevent cold and flu.

Improve Liver Health
Mulberries can be used to make a blood tonic, because when consumed, they nourish and purify the blood in the liver. Mulberries have the ability to strengthen the liver, and also contain iron that works well to maintain the liver health.

Benefits Of Mulberries For Skin  Effective Anti-Aging Agent

Promote Brain Health
Research suggests that mulberries age-proof the brain, keeping it young and alert. They also provide the calcium needs of the brain, hence keeping it hale and healthy. Mulberry also makes for an excellent treatment to keep Alzheimer’s at bay.

Improve Immunity
Mulberries help in improving the immune system by activating the macrophages through the alkaloids present in them. Macrophages keep the immune system alert at all times. Mulberries also contain Vitamin C, which is another immunity strengthening element

Reduce Cancer Risk
If you are looking to protect yourself from cancer, then mulberry is what you should be looking for. Mulberries are rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients that help in stopping the growth and spread of tumor cells and protect you from cancer.

Improve Blood Circulation
Mulberries improve blood flow through the body, control blood pressure, and cleanse the blood. The antioxidants present in mulberries help in improving the function of the blood vessels by keeping them supple and dilated, which leads to blood pressure control as there is a free flow of blood from the heart to other parts of the body. Mulberries encourage the production of red blood cells as they are rich in iron.

Control Blood Sugar Levels
White mulberries, in particular, help in keeping a check on the sugar levels of the body. Certain chemicals present in white mulberries are similar to the medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes.
These compounds in white mulberry help in keeping the sugar levels of the body at an optimum range by slowly breaking down the sugars in the gut and allowing them to be absorbed slowly into the blood

[kevin-beverly]

HI

Lovage

Levisticum officinale Common name:  Old English Lovage, Italian Lovage, Cornish Lovage, Love Parsley, Mountain Celery, Maggie Plant, Garden Lovage, Bladder Seed, Sea Parsley
 Is the sole species in the genus Levisticum in the family Apiaceae, subfamily Apioideae. It has been long cultivated in Europe, the leaves being used as a herb, the roots as a vegetable, and the seeds as a spice, especially in southern European cuisine.
Lovage is an erect, herbaceous, perennial plant growing to 1.8–2.5 m (5.9–8.2 ft) tall, with a basal rosette of leaves and stems with further leaves, the flowers being produced in umbels at the top of the stems. The stems and leaves are shiny glabrous green to yellow-green and smell somewhat similar to celery when crushed. The larger basal leaves are up to 70 cm (28 in) long, tripinnate, with broad triangular to rhomboidal, acutely pointed leaflets with a few marginal teeth; the stem leaves are smaller, and less divided with few leaflets. The flowers are yellow to greenish-yellow, 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) diameter, produced in globose umbels up to 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in) diameter; flowering is in late spring. The fruit is a dry two-parted schizocarp 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) long, mature in autumn

Family:   Apiaceae
Subfamily:   Apioideae
Genus:   Levisticum
Hill
Species:   L. officinale
Binomial name
Levisticum officinale

HABITAT
Is a native of the Mediterranean region, growing wild in the mountainous districts of the south of France, in Greece and in the Balkans. It has been long cultivated in Europe, the leaves being used as a herb, the roots as a vegetable, and the seeds as a spice, especially in southern European cuisine. This plant is naturalised throughout North America.
prefers sunny position, though it tolerates some shade – semi-shade (light woodland). It likes full sun in cool climates or partial shade where summers are very hot. Optimal temperature range for this plant is 20-30°C.

The exact native range is disputed; some sources cite it as native to much of Europe and southwestern Asia, others from only the eastern Mediterranean region in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, and yet others only to southwestern Asia in Iran and Afghanistan, citing European populations as naturalised. It has been long cultivated in Europe, the leaves being used as an herb, the roots as a vegetable, and the seeds as a spice, especially in southern European cuisine

In the UK, an alcoholic lovage cordial is traditionally added to brandy as a winter drink and is or was popular in Cornwall where it was originally added to slightly spoiled smuggled brandy to hide the taste of salt.

In Romania, the leaves are a preferred seasoning for the various local broths, equally as much as parsley or dill.

In the Netherlands, lovage leaves are traditionally cooked with white asparagus and salt; and served with boiled eggs.

The leaves can be used in salads, or to make soup or season broths, and the roots can be eaten as a vegetable or grated for use in salads. Its flavor and smell can be described as a mix of celery and parsley, but with a higher intensity of both of those flavors. The seeds can be used as a spice, similar to fennel seeds

Lovage is native to Persia. From there, it migrated to the Mediterranean, where it was greatly appreciated by the Greeks and Romans, both as a spice and a remedy. The ancient Greeks even sacrificed the herb to their goddess Aphrodite. Like most herbs, lovage owes its introduction to Central Europe to Charlemagne, who decreed its cultivation in the monastery gardens throughout his empire.



 

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In the Garden cookin Young leaves can be added to salads, pickled or cooked as a potherb. Sprouts can be added to salads, or the roots can be cooked as eaten that way. The flowers are edible, quite mild compared to the root. Sprinkle them on salads, throw them in when pickling or cooking string beans and the like.




It is used primarily in the treatment of indigestion, poor appetite, wind, colic and bronchitis. The roots, leaves and fruits are antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, mildly expectorant and stimulant.
Lovage has been used as a natural herbal remedy to relieve abdominal pain due to gastrointestinal gas, to reduce flatulence, and as a treatment for colic in children
Lovage herbal remedies have been around for centuries. The plant probably originated in the Mediterranean but has a widespread use in alcoholic beverages and common recipes across the globe. Much of its use was also as an anti-inflammatory, skin conditioner, menstrual support, gastric balm and much more. Lovage is probably best known as a digestive aid, relieving flatulence and other stomach discomfort
What are some of the most well-known medicinal lovage benefits? It’s especially well-known for its use in reducing the inflammation and pain associated with urinary tract infections. As a warming herb that promotes the health of the digestive system, it’s also commonly employed for cases of indigestion, heartburn, stomach bloating, and  intestinal gas. It’s also known to act as expectorant when it comes to respiratory problems and it can even promote regular menstrual cycles.
 Bronchitis
Lovage benefits also are said to include its ability to help with respiratory conditions like bronchitis. How so? As a natural expectorant, it’s a medicinal herb that can help to loosen up and expel phlegm from the respiratory system. When someone has bronchitis, a buildup of phlegm and coughing are some of the main symptoms, so the herb can be a helpful and natural choice.
Another reason that lovage can possibly help with respiratory problems like bronchitis is due to the fact that extracts of the Levisticum officinale plant naturally contain active components that fight off bacteria, particularly gram-negative bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria are capable of causing respiratory infections including certain types of pneumonia.

[Eggy]

Interesting post on Lovage , Kevin.
Negg

[kevin-beverly]

Hi Neil
Thanks I like a bit of lovage wink 😉 😉

Kev

[kevin-beverly]

HI

I thought i would do this plant as it is halloween

Pumpkin

Cucurbita  is a cultivar of winter squash that is round with smooth, slightly ribbed skin, and is most often deep yellow to orange in coloration and is a genus of herbaceous vines in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae native to the Andes and Mesoamerica. Five species are grown worldwide for their edible fruit, variously known as squash, pumpkin, or gourd, depending on species, variety, and local parlance, and for their seeds.
[Updated on September 5, 2020] Did you know there were at least 142 types of pumpkins
 The thick shell contains the seeds and pulp. The name is most commonly used for cultivars of Cucurbita pepo, but some cultivars of Cucurbita maxima, C. argyrosperma, and C. moschata with similar appearance are also sometimes called "pumpkin".
Native to North America (northeastern Mexico and the southern United States),pumpkins are one of the oldest domesticated plants, having been used as early as 7,500 to 5,000 BC. Pumpkins are widely grown for commercial use and as food, aesthetics, and recreational purposes. Pumpkin pie, for instance, is a traditional part of Thanksgiving meals in Canada and the United States, and pumpkins are frequently carved as jack-o'-lanterns for decoration around Halloween, although commercially canned pumpkin purée and pumpkin pie fillings are usually made from different kinds of winter squash than the ones used for jack-o'-lanterns. China and India combined account for half of the world's production of pumpkins.

Family:   Cucurbitaceae
Tribe:   Cucurbiteae
Genus:   Cucurbita
L.

Cucurbita species fall into two main groups. The first group are annual or short-lived perennial vines and are mesophytic, i.e. they require a more or less continuous water supply. The second group are perennials growing in arid zones and so are xerophytic, tolerating dry conditions.
 Cultivated Cucurbita species were derived from the first group. Growing 5 to 15 meters (16 to 49 ft) in height or length, the plant stem produces tendrils to help it climb adjacent plants and structures or extend along the ground. Most species do not readily root from the nodes; a notable exception is C. ficifolia, and the four other cultivated mesophytes do this to a lesser extent. The vine of the perennial Cucurbita can become semiwoody if left to grow. There is wide variation in size, shape, and color among Cucurbita fruits, and even within a single species. C. ficifolia is an exception, being highly uniform in appearance.[6] The morphological variation in the species C. pepo and C. maxima is so vast that its various subspecies and cultivars have been misidentified as totally separate species.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the English word pumpkin is derived from the Ancient Greek word pepon (πέπων) meaning "melon.
The term transitioned through the Latin word peponem and the Middle French word pompon to the Early Modern English pompion, which was changed to pumpkin by 17th-century English colonists, shortly after encountering pumpkins upon their arrival in what is now the northeastern United States.
Pumpkins, like other squash, originated in northeastern Mexico and southern United States. The oldest evidence were pumpkin fragments dated between 7,000 and 5,500 BC found in Mexico.Pumpkin fruits are a type of botanical berry known as a pepo Traditional C. pepo pumpkins generally weigh between 3 and 8 kilograms (6 and 18 lb), though the largest cultivars (of the species C. maxima) regularly reach weights of over 34 kg (75 lb)
The colour of pumpkins derives from orange carotenoid pigments, including beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha and beta carotene, all of which are provitamin A compounds converted to vitamin A in the body
 "pumpkin" include smooth and slightly ribbed skin, and deep yellow to orange colour. Circa 2005, white pumpkins had become increasingly popular in the United States. Other colours, including dark green (as with some oilseed pumpkins), also exist.

Giant pumpkins are large squash with a pumpkin-like appearance that grow to exceptional size, with the largest exceeding 1 ton in weight. Most are varieties of Cucurbita maxima, and were developed through the efforts of botanical societies and enthusiast farmers
Pumpkins are grown all around the world for a variety of reasons ranging from agricultural purposes (such as animal feed) to commercial and ornamental sales. Of the seven continents, only Antarctica is unable to produce pumpkins. The traditional American pumpkin used for jack-o-lanterns is the Connecticut field variety.
In 2018, world production of pumpkins (including squash and gourds) was 27.6 million tonnes, with China and India accounting for half of the total. Ukraine and Russia each produced about one million tonnes






As it turns out, some members of the Cucurbitaceae family — which includes pumpkins, squash, melons and cucumbers — can produce a group of chemicals known as cucurbitacins. Not only do these chemicals taste bitter, but they can also have toxic effects on human cells
Types of Gourds, Squash and Pumpkins You CAN NOT EAT
Unfortunately, this time of year, the grocery stores fill their produce sections with both inedible and edible gourds — quite often right next to each other. For a lay person, it could be quite difficult to tell if the gourd or squash type you are looking at is for cooking or simply for decoration. The following types of squash and gourds are only for decoration and should not be eaten:

Angel Wing
Apple Gourd
Baby Bear
Gooseneck
Jack Be Quick
While many human foods are unsafe for our feline companions, pure pumpkin is a safe addition to your cat's diet this fall season and year-round.
dogs can eat pumpkin, both the pulp and the seeds. The pulp is low in calories, and its blend of soluble and insoluble fiber makes it an effective remedy for diarrhea and constipation alike.


You can eat all of the pumpkin - except for its stalk. Smaller varieties such as onion squash have deliciously edible skin, the skin of larger varieties may be too tough to eat or less than appealing. For types such as the butternut squash, whether you eat the skin or not is down to personal taste.
Cook
Mix up a pumpkin cocktail.
pumpkin purée
pumpkin planter
Feed the wildlife
Halloween
 pumpkin butter




Highly Nutritious and Particularly Rich in Vitamin A
High Antioxidant Content May Reduce Your Risk of Chronic Diseases
Nutrient Density and Low Calorie Count May Promote Weight Loss
Antioxidant Content May Lower Your Risk of Cancer
Potassium, Vitamin C and Fiber May Benefit Heart Health
Contains Compounds That Promote Healthy Skin
Vitamin A, Lutein and Zeaxanthin May Protect Your Eyesight
Packs Vitamins That May Boost Immunity
Incredibly Versatile and Easy to Add to Your Diet
You will feel fuller
You will sleep better
You’ll increase your prostate health
You will get magnesium
When you eat some pumpkin, you burn the fat

[kevin-beverly]

HI

Well christmas is almost here and the shops are selling anything to do with christmas.
who gets a  Poinsettia for christmas to brighten up your home sitting on the side bright red but after christmas the plant gets thrown out because the red leaves have turned green.

How To Get a Poinsettia To Turn Red

Restoring a healthy green Poinsettia plant from last year back to its original red color is no problem if you follow a few simple rules. The bracts will start to turn color in about four weeks, and continue if you carefully keep up the process

Restoring a healthy green Poinsettia plant from last year back to its original red color is no problem if you follow a few simple rules. Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) need total darkness, for 14 hours each day, starting about eight weeks before you want to display them.
During the day, the plants need bright light, along with the other routine care. However, starting in the evening, the plants must get complete darkness. Even a nightlight can disrupt this process! Depending on where you have the plant (planted outside, or in a pot indoors), will determine how you approach this process. I’ll let you decide that.
The bracts will start to turn color in about four weeks, and continue if you carefully keep up the process. Poinsettias need a humid environment during this time, but be careful not to spray the foliage directly, as you may invite leaf spot, not a desired feature on such a showy leaf! In about eight weeks, the bracts should all be red, if you’ve followed the above guidelines. They’ll stay this way for several weeks, at least until after Christmas.
Eventually the leaves will start to drop off. Once this occurs, cut the stems back to four to six inches. Keep the soil fairly dry, and the plant warm until new growth occurs. You can then replant in the garden in a sunny spot. Add a light amount of fertilizer in the spring and summer. Come next October, start the whole process over again!

[kevin-beverly]

HI
Patrick has photograph this plant on the front of Arillas

glandular globe-thistle

Echinops sphaerocephalus
Also known as  great globe-thistle or pale globe-thistle, is a Eurasian species of globe-thistle belonging to the thistle tribe within the sunflower family. Globe Thistle, originating from Europe and West Asia, is a well-behaved perennial for the border, despite its name. Plants form a bushy, upright mound of thistly-looking, grey-green leaves, bearing stems of ball-shaped flowers through the summer. This selection features large, rounded white flowers that contrast beautifully with the sturdy, reddish stems and silvery-green leaves. Excellent for cutting fresh or drying. The flowers are pollinated by insects (usually bees, wasps and butterflies)
 The fruits are hairy cylindrical achenes about 7 to 8 mm long. They ripen from September through October. The seeds are dispersed by wind (anemochory).
Echinops is a genus of about 120 species of flowering plants in the daisy family Asteraceae, commonly known as globe thistles.
This species is widespread across much of Eurasia but it lives on other continents where it was introduced, including North America where it is a widespread weed. It is very common in the mountains of southern France and southern and central Europe.
Eurasia  is the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Primarily in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, it is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and by Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Indian Ocean to the south. The division between Europe and Asia as two continents is a historical social construct, as they have no clear physical separation between them; thus, in some parts of the world, Eurasia is recognized as the largest of the six, five, or four continents on Earth. In geology, Eurasia is often considered as a single rigid megablock. However, the rigidity of Eurasia is debated based on paleomagnetic data.

Family:   Asteraceae
Genus:   Echinops
Species:   E. sphaerocephalus
Binomial name
Echinops sphaerocephalus

The genus name derives from the Greek words "ekhinos" meaning "hedgehog" and "opisis" meaning "aspect", or "ops" meaning "head", with reference to the appearance of the inflorescence, while the specific epithet sphaerocephalus derives from the words "sphaera" meaning "round" and "kephalos" meaning head

HABITAT
It grows in sunny, rocky or brushy places in more or less mineral rich soils at an altitude of 0–400 metres (0–1,312 ft) above sea level.

Optimal Growing Conditions

Sun Exposure  Full Sun
Soil Type  Normal or  Sandy or  Clay
Soil pH  Neutral or  Alkaline or  Acid
Soil Moisture
Care Level Easy
Appearance and Characteristics

Flower Colour  White
Blooming Time  Early Summer  Mid Summer  Late Summer
Foliage Color  Grey Green
Plant Uses & Characteristics
  Accent: Good Texture/Form
  Attracts Butterflies
  Attracts Hummingbirds
  Border
  Containers
  Cut Flower
  Deer Resistant
  Dried Flower
  Rabbit Resistant
  Massed
  Specimen
Flower Head Size
  Medium
Height
   80-90 cm
   31-35 inches
Spread
   75-90 cm
   29-35 inches
Foot Traffic
   None
Growth Rate
   Medium

This site shows different types https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/search-results?query=Echinops





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In gardens boarders, pot,tubs,  Young leaves - cooked. for dried flower displays

Traditionally, members of the genus Echinops are documented to have been used to treat inflammation, pain, and fever. Accordingly, several species have been explored for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-pyretic activities
 diuretic, and for blood circulation, diabetes, dysmenorrhea, gastric pain, hemorrhoids, indigestion, and spasmolytic and varicose problems.

[kevin-beverly]

HI

Thanks Neil your pic Grapefruit tree on A-Z pic

Grapefruit

Citrus × paradisi Known as a Grapefruit  is a subtropical citrus tree known for its relatively large sour to semisweet, somewhat bitter fruit. The interior flesh is segmented and varies in color from white to yellow to pink to red.
Grapefruit is a citrus hybrid originating in Barbados as an accidental cross between the sweet orange (C. sinensis) and the pomelo or shaddock (C. maxima), both of which were introduced from Asia in the 17th century. When found, it was called the forbidden fruit. In the past it was referred to as the pomelo, but that term is now the common name for the pomelo (Citrus maxima), which is also called the pummelo.

Family:   Rutaceae
Genus:   Citrus
Species:   C. × paradisi
Binomial name
Citrus × paradisi

Production
In 2018, world production of grapefruits (combined with pomelos) was 9.4 million tonnes, led by China with 53% of the world total. Secondary producers were Vietnam and the United States.

History
The genetic origin of the grapefruit is a natural hybrid mix. One ancestor of the grapefruit was the Jamaican sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), itself an ancient hybrid of Asian origin; the other was the Indonesian pomelo (C. maxima). Both C. sinensis and C. maxima were present in the West Indies by 1692. One story of the fruit's origin is that a certain "Captain Shaddock" brought pomelo (Citrus maxima) seeds to Jamaica and bred the first fruit, which were then called shaddocks. This apparently referred to a Captin Chaddock who traded in the West Indies in the 17th century. The grapefruit then probably originated as a naturally occurring hybrid between the two plants some time after they had been introduced there
A hybrid fruit, called forbidden fruit, was first documented in 1750 (along with 14 other citrus fruits including the guiney orange) by a Welshman, Rev. Griffith Hughes, who described specimens from Barbados in The Natural History of Barbados.[1][9][10] However, Hughes's forbidden fruit may have been a plant distinct from grapefruit although still closely related to it.

In 1814, naturalist John Lunan published the term grapefruit to describe a similar Jamaican citrus plant. Lunan reported that the name was due to its similarity in taste to the grape (Vitis vinifera ). An alternative explanation offered by Tussac (1824) is that this name may allude to clusters of the fruit on the tree, which often appear similar to bunches of grapes. After this, authors of the period used both terms forbidden fruit and grapefruit as synonyms.

HABITAT
In order to properly grow grapefruit, you need to provide relatively warm conditions both day and night. This means growing them in temperate or tropical-like regions in full sun — preferably in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and up, though some success can be achieved in Zones 7-8 with suitable care.

The evergreen grapefruit trees usually grow to around 5–6 m (16–20 ft) tall, although they may reach 13–15 m (43–49 ft). The leaves are glossy, dark green, long (up to 15 cm (5.9 in)), and thin. It produces 5 cm (2 in) white four-petaled flowers. The fruit is yellow-orange skinned and generally, an oblate spheroid in shape; it ranges in diameter from 10 to 15 cm (3.9 to 5.9 in). The flesh is segmented and acidic, varying in color depending on the cultivars, which include white, pink, and red pulps of varying sweetness (generally, the redder varieties are the sweetest). The 1929 U.S. Ruby Red (of the 'Redblush' variety) has the first grapefruit



 


NONE
Are citrus leaves edible? Technically, eating orange and lemon leaves is fine because the leaves aren't toxic as long as they haven't been treated with pesticides or other chemicals.


In food and beverages, grapefruit is consumed as a fruit, juice, and is used as a flavoring component.
In manufacturing, grapefruit oil and seed extract are used as a fragrance component in soaps and cosmetics; and as a household cleaner for fruits, vegetables, meats, kitchen surfaces, dishes, and others.
In agriculture, grapefruit seed extract is used to kill bacteria and fungus, fight mold growth, kill parasites in animal feeds, preserve food and disinfect water.
Jam.Cakes.Cocktails.Grapefruit beer is a thing
How many calories are in a whole grapefruit?
According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, one whole of medium-sized, raw pink or red grapefruit contains about 104 calories, while the white grapefruit variety contains around 78.


In particular, they're a good source of vitamin A, which is important for supporting the immune system and keeping the eyes and skin healthy, folate, which is key for a baby's development during pregnancy, and vitamin C, helping to maintain healthy skin. Grapefruit also contains some magnesium, potassium and calcium.
It’s Low in Calories, Yet High in Nutrients
It May Benefit Your Immune System
May Promote Appetite Control
It Has Been Shown to Aid Weight Loss
Grapefruit May Help Prevent Insulin Resistance and Diabetes
Eating Grapefruit May Improve Heart Health
It’s High in Powerful Antioxidants
May Reduce the Risk of Kidney Stones
Very Hydrating
Grapefruit has more water than almost any other fruit
Grapefruit is 92% water, giving it one of the highest water contents of any fruit. That makes it good for overall health. (It's one of our 15 foods that help you stay hydrated.)
"All of our body systems and process . . . require water," says Wesley Delbridge, RD, located in Phoenix, Arizona. "Proper hydration makes your body more efficient in everything you're doing."
About 20% of your daily fluid intake actually comes from food. So add some grapefruit to get closer to your daily H2O goal and choose the heavier of two fruits of equal size: It has more juice.

Grapefruit pith is good for you
When you peel away the outer layer of a grapefruit, you may be tempted to pick off the white flesh that is between you and the juicy fruit, and throw it away. This stuff is called pith. Don't do it.
"That [pith] is very rich in antioxidants and nutrients and also soluble fiber which is going to help you feel fuller and impact your glucose reactions," says Delbridge.
While the pith of grapefruit can have more of a bitter taste than say, oranges, it's worth eating along with the fruit (if you can). Fiber is a good thing, and can help lower blood sugar, cholesterol, and possibly even colon cancer risk.

Grapefruit can help lower "bad" cholesterol

Grapefruit can lower triglyceride levels
There's another reason grapefruit can be good for your heart: It reduces levels of triglycerides. Triglycerides are another type of fat—like "bad" LDL cholesterol—which can quickly clog up your arteries.
The same study that found that adding one grapefruit a day lowered cholesterol levels also found that this simple daily regimen lowered triglycerides—by as much as 27%. This was in patients who already had coronary artery disease and so were at high risk for heart attacks and other complications.
Red grapefruit, in particular, surpassed its "blond" cousins in lowering triglycerides.

Grapefruit can lower blood pressure
"Grapefruit has got some data that it decreases systolic blood pressure, not by a lot—it's usually about five points—but there's definitely good data,

The color of the grapefruit matters
All the grapefruit colors are packed with goodness, vitamins, and nutrients but the red and pink ones come with a little extra.
"They have a higher antioxidant level, specifically beta carotene," says Delbridge. "They also have lycopene, another antioxidant."
Lycopene is one of a group of carotenoids or pigments that gives hued grapefruit (and other fruits and vegetables) their color. Eating diets rich in carotenoids may lower the risk of heart disease and some cancers.
Antioxidants in general may play a key role in preventing cancer.

Grapefruit may speed wound healing

Grapefruit juice is nice, but the fruit is better
Grapefruit juice has plenty of benefits, but the traditional fruit itself is going to give you more bang for your buck when it comes to nutrition and health benefits.

Grapefruit may help control blood sugar

[Eggy]

We still have a good supply Kevin. - and.....Clementines and Lemons.
Cheers
Negg

[kevin-beverly]

HI

Busy Lizzie

Impatiens walleriana  known as busy Lizzie (British Isles), balsam, sultana, or simply impatiens, is a species of the genus Impatiens, native to eastern Africa from Kenya to Mozambique. The Latin specific epithet walleriana honours a British missionary, Horace Waller
The Impatiens Walleriana is a favorite within many households in Greece, and it is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant, under the common name "Έρωτας- erotas" (=love). It can be found in several coluors varieties,

Impatiens   is a genus of more than 1,000 species of flowering plants, widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere and the tropics. Together with the genus Hydrocera (1 species), Impatiens make up the family Balsaminaceae.
Common names in North America include impatiens, jewelweed, touch-me-not, snapweed and patience. As a rule-of-thumb, "jewelweed" is used exclusively for Nearctic species, and balsam is usually applied to tropical species. In the British Isles by far the most common names are impatiens and busy lizzie, especially for the many varieties, hybrids and cultivars involving Impatiens walleriana. “Busy lizzie” is also found in the American literature. The invasive alien Impatiens glandulifera is commonly called Policeman's helmet in the UK.

Most Impatiens species are herbaceous annuals or perennials with succulent stems. Only a few woody species exist. Plant size varies dependent of the species from five centimetres to 2.5 meters. Stems are often rooting when becoming in contact with the soil. The leaves are entire, often dentate or sinuate with extra floral nectaries. Dependent of the species leaves can be thin to succulent. Particularly on the underside of the leaves, tiny air bubbles are trapped over and under the leaf surface, giving them a silvery sheen that becomes pronounced when they are held under water.
The zygomorphic flowers of Impatiens are protandric (male becoming female with age). The calyx consists of five free sepals, of which one pair is often strongly reduced. The non-paired sepal forms a flower spur producing nectar. In a group of species from Madagascar the spur is completely lacking, but they still have three sepals. The crown consists of five petals, of which the lateral pairs are fused. The five stamens are fused and form a cap over the ovary, which falls off after the male phase. After the stamens have fallen off, the female phase starts and the stigma becomes receptive, which reduces self-pollination.
The scientific name Impatiens (Latin for "impatient") and the common name "touch-me-not" refer to the explosive dehiscence of the seed capsules. The mature capsules burst, sending seeds up to several meters away.

Family:   Balsaminaceae
Genus:   Impatiens
L.
Species
Over 1,000; see List of Impatiens species

Family:   Balsaminaceae
Genus:   Impatiens
Species:   I. walleriana
Binomial name
Impatiens walleriana

The genus Impatiens occurs in Africa, Eurasia and North America. Two species (Impatiens turrialbana and Impatiens mexicana) occur in isolated areas in Central America (southern Mexico and Costa Rica). Most Impatiens species occur in the tropical and subtropical mountain forests in Africa, Madagascar, the Himalayas, the Western Ghats (southwest India) and southeast Asia. In Europe only a single Impatiens species (Impatiens noli-tangere) occurs naturally. However, several neophytic species exist.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, humans transported the North American orange jewelweed (I. capensis) to England, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Finland, and potentially other areas of Northern and Central Europe. For example, it was not recorded from Germany as recently as 1996, but since then a population has naturalized in Hagen at the Ennepe River. The orange jewelweed is quite similar to the touch-me-not balsam (I. noli-tangere), the only Impatiens species native to Central and Northern Europe, and it utilizes similar habitats, but no evidence exists of natural hybrids between them. Small balsam (I. parviflora), originally native to southern Central Asia, is even more extensively naturalized in Europe. More problematic is the Himalayan balsam (I. glandulifera), a densely growing species which displaces smaller plants by denying them sunlight. It is an invasive weed in many places, and tends to dominate riparian vegetation along polluted rivers and nitrogen-rich spots. Thus, it exacerbates ecosystem degradation by forming stands where few other plants can grow, and by rendering riverbanks more prone to erosion, as it has only a shallow root system.

HABITAT
 can be found naturalized in secondary forests, coastal thickets, forest gullies, riversides, roadsides and damp shady places.
Although perennial in frost-free growing conditions, it is usually treated as a half-hardy annual in temperate regions (though pot-grown plants can be successfully overwintered indoors). It is one of the most popular of all bedding plants for parks and gardens worldwide, typically grown in containers but also in bedding schemes. Propagation is by seed or stem cuttings (which often root readily in water)







Flowers and fruits of Impatiens species. Inflorescence: (a) fascicled flowers in leaf axils of I. niamniamensis Gilg; (b) two-flowered raceme of I. piufanensis Hook. f.; (c) raceme of I. cyathiflora Hook. f.; (d) subumbellate inflorescence of I. fischeri; (e) subscorpioid cyme of I. duclouxii. Lower sepal: (f) I. serrata Benth.; (g) I. sodenii Engl. & Warb. ex Engl.; (h) I. tubulosa Hemsl. ex F.B. Forbes & Hemsl.; (i) I. bodinieri Hook. f.; (j) I. soulieana Hook. f. United lateral petals: (k) I. cornutisepala S.X. Yu, Y.L. Chen & H.N. Qin; (l) I. bicornuta Wall.; (m) I. chinensis L.; (n) I. walleriana; (o) I. morsei. Dorsal petal and flower in front view: (p) I. undulata Y.L. Chen & Y.Q. Lu; (q) I. macrovexilla Y.L. Chen; (r) I. falcifer Hook. f.; (s) I. chinensis; (t) I. walleriana. Capsule: (u) I. aureliana Hook. f.; (v) I. clavigera; (w) I. morsei. (x) I. macrovexilla. (y) I. fragicolor.


All Impatiens taste bitter and seem to be slightly toxic upon ingestion, causing intestinal ailments like vomiting and diarrhea.

Landscape,parks,tubs,pots window boxes,hanging barskets,summer bedding
Petals are made into balls, dipped in a batter, shallow fried and cooked in a curry with sliced potatoes.
Seeds powder is added to tea.
Seeds are cooked or consumed raw.
In China, shoots and leaves are cooked and consumed.


Impatiens glandulifera is one of the Bach flower remedies, flower extracts used as herbal remedies for physical and emotional problems. It is included in the "Rescue Remedy" or "Five Flower Remedy", a potion touted as a treatment for acute anxiety and which is supposed to be protective in stressful situations.
North American impatiens have been used as herbal remedies for the treatment of bee stings, insect bites, and stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) rashes.
The plant is used for treating diseases and skin problems.
Juice extracted from leaves is useful for treating snake bite and warts.
Apply the flower to burns.
In Asia, it is used for fractures, rheumatism and other health problems
It is used in Korean folk medicine for treating gastritis and constipation.
In China, the plant is used for treating bites of snakes and who ingested poisonous fish.
The pulverized dried stalks, juice from stalk and paste made from flowers are used for treating various health ailments.
The plant extract is used by Vietnamese to wash their hair in order to stimulate hair growth.
Medicinally, seeds and stem are used to promote blood circulation and to provide relief from sore throats.
In Asia, Garden balsam is used for treating fractures, rheumatism and fingernails.
In Bangladesh, flowers are used for treating neuralgia, lumbago, scalds and burns.
Apply the white petals juice topically for urticarial and dermatitis.
In Philippines, leaves are used in poultice for dissolve felons.
Leaves are used in Malaysia as a poultice for broken and torn nails.
Root decoction is used in Brunei for irregular menstruation.
Leaf juice is used to treat warts.
Seed powder is provided to women during labor for providing strength.
Flowers are used in Korea to produce an orange nail varnish.

[kevin-beverly]

HI

Wallflowers

Erysimum cheiri Cheiranthus cheiri, the wallflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae (Cruciferae), native to Europe but widespread as an introduced species elsewhere. It is also widely cultivated as a garden plant. [brassicaceae are mustards, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, and turnips. ]

The common name "wallflower" attaches to all cultivars of this plant, as well as other species within the genus Erysimum and the former genus Cheiranthus.
The name Cheiranthus comes from the Greek words “cheir”, which means “hand” and “anthos” meaning “flower”, referring to a medieval custom in which the flowers were often carried in the hand at festivals.

Family:   Brassicaceae
Genus:   Erysimum
Species:   E. cheiri
Binomial name
Erysimum cheiri
This is a herbaceous perennial, often grown as a biennial, with one or more highly branching stems reaching heights of 15–80 cm (6–31 in). The leaves are generally narrow and pointed and may be up to 20 cm (8 in) long. The top of the stem is occupied by a club-shaped inflorescence of strongly scented flowers. Each flower has purplish-green sepals and rounded petals which are two to three centimeters long and in shades of bright yellows to reds and purples. The flowers fall away to leave long fruits which are narrow, hairy siliques several centimeters in length.

This is a popular ornamental plant, widely cultivated for its abundant, fragrant flowers in spring. Many cultivars have been developed, in shades of yellow, orange, red, maroon, purple, brown, white and cream. It associates well in bedding schemes with other spring flowers such as tulips and forget-me-nots. It is usually grown as a biennial, sown one year to flower the next, and then discarded. This is partly because of its tendency to grow spindly and leggy during its second year, but more importantly its susceptibility to infections such as clubroot

Clubroot is a common disease of cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, radishes, turnips, stocks, wallflowers and other plants of the family Brassicaceae (Cruciferae). It is caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, which was once considered a slime mold but is now put in the group Phytomyxea. It is the first phytomyxean for which the genome has been sequenced. It has as many as thirteen races. Gall formation or distortion takes place on latent roots and gives the shape of a club or spindle. In the cabbage such attacks on the roots cause undeveloped heads or a failure to head at all, followed often by decline in vigor or by death. It is an important disease, affecting an estimated 10% of the total cultured area worldwide. Historical reports of clubroot date back to the 13th century in Europe. In the late 19th century, a severe epidemic of clubroot destroyed large proportions of the cabbage crop in St. Petersburg. The Russian scientist Mikhail Woronin eventually identified the cause of clubroot as a "plasmodiophorous organism" in 1875, and gave it the name Plasmodiophora brassicae.

HABITAT
Rock,Cliffs,Walls,Near sea front,Woodlands
It is hardy to zone (UK) 7 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.








Wallflowers used to be divided into two genus – Erysimum and Cheiranthus – but are now combined under Erysimum. ... However, wallflowers contain a cardiotonic glycoside known as cheiranthin or cheirotoxin, which is a toxic substance


In Pots,Tubs,parks,Gardens,landscape

Cheiranthus cheiri are tonic, diuretic, aphrodisiac and expectorant being useful in dry bronchitis. They are good remedy for fevers and eye injuries. Flowers are used in paralysis and impotence.
Heart problems.
Liver disease.
Gallbladder disease.
Constipation.
Starting menstrual periods.
Other conditions.

[kevin-beverly]

HI

You my have seen this plant on your travels around Corfu

Cup and saucer

Cobaea scandens  is a genus of flowering plants including about 20 species of rapid growing, ornamental climbers native to Mexico. Also known as Cathedral bells,  Mexican ivy, or monastery bells, and sometimes  Purple Jedra
 The woody stems can reach 20 ft (6 m). Leaves are alternate lobed with opposite pairs and tendrils. In late summer to early spring, the large, bell-shaped flowers are borne profusely and singly along the stems with bright green, violet, or purple in colors. The plants can become invasive in some areas, and are common weeds in New Zealand.

Family:   Polemoniaceae
Genus:   Cobaea
Species:   C. scandens
Binomial name
Cobaea scandens
 It may be grown in large pots for standing outdoors in summer, and will behave as a perennial if kept indoors in winter at about 7C. In a very mild winter plants may survive and remain virtually evergreen, but they are usually grown as annuals on a wall, fence or pergola. Plants have a tropical appearance, with lush foliage and 8cm flowers with prominent stamens. Once fully open, they are sweetly fragrant. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Polemoniaceae is the family of PHLOX plants
HABITAT
 Well drained / light / sandy / clay / heavy / moist / chalky / alkaline / acidic, soils in moist but well-drained soil in full sun.
Wildlife Value:
Flowers are pollinated by bats.

Charles Darwin in 1875 made a detailed study of various climbing and twining plants, subjecting them to stimuli such as light and touch, and presenting them with a range of surfaces while minutely examining their movement over time. He was impressed by the exceptional strength and speed of Cobaea scandens
This is an excellently constructed climber. The tendrils on a fine plant were eleven inches long, with the petiole bearing two pairs of leaflets, only two and a half inches in length. They revolve more rapidly and vigorously than those of any other tendril-bearer observed, with the exception of one kind of Passiflora.
The long, straight, tapering main stem of the tendril of the Cobaea bears alternate branches; and each branch is several times divided, with the finer branches as thin as very thin bristles and extremely flexible, so that they are blown about by a breath of air; yet they are strong and highly elastic. The extremity of each branch is a little flattened, and terminates in a minute double (though sometimes single) hook, formed of a hard, translucent, woody substance, and as sharp as the finest needle. On a tendril which was eleven inches long I counted ninety-four of these beautifully constructed little hooks. They readily catch soft wood, or gloves, or the skin of the naked hand. With the exception of these hardened hooks, and of the basal part of the central stem, every part of every branchlet is highly sensitive on all sides to a slight touch, and bends in a few minutes towards the touched side. By lightly rubbing several sub-branches on opposite sides, the whole tendril rapidly assumed an extraordinarily crooked shape. These movements from contact do not interfere with the ordinary revolving movement. The branches, after becoming greatly curved from being touched, straighten themselves at a quicker rate than in almost any other tendril seen by me, namely, in between half an hour and an hour.



   

Cobaea scandens has no toxic effects reported. To Birds,Cats,Dogs,Horses,Humans



Landscape Location:Container,Landscape,To hide a shed,wall,fence




UNKNOWN

[kevin-beverly]

Hi

Spider flower

Grevillea Other common names are  silky oak, toothbrush plant, spider flower, Is a diverse genus of about 360 species of evergreen flowering plants in the family Proteaceae, native to rainforest and more open habitats in Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Sulawesi and other Indonesian islands east of the Wallace Line. Closely related to the genus Hakea, the genus gives its name to the subfamily Grevilleoideae.
The brightly coloured, petal-less flowers consist of a calyx tube that splits into 4 lobes with long styles
As a plant that's a native of Australia, it makes sense that grevillea plants can thrive in hot, dry conditions. These members of the protea family have showy, spidery blooms that attract nectar-eating birds.

Family:   Proteaceae
Subfamily:   Grevilleoideae
Tribe:   Embothrieae
Subtribe:   Hakeinae
Genus:   Grevillea

Many species of grevilleas are popular garden plants, especially in Australia but also in other temperate and subtropical climates. Many grevilleas have a propensity to interbreed freely, and extensive hybridisation and selection of horticulturally desirable attributes has led to the commercial release of many named cultivars. Among the best known is 'Robyn Gordon', a small shrub up to 1.5 m (5 ft) high and wide which can flower 12 months of the year in subtropical climates. The cultivar 'Canberra Gem' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
They can be grown from soft tip cuttings from December–March (in the Southern Hemisphere) or fresh seed. Many harder-to-grow species can be grafted onto hardy rootstock such as Grevillea robusta.
A great range of native plants shrubs that will grow in tropical, temperate and cold climates. There are several hundred species and varieties of grevilleas, so there is one to suit every garden.

HABITAT
It prefers dry or moist soil not waterlogging and can tolerate drought Woodland Garden Secondary; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

 Australia is a big country but the areas that receive truly cold weather are restricted to the highest mountains and alpine valleys. Not surprisingly species from the highest elevations of the Australian alps have proven to be fantastic garden plants in our climate- and there are many more species and cultivars waiting to be tested here.
Alpine Grevillea is a cold hardy, handsome, adaptable evergreen shrub that is good looking at all times. In late winter/early spring flossy white flowers explode over the bush and emit an intense honey fragrance. Each small leaf is olive/ochre green on the surface and silver below.
These shrubs can grow almost anywhere in the world













They're poisonous if you eat them fresh from the branch. Some grevillea species can trigger itching, redness and rashes if children have an allergic reaction on contact. All parts, especially the leaves, are poisonous (the stems are safe when cooked).


Uses. Before the advent of aluminium, Grevillea robusta timber was widely used for external window joinery, as it is resistant to wood rot. It has been used in the manufacture of furniture, cabinetry, and fences.
Parks,Gardens,In landscape,Dye: Yellow and green dye from the leaves; used for dyeing silk. Wood: Used for joinery, cabinetry and paneling. Gum or resin: Natural gum has potential as adhesive.


In Kenya, natives of the Kakamega Forest use the plant to treat sore throats, earache, chest problems, flu and toothache.

[kevin-beverly]

HI

You can see this plant around Arillas and Corfu growing on the road side and waste ground

Aster
There are a number of flowers that use the word "aster" in their common names, but not as a part of their scientific names. Scientific names for species within the Aster genus include Aster dumosus (Bushy Asther), Aster patens (Late Purple Aster), Aster vimineus (Small White Aster), and Aster praealtus (Willow Aster).
Aster is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Its circumscription has been narrowed, and it now encompasses around 250 species, all but one of which are restricted to Eurasia; many species formerly in Aster are now in other genera of the tribe Astereae. Aster amellus is the type species of the genus and the family Asteraceae.
Asters are daisy-like perennials with starry-shaped flower heads that range in color from white to blue to purple. They bring delightful beauty to the garden in late summer and autumn, when many of our summer blooms may be fading. Here's how to grow asters in your garden!

The name Aster comes from the Ancient Greek word ἀστήρ (astḗr), meaning "star", referring to the shape of the flower head.
Aster meanings include love and wisdom. With a rich history in Greek mythology, it's said that the aster was created by the tears of the Greek goddess, Astraea. ... As she wept, her tears fell to the ground and turned into star-shaped aster flowers. Thus, the flower was named after her, with aster meaning star.

They are deciduous, loosing all their leaves and stems in winter.
Many species and a variety of hybrids and varieties are popular as garden plants because of their attractive and colourful flowers.

Family:   Asteraceae
Tribe:   Astereae
Genus:   Aster
L., 1753
Type species
Aster amellus

HABITAT
Aromatic aster is very adaptable as it grows in rocky and sandy soils such as those found in prairies and bluffs as well as in moist woodland habitats. Seed propagation Seeds can be collected from wild plants in late fall when the achenes (dry fruits) separate easily from the receptacle.
Growth Habit: Asters grow 1 to 6 feet tall and 1 to 4 feet wide depending on the types and variety. The plants are upright and bushy with hairy or smooth leaves and daisy-like flowers.

The genus Aster once contained nearly 600 species in Eurasia and North America, but after morphologic and molecular research on the genus during the 1990s, it was decided that the North American species are better treated in a series of other related genera. After this split there are roughly 250 species within the genus, all but one being confined to Eurasia.
The New World species have now been reclassified in the genera Almutaster, Canadanthus, Doellingeria, Eucephalus, Eurybia, Ionactis, Oligoneuron, Oreostemma, Sericocarpus and Symphyotrichum, though all are treated within the same tribe, Astereae. Regardless of the taxonomic change, most are still widely referred to as "asters", or "Michaelmas daisies", because of their typical blooming period.

Aster Symbolism & Colors
Purple asters symbolize wisdom and royalty and are the most popular color.
White asters symbolize purity and innocence.
Red asters symbolize undying devotion.
Pink asters symbolize sensitivity and love.

Aster Flower Meanings
The aster flower carries a variety of meanings, but in general, the flower mainly represents love, wisdom, and faith.
In Victorian culture, the aster represents daintiness, patience, and charm.
The aster is the official birth flower for the month of September.
When burnt, the odor emitted by the asters is known to ward off serpents.
Greek meaning "star"

In the United Kingdom, there is only one native member of the genus, Aster tripolium, the sea aster. The species formerly known as Aster linosyris (Goldilocks) is now Galatella linosyris.






Minor Toxicity: Ingestion of these plants may cause minor illnesses such as vomiting or diarrhea.



Gardens,Parks,Pots,Bedding,The roots of the plant were used in soups and young leaves were cooked lightly and used as greens.
 butterflies in particular love asters.
Eating aster plants is no longer a common practice, but it does have its place among indigenous people. Today, while the edibility of aster flowers is not in question, they are more commonly used added to tea blends, eaten fresh in salads, or used as garnish.
In pre-industrial Sweden sea asters were one of many wild species gathered for stews and soups. However, these plants were also considered fodder for livestock and may only have been gathered for human consumption during times of famine.1 Today the plant is among one of the wild plants sold by a small southern-Swedish foraging enterprise to the restaurant NOMA in Copenhagen




. The Iroquois people combined aster with bloodroot and other medicinal plants to make a laxative. The Ojibwa used an infusion of aster root topically to aid with headaches.
 treatment of pain, fevers and diarrhea.