Walking around corfu

Started by kevin-beverly, October 03, 2018, 09:53:43 AM

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kevin-beverly



HI

This animalyou all most probably have see in Arillas i have done other wild life on this thread so a bit of history on the

Donkey

Equus asinus The domestic donkey is a hoofed mammal in the family Equidae, the same family as the horse. It derives from the African wild ass, Equus africanus, and may be classified either as a subspecies thereof, Equus africanus asinus, or as a separate species, Equus asinus. It was domesticated in Africa, probably about 5,000:   or 6,000 : years ago, and has been used mainly as a working animal since that time.
There are more than 40 million donkeys in the world, mostly in underdeveloped countries, where they are used principally as draught or pack animals. While working donkeys are often associated with those living at or below subsistence, small numbers of donkeys or asses are kept for breeding or as pets in developed countries.
A male donkey is known as a jack or jackass, a female is a jenny or jennet, and an immature donkey of either sex is a foal. Jacks are often mated with mares to produce mules; the biological reciprocal of a mule, from a stallion and jenny, is a hinny.

Scientific classificatione
Kingdom:   Animalia
Phylum:   Chordata
Class:   Mammalia
Order:   Perissodactyla
Family:   Equidae
Genus:   Equus
Species:   E. africanus
Subspecies:   E. a. asinus
Trinomial name
Equus africanus asinus

Equus is a genus of mammals in the family Equidae, which includes horses, donkeys, and zebras. Within the Equidae, Equus is the only recognized extant genus, comprising seven living species. Like Equidae more broadly, Equus has numerous extinct species known only from fossils. The genus most likely originated in North America and spread quickly to the Old World. Equines are odd-toed ungulates with slender legs, long heads, relatively long necks, manes (erect in most subspecies), and long tails. All species are herbivorous, and mostly grazers, with simpler digestive systems than ruminants but able to subsist on lower-quality vegetation.
While the domestic horse and donkey (along with their feral descendants) exist worldwide, wild equine populations are limited to Africa and Asia. Wild equine social systems are in two forms; a harem system with tight-knit groups consisting of one adult male or stallion, several females or mares, and their young or foals; and a territorial system where males establish territories with resources that attract females, which associate very fluidly. In both systems, females take care of their offspring, but males may play a role as well. Equines communicate with each other both visually and vocally. Human activities have threatened wild equine populations.

Traditionally, the scientific name for the donkey is Equus asinus asinus based on the principle of priority used for scientific names of animals. However, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature ruled in 2003 [The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) is an organization dedicated to "achieving stability and sense in the scientific naming of animals". Founded in 1895, it currently comprises 26 commissioners from 20 countries.] that if the domestic species and the wild species are considered subspecies of one another, the scientific name of the wild species has priority, even when that subspecies was described after the domestic subspecies

HISTORY
Donkeys carried Christ into Jerusalem while in Greek myth they transported Hephaistos up to Mount Olympos and Dionysos into battle against the Giants. They were probably the first animals that people ever rode, as well as the first used on a large-scale as beasts of burden. Associated with kingship and the gods in the ancient Near East, they have been (and in many places still are) a core technology for moving people and goods over both short and long distances, as well as a supplier of muscle power for threshing and grinding grain, pressing olives, raising water, ploughing fields, and pulling carts, to name just a few of the uses to which they have been put. Yet despite this, they remain one of the least studied, and most widely ignored, of all domestic animals, consigned to the margins of history like so many of those who still depend upon them. Spanning the globe and extending from the donkey's initial domestication up to the present, this book seeks to remedy this situation by using archaeological evidence, in combination with insights from history and anthropology, to resituate the donkey (and its hybrid offspring such as the mule) in the unfolding of human history, looking not just at what donkeys and mules did, but also at how people have thought about and understood them. Intended in part for university researchers and students working in the broad fields of world history, archaeology, animal history, and anthropology, but it should also interest anyone keen to learn more about one of the most widespread and important of the animals that people have domesticated.

The genus Equus, which includes all extant equines, is believed to have evolved from Dinohippus, via the intermediate form Plesippus. One of the oldest species is Equus simplicidens, described as zebra-like with a donkey-shaped head. The oldest fossil to date is ~3.5 million years old from Idaho, USA. The genus appears to have spread quickly into the Old World, with the similarly aged Equus livenzovensis documented from western Europe and Russia.
Molecular phylogenies indicate the most recent common ancestor of all modern equids (members of the genus Equus)  Direct paleogenomic sequencing of a 700,000-year-old middle Pleistocene horse metapodial bone from Canada implies a more recent 4.07 Myr before present date for the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) within the range of 4.0 to 4.5 Myr BP.The oldest divergencies are the Asian hemiones (subgenus E. (Asinus), including the kulan, onager, and kiang), followed by the African zebras (subgenera E. (Dolichohippus), and E. (Hippotigris)). All other modern forms including the domesticated horse (and many fossil Pliocene and Pleistocene forms) belong to the subgenus E. (Equus) which diverged ~4.8 (3.2–6.5) million years ago
The ancestors of the modern donkey are the Nubian and Somalian subspecies of African wild ass
Remains of domestic donkeys dating to the fourth millennium BC have been found in Ma'adi in Lower Egypt, and it is believed that the domestication of the donkey was accomplished long after the domestication of cattle, sheep and goats in the seventh and eighth millennia BC. Donkeys were probably first domesticated by pastoral people in Nubia, and they supplanted the ox as the chief pack animal of that culture. The domestication of donkeys served to increase the mobility of pastoral cultures, having the advantage over ruminants of not needing time to chew their cud, and were vital in the development of long-distance trade across Egypt. In the Dynasty IV era of Egypt, between 2675 and 2565 BC, wealthy members of society were known to own over 1,000 donkeys, employed in agriculture, as dairy and meat animals and as pack animals.
About 41 million donkeys were reported worldwide in 2006. China had the most with 11 million, followed by Pakistan, Ethiopia and Mexico. As of 2017, however, the Chinese population was reported to have dropped to 3 million, with African populations under pressure as well, due to increasing trade and demand for donkey products in China.[ Some researchers believe the actual number may be somewhat higher since many donkeys go uncounted.
WAR
During World War I John Simpson Kirkpatrick, a British stretcher bearer serving with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, and Richard Alexander "Dick" Henderson of the New Zealand Medical Corps used donkeys to rescue wounded soldiers from the battlefield at Gallipoli
According to British food writer Matthew Fort, donkeys were used in the Italian Army. The Mountain Fusiliers each had a donkey to carry their gear, and in extreme circumstances the animal could be eaten.
Donkeys have also been used to carry explosives in conflicts that include the war in Afghanistan and others.

Donkeys vary considerably in size, depending on both breed and environmental conditions, and heights at the withers range from less than 90 centimetres (35 in) to approximately 150 cm (59 in).  Working donkeys in the poorest countries have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years; in more prosperous countries, they may have a lifespan of 30 to 50 years.

Donkeys are adapted to marginal desert lands. Unlike wild and feral horses, wild donkeys in dry areas are solitary and do not form harems. Each adult donkey establishes a home range; breeding over a large area may be dominated by one jack. The loud call or bray of the donkey, which typically lasts for twenty seconds and can be heard for over three kilometres, may help keep in contact with other donkeys over the wide spaces of the desert. Donkeys have large ears, which may pick up more distant sounds, and may help cool the donkey's blood.Donkeys can defend themselves by biting, striking with the front hooves or kicking with the hind legs. Their vocalization, called a bray, is often represented in English as "hee haw".

BEHAVIOUR
Donkeys have a notorious reputation for stubbornness, but this has been attributed to a much stronger sense of self-preservation than exhibited by horses. Likely based on a stronger prey instinct and a weaker connection with humans, it is considerably more difficult to force or frighten a donkey into doing something it perceives to be dangerous for whatever reason. Once a person has earned their confidence they can be willing and companionable partners and very dependable in work.
Although formal studies of their behaviour and cognition are rather limited, donkeys appear to be quite intelligent, cautious, friendly, playful, and eager to learn.








NONE

Donkeys are versatile animals and can have many uses including for children to ride, for driving and showing, light draught work, a companion animal or simply as pets.
In rural areas, donkeys are often used in farming and as transportation: they pulls ploughs and carts, deliver goods to market, and collect water from wells. In urban areas, they are mainly used in construction, transport of people and goods, and refuse collection.
Donkeys are in fact a highly intelligent animal despite popular misconception.
Donkeys can live for over 50 years.
Donkeys are very strong and intelligent.
A donkey is stronger than a horse of the same size.
Donkeys have an incredible memory – they can recognise areas and other donkeys they were with up to 25 years ago.
Donkeys. Despite their nickname and reputation of stubbornness, donkeys are smart and effective livestock guardians. They have great eyesight and hearing to detect predators.

On Earth, there is donkey meat." The meat tastes gamey and full of flavor, more like beef than chicken or pork. Originally a northern Chinese delicacy from Hebei province, the donkey-based snack has spread to major cities across the country. There are more than 20 Fat Wang's branches in Beijing alone.
Highlights. Donkey meat showed a good amount of essential amino acids, higher compared to beef meat and similar to horse meat. Donkey meat is characterised by a content of polyunsaturated fatty acids higher compared to beef and lamb meat.

What is donkey meat called? Donkey meat is commonly eaten in China and is technically called poopy – although most people just call it donkey meat. It is said to have a full, gamey flavor that is similar to beef.

For the salami only the lean parts are used, mixed with a percentage of pork underbelly or lard. In the villages of Posina, Arsiero and Laghi, the mix is made up of 60% donkey meat macerated in red wine and 40% pork underbelly, later cured with nutmeg, pepper and cinnamon.






Eggy

Kevin
Someone asked me why you type such long posts.
I said "ee-aw ee-aw ee-aways does that"
Negg

kevin-beverly



HI

I have read that this ARACHNIDS has been sighted lots of time over Corfu

ladybird spider

Eresus sandaliatus Eresus sandaliatus is a species of spider found primarily in northern and central Europe. Like other species of the genus Eresus, it is commonly called ladybird spider because of the coloration of the male.
E. sandaliatus is one of the three species into which Eresus cinnaberinus or Eresus niger has been divided E. sandaliatus is native to Europe.

It was on the brink of extinction in the mid 1980s when a single colony of just seven individuals was left in the UK. Since then conservationists have been helping the species spread further afield.

Male E. sandaliatus are generally 6 to 9 millimetres (0.24 to 0.35 in) (a little bit smaller than other species of the E. cinnaberinus complex) and characterized by a bright orange back featuring four large and two small ebony spots. White hairs are never present on the back, and legs always lack red hairs. In contrast, the females are 10 to 16 millimetres (0.39 to 0.63 in) and jet-black.
Before they leave home, ladybird spiderlings eat their own mother!
Ladybird spiders eat insects much bigger than themselves, including beetles twice their size!
Ladybird spiders sometimes decorate their webs with the bodies of their insect prey.

HABITAT
Males enter the adult stage in early September, but overwinter in their webs and search for females only in May or June of the next year. Otherwise, this species is very similar to other species of E. cinnaberinus complex. After the 35-80 eggs hatch, the spiderlings receive a liquid from the mouth of the female. The female later seems to digest its own body, which leads to her death a few days later. The spiderlings then suck on the mother. The next spring they leave the web and build their own in close vicinity
Ladybird spiders live in north and central Europe, but they are really rare. In the UK, they are only found in Dorset, in the south-west of England. The heathland there provides the perfect habitat for them. But that also creates a problem. Lots of the UK's heathland has been destroyed over the last 100 years – most of it has been built on or turned into land for farming and forestry. As the amount of heathland has decreased, so too has the number of ladybird spiders. For much of the 20th century, people thought that ladybird spiders had died out completely in the UK. Then, in 1980, a single population of just a few spiders was found. This gave conservationists a second chance to save them from extinction
Ladybird spiders live in long, tunnel-like burrows. Females spend their whole lives in these underground homes. Males only come to the surface to search for a mate. After mating, the female lays around 50 eggs in her burrow. Once they've hatched, the baby spiderlings are looked after by their mum in a nursery web until she dies about a month later. By the next spring, they are old enough to leave home and make a burrow for themselves. But they don't go far – young spiders only move about a metre (at most) from where they were born!

Ladybird spiders aren't actually related to ladybirds; they're named after them because of the male spider's bright red, spotty body. The four big, black dots on its back are arranged in a pattern just like a four on a die! Arachnologists (people who study spiders) believe this eye-catching design is a warning to possible predators. Male ladybird spiders are mini – about the same size as a ladybird (less than 1cm long).

There are about 5,000 different species of ladybugs in the world. These much loved critters are also known as lady beetles or ladybird beetles. They come in many different colors and patterns, but the most familiar in North America is the seven-spotted ladybug, with its shiny, red-and-black body.

Are Ladybird Spiders Venomous. They may bite when threatened, which, however, is not known to cause serious effects.










kevin-beverly



HI

oxeye daisy

Leucanthemum  commonly known as the ox-eye daisy, oxeye daisy, dog daisy, marguerite (French: Marguerite commune, "common marguerite") and other common names, is a widespread flowering plant native to Southern and  Central  Europe and the temperate regions of Asia, and an introduced plant to North America, Australia and New Zealand.  is a genus of flowering plants in the aster family, Asteraceae. It is mainly distributed in southern and central Europe. Some species are known on other continents as introduced species, and some are cultivated as ornamental plants.
The name Leucanthemum derives from the Greek words λευκός – leukos ("white") and ἄνθεμον – anthemon ("flower").

climate zones this plant can grow are 1- 24

From USA

Southen Europe countries [  Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Yugoslavia ]

Central Europe countries [ Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom ]

Family:   Asteraceae
Subfamily:   Asteroideae
Tribe:   Anthemideae
Genus:   Leucanthemum

HABITAT
Siol = Chalk Clay Loma Sand grassland perennial wildflower, growing in a variety of plant communities including meadows and fields, under scrub and open-canopy forests, and in disturbed areas. Fullsun  Part shade Dry Wet Damp along the side of the road
Grows up to 1-2 ft. tall and wide and more wide


Leucanthemum species are perennial plants growing from red-tipped rhizomes. The plant produces one erect stem usually reaching 40 to 130 centimeters tall, but known to exceed 2 meters at times. It is branching or unbranched and hairy to hairless. Some species have mainly basal leaves, and some have leaves along the stem, as well. Some leaves are borne on petioles, and others are sessile, attached to the stem at their bases. They vary in shape, and some are lobed or toothed.
The flower head is solitary, paired, or in a group of three on the stem. The base of the head is layered with up to 60 or more rough-edged phyllaries. The Leucanthemum head has about 13 to 34 ray florets of various widths, occasionally more, and rarely none. The ray florets are always white but fade pink with age. The head has over 100 yellow disc florets at the center. The fruit is a ribbed, hairless cypsela

Here's a weed for you fringe foodies.  Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare).  The unopened flower heads of oxeye daisies, when marinated, can be used in a similar manner to capers.  Also the young leaves can be used in salads but they are quite bitter so I am not rushing out to harvest any oxeye to replace my iceberg lettuce.

If you are grazing sheep then don't worry about this weed as sheep will happily eat it, as will goats and horses.  Cows and pigs don't like the bitter taste, though, and beef or dairy farmers can lose a lot of valuable pasture if this beast gets established, so for you, this weed needs to go.

The Scots used to call this weed "gools" and back in medieval times the wheat farmer with the most "gools" in their fields had to pay an extra tax.  (Pssst - don't tell the IRD they might get ideas.)


HISTORY
Daisy originated from the Old English meaning, dægesege, from dæges eage meaning "day's eye" because the flower opens and closes based on sunlight exposure.

Throughout history the Daisy has been associated with many goddesses, Freya and Ostara (Germanic) as well as the Greek goddess Aphrodite. The most notable story is from Roman Mythology and a nymph named Belides. She transformed into a daisy to escape from a Roman god. The latin name for the English Daisy, Bellis, originated from that story.
During the Victorian era, maidens pining for a lost love would pluck a daisy's petal one by one and chant, "he loves me, he loves me not," for each petal removed. The last petal predicted the outcome. Maidens were also known to blindly pick a handful of daisies to determine when she would marry. Upon opening her eyes, the number of blossoms in her hand foretold the number of years remained until her wedding date.
The daisy family, Compositae, was classified by a German Botanist, Paul Dietrich Giseke, in 1792.






NONE    Bear in mind that all leucanthemums can be toxic to dogs and cats if ingested, but symptoms are usually mild.

Parks Landscape Gardens Shasta and oxeye daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum and Leucanthemum vulgare) are also edible, but should be used in moderation because of their strong, distinctive flavor.
The tiny flower buds and petals can be eaten in salads and sandwiches. oxeye daisy tea


The plant has been employed successfully in the treatment of whooping cough, asthma and nervous excitability
Some people apply ox-eye daisy directly to the skin for pain and swelling (inflammation), wounds, and burns.
Ox-eye daisy is used for the common cold, cough, bronchitis, fever, sore mouth and throat, liver and gallbladder complaints, loss of appetite, muscle spasms, fluid retention, and tendency toward infection. It is also used as a tonic.













kevin-beverly



Hi

This post is about Male And Female Flowers most of you think why do i need to know If you got a fruit tree in you garden and will not fruit I will try to explain


                                                        Male And Female Flowers


A Hermaphrodite plant has flowers that contain both male and female parts

The flowering plants which show hermaphroditism are known as hermaphrodite flowers. They are also known as perfect or bisexual flowers. Common examples of hermaphroditic flowers are roses, lilies, mangoes, daffodil, petunia, Mango, Sunflower, Linden, Horse Chestnut, etc. These plants can undergo self-pollination, and are not dependent on pollinators.

A Monoecious plant has male flowers and female flowers, both of which are found on the same plant.

A monoecious plant is one that has male and female flowers on the same plant, or that has flowers on every plant that contain both male and female reproductive components. A dioecious plant has either male or female flowers, not both.
With monoecious species, each plant has some flowers with stamens and some flowers with pistils.

Cucurbit, Chara and Coconut.
English Oak (Quercus robur)
Hazel (Corrylus avellana)
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
Pine, Spruce, Corn, and Squashes.



A Dioecious plant has male flowers and female flowers, with only flowers of the same sex being found on any individual plant.

If the plant is dioecious, the male and female blossoms appear on separate plants. If the plant is monoecious, each plant has both male and female flowers. By contrast, some plants have blooms that are bisexual. Each bloom has both male and female parts
When the plants are dioecious, you must have at least one corresponding male plant growing in or around your landscaping for the fruit-bearing female plants to be pollinated. For example, holly shrubs (Ilex) are dioecious plants. To get good berry production from a 'Blue Princess' holly shrub, you need to supply a male cultivar to do the pollinating.
This naturally raises the question of how to tell the genders apart. Quality garden centers clearly label their dioecious plants so you know whether you're buying a female or a male cultivar. However, you can learn to tell a male holly apart from a female holly (or any other dioecious plant) on your own. Look for stamens, usually loaded with pollen, that indicate a male plant.

well-known Dioecious plants include- Spinach, Juniper bushes, Sago, Mulberry, Ginkgo, Mistletoe, Papaya, Yam, Holly, Cloudberry, Asparagus, Hemp, Hop, Willow, Kiwifruit, Poplar, Currant Bushes,










An easy way to remember the meanings of dioecious and monoecious is to look to the Greek prefixes di, which means two, and mono, which means one. With dioecious species, each plant is either a male or female member. Some plants of the species have only male reproductive organs, or stamens, while other plants of the species have only female reproductive parts or pistils.

With monoecious species, each plant has some flowers with stamens and some flowers with pistils.


Go and have a cupper tea now just think i had to learn all this and a load more with Dyslexia

kevin-beverly



HI

You holiday makers walking around and you see a Bougainvillea and say look at those lovely flowers. Flowers YES/NO

                                 Learn About Plant Bracts: What Is A Bract On A Plant

All Plants are simple, right? If it's green it's a leaf, and if it's not green it's a flower... right? Not really. There's another part of the plant, somewhere between a leaf and a flower, which you don't hear too much about. It's called a bract, and while you may not know the name, you've definitely seen it.
What is a bract on a plant? The simple answer is that it's the part that's found above the leaves but below the flower. What does it look like?

In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are often (but not always) different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture. Typically, they also look different from the parts of the flower, such as the petals or sepals. A plant having bracts is referred to as bracteate or bracteolate, while one that lacks them is referred to as ebracteate and ebracteolate, without bracts.
Some bracts are brightly-coloured and serve the function of attracting pollinators, either together with the perianth or instead of it. Examples of this type of bract include those of Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia) and Bougainvillea: both of these have large colourful bracts surrounding much smaller, less colourful flowers.

Why do flowers have bracts?
Bracts are specialized plant structures that serve varied functions such as attracting pollinators and protecting inflorescences or flower structures.

Although you'll notice the colorful parts of a bougainvillea plant first, its true flowers are tiny and inconspicuous. Considered a "perfect" flower in botanical terms, the flower contains both the male sexual structure, or stamen, and the female sexual structure, or pistil.

Bougainvillea flowers are trumpet-shaped, white or yellow-white, waxy and less than 1 inch long. They typically develop in a triangularly arranged group of three flowers on a single short stem. Two of these three flowers usually open at the same time, with the third opening slightly later.

Dogwood, hibiscus, poinsettia, and bougainvillea are common examples of bracts looking like flowers. Occasionally, you may see an epicalyx formation in strawberry flowers. The whorl of short green leaves that surround the base of many flowers, such as sunflowers, is made up of bracts.

In grasses, each floret (flower) is enclosed in a pair of papery bracts, called the lemma (lower bract) and palea (upper bract), while each spikelet (group of florets) has a further pair of bracts at its base called glumes. These bracts form the chaff removed from cereal grain during threshing and winnowing.









kevin-beverly



HI

You can see this plant at The Kassiopia Estate or growing wild

BeeBlossoms

Gaura

Other common names are  'Whirling Butterfly' Wandflower, Gaura is a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, native to North America. The genus includes many species  Recent genetic research has shown that the genus is paraphyletic unless the monotypic genus Stenosiphon is included within Gaura, increasing the number of species in the genus to 22.
They are annual, biennial or perennial herbaceous plants; most are perennials with sturdy rhizomes, often forming dense thickets, crowding or shading out other plant species. They have a basal rosette of leaves, with erect or spreading flowering stems up to 2 m (rarely more) tall, leafy on the lower stem, branched and leafless on the upper stem. The flowers have four (rarely three) petals; they are zygomorphic, with all the petals directed somewhat upwards. The fruit is an indehiscent nut-like body containing reddish-brown seeds. It reproduces via seeds and also by rhizome growth.

Family:   Onagraceae
Subfamily:   Onagroideae
Tribe:   Onagreae
Genus:   Gaura
L.
Species

Several species of Gaura are regarded as noxious weeds, especially in disturbed or overgrazed areas where it easily takes hold. They can become a nuisance in situations involving disturbed habitat, such as trampled rangeland and clearings. Efforts to control Gaura focus mainly on prevention of misuse of land. There is no biological control method for plants of genus Gaura, and removing existing infestations is difficult, due in large part to the plants' ability to reproduce from bits of rhizome left in the ground.
Despite the poor reputation of plants of this genus, some species are cultivated as garden plants, such as G. lindheimeri (White Gaura).
Gaura growing info says the wildflower was left in its natural, wild form until the 1980's when breeders developed the cultivar 'Siskiyou Pink.' Several hybrids have since been developed to keep the cultivar under control and make it suitable for the flower bed.

HABITAT
Habitats include mesic prairies, meadows in wooded areas, limestone glades, abandoned fields, gravelly banks along rivers, roadside embankments, areas along railroads, and waste areas. Biennial Gaura prefers disturbed areas where there is reduced competition from other plants, although it is occasionally found in higher quality habitats.
Position: Full sun hot Flowering period: Late spring to early autumn Soil: Moist, well drained

The flowers are cross-pollinated by long-tongued bees (especially bumblebees) and nectar-seeking moths, including the Northern Corn Earworm Moth (Heliothis zea). Other insects feed destructively on the foliage, flowers, developing seed capsules, and plant sap of Biennial Gaura. Insects in this latter group include aphids (Macrosiphum gaurae, Macrosiphum pseudorosae), leaf-mining larvae of a Momphid moth (Mompha argentimaculella), gall-forming larvae of a a Momphid moth (Mompha rufocristatella), and larvae of the Primrose Moth (Schinia florida) and Gaura Moth (Schinia gaura). Larvae of the latter two moths feed on the flowers and developing seed capsules. The adults of these two moths often hide near the flowers of Biennial Gaura during the day; they are well-camouflaged because of their pinkish or reddish colors. This plant's relationships with vertebrate animals is currently unavailable.







NONE


Gardens, Parks, Landscape, pots, tubs, Excellent for wildlife. Attracts Bees, Butterflies and Ladybirds. Excellent Cut Flower. Gaura are brilliant plants for beginners because they are very easy to grow and super productive giving you an excellent show in the garden and masses of flowers for picking. Use them as a border, a low privacy hedge,



Among the Zuni people, fresh or dried root would be chewed by medicine man before sucking snakebite and poultice applied to wound.Camazine, Scott and Robert A. Bye 1980 A Study Of The Medical Ethnobotany Of The Zuni Indians of New Mexico. Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Other medicinal uses that are assigned to this species are: to wash wounds, against gastritis and snake bite.
Its use is common in bruises, on which fomentations are applied with the cooking of the whole plant. To heal internal blows,



kevin-beverly



Hi

last year I was sitting in the Tria looking in to the distance thicket of trees I shall go and have a look.
So picked my camera up and off I went oh and a large bottle of water did I need that
The trees,plants,wildlife, so quite just the birds tweeting the odd clumps of grass rustling something running off
A cicada makes a clicking noise  the sun dappled through the leaves of the tree canopy

The route I took is the yellow line
You can go further on I turned back
Bit hard going up hill well  shaded

I shall have a look this year for another route




kevin-beverly



HI

You have most probably seen this plant Arillas and think it is a weed

artichoke thistle

Cynara cardunculus The cardoon, Cynara cardunculus,  is a thistle in the family Asteraceae. It is a naturally occurring species that also has many cultivated forms, including the globe artichoke. It is native to the western and central Mediterranean region, where it was domesticated in ancient times and still occurs as a wild plant.
The wild cardoon is a stout herbaceous perennial plant growing 0.8 to 1.5 m tall, with deeply lobed and heavily spined green to grey-green tomentose (hairy or downy) leaves up to 50 cm  long,  with yellow spines up to 3.5 cm long. The flowers are violet-purple, produced in a large, globose, massively spined capitulum up to 6 cm in diameter
It is adapted to dry climates, native across a circum-Mediterranea area from Morocco Tunisia, Cyprus and Turkey and Portugal east to Libya and Greece and north to Croatia and Southern France it may also be native on Cyprus, the Canary Islands and Madeira
In France, the frost-tender cardoon only occurs wild in the Mediterranean south  It has become an invasive weed in the pampas of Argentina, and is also considered a weed in Australia and California.

Family:   Asteraceae
Genus:   Cynara
Species:   C. cardunculus
Binomial name
Cynara cardunculus

HABITAT
It is well adapted to Mediterranean regions and occurs in disturbed areas, pastures or rangelands, and undisturbed habitats such as riparian woodlands, grasslands, coastal scrub and, chaparral habitats  it has the propagation of the seeds through the wind escapes from developing in growing areas as long as it has been propagated by the wind or by human intervention.
And it is that it has so much depth in the roots that allows you to find water and even fertilizers
pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral Full sun Shelter from winds

It is a type of perennial and lively plant that has a fairly deep tuberous and pivoting root system. This allows it to be able to adapt to different temperature and drought conditions. This root system is composed of several roots that are main and that originate from the initial root. The main root can reach up to seven meters in altitude. From these main roots there are other secondary ones that develop horizontally at different depths. They begin to emerge when the plant begins to develop at altitude and in the following years the replacement buds emerge from the periphery of the root.

HISTORY
The artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) has a history going back three thousand years and carries on its thick, green leaves many myths from ancient Greece. In ancient Greece, it was considered food for the Gods of Olympus while in ancient Rome, it was intended only for the palates of aristocrats
It is a plant that was already known to Greeks and Romans and aphrodisiac powers were granted. This plant is known by some common names such as wild artichoke, artichokes, artichoke thistle, reef thistle, rennet herb, bone thistle, milk thistle, among others.
In the Middle Ages, the artichoke was viewed as a rare, exotic delicacy and was available exclusively in the palaces of kings.
Zeus and the artichoke
According to Greek mythology, the first artichoke was actually a beautiful, young mortal woman named Kynara, who lived on an Aegean island.
One day, Zeus visited Poseidon's brother and suddenly saw Kynara swimming in the blue waters off the island's beaches. He immediately fell in love with her and made her a goddess to be seated next to him on Mount Olympus.
However, Kynara felt homesick for her old way of life and she would often secretly leave the heights of Mount Olympus to go down to her island to swim.
When Zeus discovered this, blinded by jealousy and the feeling of betrayal, he turned Kynara into a plant.









NONE

While the flower buds can be eaten much as small (and spiny) artichokes, more often the stems are eaten after being braised in cooking liquid. Cardoon stems are part of Lyonnaise cuisine
Culinary recipes  used as a vegetarian source  of enzymes for cheese production. In Portugal, traditional coagulation of the curd relies entirely on this vegetable rennet. This results in cheeses such as the Serra da Estrela and Nisa.

The cardoon is also grown as an ornamental plant for its imposing architectural appearance, with very bright silvery-grey foliage and large flowers in selected cultivars.
Cardoon has attracted recent attention as a possible source of biodiesel fuel. The oil, extracted from the seeds of the cardoon, and called artichoke oil, is similar to safflower and sunflower oil in composition and use. Cardoon is the feedstock for the first biorefinery in the world converting the installations of a petrochemical plant in Porto Torres, Sardinia, providing biomass and oils for the building blocks of bioplastics.



They are used internally in the treatment of chronic liver and gall bladder diseases, jaundice, hepatitis, arteriosclerosis and the early stages of late-onset diabetes. The leaves are best harvested just before the plant flowers, and can be used fresh or dried.
blood pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Studies have found that artichoke leaf extract helped regulate blood pressure in people with mildly high BP.
Although studies remain in the early stages, this improvement in blood pressure is most likely due to the high potassium content.
liver function
Studies have shown beneficial effects of artichokes on liver health. Artichoke leaf extract possibly protects the liver from damage and even allows for the growth of new tissues.
It also increases bile production, which helps remove harmful toxins and possibly helps improve liver function in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
digestive function
The large amount of fiber contained in artichokes aids in the maintenance of a healthy digestive system. Artichokes contain inulin, a type of fiber that acts as a prebiotic.
Maintaining a good gut microflora reduces the risk of certain bowel cancers and symptoms of constipation or diarrhea.
In one study, twelve adults showed an improvement in gut bacteria when they consumed an artichoke extract containing inulin every day for three weeks.
Potential anti-cancer protection
Certain antioxidants (rutin, quercetin, silymarin, and gallic acid) in artichokes are thought to be responsible for anti-cancer effects.
For example, silymarin has been found to help prevent and treat skin cancer in animal studies. Despite promising results, there are still no studies on humans and more research is needed.
Cynarin in artichokes enhances taste of other foods
A remarkable phenomenon observed following artichoke consumption is the feeling of a sweet taste in other foods—even in water—consumed at the same time.
This is due to the presence of cynarin contained in the artichoke, which seems to affect the sweet taste sensors present in the taste buds.
This means that a meal with artichokes is likely to alter the taste of other items consumed at the same time, such as salad, wine, or even meat.









kevin-beverly


HI

                                                             WEED KILLERS

If some of you are wondering you go to your local garden center to buy a weed killer.
WHAT that price yes GLYPHOSATE has hit the roof OH Glyphosate is a active ingredient in weed killers.

Supply has struggled to keep up with demand and manufacturers have blamed a number of factors, including transport and logistics problems, and the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, on-farm prices of branded and generic glyphosate products have soared by 70-100% since the start of the year, say analysts.

Why is there a glyphosate shortage?
But one important ingredient to a successful yield is missing from many farmers' stores this year. Two of the most ubiquitous herbicides, glyphosate and glufosinate, are in short supply. In May 2021, pandemic-related supply chain issues caused a shortage of these chemicals, which in turn caused prices to spike.

Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides with applications in agriculture, forestry, industrial weed control, lawn, garden, and aquatic environments. Sites with the largest glyphosate use include soybeans, field corn, pasture and hay.

I use glyphosate in my work Back in 2020 i brought 5 x 5Lts just over hundred pounds now if i brought the same now will cost three hundred pounds
One of my job is is spraying customer driveways once a month a one of payment for the year so they get a free weed driveway

Now next year i have to tell my customers the price is to go up THEN THEY THINK I AM GETTING GREEDY

THAT IS THE REASON THE WEED KILLER HAS GONE UP

jUST SOME WEED KILLERS

ROUNDUP PRO ACTIVE 360  SUPER STRONG INDUSTRIAL WEED KILLER
GALLUP BIOGRADE 360  VERY STRONG PROFESSIONAL GLYPHOSATE HERBICIDE Weedkiller [ i use ]
Rosate 360 TF Glyphosate Weed Killer
ROTBLAST
DOFF
ROOT KILLER

Tria ia waiting for me to do some work


Eggy

Kevin
I use Round Up Gold here. - a 5lt tub which mixes to a strong 100ltrs costs abouut e60.
Negg

kevin-beverly



HI

When you are on Corfu it doesn't matter where you are you will see men in one hand fidgeting beads back and forwards
These are called Worry beads  or komboloi, kompoloi (Greek: κομπολόι, κομπολόγια) is a string of beads manipulated with one or two hands and used to pass time in Greek and Cypriot culture. In modern times the komboloi are often not only designed for religious or ceremonial purposes but also for fun and relaxation.

The beads have long made their way out of the mosques and churches in the region and have become a companion of men.
In Iraq they are called Subha or Mala'aba, Tasbih in Turkey, and Komboli in Greece. They can be found in almost every culture and religion are well-known all around the world. Catholic rosaries, the prayer rope of Orthodox churches, Mt. Carmel monk's rosary, Irish marble worry stones, Buddhist, or Tibetan prayer beads (malas) are all examples of their use.
It is quite amazing how a string of beads can carry centuries of stories and bond people together culturally.

How many beads are in a komboloi?
The standard number of beads of a komboloi is 33 which some people believe signifies the number of years Jesus lived on earth. Others maintain that the number corresponds to the first knotted string for prayer associated with the monk Pahomiou (whom we will encounter again in due course).

What are komboloi made of?
Historically the komboloi was associated with prayer. The Hindus were the first to string beads together and use them for counting prayers which they called mala. The beads were made from the seeds of a tree that, according to tradition, only grew in Java.
Everyone can buy or design a Komboloi that corresponds to their unique personalities. You can make beautifully crafted, authentic Komboloi using natural authentic amber, naturally derived crystals, natural materials and noble silver or gold metals.

A bit more History
Since ancient times, worry beads have been associated with spiritual ideas, both religious and magical. Some recorded historical evidence indicates that the idea of the beads began with the Sumerians 5,000 years ago and then moved to other civilizations.
One of the oldest stones and materials used by humans has been found in tombs dating back more than 20,000 years and contained grains of ivory, oysters, and various bones. Excavations of the first human civilizations that arose in Mesopotamia and the Nile Valley revealed the use of various stones for religious and worldly purposes, and for this reason the beads were taken in prehistoric times as an ornament, and amulet.
In Phoenician antiquities there is evidence of their use in barter and commercial transactions. The idea of the Christian rosary, then, is a natural and inevitable evolution from the idea of the necklace.
The historical evidence indicates that the religious rosary appeared for the first time in India at the beginning of the fifth century BC, and those sources claim that the God (Brahma) was carrying a rosary/worry beads with his right hand, as it appeared clearly in the drawings that were found.
Some history books state that the priests of China were the first to invent the rosary, and one of the accounts reported that a Greek monk named Father Wes de Ruby was the first ever to use the rosary.
Worry beads are commonly believed to have first been used on Mount Athos in northern Greece during medieval times, where strands of beads made of woolen knots were tied on a string and used as an aid to recount prayers.

Although these beads were typically used solely by men in the past, they have since transitioned into an object that is utilized by both men and women.

There are different ways to use Greek komboloi
worry beads. Some people hold the beads and allow the beads to fall and hit the larger bead. Once all the beads are on one end, they flip the beads and allow them to fall to the other side.

One method of using the beads is called the loud method. Hold some of the beads and the largest bead in your palm with the cord placed between the index and middle fingers. Allow the rest of the beads to fall on the other side of the fingers holding the cord of worry beads. Then, flip the beads that are outside the hand over the top of the index finger so that they hit the beads held in the palm of the hand. Flip the moving beads outside the hand again and repeat.

Some people simply hold the beads in their palm and roll the beads together. This creates a soft sound similar to clicking. Others consider using worry beads a skill and practice manipulating and swinging the beads in a pattern. They practice to improve the speed at which they can move the beads. However the Greek komboloi worry beads are used, they can be a helpful tool to distract the mind from stress and worry.

Nafplion Komboloi Museum https://www.komboloi.gr/













kevin-beverly


kevin-beverly


Eggy

Kevin
Here's one for you.
.


Hope you and Bev have recovered form your journey over and are now raring to go?
Negg