Tues 24 July 2012 Bowser and first plant idents

Hot and dry

Watering hanging baskets with Bowser and Lucy, on round we spoke of plant ident, I have asked jim to prepare one before he on holiday to allow me time to learn.

Lucy is also willing to set a test and as a result we spoke of plants and names and families on our route around gardens. Lucy very informed.

However Jim has done the list of 10 plants


Ostrya carpinifolia (hop hornbeam) Family: Betulaceae          Vauxhall bridge rd


Broadleaf deciduous tree, that can reach up to 24 metres (79 ft). It has a conical or irregular crown and a scaly, rough bark, and alternate and double-toothed birch-like leaves 3–10 cm long.
The flowers are produced in spring, with male catkins 5–10 cm long and female catkins 2–5 cm long. The fruit form in pendulous clusters 3–8 cm long with 6–20 seeds; each seed is a small nut 2–4 mm long, fully enclosed in a bladder-like involucre.

Ostrya is derived from the Greek word 'ostrua', "bone-like", referring to this very hard wood. This stable wood was historically used to fashion plane soles.
Ostrya are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species (butterfly/moth).


Ilex aquifolium (Holly)



  


Genista lydia (Woadwaxen) Jims bed

Groundcover Broom Grey green foliage  flowers in spring

Cephalaria gigantea Grass garden? nr sensory
(Giant scabious)

210cm tall/leggy  Spread: 60cm Flowers june/july use back of large borders, Full sun, Partial shade

Persocaria amplexicaulis 'Atrosanguinea' (polygonum) Vauxhall bridge rd
(Bistort)

122 cm Large branching bushy plants, Flowers late summer and autumn.

Myrtle communis in sensory garden

H 1.5 -2.5 m x 1.5-2.5

Evergreen shrubs/small tree Aromatic, leathery ovate leaves and solitary, profuse bowl-shaped white flowers followed by fleshy, purplish-black often edible berries
Full sun

Ribes sanguinea (flowering currant) in old rose bed

120 x 120 Spring/April flowers Full sun

Parrotia persica (Persian Ironwood) in wildlife garden

Wide-spreading, often multi-stemmed deciduous tree or large shrub to 8m, with attractive flaking bark. Leaves turn yellow, red and purple in autumn. Small crimson flowers on bare twigs Spring/Winter

Phlomis russeliana
(Jerusalem sage)

Flowers late spring to early autumn Full sun, Partial shade