Mystery tree?

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 5:07 pm

Gerry's message bought fond memorie back of my late ma...
like yours Gerry mu Mum loved Wallflowers and their sweet perfume...but her absolute favourite were Anenomes..and when I was little always bought them for her for Mothering Sunday

Hey Lesley...Gerrys also reminded me of search for your other mystery tree..will have to go on its track!

If you like Rhododendrons by the score..visit Lake Ullswater in lake district..we lived near there for 6 months..and they were all in gardens..every var. & colour.along there..absolutely gorgeous

Your garden sounds lovely Lesley! Mines gradually turning into a small orchard with all the fruit trees....and I have a wooded corner(very small) with my lovely silver birch planted about 3 years ago...I hide away there..and watch the birds......really fascinating

Whats your garden like in Ireland/Armacao de Pera(d'you have one there?) Gerry?
P.S anyone watching Bill Oddies wildlife prog. each night on BBC2 at 8?
Great stuff!

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 5:42 pm

Hi Ellie, Garden is about 3/4 acre, We have an orchard with 12 apple trees, cookers and eaters, two pear trees which are loaded this year. I have one victoria plum tree which is covered in plumbs, so many this year that I have had to prop up the two heaviest branches.
The main part of the garden in very low maintance, lawns, few beds but a couple of years ago we dug up one of the flower beds near the house and put a 12' round pond in, we put stone slabs around that and then decking so we have a lovely area to sit out in, flowering cherry next to some very large fir trees screen it off from the rest of the garden, so it is a great place to bar-b-que. The pond is great but we can't seem to stop the fish from multiplying, we started out with eight and now have over 130!!
Also have a greenhouse which has cucumbers, melons, tomatoes, peppers, and herbs and salad leaves growing. this is a new venture for me as we only got the greenhouse last year.
Gerry has the weather been as good in Ireland as here in England?

Gerry Cullen · Post by **Gerry Cullen** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 11:43 pm

Yea the weather is out of this world here ,was pruning a big laural tree with a chainsaw and got abelt of a branch ...result 14 stitches in the head and a bit of a shock so if the posts are a bit erratic so be it ....your gardens sound sooooo ........under control ..jaysus mine is about 2 acres with woods at the back and a valley infront ....grass to the waist...and a sunken bath with two gold fish......i need some goats

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 11:00 am

Hi Gerry, sorry to hear of your accident, hope you are making a speedy recovery, where was your hard hat??

I know what you mean about the grass, I have a two acre field and this year I only have one horse at home, he just can't eat it quick enough so now he stands knee deep in grass and buttercups, when he lays down you can't see him, and he is 16.1hh (in plain terms - big) ex-racehorse. The whole place takes some looking after, but as I now am at home, the girls having flown the nest, and a hubby who's job takes him all over the place I do have time to do it, but it sure keeps you busy.

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 12:58 pm

Yeah wish you better Gerry!

Sounds a nasty accident.....gardenings a hazardous business at times!!
Dont I know it! couple months ago almost took top of my finger off with secateurs.....fingers were frozen so didnt know till I saw blood dripping everywhere

And Lesleys right about wearing protection....I wasn't wearing any gloves!
Say you 2 land owners!!..you make my small patch of just about 70 + 70ft seem 'pocket hankie' size

Lesley ..your tree on way to Benagil..wouldnt be a Eucalyptus (Red flowering gum) ...that can be 25 ft or so..
or an Erythrina crista-galli.....but this is small about 13ft..has scarlet flowers at end of branches?
Cant be pomegranate..gorgeous brilliant red flowers..but these are in early summer..although saw some flowers still on the end of last September (along with the fruit)..in Lagoa park.They go to about 16 ft..but foliage dont sound right

P.S. Goats a good idea Gerry..but dont leave your 'smalls' out' ..they eat anything/everything

e-llen · Post by **e-llen** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 1:22 pm

Hi Gerry, hope you are feeling better, - sorry to hear of your nasty accident - bet you had a bit of a headache.

Can any of you tree experts tell me the name of the tree that does well here in the Algarve. It grows tall and has large, cream, bell shaped flowers that have a delicate perfume, it is actually flowering now

Yes Ellie I am watching the wild life programme with Bill Oddie, it is absolutely fascinating

Gerry Cullen · Post by **Gerry Cullen** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 2:30 pm

Sorry to butt in here but have just found gaint hogweed in the garden,,i dont know if you get it in england but its only come into its own in the last couple of years over here...big tall weed with white flowers(5 6ft )ok till you snap the stem ...the juice inside will burn like acid and leave scars sometimes found near water..this stuff really is lethal and its just the right height for a childs face...take care

tricky · Post by **tricky** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 2:33 pm

Get better soon Gerry

Trickyx

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 4:05 pm

Hi Gerry, keep well away from the hogweed, yes we do get it in England and it is nasty stuff, as you say the sap is lethal, we get it alot in the hedgerows. Not nice!!

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 5:23 pm

Ellen..I was thinking of 'Brugmansia'...but this is more shrub .grows to 12 ft or so....but flowers are sort of trumpet shape...has a sweet fragrance

Good warning from Lesley & Gerry on Giant Hogweed...distinguishable from the ordinary one(Heracleum sphondyllum) by its huge stems over 5 metres in length

The smaller one is okay....you can eat the leaves..
and kids can make 'pea shooters ' from these stems
But the giant one ought to carry health warning

GET RID!

e-llen · Post by **e-llen** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 6:11 pm

Hi Ellie thank you for the info, looked it up on internet and you are absolutely right, it is brugmansia. It is a beautiful shrub (not tree

)
with spectacular flowers

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 5:26 pm

Youre welcome Ellen...only glad I got it right!

I had lovely ride in the Wolds this afternoon...absolutely glorious....perfect weather..sunshine some cloud but lovely breeze.....and Elder flower everywhere..the flowers taking over from Hawthorn.
Ive got 3 big Elders in back garden...its said that....if you sit under these trees (while in blossom)for some time..you can actually 'go on a trip' ?

......havent tried it ....and dont know whether to....to prove the point

wonder if its true ?8)

Lesley/..Im still trying to find out your mystery tree on way to Benagil(with the dark red flowers)
Dont suppose you know of it Ellen?

digger · Post by **digger** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 9:26 pm

…..ooooh arrrrr

…..when I were a lad…..two cups of the elderberry juice ‘n I be anybodies……

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 11:45 am

Digger, don't remind me, I made Elderberry wine one year and it was Soooooo strong one bottle betwen three of use and we were legless!!

Elle, I can't really give you much more info on this tree till I go and look at it again, I know exactly where it is, but trying to recollect anything else about it is proving difficult. ( and it is not because of the wine!!)
My father-in-law used to make Elderflower 'champagne' which was really nice and refreshing, but alcholic!
My Mum used to make gingerbeer when we were kids and we used to drink it like lemonade, then my grandfather who was an analytical chemist tested it and found it to be 12o/o proof, no wonder I had a great childhood!!!

Don't think the tree is a Eucalyptus, wrong leaves, I have no idea what a Erythrina crista-galli is! to latin for me hehe

Lovely day here in Somerset again, we are going to be making hay this weekend, oh the joys of country living.

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 3:59 pm

Hey Gerry how is the head? hope you are taking it easy for a while.

Mystery tree?

Mystery Tree

Mystery Tree