Puzzles

[Brian Ellis]

Excellent detective work Mark, you are working overtime   As it is listed on Plant world's site as "Collected on our 1994 Chile Expedition" I would have thought that it was a species and perhaps the apellation 'Sea Foam' is more of a generic name, like 'Bottle Brush' - I can't see it being collected by them as a cultivar.

[Ragged Robin]

Chief Detective McMark thanks for solving this puzzle, for which I hadn't a clue, and presenting the evidence so clearly.  I wonder could it be because I have no use for shaving brushes, being a shrub of the female variety?   

I'm off the the Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery you suggested to brush up on my Alpines as one of them is puzzling me - it is a fantastic place to find information 

[Brian Ellis]

Mark I have just had this reply from Ray Brown:

"The baccharis I collected was unidentified, hence the silly name I applied to it.  There are lots of weedy ones but this is a bit more interesting as there are male and female plants to get seeds I think and only one is really attractive!  My bush is 15 year old now and still going at 3 ft high!"

[Stephenb]

Wasn't sure where to put this - Northern Hemisphere 2010 and Cook's Corner were other candidates as it a) shows what's flowering in my garden now and b) a recipe may well follow.

A little salad I put together at the weekend in connection with an internet gardening forum meet here in Trondheim at the weekend. Name 10 species in this picture and how many are there altogether in the salad?

[TheOnionMan]

Mark I have just had this reply from Ray Brown:

"The baccharis I collected was unidentified, hence the silly name I applied to it.  There are lots of weedy ones but this is a bit more interesting as there are male and female plants to get seeds I think and only one is really attractive!  My bush is 15 year old now and still going at 3 ft high!"

Thanks Brian for the follow-up info, that explains the mystery.  Unfortunately with the name given; 'Sea Foam', it is in duplicate with the unrelated North American Baccharis pilularis ‘Sea Foam’, thus some confusion.  Incidentally, when googling just the name 'Sea Foam' or 'Seafoam', it is really surprising just how many different genera and plant varieties have been given that name, no doubt many plants in flower conjuring images of foamy breaking surf

[Lvandelft]

A little salad I put together at the weekend in connection with an internet gardening forum meet here in Trondheim at the weekend. Name 10 species in this picture and how many are there altogether in the salad?

Stephen, this salad looks wonderful!
I'll give it a try for a start:
Allium, Zinnia, Tropaeolum, Campanula, Borago, Solanum, Salvia, Hosta, Sedum, Hemerocallis, Potentilla, Malva, Chelidonium, Calendula, Fragaria, Brassica? and I believe seeing Zea. and beans.
There are more known plants but cannot remember names at the moment.

[Armin]

Luit,
a very good proposal for Stephens mixed salad. I add Rubus (Raspberry / Cloudberry) and Vaccinium (Blueberry).
My guess 22 different species.

[Stephenb]

Between you, you have exactly 11 correct genera and Luit got exactly 10 correct first time, well done! ( I suppose I can't expect correct names at the species level 

The correct ones are:

Allium - there are 11 species
Borago - 1 species
Brassica - 2 species
Calendula - 1 species
Hemerocallis - 3 species (citrina, altissima and fulva)
Hosta - 2 species (sieboldiana and montana)
Malva- 3 species
Phaseolus (beans) - 2 species (vulgaris and coccineus)
Rubus - 5 species (berries)
Solanum - 1 (tuberosum - cultivar Blue Congo)
Tropaeolum (2 species - majus and tuberosum)

Altogether there are flowers of 28 species to be seen....

I'll reveal the complete species list tomorrow (maybe) - feel free to suggest others and no. of species in the meantime 

[Anthony Darby]

I've been given a book to read by a colleague. It is called "Glasgow Dreamer" by Ivor Cutler (I reckon he's a cousin on the Rev. I. M. Jolly ). The dedication inside the book reads: "To vowels, the lubrication that stops consonants from sticking together like boiled sweeties in a paper bag*

* example in Czech of what happens if you don't use them: strč prstskrz krk. (Trans: Stick the finger through the neck.)"

How do you pronounce "strč prstskrz krk"?

[David Nicholson]

I've been given a book to read by a colleague. It is called "Glasgow Dreamer" by Ivor Cutler (I reckon he's a cousin on the Rev. I. M. Jolly ). The dedication inside the book reads: "To vowels, the lubrication that stops consonants from sticking together like boiled sweeties in a paper bag*

* example in Czech of what happens if you don't use them: strč prstskrz krk. (Trans: Stick the finger through the neck.)"

How do you pronounce "strč prstskrz krk"?

Ivor Cuttler is one of my all time favourites.

[Stephenb]

Me too - Ivor should be a national treasure "down there" - Life in a Scotch Sitting Room, Volume 2 essential listening. Remember listening to his sessions on the John Peel show in the early 70s. Never fails to bring a smile to my face....   

[ranunculus]

... Of the same ilk and stature as the magnificent Chic Murray ...

[David Nicholson]

... Of the same ilk and stature as the magnificent Chic Murray ...

agreed, another favourite of mine. Why are the Scots so good at whimsy?

[ranunculus]

... Of the same ilk and stature as the magnificent Chic Murray ...

Why are the Scots so good at whimsy?

Peter's quite good as well!   

[Martinr]

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Peter's quite good as well!   
[/quote]

Oh Lord!