YES!!! The "I'm So Happy!" thread - 2011

[Anthony Darby]

I'm quite into aristolochias and one I grew quite well was A. clematitis. I passed one on to a neighbour, but said person didn't acknowledge receiving, far less thank me for it and I didn't ask. My interest stems from the butterflies that use it as foodplants. A. clematitis is the foodplant for the European festoons (Zerynthia spp.). My favourite butterflies, the birdwings, feed on tropical Aristolochia vines like A. tagala, foodlplant of the Cairn's birdwing (Ornithoptera priamus euphorion). Many species of these tropical Aristolochia vines are named after the butterfly that feeds on them. My ambition is to visit Popondetta in PNG to see the world's largest birdwing: Queen Alexandra's birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae), which feeds on Pararistolochia alexandriana. The butterfly is a Cites Appendix 1 species so cannot be collected alive or dead. This may or may not be a good thing as farming other rare species has raised their profile and they are now much commoner than 20 years ago. Make them worthless to the local economy and they will be ignored or worse. A way of getting a beautiful specimen is here:  http://www.butterflyreplicas.com/ A friend has offered to fund a trip to PNG, so here's hoping?

[Lesley Cox]

If you'd like to try A. longa Anthony, I'll have some fresh seed in about a month. The flowers are like little green meerkats and it scrambles over anything handy, a shrubby salvia, in my case.

[Anthony Darby]

I'd love to Lesley. I have a tropical one when I used my next door neighbour's greenhouse in the early 70s. It had a huge flower, but when it opened the smell was rather like that of a long dead sheep and some! You couldn't go into the place for days! I'm only grateful that the neighbour, who was in fact my old high school RE teacher and rejoiced in the name Charles Brown, but we always called him Joshua. His daughter was a vet and she worked with Alf White in Yorkshire.

[Maggi Young]

A German  cactus-loving friend ( thank you, Hans J!) has related this lovely story from a recent journal of the KauS (Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten).

The editor shared with readers the news that their oldest member was resigning his membership. This chap, who had taken up growing cactus, and joined the society, at the age of 78, was now 110 and found he was sadly no longer able to read the monthly journals. Though he was only able to have a few plants in his nursing home, he still got great pleasure from them every day . It was obvious that the gentleman was as sorry to give up his membership as the club was to say farewell to him... the editor ended by wishing him all the best.... and many more blooms!

What a marvelous story... it seems a love of plants can keep us alive and happy for a long time ..... my wish would be that it could do the same for us all!

[Lesley Cox]

Perhaps at that age the club could reasonably have given him an honorary life membership.

[David Nicholson]

A neighbour who does some part time work in a garden centre has brought me four good sized polystyrene boxes which will make some good troughs. I shall need to re-read Ian Young's article, wait for a couple of dry days (in Devon-bah!), and get on with it.

http://www.srgc.org.uk/feature/fishbox/troughs.html#top

Of course I've had a shallow stone sink, purchased from our local tip for 50p, for at least 5 years now, and it's still in the same place I put it in when I brought it home! As I'm constantly being reminded by the other occupant of the house

[Anthony Darby]

Of course I've had a shallow stone sink, purchased from our local tip for 50p, for at least 5 years now, and it's still in the same place I put it in when I brought it home! As I'm constantly being reminded by the other occupant of the house

It's amazing how these things tend not to move David.

[David Nicholson]

That's a truism

[ranunculus]

My son's son has a grandad just like that ... barely moved in years.

[David Nicholson]

..... 'cos he's all butter and lard

[Anthony Darby]

Not trying to butter him up then, David?

[ranunculus]

The reason why buttercups glow

Plant scientists have discovered the real reason why buttercups glow yellow under people's chins. Researchers found that the flower's unique anatomical structure - used to attract pollinating insects - contributes to the popular children's trick. Researchers discovered that the buttercup petal's bright and glossy appearance is the result of the interplay between its different layers. The strong yellow reflection responsible for the chin illumination is mainly due to the epidermal layer of the petal that reflects yellow light with an intensity that is comparable to glass. The researchers also found that the buttercup reflects a significant amount of UV light. As many pollinators, including bees, have eyes sensitive in the UV region, this provides insight into how the buttercup uses its unique appearance to attract insects.

Nothing to do with butter and lard at all ...

[SusanS]

The reason why buttercups glow

Plant scientists have discovered the real reason why buttercups glow yellow under people's chins. Researchers found that the flower's unique anatomical structure
Nothing to do with butter and lard at all ...

very interesting Cliff, do you have a reference for the article please?

Susan

[ranunculus]

Hi Susan,
Reference:-

http://www.scoop.it/t/annbot?_tmc=fAV_p5eV5-jHf2Zd9M8AELpZzjpypPQ9zWrZh-qx1DM

[Maggi Young]

And this, Susan......
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/8953426/The-reason-why-buttercups-glow.html