Indian Bean Tree – Vivid Golden Yellow Foliage

The Indian Bean Tree, actually native of the Southeastern USA, is a popular tree to grow in temperate climates where it is reasonably hardy and requires little attention. Now grown across the UK and Europe due to its striking nature of vivid green heart-shaped leaves with a tinge of purple. It later on in the season produces clusters of white flowers and then long slender pods that are like beans. However, non of this is edible as is the case even in plants belonging to the Fabaceae family that contains both edible peas and beans and highly toxic plants. So only eat what you know to be safe.

The Indian Bean Tree, Catalpa, is part of the Bignoniaceae family known for its Trumpet Vines. The variation popular in the UK is the Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’, that has golden yellow foliage. In the US it can attract the catalpa sphinx moth that can strip its leaves bare. In the UK, I have found the young and tender leaves susceptible to blackfly aphids that will need controlling. Later in the summer it can suffer from powdery mildew if the air is very humid in an enclosed space. Removing the worst affected leaves keeps the plant looking healthy. The plant can put on strong growth upwards that makes it a little top heavy while the trunk may not keep up. So in the early years support is required in windy conditions.

5 Key Reasons for Growing Indian Hawthorn
On a recent visit to St Julian’s in Malta, I came across a shrub that I was not familiar with. I am always looking around for plants, shrubs and trees that are attractive and unusual to me. This plant was used in the landscape gardening around our hotel and proved quite effective in that situation.

5 Reasons for Using Indian Hawthorn in Landscape Gardening.

Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica) is an evergreen shrub that maintains glossy green foliage all year. In the spring it produces clusters of fragrant pink or white flowers, followed by dark berries in autumn. Hence, an interest plant all year round.

The plant is low maintenance. Indian hawthorn requires little care once established. It’s does not require much watering and will survive through a dry spell. It needs only occasional pruning to keep its bushy shape and thrives in a variety of soil types with good drainage.

The shrub can be fashioned into many uses and is a versatile plant. It can be used for hedges, borders, or as a stand-alone specimen in gardens, patios, and even grown in containers.

It is both heat and salt tolerant. When I think of the situation these plants were in, close by the salty Mediterranean waters that can, in autumn and winter be rough with salt water spray and punishing winds, and yet hot and arid in summer months. This plant can take some punishment.

The Indian Hawthorn can support the local ecology and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies that we so desperately need, and the berries provide food for the birds.

So, all in all, a good choice to fill a space with an attractive shrub that won’t take up much time and resources or need replacing every bad year.
Persian Cornflower – Vibrant Colour & Stunning Form

The Persian Cornflower in its cultivated form has a striking colour and a beautiful shape. Vivid pink and opens very similar to a thistle shape. Some have a white or cream centre, but in this particular cultivar the centre carries the main colour.

Persian Cornflower not your average Daisy

As part of the Asteraceae family, one of the largest, it resembles so many other members. However, this is likely best classified as a Psephellus dealbatus and not Centaurea. The plant is native from Turkey and up through the Caucasus but introduced to much of Northern Europe.

This plant loves full sun in nutrient-poor but well-drained soil. This makes the plant ideal for a cross between border, cottage garden or pseudo mediterranean garden that is not too hot or dry. Definitely more impressive than the common cornflower.
Garden Privet – Best for Garden Privacy

Garden privet continues to be the main choice for garden hedging when privacy is desired. It is an attractive option with its small oval shaped leaves and light structure that allows it to be shaped from the ground up. Very versatile, fast growing and resilient plant that can be trimmed and pruned when necessary to keep its shape and look attractive all year round. Semi-evergreen, depending on conditions, it provides a thick screen once established and well maintained. In early summer it will produce a display of small white fragrant flowers and small black berries in the autumn.

Wild Privet vs Garden Privet

The garden privet, Ligustrum ovalifolium, oval-leaf privet, native of Korea and Japan, has oval shaped leaves with better coverage and may stay green longer. Wild privet, Ligustrum vulgare, native to Europe, has narrower, longer leaves but is less dense and not so good for hedges. Ligustrum is part of the oleaceae family or Olive family that includes plants such as Lilac. Privet looks like a miniature Lilac. Like much of the family, it requires a sunny, well-drained site but will tolerate a dryer, partial shade.
Ornate Tailed Digger Wasp: Nature’s Stunning Marvels

The ornate tailed digger wasp is a striking insects with its vividly patterned black and yellow abdomen. This is something I found out when discovering a series of holes in a well trodden path that was hard packed sandy soil. What could they be, ants, miner bees?

Observe for a while and the occupants arrive to hover a moment then go head first into the hole just about wide enough for it to crawl down. It appears to be an ornate tailed digger wasp, now classified as the Cerceris rybyensis, of the family Philanthidae.

These wasps have exceptional burrowing skills, which they use to create underground nests for their young. They are solitary creatures that hunt mining bees to feed off. The tunnel goes down vertically for about 6 inches then turns horizontal.
Poinsettia Plant Care – Outdoors

On a recent trip to St Julian’s, Malta, strolling down the road from my favourite Sicilian coffee shop, I came across a plant growing in a way I had to seen before. The plant itself was familiar, although there are lots of plants that have fresh new leaves of bright red. This was the first time I had seen a Poinsettia other than in a plant pot in Winter Holidays. Understanding proper poinsettia plant care can help ensure these vibrant plants flourish beyond the holiday season.

This one was growing in a small patch of ground in an otherwise stone paved street. It has shelter from the elements by being close to the building with some overhead protection from the midday sun. The plant looked healthy and had grown to about 2 meters high and 1 meter wide, an impressive feat of poinsettia plant care in an urban environment.

Growing Outside Poinsettia Plant Care

These plants are native of Mexico and Central America where they thrive in a warm stable climate that is moist but well drained. They need some sunshine but don’t like extremes or sudden climate changes. In their native environment they can grow to a height of up to 3 meters, provided they receive the right poinsettia plant care.

The other surprise is that they are in fact a Euphorbia, Euphorbia pulcherrima. The same Genus as commonly called Spurge. I don’t think I will be planting one outside anytime soon as the climate here is just too variable, so likely the next time I see one will be December
Peony Season Is Upon Us

Peony season for me is June where I live. True, they can bloom earlier in warm sunny conditions but June is my favourite. Once the borders get lush with green foliage it gives the perfect backdrop to these beautiful blooms, especially when you want to photograph them as I do.

They are stunning in form, like a rose but softer with soft featherlike foliage unlike the harsh prickly rose. Having said that they do need support to keep them looking their best, windy conditions can soon spoil their beauty. They do have a short blooming time, so you have to be ready to enjoy them before they fade.

I really find it difficult to choose the best colour. I love the whites, but also love those that start out pink and then fade to white as they open. What about the vivid pink ones, or the deep red. So difficult to make my mind up.

Peony Season Down Under

Still Peony season is upon us so just enjoy them all, till next year. Unless of course you are down under; Peony Australia season runs between October and December.