Author Topic: Walking around corfu  (Read 341691 times)

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Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #420 on: March 08, 2020, 01:22:43 PM »


HI Neil

Pruning
You are likely to have oleander clippings if you have an oleander. The shrub only stays bushy and compact if it gets an annual clipping, and it tolerates severe pruning well. If you grow oleander in the shade, you have even more trimming to do, because insufficient sun makes the plant leggy. To protect yourself against the plant's toxicity, take every precaution when pruning. Take the time to put on gloves, a long-sleeved shirt and long pants before you begin. Because the acrid sap can damage your eyes, you should also wear protective eyewear.

Disposal
Once you've pruned the shrub, you need to dispose of the clippings. Unlike other garden clippings, oleander parts should not go into the compost heap. Nothing removes the toxicity from the branches -- not cold, rain, heat nor time. People have been poisoned from cooking a hot dog on an oleander skewer and in an interview with "The New York Times," Dr. Larry J. Thompson, a clinical toxicologist in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, says "even a few leaves falling into a small ornamental pool could poison a dog who lapped water from the pool." Oleander clippings will contaminate your entire compost and render it unfit and even dangerous for use. Do not burn the clippings, as the smoke from them is also toxic. Instead, load the oleander debris in heavy plastic bags for disposal in a city dump.
thats all they say we use to get a grab lorry in to take it all away
i will find out more if i can

Offline Eggy

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #421 on: March 08, 2020, 05:39:43 PM »
Cheers for that , Kevin.
The problem is disposal which is why many , around here , burn it. - But , rest assured, we treat it with respect.
Cheers
Neill

Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #422 on: March 09, 2020, 08:19:07 AM »

HI

Sorry Neil thay all say go to the local council

If you have been burning it well carry on make sure the wind is blowing away from the house and you

kev

Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #423 on: March 10, 2020, 08:27:41 AM »


HI

Knautia arvensis Known as field scabious  species in the genus Knautia. Europe, including Britain, north to latitude 69°, east to the Caucasus and W. Siberia. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
There are 4 stamens in each flower, and 1 notched long stigma. The fruit is nut like, cylindrical and hairy, 5–6 mm in size.
It has a tap root. The stem has long stiff hairs angled downwards. There are no stipules.

The leaves form a basal rosette, are paired on the stem, the lowest typically 300 mm long, spear shaped, whereas the upper are smaller.
Knautia arvensis. One for the wild garden, or the back of a border. The flat, scabious-type, lilac flower are carried tall, slender rather elegant, well-branched stems above a small clump of soft green leaves.
A native perennial herb of dry, well drained calcareous and neutral grassland. It can be found on chalk and limestone meadow, rough pasture, hedgerows, verges and grassy waste ground. When in flower it attracts large numbers of bees, butterflies, moths and hoverflies.






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Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #424 on: March 12, 2020, 08:54:38 AM »





HI

You will see this tree coming into flower April - May around Arillas


Prunus Known as flowering cherry a genus of trees and shrubs, which includes the fruits plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and almonds.
430 different species are classified under Prunus. Many members of the genus are widely cultivated for their fruit and for decorative purposes. Prunus fruit are drupes, or stone fruits. The fleshy mesocarp surrounding the endocarp (pit or stone) is edible. Most Prunus fruit and seeds are commonly used in processing, such as jam production, canning, drying, or roasting.
Members of the genus can be deciduous or evergreen. A few species have spiny stems. The leaves are simple, alternate, usually lanceolate, unlobed, and often with nectaries on the leaf stalk. The flowers are usually white to pink, sometimes red, with five petals and five sepals. Numerous stamens are present. Flowers are borne singly, or in umbels of two to six or sometimes more on racemes. The fruit is a fleshy drupe (a "prune") with a single relatively large, hard-coated seed (a "stone").
A recent DNA study of 48 species concluded that Prunus is monophyletic and is descended from some Eurasian ancestor.
Ornamental cherry trees are known for their explosion of showy flowers in the spring. Some types also produce small cherries in the summer that are too tart for our palettes, but appeal to a wide variety of birds. Flowering cherry trees are an excellent choice for home gardens because they require minimal care. In addition to spectacular cherry blossoms, they provide year-round color and interest with seasonally-changing foliage and attractive bark.
The genus Prunus includes the almond, the nectarine and peach, several species of apricots, cherries, and plums, all of which have cultivars developed for commercial fruit and nut production. The almond is not a true nut; the edible part is the seed. Other species are occasionally cultivated or used for their seed and fruit.












All species are toxic, whether of the fruiting or ornamental/flowering variety. The black cherry is considered the most toxic of the Prunus species. The toxic compound in Prunus species is a host of cyanogenic glycosides (a cyanide molecule attached to a sugar molecule)in their stems, leaves and seeds.

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Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #425 on: March 15, 2020, 01:06:37 PM »

HI

This plant you can see opposite malibu and Coconut bars

Ficus elastica Known as the rubber plant  is a species of plant in the fig genus, native to eastern parts of South Asia and southeast Asia. It has become naturalized in Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and the US State of Florida.
This plant will not grow in the UK only indoors.
It has broad shiny oval leaves 10–35 centimetres (3.9–13.8 in) long and 5–15 centimetres (2.0–5.9 in) broad; leaf size is largest on young plants (occasionally to 45 centimetres or 18 inches long), much smaller on old trees (typically 10 centimetres or 3.9 inches long). The leaves develop inside a sheath at the apical meristem, which grows larger as the new leaf develops. When it is mature, it unfurls and the sheath drops off the plant. Inside the new leaf, another immature leaf is waiting to develop.
Pollination and fruiting
As with other members of the genus Ficus, the flowers require a particular species of fig wasp to pollinate it in a co-evolved relationship. Because of this relationship, the rubber plant does not produce highly colourful or fragrant flowers to attract other pollinators. The fruit is a small yellow-green oval fig 1 centimetre (0.39 in) long, barely edible; these are fake fruits that contain fertile seeds only in areas where the pollinating insect is present.
The natural range of rubber ranges from Nepal in the north to Indonesia, Bhutan, northeastern India, Burma and China (Yunnan) and Malaysia. It has been widely introduced in most tropical regions of the world, including Hawaii and the West Indies. Finally, in Europe, it can be found in the sheltered gardens of the Côte d'Azur and on the Spanish and Italian coast.
Does rubber plant have flowers?
Yes, rubber plant is capable of producing flowers and, subsequently, small fruits. ... But popular houseplant species such as rubber trees and their cousins, the weeping figs (Ficus benjamina), rarely bloom or yield fruits.
Temperatures between 70-78 degrees will produce an excellent rubber plant. During the winter keep temperatures above 55 degrees.

Rubber Plant Varieties
Many rubber tree varieties have been grown indoors as a houseplant for decades.
The Many Rubber Plant Varieties
Robusta.
Decora.
Ficus Burgundy Rubber Plant.
Abidjan.
Ficus microcarpa.
Ficus carica.
Ficus benghalensis.
Benjamina ficus (fig tree)
Most cultivated plants are produced by vegetative propagation. This can be done by cuttings or by layering. This last method consists in notching the stem of the plant. The wound, which leaves the latex of the plant oozing, is coated with rooting hormones and tightly wrapped with moist foam. The hole is covered with a plastic film and left a few months at the end of which new roots have developed from the axillary buds. The stem is then weaned and the new plant can be repotted.
Also you can Propagating Plants by Air Layering








Rubber plant's (Ficus elastica) common name does not imply that it is pliable. Its milky white sap contains latex, which was originally used to make rubber. Because this sap is poisonous to people and pets, rubber plant is best put out of reach of children


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Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #426 on: March 17, 2020, 02:07:23 PM »


HI


Abelia  formerly recognized genus that contained about 30 species and hybrids, placed in the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. Molecular phylogenetic studies showed that the genus was not monophyletic, and in 2013, Maarten Christenhusz proposed the merger of Abelia (excluding section Zabelia) into Linnaea, along with some other genera. Abelia section Zabelia was raised to the genus Zabelia.
Species formerly placed in Abelia are shrubs from 1–6 m tall, native to eastern Asia (Japan west to the Himalaya) and southern North America (Mexico); the species from warm climates are evergreen, and colder climate species deciduous.
The flowers appear in the upper leaf axils and stem ends, 1-8 together in a short cyme; they are pendulous, white to pink, bell-shaped with a five-lobed corolla, 1–5 cm long, and usually scented. Flowering continues over a long and continuous period from late spring to fall.
The leaves are opposite or in whorls of three, ovate, glossy, dark green, 1.5–8 cm long, turning purplish-bronze to red in autumn in the deciduous species.
Some of these species are cultivated as ornamental garden plants, and may still be described as Abelia in horticultural listings. A notable example is the hybrid Abelia × grandiflora (now Linnaea × grandiflora).
Family:   Caprifoliaceae
Genus:   Linnaea
Species:   L. × grandiflora
Binomial name
Linnaea × grandiflora

HABITAT
Zone: 5 to 9
Height: 3.00 to 6.00 feet
Spread: 3.00 to 6.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to September
Bloom Description: White/flushed pink
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Hedge, Naturalize
Flower: Showy, Fragrant
Leaf: Good Fall
Tolerate: Erosion
Abelia grandiflora flower
Flower color can be: pink, white, purple, flower in trumpet shape, flowers grow in umbel shape.










NONE
 People allergic to honeysuckle may experience cross-reactive allergic reactions with Abelia.[



Uses for abelia: Its lacy appearance and long blooming season make it a good choice for a spot of honor in the yard. The abelia makes a good foundation and accent plant and combines well with broad-leaf evergreens. It is sometimes used as a hedge in the South. The plant attracts wildlife with its tubular blossoms.
 In shrub borders, gardens and parks, landscapes


Medicinal
None known







Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #427 on: March 22, 2020, 10:28:43 AM »


HI

You can see this plant around Arillas in fields very early spring growing wild

Cyclamen purpurascens Known as (Alpine, European or purple cyclamen is a species of flowering plant in the genus Cyclamen of the family Primulaceae, native to central Europe, northern Italy, and Slovenia. It is a tuberous perennial with (usually) variegated leaves, and deep pink flowers in summer
Cyclamen purpurascens grows in deciduous or mixed woodland, especially among beeches and over limestone, at 250–1,300 m (800–4,300 ft) above sea level in continental Europe from eastern France across the Alps to Poland and south to Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is also found in mountainous parts of Romania and western Russia, where it has been introduced.

Leaves
Leaves are kidney-shaped to heart-shaped, as wide as long or wider. The leaf edge is smooth or slightly toothed, unlike the closely related species Cyclamen colchicum, which is always prominently toothed. Leaf color varies from all-green to all-silver, but the most common pattern is green with light green to silver marbling that roughly follows the outline of the leaf. The underside is red-purple. Because of the cool and moist climate in the plant's native range, it is almost evergreen: new leaves appear in summer while the old leaves are fading. All other cyclamens, except for the closely related Cyclamen colchicum, are summer-dormant in their native range.

Flowers
Flowers appear before or with the leaves, and have 5 upswept petals. Flowers are sweetly scented, ranging in color from pale rose-pink to purple or rose-carmine and are 17 to 25 mm (0.67 to 0.98 in) long. Petals are elliptical and twisted, often curled into auricles, although less prominent than those of Cyclamen hederifolium. Forma "album" has white flowers, though it is more difficult to establish. 'Lake Garda' has silver leaves and pink flowers

Fruit
After fertilization, the flower stem coils tightly, starting at the end. Seeds, amber when ripe, are held in a round pod, which ripens the summer a year after flowering and opens by 5-10 flaps.

 They grow from tubers and are valued for their flowers with upswept petals and variably patterned leaves.

Cyclamen is Medieval Latin, from earlier Latin cyclamīnos, from Ancient Greek κυκλάμινος, kyklā́mīnos (also kyklāmī́s), probably from κύκλος, kýklos "circle",because of the round tuber In English, the species of the genus are commonly called by the genus name.

In many languages, cyclamen species are colloquially called by a name like the English sowbread, or swinebread (because they are said to be eaten by pigs), based on Medieval Latin panis porcinus: Saubrot in German, pain de pourceau in French, pan porcino in Italian, and varkensbrood in Dutch.







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Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #428 on: March 26, 2020, 05:33:10 PM »


HI

Just flicking through some books and found this can grow on Corfu

hydrangea

Hydrangea Also known as hortensia but mostly just Hydranger
 A genus of 70–75 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably Korea, China, and Japan. Most are shrubs 1 to 3 meters tall, but some are small trees, and others lianas reaching up to 30 m (98 ft) by climbing up trees. They can be either deciduous or evergreen, though the widely cultivated temperate species are all deciduous.

Hydrangea’ is derived from Greek and means ‘water vessel’, which is in reference to the shape of its seed capsules.[3] The earlier name, Hortensia, is a Latinised version of the French given name Hortense, referring to the wife of Jean-André Lepaute.
They grow just about everywhere! Native to southern and eastern Asia (from Japan to China, the Himalaya and Indonesia) and North and South America, Hydrangeas were first discovered growing wild in marshes. The mophead Hydrangea was hidden in the secret gardens of Japan for hundreds of years before it was discovered in 1776 by Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg.
Call them what you will–mophead, French, bigleaf, florist, garden, lacecap, hortensia–they’re all Hydrangeas
No matter how much you try to change the soil pH, white flowering varieties will always stay white.
There are Hydrangeas for full sun and others for part day sun, but few that bloom with abandon in FULL SHADE like the Plum Passion® Hydrangea (Hydrangea aspera). With all purple leaves and whispy flowers, the Plum Passion® Hydrangea was found in China by plant explorer Dan Hinkley.
HABITAT
Most hydrangeas thrive in rich, porous, somewhat moist soils. ...
They prefer full sun in the morning, with some afternoon shade; however, many will grow and bloom in partial shade. ...
Plant in spring or fall.
Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide.
forest edges, forests
In most species the flowers are white, but in some species (notably H. macrophylla), can be blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark purple. In these species the color is affected by the presence of aluminium ions which are available or tied up depending upon the soil pH. For H. macrophylla and H. serrata cultivars, the flower color can be determined by the relative acidity of the soil: an acidic soil (pH below 7), will have available aluminum ions and typically produce flowers that are blue to purple, whereas an alkaline soil (pH above 7) will tie up aluminum ions and result in pink or red flowers. This is caused by a color change of the flower pigments in the presence of aluminium ions which can be taken up into hyperaccumulating plants.Lowering the pH of potting soils or mixes usually does not change the flower color to blue, because these soils have no aluminum ions. The ability to blue or pink a hydrangea is also influenced by the cultivar. Some plants are selected for their ability to be blued, while others are bred and selected to be red, pink or white. The flower color of most other Hydrangea species is not affected by aluminum and cannot be changed or shifted. Hydrangeas are also nicknamed 'Change Rose'.

Soil pH is the measure of acidity (sourness) or alkalinity (sweetness) of a soil. ... In some mineral soils aluminum can be dissolved at pH levels below 5.0 becoming toxic to plant growth. Soil pH may also affect the availability of plant nutrients. Nutrients are most available to plants in the optimum 5.5 to 7.0 range.


If your hydrangeas are pink (because your soil is alkaline) and you want them to be blue, you need to make the soil acidic by increasing the presence of aluminum. You can achieve this by adding amendments to you your soil like pine needles, compost, coffee grounds, and aluminum sulfate that help make the soil acidic over time. Keep in mind that changing the pH of your soil is a gradual process and will not result in deep blue blooms overnight. It can take up to a year for the color change to happen.
you can use Ironite or Vitax Hydrangea Colourant











Hydrangeas are not edible and are poisonous to cats, dogs and horses. All parts of the plant are poisonous because they contain cyanogenic glycoside. Some of the clinical signs you will include diarrhea, vomiting, and or depression.


Parks, landscape, Gardens, Cut flowers,


Hydrangea is a plant. The root and rhizome (underground stem) are used to make medicine. Hydrangea is used for urinary tract problems such as infections of the bladder, urethra and prostate; enlarged prostate; and kidney stones. It is also used for hay fever.

Primary Medicinal Uses
Diuretic
Kidney stones
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)
Prostatitis
Medicinal Use Details
The main medicinal use for Hydrangea root is as a diuretic, to increase the outflow of urine via the kidneys. Hydrangea root seems most useful for these specific conditions.

Kidney stones-the plant does not directly reduce the size of the stones (breaking up the stones), but helps by increasing urine flow thereby reducing the tendency for the stones to gain size making them more difficult to pass. It combines well with other diuretics as well as antispasmodics to help with the pain of passing a stone.

Urinary tract infections-Hydrangea root helps increase the outflow of urine possibly reducing bacteria in the urinary tract as well as carrying other medicinal plants to the source of the infection. It combines well with other diuretics and antimicrobials to help kill the infection.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-increases urine flow and decreases residual urine in the bladder. This can help with nocturia if taken during the day. Combines well with other diuretics and specific BPH plants.

Prostatitis-increases urine flow and decreases residual urine in the bladder. Combines well with other diuretics and antimicrobials to help kill the infection.





Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #429 on: March 29, 2020, 10:54:19 AM »


HI

Samphire

Salicornia europaea Known as  samphire, glasswort, pickleweed  is a genus of succulent, halophyte (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. Salicornia species are native to North America, Europe, South Africa, and South Asia.
Samphire in Greek is known as “kritamo” and it grows annually and it’s best picked when young and tender, around mid-Spring. Often also called the poor-man’s asparagus, the slender stems are picked and often pickled, blanched or tossed raw into salads. Samphire has leaves that look similar to purslane but slider wider and elongated.
 To French speakers in Atlantic Canada, they are known, colloquially, as "titines de souris" (mouse tits). The main European species is often eaten, called marsh samphire in Britain, and the main North American species is occasionally sold in grocery stores or appears on restaurant menus, usually as 'sea beans' or samphire greens or sea asparagus.
Family:   Amaranthaceae
Subfamily:   Salicornioideae
Genus:   Salicornia

The species of Salicornia are widely distributed over the Northern Hemisphere and in southern Africa, ranging from the subtropics to subarctic regions. They are absent from South America and Australia.

HABITAT
They grow in coastal salt marshes and in inland salty habitats like shores of salt lakes. Salicornia species are halophytes and can generally tolerate immersion in salt water (hygrohalophytes). it grows wild along the coasts of the entire Mediterranean as well as in Britain and Ireland.  with white flowers

The Salicornia species are small annual herbs. They grow prostrate to erect, their simple or branched stems are succulent, glabrous, and apparently jointed. Older stems may be somewhat woody basally. The opposite leaves are fleshy, glabrous, sessile, basally connate and decurrent and enclosing the stem (thus forming the joints). The leaf blades are reduced to small collar-like scales with narrow scarious margin. Many species are green, but their foliage turns red in autumn.
All stems are terminating in spike-like apparently jointed inflorescences. Each joint consists of two opposite minute bracts with an (1-) 3-flowered cyme tightly embedded in cavities of the main axis and partly hidden by the bracts. The flowers are arranged in a triangle, both lateral flowers beneath the central flower. The hermaphrodite flowers are more or less radially symmetric, with a perianth of three fleshy tepals connate nearly to the apex. There are 1-2 stamens and an ovary with two stigmas
The genus probably originated during the Miocene in the region between the Mediterranean basin and Central Asia. Evolving from within the perennial and frost-sensitive genus Sarcocornia, the annual, strongly inbreeding and frost-tolerant Salicornia diversified during the late Pliocene to early Pleistocene. By events of intercontinental dispersals, they reached southern Africa twice, North America at least three times. Two tetraploid lineages expanded rapidly, with the ability to colonize lower belts of the saltmarshes than their diploid relatives. Inbreeding and geographical isolation led to a large number of reproductive isolated species that are only weakly differentiated
The Miocene  is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about 23.03 to 5.333 million years ago (Ma). The Miocene was named by Charles Lyell; its name comes from the Greek words μείων (meiōn, "less") and καινός (kainos, "new") and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene is preceded by the Oligocene and is followed by the Pliocene.








NONE

Salicornia europaea is edible, either cooked or raw. In the UK, it is one of several plants known as samphire
Samphire is often used as a suitably maritime accompaniment to fish or seafood. In Greece where it is known as sea asparagus, it is often blanched and used as a topping for salads or accompaniment for fish.


Usage of the plant as a source of soda (sodium carbonate) for glass making dates back to centuries. Oriental pharmacopeia reports its medicinal uses. The efficacy of Salicornia herbacea against oxidative stress, inflammation, diabetes, asthma, hepatitis, cancer,





Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #430 on: April 17, 2020, 10:40:45 AM »


HI

At some time in Arillas we all have seen a brid of pray circle around high in the sky

European honey buzzard Pernis apivorus also known as the pern or common pern, is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.
Scientific classificationedit
Kingdom:   Animalia
Phylum:   Chordata
Class:   Aves
Order:   Accipitriformes
Family:   Accipitridae
Genus:   Pernis
Species:   P. apivorus
Binomial name
Pernis apivorus

 this species is more closely related to kites of the genera Leptodon and Chondrohierax than to true buzzards in Buteo. The binomen is due to Linné. It is derived from Ancient Greek pernes περνης, a term used by Aristotle for a bird of prey, and Latin apivorus "bee-eating", from apis, "bee" and -vorus, "-eating". In fact, bees are much less important than wasps in the birds' diet. Note that it is accordingly called Wespenbussard ("wasp buzzard") in German and similarly in some other Germanic languages.
HABITAT
The European honey buzzard is a summer migrant to a relatively small area in the western Palearctic from most of Europe to as far east as southwestern Siberia . The eastern area boundary is not yet known exactly, it is thought to be in the Tomsk - Novosibirsk - Barnaul area. It is seen in a wide range of habitats, but generally prefers woodland and exotic plantations.Wintering is in tropical Africa.
The size
The 52–60-centimetre (20–24 in)-long honey buzzard is larger and longer winged, with a 135–150-centimetre (53–59 in) wingspan, when compared to the smaller common buzzard (Buteo buteo). It appears longer necked with a small head, and soars on flat wings. It has a longer tail, which has fewer bars than the Buteo buzzard, usually with two narrow dark bars and a broad dark subterminal bar. The sexes can be distinguished on plumage, which is unusual for a large bird of prey. The male has a blue-grey head, while the female's head is brown. The female is slightly larger and darker than the male.
The soaring jizz is quite diagnostic; the wings are held straight with the wing tips horizontal or sometimes slightly pointed down. The head protrudes forwards with a slight kink downwards and sometimes a very angular chest can be seen, similar to a sparrowhawk, although this may not be diagnostic. The angular chest is most pronounced when seen in direct flight with tail narrowed. The call is a clear peee-lu.
Being a long distance migrant, the honey buzzard relies on magnetic orientation to find its way south, as well as a visual memory of remarkable geographical features such as mountain ranges and rivers, along the way. It avoids large expanses of water over which it cannot soar. Accordingly, great numbers of honey buzzards can be seen crossing the Mediterranean Sea over its narrowest stretches, such as the Gibraltar Strait, the Messina Strait, the Bosphorus, Lebanon, or in Israel
It is sometimes seen soaring in thermals. When flying in wooded vegetation, honey buzzards usually fly quite low and perch in midcanopy, holding the body relatively horizontal with its tail drooping. The bird also hops from branch to branch, each time flapping its wings once, and so emitting a loud clap. The bird often appears restless with much ruffling of the wings and shifting around on its perch. The honey buzzard often inspects possible locations of food from its perch, cocking its head this way and that to get a good look at possible food locations. This behaviour is reminiscent of an inquisitive parrot.
The honey buzzard breeds in woodland, and is inconspicuous except in the spring, when the mating display includes wing-clapping. Breeding males are fiercely territorial. The clutch typically consists of two eggs, less often one or three. Siblicide is rarely observed.
It is a specialist feeder, living mainly on the larvae and nests of wasps and hornets, although it will take small mammals, reptiles, and birds. It is the only known predator of the Asian giant hornet. It spends large amounts of time on the forest floor excavating wasp nests. It is equipped with long toes and claws adapted to raking and digging, as well as scale-like feathering on its head, thought to be a defence against the stings of its victims. Honey buzzards are thought to have a chemical deterrent in their feathers that protects them from wasp attack.


On one of my walks i saw a nest
If you take the road behind the Galini apartments it gets a bit more trees woodland i saw a big nest with a Honey Buzzard sitting on the nest what a moment






Offline Jo Wissett

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #431 on: April 18, 2020, 12:07:49 PM »
Ok we have just bought a little olive tree and have planted it last week. Could anyone give us advice on how to care for it to ensure it’s survival? We have a garden that gets lots of sun

Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #432 on: April 19, 2020, 09:32:11 AM »

Hi Jo

Olives (Olea europaea)

Olive trees require a well-drained soil and a sunny position. Avoid sites where water stands during rainy periods or where ground water seeps into a hole two feet deep. Do not, however, confuse the olive for a desert plant. It needs regular watering to thrive Insufficient water will cause your tree to suffer, and even die if left too dry for too long.
Water newly planted specimens every third day for the first two weeks. ...
Cut back the watering to once weekly after the first two weeks.
Nitrogen is the one nutrient an olive tree may be deficient in. It is needed for formation of flowers, fruit and leaves. During spring growing season, for mature trees, give each tree 2 pounds of urea or 50 pounds of compost. For young trees, give 1 ounce of urea each month and water it in well.
use a premium slow-release fertilizer with essential minor elements (zinc, boron, calcium, etc.). Use a fertilizer that has a nitrogen analysis of at least ten percent.
[Urea. Urea (also known as carbamide) is a waste product of many living organisms, and is the major organic component of human urine. ... So the liver converts the ammonia to a non-toxic compound, urea, which can then be safely transported in the blood to the kidneys, where it is eliminated in urine.]

Olives are great at "surviving", but if you want them to look good you need to feed regularly, during the growing season, if pot grown. Any balanced liquid feed will be OK, such as 'miracle grow' or similar, but dont feed for a few weeks after repotting, let the roots start to move into the new compost first.

You should be Pruning Olive Trees in late Spring or early Summer when the weather is milder but before flowering. As the olive tree is an evergreen plant, new growth will be produced from most of the pruning cuts. These fresh shoots will be susceptible to damage from cold weather.
To prune an olive tree, choose a time either in late spring or early summer and make sure your tree is at least 3-4 feet tall before pruning. Choose 3-4 strong lateral branches to form your main shape and make slanted cuts to remove branches.
Pruning for shape should not really be done until the tree is at least 2-4 years old as the more leaves a young olive tree has, the more energy it will have to grow into a lovely, healthy specimen.

https://www.wikihow.com/Prune-an-Olive-Tree

you can have any shape


let me know if this helps for more info get back to me

I have grown two olive trees in my old award winning garden [south kensington] both had fruit not to eat

kev

Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #433 on: April 22, 2020, 11:00:15 AM »


HI

Almond

(Prunus dulcis, syn. Prunus amygdalus Is a species of tree native to Iran and surrounding countries
widely cultivated elsewhere in the world
Within the genus Prunus, it is classified with the peach in the subgenus Amygdalus, distinguished from the other subgenera by corrugations on the shell (endocarp) surrounding the seed.
The fruit of the almond is a drupe, consisting of an outer hull and a hard shell with the seed, which is not a true nut, inside. Shelling almonds refers to removing the shell to reveal the seed. Almonds are sold shelled or unshelled. Blanched almonds are shelled almonds that have been treated with hot water to soften the seedcoat, which is then removed to reveal the white embryo.
Family:   Rosaceae
Genus:   Prunus
Subgenus:   Prunus subg. Amygdalus
Species:   P. dulcis
Binomial name
Prunus dulcis
Prunus, genus of more than 400 species of flowering shrubs and trees in the rose family (Rosaceae). The genus Prunus is native to northern temperate regions. It has a number of economically important members, including the cultivated almond, peach, plum, cherry, and apricot. In addition, many species flower prolifically and are grown as ornamentals.
 This coveted tree crop has been cultivated from as early as 4,000 BC
Almonds provide a delicious, nutritious, and extremely versatile addition to any homestead or garden.
HABITAT
Almonds are sensitive souls, and are fussy about their growing conditions,
Prunus dulcis can be found in temperate and desert climates.  This plant flourishes in mild winters, and long hot summers with low humidity.  The Prunus dulcis plant has a hard time growing in the shade and grows better in direct, hot sunlight. Prunus dulcis will not survive in a rainy, moist climate or a climate that is cold enough for frost.  To maintain its fruiting bodies the plant needs dry and warm.  The almond tree prefers deep, loamy (sand, silt, and clay), well-drained (moist not soggy) soils, but if need be it can tolerate to grow in poor soils.
The almond is a deciduous tree, growing 4–10 m (13–33 ft) in height, with a trunk of up to 30 cm (12 in) in diameter. The young twigs are green at first, becoming purplish where exposed to sunlight, then grey in their second year. The leaves are 8–13 cm (3–5 in) long, with a serrated margin and a 2.5 cm (1 in) petiole. The flowers are white to pale pink, 3–5 cm (1–2 in) diameter with five petals, produced singly or in pairs and appearing before the leaves in early spring.
Almond grows best in Mediterranean climates with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The optimal temperature for their growth is between 15 and 30 °C (59 and 86 °F) and the tree buds have a chilling requirement of 300 to 600 hours below 7.2 °C (45.0 °F) to break dormancy
Almonds begin bearing an economic crop in the third year after planting. Trees reach full bearing five to six years after planting. The fruit matures in the autumn, 7–8 months after flowering
 In botanical terms, Almond it is not a nut but a drupe. The almond fruit is 3.5–6 cm long
History
The Almond was spread by humans in ancient times along the shores of the Mediterranean into northern Africa and southern Europe, and more recently transported to other parts of the world, notably California, United States. The wild form of domesticated almond grows in parts of the Levant.
 Domesticated almonds appear in the Early Bronze Age (3000–2000 BC), such as the archaeological sites of Numeira (Jordan), or possibly earlier. Another well-known archaeological example of the almond is the fruit found in Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt (c. 1325 BC), probably imported from the Levant. Of the European countries that the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh reported as cultivating almonds, Germany is the northernmost, though the domesticated form can be found as far north as Iceland.

The word "almond" comes from Old French almande or alemande, Late Latin *amandula, derived through a form amygdala from the Greek ἀμυγδάλη (amygdálē) (cf. amygdala), an almond.

The pollination of California's almonds is the largest annual managed pollination event in the world, with 1.4 million hives (nearly half of all beehives in the US) being trucked in February to the almond groves.
 Much of the pollination is managed by pollination brokers, who contract with migratory beekeepers from at least 49 states for the event. This business has been heavily affected by colony collapse disorder, causing nationwide shortages of honey bees and increasing the price of insect pollination. To partially protect almond growers from the rising cost of insect pollination, researchers at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have developed a new line of self-pollinating almond trees.


This tree in blossom is a fantastic sight to see





Certain Almonds are Highly Poisonous. You should know almonds come in two varieties, sweet and bitter, and the latter is highly poisonous when raw. Bitter almonds contain glycoside amygdalin. ... Processed bitter almonds though can safely be eaten as all the hydrogen cyanide is leached out during the heating process
 

Seeds of sweet almonds (Prunus amygdalus var. dulcis) contain much lower levels of cyanide; however, up to 2% of sweet almond seeds are bitter – i.e., contain amounts of amygdalin comparable to P. amygdalus var. ... Consumed excessively, they can produce severe symptoms of cyanide poisoning or even death
a poison that gives almonds their characteristic flavour.



The almond tree is cultivated for its fruit, almonds. The sweet almond (kernel) can be eaten plain or be used as ingredient in desserts and confectioneries (sugared almonds, pastries, almond milk). Moreover, bitter almonds are used for producing almond oil, which is widely used in pharmacy cosmetics
Almonds may be eaten raw, blanched, or roasted and are commonly used in confectionery baking. In Europe almonds are used to make marzipan, a sweet paste used in pastries and candy, and in Asia almonds are often used in meat, poultry, fish, and vegetarian dishes.


Every ounce eaten daily was associated with a 3.5 percent decreased risk of heart disease ten years later. Almonds are already known to help with weight loss and satiety, help prevent diabetes, and potentially ameliorate arthritis, inhibit cancer-cell growth, and decrease Alzheimer's risk. A strong case could be made that almonds are, nutritionally, the best single food a person could eat.
Almonds Deliver a Massive Amount of Nutrients
Almonds Are Loaded With Antioxidants
Almonds Are High in Vitamin E
Almonds Can Assist With Blood Sugar Control
Magnesium Also Benefits Blood Pressure Levels
Almonds Can Lower Cholesterol Levels
Almonds Prevent Harmful Oxidation of LDL Cholesterol
Eating Almonds Reduces Hunger, Lowering Your Overall Calorie Intake
Almonds May Be Effective For Weight Loss










Offline kevin-beverly

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Re: Walking around corfu
« Reply #434 on: April 24, 2020, 10:56:43 AM »


Hi

You can see this tree in Corfu town and around Corfu

European Conker Tree

Aesculus hippocastanum  is a species of flowering plant in the soapberry and lychee family Sapindaceae. It is a large deciduous, synoecious (hermaphroditic-flowered) tree, commonly known as horse-chestnut or conker tree.
NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH [SWEET CHESTNUT ][Castanea sativa]
Growing to about 39 metres (128 ft) tall  with a domed crown of stout branches; on old trees the outer branches are often pendulous with curled-up tips. The leaves are opposite and palmately compound, with 5–7 leaflets; each leaflet is 13–30 centimetres (5.1–11.8 in) long, making the whole leaf up to 60 centimetres (24 in) across, with a 7–20 centimetres (2.8–7.9 in) petiole. The leaf scars left on twigs after the leaves have fallen have a distinctive horseshoe shape, complete with seven "nails". The flowers are usually white with a yellow to pink blotch at the base of the petals; they are produced in spring in erect panicles 10–30 cm tall with about 20–50 flowers on each panicle. Its pollens are not poisonous for honey bees. Usually only 1–5 fruits develop on each panicle; the shell is a green, spiky capsule containing one (rarely two or three) nut-like seeds called conkers or horse-chestnuts. Each conker is 2–4 centimetres (0.79–1.57 in) in diameter, glossy nut-brown with a whitish scar at the base.
Family:   Sapindaceae
Genus:   Aesculus
Species:   A. hippocastanum
Binomial name
Aesculus hippocastanum
HABITAT
can sustain Horse Chestnut trees because of their strong resilience to environmental factors. These trees easily thrive in almost any soil including clay, chalk, sand, and acidic/alkaline soil. However, this being said, Aesculus Hippocastanum prefer moist,
well-drained and fertile soil.
 However, it can be found in many parts of Europe as far north as Gästrikland in Sweden, as well as in many parks and cities in the United States and Canada.
The origin of the family name "Aesculus" is unclear. Linnaeus says it was named for a kind of oak. The species name "hippocastanum" means, literally, "horse chestnut"; it recalls the use of the seed to treat coughing and broken wind in horses and also distinguishes it from the chestnut eaten by humans.
In Britain and Ireland, the seeds are used for the popular children's game conkers.
During the First World War, there was a campaign to ask for everyone (including children) to collect horse-chestnuts and donate them to the government. The conkers were used as a source of starch for fermentation using the Clostridium acetobutylicum method devised by Chaim Weizmann to produce acetone for use as a solvent for the production of cordite, which was then used in military armaments. Weizmann's process could use any source of starch, but the government chose to ask for conkers to avoid causing starvation by depleting food sources. But conkers were found to be a poor source, and the factory only produced acetone for three months; however, they were collected again in the Second World War for the same reason
We are losing a lot of these tree to Bleeding canker. Half of all horse-chestnuts in Great Britain are now showing symptoms to some degree of this potentially lethal bacterial infection
Horse-chestnut leaf miner, Cameraria ohridella, a leaf mining moth. Also affecting large numbers of UK trees.
Phytophthora bleeding canker, a fungal infection.







Conkers contain a poisonous chemical called aesculin. Eating a conker is unlikely to be fatal, but it may make you ill. They are poisonous to most animals too, including dogs, but some species such as deer and wild boar can eat them



The British schoolchildren tie them to their shoelaces and play with them
Horse Chestnut Bonsai Tree (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Common Uses: Veneer, furniture, plywood, interior trim, and turned objects
Parks in towns on a large green
The conkers were used as a source of starch for fermentation using the Clostridium acetobutylicum method devised by Chaim Weizmann to produce acetone for use as a solvent for the production of cordite,


Horse chestnut extract has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and may help relieve pain and inflammation caused by chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). It may also benefit other health conditions like hemorrhoids and male infertility caused by swollen veins.
relieve symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency
edema, or swelling of the legs
leg pain or cramps
itchy legs
varicose veins, or enlarged, twisted veins that typically occur in the legs
leg ulcers
weakness in the legs
May treat varicose veins
Has potent anti-inflammatory properties
May relieve hemorrhoids
Has antioxidant properties
Contains cancer-fighting compounds
May help with male infertility


 

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