“Gardening in the Future” by Mala Gunadasa-Rohling The last month of the Millenium is undoubtedly a time for reflections, both forwards and backwards, for everybody, but I don’t think I’m alone in thinking that gardeners are more aware than others of the passing seasons and years. We keep journals of what we do each season, [Continue]
BELGIUM: Sick Plants… Everyone knows that plants can be infected with viruses, but no one realised, until now, that they develop a fever at the onset of infection. Researchers at the University of Ghent, Belgium, have proven that tobacco plants with mosaic virus develop higher temperatures on the parts of their leaves that are under [Continue]
“Neil Harris, a mistletoe grower in England, is full of Christmas cheer at the thought of a big demand for his crop this year, due to a ban on imported French plants” AUCTIONEERS holding the first mistletoe sale of the year are expecting fierce competition today for restricted native stocks in time for Christmas amid [Continue]
(A) First, the myths and legends: The common name of the plant is derived from the ancient belief that mistletoe was propagated from bird droppings. This belief was related to the then-accepted principle that life could spring spontaneously from dung. It was observed in ancient times that mistletoe would often appear on a branch or [Continue]
“December” by David Tarrant December brings us the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Its passing kindles excitement of looking forward to longer days and a new gardening season ahead. In ancient times, plants with winter interest were always used as decorations in celebrations marking passing from darkness into light. At the [Continue]