Meet The Magnoliaceae

Hi

The Magnolias

The Daffs are out and the Magnolias are flowering their heads off, well mine in the garden are all in full bloom and they would have to be amongst one of my favourite trees and or flowers.   Those large waxy globlet shaped flowers do it for me!!!!

There are a few techno things to clear up with this family and as a group of plants they have been around  for a very long time, apparently before honey bees so rely on beetles to do their, well, sex stuff!  Because they don't have proper petals or sepals (green bit under the petals) their flowers bits are called tepals.  Magnolias like rich well drained soil acid soil and are not into excessive wind though I'm sure that they will cope with an average breeze.

To most, the common name of Tulip tree will spring to mind and this belongs to a tree called Liriodendron tulipifera. Tulip tree is much easier off the tongue rather than that wheel barrow name and are a cousin of the Magnolia family. Surprise! surprise! even have  tulip shaped, green flowers, with an orange throat. These trees also have a distinctive leaf which rather than being pointed is kinda square at the end and I have to add, go the most amazing butter yellow in the autumn Liriodendrons are tough trees coping well in the paddock or even as inner city trees.

             
Now I never did do Latin at school but one of my long term favourite Magnolias is denudata alba, meaning nude of leaves and pristine white flowers.  You only need a few Latin words and you're well on you're way into knowing heaps of plants! LOL

Magnolia soulangeanea and various blood relatives  have that what I call classic goblet shaped flowers in shades of white and that crimsony red/pink

The Lilifloras and their crosses tend to be smaller growing trees with not quite the same shaped  tulip shaped bloom  but as I think of as more parrot beak shaped but still a lovely flower.

If you would like a smaller magnolia then the stellatas and their crosses tend to be smaller and more like a large shrub with pretty, quite starry like flowers'

The largest growing trees are the other species and hybrids of which star wars and Iolanthe are beautiful examples and their flowers are often described as cup and saucer style.

Finally I cannot, not mention the beautiful new hybrids that have come from the Jury stable of which Vulcan is a classic in its deep wine coloured blooms.

                

Spuds

Spring means get your spuds in early and Teresa has been out there sorting out the best deals. I secretly think that she is planning on an early crop of spuds herself so that that vege garden doesnt need weeding for a month or two LOL Click the link and pre order your favourite potato 1.5kg at $9.99 preorder price at $7.99 and for those that want 25kg $99.99

Winners and web changes

Many thanks again for those that took the time to fill out our short survey and we have our  three draw winners listed:  Dale D'Rose,   Amy Roberts,   Carol Lodge. Send us some postal address details and we will get our vouchers out to you. Allan in IT has already started to make  some changes on the web and Posh Nosh is now called Whats Cooking and already has a new format. I will have to start using the new editor and get some past and new recipes on there like that Key lime pie!! Chris who is a fount of all knowledge has been working through the How To's so that online pruning and How to do stuff is made as easy as possible !

Whats on this weekend:   The National Camellia Show 2011

At the Pavilion in Hamilton Gardens on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th August.
Members and enthusiasts bring their flowers from all around the country, and there will be up to 2000 blooms on display. Any keen gardener is welcome to bring along camellia blooms and enter them in the Novice classes, or just bring along flowers they want identified.
The show is open to the public between 12.30pm and 5.30pm Saturday, and 10am to 4.30pm on Sunday.
Entry is $4.00 per adult, children free.

Its a lovely day and is going to be a great weekend, Have fun

Cheers,

Lloyd and Harry

Make it a Wairere weekend where gardenings not a drag!!!!!