I was surprised to see such a small maple tree. It looked so beautiful though. Not sure why the leaves are brown at this time of the year.

PS: I added the name of the tree in Japanese on the subtitle today 18/5/13. I found out the name of it and more details about this type of trees with the help of DocD. Thank you DocD. 4 days ago

I saw this tree in Yangshuo and took the photos of it. Here is the story of it:

It is said that the banyan was planted in the Jin Dynasty, and has a history of over 1,300 years. Its age and towering beauty make this tree a must- see attraction in Yangshuo. Yangshuo Big Banyan Tree is located 7 kilometers away from the center of Yangshuo, and the old tree is 17 meters high and covers an area of over 1000 square meters. It continues to grow strongly to this day.

People in ancient times believed the tree to be as powerful as a god. Poor people look upon the tree as a doctor, capable of curing all illness. It is said that if a sick person writes their wish for health on a piece of red paper and sticks it to the tree, their wish for good health will be granted and they will recover.

The beautiful scenery makes this a popular place for shooting films and the famous old movie called Sister Liusanjie was shot here. The beautiful scenery has made it a popular spots for movie enthusiast and lovers.

http://www.chinatouronline.com/china-travel/yangshuo/yangshuo-attractions/yangshuo-big-banyan-tree_261.html 4 days ago

inner city community gardens. One of my weaknesses is to identify plants…go figure.

So this is very important to me. 1 month ago

As they look beautiful. I will get back to this soon. 2 months ago

Maple Tree
Oak Tree
Wisteria
Poplar
Copper beech

Plus attach a photo of the leaves 2 months ago

I get the smell of this plant every time I pass by The Tower Hotel on the river side in these days. And did not know what it was called in English. The smell of this flower takes me back to my childhood memories as my grandmother had this smell in her garden in the springs. And it is the sign of spring’s arrival. Well not quite here in London yet but definitely makes me think that way. The attached photo is the species I know of.

The description and more is on this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeysuckle

A widely distributed climbing shrub (genera Lonicera and Diervilla) with tubular flowers that are typically fragrant and of two colors. 2 months ago

I keep getting confused between these 2 trees. They look alike. Well maybe in my mind. But maple tree is the one with pretty leaves and the colours of the leaves change from yellow to brown in the fall.

This is how I should remember it. 2 months ago

A close look of the fruit that I know of. 13 months ago

I saw this tree at the garden of Topkapi Palace last year. This is the biggest fruit tree I have seen. I did not know what the tree was so I saw this man think he was a gardener he told me it was a Persimmon Tree. This fruit looks like tomato. I love this fruit. It was my favorite when I was a little girl. My father used to buy this fruit and hung it on the balcony as the variety we had required to ripen to eat. I used to check it every morning to see if it was getting softer.

A little bit of info about the tree now:

Persimmon tree can be generally categorized into two types, the astringent and the non-astringent bearing fruit trees. There are many varieties of these two types of trees, but there are mainly two varieties which are generally planted while gardening, which is the American persimmon tree and the Japanese or oriental persimmon tree.

The American persimmon tree is native to the areas of east coast, from New York to Florida region. The other variety, the oriental persimmon tree is native to China, where it has been cultivated for centuries, and there are more than 2,000 different cultivator. This plant was introduced in California in the mid 1800’s. The care instructions of the different varieties of the astringent and non-astringent variety of the trees is similar, but there is a difference between the way of eating of the fruits of these trees. The astringent type of fruits need to be chilled before they ripen, and the non-astringent ones need to eaten when they are still firm. 13 months ago

That I wanted to have it here 14 months ago

The quince, or Cydonia oblonga, is the sole member of the genus Cydonia and native to warm-temperate southwest Asia in the Caucasus region. It is a small, deciduous tree, growing 5–8 m tall and 4–6 m wide, related to apples and pears, and like them has a pome fruit, which is bright golden yellow when mature, pear-shaped, 7–12 cm long and 6–9 cm broad.

The immature fruit is green with dense grey-white pubescence, most of which rubs off before maturity in late autumn when the fruit changes colour to yellow with hard, strongly perfumed flesh. The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, 6–11 cm long, with an entire margin and densely pubescent with fine white hairs. The flowers, produced in spring after the leaves, are white or pink, 5 cm across, with five petals.

Four other species previously included in the genus Cydonia are now treated in separate genera. These are the Chinese quince Pseudocydonia sinensis, a native of China, and the three flowering quinces of eastern Asia in the genus Chaenomeles. Another unrelated fruit, the bael, is sometimes called the “Bengal quince”.

ORIGINS:
The fruit was known to the Akkadians, who called it supurgillu; Arabic سفرجل safarjal “quinces” (collective plural).The modern name originated in the 14th century as a plural of quoyn, via Old French cooin from Latin cotoneum malum / cydonium malum, ultimately from Greek κυδώνιον μῆλον, kydonion melon “Kydonian apple”. The quince tree is native to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and was introduced to Syria, Croatia, Bosnia, Turkey, Serbia, Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Greece, Romania, Hungary, Ukraine and Bulgaria.[citation needed]

Cultivation of quince may have preceded apple culture, and many references translated to “apple”, such as the fruit in Song of Solomon, may have been a quince. Among the ancient Greeks, the quince was a ritual offering at weddings, for it had come from the Levant with Aphrodite and remained sacred to her. Plutarch reported that a Greek bride would nibble a quince to perfume her kiss before entering the bridal chamber, “in order that the first greeting may not be disagreeable nor unpleasant” (Roman Questions 3.65). It was a quince that Paris awarded Aphrodite. It was for a golden quince that Atalanta paused in her race. The Romans also used quinces; the Roman cookbook of Apicius gives recipes for stewing quince with honey, and even combining them, unexpectedly, with leeks. Pliny the Elder mentioned the one variety, Mulvian quince, that could be eaten raw. Columella mentioned three, one of which, the “golden apple” that may have been the paradisal fruit in the Garden of the Hesperides, has donated its name in Italian to the tomato, pomodoro

CULTIVATION

Quince is resistant to frost and requires a cold period below 7 °C to flower properly. The tree is self-fertile; however, its yield can benefit from cross-fertilization. The fruit can be left on the tree to ripen further, which softens the fruit to the point where it can be eaten raw in warmer climates, but should be picked before the first frosts.

In Europe, quinces are commonly grown in central and southern areas where the summers are sufficiently hot for the fruit to fully ripen. They are not grown in large amounts; typically one or two quince trees are grown in a mixed orchard with several apples and other fruit trees: so were they grown in the 18th-century New England colonies, where there was always a quince at the lower corner of the vegetable garden, Ann Leighton notes in records of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Newburyport, Massachusetts.[3] Charlemagne directed that quinces be planted in well-stocked orchards. Quinces in England are first recorded in about 1275, when Edward I had some planted at the Tower of London;[4] they are still grown successfully as far north as Scotland. Chaenomeles japonica (Japanese quince) is sometimes grown as a substitute for quince, though its fruit has an inferior flavour.

Quince was also introduced to the New World and Australia, in temperate states, where in some locations it has grown wild, and New Zealand. It has become rare in North America due to its susceptibility to fireblight disease caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora. They are still widely grown in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. Almost all of the quinces in North American specialty markets come from Argentina.

Used as a rootstock for grafted plants, quince has the property of dwarfing the growth of pears, of forcing them to produce more precociously, and relatively more fruit-bearing branches, instead of vegetative growth, and of accelerating the maturity of the fruit.

When a baby is born in Slavonia (Croatia), a quince tree is planted as a symbol of fertility, love and life.

And this beautiful fruit is not know well in the UK. 14 months ago

Genus: Mahonia.

Variety: Aquifolium.

Common Name: Oregon-grape

height x Spread: 200cm x 200cm.

Growing conditions: Full Sun / Semi Shade and Shade, will grow in most well drained soils.

Mahonia ‘Aquifolium’ are typically grown for there attractive dark green foliage which resemble that of a holly as they have sharp palmate type leaves. Mahonia’s are a evergreen shrub and from around late spring they produce long stalked bright yellow flowers followed by purple/black berries.

Mahonia Aquifolium is one of the smaller varieties and only grows to around 100-200cm tall (3-6ft), they are a very hardy shrub and will grow well in most soil types including heavy clay, sand, moist or dry soils. The grow well in full sun and semi shade but will also survive in shade without any trouble.

Mahonia are very hardy but will benefit from a mulching around the base of plants to protect the roots from frost in serve winters. This is also recommended specially if you have recently pruned your Mahonia back.

The berries from Mahonia Aquafolium are edible and are sometimes used to make jelly and the berries can also be fermented to make wine and brandy.

Planting a Mahonia Aquifolium:

If you have purchased a new Mahonia and want to plant it we recommend using bone meal and mixing it through the soil in the hole before planting, this will encourage new root growth and give the Mahonia a good start.

Pest and Diseases:

Mahonia are generally pest free but can suffer from Rust and Powdery Mildew but these fungus are easy to spot and can be easily treated with a garden fungicide at firsts signs of infection.

Now this is one plant I would have had in my garden. Love the dark green leaves and that bright yellow makes me feel alive. 15 months ago

I did not know that basil had different variety until this evening when I wanted to get more info about it. The one I know of and had in a pot in my flat when I lived back home was Spicey Globe Basil.

Here is the other ones:

Genovese
This is the most common variety. Very large tender leaves, Italian basil variety, best for pesto but also dries well, plant reaches 24 inches tall, very aromatic, strong basil taste, certified organic version is available

Holy Basil
This has either pale green (often called white) or purple leaves with pinkish-purple flowers. It has a strong clove flavor and if often used in Thai recipes.

Spicy Globe Basil
This produces leaves that are much smaller in size than most varieties. The flavor is typical for basil, sweet and slightly peppery, but it is very strong.

Boxwood Basil
A hearty basil variety that resembles a boxwood bush, developed in France, good heat tolerance, reaches 16 inches tall, great for pesto

And just to name few more are African Blue, Greek Basil, Basil Lemon and so on. 15 months ago

Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) are the aromatic dried flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae. Cloves are native to the Maluku islands in Indonesia and used as a spice in cuisines all over the world. Cloves are harvested primarily in Indonesia, India, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

The clove tree is an evergreen that grows to a height ranging from 8–12 m, having large leaves and sanguine flowers in numerous groups of terminal clusters. The flower buds are at first of a pale color and gradually become green, after which they develop into a bright red, when they are ready for collecting. Cloves are harvested when 1.5–2 cm long, and consist of a long calyx, terminating in four spreading sepals, and four unopened petals which form a small ball in the center.

Who would have thought that Cloves would begin as flower on cloves tree. I would have thought that these would be sort of herb grows exacly the same way as parsley, thyme.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clove 16 months ago

I keep seeing this beautiful tree on Japanese movies and on some Japanese items like a cushion, on a mirror etc.

I find this tree very beautiful and will read about this tree and update this soon. Just attaching the photo of it for now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_blossom 16 months ago

I love pomegranates as when I was a little girl living on 4th floor of an apartment I used to see this tree giving beautiful flowers at a neighbourhood looked exactly the same as in this photo I found on the internet. Then I used to see the pomegranates growing winter time that I wanted to go there and reach out to get some from the neighbours garden.

But my father used to buy us some and hang it in the balcony and at nights get them ready for us – Us = my sis and me – to eat that we used to look forward to.

Ohh I feel emotional. Live long Father. 17 months ago

Love the fact that you see cacti’s by the roads each time you go to a hot country. And this one is my fav. cactus as I have one at home too. Obviously not as big as this one :-) 18 months ago

This tree was right in fron of Malaga Cathedral. I was amazed the amount of the oranges hanging on the tree. As I did not think the orange trees would be as small and can hold so many oranges! 18 months ago

This tree is a tree I have noticed in and around London for the first time this year. That is only because my interests in trees started a year ago or so. And I have been looking around me when I am walking so I see differnt and beautiful trees more now then before.

This is a beautiful tree with red berries. Thought this sort of trees with red berries would be a winter tree but I guess I got it wrong as whereever I go in these days I see lots of them since late June.

Did a bit of search on the internet about them. In fact did not even know they were called Rowan Tree until 5 minutes ago.

Here is the site to red more about it.

http://www.shee-eire.com/Herbs,Trees&Fungi/Trees/Rowan/rwn.htm 21 months ago

I took this fig tree’s photo while I was on a holiday in South Turkey in July. Knew how the fig tree and its leaves look like before. But I wanted to have it in my album. 21 months ago

I have been living in this area for the last 7 1/2 years and I had not seen these being there at summer time too. I mean hanging out of someone’s garden. I mean this is the route I walk to/from my walks for so many years and I saw them only 2 days ago. Not only that as I was doing this wine grapes reading as well. I got excited about them as soon as I saw them.

But I am familiar to the grapes as my uncle had a tree in his garden and those grapes we ate them as long as he lived in that house. So this took me back to my childhood.

Interesting the leaves are red here. 22 months ago

As I was taking a photo a lady started chatting up saying that these are the type of plums can be made alcoholic drinks or marmalade with. By her accent thought she’d be french.

Anyway, can’t believe that after so many years of living in this area I never saw these trees until this summer. 22 months ago

I had never seen a plum tree until the returning from my daily walk. These 2-3 trees produce so many sweet plums. So I had to stop and touch and taste them. My god they are delicious.

I feel like I am in a country side when I see this sort of fruit trees in the city. 22 months ago

Closer look to the blackberries. I really enjoy this goal. I am always looking for something that I think special to see. These are special berries to me. Right in the middle of London. Lovely. 22 months ago

Love berries. And these are grown right in the middle of London at someones garden. Well, it is hanging out of the garden. 22 months ago

I wish I had a garden. How beautiful my garden would be with all my favorite flowers and trees in it. I would definietly grow roses in my garden. I love roses. I love them outside though not at home in the vase. They say it is easy to grow and look after them. So soon I am gonna read about it a bit here on the internet.

This tree I have downloaded a photo of I saw it at a beer garden back home during my visit last month. At first I thought it was a fake rose tree as I did not think such a big rose tree would grow in a container. I even put a bet on it for £5 with Michael. And I lost. Later I spoke to the waiter and he said the tree was 40 years old and been in that garden all that time. How surprising that was.

Anyhow, I love this task so much. Flowers, trees, nature makes me happy.

UPDATE:
Read an article how to grow, care and look after rose bushes. I also watched a video each on Youtube. I just want to make a note of what I learnt about them today:

1-They require min. 6 hours of sunshine a day
2-Water them regularly. Never let the soil around your roses dry out
3-Prune your rose bush regularly
4-Deadhead regularly so they carry on blooming

From what I understood they need a lot time dor maintenance and care. Just like having a pet. If I had a garden I would not mind but that. I do not think I can have roses in a pot in my flat as earlier on today I thought I could in a container but you really need at least a small balcony. Anyhow, I find difficult to look after plants that require a lot of watering. That’s one of the reason I love cactus’s. But it’s been good to educate myself on this subject.

Love roses and love online education :-) 23 months ago

They smell like heaven and I do not go without them in my home. I love the pink ones the most but white ones are equally good. Seen them in other colours too but those two are my favs. Perfect way to wake up into their beautiful smell. When I open the door coming home from outside to my flat I can smell them as soon as I enter to my flat. I have been in love with these since I was a teenager and I painted them on a mirror at an art lesson and the mirror and got the mirror framed and the mirror is hanging in my bedroom.

They are just so beautiful. 23 months ago

I love this tree and this tree reminds of Hyde Park to me. I guess that’s because they have lots of them in Hyde Park as they do well by the water.

Here is the one I took a photo of from the boat we’d hired one when we went to Hyde Park last year. 23 months ago