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Botanists vote to remove racist reference from plants' scientific names


Offensive term to be replaced as first step towards more changes in unprecedented reform of nomenclature rules

Scientists have voted to eliminate the names of certain plants that are deemed to be racially offensive. The decision to remove a label that contains such a slur was taken last week after a gruelling six-day session attended by more than 100 researchers, as part of the International Botanical Congress, which officially opens on Sunday in Madrid.


The effect of the vote will be that all plants, fungi and algae names that contain the word caffra, which originates in insults made against Black people, will be replaced by the word affra to denote their African origins. More than 200 species will be affected, including the coast coral tree, which, from 2026, will be known as Erythrina affra instead of Erythrina caffra.



https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/jul/20/botanists-remove-racist-references-plants-scientific-names

The view from England on the 16th July. Its been a very cold Summer, yet some things keep to the timetable.

The lily cheered me up big flowers with little trouble and scented. When I started growing lilies, 20 years ago, lily beetles were unknown this far North, it is now getting to the point where it is not worth growing them.

Jim McKenney used to talk of the "tawny family curse" regarding day lilies.

Montbretia
Cosmos 'Cherry Chocolate'
Agapanthus
Dahlia/Begonia
Hemerocalis
A nice lily

Many of the fish and chip shops in Blackpool have flying outside the like of:

"Peregrine Pro Hawk Kites Professional bird deterrents that scare Seagulls and Pigeons away from rooftops
and gardens instantly. Kite on pole that takes a less than 5 minutes to install."

Seagulls being the second biggest predator of chips.

Gardeners urged to hang CDs in garden this July


You remember CDs - those shiny circular objects coded with music people used to buy before Spotify came along.

Now gardeners are saving their old Busted albums and putting them to use to protect their green spaces.

It might seem odd given their reputation, but birds are scared of CDs, and won't pinch your strawberries or peck at your raspberries if you line CDs along your raised beds.


https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/garden/1917976/gardeners-urged-hang-cds-garden-july

Quote from: CG100 on July 02, 2024, 12:23:27 PMMint flowers are always very popular with insects...

But OTOH

"For decades, peppermint oil has served as a potent insect repellent and research has confirmed this fact. When used around entry points in the home and applied via sachets near doors and windows or diffuser or spray, it can help repel ticks, spiders, roaches, moths, flies, fleas, beetles and ants."

Families warned of flourishing giant hogweed


People have been warned to beware of dangerous giant hogweed as the invasive plant is flourishing in parts of Lancashire.

Conservationist Alan Wright, of Lancashire Wildlife Trust, said people should be careful when coming close to the weed - which can leave blistering and scarring if it comes into contact with the skin.

'Warn children'
The plant, which can look similar to other kinds, can grow up to 14-15ft (4.5m) tall.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0871mpz0do

Germany using cocoa to battle 'abnormal plague' of mosquitoes at Euro 2024 base


A cocoa-based deterrent is being used to address a mosquito problem at Germany's European Championship base, forcing players indoors due to the unpleasant smell.

Germany's preparation for their last-16 tie with Denmark has been disrupted by a scourge of mosquitoes at their Bavaria base, with players frequently questioned about the issue in this week's press conferences ahead of the fixture.

One of the solutions has created a further problem; the area is being sprayed with cocoa fumes, and while that is deterring the mosquitoes, it is also creating an unpleasant smell in the camp that is forcing the players back indoors.



https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5599974/2024/06/28/germany-base-euro-2024-mosquitoes/

House-plant craze leaves fragile landscape ransacked

A consumer craze for ornamental house plants has driven a family of cacti to the brink of extinction. Experts are warning over 80 per cent are in trouble because of the illegal trade.

Copiapoa cacti are highly desirable to collectors and this makes them a target for poachers who dig them up, trash the surrounding landscape, and then list them online in international markets.

Poached copiapoa have a grey tone and are coated in a dusty-looking bloom that protects the plants in one of the driest deserts on Earth, whereas cultivated plants appear greener


https://au.news.yahoo.com/house-plant-craze-leaves-fragile-landscape-ransacked-032959080.html

Do plants like banana water? Gardening experts weigh in

The pros share their thoughts on this social media trend and explain how to try it at home


https://www.homesandgardens.com/gardens/do-plants-like-banana-water

Greg is interesting. I only looked at the website and did not run the app.

It reminded me of "Dave's Garden" website. They seem to have got lots of user input, something PBS has struggled with on the wiki.

Problems I foresee are that some plants want watering when they are dry, rather than just once a week. An app. can remind you once a week, but can't see the plant is dry. The usual qualitative description fuzziness, "full sun" varies with where you are. And plants can survive in different conditions - just because your conditions are not optimal does not mean you can't grow something.

Commercial offering which allows them to do things... the business model is people are anxious about keeping plants, offer them reassurance.

"Sharing photos and moments" -- I've certainly had some plant moments in the garden best not shared.

I see some people get a Greg QR code with plants. Maybe PBS could be supplied in the box too.

There's an Amazon advert on UK TV at the moment where a young person moves into a bare and forbidding apartment and makes it friendly by buying plants and gardening supplies on Amazon. This is gardening for the future.

Quote from: CG100 on June 16, 2024, 12:38:02 AMI assume that Eire still operates peat (turf)-fired power stations?

Era of peat-fired electricity ends as Edenderry power plant switches fully to burning biomass

Sat 30 Dec 2023 at 18:30
The last watt of peat-fired electricity will be generated this weekend as the Edenderry power plant finally stops stripping bogs for fuel.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/era-of-peat-fired-electricity-ends-as-edenderry-power-plant-switches-fully-to-burning-biomass/a184309624.html

Quote from: Diane Whitehead on June 14, 2024, 08:22:27 AMvinegar to kill weeds

Abraham Maslow wrote in 1966, "If the only tool you have is a hammer, it is tempting to treat everything as if it were a nail."

The modern amateur is banned from accessing most chemicals, all that is left is vinegar, hence the books "a squillion and one uses for vinegar". However unlikely it is to kill woodworm or whatever one is advised to try it.

Gardeners 'banned' from using vinegar to kill weeds for stark reason

Gardeners have been urged to take extreme care if they're using vinegar as a weedkiller in their garden this summer.

However, gardeners are being warned that vinegar can still be harmful to bees, which are a vital pollinator we're all trying to protect by avoiding lawn cutting and sewing wild flowers.

As one expert explains: "Vinegar is an astringent. If applied topically in a strong enough solution, it will dissolve the coating on the hairs of the trachea and the bees will drown"


https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/garden/1910907/gardeners-banned-vinegar-garden-stark-reason

Quote from: Arnold on June 13, 2024, 08:26:13 AMCytanthus obliquus

Cyrtanthus brachyscyphus

is flowering here at the moment. The large flowered Cyrtanthus sanguineus

is well worth having.

Pictured today - my pot of red, orange and yellow Asiatic lilies. Zantedeschia aethiopica has been having a good year here, in a few neighbouring gardens - it has been a cold Spring in the UK.