"NikV" wrote in message
...

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
. net...

"NikV" wrote in message
...

Another issue, in the new house we have inherited a handsome hedge
which
does a great job of sheilding us from the road
http://www.nasuwt.net/~nikvenn/hedge.jpg

What is it - any ideas, heres a close up shot

http://www.nasuwt.net/~nikvenn/hedgecloseup.jpg

It looks like a laurel to me, I'd cut back to whatever pleases you. The
leaves do get old, brown and brittle.

No idea about the smell but laurel does have its own odour, which I
wouldn't describe as revolting. Can't say I've ever smelt it when wet, I
usually keep away from hedges when it rains!

If you crush the leaves they produce an almondy scent - it's a cyanide
(it
won't kill you). We used to use them in insect killing jars.

Mary


doesn't have the hydrogen cyanide smell of laurel - chopped leaves in
butterfly killing jars of my youth - the brown leaves are on the outside
the
dark green are inside so I would guess older?

thanks for the ideas
--
(º·.¸(¨*·.¸ ¸.·*¨)¸.·º)
.·°·. NIK .·°·.
(¸.·º(¸.·¨* *¨·.¸)º·.¸)
Viburnum tinus possible, I had no idea it had a pong though!

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)