"BoyPete" wrote ...
I've lurked for ages, just posting occasionally. I do hope my pond
orientated posts don't annoy. My garden is about 20ft square, nearly half
is pond now. Most people here seem to be 'real' gardeners, something I'd
love to be if I had the room! I dream of retiring to a large old house
with half an acre..........yeah.....dream on. In the past, I've grown
carrots, Swede, peas, runner beans, lettuce etc, but until recently,
especially sweet corn......great picked and straight on the BBQ Now, I
only have pots Something which bugs me, is the use of the Latin names
for plants. I realise that if you are really into gardening, these things
are important, but to the likes of me........an interested wannabe, they
are meaningless. It would be nice if folk could call plants by their
'common' name perhaps with the Latin in brackets? What do you think?
Thanks for a great friendly group.

Well there are two views about Latin names, yours is one and I realise it
can put a lot of people off, but the main advantage of them is everyone in
the world then knows exactly what plant you are talking about because the
Latin name is universal. For example, a Geranium sp, however if you talk in
common names and say Geranium we wouldn't know if you meant a true hardy
(mostly) Geranium or those tender Zonal Pelargonium often sold as Geraniums
and used for summer bedding. A similar situation pertains with Datura and
Brugmansia and it goes on.
Perhaps those of us with a bit of knowledge about Latin names should try to
use both.
I'll try and remember. Promise. :-)

--
Regards
Bob H
17mls W. of London.UK