"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , Sacha
writes
Hay anyone actually tried eating the berries of these. We have it both
flowering and berrying in the garden at the moment and the smell is
deliciously like strawberries when you crush the berries.
I've found a site that says they're edible and can be used in jellies but
I'm very cautious....... ;-)

Usher 'Plants used by Man' pub Constable 1974 doesn't mention M ugni,
but says of M communis 'the fruits are sometimes used as a condiment and
to relieve stomach upsets' .... that sounds hopeful.

I've nibbled a few M communis for fun and they're rather sloe-like. The
myrtle gin that I made (same method as sloe gin) has a fantastic scent but
the taste is slightly, er medicinal.

The plant itself is wonderful in flower, leaf and scent and has only been
slightly browned at the tips occasionally by by the East Anglian winter in a
partly sheltered North facing corner.

--
Anton

In article , anton
writes


I've nibbled a few M communis for fun and they're rather sloe-like. The
myrtle gin that I made (same method as sloe gin) has a fantastic scent but
the taste is slightly, er medicinal.

The plant itself is wonderful in flower, leaf and scent and has only been
slightly browned at the tips occasionally by by the East Anglian winter in a
partly sheltered North facing corner.

Yes, very beautiful, but here in Yorkshire I get flowers only in a good
summer. But it survives the winters with no problem.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Kay wrote:
[ M communis ]

Yes, very beautiful, but here in Yorkshire I get flowers only in a
good summer. But it survives the winters with no problem.

Kay, I'm just down the road from you in central Wakefield, and my variegated
myrtle flowers every year. It was full of blossom last summer.

I know we have a warm microclimate here. In winter it's usually up to 2
degrees warmer here than at the M1 J41, a couple of miles away.

--
Sally Holmes
Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England

In article , Sally Holmes
writes
Kay wrote:
[ M communis ]

Yes, very beautiful, but here in Yorkshire I get flowers only in a
good summer. But it survives the winters with no problem.

Kay, I'm just down the road from you in central Wakefield, and my variegated
myrtle flowers every year. It was full of blossom last summer.

I know we have a warm microclimate here. In winter it's usually up to 2
degrees warmer here than at the M1 J41, a couple of miles away.

And I'm 300ft higher than you too ;-)
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

On 24/11/04 16:29, in article , "anton"
wrote:

snip

I've nibbled a few M communis for fun and they're rather sloe-like. The
myrtle gin that I made (same method as sloe gin) has a fantastic scent but
the taste is slightly, er medicinal.

The plant itself is wonderful in flower, leaf and scent and has only been
slightly browned at the tips occasionally by by the East Anglian winter in a
partly sheltered North facing corner.

We have other types of Myrtle in the garden (some self-seeded which I always
like to see) but it had never occurred to me to try the berries. And
speaking of M. communis, is that the one that is supposed to be traditional
for royal brides' bouquets? Because if it is, Ray thinks they may have the
wrong plant and that the 'fertile myrtle' was Myrtus lechleriana, because it
flowers during the months weddings are more often held. We have one of the
latter here grown by Edward Hyams who describes his collection as a 'cult of
myrtles'. The M. lechleriana is now known as Ammomytus luma.
And Ray has just recalled someone telling him that Queen Victoria was said
to gorge herself on the berries of some myrtle or other -- maybe the lovely,
strawberry scented one or Myrtus lechleriana? A sprig of myrtle was in her
bouquet and was planted at Osborne House so I wonder which *that* was.
--

Sacha
(remove the weeds for email)

On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 18:22:16 +0000, Sacha
wrote:

On 24/11/04 16:29, in article , "anton"
wrote:

snip

I've nibbled a few M communis for fun and they're rather sloe-like. The
myrtle gin that I made (same method as sloe gin) has a fantastic scent but
the taste is slightly, er medicinal.

The plant itself is wonderful in flower, leaf and scent and has only been
slightly browned at the tips occasionally by by the East Anglian winter in a
partly sheltered North facing corner.

We have other types of Myrtle in the garden (some self-seeded which I always
like to see) but it had never occurred to me to try the berries. And
speaking of M. communis, is that the one that is supposed to be traditional
for royal brides' bouquets? Because if it is, Ray thinks they may have the
wrong plant and that the 'fertile myrtle' was Myrtus lechleriana, because it
flowers during the months weddings are more often held. We have one of the
latter here grown by Edward Hyams who describes his collection as a 'cult of
myrtles'. The M. lechleriana is now known as Ammomytus luma.
And Ray has just recalled someone telling him that Queen Victoria was said
to gorge herself on the berries of some myrtle or other -- maybe the lovely,
strawberry scented one or Myrtus lechleriana? A sprig of myrtle was in her
bouquet and was planted at Osborne House so I wonder which *that* was.

At one time we had here a herb nursery with Myrtus communis supposedly
derived from the sprig in Queen Victoria's wedding bouquet.


--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, BC, Canada
to send email, change atlantic to pacific
and invalid to net

"Rodger Whitlock" wrote in message
...

[snip]

At one time we had here a herb nursery with Myrtus communis
supposedly
derived from the sprig in Queen Victoria's wedding bouquet.

In a small lawn just outside the Physics building of York University
there is an apple tree which is purported to be a clone of Newton's
tree.

Franz

On 25/11/04 11:27 pm, in article ,
"Rodger Whitlock" wrote:

On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 18:22:16 +0000, Sacha
wrote:
snip
And Ray has just recalled someone telling him that Queen Victoria was said
to gorge herself on the berries of some myrtle or other -- maybe the lovely,
strawberry scented one or Myrtus lechleriana? A sprig of myrtle was in her
bouquet and was planted at Osborne House so I wonder which *that* was.

At one time we had here a herb nursery with Myrtus communis supposedly
derived from the sprig in Queen Victoria's wedding bouquet.

Ray's theory on that - which is strictly personal and probably not
verifiable - is that it wouldn't have been Myrtus communis because of the
time of flowering. Victoria was married in February.
--

Sacha
(remove the weeds for email)

"Sacha" wrote in message
k...
On 25/11/04 11:27 pm, in article ,
"Rodger Whitlock" wrote:

On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 18:22:16 +0000, Sacha
wrote:
snip
And Ray has just recalled someone telling him that Queen Victoria was
said
to gorge herself on the berries of some myrtle or other -- maybe the
lovely,
strawberry scented one or Myrtus lechleriana? A sprig of myrtle was in
her
bouquet and was planted at Osborne House so I wonder which *that* was.

At one time we had here a herb nursery with Myrtus communis supposedly
derived from the sprig in Queen Victoria's wedding bouquet.

Ray's theory on that - which is strictly personal and probably not
verifiable - is that it wouldn't have been Myrtus communis because of the
time of flowering. Victoria was married in February.

'scuse possibly ignorant statement as flouranging not ever been one my
anorakdoms, couldn't the foliage have been used for some of the greenery on
the bouquet, giving a fantastic scent too?

--
Anton

anton wrote:
"Sacha" wrote in message
k...
On 25/11/04 11:27 pm, in article
,
"Rodger Whitlock" wrote:

On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 18:22:16 +0000, Sacha
wrote:
snip
And Ray has just recalled someone telling him that Queen
Victoria
was said to gorge herself on the berries of some myrtle or other
-- maybe the lovely, strawberry scented one or Myrtus
lechleriana?
A sprig of myrtle was in her bouquet and was planted at Osborne
House so I wonder which *that* was.

At one time we had here a herb nursery with Myrtus communis
supposedly derived from the sprig in Queen Victoria's wedding
bouquet.

Ray's theory on that - which is strictly personal and probably not
verifiable - is that it wouldn't have been Myrtus communis because
of the time of flowering. Victoria was married in February.

'scuse possibly ignorant statement as flouranging not ever been one
my
anorakdoms, couldn't the foliage have been used for some of the
greenery on the bouquet, giving a fantastic scent too?

Surely the Victorians knew how to get things out of season as well as
we do? (I'm not claiming to know you could do it with myrtle; but if
it can be done, they could.)

Mike.

On 26/11/04 7:47 pm, in article , "Mike Lyle"
wrote:

snip

Surely the Victorians knew how to get things out of season as well as
we do? (I'm not claiming to know you could do it with myrtle; but if
it can be done, they could.)


Could be - the myrtles we have are pretty tall, apart from M. ugni, so a
high greenhouse, orangerie, conservatory, or whatever would be needed. It's
just that we can't see why you'd force M. communis to flower in February, if
others are actually flowering and available naturally.
For those interested, I found this list of the meaning of flowers:
http://www.weddingguideuk.com/articl...asp#symbolicme
aning
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

On 26/11/04 4:33 pm, in article , "anton"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
k...
On 25/11/04 11:27 pm, in article ,
"Rodger Whitlock" wrote:

On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 18:22:16 +0000, Sacha
wrote:
snip
And Ray has just recalled someone telling him that Queen Victoria was
said
to gorge herself on the berries of some myrtle or other -- maybe the
lovely,
strawberry scented one or Myrtus lechleriana? A sprig of myrtle was in
her
bouquet and was planted at Osborne House so I wonder which *that* was.

At one time we had here a herb nursery with Myrtus communis supposedly
derived from the sprig in Queen Victoria's wedding bouquet.

Ray's theory on that - which is strictly personal and probably not
verifiable - is that it wouldn't have been Myrtus communis because of the
time of flowering. Victoria was married in February.

'scuse possibly ignorant statement as flouranging not ever been one my
anorakdoms, couldn't the foliage have been used for some of the greenery on
the bouquet, giving a fantastic scent too?

Oh certainly - though the scent of the leaves is a rather musky, sexy scent.
Someone in Greece once called it the scent of Aphrodite. I *think* the
general idea was that she had the flowers in her bouquet, though if it was a
fertility symbol, the myrtle leaves would do just as well, I suppose!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

Sacha wrote..........."Someone in Greece once called it the scent of
Aphrodite. I *think* the general idea was that she had the flowers in her
bouquet, though if it was a
fertility symbol, the myrtle leaves would do just as well, I suppose!
.........."

Well if was for fertility it certainly worked.

Used to grow this in Islington. The berries that ripened were absolutely
delicious. Strongly recommended if you have a sunny spot.

anton wrote:

"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , Sacha
writes
Hay anyone actually tried eating the berries of these. We have it both
flowering and berrying in the garden at the moment and the smell is
deliciously like strawberries when you crush the berries.
I've found a site that says they're edible and can be used in jellies but
I'm very cautious....... ;-)

Usher 'Plants used by Man' pub Constable 1974 doesn't mention M ugni,
but says of M communis 'the fruits are sometimes used as a condiment and
to relieve stomach upsets' .... that sounds hopeful.

I've nibbled a few M communis for fun and they're rather sloe-like. The
myrtle gin that I made (same method as sloe gin) has a fantastic scent but
the taste is slightly, er medicinal.

In Sardinia (Italy), they make a really nice liqueur based on myrtle
berries and leaves. They use almost pure alcohol and sugar, rather than
gin.

The leaves are also used in cooking, expecially roast piglet / pork

The plant itself is wonderful in flower, leaf and scent and has only been
slightly browned at the tips occasionally by by the East Anglian winter in a
partly sheltered North facing corner.

--
Anton