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)

In article , Sacha
writes
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.

But wee the others available? What was the date of introduction of all
of them?
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Sacha wrote:

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...

We used to grow Myrtus communis ssp. tarentina 'Microphylla' as a
dwarf flowering pot plant and brought it into gentle heat after
Christmas to get early flowering in February and March. By bringing
plants in successionally from cold, but frost-free cover, it was
possible to have them in flower over a very long period. I never
tried with the straight species, but it responds very well to control
by annual pruning and I see no reason why it could not have been
treated similarly. Very first flowers out of doors here in Torquay
usually start in late February, whereas the bush I had growing against
a house wall in the Midlands never showed much before mid May.

As to Ugni fruit Sacha, if fully and completely sun-ripened, they are
utterly lush steeped for an hour or so in Kirsch with sugar and then
eaten with cream!!!!

Dave Poole
Torquay, Coastal South Devon UK
Winter min -2°C. Summer max 34°C.
Growing season: March - November

On 27/11/04 3:44, in article ,
"Dave Poole" wrote:

Sacha wrote:

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...

We used to grow Myrtus communis ssp. tarentina 'Microphylla' as a
dwarf flowering pot plant and brought it into gentle heat after
Christmas to get early flowering in February and March. By bringing
plants in successionally from cold, but frost-free cover, it was
possible to have them in flower over a very long period. I never
tried with the straight species, but it responds very well to control
by annual pruning and I see no reason why it could not have been
treated similarly. Very first flowers out of doors here in Torquay
usually start in late February, whereas the bush I had growing against
a house wall in the Midlands never showed much before mid May.

That sounds a distinct possibility, then.

As to Ugni fruit Sacha, if fully and completely sun-ripened, they are
utterly lush steeped for an hour or so in Kirsch with sugar and then
eaten with cream!!!!

I'll remember that if we get enough sun to ripen them! Not much chance this
year, I think. Many thanks to all who've answered.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)