Presentation: The Incredible Nature of Brazil by Tracy Foster

 

Presentation: The Incredible Nature of Brazil

Tracy Foster is a frequent speaker at Friday Forum. As well as being a garden designer winning Golds at Chelsea, she is a botanical guide and gives lectures on cruise ships.

This time, Tracy gave us a fascinating insight into the plants and animals of Brazil, from where most of the species of plants originate, thought to be well in excess of 46,000.

We learnt about the Brazil tree, after which the country is named, which produces nuts but also wood for making violin bows and dyes. Living in the Atlantic Forest, the tree needs the special bees to pollinate it. The very heavy fruit which resembles a coconut can be dangerous to collect, especially on a windy day! It is propagated by the rodent Agouti which can chew the thick skinned fruit to get to the seed and disperse it.

Tracy also showed photos of the work of the world famous Brazilian landscape designer Roberto Burle Marx whose stunning signature style uses local plants and mosaic pavements

Display Table

Carol brought Nandina domestica (heavenly bamboo) and Leatris spicata

Sue calls her arrangement Three of a kind and comprises

Persicaria: Blackfield, Orange Field and J S Caliente

Penstemon: Threave Pink, Elgar Enigma and Pinifolia

Crocosmia: Limpopo, Okavango and Severn Sunrise

Kate brought: Ceratostigma willmottianum, Anemone “Dreaming Swan”, Eurybia x herveyi (Aster macrophyllus “Twilight”), Persicaria “September Spires”, Phlox “The King” and Monarda “Deep Purple”

Judith’s arrangement includes: Euphorbia stricta with its dark red stems, the annual Hibiscus trionum, Cynoglossum, Gladiolus papilio Ruby, Senna (Colutea), Crocosmia Paul’s Good Yellow, Phlox, Phytolacca laka boom and Everlasting flower

John brought a container of new Streptocarous sprouting from a leaf

Norma brought a caterpillar of the Box Tree Moth, Cydalima perspectalis, which has come over from Asia to attack our plants!

We had lots of plant on the Sales Table 

Gardening Matters

Here are some upcoming flower shows:

 

Admission

Adults £1 or by membership card

Children under 16 free

Refreshments (available until 3.00 pm )

Raffle, Plants, Calendars, Greeting Cards,

Tombola, Cacti/Succulents, Jams/Chutney

Next Meeting

6^th September – Bulb Bonanza. Hyacinth bulbs will be distributed to members to grow at home. We will also be discussing our favourite bulbs so do bring along any catalogues you have.