Bentota buying weed

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Bentota buying weed

Lunuganga, meaning salt river, is near the coastal tourist town of Bentota in Sri Lanka. It is a garden of vistas and beauty, and a garden often more about art and buildings than plants. It is about landscape, on both a large and small scale. The garden was built over many years by Geoffrey Bawa , one of the great hotel architects of the 20th Century. He is described as a tropical modernist and believed particularly in merging the outdoor and indoor, something only practical in the tropics, where temperatures are always warm and can be managed by breezes and shade. The indoors then can merge with the outdoors, which is a bit of a conundrum, as we tend to think that gardens are outside, not in. But perhaps in a Bawa garden, gardens can start inside with a view out, or even outdoors with a view in and then out again. Views are certainly important for Bawa, as his buildings and Lunuganga show. Lunuganga is built around his country home, where he might spend the weekends after leaving his office in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo. The house and garden is built on a peninsula in a tropical lagoon, with water readily visible on two sides, north and south. The classic view is that featured above. A visit to Lunuganga begins at some wide gates, flanked by two little lodges with pointed roofs 1. Click the map below to enlarge. Here you leave your car and walk up a wooded driveway toward the house. You are overshadowed by huge tropical trees as you turn through more than 90 degrees to approach the house. The house is of a traditional design, with white walls and curved tile roofs, never more than a couple of stories high. But punctuated with occasional towers which hold water tanks. The first room you enter is the Garden Room 2 , in which you turn to the left and begin an anticlockwise route around the garden. The Black Portico is a place where the architect used to sit and admire a view westwards along a straight avenue called the Broad Walk. On the left is the house in the trees, and on the right, paddy fields and beyond them the lagoon. In the foreground is a bridge, then an island with sculptures and a walkway. It is surrounded by ferns and water lilies. Walking along the Broad Walk, the views are to your right, across the paddy fields and out to the lagoon, known as Dedduwa Lake. Old frangipani trees line the way, and the shoreline is decorated with a balustrade and classical vases. You can approach the lagoon from the Broad Walk to a paved area known as the Water Gate 5. When you get to the end of the Broad Walk the path turns slowly to the left, bringing you up wooded steps and back towards the house. From here the tour takes us to the Small House 8 , which stands on the corner of the drive where we came in. From this side we see the stairs and the wrought iron railing, while to the right there is the entrance to the veranda which takes us across a sunken lane to Cinnamon Hill 9. Today the old tree is gone and has been replaced by another, but the vase remains. Walking over the hill, named after an old cinnamon plantation, the lagoon becomes visible on the southern side. Here cows help keep the grass short, accompanied as is traditional in Sri Lanka, with an egret or two. And to the right side, one of several brick towers supports a windmill used for raising water Then at the far end of the garden, what were once described as ruins have been transformed into picturesque chalets 11 that are available to rent out. They enjoy the view toward the lagoon. Heading back to the house, the tour takes us to the Northern Terrace It is here that the large old frangipani tree gives us the view of the lake and far shore through its branches. Bawa built the terrace to create a space on this side of the house to enjoy from the living room windows and space north of the house. And he embellished the view with one or two Roman statues of naked youths to give a classical and homoerotic atmosphere. Those facing west give entry to a conservatory with views of the forest trees. Muted natural tones and the contrast of black and white, with little in the way of bright colour. Here polished brown concrete floors match the antique Burgher furniture and contrast with the white walls and fabrics. It is said that Bawa also carefully considered the view from this table, to the south towards Cinnamon Hill. In Capability Brown fashion, he had the hill lowered and a country lane sunk down so as not to interfere with the vista across the water to a resplendent white Buddhist temple. Unfortunately, the temple is now hidden by trees. I cannot finish without mentioning a few plants you can see at Lunuganga. Firstly the pinky blue water lily that is the national flower of Sri Lanka, that abounds in lily ponds by the Black Portico. And everywhere in Sri Lanka you can see the largest fruit in the world: Jackfruit, which may weigh up to 55kg. When ripe it is sweet but I have never had that in Sri Lanka, although it is popular in Thailand. Sri Lankans say that cutting down these trees is illegal in their country as destroying it threatens to starve the Sri Lankan people. Creeping over slightly shaded damp stonework in Sri Lankan gardens you might find Episcia cupreata , the flame-violet. It has charming patterned leaves and the bright scarlet flowers that are hard to forget. Planted just to the west of the house is a Ceylon ironwood tree, which has a great religious significance in Sri Lanka, and under which several Buddhas are thought to have achieved enlightenment. And there is evidence it was widely planted around ancient Buddhist sites such as Dambulla, Ritigala and Kandalama and still survives there. Ironwood is the national tree of Sri Lanka. It is graceful with reddish pink branches of young leaves and a fragrant white flower. The wood is incredibly dense and hard. Also in the woodland surrounding the house is the large yellow-flowered shrub Dillenia suffruticosa. It has various medicinal uses and the leaf can be used for holding food. But the plant is also regarded as an invasive weed. Dotted around Lunuganga are several huge basket ferns Drynaria sp. This one sits magnificently on a rock in woodland, while others may clasp the trunks of trees. Marshall Cavendish Editions, I spent a week on Gran Canaria over New Year in Just in the hotel grounds there were a few things to grab my attention. These stems were about 1 metre high and the flowers were a gorgeous lemon yellow. It could well be just Aloe vera , the widely grown medicinal plant which is unlikely to flower if grown indoors. Also in the hotel garden there were the classic shrub Hibiscus rosa-sinensis , which is too pretty to be called the shoeblack plant, which is what one website calls it. It has been shown to be protective against gastric ulcers and even an aphrodisiac. And this pink clerodendron was also in the garden, a shrub about a metre high. It flowers in the late summer and has thick evergreen leaves. This then produces a flower which is zygomorphic with very prominent stamens. In this case the flower petals and the sepals are almost the same colour so difficult to distinguish. This is not always so, the calyx can be much paler. Clerodendrons can then go on to produce usually dark purple berries which are still surrounded by the pinkish sepals. Out and about on the streets of Las Palomas there was Lantana camara being grown as a hedge. It can be prickly and it is widely grown in greenhouses in UK butterfly farms — if such things still exist. No doubt it produces plenty of accessible nectar for such insects. It is in the verbena family, Verbenaceae, not at all hardy and is apparently toxic. Another hedge was this rather unruly plant — Acalypha — which was about 2 metres tall. If there is a centre to Maspalomas it is the Yumbo Centre which is a sort of s concrete shopping mall with a garden at its centre. Always dominant are the beautiful Washingtonia palms which in fact come from Mexico but are most famous for me as the trademark of Los Angeles. They became an icon when painted so often by David Hockney back in the s. Out on the streets I noticed this recently plant palm tree, which I think is quite attractive. It has plumose leaves — that means the leaflets are attached to the spine of the leaf at several angles, not just at degrees producing a flat leaf like a date palm. ORG which helps you to identify cultivated palm trees. And if you like something a bit spectacular and a little gross, here are the flowers of the cup of gold vine, Solandra maxima. They are about 20cm across! This was growing as a climber at a garden edge with bougainvilleas. Apparently it comes from Mexico and has hallucinogenic properties like some other members of the potato family, the Solanaceae. Planting a new tree in a small garden is not a decision you take every day, every year or even every five years. Having recently decided to remove a very large and over dominant Japanese cherry tree from my garden, I now face that decision. So here are my thoughts on the subject. Height and spread: My last cherry tree — Prunus shirotae Tai Haku — was planted in about and in almost 25 years grew to about metres tall with a spread of at least 5 metres. A reasonable aim would be four metres or so in 10 years and a spread of no more than three. Do I want red leaves, green, yellow, blue or silver? I think red leaves on what is probably going to be the largest plant in the garden might be oppressive. Silver is nice and blue is great. Anyone choosing a tree needs to think about their site and whether it will be suitable for the chosen tree. Poor drainage and shade might make a choice more difficult. Japanese maple eg Acer palmatum Seiryu 2. Cornus kousa var chinensis 3. Snake bark maple Acer capillipes 4. Rowan Joseph Rock 5. Amelanchier lamarckii or Amelanchier alnifolia Obelisk 6. Betula jacquemontii 7. Cercis eg Cercis chinensis Avondale 8. Magnolia 9. Styrax japonicus Acacia baileyana purpurea. Bearing in mind my size requirements, there are many which might fit, and many which might remain too small. Those that fit my size requirements include Seriyu, Sango-kaku and Red Wood. Seriyu is part of the dissectum group with very finely divided leaves. It is relatively tall — an October article in The Garden magazine says 7m tall with a spread of 4m, but there is no age specified. The plus points of this tree are its fine shape and elegant leaves which colour up in autumn. My own experience of this tree suggests it will reach about m in 20 years with a spread of perhaps 4m which can be curtailed by pruning. It has fine yellowish foliage in the autumn, its young shoots are red and the tree has an elegant profile. This is an improved version of Sango-kaku, according the article in The Garden. It has similar foliage but perhaps redder bark and is perhaps slightly smaller. Its height is given as 6m with a spread of 4m. Also known as Cornus kousa , this small tree is variously quoted at 3 to 4 metres tall at 20 years with a 3 metre spread. It has a lovely form and fine flowers in May-June in the UK. It also bears a red fruit and has good autumn colour. The tree comes in various forms, the standard being Cornus kousa v. It needs a sunny site and well drained soil. One of the things that puts me off this tree is the fact that I know one of my friends treasures it and has it in her garden! There are several species which appear under this English name: Acer capillipes , A. All have similar attractive bark but in terms of size, you need to be careful about what you are buying as they may vary. UK retailer Ornamental Trees lists the height of Acer capillipes as 5m with a spread of 4m in 20 years, A. It does not sell A. I have seen a snake bark maple growing in my locality and it was a well mannered tree, not growing too fast or out of shape. My bet would be that this was A. Of all the many varieties of rowan trees Sorbus I think this is among the best. Its attractions are its leaves which colour up nicely in the autumn, its yellow berries and of course its spring blossom. I will say no more as I know from experience it does not like the sandy soil and dry summer climate of my garden in Hackney. In the early s I planted a 2m tree which seemed to get smaller by dying back each year. I then tried grafting stems onto other Sorbus rootstock. So if you are planning to plant it, then clay or higher rainfall may be what it likes. Amelanchiers are small trees or shrubs with lovely white or pinkish flowers in spring, bright autumn foliage and small berries which are loved by birds. They are native to North America and there are many species — for example: A. English names include Snowy Mespilus, Serviceberry and Juneberry. You can buy them as shrubs or trained trees up to 2m in height. They are reported to be tough and tolerant of a wide range of conditions. Their natural habitat is as under shrubs in forests, and the Royal Horticultural Society RHS says they look good dotted around in a woodland garden. I am not sure, however, that the growth habit of these trees will suit everyone. Although you can buy them as trees, they look like they are apt to become many stemmed shrubs. However it does have a slight drawback in that it does not have a definite habit: it suckers from the base, meaning it will quickly revert to a shrubby, multi-stemmed habit if not pruned to encourage a clean trunk. I suspect the same is true of most Amelanchiers. I note that the website of Ornamental Trees — a comprehensive UK tree retailer — notes for all Amelanchiers that you should prune out growth more than four years old to retain shape and vigour. So I think that you will have to prune Amelanchiers regularly to maintain a clear stem if you want a tree. Perhaps a slight exception may be A. Ornamental Trees describes this variety as having a more upright habit than most Amelanchiers. There are also plenty of images on the web which suggest it can be kept as a tree. Birches are lovely trees and are extremely fashionable, which means of course that they are everywhere. I have chosen to look at the Himalayan birch, Betula jacquemontii, as it seems to be smaller that the magnificent Betula pendula — the UK native silver birch. Nevertheless, the RHS lists its maximum height as 12m and its spread as 8m but it would take over 20 years to get to this size. The bark of the Himalayan birch is even whiter than the silver birch, but it does not have the same weeping habit. Many-stemmed forms of all birches are also popular and have the advantage of maximising the attraction of the stems. The Judas Tree, Cercis siliquastrum , produces a bold statement in spring with strong purple flowers before its leaves develop. They are widely planted as street trees in some parts of the south of France. Cercis belongs in the pea family, Fabaceae, and it does produce pods after flowering. Other cultivated species include C. The Royal Horticultural Society says some C. So be wary what you buy. To be sure of a small tree there is C. Other cultivars worth noting are the purple-leaved C. Its leaves are large and beautiful and is grown more for these that the flowers, which are less conspicuous. Then there is C. Its flowers are larger than those of Forest Pansy. Apparently this can get up to 10m so a substantial tree. My impression of Cercis from looking at images on the internet is that if you go for a multi-stemmed plant then you are going to end up with a thicket. But if you trim down to a single trunk then your will get a small tree which is a very spreading lollipop shape. Styrax japonicus or the Japanese snowbell tree is a deciduous tree with white flowers that grows to about 10m high and 4m spread in 20 years, so it is a little on the large side for my garden. However, it is unusual and elegant with the benefit of many white blossoms in May, probably lasting longer than those of a cherry tree. Styrax japonicus , in the Styracaceae family, comes in many varieties including Pink Chimes above with the slightly pink-tinged flowers. Generally though the flowers are pure white and hang neatly from the spreading branches. It wants full sun and a sheltered position, so it likes a good spot. But it is very elegant and can be controlled by pruning after flowering, the Royal Horticultural Society tells us. There are so many magnolias it is difficult to know where to start. The commonest one in the UK is M. All are spring flowering before the leaves develop and the typical look is large tulip-shaped flowers with broad white petals flushed with pink from the base. The trees are deciduous and like a sunny spot. And it will spread if you let it. But it is undoubtedly beautiful and worth considering. Other smaller varieties include M. The RHS gives a maximum height and spread of metres with a similar spread. There is also M. This small acacia, also called the Cootamundra wattle, is notable for its lovely blue foliage which is purple when young. It produces yellow flowers in the depths of winter — January and February — and grows to a height of m in 20 years with a spread of about 3m. I speak with some experience, having planted one in my south-west-facing front garden 25 years ago. It has been a joy and something passers-by often ask me about. So no further consideration for me but check it out if it is new to you. My tree is about 4m tall with a m spread. It attracts a lot of attention from passers by who ask me for its name! My small London back garden is north-east facing and on a sandy loam soil. It is about five metres wide, 30m long and fortunately completely walled. I guess I should also mention my front garden which is south-west facing, but that is only about three square metres and is dominated by a small tree and a wisteria climbing the front wall of the house. January is a challenge. This is one of the sasanqua camellias that are known for flowering in the autumn and winter. This lovely crimson Yuletide came out last year on Christmas Day and then flowered throughout January. Unlike some other sasanquas, it is good at holding on to its petals. It is currently in a pot but as it gets bigger it might be better in the ground. My experience is that although my soil is at best neutral and often contaminated with concrete or mortar, with a good mulch of leaf mould or matured woodchip, camellias of all kinds can do well. In fact, I have planted this only in my front garden which is just a few square metres of south-west facing garden. Everywhere else, the cyclamen are C. My experience is quite consistent with that, and I have deliberately removed C. Also in the front garden, towering above the cyclamen, is this acacia which is flowering beautifully this year. This tree is rather splendid and gets a lot of attention from passers-by who constantly ask me for a name. Generally though, this is in the summer when its chief attraction is the purple young growth nestling against the older blue-grey leaves. Finally in the front garden, there are some Crocus tommasinianus purpurea nestling against the base of a south facing wall. I call this my two-inch border, and I try and restrict it to a few small bulbs and succulents. Last year I cleared it out and sprayed it to kill of an infestation of a copper-leaved Oxalis which is very weedy in gardens around here. In the back garden there is a large mahonia which is in flower through the autumn and winter. It requires vicious pruning after flowering but does produce black berries much-loved by blackbirds. I am careful to allow many of these to remain available. I have flowering a single Galanthus elwesii which I bought some years ago in a pot. It has clearly not spread wildey! I have also transplanted a couple of clumps of smaller snowdrops, which I assume are G. But they are not in flower yet. They are planted in the shadier side of the garden in an area where I am doing my best to put plenty of leaf mould and mulch. Finally, a nice surprise. I have been growing the pineapple-scented sage for some time but with little success. I gave it plenty of sun last summer and was disappointed that there were no flowers. Now it has burst into life! I keep it close to the house to benefit from the heat, but it gets no sun at all just now. I pulled out four good photos — 3 of flowers and 1 of leaves — and found out how they fared in identifying them accurately. You can download this app for either iPhone or Android. It correctly identified all four of my photos see below so I give it a top five star rating! A phone app for android. It only seems to accept photos taken there and then, not gallery photos taken previously. You can get around this if you have two devices by taking a picture of the screen. It identified photo a and b correctly, but it came up with a Lychnis species for photo c , even after being given photos of the leaves. It did however, correctly identified photo d. Rating three stars. Phone App for android or IOS. On photo a. The last of these is a close relative of Anemopsis californica so that at least can be helpful in identification. On photo b it correctly identified Mirabilis jalapa. On photo c it came up with Crocosmia , Hyacinthus and Hibiscus , none of which were helpful. But it correctly identified the leaf in photo d. Rating two stars. For iPhones and iPads. With photo a it came up with a range of quite unrelated flowers, including roses, violas and aquilegias. For photo b it correctly identified Mirabilis jalapa. For photo c it came up with a stream of things with Crocosmia at the top but including Nerine bowdenii a relative of N. Perhaps one of the problems is that it seems to be focused on plants you can buy, not weeds or wild plants. I am aware that there are other services for plant identification available. See for example this page from The Plant Guide which identifies 11 apps. NatureGate This works for plants, animals and birds etc. It asks questions about colour, structure etc and presents you with alternatives with pictures. Google Goggles Apparently this no longer exists but you can search images with Google. If you put in a flower it comes up with broadly similar things, but is rather generic. LikeThatGarden Flower search app for android phones. Not available from Google Play Store. Not currently available in the UK iPflanzen. For IOS devices. Relies on inputting data for identification, not based on photos. Not available in UK App Store. Not really appropriate for identification. It looks like an orchid hanging from a tree, but no — these flowers come from the tree itself. I saw it in flower in Gampaha botanical gardens, Sri Lanka, in February Apparently it is very rare in the wild and seems to be very poor at producing seed. It is slow growing and difficult to propagate. Looking on the web I see there are images from India, Indonesia and Florida. The leaves are large and pinnate and weep gently. Barcelona has some lovely outdoor spaces and its beautiful Mediterranean climate allows some very special tropical and subtropical plants to grow there. Some of them are outstanding and I love to go back there. It is of course topped by an old castle and has been an important site for the defence of the city and its harbour. Now it has over 20 gardens, built at different times and for different reasons. The mountain also boasts two cable cars. There are other museums, art galleries and even a public swimming pool — so plenty for holiday makers. There is a pdf file available and there are many green signs around and about with maps and explanations. These figure across the city and all its points of interest, but I find them less than helpful because every notice and the pdf is written only in Catalan. So if you want to get the best, follow this website! To see all the gardens can be an exhausting process for a single day if you take as much interest in plants as I do, especially in the heat of the summer. But you can do it if you start in the cool of the morning. There are really two places to start. The Barcelona City Council provides the following useful map. It splits the botanical journey into six parts, denoted by the brightly coloured areas. This is the way the City of Barcelona plans it. I recommend it because it is an easy downhill walk all the way and I think you will appreciate more the great views across the city. The map gives you the line to follow, but of course you will want to explore a little more than this. You can also use the cable cars to make your trip easier. In a short distance the entrance to the garden is on your right. The green notice gives you a map and I advise head straight up to the top pond so you can walk down. The walk up the steps will be through a glade of evergreen Magnolia grandiflora and feijoas Acca sellowiana , or pineapple guava trees. But the greatest delight is to walk downhill and look at the cascade of ponds and their water lilies, lotus flowers and waterside plants. I have been lucky enough to see lotus blossoms, which are not closely related to water lilies and show distinct differences. Lotus flowers and leaves can stand well clear of the water, and the seed pods are quite distinctive. There are only two lotus species, Nelumbo nucifera — from India and Asia — and N. The latin name Nelumbo is Sinhalese for lotus. The magnificently named powdery alligator flag is widely planted. How its name arose is a mystery, except if you look at the flowers they do look powdery, apart from the purple petals. At the bottom of the cascade there is a large pond with a fountain. Around here people sit and enjoy the shade cast by the white poplar trees. Lovely is the rose But so is the bouquet And so is the lily Which flowers all year round. To continue on the botanical journey you simply have to cross the road as you leave the garden by the gate near the lower pond. You are moving from the pink area on the map to the orange: The Gardens of Joan Brossa. You will then see a tunnel under the road and on the other side you will be rewarded by a glorious bank of Plumbago. Carry on and turn first right to take you up onto the higher road. The botanic garden and the Petra Kelly garden is signposted to the left, so walk on past the oleanders! Now it has paths, trees, sculptures and open spaces. I have to say it is not a notable garden botanically but you might be interested to spot a few of the trees that are planted here. These include date palms, London planes, narrow-leaved ashes Fraxinus angustifolia , Monterey cypresses Hesperocyparis macrocarpa , olive trees, walnuts and downy oaks Quercus pubescens. In one of the larger open spaces overflown by the cable car is a bronze statue which is a tribute to an unnamed clown from the amusement park. From the Gardens of Joan Brossa you will end up on a main road heading up towards the castle. This is a wooded area and you will enjoy more views of the city as you descend towards the Miramar Gardens and the Miramar Hotel. From the Gardens of Joan Brossa you will end up on a main road heading up toward the castle. On your botanical journey you need to head down the hill and towards the east on the map. You will enjoy lovely views of the city and a steep decline towards the Miramar Gardens, the Miramar Hotel and the Poble Sec viewpoint. This is the best place to view the city at the northern edge of the Miramar Gardens. The notice boards would tell you all about the geological origin of the Barcelona plain, if you could understand Catalan. What you can see in the picture below, taken in summer , is the Sagrada Familia under construction on the far left side, spanning to the right the main spire of the cathedral of the Barri Gotic old town, and then the two octagonal towers of the St Maria del Mar church. The Miramar Gardens, coloured red on the map, consist of formal beds and, on the eastern side, a fine avenue of Phytolacca dioica trees. The notices tell us that the garden was developed by a French landscape engineer Jean Claude Nicola Forestier for the International Exposition of Its terraces — and the so called Forestier steps which are to the east of the avenue — are built of Montjuic stone. Phytolacca trees are a remarkable South American species from Argentina and Uruguay. Their wood is very spongy and they have evolved from the herbaceous phytolaccas which include the North American pokeweeds. Phytolacca trees are widely planted in the streets of Barcelona but these are the oldest you will see in Spain. They have very gnarled and interesting stumps! Miramar Gardens provide an opportunity for Barcelona council to show off its bedding among box hedges and topiaried trees. But in the margins by the hotel there are a few interesting shrubs including brugmansias, abutilons, persimmons, avocados and jujubes. A plan of Lunuganga house and garden: North is to the right. Start 2. Garden Room 3. Eastern Terrace 4. Black Portico 5. Water Gate 6. Blue Pavilion 7. Field of Jars 8. Small House 9. Cinnamon Hill Windmill Tower Guest Houses Northern Terrace Main House and Finish The house is of a traditional design, with white walls and curved tile roofs, never more than a couple of stories high. The Hen House, and beyond a huge bamboo and the lily pond The view from the house down to a lily pond and the Black Portico The Black Portico is a place where the architect used to sit and admire a view westwards along a straight avenue called the Broad Walk. The view along the Broad Walk, with bridge, island and lily pond in front Walking along the Broad Walk, the views are to your right, across the paddy fields and out to the lagoon, known as Dedduwa Lake. Frangipani and paddy fields You can approach the lagoon from the Broad Walk to a paved area known as the Water Gate 5. A view near the Water Gate, enhance by a classical balustrade When you get to the end of the Broad Walk the path turns slowly to the left, bringing you up wooded steps and back towards the house. The well marks the beginning of the Field of Jars The Field of Jars and a reflective pond From here the tour takes us to the Small House 8 , which stands on the corner of the drive where we came in. Cinnamon Hill, a Chinese jar on the horizon Walking over the hill, named after an old cinnamon plantation, the lagoon becomes visible on the southern side. Cow plus egrets The Windmill Tower, and beyond the lagoon to the south Then at the far end of the garden, what were once described as ruins have been transformed into picturesque chalets 11 that are available to rent out. Chalets Heading back to the house, the tour takes us to the Northern Terrace The flower of Nymphaea nouchali, the national flower of Sri Lanka And everywhere in Sri Lanka you can see the largest fruit in the world: Jackfruit, which may weigh up to 55kg. The Jackfruit tree, Artocarpus heterophyllus Creeping over slightly shaded damp stonework in Sri Lankan gardens you might find Episcia cupreata , the flame-violet. Episcia cupreata in the Gesneriaceae, the family of Saintpaulia African violets Planted just to the west of the house is a Ceylon ironwood tree, which has a great religious significance in Sri Lanka, and under which several Buddhas are thought to have achieved enlightenment. The flower of the Ceylon ironwood tree, Mesua ferrea Also in the woodland surrounding the house is the large yellow-flowered shrub Dillenia suffruticosa. Dillenia suffruticosa , a large shrub known locally as para Dotted around Lunuganga are several huge basket ferns Drynaria sp. A basket fern, possibly Drynaria quercifolia, with its two kinds of fronds Useful references: Garden website: lunuganga. Aloe flower up close Also in the hotel garden there were the classic shrub Hibiscus rosa-sinensis , which is too pretty to be called the shoeblack plant, which is what one website calls it. Turnera diffusa And this pink clerodendron was also in the garden, a shrub about a metre high. Clerodendrum x speciosum flowers Out and about on the streets of Las Palomas there was Lantana camara being grown as a hedge. Lantana camara Another hedge was this rather unruly plant — Acalypha — which was about 2 metres tall. Acalypha amentacea or A. Gardens in the Yumbo Centre feature succulent euphorbias, palms and exotic trees Always dominant are the beautiful Washingtonia palms which in fact come from Mexico but are most famous for me as the trademark of Los Angeles. Exotic trees in the Jumbo Centre gardens: Norfolk Island Pines and African tulip tree Out on the streets I noticed this recently plant palm tree, which I think is quite attractive. Solandra maxima: a climber with massive flowers Solandra with bougainvillea flowers. Acacia baileyana purpurea 1. Japanese Maple Bearing in mind my size requirements, there are many which might fit, and many which might remain too small. Seriyu Seriyu is part of the dissectum group with very finely divided leaves. Image: Gardeners Dream Sango-kaku My own experience of this tree suggests it will reach about m in 20 years with a spread of perhaps 4m which can be curtailed by pruning. Red Wood. Image: Pintrest Red Wood stems and leaves. Image: Katsura 2. Chinese Dogwood Cornus kousa v. Cornus kousa China Girl. Image: Ornamental Trees Fruit of Cornus kousa. Image: Exotic Cactus Collection One of the things that puts me off this tree is the fact that I know one of my friends treasures it and has it in her garden! Acer rufinerve. Ornamental Trees gives its height and spread as 6m x 4m in 20 years. Sorbus Joseph Rock. Image: Pinterest I will say no more as I know from experience it does not like the sandy soil and dry summer climate of my garden in Hackney. Joseph Rock with autumn colour. Image: Scotplants 5. Amelanchiers Amelanchiers are small trees or shrubs with lovely white or pinkish flowers in spring, bright autumn foliage and small berries which are loved by birds. Amelanchier lamarckii. Amelanchier x grandiflora Robin Hill. Image: Caragh Nurseries I am not sure, however, that the growth habit of these trees will suit everyone. Amelanchier canadensis. Image: The Times Perhaps a slight exception may be A. Image: stpaulsgarwood. Image: Connon Nurseries 6. Himalayan Birch Birches are lovely trees and are extremely fashionable, which means of course that they are everywhere. Himalayan birch trees Images: Van Den Berk 7. Judas Tree The Judas Tree, Cercis siliquastrum , produces a bold statement in spring with strong purple flowers before its leaves develop. Image vdberk. Cercis canadensis alba. Image: flickr. Styrax japonicus Styrax japonicus or the Japanese snowbell tree is a deciduous tree with white flowers that grows to about 10m high and 4m spread in 20 years, so it is a little on the large side for my garden. Styrax japonicus Pink Chimes Image: Melissa Clark Photography Styrax japonicus , in the Styracaceae family, comes in many varieties including Pink Chimes above with the slightly pink-tinged flowers. Hanging white flowers of the Japanese snowbell tree Image: Melissa Clark Photography It wants full sun and a sheltered position, so it likes a good spot. Magnolia There are so many magnolias it is difficult to know where to start. Magnolia x loebneri Leonard Messel. Image: Gardening Express There is also M. Magnolia stellata Water Lily Acacia baileyana purpurea This small acacia, also called the Cootamundra wattle, is notable for its lovely blue foliage which is purple when young. Acacia baileyana purpurea foliage Acacia baileyana purpurea in flower I speak with some experience, having planted one in my south-west-facing front garden 25 years ago. Acacia baileyana purpurea tree. Cyclamen coum in the shade of my Acacia tree Also in the front garden, towering above the cyclamen, is this acacia which is flowering beautifully this year. Crocus tommasinianus purpurea In the back garden there is a large mahonia which is in flower through the autumn and winter. A single snowdrop: Galanthus elwesii Finally, a nice surprise. Salvia elegans Scarlet Pineapple. How good are free Android and Apple Apps that identify plants from photos? Flower of Apache Beads — Anemopsis californica b. Flower of Marvel of Peru — Mirabilis jalapa c. Flower of Guernsey Lily — Nerine sarniensis d. Leaves of Paper Mulberry — Broussonetia papyrifera Other Apps I am aware that there are other services for plant identification available. Enjoy your botanical journey! Tulberghia violacea bedding Pennisetum grass But the greatest delight is to walk downhill and look at the cascade of ponds and their water lilies, lotus flowers and waterside plants. This is the American lotus flower, Nelumbo lutea, Lotus flowers and leaves can stand well clear of the water, and the seed pods are quite distinctive. Here you can see lotus leaves and a bud, to compare with water lilies in the foreground Lotus fruits are large discs with the seeds inset Thalia dealbata, the powdery alligator flag, native to the southern Mississippi The magnificently named powdery alligator flag is widely planted. Powdery alligator flag flowers Another American native — pickerel weed Pontederia cordata Sagittaria montevidensis — the giant or Californian arrowhead At the bottom of the cascade there is a large pond with a fountain. Plumbago bank Carry on and turn first right to take you up onto the higher road. Date palms and London planes I have to say it is not a notable garden botanically but you might be interested to spot a few of the trees that are planted here. Miramar Gardens The Miramar Gardens, coloured red on the map, consist of formal beds and, on the eastern side, a fine avenue of Phytolacca dioica trees. Miramar Gardens looking south, with Miramar Hotel on the right The avenue of Phytolacca dioica trees Phytolacca trees are a remarkable South American species from Argentina and Uruguay. Phytolacca dioica in flower Miramar Gardens provide an opportunity for Barcelona council to show off its bedding among box hedges and topiaried trees. Blog at WordPress. Subscribe Subscribed. Sign me up. Already have a WordPress. Log in now. Loading Comments Email Required Name Required Website.

10 Day Sri Lanka Itinerary (for Beach & Safari Lovers!)

Bentota buying weed

Legislation: Marijuana is illegal in Sri Lanka, and so is any related activity. Recently the government has launched a campaign against drugs. Marijuana, although used in local ayuvredic medicine, is taboo. Smoking in public will get you into trouble. Law Enforcement: Due to very high security measures in Colombo related to recent escalation of Tamil Tigers problems people seem to be quite cautious when selling. Especially by night, you can expect to meet police patrols which will search your vehicle literally every few hundred meters. Police and military do not harass foreigners but it is highly recommended not to smoke in the car nor create any suspicion. Unfortunately, as a foreigner, all I could get there was suspicion. Most of the Tuktuk drivers will have some or will be able to provide some info — check the ones which linger by their vehicle eg. For hashish you have to try the latter option. It did not seem safe to meet these people the next day so I have no info on the quality of the hash. More information: It is said that good things are available also on the beaches down south — eg. Bentota beach. Just walk out to the sea, look interested and very probably you will be approached by some offerers. Also, out of Colombo there is less police so you might feel safer! Outdated information. They remain up simply for nostalgic and entertainment purposes. Laws have changed, and places have changed. As of all articles are severly outdated.

Bentota buying weed