Sunday 15 March 2009

Purple haze;

Tibouchinas are flowering now.




Wisteria growing on Pergola is a joy in spring.

Viola tricolor are welcome self seeders over winter into late spring.



Potato vine, Solanum jasminoides is a wonderful climber; ones its in the garden it's for ever; grows and sets seeds in record time. I have thought many times to get rid of it but it is still growing in my garden. It is such a beauty.
This is only a small selection. My garden is full of purple, mauve, lilac, into rose and blue tints and hues.
Interesting Trees;
Diamante Citron; Citrus medica; Etrog;



The elongate fruit of the Citron tree; Photo TS


The ripe fruit, notice the thick skin suitable to make candied citron.
The Diamante citron (citrus medica cv. Diamante is named after the city of Diamante which is in the center of its cultivation point, province of Cosenza, region of Calabria, at the south-western coast of Italy. That's why it is called by others "Calabria Esrog", which is the Hebrew name for the citron.
However, by most
religious Jews it is called Yanova Esrog, because in the past, they use to buy the citrons from Genoa, which is in northern Italy and much closer to the Jewish centers in Europe.
 
The Diamante citron was one of the most important varieties
candied by the largest factories at Leghorn Italy; it was gathered from Liguria, Naples, Calabria & Sicily .

Etrog - A yellow citrus fruit, also known as a "citron," that is used on the holiday of Sukkot along with the lulav (a bundle of palm, willow, and myrtle branches). During Sukkot, blessings are recited over these four species. The etrog is usually stored in a container to protect its tip or pistil, which, if not intact, renders the fruit unusable for the holiday.
More to read about Citron click here
Source Wikipedia


Believe it or not:
The word "Checkmate" in chess comes from the Persian phrase "Shah Mat," which means "the king is dead."
Photos TS

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed your Skywatch pictures, but I was very intrigued by your pictures of the citron fruit. I had no idea there was such a thing. My grandmother had recipes that called for dried or candied citron, but here in northern Alberta, Canada, the product that we know as citron bears little resemblance to the real thing! Thank you so much for sharing your pictures, it was a real treat to be reminded of my very dear grandmother. Blessings to you:)
P.S. Love your wisteria pergola!

Debra Howard said...

I didn't know what citron was. Very interesting. Loved the purple haze too.
Debbie

Maria said...

In German it is "Schach Matt". I did not know it was persian.
I always thought "matt" is the German word for mate, languid. I never thought about who "Schach" was :))
The citron is great! And its history, too! Thanks for sharing!
The purple tones of your flowers are too beautiful. Great shots!

Pia K said...

What an abundance of loveliness! I wish I could have wisteria in my garden, but I think my lack of patience and green fingers plus our climate would make it difficult. So looking forward to having some sweet violas in some weeks though!

Janie said...

I love your purple flowers. They all look exotic to me. the citron is fascinating, too. And how fun to learn the derivation of "checkmate".

Unknown said...

Your flowers are so beautiful, interesting fruit too!

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

When my friend grew wisteria at her deck, I thoguth what a waste. if it was me, I would plant a grape vine. Now I see her flowers, I understand why she grew them.

Rowena said...

Stunning and beautiful are the words that came to mind when I saw the images of all that gorgeous purple color. What a paradise garden!

Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Life said...

What a delightful feast for the eyes on this wintry day here in Alberta Canada.

I enjoyed your photos and look forward to browsing through the rest of your site.

This is my first-time visit, but I'll be back!

HappyMouffetard said...

Wow! Beautiful flowers and fascinating fruit.

Barbarapc said...

I'd tried Tibouchina from seed several years ago - alas, no success. My it's a stunner. As always, feel that I've been to Oz when I come to your site. Thanks for the wonderful blossoms.

Anonymous said...

Great collection of purple plants

MedaM said...

Lucky you, of having such a beautiful garden full of so beautiful flowers. I am impressed with the flowers from the first two photos. I love those large flowers and their shape and the color is just fantastic. And, Wisteria flowers are really great decoration on pergola, and violas; those always beautiful and charming flowers; its photo is wonderful. Please, don’t ever try to get rid of such a beautiful Solanum jasminoides. As you said, it is such a beauty.
As for the Etrog, that really is an interesting tree and fruit. Thank you for the information that I didn’t know.
I also didn’t know that “Shah Mat” is the Persian phrase and its means. Many new things I have learnt today from you. This is beautiful and informative post. Thank you for sharing!
By the way, I would like to tell you that I like your comment on my blog. It really isn’t true that there is no rose without thorns but I never thought about that just like I’ve never thought about the truth that there are countries who celebrate New Year in summer. For me New Year without snow isn’t New Year.:-)) Like a quote says: “Life and truth is often a matter of perspective and viewpoint”.:-))

DeniseinVA said...

Oh I love your photos, such beautiful flowers, and that elongated citron is similar to a lemon but so different. Anpother lovely learning experience. Thank you :)))

Debbie's Garden said...

I'm coming through your garden gate! The pictures are wonderful. thanks for the tour.

Kerri said...

Oh the deep purple of that Tibouchina is gorgeous! And your wisteria is simply wonderful. I can almost smell it!
I love, love, love purple in the garden!
Candied citron is delicious. You certainly have some interesting fruit trees in your garden.
Enjoy your little paradise, dear Trudy. You've certainly created one.

Barbara said...

Diese Tibouchina ist ja eine "Wucht", diese intensive Farbe und die Blüten ähneln der Clematisblüte.Einfach wunderschön! Dein Garten muss wirklich ein üppig blühendes Paradies sein. Danke auch für die Hintergrundinfos der Citrone. Neu ist für mich ebenfalls, dass das Persische
"Schachmatt" ähnlich wie Deutsch klingt! Leider haben wir keinen persischen Schachpartner um es auszutesten ;-) !! Herzliche Grüsse, Barbara

Anonymous said...

Wonderful pictures from your garden and the sky!
Remember the lemon tree from our winter vacations on the Islands. They tasted quite sweet.
How about your lemons? Or is this a different fruit?
Very interested in the Solanum jasminoides vine..Is it a perennial vine?
Thank you for your visit.
Gerberas are nice to see, but I don't grow them in my garden.
I have many more pictures from our Canada Blooms 2009 garden show.
Hope you'll enjoy the flowers and creative work too!!

Cheers Gisela