Page 10 - October 24

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Hampton Gardening Club Mee�ng - Wednesday 21 August 2024
Dr Peter Coxhead, Chair of Su�on Coldfield Natural History Society, gave a very knowledgeable
illustrated talk on Wildflowers of the Mediterranean and awarded prizes for the Garden Club Show.
With the aid of a map, he took us on a voyage from Ibiza to Cyprus, around the Northern shores of
the Mediterranean, touching on the Greek mainland, drawing on his travels and his long-held
passion for wildflowers. There are at least 2,500 different species of wildflowers to be found in these
islands, whereas in Greece there are es�mated to be 5000 different species. Sadly, today numbers
are declining due to excessive tourism, droughts and water shortages. Most flowers are to be found
inland away from the ribbon development in scrub vegeta�on or in remote coastal areas.
In Ibiza, you can find Tree Mallow Lavatera arborea, Golden Daisy Pallenis mari�ma, Dwarf Iris
Moraea sisyrinchum. French Lavender and Crown Chrysanthemums also grow wild. In Mallorca,
many of the plants growing wild can now be grown in UK gardens due to the changing climate. They
include: Cistus monspeliensis, Fragrant Bug Orchid, Euphorbia characias, and wild White Cyclamen
in the limestone hills. In Corsica there is a small Campion growing on the beach, Silene sericea, also
Gagea, a small yellow bulb, and Erodium corsicum, a �ny Erodium, na�ve only in Corsica and
Sardinia. Sicily has been severely affected by drought this year. This may affect the future of Narcissus
taze�a which grows in swathes in damp meadows in early March. There is also a lovely Sand Crocus
Romulea bulbocordium which can be grown in a trough in UK gardens and Anemone Hortensis is a
Sicilian na�ve.
In Corfu there are many different species of Campanula versicolor growing in so� limestone.
Masses of Cyclamen hederifolium grow in autumn with flowers appearing before leaves. These
translate well to English gardens and can be grown successfully under conifers where the lower
branches are li�ed. Greek Cyclamen can be found in Sounion in Greece in October. Also, autumn
flowering Crocus Cartwrigh�anus, thought to be the ancestor of the Saffron Crocus.

In Rhodes you can find the true Giant Fennel Ferrula communis gigantea, Persian Cyclamen
Cyclamen persicum, Jerusalem Sage, Asphodelus microcarpus and numerous orchids.

Finishing in Cyprus we iden�fied Winged Sea Lavender, Sea Medick, Spring Chicory and Scented
Small Narcissus which flower in autumn in the Eastern Mediterranean. Many of the above plants can
be grown in troughs or raised beds with sharp drainage and can be sourced in the UK via the RHS,
rare plants nurseries or Alpine Socie�es. Growing just one or two of these helps rare and threatened
species to survive. Dr Coxhead recommended “Wild Flowers of the Mediterranean” by Marjorie
Blamey and Christopher Grey-Wilson for further research.

A�er this we moved to the Autumn Show with a table full of flowers and produce. Dr Coxhead
awarded The Bamber Cup to first prize winner Audrey Wells for a colour themed flower
arrangement, second prize to Alison Dimes for a vegetable basket and Highly Commended to John
Cox for a beau�ful modern flower arrangement. David Bixby (Chair) congratulated the winners and
thanked all those who had brought exhibits.

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We next meet on Wednesday 16 October at 7:30 in the Church Hall. Visitors and prospec�ve
members most welcome. Following the AGM, our speaker will be Simon Gulliver, the subject “The
Plant Hunters” - How our wealth of garden plants were found and brought back to our gardens.
Rosemary Wisker

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