tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post3674823508029733530..comments2024-03-29T01:41:15.713+00:00Comments on Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park birds: Ralph Hancockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-35149955824958211722020-10-22T00:11:43.892+01:002020-10-22T00:11:43.892+01:00Which reminds me of the comment of an American tou...Which reminds me of the comment of an American tourist driving across Germany: 'Why do we keep following these signs to a place called Umleitung but we never get there?'Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-16883990511800583722020-10-21T23:50:01.623+01:002020-10-21T23:50:01.623+01:00I am reminded of Aristophanes's description of...I am reminded of Aristophanes's description ofthe convolutions of Agathon's new music, basically composed of long trills: "μύρμηκος ἀτραπούς", "ants' paths".Tinúvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04794275230697959519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-29416121392360350592020-10-20T20:44:30.914+01:002020-10-20T20:44:30.914+01:00Thank you. Myrmecochory is a wonderful word, '...Thank you. Myrmecochory is a wonderful word, 'the dance of the ants'.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-48580930833062509102020-10-20T17:52:02.762+01:002020-10-20T17:52:02.762+01:00They are lovely Ralph. Good to have some gardeners...They are lovely Ralph. Good to have some gardeners who are passionate like this. Ants help spread Cyclamen as the seeds have a structure called an elaiosome attached to them which is rich in lipids & proteins, which attract the ants which then help the plant disperse- a process called myrmecochory!Conehead54https://www.blogger.com/profile/18423862602236191493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-26241820685531452092020-10-20T05:26:15.336+01:002020-10-20T05:26:15.336+01:00Thank you. The cyclamens in the picture have been ...Thank you. The cyclamens in the picture have been here for years, over several frosty winters, and are continuing to spread. I think they were put in by an old Australian gardener, long retired and probably dead by now, who enjoyed a bit of unauthorised planting and understood what he was doing. The well established wild primroses and cowslips near the bridge are his -- the park management would never have thought of such a thing.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-67837063758352101872020-10-20T05:01:47.099+01:002020-10-20T05:01:47.099+01:00The Cyclamen taken indoors are various forms of C....The Cyclamen taken indoors are various forms of C. persicum (large & small cultivars)-these are tender so get killed in the frosts though they prefer a cool room & central heating will kill them. The plants in the photo are of the hardy Cyclamen hederifolium (Sowbread). In the spring you can often see naturalised C. coum in flower which has smaller more rounded leaves.Conehead54https://www.blogger.com/profile/18423862602236191493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-25268876985994749732020-10-20T01:08:53.652+01:002020-10-20T01:08:53.652+01:00I can't see a cyclamen getting through a Spani...I can't see a cyclamen getting through a Spanish summer, no matter how much you denied it love or water.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-31328263905690630812020-10-20T01:06:31.585+01:002020-10-20T01:06:31.585+01:00Breeders of plants and dogs do tend to produce mon...Breeders of plants and dogs do tend to produce monstrosities.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-28453036719956313932020-10-20T00:26:41.467+01:002020-10-20T00:26:41.467+01:00I have killed several cyclamen plants in my day, s...I have killed several cyclamen plants in my day, sadly. Too much love, too much water, too much heat.<br /><br />How could anyone pass off and ignore a singing Robin?<br /><br />That Gull sure does have expensive tastes.Tinúvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04794275230697959519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-47717183320509634832020-10-19T22:29:22.044+01:002020-10-19T22:29:22.044+01:00There is a bigger-blossomed (and to my mind, too b...There is a bigger-blossomed (and to my mind, too blousy) form of cyclamen that is bred for indoors . Much prefer the smaller variety.Ulrikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06022985141813875238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-86578265482714447732020-10-19T20:56:44.749+01:002020-10-19T20:56:44.749+01:00You should soon find plenty on the grass between t...You should soon find plenty on the grass between the Round Pond and Kensington Palace.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-62577139135499049352020-10-19T20:51:13.990+01:002020-10-19T20:51:13.990+01:00I’ll pay a visit to the Common Gulls soon. I’m alw...I’ll pay a visit to the Common Gulls soon. I’m always pleased when they come back. I can’t think of anywhere else where it’s possible to get closer views of themIan Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07805150608243315063noreply@blogger.com