The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England, grows more species in its 300 acres than any other garden in the world and is an important scientific institution. The magnificent glasshouses, including Decimus BURTON"s famous Palm House, display a wide range of plants from rainforest to desert and provide the visitor with a visual and fragrant treat whatever the time of year. One can buy flower seeds from the RBGK ("The Kew Collection" by Thompson & Morgan); T&M are located in Ipswich, England, as well as Jackson, NJ, USA. The photos on the front of the Kew packets are what caught my eye -absolutely unusual and gorgeous, every single one of them, on the display. More than I usually pay, I only indulged in one ($3.60) and getting ready to plant. Don't know if it will work here in Spokane, WA, which has all four seasons, with much heat in summer and cold in winter, but I just had to have it! The photo on my packet of seeds shows a large, delicate white creped petal fading to cream and there is what appears to be a dash of turquoise blue in the very center. It is called Meconopsis betonicifolia alba Papaveracea -- White Himalayan Poppy, a rare white form of the much coveted Himalayan Blue Poppy, height 60-90 cm (24-36 in). There is a new book out called "Wild Flowers of Britain an Ireland" by Marjorie BLAMEY, Richard FITTER and Alastair FITTER (A&C Black, 37 Soho Square, London WID 3QZ, ISBN 0-7136-5944-0, P/b 16.99 pounds, the cover is white with drawings of colorful wild flowers on it. The review states: "Three lifetimes spent in the enjoyment, study and illustration of wild flowers have gone into this project. Richard FITTER who has written a clear and helpful text for beginners and keen botanists alike, is 91 years old and Marjorie BLAMEY, who has produced 5,000 splendid illustrations in colour for this book is 86. Alastair FITTER, Richard's son, Professor Biology at York University has carefully mapped the plants, for the greater convenience of those many thousands who must surely refer to this fat little book, described by one commentator as "a beautiful bouquet of botanical facts." Almost everything is common to Britain and Ireland, but of particular interest are the thirty or so wild flowers, including the elusive Kerry Lily, which are confined in the main to Ireland." ----- Original Message ----- From: <wood.pat@comcast.net> To: <IRISH-AMERICAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 8:37 AM Subject: [Irish-American] Irish plants > Hi > > Need your help. What plants / flowers ... beyond the Shamrock ... do you think > of when you think of Ireland? Would really appreciate your thoughts. > > We need to re-plant a good part of our backyard after a new sewer line had to be installed. Our climate around Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest is similar to that of the Emerald Isle. It is a temperatie climate, and is very very green due to lots of rain. So, we thought that it would be kind of nice to look for plantings that we'd likely see in Ireland. > > This yard requires both shade-seeking and sun tolerant plants.... trees, bushes > and flowers. > > All ideas most welcome! Thanks. > Pat Wood > Fircrest, WA