Chinese Tree Flowers For First Time In 91 Years

[Raistlin]

An ancient Chinese proverb tells us that with patience a mulberry leaf eventually becomes a silk gown.

Its wisdom is not lost on staff at Rowallane Garden near Saintfield County Down.

Since 1919, gardeners there have tended to the Chinese Goat Horn Tree, hoping that one day it would show off its capricious flower.

After 91 summers, the day has finally arrived.

"We had noticed in June that the tree was making flower bud growth which has slowly developed over the past week or so," head gardener Averill Milligan said.

"We were intrigued to see what they were going to look like and have been keeping a close eye on it."

Last weekend, the first buds opened into a mortally pale white flower, with a scent of gentle levity.

After the flowers come long, curved, spindle-shaped fruits which resemble the horn of the goat and give the plant its name.

Meticulously maintained records show the plant was brought home by plant collector Ernest H Wilson from Sichuan in Western China in 1908.

A sapling from the original seeds was planted in the gardens of Rowallane country estate in Saintfield in 1919.

There are only two specimens from the original Wilson seed introduction currently alive, with the other at Birr Castle, County Offaly in the Irish Republic.

All others appear to have died out in the middle of the 20th century.

[Bizarra]

Good things come to those who wait

[Raistlin]

You saw the last flowering didn't you

[KPARRIS-JONES]

No he had to miss it, he did however see the flowering before that. :P

[Raistlin]

No he had to miss it, he did however see the flowering before that.

I can see you being put back it the box again...

[Bizarra]

No he had to miss it, he did however see the flowering before that.

I can see you being put back it the box again...

With a wooden stake through the heart, surrounded by Garlic & a Crucifix on the lid, in case of escape :hokus-pokus:

[Bizarra]

No he had to miss it, he did however see the flowering before that. :P

True, but sadly by the time I got my Daguerreotype set up, the flowers had withered

[Raistlin]

I would have thought you would have sketched it by hand....

[Bizarra]

I would have thought you would have sketched it by hand....

I would have, normally, but I wanted to try out one of those newfangled things they had invented I couldn't seem to get a good signal, though. The wind wasn't strong enough for the Semaphore :help2: [ Yes, I know that is Morse code] :lol2:

[Raistlin]

I think your excuses are flagging

[Bizarra]

I think your excuses are flagging

At least I try to make excuses, unlike some who are lucky enough to be always right :hokus-pokus: in fact, the only time they weren't right was the time they thought they were wrong

Yes! I get it Flagging.. Excuses... Semaphore

[Raistlin]

Afterthought

[Bizarra]

Afterthought

Quick on the trigger with the "Edit" if I remember correctly :D

[Raistlin]

Therefore an afterthought

[Bizarra]

Therefore an afterthought

Ok! Ok! <_< An afterthought

Thought that I'd better explain to you <_< that I'd got the joke, or you might get worried & upset, & we can't have that

[Raistlin]

I've put the flags out

Does that mean you will get a semi for the night...

[Bizarra]

I've put the flags out

Does that mean you will get a semi for the night...

I hope I get much better than a Semi for the night Sometimes English English & Irish English don't quite agree, so I hope we mean the same thing by "Semi"

[Raistlin]

We were kind enough to give you the language,

What you choose to do with it is up to you...

[Bizarra]

We were kind enough to give you the language,

What you choose to do with it is up to you...

Kind ? It was bet into our Ancestors By brute force & blackmail However, we got our own back by enriching the colourless & impoverished tongue we had acquired with some rich & flowery words from the Erse [yes E rse ]

That's what we chose to do with it

[Raistlin]

Erische rules...

[Bizarra]

Erische rules...

Huh ? Where did you hear that ? No one here has heard of him :shutit:

Read all about it

http://profiles.friendster.com/32591521

[Raistlin]

The archaic term Erse (from Erische), originally a Scots form of the word Irish applied in Scotland (by Lowlanders) to all of the Goidelic languages.

[Bizarra]

The archaic term Erse (from Erische), originally a Scots form of the word Irish applied in Scotland (by Lowlanders) to all of the Goidelic languages.

Ok I'll take your word for it Wiki seemed speechless on the subject

[Raistlin]

Surely that's not your only source of information

[Bizarra]

Surely that's not your only source of information

Of course not ! <_<

But when I click on you in times of trouble, and you don't appear, to order, what else can I turn to, but Wiki? :bookworm: