Well, that’s it, the Xmas Quiz is over for this year. I hope you enjoyed it, learnt a few things and had a bit of fun!

Here are the answers to the Round Eight Picture Quiz – Name that Gardener!

Give yourself one point for each correct answer

From top left to bottom right:

1. William Robinson
2. Vita Sackville-West
3. Sir Roy Strong
4. Rosemary Verey
5. Piet Oudolf
6. Margery Fish
7. Lawrence Johnston
8. Kim Wilde
9. Judith Haan
10. John Grimshaw
11. Gertrude Jekyll
12. Geoffrey Smith
13. Gay Search
14. Fergus Garrett
15. Carl Linnaeus
16. Beth Chatto
17. Arthur Billet
18. Anne Swithinbank

If you got all 18 right, very well done! Arthur Billet was the tricky one, he took over from Percy Thrower as presenter of Gardener’s World!

The maximum available score for the eight rounds was 164. How did you do?

I hope you kept a note of your scores for each round. Please add them up and either post them on my blog in the comments section, leave a comment on our Facebook page, send them in a CGS email or message them on our WhatsApp Group page.

Thank you for taking part. I look forward to announcing and congratulating the winner!

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Let’s hope the Vaccine works, the economy doesn’t collapse and we have a happy and healthy 2021!

David

This is the Eighth and FINAL Round!

But first, here are the answers to Round Seven!

Give yourself one point for each correct answer

1. From where do Amaryllis bulbs originate? South Africa

2. Traditionally, white chess pieces are made from which wood? Holly

3. In England, a Yule log is traditionally Oak. What is it in Scotland? Birch

4. Which is the most popular type of tree sold at Christmas in the UK? Nordmann Fir

5. Bedford Fillbasket, Cromwell and Wellington are all types of what? Brussel Sprout

6. What type of bedding plant can survive the cold months? Pansy

7. The leaves and flowers of the Christmas Bush are often used for decoration in which country at Christmas? Australia

8. Which spice is added to oranges to provide a pleasant smelling Christmas decoration? Clove

9. In 1841, Prince Albert erected the first Christmas tree at which Royal residence? Windsor Castle

10. Mistletoe is a type of what? Parasite

Round Eight – FINAL Round!

Name That Gardener! Put a name to the following famous faces. They are all well known TV, Celebrity or historical figures in horticulture.

From Top left to bottom right – One point for each correct answer

Best of Luck!

Answers here on Wednesday.

David

Welcome back! Two Rounds to go!

Here are the answers to Round Six – The Missing Letters Round!

Give yourself one point for each correct answer

1. AZALEA Loved by Victorians
2. IRIS Someone over the rainbow (Greek Goddess of the Rainbow)
3. PETUNIA A good hanging (Hanging basket plant)
4. DAISY Lawn pest
5. PRIMROSE Vulgar? (Primula vulgaris)
6. JASMINE A Disney Princess (no, I didn’t know either!)
7. HYACINTH A Bouquet? (Keeping Up Appearances?)
8. LILY Savage (Paul O’Grady – Lily Savage)
9. VIOLET Ultra? (Ultra Violet)
10. POPPY To Remember (Remembrance Day symbol)

Round Seven – Multiple Choice!

Choose the correct answer to these ten questions.

One point for each correct answer

1. From where do Amaryllis bulbs originate?
   a. South America
   b. South Africa
   c. South Korea
   d. South Sudan
2. Traditionally, white chess pieces are made from which wood?
   a. Ash
   b. Plane
   c. Holly
   d. Chestnut
3. In England, a Yule log is traditionally Oak. What is it in Scotland?
   a. Pine
   b. Birch
   c. Rowan
   d. Elm
4. Which is the most popular type of tree sold at Christmas in the UK?
   a. Norway Spruce
   b. Fraser Fir
   c. Nordmann Fir
   d. Scots Pine
5. Bedford Fillbasket, Cromwell and Wellington are all types of what?
   a. Cabbage
   b. Carrot
   c. Parsnip
   d. Brussel Sprout
6. What type of bedding plant can survive the cold months?
   a. Petunia
   b. Pansy
   c. Begonia
   d. Lobelia
7. The leaves and flowers of the Christmas Bush are often used for decoration in which country at Christmas?
   a. Sweden
   b. The USA
   c. Denmark
   d. Australia
8. Which spice is added to oranges to provide a pleasant smelling Christmas decoration?
   a. Cardamom
   b. Clove
   c. Cinnamon
   d. Carraway
9. In 1841, Prince Albert erected the first Christmas tree at which Royal residence?
   a. Windsor Castle
   b. Buckingham Palace
   c. Sandringham
   d. Kensington Palace
10. Mistletoe is a type of what?
    a. Parasite
    b. Epiphyte
    c. Allotrope
    d. Heliotrope

Round Seven answers and the FINAL Round Eight questions will be here on Monday.

Good Luck!

How are you doing with the quiz so far? Hope you are enjoying the challenge! Three more rounds to go!

Here are the answers to Round Five, the Second Picture Round (Slightly More Difficult!)

Give yourself two points for each correct common name, three points for each correct Latin name and five points for both!

From top left to bottom right:

1. Widow Iris – Iris tuberosa
2. Pincushion Protea – Leucospermum cordifolium
3. Hyacinth Bean – Lablab purpureus
4. Night Phlox – Zaluzianskya ovata
5. Canary Island Geranium – Geranium palmatum
6. Chicory – Cichorium intybus
7. Viper’s Bugloss – Echium vulgare
8. Bergamot/Bee Balm – Monarda didyma
9. Leopard’s Bane – Doronicum orientale
10. Coneflower/ Black-eyed Susan – Rudbeckia laciniata
11. Arizona beggarticks – Bidens aurea
12. Perennial Sunflower – Helianthus

Round Six – A Flower By Any Other Name!

Each of the following cryptic clues is a word that is both a flower and a female name

One point for each correct answer

1. _ _ _ L _ _ Loved by Victorians
2. _ R _ _ Someone over the rainbow
3. _ _ T _ _ _ _ A good hanging
4. _ A _ _ _ Lawn pest
5. _ _ _ M _ _ _ _ Vulgar?
6. _ _ _ M _ _ _ A Disney Princess
7. _ _ _ C _ _ _ _ A Bouquet?
8. _ _ L _ Savage
9. _ _ _ L _ _ Ultra?
10. _ O _ _ _ To Remember

Round Six answers and Round Seven questions here on Friday.

Good Luck!

Welcome Back! Hope you are enjoying the quiz. I know some of the questions are real stinkers but there’s no point if it’s too easy!

Here are the answers to Round Four – the General Knowledge Round: Give yourself one point for each correct answer

1. What name is given to the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower composed of an anther and filament? Stamen
2. Which small flower, usually with 5 blue or purple petals, is associated with freemasonry? Forget-me-not
3. What flower did the Victorians call a gillyflower? Carnation or Clove Pink
4. The anniversary of which prime minister’s death is commemorated in the U.K. as Primrose Day? Benjamin Disraeli
5. Which blue flower of the genus Veronica is also the name of the ship which was to accompany the Mayflower with the Pilgrim Fathers? Speedwell
6. The fleur-de-lys is what type of flower? Lily
7. Which flower according to legend bloomed everywhere that lord Buddha walked? Lotus
8. Which plant with red leaves gets its common name from the first American Minister to Mexico? Poinsettia
9. Which daisy-like flower, the national flower of Mexico, gets its name from an 18th century Swedish Botanist? Dahlia
10. Azaleas are flowering shrubs in which genus? Rhododendron

Round Five – Second Picture Round (Slightly more difficult!)

Top left to bottom right, identify the flowers in the pictures.

Two points for the common name, three points for the Latin name, five points for both!

The answers to Round Five and questions for Round Six will be here on Wednesday.

Good Luck!

Welcome back to Round Four. Glad you are still with us!

Firstly, here are the answers to Round Three, the First Picture Round!

Give yourself one point for each correct common name, two points for each correct Latin name, and three points for both!

Top left to bottom right:

1. Tobacco Plant – Nicotiana mutabilis
2. Globe Thistle – Echinops ritro
3. Leopard Lily – Belamcanda chinensis
4. Pale Purple Coneflower – Echinacea pallida
5. Regal Lily – Lilium regale
6. Maltese Cross – Lychnis chalcedonica
7. Gentian Sage – Salvia patens
8. Morning Glory – Ipomea tricolor
9. Crow Garlic – Allium vineale
10. Spanish Flag – Ipomea lobata
11. Climbing Snapdragon – Either: Maurandella antirrhiniflora / Maurandya barclayana / Asarina scandens
12. White Lace Flower – Orlaya grandiflora

Round Four – General Knowledge

One point for each correct answer

1. What name is given to the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower composed of an anther and filament?
2. Which small flower, usually with 5 blue or purple petals, is associated with freemasonry?
3. What flower did the Victorians call a gillyflower?
4. The anniversary of which prime ministers death is commemorated in the U.K. as Primrose Day?
5. Which blue flower of the genus Veronica is also the name of the ship which accompanied the Mayflower with the Pilgrim Fathers?
6. The fleur-de-lys is what type of flower?
7. Which flower according to legend bloomed everywhere that lord Buddha walked?
8. Which plant with red leaves gets its common name from the first American Minister to Mexico?
9. Which daisy-like flower, the national flower of Mexico, gets its name from an 18th century Swedish Botanist?
10. Azaleas are flowering shrubs in which genus?

The answers to Round Four and questions for Round Five will be here on Monday.

Good Luck!

Welcome back for round three!

First, the answers to Round Two, the Cryptic Clues. Give yourself one point for each correct answer.

1. Musical instrument (5) Viola

2. Bovine takes a tumble (7) Cowslip

3. They seek him here – they seek him there (7,9) Scarlet Pimpernel

4. Evergreen drink (9) Hollyhock

5. She’s close to her pupil (4) Iris

6. The Universe as an ordered whole (6) Cosmos

7. A new one sweeps clean (5) Broom

8. Is it found at the Forge? (3,3,5) Red Hot Poker

9. Enclosure in criminal court for prisoner (4) Dock

10. Having a right ding dong in the Emerald Isle (5,2,7) Bells of Ireland

Round Three – First Picture Round

Top left to bottom right, identify the flowers. One point for the common name, two points for the Latin name, three points for both!

Round Three answers and Round Four questions will be here on Friday.

Good luck!

Welcome Back!

I’m glad the tricky first round of anagrams didn’t put you off! From the feedback I received from some of you, I seem to have set the bar quite high. However, when you see the answers I am sure you will agree that they weren’t really that difficult!

Here are the answers:

1. pansies suit crocus (of a pheasant) Narcissus poeticus (Pheasant Eye)
2. I burn brighter berries (prickly) Berberis thunbergii
3. ant creosote (winter berries) Cotoneaster
4. no play huts (not primroses) Polyanthus
5. nesta, joke and weep (invasive) Japanese Knotweed
6. a balanced, cosy chinchilla (Malteser?) Lychnis chalcedonica alba (Maltese Cross)
7. fruitier soluble goulash (Corsica?) Helleborus argutifolius (Corsican Hellebore)
8. aerial storm (of Peru?) Alstroemeria (Peruvian Lilly)
9. Ooh heck, Alan (hummocks) Hakonechloa
10. unhurt barnacle busters (commonly a drunken sailor?) Centranthus ruber albus (The white version of Red Valerian but has the common names of Drunken Sailor as well as Bouncing Bess for some obscure reason!)

Round Two – Cryptic Clues

The answer to each of these clues is the name of a wild flower or garden plant – (number in brackets is letters in each word).

One point for each correct answer

1. Musical instrument (5)

2. Bovine takes a tumble (7)

3. They seek him here – they seek him there (7,9)

4. Evergreen drink (9)

5. She’s close to her pupil (4)

6. The Universe as an ordered whole (6)

7. A new one sweeps clean (5)

8. Is it found at the Forge? (3,3,5)

9. Enclosure in criminal court for prisoner (4)

10. Having a right ding dong in the Emerald Isle (5,2,7)

Round Two answers and Round Three questions will be here on Wednesday.

Good luck!

Welcome to the Xmas Quiz!

As an antidote to all the bad news and bad weather, I thought we could have a bit of festive fun and test your knowledge (and your memory!).

There will be several rounds over the next three weeks including straightforward questions, multiple choice, anagrams, “Who / What am I?”, picture identification, cryptic clues and more. Do as many or as few as you like. Dip in and out. Take it seriously or do it just for fun.

Jot down your answers on a piece of paper and check them against the answers I provide a few days later. Keep your score for each round and let me know the total at the end of the quiz.

I can’t hand out prizes due to the current restrictions but I promise to drink to your health!

I make no apology that the questions are at the tougher end of the horticultural spectrum but I know how clever you are and you wouldn’t want it too easy!

Open to everyone. Followers of my blog will get a notification, Cottage Garden Society members will get an email or a WhatsApp message and it will be posted on our Facebook page for others to join in.

Every three days, I will leave the answers to the previous round and set the questions for the next round.

Round One – Anagrams – Name that plant or flower

One point for each correct answer

1. pansies suit crocus (of a pheasant)
2. I burn brighter berries (prickly)
3. ant creosote (winter berries)
4. no play huts (not primroses)
5. nesta, joke and weep (invasive)
6. a balanced, cosy chinchilla (Malteser?)
7. fruitier soluble goulash (of Corsica?)
8. aerial storm (of Peru?)
9. Ooh heck, Alan (hummocks)
10. unhurt barnacle busters (commonly a drunken sailor?)

Round one answers and round two questions will be here on Monday.

Have a great weekend and good luck!

David