Xmas Quiz 2020 – Round Eight Answers and Final Scores!

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

Xmas Quiz 2020 – Round Eight!

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

Six on Saturday

Not a particularly glamorous start but gardeners are not the squeamish type, so a picture of composting worms hard at work should not offend the sensibilities of my blog readers.

I bring the wormery into the greenhouse for the winter to keep it dry and slightly warmer and the worms reward me by carrying on with their vital work, munching all our kitchen waste. They produce approx 100 litres of rich compost (worm poo) each year which I mix into peat free potting compost at the rate of 10:1. The ‘worm liquid’ (worm wee) is diluted in the same ratio and used as a nutritious liquid feed for tomatoes and potted plants. I swear my agapanthus, in particular, thrive on it and flower better as a result.

Incredible but true, this early daffodil flowers before Xmas every year. Most of my other daffs are barely out of the ground but this one likes to be seen first, Obviously a bit narcissistic!

Right next to it is Narcissus canaliculatus, a miniature daff with the tiniest white petals and chucky egg yellow cup. My chrysanthemum border is planted with lots of narcissus where they provide early colour and the ugly dying foliage is hidden by the chrysanths as they grow.

Many of the cuttings produced in the Hydropod in late September were just too small to stay outside over winter so they are tucked up in the greenhouse where they continue to form strong root systems. I have just taken the final Erysimum and Penstemon cuttings which may or may not make roots in the Hydropod. I am not sure how much temperature plays a part in vegetative propagation compared to hormones, so we will see!

Centranthus ruber (Red Valerian) continues to flower periodically throughout the winter and is a lot hardier than its glaucus foliage would suggest. It is a real survivor in my garden and I am constantly digging out seedlings in the gravel paths and between paving. Lovely plant though and great for pollinators.

The last of the leaves are now in the composter. Have you noticed, you can’t buy leaf mould, you have to make your own. Probably because this lot will only produce 50 litres at best, but as a top dressing for woodland plants like hellebores and cyclamen it can’t be beaten!

Have a great weekend.

David

Xmas Quiz 2020 – Round Seven!

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!

Xmas Quiz 2020 – Round Six!

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!

Xmas Quiz 2020 – Round Five!

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!

Six on Saturday

My six this week are the few interesting things left to show you without having to describe how dreary and dead most things have become. It really has been wet!

The very last flower of Tulbaghia violacea enjoying the relative warmth of the greenhouse. Unfortunately, the confined space causes the garlicky onion smell to hit me as I open the door!

Clematis ‘Rouge Cardinal’ struggling to open its last flower of the year. A most impressive performance as it has been going strong since early May.

The bronzed foliage of Trachelospermum jasminoides caused by the cold weather, Evergreen it might be, but it does struggle to hold on to its leaves over winter.

Something about this picture unsettles me. It is probably nothing to worry about but uninvited and unexplained fungi is something I have never been comfortable with!

Signs of new and better life to come. I still get excited about new growth on old friends.

This little forest of self sown Cerinthe major purpurascens is totally hardy despite its glaucus foliage and is perfect for pollinators. Big Bumbles particularly love it.

Senecio leucostachys

This is an extraordinary plant. Given by a friend, I thought it would die in my sticky clay but it thrives and hacking it back only invigorates it. Pretty white flowers in May and June, nice!

Have a great weekend

David

Xmas Quiz 2020 – Round Four!

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!

Xmas Quiz 2020 – Round Three!

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!

Xmas Quiz 2020 – Round Two!

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!