267 December 2016 - Gryffe Advertizer

50 the advertizer t: 01505 613340 07731 923970 e: info@advertizer.co.uk
Xmas tree sales throughout December – Cut your own tree and make it
a family day out. Thursday 8th, 15th December - Wreath Making Class
10am – 2pm
Make your own wreath in time for Xmas. Made from moss, holly & yew
from the estate. £15.50 includes materials. Pre booking essential.
Santa’s Grotto 11am – 4pm on Saturday 3rd, 10th and 17th, Sunday 4th,
11th and 18th and Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th December.
Santa’s coming to Finlaystone; follow the magical Santa trail to find
Santa’s grotto. £15 per child (includes 1 accompanying adult free).
Pre booking essential
call early to avoid
disappointment.
Finlaystone Country
Estate, Langbank
PA14 6TJ
Tel: 01475 540505
E:info@fi nlaystone.co.uk
Regular Visitor?
Why not become a
member? You can
visit Finlaystone as
often as you can with
our great membership options.
Bridge of Weir Horticultural Soc
Madeira in Bloom by Sandra Halliday
On a cool evening in Bridge of Weir, Sandra introduced us to the wonderful
plant life of the sub-tropical island of Madeira. Situated far out in the Atlantic
its mild climate has enabled the introduction and cultivation of warmth
requiring plants from all over the world. So much so that she likened the
plant growth to that of a Botanic Garden collection.
Sandra outlined the history of Madeira,
which means wood in Portuguese,
starting with its discovery by Portuguese
explorers in 1420; thence colonization
commenced. The native forest flora
was much affected especially by severe
burning to make way for agriculture. It
is said that the forests burnt for 7 years!
Today the only remnants of Laurel
Forests – the Laurasilva - remain along
the West and North Coast. The burning
took place mostly in the 15th century and at first Wheat was cultivated but
this gave way to Sugar Cane to produce sugar for Madeira production.
Later competition from the tropical colonies made the Sugar Cane crop
unprofitable and much of the land was planted with fast growing trees such
as Eucalyptus. Sugar Cane can still be found and Eucalyptus trees are
dominant in many areas. Along with these plants a huge number of tender
garden plants can be seen both in the countryside and especially around
the towns.
Terracing was used extensively
in order to cultivate the steep
hillsides although these are less
used today. These areas were
irrigated by the famous canals or
‘Levadas’ bringing water from high
up the hills to the lower areas. The
maintenance paths along these
canals now provide accessible
walks to explore the fl ora.
Sandra explained that most of the native flora had been lost but that she had
seen Erica Scoparia, the native tree heath and the Til tree or Stink Laurel
along with the Madeiran Holly and Madeiran Mahogany. The Dragon Tree,
Dracaena draco, now only grows in Monte Gardens. It was used by the
Romans as a purple dye plant. Tender plants which in this country would
be treated as houseplants or heated greenhouse material in Madeira are
quite happy outdoors such as Codiaeum with its brightly coloured foliage,
Aechmea – one of the urn plants and Hibiscus which flowers profusely.
Much of the introduced flora arrived in Madeira as ships plied the trade
routes. Many plants from Southern Africa and South and Central America
such as the Calla Lily, Bermuda Buttercup, an Oxalis, and Giant Groundsel
are examples.
If visiting a must to see would be the Botanic Gardens with its varied
collections but also spectacular bedding schemes with plants such as
Iresine herbstii, Beefsteak Plant in its many colour forms. Sandra did point
out that throughout there are interesting plants to see such as Bougainvillea,
Poinsettia (growing into a tall shrub) and Jacaranda with its purple haze of
flowers to name a few.
Certainly a must to visit for keen gardeners.