Edited by Ruwini Jayawardana

Flower of the week

Forget-me-not, a sign of true love or friendship

Forget-me-nots belong to the genus Myosotis of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. There are about 50 species in the genus category, and among them there is inevitably considerable variation. The forget-me-not is the state flower of Alaska in the United States.

The name of this flower was borrowed from Old French "ne m'oubliez pas" and first used in English in c.1532. In 15th century Germany, it was supposed that the wearers of the flower will not be forgotten by their lovers.

Legend has it that in medieval times, a knight and his lady were walking along the side of a river. He picked a posy of flowers, but because of the weight of his armour he fell into the river. As he was drowning he threw the posy to his loved one and shouted "Forget-me-not". Thus this is a flower connected with romance and tragic fate. It was often worn by ladies as a sign of faithfulness and enduring love.

It is also told in pious legend that the Christ Child was sitting on Mary's lap one day and said that he wished that future generations could see them. He touched her eyes and then waved his hand over the ground and blue forget-me-nots appeared! Forget-me-nots can be annual or perennial plants.

Their seeds are found in small, tulip shaped pods along the stem to the flower. They are popular in Western gardens, and cultivated forms often show a mixture of colours. Colors include blue, white, and pink. A tiny blue flower with yellow center blooming above hairy leaves and stems is the most popular one among these verities.

This species prefer shade, but will do well in sun, too. They grow well in average soils but the soil should be kept moist. Insects and disease are not too common.

Maltese Dog

As an aristocrat of the canine world, this ancient breed has been known by a variety of names throughout the centuries. Originally called the Melitaie Dog, he has also been known as "Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta", the Roman Ladies' Dog, the Comforter Dog, the Spaniel Gentle, the Bichon, the Shock Dog, the Maltese Lion Dog and the Maltese Terrier.

The Maltese is a dog belonging to the toy group that is covered from head to foot with a mantle of long, silky, white hair. The coat is long and silky and lacks an undercoat. The color is pure white and although cream or light lemon ears are permissible, they are not desirable.

Maltese can be very energetic and are known for their occasional wild outbursts of physical activity, running around in circles chasing their tail, and bolting at top speed with amazing agility.

They are relatively easy to train and enjoy a playful game of fetch. These intelligent dogs learn quickly, and pick up new tricks and behaviors easily. Since they were bred specifically for companionship, they do not do well being left alone for long hours.

Regular grooming is required to prevent their coats from matting. The height of this breed ranges from 23 to 25 centimeters. It weights around 3 to 4 kilograms.

Dark staining in the hair around the eyes ("tear staining") can be a problem in this breed. Some other health problems seen are luxating patella, portosystemic liver shunt, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). The average life span is 12-15 years.

Ethical Gardening: Is there such a concept?

Garden guide with Dr. Fazal Sultanbawa PhD, Director Research and Development CIC

It's that time of the year when we reflect on the year about to end and look forward to the year ahead. As gardeners, we sometimes have to reflect on our own actions to ensure that we are complying with the laws of both man and nature.

Have we picked plants from strict nature reserves like Horton Plains or Sinharaja and brought them into our gardens? If you have, the laws of man may not be able to prove you at fault, but resolve never to do it again - the laws of nature are not always so forgiving, as we have seen in the many catastrophes we have witnessed recently in the form of earth slips, floods etc as a result of irresponsible human activity.

Most gardeners are avid collectors. They like to brag about this plant or that, from where they got it, how they got it and why it is unique. This is part of the passion of gardening. However, this strong emotion must be tempered by responsibility. Is a plant better off in its natural habitat or in my garden ?

Will introduction of a plant cause problems in my garden, by introducing pests or diseases which were not there before ? We all know that a plant pulled out from the 'wild' comes along with soil, snails, worms, fungi and a host of invisible hangers on.

In addition to local collection, the other source of 'interesting' plants is importation. Here, I would like to remind gardeners that there is a 'little matter' called Quarantine Law. To most importers, this is a great nuisance.

These laws are not perfect and I will not attempt to defend any of its provisions but these are there for the larger purpose of protecting national ecological interests and if we subscribe to a rule of law, then we must adhere to them, however much some may disagree or disapprove them. The law also does not prohibit importation in all but the most sensitive cases, but only regulates the process and there is a fair degree of flexibility in its interpretation.

However, to some a law is there to be broken and therefore they resort to smuggling plants in various ways. The list of diseases and pests introduced to the environment by such importation is quite long, some examples being the coconut leaf miner, introduced accidentally with imported orchid plants (refer www.rbp-iucn.lk) and the ornamental-turned-weed, the European gorse (Ulex europeus) which is spreading and threatening the native vegetation in the Horton Plains.

The newest varieties of Anthurium or Strelitzia or bromeliads are surreptitiously brought in, propagated and sold at the weekly fairs. Most gardeners don't realize when they buy these plants that two crimes have been committed - firstly, these plants are on the list of prohibited plants for importation (special permission required) and secondly many of these varieties have intellectual property protection which prohibits unauthorized propagation and sale.

Sadly, "who cares as long as you don't get caught ?" is the overwhelming attitude.

The issue of intellectual property (IP) is a relatively new one for plants. It is designed to reward and encourage plant breeding and development of varieties as a commercial activity. There are many who oppose it in principle, because these are originally products of nature.

However, since this is a principle accepted by international law, we have to adhere to it. Failure to do so will only add to the list of negatives for which Sri Lanka has earned a name for itself. Even now, foreign producers are reluctant to give local nurseries orders for propagation because they know quite well that these plants will be available at the weekly plant sale the following week !

This has contributed to the stagnation of the ornamental plant export sector, which is crying out for new varieties.

Let us resolve in the New Year to set an example to our fellow countrymen by observing all the rules of both man and nature - may the New Year be a prosperous one for you and your garden.