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Friday 19 March 2010

Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternata)

I have just discovered this fabulous, fast-growing climbing plant from the pea family. We are probably going to have to grow it as an annual in the UK as it just doesn't do cold winters and you can buy seed easily enough. It will grow quickly and flower in the first year. It has oval mid-green leaves and large large, slightly funneled purple-blue flowers with white throats followed by long ornamental pea-pods. I have just planted it here in the garden in Turkey, so I will report on how it fares, as in our mountain top village, winters can be cold, ferociously windy, although thankfully frost free.  I've put it against a sheltered wall so, expect it to behave as a perennial - fingers crossed.

Still have the worst lemon tree on the planet. Something is ailing it - as nearly a year on I have one lousy, shrivelled lemon and  feeble foliage. Maybe a root problem? Or may be something boring into the bark?  The orange next door is positively blooming, so I really am at a bit of a loss why the old lemon is so dire and there is nothing more deeply unattractive than a meagre fruit tree. Any suggestions welcome.