FLOWERS A-

                         Flowers play a very large part in our lives, without us realising, for they add the colour, whether it is in the garden, placed in a container, (growing in pots or as an ornament in a vase) even sending/receiving them as a token of  love or friendship. whilst other users dry them and they are kept for many years. We should also include the manufacture of scents and perfumes. You can see that flowers  with their many varied colours influence our lives daily. I make no apology for the long list, for you will see that to miss out one, ( yes I am sure someone will write and tell me those which are not included) would be a sacrilege.

                         ACACIA. (Belongs to the family of Mimosaceae) Often known as Mimosa. There are  around 1300 species of acacia spread around the world, from the Pacific regions to America, Africa,  Madagascar, and throughout Asia, in Australia there are nearly 1000 species.

                         Australia has Acacia Pycantha (The Golden Wattle) as the national emblem, Wattle Day is celebrated on 1st September.

                         Most people think of the plant as producing yellow flowers, but their range includes, cream, pale yellow to gold, purple and even red dependant on the species, the many species are delicately peerfumed producing either round ball-shaped, or finger shaped blooms in (dependant on species) groups of 3s or up to 130.

                         They can vary in height from low growing to shrubs and large trees for shade, loved by the bees for it's pollen, regular pruning,especiaaly after flowering enhances the life of the tree.

                         ACHILLEA (or YARROW ).

                         Achillea belongs to the family Asteraceae, and the tiny blooms form a  flat head of  colour, which can be pink, yellow, orange, red, or white, whilst the leaves tend to be hairy and frilly with  an aromatic smell. It is a plant widely used in dry flower arrangements.

                         The genus is said to be named after the Greek character Achilles, whose soldiers used  to treat wounds with the plant, hence a common name of Bloodwort.

                        ACONITUM ( MONKSHOOD or WOLF'S BANE).

                        WARNING Aconitum is poisonous  so do not plant if there are young children about, (even slugs avoid this plant-So it does have its good qualities.) Aconitine, (the poison) can be absorbed  through the skin, by the simple act of picking,(without wearing gloves).  If you plant some of the  cultivated strains  of this plant Which are not so toxic, You will  be rewarded with a tall erect  plant (for   the rear of the  border) that have a colours ranging  from blue, purple, white, yellow or even pink.  Although grown in the  U K it is not thought to be a native, as it is usually found in the mountains of the  northern hemisphere or in damp soils of mountain meadows.

                       Monkshood takes it's name, due to the  rear petals growing over the main flower and forming a hood, whilst the Wolf;s Bane comes from the association with the werewolf legend.