NOTE: Work has begun on the new Madagascar garden which is scheduled to be open to the public in May. It will be very interesting to see what kind of weird new plants will be on display. Madagascar has a fascinating and diverse flora, between 8,000 and 12,000 species, of which 70-80% are endemic. 10 families and 260 genera of plants are endemic to Madagascar. However, the state of Madagascar's flora is not good, with only remnants of the island's original forests still remaining, and many areas having been extensively covered by aggressive invasive species from places like Australia. Hopefully, measures will be taken to preserve this fantastic habitat. While waiting for this garden to be completed, enjoy the rest of the Arboretum. As the large number of pictures in this month's photo gallery demonstrate, there are lots of things blooming.

Euphorbia tirucalli
Pencil tree, Sticks-on-fire
Euphorbiaceae (Euphorbia family)
Tropical and Southern Africa

Acacia tortilis
Umbrella thorn
Fabaceae (Pea family)
Tropical Africa

Camellia reticulata hybrid
No common name recorded
Theaceae (Tea family)
China

Prunus cerasifera 'Krauter Vesuvius'
Cherry plum, Purple leaf plum
Rosaceae (Rose family)
Asia

Photinia serrulata
Chinese photinia
Rosaceae (Rose family)
China

Magnolia denudata
Yulan magnolia
Magnoliaceae (Magnolia family)
China

Canna indica
Indian shot
Cannaceae (Canna family)
Caribbean, Tropical America

Solanum mauritianum
Wild tobacco
Solanaceae (Nightshade family)
Argentina

Prunus persica 'Alma Stultz'
Flowering nectarine
Rosaceae (Rose family)
Hort. (orig. China)

Westringia fruticosa 'Smokey'
Coast rosemary
Lamiaceae (Mint family)
Hort. (orig. Australia)

Cercis chinensis 'Avondale'
Chinese redbud
Fabaceae (Pea family)
Hort. (orig. Central China)

Grevillea rosmarinifolia
Rosemary grevillea
Proteaceae (Protea family)
Australia

Scilla peruviana
Cuban lily, Hyacinth-of-Peru
Hyacinthaceae (Hyacinth family)
Mediterranean

Pittosporum phillyraeoides
Narrow-leaved pittosporum, Weeping pittosporum
Pittosporaceae (Pittosporum family)
Australia

Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosemary
Lamiaceae (Mint family)
Mediterranean

Salvia greggii
Autumn sage
Lamiaceae (Mint family)
Texas and Mexico

Callistemon viminalis 'Red cascade'
Weeping bottlebrush
Myrtaceae (Myrtle family)
Eastern Australia

Eucalyptus sideroxylon
Red ironbark
Myrtaceae (Myrtle family)
Eastern Australia

Eucalyptus melliodora 'Rosea'
Yellow box
Myrtaceae (Myrtle family)
Hort. (Orig. Australia)

Dioon holmgrenii
Sun palm, Dioon
Zamiaceae (Zamia family)
Mexico

Melaleuca filifolia
Wiry honey-myrtle
Myrtaceae (Myrtle family)
Western Australia

Sophora secundiflora
Mescal bean
Fabaceae (Pea family)
Texas, New Mexico, N. Mexico

Dendrobium X delicatum
No common name recorded
Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
Natural hybrid of D. kingianum &
D. tarberi (Orig. Australia)

Mahonia aquifolium 'Golden
Abundance'
Creeping mahonia
Berberidaceae (Barberry family)
Western North America

Geranium sp.
No common name recorded
Geraniaceae (Geranium family)

Oxalis brasiliensis 'Alba'
No common name recorded
Oxalidaceae (Wood-sorrel family)
Hort.