Capability Green and the Outrageous Colours of Bougainvillea

Capability Green and the Outrageous Colours of Bougainvillea · Kalkan Turkey · Kalkan Weather · Kalkan
Tuesday, 21 June 2016 - Last Updated Tuesday, 21 June 2016
This time it’s about colour! And I have already declared my view that Mediterranean gardens
should not be subtle. Colours should be outrageous and shocking. And there is nothing more
outrageous and shocking than bougainvillea.
There are two comments from Turkish friends about gardening that have left lasting memories.
The previously reported “If you can’t eat it why grow it” and the rather contradictory “A villa isn’t
a villa without bougainvillea”. I agree with the latter - no villa or apartment block should be
without bougainvillea … and the more the merrier.
Just strange that a plant that for many of us is symbolic of the Mediterranean actually originates
from South America. Even stranger that a plant that is renowned for its colour only has tiny
white flowers - it’s the bracts, the leaves at the base of the small white flowers, that have the
colour, not the flowers themselves.
Ok it's messy, its bracts clog up your pool, it fights back when you try to prune it leaving you
scratched to pieces and its thorns go right through your flip flops leaving you hobbling about for
days after. But it's also a good deterrent. How many burglars are going to choose to fight
through your bougainvillea to get through your upstairs window? Just be careful not to lock
yourself out!
Below: The bougainvillea at KTLN HQ. Other images in this article were taken in and around
Kalkan.
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Capability Green and the Outrageous Colours of Bougainvillea · Kalkan Turkey · Kalkan Weather · Kalkan
Tuesday, 21 June 2016 - Last Updated Tuesday, 21 June 2016
There
Here
ones,
despite
is
sunshine
ones
hard
and
in
orange
isto
as
Turkey
a
they
beat
the
nursery
a bushy
bit
frilly
ones,
the
of
you
ones
aothers
traditional
in
frilly
lefty
just
to
thefade
are
get
ones
UK
having
white
to
just
that
purple
and
aand
atoo
rust
holds
ones,
general
even
ones.
girly
colour
afast
mixed
magenta
for
collection
Ipreference
which
love
me.
ones.
the
ones,
just
ofand
idea
Personally
over
for
doesn’t
purple
red,
of200
the
when
work.
ones,
named
orange
I prefer
it And
violet
comes
varieties
ones
the
the
ones,
most
to
but
pastel,
bougainvillea
of
in
pink
shocking
bougainvillea.
bright
mixed
ones,
red
it
lovely
And
upward
different
you
topiary.
habit
varieties
get
than
seem
around
dwarf
and
ones
about.
there
long
are
There
climbing
growers
are
even
ones.
some
Some
slower
varieties
climbers
growers.
that
seem
lend
There
to
themselves
have
are
loads
a
more
to
ofand,
Although
far
never
tell
in
you
buy
whatever
Igritty
asoggy.
haven’t
bougainvillea
garden
tried
want
centres
it,
Ithat’s
to
suspect
hear.
soato
not
you
Plants
asking
flowering
are
just
for
are
-going
a
rarely
they
particular
to
often
don’t
variety
to
trust
know
labeled.
by
their
name
what
advice.
colour
may
not
But
itoccasionally;
is
get
be
orits
you
they’ll
careful,
very
in
Bougainvilleas
drained
planting
the
drainage.
constantly
long,
the
soil
itthe
ground
needs
is
soil,
alocal
While
small
too
they
to
need
and
bushy
much
be
ityou
If
doesn’t
don’t
in
the
it’s
sun
the
water
variety
pot
aseem
and
climbing
ground
want
has
discourages
once
in
to
aneed
to
layer
pot,
completely
variety
established
flourish.
it.
you
of Use
flowering
stones
don’t
will
Pot
dry
tomato
need
are
plant
above
planted
out,
fairly
and
to
itindividually
feed
ithave
in
water
may
the
certainly
drought
a
ones
to
pot,
hole(s)
even
itencourage
will
regularly
itresistant.
doesn’t
just
cause
need
at
won’t
thefertilising
but
flowering.
want
the
bottom
They
be
itroots
is
to
happy
important
have
need
to
to
assist
rot.
for
well
very
If
roots
that
Tip of the day No. 1: Whilst on the subject of pots, my advice is always to try to buy ones
with straight, vertical sides and no ridges - two reasons. Straight, vertical sided pots,
are less top heavy and less likely to get blown over in the strong winter winds.
Ridge-less, because when your plant gets root bound and needs re-potting, you’ve got
a chance of getting it out of the old pot without destroying the roots or breaking the pot.
Although not an expert, I think I have discovered bougainvilleas that just don’t flower. Well you
might ask what is the purpose of bougainvilleas that don't flower, apart from causing injury.
With uncharacteristic patience, I waited two summers for a couple of seemingly happy
bougainvilleas to flower. Three years later with hardly a bract in the whole time, I pulled them
out and started again. Some varieties of bougainvillea with furrier, more velvety leaves just
don’t seem to flower much or maybe are fussier about being overwatered. My advice - don’t
wait three years, if reducing watering doesn’t get them to flower, pull them out and start again!
Many years ago I read about some Japanese guy who was trying to develop a hardier variety of
bougainvillea for cooler climates. I suspect he will make a fortune if successful! I fear I would
go bankrupt trying to market my new and rare “non-flowering” variety! But then again someone
did manage to sell them to the developer of my villa!!
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Capability Green and the Outrageous Colours of Bougainvillea · Kalkan Turkey · Kalkan Weather · Kalkan
Tuesday, 21 June 2016 - Last Updated Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Aphids
selectively
with
recommend
chemicals
a mixture
can
are
nuking
be
it!
of
used
God
aleft
problem,
vegetable
only
the
insects
knows
fields
although
oil,
water
with
growing
what
I look
even
have
and
nasty
the
detergent
nastier
not
chemicals
vegetables
experienced
chemicals
may
are
for
work
in
it,
the
Iwashing
but
got
but
oil.
the
into
I am
last
up
trouble.
certainly
liquid!
time
I’m
I of
Or
suggested
not
told
what
going
spraying
to
stems,
A
problem
bougainvilleas,
why
maintenance
frequently
drains
winter
local
bougainvilleas
look
are
you
speciality
with
during
in
or
end
danger
this
companies.
for
up
the
is
winter,
isnasty
with
alone
hacking
gets
itin
of
bougainvilleas!
makes
becoming
bare
hacked
regularly
or
God
plants
carefully
Kalkan
stems
forbid
atblocked!
sweep
to
the
and
When
pruned,
near
that
end
bald
unnecessarily
and
they
death
But
of
bougainvilleas
patches.
are
pre-emptively
season
might
hacking
the
still
moment
have
flowering
is
Just
sad
to
because
near
to
are
look
ensure
and
check
tourist
hacked
in
death
around!
colourless
it’s
December!
no
your
season
less
isn’t
roof,
back
property
sweeping
good
out
terrace
has
just
The
for
to
ended.
season.
more
main
their
up
or
Kalkan’s
balcony
for
reason
main
My
the
My
first
Pruning
eye
major
keep,
where
always
places
you’re
grow
mean
growth
encourage
for
both
your
prune
by
going
you
that
or
leave
form
isconstant
pruning
styles;
an
want,
bougainvillea
flowering.
are
and
of
for
short
art;
the
difficult
abut
structure.
some
like
more
itmaintenance?
year
spurs.
out
don’t
to
give
to
manicured
and
inaccess),
When
cut
Pruning
art
shape.
itme
back
is
it little
is
about
you
Topiary
ayou
Cut
look,
just
perfect
for
gentle
work,
are
establishing
probably
form
to
out
you
going
requires
the
others
shape
pursuit
any
and
will
main
for
dead
won’t
be
structure
and
require
to
the
constant
or
stem
busier
be
bits,
maintaining
need
itnatural
necessitates
done
anywhere
constant
weak
throughout
isto
minor
best
with
look
dogrowth
much
done
the
work,
love
maintenance.
(particularly
you
regular
the
infrastructure
in
not
or
want
more.
tucking
growing
January.
bits
brutality
nipping
new
Alternatively,
that
recommended
or
So
growth,
season.
won’t
tying
This
to
and
out
what
get,
with
in
is
go
todo
new
or
your
I
ifan
I in
Below:
Flipping
heck
-most
it's
amaintain
dolphin! Tip of the day No. 2: When growing climbers on railings or along balconies, don't let
them weave in and out. Keep the main structure on the outside and attach with cable. If
you let them weave in and out, you can't repaint your metalwork without destroying
years of infrastructure development. We can untie ours so we can pull them away and
repaint underneath before re-attaching!
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Capability Green and the Outrageous Colours of Bougainvillea · Kalkan Turkey · Kalkan Weather · Kalkan I
Tuesday, 21 June 2016 - Last Updated Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Bougainvilleas don’t have to be hard work, once established they don’t need too much water
and they add colour like nothing else. Pity they aren’t fragrant too - I wouldn’t have to grow a
jasmine through mine!
Every villa or apartment block should have at least one bougainvillea and wouldn’t it be great if
it was visible to the public when walking by! And rather than planting labour intensive bedding
plants along the road sides, wouldn’t it be great if the Belediye ensured the streets of Kalkan
were awash with the outrageous and shocking colours of bougainvilleas to accompany the
intoxicating perfume of those Ladies of the Night!
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Capability Green and the Outrageous Colours of Bougainvillea · Kalkan Turkey · Kalkan Weather · Kalkan
Tuesday, 21 June 2016 - Last Updated Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Contact Capability Green by emailing him at [email protected] .
Kalkan Turkish Local News - your window on Kalkan Turkey.
5/6
Capability Green and the Outrageous Colours of Bougainvillea · Kalkan Turkey · Kalkan Weather · Kalkan I
Tuesday, 21 June 2016 - Last Updated Tuesday, 21 June 2016
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