Category Archives: Plant Portraits
Weird Plants
It lives! Emergence of the aroid Pinellia tripartita, or ‘Dragon Tails.’ New shoots emerge almost a crime-tape yellow, maturing to a lurid yellow-green. The aroids seem to have weird covered, having in common, whether small or gigantic, jack-in-the-pulpit flowers. Amorphophallus, … Continue reading
Blue Intentions
In small gardens, a few feet of ground mean everything. This is not whining, merely observation. (Gardens, unfortunately, never respond to whining, but only to cold, clear-eyed observation.) I had some blue intentions for spring for the main garden border … Continue reading
Posted in design, Plant Portraits
Tagged alkanet, Anchusa capensis 'Blue Angel', Annies Annuals, borage, Boraginaceae, bugloss, Haloragis erecta, Lobelia valida
5 Comments
Polygonum aubertii ‘Aureum’
The Silver Lace Vine. Or, as this one is called, the Golden Silver Lace Vine. The new growth in spring bears colors more often seen with Japanese maples. Shrimp-pink stems, lemony-tart leaves. Tangy. (Guess I’m still hung over from Sunday … Continue reading
The Tree Collard
Just another brassica, right? Let’s read the label, shall we? (Plant label: “Tree Collards. Evergreen. 8-10′ tall. Old American heirloom. Very nutritious, high in protein. Excellent steamed or boiled. Full-part sun, water regularly.”) No, that was not a typo. That’s … Continue reading
Agave ‘Cornelius’
When I got home last night, Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element was streaming from Netflix. (Sidebar: TV is amazingly complicated these days.) First thing this morning, I was of course snapping photos of the Agave ‘Cornelius.’ Or “Corneeleyoos,” as Mila … Continue reading
Foliage Follow-Up February 2011
This Salvia canariensis var. candissima from Annie’s Annuals is furrier than the species and has been incredibly difficult to photograph. Ever since I read a recent trashy news story on how beauties like Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe shaved their … Continue reading
Bloom Day February 2011
What was I thinking, sleeping in on Bloom Day? Getting straight to the point… Grevillea ‘Superb’ Pelargonium echinatum Abutilon Anigozanthus Salvia chiapensis Ammi majus Tulips The first flower of Salvia iodantha wagneriana in honor of Bloom Day. Thanks, Carol!
Second Look (Erodium pelargoniflorum)
Little plants like this erodium, that wouldn’t rate a second look in summer, for a brief time have the field to themselves in early spring. So many modest spring bloomers like this erodium are described as “charming,” which sounds like … Continue reading
Posted in Plant Portraits
Tagged Erodium pelargoniflorum, Erodium trifolium, geraniaceae, Maxwell Perkins
4 Comments
Bromeliads in Winter
Bromeliads like this Vriesea gigantea are wintering outdoors in this frostless garden. Maybe this bizarro winter I should knock wood and say this historically frostless garden. This fast-growing vriesea from southeastern Brazil is temporarily kept in a small pot to … Continue reading
Posted in Plant Portraits
Tagged aeoniums, bromeliads, coprosma, Cordyline 'Pink Stripe', Vriesea gigantea
8 Comments
Eryngiums, House & Garden
Sometimes the house quietly slips into a “Grey Gardens” mode, such as when a vase full of eryngiums turn spidery and dessicated, and I still can’t bear to throw them away. These were bought at Christmas, when I splurged on … Continue reading
Posted in Plant Portraits
Tagged Ellen Willmott, Eryngium giganteum, Miss Willmott's Ghost
10 Comments