Author Archives: Denise
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
Tulips Can Be Had Cheap
It takes a flower of infinite grace to withstand being turned into a potted ubiquity at every neighborhood nursery, grocery store, and florist shop, which is where I’m bumping into tulips this month. Growing them for myself is an intensely … Continue reading
Posted in Bulbs
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
That Corsican Hellebore
I hope I’m not becoming too tiresome about this hellebore… I may have mentioned it four times in the past two months, but I just cannot say enough good things about Helleborus argutifolius, zoned 7-10. Some resources zone it even … Continue reading
Yuccas Do
And how. Then keep on doing some more. Agaves get all the love, while yuccas just quietly get the job done. Yucca filamentosa, probably ‘Golden Sword,’ name tag lost long ago. Hardy to zone 5.
Habituation
Every so often I come across a word that tunnels straight into the murky recesses, boring into that dank station in the brain where rusty thoughts rumble around and bang like aimless cars in a railyard. Thoughts with otherwise no … Continue reading