http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/ Glimpses of Garden18 en Copyright 2009 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:23:35 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss red salvia that is four foot tall by four foot wide. It is home to flocks of praying mantids and its foliage is redolent of musky mint. I also have a perennial hebe (HEE-bee), of similar dimensions that has, at this moment, a hundred lavender and white bottlebrush flowers, about one inch in size, and it just keeps blooming and blooming. These salvia and hebe plants themselves are not glamorous. However, their flowers make a statement not just about beauty, but about perseverance and legacy. For without flowers, there would be no seeds which, like children, might develop into a unique sort of individual never seen before. ]]> http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2009/11/thanksgiving_in_the_garden.html http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2009/11/thanksgiving_in_the_garden.html Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:23:35 -0800 Eletteria cardamomum. Anyone can grow it and it has the most sweet-smelling foliage that God has yet created. It grows from rhizomes but spreads out in the garden in slow motion, and is entirely manageable, in the manner of other rhizomatous plants such as lily-of-the-Nile (Agapanthus) and the common flag iris (Iris germanica). In its tropical habitat, it grows to a height of ten feet while in Los Angeles and the dry southwest, where it must be sun protected, it is content to be a ground cover that grows no taller than a foot or two. I must also note that Cardamom does not flower in Los Angeles because night temperatures are too cold. The big difference, in fact, between subtropical and tropical climates is night temperature. In the tropics, warm nights are typical and it is the lack of fluctuation between day and night temperature that allows tropical plants to flower. ]]> http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2009/11/cardamom.html http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2009/11/cardamom.html Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:04:44 -0800 song says it all. And this song combines "wonderful world" with "over the rainbow."]]> http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2008/04/spring_beauty.html http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2008/04/spring_beauty.html Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:52:48 -0800 Known as annual vinca or Madagascar periwinkle, this species (Catharanthus roseus) has flummoxed the most experienced gardener with its unpredictable performances. Certainly it demands perfect soil drainage yet, for no apparent reason, it may die within days of being planted in sandy soil. The literature describes Madagascar periwinkle as a perennial typically grown as an annual, yet where all conditions for growth (whatever they may be) are perfect, it will become a stout two to three foot shrub that is covered with flowers most of the year for several years. Flower color has traditionally been white, rose pink, or mauve but in recent years red and apricot varieties have also appeared. Its botancial name Catharanthus means "pure flower" and there is a velvety sheen to periwinkle petals that does impart to the blooms, especially the white ones, an air of purity.]]> http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/09/the_inscrutable_vinca.html http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/09/the_inscrutable_vinca.html Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:03:52 -0800 From the standpoint of botanical relationships, coleus is in good company. It is in the mint family (Lamiaceae) and so is kin to the salvias and the mints, which include a vast array of intriguing species. Most salvias and mints can be grown in full sun to partial sun locations. Coleus, on the other hand, have traditionally been grown in partial sun to shady exposures, although recently hybridized coleus varieties, such as the 'Solar' series, which includes the variety pictured above, can grow in full sun as well. ]]> http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/08/coleus_the_plant_you_fall_in_l.html http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/08/coleus_the_plant_you_fall_in_l.html Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:24:57 -0800 Esther, the Biblical heroine, was also known by the name Hadassah, which comes from the Hebrew word for myrtle. When Esther-Hadassah entered a pageant to become queen of Persia, she was the only contestant who chose not to adorn herself in any special way, relying on her essential grace and beauty. She not only became queen but later saved her people from annihilation. While working at the Peter Pitchess Honor Ranch -- a jail farm just north of Los Angeles in Saugus -- a number of years ago, I made acquaintance with the myrtle. Just off one of the many dusty roads that twist their way around the ranch, at the base of a rather steep slope, I noticed a brilliant, glossy leaved plant that offered a sharp contrast to the dull and dry flora that surrounded it. It was a summer of burdensome heat, yet that myrtle seemed to look fresher with each passing day. Its diamond shaped leaves, thought by the ancients to represent the all-seeing eyes of wisdom, never sagged or faded despite the absence of a watering system in that corner of the ranch. As if its foliage was not enough of a gift, it also bestowed gold-stamened pure white flowers, which were succeeded by succulent blue-black fruits. You cannot imagine how uplifting it is to see a fresh, glistening evergreen, the embodiment of constancy and resiliency, growing in such an environment. Each day you sandwich fifty inmates into the bed of a dump truck and take them to their work detail. If they work with you for more than a few days, you end up asking them what they're in for. It transpires that none of the inmates -- to hear them talk -- has ever committed a crime. Each and every one is innocent of all wrong doing; each and every one is in jail because he was "set up" or "snitched off." You drive your inmates around the jail compound and see the myrtle, a green gem glowing in the sun. You point to it and shout: "Learn from this plant, gentlemen, learn from it! The world around you may be dry and dead, but you can make a difference, you can stay fresh and hopeful and alive. But first you must admit to who you are. Just don't give in to cynicism or despair, and keep the faith!" In response, the inmates all laugh and swear in their usual high-spirited manner, enjoying their stay on the farm -- every day, three hots and a cot at no charge, and a funny boss to boot. After spending time in jail, whether as inmate or guard, you may wish to escape from the lock and key world and find refuge in a garden. It may be quite tempting to turn your back on mankind behind hedges of bougainvillea, oleander, or myrtle. With myrtle, though, you will have half a lifetime to wait, since the plant is rather slow growing. In addition, it grows in direct response to soil conditions and water availability, not exceeding four feet in height under adverse circumstances, while reaching twenty to thirty feet when conditions for growth are optimal. Around the year 130, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was sentenced to death by the Roman government for publicly mocking the achievements of Rome as one big hedonistic enterprise. To save his life, the rabbi withdrew with his son to a cave in Galilee where, miraculously, a carob tree grew and a water well appeared, so that he never lacked for food or water. For many years, he studied Torah and prayed with his son. Eventually, the emperor's decree was rescinded, and the rabbi left the cave. In their years of isolation and study, Shimon Bar Yochai and his son had learned the meaning of eternal life. They had also become disgusted with the temporal, humdrum world which, they thought, only existed as a barrier to holiness and eternity. So intense was their emotion and belief that, upon emerging from the cave, fire literally came out of their eyes when they saw people engaged in the mundane acts of plowing and sowing a field. Upon seeing this, the Almighty was angered and, realizing that His world would soon be consumed in a blaze, ordered the two saints to return to their cave. Twelve months passed and a voice from heaven ordered the men to leave the cave again, their punishment over. It was the Sabbath eve and the first sight that greeted their eyes was an old man carrying sheaves of myrtle, a fragrance redolent of Eden coming from the freshly cut branches. Serenity and joy filled the hearts of Shimon Bar Yochai and his son. They understood that the six days of plowing, sowing, and harvesting were created solely for the sake of the Sabbath. They realized that the splendor of the Sabbath, represented by the myrtle's otherworldly aroma, could only be appreciated by those fully engaged in the mundane world. ]]> http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/08/the_myrtle_and_the_truth.html http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/08/the_myrtle_and_the_truth.html Thu, 30 Aug 2007 19:43:22 -0800 And it is the easiest plant in the world to grow. Funny, though, you cannot find it at the nursery. Instead, you have to wait for it to pop up in your garden. In truth, it is a weed. But if you are a flower arranger and you have fern asparagus growing somewhere in your garden, you will add a few sprigs of it every time you pick irises, daffodils, calla lilies, birds-of-paradise, or whatever else you put into a vase.]]> http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/08/thorny_wispy_weedy_asparagus.html http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/08/thorny_wispy_weedy_asparagus.html Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:32:20 -0800 The above 'James Walker' bougainvillea produces enormous clusters of magenta bracts. It is not as common as the ubiquitous crimsony pink 'Barbara Karst' or the often sighted fire engine 'San Diego Red,' which has been renamed 'Scarlet O'Hara' in recent years.]]> http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/08/bougainvillea_satisfies_most_w.html http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/08/bougainvillea_satisfies_most_w.html Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:56:41 -0800 A caveat: in the dry Southwest, moneywort grows just fine but in wetter climates it grows like mad and becomes an invasive pest. 'Aurea' is a gold-leafed variety. Moneywort is composed of two words. "Money" refers to the round, coin-shaped leaves and "wort" means root, herb, or plant in old English.]]> http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/08/moneywort_money_in_the_bank.html http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/08/moneywort_money_in_the_bank.html Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:19:51 -0800 This is a 'Fauriei' crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia x fauriei, a hybrid of Lagestroemia indica and the eponymous Japanese species). It has a magnificent canopy and looks like a real tree, as opposed to the older crape myrtle varieties that are most glorious when kept pruned back to around eight feet tall but never account for much as trees. Once flowering is over, crape myrtles can be pruned drastically without worrying about reducing next year's bloom since flowers are produced on growth which begins the following spring. Yet, at least where 'Fauriei' is concerned, pruning may never be required throughout the life of the tree. As with most deciduous trees, it is best to prune crape myrtle, if you must, in winter after all its leaves have fallen. The crape myrtle was named Lagerstroemia in honor of Magnus von Lagerstroem, a Swedish naturalist and merchant. Some people pronounce it Lager-STREEM-ia, in deference to the Swedish pronounciation. Crape myrtles are native to China, Japan and other Southeast Asian lands. (The species name indica, given to the earliest classified crape myrtles, is misleading since the plant is not native to India, although it was thought to come from there at one time.) Another bonus of 'Fauriei', as opposed to indica, is its resistance to mildew. Yet the greatest enemy of all crape myrtles is the string trimmer or so-called weed eater piece of equipment used by gardeners. The plastic string of this infernal machine whips around the trunk of young crape myrtles, which are often planted in parkway strips of grass between sidewalk and street. As as result, the cambium layer under the bark of crape myrtles is often gouged out by the whirling plastic string of the weed eater. Once the cambium is destroyed, water can no longer move up the trunk into the leaves. I have seen many crape myrtles dry up and die as a result of weed eater damage. To protect newly planted crape myrtles and other young trees from such a fate, use this plastic trunk protector. ]]> http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/08/lavender_crape_myrtle_faurei.html http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/08/lavender_crape_myrtle_faurei.html Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:49:25 -0800 pink, and white. Zinnias are native to Mexico. The more familiar type is a tall grower that is highly susceptible to mildew. Meanwhile, Zinnia 'Profusion' is a ground cover that is mildew resistant. 'Profusion' is also an excellent selection for container growing. All zinnias attract butterflies. Zinnias were named in honor of Johann Zinn, an 18th century German academic who only lived to the age of 32. During his brief life, he was both director of his university's botanical garden and member of its medical faculty. His lasting contribution was not in the field of botany but in his seminal work on the anatomy of the human eye. Zinnias were brought to Europe from Mexico by Spanish explorers in the early 1600's. ]]> http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/08/profusion_zinnias_provide_summ.html http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/08/profusion_zinnias_provide_summ.html Wed, 22 Aug 2007 18:38:06 -0800 It is known as lemon verbena (Alyosia triphylla). It is a bushy plant that grows 2-6 feet tall in most of the U.S., reaching 15 feet or more in the tropics, and freezing where temperatures dip below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Crush a leaf to appreciate the potent lemon pungence. You can put the leaves in tea, make lemonade with them, cook and bake with them. Lemon verbena is indigenous to Chile and Peru. It was brought back to Europe by the Spanish who named it in honor of Maria Louisa (hence Aloysia, Mari-A LOUISA), the Italian wife of a Spanish king. In Los Angeles, lemon verbena must be protected from hot sun, which means that if you live north of Mulholland Drive give it either full morning sun or partial afternoon sun but definitely not all day sun.]]> http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/08/the_strongest_lemon_scent_on_earth.html http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/08/the_strongest_lemon_scent_on_earth.html Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:04:06 -0800 Photinia. But to see a new foliar flush on any plant is exciting. I have been nursing an etrog or citron seedling (Citrus medica) for nearly a year and, just now, it produced a new flush of growth that has provided me with a sensation of incomparable joy. There is nothing that takes your breath away more than growth. Be it on a plant or in a human being. Perhaps that is why I work at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. People come in desperate and leave renewed. Some stay sober and some do not but at least during the time they spend in rehab demonstrable growth takes place. Addicts are people who have too much love for the world into which they are born. Like plants, they give and give and give, yet receive little, if anything, in return. Unlike plants, however, addicts cannot cope with getting little in return for their limitless love and turn to an alien substance as a vessel that somehow, albeit dangerously, contains their passion. ]]> http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/07/whats_so_special_about_plants.html http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/07/whats_so_special_about_plants.html Fri, 13 Jul 2007 16:55:06 -0800 Somewhere a Master: "The opposite of love is not hate. It's indifference. The opposite of life is not death. It's insensitivity." On page 107, there is a quote from Moshe-Leib of Sassov: "When I present myself before the holy tribunal, I shall ask to go to hell. After all, who is in paradise? The learned, the saints, the pious -- and they don't need me." ]]> http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/06/somewhere_a_master.html http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/06/somewhere_a_master.html Sun, 24 Jun 2007 12:50:57 -0800 I learned patience in the garden. Patience is almost as outmoded as God. Few have the patience to be patient or to pray or to let God come inside. Life is probably lived best in slow motion. You do not see plants grow before your eyes but they are growing all the time. http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/06/everything_i_need_to_know_i_le_1.html http://www.perfectplants.com/blog/2007/06/everything_i_need_to_know_i_le_1.html Wed, 20 Jun 2007 22:22:47 -0800