Daily Dose Blogger Bios
A Vulgar Beauty
There I was the other day walking the pups with Jan - when what do I spy in the front yard of a neighbor who has been known to collect a few interesting plants? The phantasmagorically beautiful Dranunculus vulgaris, or Dragon Lily! I muscled husband and dogs across the street to pay homage to the Dragon in her full glory, and was not disappointed. She had obviously just opened, because the smell of decay still hung in the air ... these babies, cousins of the famous Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus giganteum, whose popularity must be due to either a great publicist or a name that conjurs up images of an enormous you-know-what), are pollinated by bottle flies. There were two deep inside the sheath, covered in pollen and looking confused. After seeing this gothic enchantress close up, I am determined to use the Dragon Lily in my front yard. More than one- five maybe, if my neighbors don't complain about the smell (the second name, 'vulgaris' is truly appropriate - pee-yoo!). They will look so beautiful surrounded by Iceberg roses and Aeonium Shcwartzkopfs! Throw in some Euphorbia 'Martinii' and Echeveria 'Afterglow', and I have a perfect planting for under my Purple Smoke Tree.
Is this an amazing plant or do you think I'm crazy?
I like this plant. I recently discovered your blog and am really enjoying it. My husband and I just moved to Eagle Rock and have begun landscaping our front yard (with mixed success). Maybe I'll see this plant on my weekend walks around the neighborhood!
Yay, Chanchow! A new Eagle Rocker! Isn't it funny how much neighborhood spirit we have? Everybody who lives here loves it - so welcome to our little town and welcome to my bodacious blog...
You have GOT to see this baby in person. I won't give out the address, but I will say it's on Floristan between Colorado and Yosemite - and it's not at the craftsman type house with the crazy mixed-up salad garden. It's closer to Yosemite than that. Hurry! With this heat, it might not last past this weekend ...
Glad to have you in the 'hood, the virtual one and the real one!
Yikes! I love the crazy look of it but I have a super-sensitive nose, so I'm afraid I'd have to vote against stinky plants.
I know, Katef, I'd rather have good-smelling plants in the garden - but sometimes, a plant comes along with a foul smell that you (or I, rather) just have to embrace. I'm trying to find an analagous food ... Cheese! There are some cheeses I have to serve outside because the stench would permeate my house for days if it was inside at room temp for even 10 minutes! (I'm a cheese wimp, I even find the smell of some raclette objectionable) Anyway, I think of these plants that way. The smell is fleeting, has a biological purpose, and the look of the plant is so damned cool! If she wasn't such a strange beauty, that same odor would never be tolerated! Omigod, I feel so shallow now!
Movie night has been re-scheduled for Memorial Day! I'll let you know how it goes!
Thanks for the tip, Germi! I drove up Floristan today, but didn't manage to spot this plant. I should've gotten out of my car and walked (then I could've just followed my nose), but alas I didn't have time...
I'm hoping you could give me a recommendation for a small tree. I'm looking to plant a shade tree in my front yard, in front of my brick chimney. The space is about 4' by 5' and it's sandwiched between the chimney (which is pretty high, maybe 15' tall) and a low retaining wall (1' high). I'd like something that will provide shade and not have really deep roots since it'll be right up against the house. My mom suggested a Queensland umbrella tree, but I was hoping to get more ideas before I decide. I've planted euphorbia wulfenii, yellow and red kangaroo paws and blue fescue in that same area... Any suggestions will be most appreciated!
Whew! I can comment again! Chanchow, I answered your query in a post - but as far as the Dranunculus goes - it's gone. I walked by last night and the flower was nowhere to be found - it looked like somebody cut it off. I hope hope hope it was the gardener and not some passerby who just wanted something cool for a Memorial Day centerpiece. Wouldn't that be so sad? To have planted and nurtured an amazing, unusual plant in your front yard so the whole neighborhood can enjoy it with you, and someone takes it. I will be so sad if that is what happened.
Gone! Nooo. That would be so wrong if someone took it. I hope that's not the case-- we don't need people like that in Eagle Rock!
WorldWide Exotics used to sell the bulbs. I don't know if they still do - we got one there a long time ago but it was dug up by a squirrel, which was a huge tragedy.
Really? I'll call Shelly there and see if they still do. The foliage alone is also beautiful, so she isn't just a one-trick pony, our Dragon Lily. I'm still envisioning 5 in my front yard.
As for the squirrels - the varmints! When we had an old avocado tree (it died from a fungus and we had to chop it down, boo-hoo) with the most delicious avocados on it, squirrels would camp out in it and pig out. Jan and I were sure the nutrients and fats were making them superior squirrels - they had chinchilla-like coats, and they were so sneaky and smart. One day Jan was sitting under the tree writing, and I heard a huge ruckus - I peeked out the window in time to see him being chased inside by 2 sqirrels throwing half eaten avocados at him. Swear to GOD! It was the funniest thing I've ever seen.
So I understand the kind of tragedy squirrels can bring - I understand all too well...