Daily Dose Blogger Bios
The Vine that Ate San Diego
A week ago I was in San Diego, and while having a grand ole time I stumbled across this building absolutely covered in Black Eyed Susan Vine. It was right in the middle of downtown, and it was for sale. I wanted it. I have no use for old bungalow apartments in San Diego ... but that vine! How exquisite! How extravagant!
I have Black Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata) on my fence, but it isn't anywhere near as luxurious. Of course, this San Diego vine has probably been growing for decades upon decades, while mine is but a babe. And while I love my orange one, the yellow looks so much fresher, cleaner, prettier ... I think I need to add a yellow Thunbergia to my fence.
When you garden, inspiration is everywhere; I often find it in plants still flourishing in abandoned buildings or houses in older parts of town. Sometimes you'll see something that was lovingly planted and tended by someone generations ago growing wild, truly expressing itself ... really going for broke. I love seeing things like that. One of the gardens I've made that is closest to my heart was for a dear friend, and we decided that we wanted the garden to look like it was left alone for a hundred years. This vine would look perfect in that garden.
Many gardeners really like their plants to behave, to stay in bounds - and I understand why ... invasives are a big problem. But I am always seduced by an exhuberant plant that takes it to the limit. I mean think about it, what could be tougher than a plant that kicks ass with no help at all - one that thrives on whatever nature feels like giving it?
That is a plant I want in my corner!
LOVE!
I am obsessed with gardens that feel like you've discovered them after dozens or hundreds of years--I assume it comes, like most of my aesthetic tendencies, from the books of my childhood. In this case a combination of The Secret Garden (clearing away the detritus to uncover the buds of long-abandoned bulbs!) to the discovery of the ruins of Cair Paravel in Prince Caspian... (Meanwhile ELizabeth Enright's Melendy books, among others, have left me longing for a rambly house with hidden rooms and perhaps a cupula.)
Anyway, I love that vine. And one day will you help me make a garden with hidden spaces and surprises around every corner?
This is so amazing. Abundance is everywhere. Plentitude. Did you see Amy's Secret Garden terrariums? They're amazzzzzing. I was going to blog them, but you can too.
http://emersonmerrick.blogspot.com/
I'm getting all swoony over that vine.
It's everything i love about in a plant; healthy, sweet, wild, delicate and strong willed all at once.
I should be so lucky to grow like that myself!
(and scrappy, that's such a nice thing to say about my little jars)
Katef - Are you and i joined at the brain or what? I love the books you mentioned. Much of my childhood was spent rummaging around in closets hoping I would end up in Narnia somehow.
Being in a space that is in the process of being reclaimed by nature is pretty awe inspiring. I strive to get some of that feeling into my gardens... who doesn't need a little more awe in their day to day lives?
And OF COURSE I'll be your garden pal! Just feed me, and I'm all yours - whatever you need!
Scrappy - You are so right about abundance being everywhere, but I must admit to not seeing it sometimes. Every so often, I need to be slapped in the face by plentitude. It's pretty bracing!
I just checked out Amy's terrariums. Breathtaking!
Amy, you creative beast, you ... I MUST post about your beautiful terrariums. I have wanted to make some forever, but I can't get over the failure of my fourth grade science project, which was a terrarium with a lizard in it. I can't even get into it, it is so painful. But I need to let all that go and move forward! Yours are so simple and evocative ... love love love.
I am also amazed by your facility with houseplants. My indoor thumb isn't as green as my outdoor thumb!
hey germi- what are your thoughts on jupiter's beard? i planted them next to my euph wulfenii because i saw them together paired in a sunset book, but now i'm reading that they're 'rank and invasive'!
Hey there Chanchow! I was so happy last week with the fabulously cool weather, and now this!
Oh, well, my tomatos are loving it, so I shouldn't complain.
About Jupiter's Beard (Centranthus ruber) - personally, my problem with it is that I don't like the look of the plant itself... I think there are better choices to pair with your euphorbia that won't start taking over your garden . My very favorite plants to associate with any of the herbacious euphorbias are phormiums (flax) and salvias (ornamental sage). These will contrast beautifully with the foliage of the euphorbias and give you a gorgeous planting.
You know, I guess it all comes down to aesthetics for me. If a bully of a plant is pretty enough, I'll take on the extra responsibility of dealing with its invasiveness. But it better be a doozy, because pulling out errant seedlings is not my favorite way of spending a Saturday afternoon! (Well, it kind of is, but you get my point, right?)
i can't take this weather. i'm extra ticked because i bought a book about the best hikes in SoCal a few weeks ago and haven't been able to go on any because it's too hot. i'd pass out. if only it would be summer during the week and spring during the weekends.
i think i will yank out my jupiters beard. i don't want to deal with errant seedlings. fortunately i planted them just a couple weeks ago, so i won't have a hard time removing.
thanks again and stay cool!!!