Thinning the "Rainforest"

  After the final threat of a freeze, I dragged all of the potted plants from the greenhouse.  Some made it to their summer place of residence which is the outdoor arbor/shelf but others only made it as far as the pathway to the backdoor of the greenhouse.  Normally, this pathway is about ten feet wide but with the plants lining the edges it is barely passable now.  In fact, Son informed me today that this "rainforest" is going to have to be thinned simply because it is a fine place for a cottonmouth to hide.  I see his point and promise to work on hauling the plants to their rightful spots, although, they seem to be perfectly happy where they are and maybe I can just use the front door of the greenhouse!

  All this hauling of plants has made me start thinking that perhaps I should do a bit of culling.  I hate it.  It saddens me to think that I should discard any living thing.  That said, I have been trying to convince my daughter that she needs more plants.  Her place is already is filled with gorgeous plants of all types but I figure she needs more.  Hopefully, my plan will work and the back pathway will become a bit safer.  I am getting too old for this!

  

More than just plants...

  My gardens that surround the Little Bayou House are a mishmash of plants.  These were mostly gifted to me by long gone family members and dear friends.  During the spring and early summer months, the backyard begins to resemble a rainforest of sorts.  Plants literally get so entangled that it is impossible to walk the paths.  These plants come up and grow where they please and I could not be happier with the look. 

  There are two areas that are completely covered with the gloriosa lilies.  The lilies have multiplied and are now entwined with the citrus trees and buckeye tree.  Gloriosa lilies have a need for a trellis as they are tall and spindly but, over time, the plants have solved their problems on their own.  Each leaf has a tendril that will wrap tightly around anything that is within reach so you better not lallygag about the garden too long or you may become a trellis yourself!  The gloriosa lilies were a gift from Pop.  His gardens were always impeccably maintained and the lilies always were showstoppers!  

  In an area nor far from the gloriosas, the parrot lilies have outdone themselves.  Parrot lilies are also known as Peruvian lilies or Inca Lilies.   For most of the year, the plant grows close to the ground with the prettiest little rosettes of round leaves.  Then, suddenly, they shoot up tall stalks with 7 to 11 blooms in a cluster at the top.  Each bloom on mine are deep red edged with green.  They are tube like flowers that draw hummingbirds and butterflies in droves.  The parrot lilies were a gift from a favorite aunt.  She had them planted by the steps of the door leading to the Bay.  I remember helping her weed this garden one time and she gave lots of advice on how to let plants and people have their own space.  Her gardens were always a wonderland of interesting plants. 

  While my gardens will never compare to those of the folks who gifted the plants, they are filled with the love that came with the gifts.  I think of these folks each time I meander the paths ducking beneath the low hanging branches and admiring the variety of blooms.  Today, it occurred to me that gardens are more than just plants.  They are true friends, great teachers and keepers of memories.

Looking Good, Plants, Looking Good!

  With all the rain of late, it seems that the yard has its sights set on becoming a rainforest.  I guess every kid has to have a goal for when it becomes an adult so the garden must feel that it has every right to become whatever it wants when it grows up.   The backyard especially has become lush with new growth.  Weekly trimming with the snips has had little effect on the plants.  They are determined!

  This afternoon, a short stroll through the garden on the north side of the house brought delight as the false indigo was blooming right alongside of the red buckeye.  Both small shrubs were beautifully adorned with blooms...the buckeye with red and the false indigo with a deep, deep purple.  The exciting part was seeing just how many honeybees were visiting the blooms!  Hundreds of bees were busy collecting pollen from the shrubs.  Somewhere nearby there has to be a honeybee hive.  How fun would it be to find that wild hive and urge them to come live in the garden!

  While I have no knowledge of any problems with the false indigo, I have heard rumors that buckeye is not the best for bees.  Skuttlebutt has it that the toxins in the seeds are also in the blooms and can eventually cause problems for the honeybees.  It seems that bees (and most other critters) are smarter than humans when it comes to knowing what is safe for them to eat.  Since the buckeyes grow wild here, there is no reason for me to worry.  For that matter, both the buckeye tree and the false indigo were dug from the creek bed so I feel that neither will harm the local critters by being in my yard.  Besides!  They look rather pretty!