Green Thumbs and Memories: Planting with a Personal Touch

Green Thumbs and Memories: Planting with a Personal Touch

What kind of fun plant things does one discuss when it is dreary and foggy outside? Planting is probably not high on my list of things, although I can think of some entertaining bits, so here goes: Many folks don't like deciduous plants because they "look dead" in the winter. I like to think that to wow us with their beauty the rest of the year, some plants need to hibernate like bulbs or bears do, and come out later with a great surprise! Roses, Crapemyrtles, and Hydrangeas are so good at blooming for us because they got their beauty sleep!

Sometimes a plant is a favorite because of the Grandma used to have one and this reminds me of summers spent at her house kind of thing. My grandmother had a plot of Boysenberries that came from the original Knott's Berry Farm! The cousins would sneak out and eat them right off the vine, all hot and dusty, coming in later with tell-tale purple stains on our shirts and hands.

Other times, a plant is disliked because of a not-so-pleasant reason. My daughter doesn't like the fragrance of Narcissus Paperwhites, in fact, she calls them Elephant flowers. Not sure why exactly, the best we can come up with is that she smelled them once at the zoo while watching the elephants. That is a completely different reason. One of those for me is that gorgeous purple grass, Society Garlic. Drought-tolerant, blooms for a long season, but... Garlic! I like a good garlic dish, but that one is way too strong! I admire it from a distance.

So no matter what the reason you like (or not!) certain plants, I enjoy hearing them when you come in looking for a new green addition to your landscape. I hope that you all are in good health and that 2023 is a great one!