Re: Echium wildpretii
- To: g*@trump.net.au, m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Re: Echium wildpretii
- From: S* G* <s*@hotmail.com>
- Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 19:04:45 PDT
Hi Gay
I must admit that I used the phrase "Australian Open Garden Scheme" type
garden a little tongue in cheek so don't take me too literally! But I have
to say that there are some general 'types' of gardens that one tends to see
over and over again in the Scheme - and after visiting the 25th garden with
the same basic collection of perennials and roses (regardless of the skill
of the gardener in putting it together) it can get a little bit boring.
Bring on originality and quirkiness!!!
I guess this is one issue in my own garden that I agonize over constantly -
is it even just a little bit original or is it totally derivative??
As somebody interested in 'different' plants I always find it a bit
surprising just how quickly the so called 'rare and unusual' become common
place and over used - particularly amongst gardeners interested in
'different' plants (many of whom own gardens that are part of the Open
Garden Scheme).
And I fear that E. wildpretii is also becoming another victim of this
syndrome. While it is not exactly in every supermarket yet, it is being sold
in an increasing number of corner nurseries just between the pansies and the
geraniums (all good plants in their way - which all have a place the garden
- but that is not my point)!
Because it is spectacular and it has been considered 'rare' - plantophiles
just cannot resist (and yes I will confess that I am speaking personally
here) - with the consequence that it seems to be tower up all over the
place. A bit sad really when the sight of such a magnificent plant engenders
the reaction "Oh no not another one" rather than "Wow".
Susan George
McCrae, Victoria, Australia
>From: Gay Klok <gklok@trump.net.au>
>Reply-To: gklok@trump.net.au
>To: "medit-plants@ucdavis.edu" <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
>Subject: Re: Echium wildpretii
>Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 19:37:41 +1000
>
>Susan,
>I am a little confused as a garden owner who opens her garden so the public
>can
>see it - What exactly are "Australian Open Garden Scheme" type gardens? In
>Tasmania the gardens vary from tiny cottage to large ornamental to quite a
>few
>native gardens.
>I, unfortunately, do not grow the echium in either gardens I open under the
>Scheme. I think the soil is too acid to be successful with them. The
>massed
>planting must look magnificent
>
>Susan George wrote:
>
> > Quite agree - although they are almost becoming common in "Australian
>Open
> > Garden Scheme" type gardens - but they are still magnificent - only
>problem
> > is that people still tend to plant them as single specimens - a few
>years
> > ago the Geelong Botanic Gardens mass planted their display beds at the
> > garden entrance with them - perhaps 50-60 - the impact was powerful to
>say
> > the least. If anyone is interested in echium species and in the area
>these
> > Botanic Gardens have a bit of a collection going - anyway it is a nice
> > garden to visit.
> >
> > Susan George
> > McCrae, Australia
> >
> > >From: Barry_Garcia@monterey.edu (Barry Garcia)
> > >Reply-To: Barry_Garcia@monterey.edu
> > >To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
> > >Subject: Echium wildpretii
> > >Date: Sun, 13 Jun 1999 00:53:28 -0800
> > >
> > >I think i have become another fan of this plant. One of our neighbors a
> > >few houses down has one right now, and its inflorescence is about 10
> > >feet high! The thing is so heavy they proped it up with boards. It
> > >pretty much lives up to its common name of "tower of jewels".
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > ______________________________________________________
> > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
>--
>Gay Klok Tasmania
>
>NEW ARTICLE: May article:
>My article, this time, is a chatty story of me, a "townie"
>first becomes to grips with "country living" Attached to
>the article are many photos of my favourite flowers
>and scenes in this, our late Autumn and early Winter gardens
>http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/tasmanian_gardening
>http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/3411
>http://members.tripod.com/~klok/WRINKLY_.HTM
>
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