Blue/green perennials/botanical names of plants
- To: "'perennials@mallorn.com'"
- Subject: Blue/green perennials/botanical names of plants
- From: S* S*
- Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 14:13:14 -0700
Craig wrote:
> Her eyes are the color of the ocean (sometimes light
> blue/sometimes green).
Hmm. I'd have to ponder on that. Many books break down things by flower
color and I think online they do as well. Anyone have any suggestions?
> One question, how do you all learn all the scientific names of these
> flowers? I know the common names, but that's about it.
> Perhaps in the next
> few years I'll learn the proper names as well.
Everyone learns differently, but for me, I read everything I could get my
hands on. Words and spellings come fairly easy for me and stick in my head.
ONE BIG SUGGESTION: Never order from a catalogue that uses only common
names. They are not taking you seriously and they are not serious
themselves about providing quality plants to you. They figure if you'll go
for something called "twinkle toes" (yes, this is the voice of experience)
-- you'll go for crummy stock, small plants, junk plants, etc.
The MOTIVATION for learning them was: I got tired of the blank stares I got
when I asked for plants at local nurseries after reading about them, but
only remembered their common name. Problem is, common names are used
interchangeably for somethings and that happens a lot around the country as
well. There has to be ONE standard world-wide, and that is botanical names.
You'll get tired of getting the wrong plants, or reading about the growing
conditions for the wrong thing... for me it wasn't about perfection, but
RESULTS. And the best way to get results was to be "on the same page" as
the pros.
I would recommend getting a book of plant names. There is a little one that
I like, it's been very useful to me. It's small and called "Dictionary of
Plant Names" I believe, can't remember the author (will get that if you
like) but it's only about $11.00 and has the pronunciation guide too, so
that you can speak the same language as the people who are trying to help
you!
And really it's not that hard, because it IS consistent, at least. Alba is
white, etc. So once you learn a few basic words, you'll have some basic
understandings and can build upon those.
One thing about gardening, you'll never learn it all, EVER! You'll never be
bored!!!
Susan Saxton, zone 6b
For mine is a little old fashioned garden where the flowers come
together to praise the Lord and teach all who look upon them to do
likewise.
Celia Thaxter
I AM in shape. ROUND is a shape!
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