I chose to be at the NYBG because Joel was leading two tours of the Native Plant Garden and it was my opportunity to visit with him. He has many talents, photography among them, and I'm sure his photos taken today will be better than mine. If he sends me the one of Monarch Butterfly, I will share it; all the ones I took are fuzzy. My impatience gets the better of me. May I mention he also makes soap, and my favorite, a replica of the lotus seedhead, is my current partner in the shower.
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| Joel and a visitor at the NPG approach |
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| Monarch on Doelliringia umbellata Flat-top Aster photo by Joel |
Before I launch into the plants of today, I followed up on Sue Leffler's suggestion to include book reviews related to horticulture in this blog and took the opportunity to throw it back at her. Here is her review:
Review by Sue Leffler, Tour Guide
If you love trees, both familiar and exotic, and want to learn more about them, and if you are also a lover of crisp writing and exquisite illustrations, then AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 TREES is the perfect book for you!
No sooner had I bought my copy of Jonathan Drori’s Around the World in 80 Trees, than I knew I’d be buying several more as ideal gifts for friends who fall into one of the following categories: those who crave little-known information about trees, carefully researched by Jonathan, and those who appreciate quality books filled with the beautiful hand-drawn illustrations of French designer, Lucille Clerc.
Jonathan, a world-renowned expert on trees and on many other areas of science and botany, spoke to us, under the auspices of the Humanities Institute at the NYBG, on Friday, September 28thin the Ross Auditorium. Those who were lucky enough to catch Jonathan’s entertaining and informative slide-lecture will recognize the same concise, knowledgeable, and witty descriptions of trees within the book.
Here are two samples I chose at random from his description of European Boxwood:
Boxwood grows at a snail’s pace, and is the heaviest of European timbers. Its annual rings are so closely laid that the delicately yellow wood is uniform, finely textured and hard as nails.
Boxflowers are nondescript, but their scent polarizes opinion; for some it is headily reminiscent of resin and country childhood, while others sense mainly the whiff of cat pee.
Jonathan’s description of Buxus sempervirens is a scant four paragraphs, but every paragraph contains fascinating and little-known information about this wonderful little tree, present in our Herb Garden.
Buy the book! Carry it with you! And when life’s irritants strike, lose yourself in the excellent prose and sumptuous illustrations that make this volume unique. I guarantee that you will gain a greater appreciation of Life, and of Nature’s miracles.
Several people responded to my commenting on American Eden and it would be interesting to hear whether this inclusion of related books is of interest to you. I am reading for my non-fiction book club The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben and now I don't know if I will be able to trim the Pin Oak in my yard.
NPG
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| golden leaves of Bluestar |
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| fall Blueberry leaves I was downhearted when I was told there was to be no White Snakeroot planted in the "new" (2013) NPG, but encouraged to know that it would show itself. On today's walk, it was in many places, not overwhelming, at least not yet. I would volunteer to cut it back before it goes to seed, as long as we continued to have enough samples to talk about it causing the death of Lincoln's mother. |
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| White Snakeroot |
When you get to the Collinsonia which has spread considerably, don't mind there being too much, just rub and sniff--I love that lemony smell. I hope Thoreau liked it when he rubbed it on his sweaty horse. Hope the horse liked it, too.
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| Cohosh |
Some of the Cohosh has gone, yet some is still in full bloom. Small bits of Golden Alexanders here and there, and fuzzy Blue Mist. Near the Franklin Tree (the bigger one) and still in full bloom are the Closed Gentian and near Gertrude's plaque Great Blue Lobelia surprised me.
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| Great Blue Lobelia (photo by Joel) |
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| Closed Gentian |
Turning toward the water feature, a lotta Ladies Tresses, still Pickerel Weed, and learning from my mistake (where there's life, there's hope), Meadow Beauty.
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| Ladies Tresses |
We love color. It will soon be gone and then we will notice the delicate tops of the grasses..
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| Winterberry Ilex verticillata |
Next photo: Oh, yes, not so much the Yellow flowers but these leaves strike a familiar chord: I remember exactly where this plant was (always a helpful clue) in the old Native Plant Garden, now popping up in the meadow: Partridge Pea Chamaecrista fasiculata.
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