How Georgia Became O’Keeffe
Have you ever seen Georgia Okeeffe’s jack-in-the-pulpit series? If not, do yourself a favor and google them. I think they me be among my favorite O’Keefe’s. I am reading a very odd little book I got for my birthday called How Georgia Became O’Keefe: Lessons on the Art of Living by Karen Karbo. I am liking the book and am mostly finished, but I can’t really recommend it unless you too are fascinated by Georgia O’Keeffe. The author/narrator is so quirky, that I don’t think it would appeal to everyone. But if you are open minded, and are curious about what made Georgia become O’Keeffe, then have at it. And then tell me what you think of it. I’ll be very curious.
Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
not ordinary at all
I visit my mom three or four times a week. It’s part of my morning routine: drive thru coffee and a podcast on the way to Mom’s (no judging please :-) My mom has this clematis vine right beside her front door. It is magnificent in its showiness–enormous golfball-sized buds, and palm-sized tissue-paper blossoms. Every year, for fifteen years, we sit in awe and stare. I love that this vine blooms only once a year. Otherwise I fear I would become habituated to it, and maybe stop noticing it all together. Once a year is all I need. All I really want.
clematis flowers (buttercup family, Ranunculaceae)
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I agree! Even the most stunning blossom (as this one is) becomes ordinary with over exposure. Thank goodness for small doses, a time to savor each one in its own season. Imagine if all flowering things opened in spring and bloomed all season, til first frost! Constant, continual sensory overload. No thanks.
Drive thru coffee and a podcast seem a perfect partners for your frequent drive to Mom’s.reply
Granny’s Bonnet
The genus name Aquilegia comes from the Latin “Aquila,” or “eagle;” this is in obvious reference to the spurred shapes of the petals, that many gardeners say resemble an eagle’s talons. The other common name is granny’s bonnet, which is so much gentler and seems more fitting for this delicate woodland wildflower.
wild columbine flower (Aquilegia)
a bleeding heart
As I take this day to recuperate from my hectic schedule of the last six weeks, my heart bleeds with gratitude for all of you who showed up to support me and my work. I cannot thank you all enough. I owe every one of you a debt of gratitude I fear I will never be able to repay. Please know that I appreciate each and every one of you.
bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis)
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Do you know the bleeding heart’s flower as a lady in her bath? Turn the flower over and gently tease the pink petals somewhat apart. They become the bath, and there will be a lady, with her two arms stretching into the bath.
Or, lengthier folk talk – the story of how the bleeding heart got its name: https://bellewood-gardens.com/2011/Bleeding%20Heart_2011-04.html
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Alas, I lack a romantic soul. I see a young woman with a silly hair-do in the 1950’s.
I do love bleeding hearts, though.reply
sherbert colored
Did you know that some honeysuckle comes in sprays of sherbert-colored blossoms all on the same branch? I certainly did not. I am not sure why it has taken me this long to see it–whole bushes of cascading branches filled with strawberry pink, raspberry red, lemon yellow, and tangerine orange blossoms. Yum.
honeysuckle, (probably Morrow’s Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii))
Two leaves, so that’s a Jill-in-the-pulpit, capable of producing seeds. Single leaf would be Jack.
I had no idea there was a Jill and a Jack! I love learning new things–Thank you!
Arisaema triphyllum has a kinky sex life, Mary Jo. Technical term is paradioecious.An individual may be male, change to female, change back to male. It goes like this: younger plants, smaller tuber, single leaf – flowers as male. With time and good nutrition the tuber becomes larger, has more food reserves, sends up two leaves – and flowers as female. Research project (graduate students perhaps?) starved a female-flowering plant. It reverted, growing only a single leaf and flowering as a male plant. Hey, any of us female humans who have had a baby can confidently assert it is hard work!