Missing Flowers

[Deleted]

Thread started by casimira

Despite the fact that I live in a climate that produces some of the most exotic,fragrant,floriferous blooms known to man,every spring I yearn for the flowers of my youth. Three that don't grow here come to mind: Lilacs,Lily of the Valley and violets.Peonies come to mind as well but they don't have much fragrance.
Perhaps others have this same yearning.

[Deleted]

I must admit that I grew up in your area, and it was always a joy to come to France and see those three flowers that you mentioned.

But now I sort of miss the messy exuberance of trumpet vine, four o'clocks, honeysuckle and numerous other Southeastern plants. However, when I went to Vietnam and found them growing all over the place, I realized that most of those plants must have been imported from Asia in the first place.

[bixaorellana]

Kerouac, some of the lavish growth you saw in your youth is referred to as "escapees from cultivation" -- one of my favorite terms in garden books.

What I miss is the access to variety in general & named varieties in particular. So much will grow easily in this climate, but sometimes I feel all that's available to buy are impatiens, geraniums, and bougainvillea. I'm exaggerating, but being able to seek out & obtain a particular plant when I lived in the States was a joy.

I love lilacs, but have only lived briefly in places where they grow. The one thing I really miss from where I'm from are crepe myrtle trees.

[welle]

The oak trees here in California are different. Just as nice, but smaller and somehow different. A huge German oak tree is a site to behold, and even more fun to climb on!

What I don't miss about Germany are the nettles.

Oh, I just realized the thread was about flowers. I'm lucky that way, Dandelion and Daisies grow both places. I love them.

[welle]

Cala lilies do not grow in my native Germany. I love them here.



Last year the landlord mistakenly cut them down in the back yard, hopefully they'll be back this year.

[Deleted]

Callas grow from a bulb so chances are good it will return faithfully.

[welle]

Yep, the leaves are already out. I just hope the landlord doesn't get out the weed whacker again and go psycho.

[welle]

My first calla lily is blooming!

[lola]

Casimira, I live in the house of violets practically. They and wild strawberries love our yard. I have made some borders of violets, because I love them back, and must be vigilant about keeping them out of the beds. I spent this morning weeding them out and replacing elsewhere.

The first ones are blooming now, along with daffodils. My lilac bush will bloom within the week probably. Peony shoots are up to 4" high.

[Deleted]

Sounds like heaven Lola. You must be on the East Coast somewhere,I can smell it! Do you have Lily of The Valley too?
My blooms right now are larkspur,freesia,sweet pea,old fashioned Roses,nasturtium,some salvias,iris and an unusual woody climber called Petrea that everyone mistakes for Wisteria.
I miss Lilacs terribly,particularly the French ones.

[lola]

Hi, Casimira,

I'm in Missouri. I have a nice bed of lilies of the valley that my brother got from our great aunt, then gave me; they haven't peeked up yet, but the flowers and their sweet smell should be going great guns by May Day.

I'd love to go to NOLA in the springtime and breathe it all in, then follow the first wave of flowers north all the way up.

The flowers I miss are the lilacs in Santa Fe that look so amazing against the adobe walls.

[Deleted]

This is Petrea.also comes in white

[Jazz]

Wisteria is beautiful, but it doesn't grow easily here.

[lola]

Beautiful, Jazz and Casimira. Would sub for lilacs easily.

[Deleted]

Wisteria grows so rampant here that some people won't have it. Has been known to undermine foundations of houses. After Katrina I had several friends that couldn't get back and I had to go to several properties and saw it down as it was taking over whole houses. Beautiful decay,the houses were falling down around it.

[Deleted]

My paternal grandmother's house was one of those places slowly being crushed by wisteria.

[Deleted]

There used to be an old plantation down the river from us and it had fallen into major disrepair, a couple of fires etc. Eventually it was taken over by wisteria and I used to go every spring and visit,bring people to see it (and smell),even picnic there.Eventually it was bulldozed and gave way to ugly townhouses.

[tod2]

Last week my gardener and two helpers tackled the overgrown (by many many years) Bougainvillea bushes that grown on a steep bank.. I planted several colours but the white seems to have grow the best. I am hoping that this severe cutting back will produce a lot of new growth and eventually flowers. At the moment - we are definitely missing flowers!

[bixaorellana]

Has the poor gardener bled to death yet? I hate pruning bougainvillea because of how dense it gets and all the sneaky spines all over it.

I have to say that the position of your bougainvilleas is ideal. That's a place where their denseness and is needed as both an attractive screen and a deterrent to anyone wishing to pass through the hedge.

[tod2]

Yes Bixa - you hit the nail right on the head. Screening and deterrent were the main aim.
No, he had much helps, plus protective gloves and glasses. Just as the three of them were getting stuck-in, our neighbour across the road on the farm offered to help with his newly acquired electical lopers operated from some kind of machine. It soon did the job and they then scooped up the mess in a little mini pay-loader, and carted it off to go and make compost. There is just a bit more to do but we will manage. My husband crossed the farm "helpers" palms with paper…….of the silver kind.