This week I received some photos of some mysterious white tubes emerging from a pile of lawn moss. Do you know what they are?
Answer Monday!
Category: Diversions
Voodoo and the evil eye
Friday’s “evil frog eye” was actually part of a voodoo lily (Dracunculus vulgaris), found growing in a drainage ditch in California (I’ve seen one in a drainage ditch in Seattle as well):
Obviously this introduced garden ornamental has escaped cultivation and is now “going rogue.” Will it become a nuisance weed? Will it displace native species? Should it be banned from sale by nurseries?
Sigh.
Evil frog eye?
Or possibly something else?
Answer Monday!
Chlorosis mystery uncovered – maybe
Sorry about the long wait in discussing the weekend’s post! (Technical troubles with access here in BlogVille.) In any case, many of you zeroed in on the defunct lime kiln as a possible pH adjuster. It would have been really interesting during those years to see how materials were processed – for instance, was there a lot of lime dust that settled over the area? Where did the limestone come from – was it carted in by train or was it local?… Continue reading this article “Chlorosis mystery uncovered – maybe”
Interveinal chlorosis mystery
Today my family took our annual 4th of July weekend hike. We ended up on a fairly new trail through the Robe Canyon Historic Park. It was a gorgeous day and we saw all manner of plants and animals. The highlight of this trail is an old lime kiln; bricks and other remnants of early settlers are scattered around the area. The kiln closed in the 1930’s. (The hot link embedded in the park name leads to a 2004 article about the trail and the history of the site.)… Continue reading this article “Interveinal chlorosis mystery”
What Happens to the Horticulturist?
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to talk with a professor in the agronomy department who’s going to be retiring very soon. We talked about education and field trials, corn and trees, and then we started talking about the future of our departments. Both of us are concerned that this generation of horticulturists (and agronomists—but I’m just going to deal with horticulture here) will be the last.
Over the last 10 or so years we have been losing horticulture departments. … Continue reading this article “What Happens to the Horticulturist?”
Gigantic hostas
I know Friday’s puzzle was a bit too easy – but I needed some way to discuss the giant hostas we have in our landscape this year:
We have had a very wet and cold spring. While it was misery for us above-ground types, the plants absolutely loved the abundant water. When the leaves open and expand on these continually-watered plants, they reach maximum size. The hosta leaves in this photo aren’t the size of dinner plates – they’re more like turkey platters.… Continue reading this article “Gigantic hostas”
Green swirl
What am I?
Answer Monday!
One Of The Best Pictures I’ve Seen
Yesterday Jeff Hahn, an entomologist here at UMN (and author of the book Insects of the NorthWoods — a great field guide for Wisconsin and Minnesota), sent me a picture which reminded me of the dark ages and the methods that leaders of the past used to scare and intimidate their subjects as well as possible invaders.
This picture came to Jeff by way of Terry Straub, a Program Coordinator for Master Gardeners in Hennepin County. … Continue reading this article “One Of The Best Pictures I’ve Seen”
A jewel of an orchid
Orchid fanciers Derek and Joseph correctly identified Friday’s mystery plant as a jewel orchid, specifically Macodes petola:
Friday’s sparkly leaf photo shows why “jewel orchid” is the common name used for several genera of orchids with showstopping foliage.
And Ray noted that Goodyera spp. (rattlesnake plantain) is a native US jewel orchid with beautiful variegated foliage. Next time you’re hiking in the woods, keep your eye out for this common yet striking plant.