No topic. No excuse. I just have these few pictures that I have no other use for. Some are sort of interesting, depending on perspective. Some are weird. #5 is just plain unsightly.
I considered sharing six pictures of camellias from Nuccios’ Nursery in Altadena that Brent sent to me, but I did not want to totally dismiss these pictures. Besides, Brent takes really lame pictures. I might share them next week just so we all can see how lame they are. I believe that most are different from the camellias at work that I shared pictures of last year, but I really do not know.
1. Arum italicum, which is also known simply as Italian arum, is something that I had always dismissed as a naturalized and sometimes invasive exotic species. In other words, I thought of it merely as a weed. Then, I noticed others using the foliage with cut flowers. It never occurred to me how pretty it is. I am not sure if this is the real deal, but it is what grows here. Some of the garden varieties that others have shared pictures of are more intensely variegated. It seems to me that another species that is not variegated might live here too, but I can not remember where I saw it.
2. It never rains in Southern California. This is not Southern California. Besides, contrary to popular belief, it really ‘does’ rain in Southern California. Anyway, the incessant and abundant rain has been damaging a few of the spring blooming flowers, although most are doing quite well. This odd bearded iris bloom seems to be melting. Those that bloomed immediately afterward are doing just fine. The stems seem to me to be unusually slim for bearded iris, but I am no expert.
3. WHAT IS THIS?!? I believe it to be Kerria japonica, which is also known simply as Japanese kerria. . . . sort of like Arum italicum, which is also known simply as Italian arum. I thought it was something completely different until it bloomed. I will not say what I though it was, because my assumption was about as lame as Brent’s camellia pictures, and we can’t have that.
4. Clematis armandii, which is also known simply as Armand clematis (I bet you didn’t see that one coming.) is more popularly know here as evergreen clematis. It grows like the weed that it is, and climbs into the lemon tree that it is next too. It always seems to be very vigorous and healthy, but many of the leaves have crispy tips. Those at the top of the picture are about half dead! The vine does not get any fertilizer, although it probably reaches where other plants are fertilized. The damage is attributed to the water.
5. Lagerstroemia indica, which is NOT also known simply as Indian lagerstroemia, is the familiar crape myrtle. Some might disdainfully spell it without the first ‘e’. I am none to keen on it either. Actually, I am none too keen on its overuse! It is everywhere, and very often in situations that it does not belong in. This one is under larger trees, so does not get enough sunlight to bloom well. Prior to pruning, it was more disfigured than it is now. Since it can not grow as tall as it would like to be, it should be pollarded annually. As it matures and develops knuckles, some of the superfluous stems can be removed. As much as I dislike crape myrtle in bad situations, I want this tree to be pollarded properly. ‘Crape murder’ is unacceptable! There are MANY in the region that are indiscriminately hacked by so-called ‘gardeners’, who leave nasty stubs and unsightly stubble.
6. Eureka lemon originated as a ‘sport’, or mutant growth, of Lisbon lemon. The only difference between the two is that Lisbon lemon produces all fruit within a limited season, while Eureka lemon produces a bit less within the same season, and then continues to produce a few additional fruit sporadically throughout the year. Lisbon lemon works well for orchards that produce lemons for lemon products. Eureka lemon is better for home gardens, where it is always happy to provide lemons whenever they are desired. I got this picture of a single ripening fruit because there are not many others on the tree right now. That means the tree is doing its job; and people who work here are using the lemons.
This is the link for Six on Saturday, for anyone else who would like to participate:
https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/18/six-on-saturday-a-participant-guide/
Looks like Kerria (pleniflora). Seeing a few leaves would confirm it. 🙂
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Oops! Yes, that would be more accurate. It is the cultivar with the double flowers.
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Eureka lemon is the one I grow here. A lot of fruit all year … !
My next purchase will be a Meyer lemon…
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When I grew citrus, ‘Meyer’ was THE most popular cultivar. It was also my least favorite to grow. It is a weird hybrid between a lemon and an orange, which is why it has such rich flavor. It is so prolific, and the fruit last for so long on the tree, that even if it does not produce throughout the year, you would never know. By the time one set of fruit gets depleted, the next will be ready.
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So envious! Thanks…😄
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Envy is unhealthy. Besides, I have not grown citrus trees commercially since the 1990s. The lemon in the picture is in a landscape at work.
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Arum italicum is a weed in our garden. However hard I try I cannot get rid of it so I have stopped trying. And I agree the leaves are pretty.
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It is common enough here, that I will not likely ever plant it intentionally. However, I will not put so much futile effort into trying to get rid of it either. Fortunately, once established in a spot, it seems to stay put, without spreading much.
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Yes, definitely kerria–you can see the tiny leaves just beginning to bud out. It’s that dreadful double form. I think it’s called florapleno or some such thing. And of course that’s what everyone always plants. I have a single form in my yard–obviously I think it’s much nicer.
I love the look of the lichen on the crape myrtle. I would keep the shrub just for that.
Karla
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Someone identified the cultivar as ‘Pleniflora’. So far, I am not impressed with it; not because it is not impressive, but because it has been shorn into a nondescript mound of twiggy stems. It is not at all appealing in this situation.
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I suspect that the crape myrtle will grow more actively now that it is pruned, so the lichen will not likely stay attached.
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That lemon would be put to good use I am sure…a perfect fruit.
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Yes, someone will get it. There are not so many now. It is nice if a few are always available, but it is also nice that the are all getting used.
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It’s raining and snowing here. After today however it should be drier and warmer.
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I miss winter already. Some are still getting it quite nastily!
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It never rains in Southern California 😦 — except this year 🙂 ! The poor iris just chose the wrong day to bloom!
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There are plenty more behind it.
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I just saw some Arum today in Dumbarton Oaks. The friend I was with was commenting on their flowers (not extant at the moment, but…) and the lemon tree is NOT ugly.
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Some or actually many arums are pollinated by flies, so smell like . . . . what flies like. I am not sure if Arum italicum is pollinated by flies.
Why would the lemon tree be ugly?
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You said one of the pictures was ugly. I thought that was number 5.
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Oh, #5 is the pollarded crape myrtle. It will be unsightly until it foliates. Many really dislike it in that condition. To me, it is a major improvement, and will help it look much better this year.
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Interesting, about the different production cycles of the lemons. I adore lemon, and am lucky enough to be near a farm that produces and sells Meyer lemons in season — so tasty!
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‘Meyer’ is the favorite for home gardens. I did not enjoy growing it so much, but it was so excellent that so many enjoyed what we grew so much.
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Arum is a bit of a weed in my garden, I have been digging it up this weekend. Failing, probably, to get it all up. No doubt it will be back next year. I wouldn’t mind AS much if it were variegated like yours…
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What grows here is sort of in between variegated and non variegated. It is only about as variegated as it looks in the picture. Others share pictures of similar foliage that is more intensely variegated with silvery white veins. Others have plain green foliage. I sort of like the plain green too, but can not remember where or if I saw it here. One of my colleagues has ‘death arum’ which smells like death, and is not much prettier.
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