My thoughts?
"How in the World did I Get Here?"
(Photo taken from Wikipedia)
Being stranded on a deserted island would be a nightmare!I must explain...
I don't swim in water where I can't touch the bottom,
(unless I'm wearing a bouyant life jacket!)
I don't like the idea of sharks at all,
And Deserted...
as in,
All by Myself?
Yipes!
If I'm to be stuck,
these three plants must be Very Soul-nourishing
(and physically nourishing, as well?)!
Plant number one... strictly soul-nourishing!
It begins "on little pasque feet." ;-)
(Pardon me, Carl Sandburg.)
The Pasque Flower'Pulsatilla vulgaris'
is one of the earliest flowering plants in my yard,
and it thrills my soul in so many ways!
Another plant that I could never do withoutwould be the daylily.
The Variety, the Bloom times, the Sizes and Shapes
are wonderful! Plus, when they're not blooming,
you've got a nice little green clump that
gives visual interest and texture to the surrounding plants.
:-)
But, if I were stranded...Really Stranded...
I could eat them.
I could eat the stalks,
I could eat the leaves
and I could eat the petals.
You can read about it
in an article I discovered here.
The third plant I would probably like to take with me would be our
Viburnum burkwoodii 'Mohawk'
If you would like to see it's beauty throughout the seasons
check this link for a previous post.
If I'm truly deserted, perhaps I might draw company
through the visiting birds!
If I might be able to smuggle one more plantonto this deserted
(desserted?)
island, would be ...
rhubarb!
The wide leaves might give me shade and shelter.
And somehow or other, I'd find a way to make
rhubarb pie!
I might also use one of these leavesfor catching rainwater!
;-)
I just had to join this meme by Shirl at Shirl's Gardenwatch. I've seen some great posts and would urge you to create one, too! Click on the name of her blog in the previous sentence to get the details and explore other blogger posts. :-)
24 comments:
Hi there Shady Gardener, my island ship keeps stopping as I pass by the islands but I seem to be catching up now ;-)
Nice choices! I do believe this is the first pasque flower I have seen on these islands and this is one I like too! The lilies may be on other islands but not the vibiurnum. Ah... the birds will appreciate this choice :-D
Oh… the sneaked-in plant ;-) I am certain rhubarb hasn’t been picked before but I do think it is an excellent choice! Oh… but don’t worry about being by yourself… there are lots of us out there if you want company :-D
Hi ShadyG,
Long Time No Talk;) I love your choices! I'll address the Last one First: My dad grew rhubarb in our backyard and I remember those big leaves from my childhood (funny, that's the same house we had the weeping willow tree). My Mom made rhubarb pie; and I vaguely remember eating it some other way, that I didn't like! But I think catching rain water with the leaf is cool (Of course you'd have to bring the concrete mix)...
Lilies are so pretty, some of them last longer than others and bloom earlier or later than others, so we will have a real show as the seasons go by. I'm not familiar with your first choice, but it looks truly soul-nourishing...the poetry and poets that accompany your post provide uplifting verse, and it's all healing to the soul.
Do any of these do well in shade?
I like your previous post, as it has a lot of suggestions for shade plants...which I am going to need.
I meant to say 'cement mix'--not concrete. oops.
Nice choices Shady, dont worry - I imagine that all our desert islands will be on a sort of atoll - so we will be able to row too and forth, so you won't be completely alone :)
K
Your daylilies are so pretty. I only have one yellow type and it only blooms once. I'd love some suggestions on rebloomers (is that a word :} )
I'm going to have to look into that viburnum. I love the pink flowers.
Did you use the rhubarb leaf to make a bird bath? I've seen it done with hosta leaves before.
Very pretty choices!
I love Daylilies! I have a few in my yard, but I want more- they really anchor a bed I think.
Your pasque flowers are beauties! Daylilies are such happy plants and the viburnum is grand.
Cameron
Very good choices SG. I love that first flower. I don't think I have seen it before.
Great choices--I don't think I've seen anyone else mention the pasque flower. I love all your daylilies; I had no idea they were edible. But I think I'd rather settle for a piece of rhubarb pie--I hope you're making enough to share?
Hi Shirl, Thank you for this fun idea! I was hoping you wouldn't Really place me on a deserted (as in, all-by-myself) island!! ;-)
Jan, Do you know that I remember sneaking along the backyard, behind the rhubarb, to pull out a stem and eat it? Whew! I'm sure that's way beyond my tastebuds these days! ;-)
Cement... concrete... I know the difference, too, but as you know what you're getting , it doesn't matter to me!
Now, for the serious suggestion. Pasque flowers can take part shade to full sun. Mine are deeply shaded by oaks on the east side of the bed. They'll get sun for a few hours until the house shades them from the west. Does that help??
I think your choices fill a niche Shady Gardener as I don't think I saw any of them selected on the blogs I've read?? Great job. That pasque flower is truly a beauty. I need to explore bringing them into my garden.
How could I have forgotten about Pulsatilla! What a great choice. Not only does it sprout early & bloom purple, and have cool seedheads, it also feels good to the touch. Daylily are great plants as well, but good luck choosing just one. The Viburnum is a great plant for all seasons, but the scent alone makes it worthy. I can't blame you for trying to sneak in rhubarb so you could make more leaf castings to keep you busy.
Dear Shady,
I do love pasque flower...and am so glad you brought it along, with the sneaked aboard fourth plant..I love rhubarb pie! We shall all be there and will have a wonderfully good time now that your going.
Gail
I love your choices, too. The viburnum you picked is so lovely. How clever of you to remember daylilies can be eaten. I had forgotton that fact.
Jan
Always Growing
Karen, I will draw on your resources... or I'll let you draw the resources! :-)
Catherine, There are re-bloomers and they really make me happy! Most garden catalogs and websites have them noted as such. One of my favorite re-bloomers is "Fragrant Treasure." It's nice light yellow.
Hi Cameron, Everyone had such a great variety of plants. Just think, if we Were stranded and able to meet, what a wonderful garden we'd make with all our donations! :-)
Hi Tessa, Thanks for stopping by. I'll need to visit to see where you are! Glad we share the interest in daylilies. :-)
Hi Rose, I'm always ready to share rhubarb pie! (If I don't share, I eat it all myself!) ;-)
Kathleen, you would like the Pasque flower! (and I'd look forward to your photos!)
MMD, I know... all I need is something more with which to fill my time! ha. ;-) And you're right! If I had to choose only one variety of daylily, I may be hard-pressed to make a decision! ha. Have a great week!
Hi Gail, I'll bring the pie! ;-) Wouldn't we make a lovely garden with each of our 3 plants?
Jan, Have you tried eating daylilies? I'm thinking it may be on the menu sometime this summer! :-)
Yes pasque flowers are good. They usually give me an excuse to tramp thru Whitewater State Park in the spring. But really some food plants would be my first survival choice. Rhubarb is good. Maybe some onions too.
troutbirder, What about asparagus? VYI: My son and his wife have eaten young cattails! ;-)
Lovely Pulsatilla - I have only recently discovered them but I've rapidly become very fond of them too.
And I'm glad I'm not the only person to sneak in a fourth plant!
No... It's beyond me to limit to three. ;-) I'm glad I'm in good company. ha.
For awhile there, I thought you were in my yard taking pics, but I don't have the viburnum. LOL
Lovely pics! Lovely island!
Sue, I can see I'd better hop over to your place!! :-) Thanks for the compliments... the island is a photo I lifted from the internet.
Great pics... and picks for your island sojourn. Those daylilies are gorgeous!
Deb, I so love daylilies. They really ARE one of my very favorite variety of flowers ever! But, I think I'm almost out of room for many more... sigh.
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