Listen my children and you shall hear
the story of when the Queen was near.
I scarcely could breathe; she created a stir,
The first time I caught but a glimpse of her.
'twas one day last July, exactly the sixth,
We visited a friend in his gardening niche.
He took us round gently, and touched her with care.
Her beauty inspired; I tried not to stare.
Her garment was lovely, light pink and quite airy
I must tell you now... she's
'Queen of the Prairie!'
the story of when the Queen was near.
I scarcely could breathe; she created a stir,
The first time I caught but a glimpse of her.
'twas one day last July, exactly the sixth,
We visited a friend in his gardening niche.
He took us round gently, and touched her with care.
Her beauty inspired; I tried not to stare.
Her garment was lovely, light pink and quite airy
I must tell you now... she's
'Queen of the Prairie!'
Quite honestly, I'd never even known something like this existed! Isn't this beautiful?? I don't know its habits, as I've not done research on beyond finding the identity of this plant (the owner didn't know it). However, I did notice one of the gardening catalogs that came today is selling it!Definitely not shady, but it provided me with a little entertainment! ;-)
Thank you for bearing with me.
Actually, as a postscript, here is some great news about Filipendula rubra! Click on the botanical name to see a Kemper Center for Home Gardening, Missouri Botanical Gardening. I can grow this in partial shade!! (OhIamsohappy!) ;-)
This site, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services, shows a map where this plant is native as well as a list of states and the status of the plant in those states. (In Iowa, it is threatened.)
It is beautiful! I'm not usually a fan of pink, but this is the exception... Is this plant also called Queen of the Meadow?
ReplyDeleteA stunning Filipendula (I only have white) and very similar, though fluffier, than astilbe.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness that's what it is... for a few moments it looked like one of my major garden bugbears: a pink spirea which I cordially hate. I have been meaning to get rid of it for about 5 years, but a friend told me that cutting hers to the ground and having a bonfire on the site wasn't enough it kill it, so I'm not brave enough to try. (In fairness it's not its fault that I misunderstood its habit and have structured my garden wrongly around it.)
ReplyDeleteI've never seen pink meadowsweet -thank you :)
You will love having this beautiful wildflower. It will not be fussy about its situation and will flower magnificently in early summer. The leaves will be around all summer to fill in. A great plant.
ReplyDeleteI love the poem too.
Your poem is wonderful, and the plant is really very beautiful. I must investigate it.
ReplyDeleteShady,
ReplyDeleteShe is a stately and beautiful Queen! I would love to grow her here...I was under the impression that she wouldn't tolerate the droughts we have?
Gail
I've been coveting a Queen as I think she's regal and glorious! However, I get mixed results in my research on whether or not deer will behead the Queen. Can anyone say for sure that she's deer resistant?
ReplyDeleteCameron
Thoroughly enjoyed your verse! Gorgeous photos of a wonderful plant. Had Filipendula for years, in a former garden, and it was always spectacular. Also had a friend's mother, who invariably pronounced it "flipendula," which usually ended in gales of laughter... from all of us!
ReplyDeleteI love your poem :) I've heard of this plant but I've never seen one. It's very pretty.
ReplyDeleteOh Shady Gardener, this is truly a terrific native plant. I love mine so much, I've moved a start with me to three different gardens. When happy, it spreads by runners that can come up all over the place but are very easily removed by pulling up the unwanted ones. If I can remember, I would be happy to send you a runner this spring when it emerges. As you can see, it's known my many names but I purchased mine as a Filipendula (common name Queen of the Prairie).
ReplyDeleteTattered Spinner, I'd have to look it up to see if it's called Queen of the Meadow. I do see that many other people are already very aware of this plant! ;-) Have a good day!
ReplyDeleteJoey, White would be very striking! Have you posted a photo of it?
EB, I'm in agreement on pink spirea. I have one that I transplanted at the end of a long, narrow bed. It gets quite a bit of shade, but it seems pretty happy there. ;-)
Hi Lisa, It was an inspired moment. ha. I don't have this plant, yet... anyway. I need to find out more info on it. Such as, I'm assuming it loves full (with a capital F!) sun. I might not satisfy that need.
Bobbie, Thanks for the compliment. I need to do more research, too. But it sounds as though it's easily grown -judging by Kathleen's comments!
Cameron, I hope someone can answer your question. The site of this particular plant is a deer's active thoroughfare, so I'm just assuming that they don't care for it. (Good news??!!) ;-)
Deb, Thanks for your compliment. I love your story!! But, by now I'm feeling rather behind the times... the majority of the people who've visited, already know about this plant! ;-)
Catherine, You've just raised my morale a bit. ;-) I'm thinking I really need to look up more information on this plant!!
Kathleen, You have made me feel much better about this plant! I'm glad it seems so easy to care for. I really think I could almost meet its needs in our "neighborhood garden" that gets a little more sun and has a bit more space! I would love to take a piece of your plant! Would you mind?? It'd be fun to think I had something from Your Garden!! :-)
I wouldn't mind AT ALL Shady Gardener. I just hope I don't forget. I'll have to make a note someplace. It will be April or May before I see it! It would make me happy to think a piece of my garden is in yours too. :-)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
Kathleen, If you return to these comments, you'll see I added a postscript to the blog post. I can grow this in partial shade. Surely between the two of us, we'll remember! ;-) Thanks for your generosity. Do I have anything you would like in return?
ReplyDeleteI bought this plant two years ago and when it bloomed white I threw it out. Please don't gasp. I feel guilty enough already. :-) Apparently it was mislabeled. Now it's part of a healthy compost pile.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have the pink cultivar. Beautiful.
Hi Grace!! I'm wondering what the difference between the two plants might be. Have you looked it up? We must figure out a way for you to have one of these plants!! (You do make me feel much better about the things I do occasionally, too!) ;-) We do love those compost piles!!
ReplyDeleteAt first glance I thought astilbe, so thanks for introducing me to a new plant. It's quite light and airy, very queen-like. Your poem was a delight. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteHi Gardeness! I'm just discovering a lot about this myself. Isn't it beautiful? (Thanks for the compliment!) ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi Shady, I'm so pleased I have discovered your blog. I love this plant although it is quite unfamiliar to me. I love it because it is pink and soft and because it looks like it can take care of itself, a bit like a dandelion with all the flyaway seeds.
ReplyDeleteMy sister grew that in her old garden. It is such a pretty thing, but it needs more moisture than my garden can give it.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite beautiful isn't it ? The flower heads remind me of thalictrums but quite different leaves.
ReplyDeletecatmint, Isn't it pretty!? I'm glad you discovered me, too! I'm waiting to see what you've been doing. :-)
ReplyDeleteMMD, Oh. Well, last Summer's rains probably were good for it... hmm. I'm not always on top of watering as much as I should be...
Anna, I can see how you might be reminded of Meadow Rue. Mine Meadow Rue is quite different - white and small rubbery looking blossoms. Glad you stopped to visit! :-)
I love queen of the prairie--I first saw it in Saskatoon (of all places!) and finally planted two divisions last spring. Hope they bloom this coming season. I can remember where I planted one but not the other. Hmmmmm......
ReplyDeleteMonica, It seems that almost everyone is ahead of me! I'd never seen this plant until the event of the post. I so like it though. (And I'm sure the mystery location won't remain a mystery long, once Spring comes!) ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely plant and poem!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue, I think this plant is beautiful, too!! I see it will tolerate a little shade, so perhaps I'll be able to grow it after all! :-)
ReplyDelete