At the Deepwood Estate II

That is, when we realize the majesty, age, scope, complexity of these trees, and when we take the time to receive the gifts that trees bring to our lives, how can we really just "go back to our normal" lives without feeling that we ought, at least, to learn the names of the trees around us? Well, the same applies to plants and flowers, also, though often the "gifts" of flowers through color and smell are more obvious and immediate.

So, applying this insight, I was overjoyed when Gretchen Carnaby patiently named so many of the flowers in the garden for me. I mention some of them here, often with links to pictures, so that you too may be encouraged to take the time to learn at least the names of the flowers. We began in one of the "rooms" called the "Spring Garden," to the East of the house. Immediately upon entering it I had to duck to pass under the oldest planted tree on the property--a flowering quince tree [Cydonia oblonga] , planted in the late 1890s. We don't really pay much attention to quinces today, but there it is, welcoming us to the garden. I asked about a few flowers which I should have known, and Gretchen pointed out a Campanula lactiflora, popularly known as Bellflower, and several feverfew [Tanacetum parthenium] to me.

We then left through a rear exit of one of the "rooms," and I stopped her to identify a few other things. The distinctive green-leafed plant with black chevron marks extending side to side, is called a Tovara virginiana or Painter's Palette. Each of the leaves looks like some creature has wiped the grease off its paws/hands onto the leaf, but since each leaf repeats this unusual pattern, we have to come up with a different explanation, don't we? In a way this green leafy plant reminds me of a "prayer plant," called the Maranta leuconeura. The name comes from the leaves' habit of folding up at night, as if it is in "prayer." Before heading to the "Border garden," we stopped at looked at the astilbe, a bright red tapering plant with loads of soft fronds/branches. Though Gretchen wasn't "prepped" for this "tour," she said it looked like it was a Astilbe pumila. I solemnly agreed with her.

In the Border Garden

The border garden faces 12th Street and the important 12th and Mission intersection in Salem. People waiting at the traffic light can look West and see the 200 foot long garden, much of it framed by the white carriage house of the Deepwood Estate. Indeed, the section of the garden most visible to drivers is the "bright red" part, with the towering Canna lilies dominating that section. We had more at stake, however, than just looking at the big lilies. So we began.

I inquired about a fuzzy greenish and silver-green ground cover, and Gretchen told me it was lamium. It is actually the Lamium maculatum, popularly known as the Spotted Dead-nettle from the mint family, and it provides an attractive ground cover. Already, with the identification of these five or six things, I felt that I was becoming master of my destiny. There is something very assuring for me if I know what names to give things. It is the entry into a world of understanding, because once I know what something is called, I can study it, learn what it likes, when it blooms, what it gives to the rest of the plants/flowers in the garden, etc. Even though we had just started the Border garden, I felt as if my whole day was now a successful one. And then we continued.

More Plants and Flowers

Gretchen had to point out to me one of her favorites: a Salvia "Black and Blue." In an effort to get to know plants better, I am beginning to buy several and put them on my kitchen table. Every day I study them for a moment, feeling their buds or leaves and looking at the stems. The first plant I bought last week was a Salvia splendens, which burst forth with its crimson brightness. I didn't immediately recognize the Salvia "Black and Blue,", but on closer inspection I did. This is the Salvia guaranitica or Blue Anise Salvia. Picture is here. Well, I took comfort from the fact that there are about 800 species of Sage (Salvia is a from the Sage family). Here is a blow-up picture of the flowers.

Jumping ahead of myself for a moment, I also didn't recognize or, rather, I confused one plant with another, and Gretchen kindly pointed out my error. At then end of the garden, near Mission St. was a plant I identifed as a Euonymus fortunei, the wintercreeper. Here is a picture of the Euonymus fortunei. Even though the colors of the plant I examined looked identical to the green/yellow of the E. fortunei, Gretchen told me it was a species of Hebe. Though I can't find a picture of the Hebe we encounted, the H. pinguifolia illustrates the point she made to me. Hebe's are a rigidly symmetrical plant. The leaves are strictly alternate; they are sharper than Euonymus. Well, I guess you can see in the Hebe "Red Edge" the point. You see the cupped symmetry, which is really quite different from the situation with the E. fortunei. A good lesson learned.

Conclusion

I see I am out of room here, but I am just getting started. Well, time would fail me to tell of the arresting Monkshood I saw. Others were a Penstemon, Thalictrum, Joe Pye weed, Liatris, Variegated Physostegia (the "Obedient Plant"), a Phygelius, Geum, Lady's mantle, Helenium, Red Potentilla, Mexican Orange, Cleome, Galanthus and a few kinds of Heather. This was in addition to some of the flowers that I already recognized. But we were running out of time, and I had to ask her about a tall plant near Mission St. with super-sharp angles. A friend had caressed it the other day and came away bleeding. She told me it was the "Bear's Breeches," or Acanthus mollis. Here are several pictures of it, so that you can see what to avoid in the future!

As with most things in life, I felt I only just touched the surface of the garden, but I left feeling richer than a king. Thanks to Gretchen for the tour, but thanks also to the other four ladies, who tolerated me taking one of their "weeding companions" away from them for an hour (I said I would only need "10 minutes"). We will all get our rewards sooner or later..

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