Number One
First, let me say….
It has been a novel year thus far at Windcliff, our
home and garden near Indianola, WA. Despite an extended heat wave late
in May, which in previous years has spelled ruin for the foliage of our
Gunneras and extensive collection of Hydrangeas, the garden has never
looked better(well, except for those few things that are dead that look pretty bad). I owe this to more fully
established root systems, now better positioned to maintain hydraulic
conductivity to the plant's tissues. Getting older isn't always
a negative thing.
Yet there are some other exciting inscriptions of
inaugural content to discuss. The Spiral Aloe, Aloe
polyphylla, is blossoming for the first time on the south side of our
home. I have planted two of these under the eaves in sharp
draining soils. exposed to the elements during winter(a third specimen,
subjected to the full assault of PNW winter rains, gave it up during
its first year).
A factoid that most of you already know, this species,
native to the snowy highlands of Lesotho in southern Africa, comes in
two distinct forms, i.e. poly(different)phylla(leaves). Some
individuals unfurl their fleshy foliage in a clockwise fashion while
others counterclockwise. I do not know if there exists in the wild a
greater number of either form; if any of you do, please illuminate
me. After one of the harshest winters on record, I was excited to
see an emerging flowering stem from our clockwise specimen(very,
ahem, timely). It is now fully in flower, with pendulous tubes of
soft tangerine and yellow on a branched stem to 15", visited daily by
both Anna's and Rufus hummingbirds(see below).
A stone's throw from the Aloe is a specimen of
Nolina beldingii, also flowering for the first time. It is
not terribly far removed, botanically speaking, from the genus Aloe,
however physically speaking they are apples and oranges. Collectively
and aptly called the Razor Grasses(the margin of the leaves being as
sharp as Ginzu knives) Nolina beldingii sets itself apart from the
other members of the genus I cultivate by a curious leaf tip which
naturally desiccates by mid-summer, plastering the crown of its upright
rosette with a rather beautiful, web-like entanglement of fibrous
hairs. (see above) A specimen with a restricted root system is sending forth
numerous spikes of creamy flowers that I assume will rise to about 5'
over time. Over time will tell.
There will be more to report in the weeks to
come(I can barely contain myself). Yet, in finishing,
though away from the garden proper, a final note of firsts.
Yesterday, while on a short hike with our beloved Springer to the north
of our property, I was drawn to the most outrageous sounds in the
distance. Very Jurassic Park meets PeeWee Herman. As I approached, it became quite
clear that a Great Blue Heron rookery had been established this summer
and was filled with screeching young and bellowing parents high in the trees. It is
virtually in the shadows of our active Bald Eagle aerie, whose sole
eaglet is now nearly the size of its parents yet still unable to fly.
Wishing you all a good 4th of July, and Canada Day, with many new and
pleasant 'firsts' in your gardens and lives.
Daniel J Hinkley
June 24th, 2009
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