Day 136 – The
globe artichoke is a perennial thistle originating in southern Europe around
the Mediterranean. It grows tall, with arching, deeply lobed, silvery-green
leaves 20–30” long. The flowers develop in a large head from an edible bud
about 3-6” in diameter with numerous triangular scales, with the flower
eventually blooming in a lovely shade of purple. The edible portions of the
buds consist primarily of the fleshy lower portions of the involucral bracts
and the base, known as the "heart"; the mass of immature florets in
the center of the bud is called the "choke" or beard. They lend
themselves well to many floral designs, especially centerpieces.
Day 137 - The
shamrock refers to the young sprigs of clover or trefoil. It is known as a
symbol of Ireland, with St. Patrick having used it as a metaphor for the
Christian Trinity, according to legend. The name shamrock is derived from Irish
seamróg, which is the diminutive version of the Irish word for clover (seamair)
meaning simply "little clover" or "young clover". Shamrock
is usually considered to refer to either the species Trifolium dubium (lesser
clover, Irish: seamair bhuí) or Trifolium repens (white clover, Irish: seamair
bhán). However, other three-leaved plants—such as Medicago lupulina, Trifolium
pratense, and Oxalis acetosella—are sometimes called shamrocks or clovers. The
shamrock was traditionally used for its medicinal properties and was a popular
motif in Victorian times.
Day 138 -
Velvet Centaurea, is – like some other plants – also known as "dusty
miller". It is a small plant in the family Asteraceae and originates from
the Island of Capraia in Italy. Dusty miller is a favorite because it looks
good with just about everything in a garden or an arrangement. The
silvery-white color is great and its fine-textured foliage creates a beautiful
contrast against other plants' green foliage. Dusty miller has also earned its
place in the garden because it's delightfully easy to grow, withstanding heat
and drought like a champion and loving full sun.
Day 139 -
According to the International Geranium Society, the flowers America most
commonly refer to as "geraniums" are not true geraniums at all, but
are actually pelargoniums. Both belong to the Geraniaceae family and both are
native to South Africa, having been imported to America in the 1700s. They are
similar in appearance but have notable differences. By the late 1800s,
arborists realized the differences and wanted to call them by separate names,
but Europe had already set the trend and refused to change so America followed
suit. To this day, pelargoniums are grown and sold globally under the name of
geraniums.
Day 140 - Azaleas are called “the royalty of the
garden.” Azaleas have been hybridized for hundreds of years. Over 10,000
different azalea plants have been registered or named, although far fewer are
in the trade. This provides a very wide variety of plant habits, sizes, colors
and bloom times to meet almost every landscaping need or personal preference.
The arrival of spring brings these beautiful blooming plants into our flower
shops and our gardens.
