Number 1 item on my "to-do" list: walk the Ancient Wonder Beagle.
This time of year the garden is conflicted - the heat and abundance of sun makes it want to grow like crazy and then suddenly it realizes, in the mid-afternoon, that enough water simply isn't around to support its ambitions. In the early evening optimism creeps in again - slowly - as if the garden knows that I'll give in and ignore the water bill and hook up the soaker hoses. Tonight was such a night - the hydrangeas and acanthus were droopy, the daisy leaves were curled, and the tomatoes (yes, the potentially prize-winning-global-warming-overcoming tomatoes) were even looking less than happy. I had to water them.
In the garden tonight I noticed that one of my crinum lilies was in bloom - a variety that I think is called Crinum X 'Bradley'. They're often called cementery lily, and I learned tonight that the word "Crinum" is derived from the greek word krinon, which, conveniently enough, means lily. They're members of the Family Amaryllidaceae. My friend Jeff introduced me to crinum bulbs - first sharing this beautiful deep pink one with me, then by taking me to his source: Jenks Farmer, a garden designer and curator as well as owner of Lushlife Nurseries right here in South Carolina. Jenks used to be at the Fall Charleston Garden Show -- but I haven't seen him for the last year or two. I purchased one from him a few years ago - I believe it was 'Regina's Disco Lounge' - it's not blooming yet, but is a taller, later blooming variety than 'Bradley'. It was found in Allendale, SC, and after several years of observation has become regarded as a new cultivar. I'm not quite sure if this is the one that I have, but I think it is. For my next crinum, I'm eyeing 'Queen Emma'. Crinums have an interesting history, are great pass-along plants, and look at home in southern gardens. Sometimes you'll see them growing like crazy in ditches - Jeff knows of such a secret place - and I can't imagine that snagging one or two would be a problem, and I can't imagine that if you got caught, that having "got arrested stealing crinum bulbs from a ditch" would be something bad on your permanent record. At least I hope not.
Other Crinum links:
- A Systematic Review of the Genus Crinum by L.S. Hannibal
- The Genus Crinum (Amaryllidaceae) descriptions and photographs
- Crinums in East Texas *Marcelle Shephard's Crinum program
Okay, I've got to get back to my "to-do" list now. One item down.
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