Xylem & Phloem

I'm fairly certain that I have gushed about the Leopard Plant (Farfugium japonicum 'Aureomaculatum') before, but its recent re-emergence in my garden warrants another outpouring of love and affection. Situated in one of my shade gardens where it is protected from the elements and stays relatively moist, my Leopard Plant never fails. Early spring through early winter, this plant performs like a rock star with glossy spotted leaves and a show of bright yellow flowers in the fall that create real architectural interest through the winter.

Its success in my garden proves its hardiness in our North Texas climate, but literature suggests that it is hardy in Zones 7-10. Originating in China and Japan, the Leopard plant was formerly classified in the genus Ligularia, and has been known under many names, including Ligularia tussilaginea, L. kaempferi, L. japonica, Senecio kaempferi, Tussilago japonicum, and Farfugium grande. There are just two species classified in the genus Farfugium*.

Online sources for my favorite plant:

Plant Delights

*Source: Floridata 

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Dallas Morning News:

Help that sapling soar

Takoma Gardener:

Breaking: Something Good to Say about Home Depot

San Francisco Chronicle:

PICK OF THE WEEK / Edgeworthia / Bush gives off lovely scent not easily forgotten 

Light, water help aloe vera bloom

New York Times Home and Garden:

Garden Q.&A.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

Spring-blooming bulbs are desperate for meals

Prized plant may not be completely dead, yet

Seattle Times:

Basics of seed-starting: Buy fresh, plant plenty

Citrus trees need light

Is that an alien on my deck?

Garden calendar

Austin-American Statesman

• Garden Calendar

• How to keep the garden from going to the dogs

• Gardening calendar

• A time of transition

• Bad Plant: Chinaberry

• Gardeners spring into action

• Garden calendar

• Now is time to target scale insects

Los Angeles Times:

...you see a steaming pile of dirt and you race to grab your camera! I'll post the video shortly; this afternoon I was harvesting compost and I gleefully discovered that one of my piles is very hot right now. It stuck in my shovel and steam starting seeping out.. and it was 70 degrees outside! The piles are really loving the recent infusions of rye grass clippings now that spring has sprung and the lawns overwintered with rye are getting weekly haircuts. A Toast To Compost!

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Camellia's in bloom 

Stock and Anemone                         Giant Coneflower emerges behind Pansies 

Violas love growing in containers!  

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Click here to visit the Costa Rica Photo Gallery.

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Where do I begin? Do I describe using flashlights to spot tarantulas, grey foxes, and sleeping toucans on our nocturnal nature hike at Monteverde? Or perhaps recount our flight over the mountains from Manuel Antonio in a tiny four-seater Sessna? What about learning how to surf at a secret beach? Or, seeing the rare Quetzal bird not once but seven times on our walk through the Monteverde cloud forest?

Clearly, I don’t have to tell you that this was one of the most amazing adventures that I have ever been on. The country of Costa Rica is a spectacular paradise that anyone with an appreciation for unspoiled tropical wilderness and exotic wildlife should visit at least once in their lifetime.

To be honest, I didn’t know much about the country before I visited. Aside from brief accounts of vacations from friends, I had no idea what to expect. Now, after spending ten days there, it’s hard for me to understand why this was only my first time in Costa Rica. It’s a plant-lovers paradise! Impatiens grow wild on the side the road, bromeliads peek out between the branches of each and every tree, and bougainvillea explodes like fireworks over fence lines. I was beside myself trying to capture it all on camera.

I am currently working on an entry about the ways that we can recreate some of the Costa Rica lushness in our own backyards. (I was surprised how much plant life in Costa Rica could be grown in North Texas.) Until then, enjoy a few photographs from my travels. There is much, much more to come, so stay tuned.

 

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Breathtaking: the only way to describe this magnificent country! With no access to the Internet until now, I've been completely out of touch over these last 8 days, but I look forward to writing many, many entries about my incredible experiences here soon. I've seen the most beautiful plant and animal life during my travels throughout the country in places like the Arenal Volcano region, the Monteverde Cloud Forest, and the Manuel Antonio coast. I have so many beautiful photographs that I look forward to posting here when I return to the states.

(I'm anxious about the condition of my garden. There is only so much that my electronically-timed drip system can handle. Let's keep our fingers crossed that I haven't ruined everything!)

PURA VIDA,

Callie

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