Do you ever get a wrong idea stuck in your head? For instance, I decided when I bought this plant that is was an Ernygium. Megan said, “this is a fabulus Acanthus. You should buy it.” Which, of course, I did with all due haste. Because my kids don’t ever steer me wrong. They know stuff, Megan and Elliot, the little upstarts. So, the label clearly stated Acanthus sennii, and I read “Acanthus.” But even then, my first thought was “Eryngium.” Now every time see it in the yard, same thing: Eryngium. Does anyone else do this, conflate plant names? It strikes me as a bit nutty. And I’m the one doing it. (Wonder if this inclination is confounded by my pesky 2-year-and-counting concussion? I’ll tell ya, concussions are good for nothin’!)
One of my favorites, Eryngium agavifolia, which also pokes me regularly. I always recognize this guy. A swooner if I ever saw one.
It mingles beautifully. Look at those sinewy tentacles. Hey, I just remembered, the variegated Eryngium is aka Moroccan Sea Holly. They are sea creatures.
Here’s the look of E. agavifolium in spring and summer.
And in its fall and winter coat. It’s happy making all year round.
I also have trouble keeping Grevillea and Callistemon straight–but that’s because I fell in love with them at the same time. So that’s not really my fault. This Grevillea victoriea ‘Murray Valley Queen’ is quite the performer. It blooms in late summer and keeps going through fall, winter, and into the next spring. How many plants can do that? G.R.E.V.I.L.L.E.A, find out what it means to me…
And they come in groundcover form. I LOVED this plant. But it did not love making the move to Flamingo Park. So it’s on my new lust list for this garden.
Here’s another groundcover form of Grevillea. One vigorous plant–that also did not appreciate being moved. Is that a common thing with Grevilleas, does anyone know? I allow that digging with one broken wing could have been the culprit in its unfortunate demise.
This, on the other hand, is a Callistemon, aka Bottlebrush. Keeping these plants straight involves reminding myself that they’re call Bottlebrush for a reason. But then I have to conjure up the bloom to really sort it out. The jury may still be out on me having instant recall when it comes to these kissing cousins.
I left this Callistemon behind, because who would take out/poison something this perfectly situated. Uh huh, correct: the new people. Dammit.
And one more fabulous Callistemon on Klickitat Street, near the Barnes Mansion. (Barnes Mansion was featured in the Beeware episode of Grimm.)
So I hope in showing this lovely Acanthus senni vs. Eryngium sp, and Grevillea vs. Callistemon, I will remember to think this and not that. Now, if only it doesn’t become a “don’t say mole issue.” Cheers, admin.plantlust.com