When we moved into the house where my mom lives now in LA, I was about ten. There was a row of agapanthus plants (the one's in front in the picture). That's why I even know the name. This amazing stalk, nearly three feet would zoom out of the leaves and then it would burst open with this splash of pale blue flowers. So I stopped during my run today to get this picture of the agapanthus AND the jacaranda tree behind them. The jacaranda tree is another LA spectacular, boldly making its Junish statement in lavendar solidarity with its jacarandan brothers and sisters scattered around the city. A good time to be in LA.
From Botany.com
Agapanthus - African Lily, Lily Of The Nile (Agapan'thus)
DESCRIPTION: This group consists of tender, evergreen or deciduous plants, which are natives of South Africa and belong to the Lily family, Liliaceae. Most African Lilies are evergreen in mild-winter climates. The fleshy rhizomes of these plants spread over the soil's surface and support a short, more or less tuberous rootstock. Agapanthus, also known as African Lilies and Lilies-of-the-Nile, produce clumps of long, shiny, strap-like leaves, which look attractive even when the plant isn't flowering. Tall stems, reaching 2 to 6 feet in height, are topped with clusters of pretty, white to dark blue flowers from late spring to early autumn. Each flower resembles the flowers of a lily, but are borne in umbels like those belonging to the group, Allium. African Lilies are suitable for growing in the garden, in containers, and as houseplants. They flower better when their roots are rather crowded in a container. The flowers of these plants can be cut for use indoors; they can last up to seven days in a vase. The dried seed heads also look attractive in arrangements.
The jacaranda tree is pretty rare up in Oregon and Washington state.
ReplyDeleteThere's a jacaranda about 40 feet tall in the parking lot of a strip mall in the Northgate area in north Seattle just off Hwy 99. It's the ONLY one I've ever seen anywhere in Wash. state.
There's a number of them in the yards of houses here on the north Oregon coast, but they grow a little like fig trees up here -- they're brittle fast growers, and the high winds we get here occasionally will destroy them. But they come right back...
People say So Cal doesn't have any seasons, but Jacaranda Season is one, Tourist Season is next, Santa Ana Season follows and then we have either El Nino or La Nina--rain or no rain. See? 4 seasons!
ReplyDeleteLove it! You summed them up
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