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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Turtlehead

No, that's not an insult. It's the name of a lovely late summer/early fall wildflower that's blooming now in a partially shady corner of my garden: Chelone. It has handsome, deep green leaves with two-lipped, pinkish-lavender flowers that look like a turtle's hooded head. (Chelone means tortoise in Greek.) This is its second season in this spot and while it's taller this year, it hasn't spread much. It should at some point get about three feet tall. Patience. It's touted as a good source of nectar for butterflies and insects, as well as a host plant for certain butterflies, but I haven't seen much action there, either. For now, it's just fun to look at. And though I'd like to take credit for thinking of a late-summer bloom time when I bought this plant, I can't. It just appealed to me as something that would fill in a semi-shady spot and have an attractive flower. But this is what the experts mean when they talk about "all-season interest," selecting plants not just based on appearance but on when they'll come into their own. The idea is to have more than just a spring explosion. To have color and interesting texture all year long. Maybe by the time I'm 90, I'll have this down pat!
Posted by Virginia Smith @ 11:28 AM  Permalink | Post a comment
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About Virginia A. Smith
Ginny Smith, a Philadelphia native, worked as a reporter at newspapers in New York, Connecticut and Ohio – with six short months at the end of the Bulletin tossed in – before returning to Philadelphia in 1985 to join the Inquirer. Her favorite beats here have included Center City, roving around Pennsylvania (and getting paid for it!) and alternative medicine. She’s also been City Editor and Pennsylvania Editor. Ginny has been happily writing – and learning - about gardening fulltime since 2006. She’s won two silver medals of achievement from the national Garden Writers Association and in 2011, Bartram’s Garden honored her with its Green Exemplar award for her stories about “the region’s deeply rooted horticultural history, cultural attractions and bountiful gardens.”
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