The two Polyanthus plants I bought last spring have bloomed again. I put one on the front porch with two bright primroses (above) and the other's on the back patio. A squirrel tore one of them limb from limb (leaf from leaf?) last year but fortunately it has bounced back.
I can never remember the name Polyanthus. I always want to call them Polycanthus (which is a type of starfish) or Polycarpus (who was apparently a Byzantine king, but I suspect I'm thinking more of Podocarpus, which is a shrub).
I also tend to mix up Crocosmia, Calendula and Coreopsis. And don't even get me started on Acanthus vs. Agapanthus.
Sometimes I think I'm turning into my mother, who has largely lost her language abilities late in life. Particularly with the names of plants and birds, which used to come to me much more easily than they do now. I'll start to tell Dave about one of the plants and I'll stand there, gesturing futilely, mumbling, "You know, the one in the pot. The freeze almost killed it. It starts with a C. It has pink flowers."
"Cyclamen?" he'll say.
"YES!"
The Russians have either finished most of their renovating or they've paused it during the work week. It's been pretty quiet up there, at least when we're home. (Of course we're gone most of the day, so there is that.) Although I've been complaining here about the noise, I have to give them some credit -- they removed the debris from in front of the house pretty quickly. We no longer have a toilet sitting out there.
(Bottom photo: Buddha on our bedroom mantelpiece, with a fish from Ghana, beads from Singapore and a ring from Morocco.)
Quite a collection on your mantle...
ReplyDeleteAs Dave says, we have a lot of tchotchkes! Though I don't think we have nearly as many as some people...
DeleteYour plant is a Primula Auricula. I have never actually owned one but they are beautiful, and come in many different styles/colours. They are often displayed en masse in a " plant theatre". (Usually in terracotta pots )
ReplyDeleteYesterday morning while chatting to a dog walking pal, I couldn't get 2 different words to come to me ...only about 2 sentences apart. I felt such an idiot!
I think a polyanthus is actually slightly different from an auricula, but I'm no expert. They're all a type of primula. The auriculas, I believe, typically have thicker leaves and are alpine plants...? The flowers are very similar, though.
DeleteI don't worry about forgetting things Steve, I've been having 'senior' moments all of my life.
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
Ha! Well, that's comforting. This could indeed be life as usual!
DeleteHaving the Russian toilet out there could have been useful to you. If Dave was in the bathroom and you got desperate, it would have been a good solution. Are Russian toilets red?
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly no, and they don't have Putin's portrait on them either! Frankly I was disappointed.
DeleteIn the darkness I once put a toilet pan and cistern in the local postage stamp sized park after some home renovations. They were gone the next morning.
ReplyDeleteI always forget the name cyclamen. We were looking at them today and I saw the name. But it is a bit too early here for them in my opinion. Mind, while I can't remember the name of that plant, I can remember the botanical names of many plants. Weird.
Oh, you're one of those people who dumps things in parks in the dead of night?! Shame on you, Andrew! For some reason, I always forget the name cyclamen too -- it's such an odd word.
DeletePretty flowers, whatever they're called! I love your Buddha tableau!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I got that Buddha in Sag Harbor, NY, when I was visiting a friend there many years ago.
DeleteI am not trying to be funny here (unlike YP who, generally, tries very hard): Don't you and your neighbours don't speak? I find knocking at someone's door and asking them for a favour breaks the ice in zero time. People like to be useful. Before you know it you know their whole life story, are handed (as in my case) at short notice their assorted offspring for a "few" minutes, make that nine to five (the joys of working from home - everyone thinks you have all the time in the world). All good.
ReplyDeleteU
Oh yes, we speak, although no more than a hello when we pass or occasional consultations about the property. I don't have anything against them but they're not friends. Typical big-city neighbor situation!
DeleteYou have to read a recent Atlantic article by Ellen Cushing. Speaks to all of our brains during this pandemic. She calls it the "fog of forgetting." And I always love your flowers.
ReplyDeleteI will find that article! I am DEFINITELY experiencing the fog! LOL
DeleteI can't remember anything these days. It's ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI love your little travels altar.
We have several altars of sorts, although I guess this is the only one featuring a Buddha.
DeleteThis post reminds me of a poem I wrote years ago that began "I forgot the names of flowers to remember the names of clouds..." With spring starting to bloom and all the pretty flowers starting to bud, Roger and I walk around the yard wondering out loud, "What is that flower? Do you remember?"
ReplyDeleteI remember that poem! I think you posted it not too long ago? Or maybe you linked back to it in a newer post.
DeleteYes some names and terms are not at the tip of your tongue...normal, but not threatening. I can tell you from experience. I have trouble remembering book titles.
ReplyDeleteThe fashion now seems to be for one-word titles, particularly in TV shows, and I get them all mixed up.
DeleteThat polysomething plant has cute little flowers on it. You have a much better plant vocabulary than I do. If it weren't for signs at the garden, I wouldn't know half the plants I post.
ReplyDeleteAren't they cute? I was really taken with them. I got started learning the names of plants when I was really little and they've always stuck with me. (Until now!)
DeleteI really do not know the names of the plants growing in my yard. I would have to google all of the words you mentioned - they sound like Latin but I do not know their meanings.
ReplyDeleteI love your display in your bedroom, collected from travels you have made. I have travel items in my bedroom and they always bring back sweet memories.
Those are the Latin names, yes. You'd probably know the flowers if you saw them! We usually try to pick up one simple souvenir when we go on a trip.
DeleteI've always had trouble remembering things, but I think it's because I don't try very hard. I just assume I'll forget, so if it's something important I put it in my phone. That lets me off the hook nicely. Ha!
ReplyDeleteThere have been articles about how the constant and easy access to electronic information is weakening our memories. Case in point! LOL
DeleteI love the display on your mantel and the wall.
ReplyDeleteThanks! The light hits it in a really nice way in the afternoons.
DeleteI love cyclamen! Isn't that some kind of primrose? I have a few of them around too.
ReplyDeleteYes, polyanthus is a type of primrose. As Frances said above, there are also auriculas, which are very similar (if not the same).
DeleteI spend half my time giving an operational definitions of the word I can't remember. I think the best one was "the thing that cuts the grass."
ReplyDeleteHa! Yeah, that sounds like me, too.
DeleteI like the mantel piece display and the way the light is shining.
ReplyDeleteI have trouble remembering words often, and I am glad that someone knew it was butterbur. I knew that but have been trying to remember the name since I saw your picture.
The light hits that wall in a really nice way at this time of year. Glad I could clear up butterbur! Apparently it's an invasive species in some areas.
DeleteI don't even try to remember the names of plants anymore and that sort of saddens me but on the other hand I am happy just to see them blooming either in real life or photos.
ReplyDeleteI really love the shelf and how you have little bits of things that you love so that you can see them every day.
I am in Reno now. Just settling in and resting as much as possible. I am going thru a sleepless night cycle since leaving the hospital. My doctor said today that it will take up to a full 30 to 90 days just to get back to my base level of energy and sleep
patterns.
Glad you're in Reno, Beth! Take care of yourself and let us know how you're doing on your blog. Maybe your approach to plant names is the best one. LOL
DeleteNo photos of the toilet sitting in front of the house? Also, I'm disappointed (no I'm not) you didn't come up with a creative use for it. Beautiful flowers. I love the collection on your mantelpiece, as well as the wall art.
ReplyDeleteHa! You mean like this:
Deletehttps://shadowsteve.blogspot.com/2012/09/wacky-new-zealand.html
What a GREAT post! Thanks for taking me back there. As for the toilets, YOU would come up with something so much better.
Deletethere are some plants I have a really hard time calling up the name like bulbine (which btw did not survive the freeze). yesterday I could not have told you it's name. and the porterweed. I have a hard time remembering that one too. and it's not just plants.
ReplyDeleteand not tchotchkes...memories, touchstones, evidence, reverence.
A house in the hood underwent remodeling recently. For a week, two toilets were in the front yard. One for me and one for a friend. Spelling has always come easily to me, but I'm losing my abilities.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie