Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Nature's first green is purple*


Yellow Loosestrife, Lysimachia punctata

I've noticed that quite a few perennials send up shoots in shades of purple, pink, and red. Most of these green up quickly as they grow and are exposed to sunlight. When mature, these yellow loosestrife plants will show no trace of purple.

In my garden, early purple can be seen on asters, tulips, goldenrod, columbine, peonies, bleeding heart, and lilacs.

*Apologies to Robert Frost. We are still a few weeks away from the transformation Frost describes in his poem, Nothing Gold Can Stay. When that happens, my children shall have to endure my annual recitation.

2 comments:

Neza S.G. said...

Happy Earth Day

Neza S.G. said...

By the way...Have you ever read The Renegade Gardener's "10 Tenets of Renegade Gardening"......Check number 7.

I guess I am NOT a Renegade gardener!! I'm more like a Gatorade gardener.

Saludos From The Rock and Roll Gardener!