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| Costus pictus, spiral ginger |
In tropical garden isle
Makes its way onto the blog
And so the garden file
It traveled here all potted up
Last year from lakeside yard
It grew but didn't bloom 'til now
A spiraling upwards guard
With gaze that grows from inward out
To focus on a whirled
Piece on Earth, on entwined fates allowed
To mingle here, so gradually unfurled.
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| Hedychium coronarium, butterfly ginger |
JULIA: What is't that you took up so gingerly?
LUCETTA: Nothing.
JULIA: Why didst thou stoop, then?
LUCETTA: To take a paper [blog] up that I let fall.
JULIA: And is that paper [blog] nothing?
LUCETTA: Nothing concerning me.
JULIA: Then let it lie for those that it concerns...
(from William Shakespeare's The Two Gentleman of Verona, Act I, scene ii)
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I never dreamed I would become such a ginger gardener. But who can resist the tropical allure of these beauties? They grow so effortlessly, with so little care and attention, quite unlike a blog, I'm afraid. I never dreamed I would become such a "gingerly" blogger. If a blog is let go, allowed to drop out of sight and mind, it might just die on the vine, so to speak. And the entwined fates (faithful readers/followers/thinkers) will stop mingling here and remain unfurled. Impressions either never arrive or quickly leave, unseen and unspoken.
If you're wondering what Ginger or Mary Ann have to do with this whirled piece, blame SAM. When he saw the ginger unfurling its flower bracts, he suggested that I ask the question. Are you a Ginger or Mary Ann? Gilligan's Island fans will know what I'm talking about. You might even remember dramatic Ginger as Ophelia in this episode. There, now. Shakespeare>Ginger>Tropical Landscaping>Gilligan's Island. Everything comes together in this whirled piece. Oh. What about Julia or Lucetta? Read the play and let me know what you think.
Very, VERY good post!! I so enjoyed reading it. Ginger in the wild is a very neat plant, too!! It blossoms at the base of the plant.
ReplyDeleteA question to ponder for sure. You are so funny sometimes. I'm more of a Skipper! Ha! No Ginger for me (too sexy) and no Maryann (too sweet), just call me Skipper, brash and loud and bossy and get to the heart of the matter.
ReplyDeleteI've grown butterfly ginger here, it will survive most winters, but a really bad one finally killed it off. Another thoughtful post.. can't say I'm a Ginger ora Maryann. Actually, I'd be more Gilligan I'm afraid
ReplyDeleteWell, it certainly is a whirled post! I love gingers so much! My neighbor has such a vivid bright orange one! You would adore it!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I would like to think I would be the Professor!
ReplyDeleteKaren, I don't think I've ever seen wild ginger. It sounds like it would be something special to find. I'm glad you liked the post.
ReplyDeleteTina, of course you would be the Skipper, the sensible, down-to-earth one of the group.
Claude, if there were no Gilligans, the world would be pretty boring. I'm hoping the ginger does well here for the long-term. I'll keep piling on the pecan mulch to warm those rhizomes!
Julie, orange seems to be the color of choice for passalong plants in my garden, and I'm very thankful as it's one of my favorite colors. The butterfly ginger that I have here was a gift from another gardener in Tallahassee. I think she would be pleased that it's doing so well. Yes, I can see you as the Professor--smart and curious about everything.
That ones easy. I knew Mary Ann. She was a neighbor and colleague, who taught choir. She also taught me gardening, union politics, and being a good friend....
ReplyDeleteLovely gingers--I can see why you are so smitten with them. I've always wanted to try the wild ginger used as a groundcover here, but I know it doesn't have gorgeous blooms like these.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely a Mary Ann, though I think at the time I wished I looked like Ginger:)
What a fun post - I love how you mix Shakespeare, gardening and TV! I'm probably closest to the geeky professor. You take me back.
ReplyDelete