Freesia alba
Deeply rooted in me, twice over. The plant roots because I grew it from seed about 30 years ago. Seed from Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden
Freesia falls within the Iridaceae. 46 of the world’s 65 genera are South African. Technically a corm, not a bulb. Info on cultivation, frost etc at www.plantzafrica.com
And my own roots go deep. Today I asked my mother to tell me again. How her mother loved freesias. Used to buy a bunch and place the vase on the mantelpiece. Which was high and close to the gas-light. Whose heat would draw out the fragrance. And my thoughts wander off on a tangent – my grandmother, and so my mother in her childhood, lived by gas-light! Each time I smell freesias – I say – Hullo my Grandma Jennie! Whom I never met, but, I do remember, she phoned me once, for a birthday!
On that same Scottish journey, when we went to Rest and Be Thankful, we visited the Tenement House in Glasgow Sauchiehall Street – never could work out how Glaswegians say that – but obviously not the way this foreigner read it! And the House – is actually a Scottish flat – Miss Toward was a shorthand typist, who lived here from 1911 to 1965. There I could experience for myself seeing by gas-light. (Info from the National Trust for Scotland g
The dark train of thought was triggered by this lyrical artist’s description, of dark, never BLACK. Luckily, I do not own black paint. Period. It's an old bias picked up in my early painting lessons: no black, no pre-made grays. When I want to paint something black I use sepia (a dark brown) and either Prussian or ultramarine blue. Mixed together these make a quite rich dark that can be "pushed" to a warmer or cooler feel. From http://brushandbaren.blogspot.com/2009/04/book-brush-brilliant-sky-need-we-more.html which is an interview from Walking Nature Home. ((And all that is a sad little rant, because I am cross eyed after reading blogs who choose a dark/black background for their text.))
We close with Japanese style moon-gazing in the Ungardener’s pond. The camera, has found two gorgeous goldfish, which by the clearer light of day, are simply the tiny trumpets of Cape Honeysuckle
Hello there EE !
ReplyDeleteNow after such a gap in time not being here .. I can't imagine how I could not see that amazing Elephant's Eye in your header picture .. it jumps out at me so clearly : )
I too LOVE the scent of Freesia .. more so when we lived in Holland and had such easy access to beautiful flowers all the time .. it was flower heaven !
Your moonlight picture of the pond is stunning .. my goal is to get moonlight pictures from the sky .. hoping for a truly huge yellow harvest moon some night this month .. you have inspired me : )
Joy
My mother loves Freesias, too. They try and they try but they will never make a candle or perfume to compare with the real thing.
ReplyDeleteRosey
Joy - the Ungardener says Tx, he just took the picture. And The Eye, once seen, it follows you as you walk along the road. Bit eerie, but in a guardian angel sort of way!
ReplyDeleteI have freesias in the garden. They do have a euphoric scent. I love to see them bloom in the spring.
ReplyDeleteOooh I love Freesias :) Unfortunately they're not hardy enough to overwinter here, but I grow them all the same for the treat of their fragrance.
ReplyDeleteYou asked a question over at mine, so I've come over to say hello and give you the answer. Thanks for reading such a long article and then asking a question! Yes, the rubber is being used for aeration/anti compaction. The usual filler is sand, but the council are using recycled rubber instead. Now I'm not sure about this because over time there must be a chance that the hollow tining brings up rubber instead of soil. And it doesn't rot down either. I was wondering whether fine grit might be the solution instead if the usual sand isn't good for London's grass.