I'm going to a desert island and can take only 3 plants with me. Which plants will I choose?
First: One of my favorite plants happens to be an herb, the Giant Hyssop. There are a variety of hyssops out there, but my favorite is Agastache foeniculum, with a licorice or anise aroma. Mmm, I can just smell it now! It sends out an enticing licorice scent, dear to my nostrils! It has medicinal uses, can be dried and used as a tea, and it's lovely purple spikes sway to and fro in the breeze, attracting butterflies and bees. My love of blues and purples will be satisfied, as well.
First: One of my favorite plants happens to be an herb, the Giant Hyssop. There are a variety of hyssops out there, but my favorite is Agastache foeniculum, with a licorice or anise aroma. Mmm, I can just smell it now! It sends out an enticing licorice scent, dear to my nostrils! It has medicinal uses, can be dried and used as a tea, and it's lovely purple spikes sway to and fro in the breeze, attracting butterflies and bees. My love of blues and purples will be satisfied, as well.
But BEWARE: If you dislike the smell of licorice, you will be miserable living anywhere near me on this island...so you'll need to move some distance from my plot!!
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Second: In order to satisfy my desire for pinks...I choose Japanese Anemone.
Photo by Jan
Anemone happens to be an herbaceous plant (like hyssop, above). Like the hyssop, there are many varieties of anemone, but Anemone hupehensis is one of the finest autumn-flowering perennials, reaching up to 2 feet in height, and blooming continually for several weeks. The plant produces slightly-cupped flowers which have 5 rose-pink petals and a bright center ring of yellow.
(The plants that I've had in the past lasted from early August until late September. I was stunned by the length of time they bloomed as well as their delicate, feminine appeal).
*Unless otherwise noted, all photos were taken by me.
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Last, but not Least: Since my childhood days, I've felt a kindred spirit with the Weeping Willow tree. My parents had one in our yard and I remember it's wispy green bows and how they produced a shady cover for me to sit under.
Salix comes in many varieties, and because I don't have a willow tree, and haven't had one since I was a child, I would need to do some research on just what variety of willow I'd like. *Some ecologists believe the willow is actually an invasive weed, because it's roots spread so far out and can block underground plumbing pipes and other surrounding structures. But still, I can just picture myself sitting under the willow tree, drinking a cup of anise tea (made from my hyssop), and watching my gorgeous anemone's bloom and sway in the gentle breeze.
To see more Desert Island Plant Challenge results, visit Shirl's Garden Watch!!
--Today I am thankful for...being able to participate in this online challenge with gardeners all over the world!
