Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Confused…


My Bocconia frutescens is confused, poor thing. Since it’s in a container, and mid-January our overnight temperatures were close to its hardiness range, it went down to the basement where it stayed for a little over a week. When we got back from our trip to New Mexico this had shot out…

From the San Marcos Growers website: “In late spring and early summer appear the small petal-less greenish-purple flowers in dense 8-24" long panicles that are followed by gray fruit. The flowers are not showy.”

It thinks it’s late spring!

I felt bad taking it back outdoors, but the temps are in the mid 30’s overnight again and I just don’t think I would be happy long term in the basement (lower light levels, poor air circulation and little moisture). It’s got to be a shock for it to realize it is not spring.

I’m prepared to lose the “not showy” flowers, but of course I’d love to see them bloom and the fruit develop.

15 comments:

  1. Maybe you'll get lucky. Just this morning I was outdoors and thought I detected a hint of spring in the air. Yes, I know it's only Jan. 29 - it was probably just all that rain coming down! But I'd be interested to see the fruit even though gray sounds rather unappetizing...

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    1. It is kind of tempting after the cold snap ended to feel like that was our winter and it's over! I'm afraid to hope...

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  2. Shocking! I hope you get to see the not showy flowers and interesting fruit so that you can post about them!

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  3. WIth a temperature of 70ºF today, and a low in 2 days of 10ºF, I'm also confused. If I could send out a flower stalk of some kind I think I would.

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    1. Well that paints a pretty funny picture!

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  4. Just finished reading Kingsolver's 'Flight Patterns', so I've been living with the natural world's state of confusion for a few days.

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    1. Ah...would you recommend it? (the book, not the state of confusion)

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    2. I would. I loved her early work, then tuned out when she got all preachy. She has not abandoned her soap box, but this time it is cloaked in an interesting story with engaging characters.

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  5. You might get lucky and that it carries on flowering even with the lower temps outside. I'm curious myself what the flowers will look like!

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    1. Only time will tell...it's still looking good a week out though!

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  6. haha. I have seen many a confused plant over the years of temporary hauling things inside. He'll get it over it. ps- tree fern looking beautiful there!

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    1. Ah yes the tree fern came in too, although I did leave the other one outside by the shade pavilion as a bit of a test. I think it passed! I may get really crazy and put it in the ground this year!

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  7. Haha...maybe it knows something we don't ;-)

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