Spurge, Part I

I first noticed spurge at the Oregon Garden in Silverton. I was there with my mom, who was a frequent visitor when she lived in nearby Salem. Whenever we came upon another one, I would declare, “Look, more spuuuurge.” What a comical word! It so happens that spurge is the common name for more mellifluent sounding euphorbia, a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. 

The pictures below show the plant before it comes into full bloom. They look like Muppet aliens, which is probably why I have 12 in my backyard. Stay tuned for part 2.

Algerian Iris, a.k.a. Animal

I told my fellow gardening addict, Nadene, who unlike me is not a lazy gardener, of this weird Muppet-like bush in my yard planted by the previous owner of my house. I said that I had considered getting rid of it because I thought it quite unremarkable. Then one day in February, an iris appeared. Then many appeared, and I decided to keep it.

She thought that I might have a Siberian iris. But I found out that they bloom in the spring. Algerian irises bloom in the winter, so I presume that is what I have – one whacked out Algerian iris. I think its Muppets alter ego is Animal.

Below the iris photos is a picture of my cat Grendel looking adorable. It’s going to make me famous on the Internet, I’m sure.

Hoarfrost

Thanks to the recent weather, a gorgeous hoarfrost covers the hills of West Salem.

The origin of the word hoar is Old English har, akin to Old High German her, and it means hoary.  In Webster’s finest dictionary,  hoary means “gray or white with age,” “having grayish or whitish, usu. pubescent leaves” and “impressively and venerably old.”

Pubescent leaves you say? Leaves that have reached puberty? I now know what to say in full summer. “Why look good sirs and madams, the leaves are now pubescent.”

Below are photos I took using an iPad. Some could be better, but I was too cold outside for me to persist.

Hebe (a.k.a. goddess of youth)

Hebe. A horrible name for a very cool structural shrub. (Apparently, Hebe is the Greek goddess of youth and a cupbearer to the gods.) The three pictured provide purple-ly winter color.

The winter here in Western Oregon has been soooooo mild, my one rose bush is budding. Spring plants were emerging in the fall. I’m worried a real hard cold spell will do them in.

For good measure, I’m tossing in a photo of Aengus peeing. Cats are cute even when taking a leak or cleaning their butts. Also, see the gorgeous red twig dogwood my awesome friends Tom and Monique gave me yesterday for Christmas. Thanks you two!