Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: busy

Meme: April Flowers

Today I thought it would be fun to make a meme about flowers. Most people enjoy flowers, and even if you don't grow them yourself, you see them as you drive around. Other folks are welcome to copy this meme on their blogs or reply to it here.

1) What flowers are blooming right now in your area?
2) What is your favorite flower that grows where you live, and why?
3) What is your favorite exotic flower, and why?
4) Do you prefer cut bouquets or live plants?
5) Do you like flowers growing in beds, naturalized flowers, or both?


Here are my answers...

1) Tulip, grape hyacinth, cherry, crabapple, apple, strawberry, saskatoon, gold currant, honeysuckle, violet, dandelion, petunia, lobelia.

2) Gold currant, also sometimes called clove currant: Ribes aureum. It has trumpet-shaped yellow flowers with an intense spicy-sweet fragrance.

3) Gardenia. When I visited Mexico, one of my teachers was so fond of gardenias that she would buy a bouquet every other day or so. They were really cheap and their sweet fragrance would fill a whole room. I fell in love with them and started buying some for myself.

4) Live plants.

5) Both, but I tend to favor naturalized flowers.
Tags: gardening, meme, nature, personal
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  • 37 comments
asakiyume

asakiyume

April 27 2009, 16:37:27 UTC 12 years ago

Fun!

(1) daffodils, grape hyacinth, trillium, marsh marigolds, violets, dandelions, linaria (money plant), myrtle, maple flowers, magnolia, flowering cherry, not yet apple or crabapple or peach, johnny jump-up, hawkweed, gill over the ground, wild ginseng--and soon there will be forget-me-nots.

(2) My favorite of all of them? I think it's impossible to say. Even in any given season it's too hard! One I like, which blooms in July, I think, which I saw for the first time when I came here, is Canada lily. It's in the icon for this comment.

(3) I think jasmine? My mother-in-law had it in a conservatory.

(4) I prefer live plants, but I enjoy bouquets too.

(5) I prefer naturalized.
ysabetwordsmith

Thoughts

ysabetwordsmith

April 28 2009, 02:18:22 UTC 12 years ago

I like jasmine too. I've encountered it at botanical gardens.
janetmiles

janetmiles

April 27 2009, 16:37:57 UTC 12 years ago

1. Do flowers on trees count? If so, then dogwood is blooming all over the place, and apparently oak pollen is running ridiculously high so I assume it's blooming as well.

2. Dandelions and clover.

3. I once saw something called a mink orchid. I've never seen one again, and I can't find any references on Google or Google images, but it was stunning.

4. Silk or paper.

5. No preference.
ysabetwordsmith

Yes...

ysabetwordsmith

April 28 2009, 02:19:26 UTC 12 years ago

... flowers on trees count. I forgot to list my redbud, though.
unmutual

unmutual

April 27 2009, 16:50:53 UTC 12 years ago

1) What flowers are blooming right now in your area?
The daffodils, cherry trees, and forsythia are mostly gone and the dandelions are coming in strong. The redbud is gorgeously purple, and there are several flowering trees in my yard that I can't place.

2) What is your favorite flower that grows where you live, and why?
I've always been partial to dandelions. They smell so warm and sun-filled. Even if they are weeds, I still love them. I also love the forsythia, because it's the first to bloom.

3) What is your favorite exotic flower, and why?
Ummmm... I have no idea!

4) Do you prefer cut bouquets or live plants?
Live plants, because they last longer. I don't complain about cut bouquets but I do make my husband throw them away when they wilt and die.

5) Do you like flowers growing in beds, naturalized flowers, or both?
Both!



christinaathena

christinaathena

April 27 2009, 17:20:48 UTC 12 years ago

I've always been partial to dandelions.

Me too! They had a welcome bit of color to the otherwise dull monotonous stretches of green that, for some inexplicable reason, the average American considers attractive.
wyld_dandelyon

wyld_dandelyon

12 years ago

  • New comment
ysabetwordsmith

Yay!

ysabetwordsmith

12 years ago

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ysabetwordsmith

Thoughts

ysabetwordsmith

12 years ago

  • New comment
janetmiles

A counter-question

janetmiles

April 27 2009, 17:00:35 UTC 12 years ago

Are there any flowers you don't like?

Me, I dislike paperwhites, because I think they smell rank. (I am apparently not alone, despite this expert who says "Everyone finds the scent pleasing, and most people do, the scent will add to the spring-like atmosphere." Hm. I wonder if that should have read, "Everyone who finds the scent pleasing..."? Another site says, "They are fragrant, but their musky odor is not universally appealing. It can be an acquired smell that becomes more acceptable as we focus on the beauty of the flowers.")
ysabetwordsmith

Re: A counter-question

ysabetwordsmith

April 28 2009, 00:52:28 UTC 12 years ago

Hmm ... I am rarely impressed by modern scentless roses; I want roses to be fragrant.

I probably wouldn't like this flower either, unless it was behind glass:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrion_flower
christinaathena

christinaathena

April 27 2009, 17:17:46 UTC 12 years ago

1) What flowers are blooming right now in your area?
Various flowering trees. There's still some tulips. Various flowers that I don't know the names of. Dandelions (a way underrated flower in my opinion) My peonies have buds on them, so in a few weeks they should be blooming

2) What is your favorite flower that grows where you live, and why?
Hmm ... probably peonies, because they're so big and fragrant.

3) What is your favorite exotic flower, and why?
Hmm ... I don't really have one.

4) Do you prefer cut bouquets or live plants?
Generally live plants, although cut bouquets are nice, too.

5) Do you like flowers growing in beds, naturalized flowers, or both?
Both.
asakiyume

asakiyume

April 27 2009, 17:29:10 UTC 12 years ago

Some of what are growing right now...

spring bouquet
dulcinbradbury

dulcinbradbury

April 27 2009, 18:06:05 UTC 12 years ago

What a lovely little bouquet.
asakiyume

asakiyume

12 years ago

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ysabetwordsmith

Pretty!

ysabetwordsmith

12 years ago

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dulcinbradbury

dulcinbradbury

April 27 2009, 18:05:23 UTC 12 years ago

1) What flowers are blooming right now in your area?
Daffodils, cherry blossoms, magnolia (just starting!), dandelions, violets.

2) What is your favorite flower that grows where you live, and why?
Trillium (which I don't see often anymore) & tiger lilies. Mostly because they *do* grow wild where I live. Tiger lilies (which aren't actually in the lily family but look like they should be) grow wild along the swamps and damp areas through mid to late summer.
Trillium are just pretty. I picked them as a kid before I knew how damaging that was. O_o
I'm also a fan of violets -- pretty and tasty.

3) What is your favorite exotic flower, and why?
I've a weakness for roses and stargazer lilies. I've also got a fondness for blue thistle.

4) Do you prefer cut bouquets or live plants?
That depends. My house is, by and large, too dark for houseplants. I really love *flowers.* Since I can't grow them (or much of anything) indoors, I really enjoy cut bouquets. Also, cut bouquets let me have many things inside that I would not be able to normally.

5) Do you like flowers growing in beds, naturalized flowers, or both?
Both. I prefer wild-looking beds to really carefully sculpted ones. But... really I just love flowers so I'm happy to see any at all.
asakiyume

asakiyume

April 27 2009, 19:13:17 UTC 12 years ago

I saw trillium this morning! I was biking through a swamp (on a trail). It was so pretty.

How far away are you from Albany? (NY is a big state... you could be very very far...)
dulcinbradbury

dulcinbradbury

12 years ago

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asakiyume

asakiyume

12 years ago

  • New comment
ysabetwordsmith

Yay for you!

ysabetwordsmith

12 years ago

  • New comment
asakiyume

Re: Yay for you!

asakiyume

12 years ago

  • New comment
ysabetwordsmith

Re: Yay for you!

ysabetwordsmith

12 years ago

  • New comment
dulcinbradbury

dulcinbradbury

12 years ago

  • New comment
asakiyume

asakiyume

12 years ago

  • New comment
dulcinbradbury

dulcinbradbury

12 years ago

  • New comment
ysabetwordsmith

Trillium

ysabetwordsmith

12 years ago

  • New comment
ellenmillion

ellenmillion

April 27 2009, 18:44:07 UTC 12 years ago

*cries* Nothing is blooming yet. We have feet of snow left. *clings to the idea that other people have flowers*
ysabetwordsmith

*hugs*

ysabetwordsmith

April 28 2009, 00:53:50 UTC 12 years ago

I'll do my best to provide vicarious gardening joy to those of my friends living in northern climes. After all, I've been enjoying early gardening news from friends who live farther south.
marina_bonomi

marina_bonomi

April 27 2009, 19:02:16 UTC 12 years ago

1) What flowers are blooming right now in your area?

Dandelion, tulips, poppies (in sunny spots), robinias, wisterias (lots of them),tamarix, roses (again in sunny spots), some peach trees, rapeseed (whole fields in vibrant yellow. Violets, almond trees and cherry trees have already shed their flowers
2) What is your favorite flower that grows where you live, and why?

Two, really: peonies and old roses, I love the shape and the scent but also their history and the links to legend, literature and art in Europe (for the Rose) and China and Japan (for the Peony)

3) What is your favorite exotic flower, and why?

I like the Agapanthus very much. I love blue and not many flowers have that shade, moreover I insisted a lot with the florist to have the agapanthus in the church decorations for my wedding (and that's the second reason I love it).

4) Do you prefer cut bouquets or live plants?

Live plants.

5) Do you like flowers growing in beds, naturalized flowers, or both?

Both, but I'm enchanted by English cottage gardens and don't like overmuch the typical public-park style flower beds.
ysabetwordsmith

Thoughts

ysabetwordsmith

April 28 2009, 01:40:03 UTC 12 years ago

I love peonies too. We have white ones here in several places. Such sweet intense perfume! Though it's hard to get all the ants off if you want them for cut flowers.

I also like cottage gardens.
wyld_dandelyon

wyld_dandelyon

April 27 2009, 20:01:18 UTC 12 years ago

1. We have our first daffodils. Still no dandelions even! I didn't think I was that much far-north of you! (Milwaukee). I like lots of flowers, hard to pick favorites. Live plants, as the flowers last longer, and might make seeds. And as to 5, both.
minor_architect

minor_architect

April 27 2009, 20:46:53 UTC 12 years ago

It occurs to me as I answer this meme that I love flowers - but I have no idea as to what most of them are called. So please bear with me here!

1. The cherry blossoms came and went fast, as they always do. Right now the dogwoods and azaleas are blooming. The crepe myrtles will follow in about a month. And there are a lot of wildflowers blooming in my neighbors yard, but as I just mentioned, I don't know what they are! Except for the black-eyed Susans. Those I recognize. ;)

2. By far, the azaleas. So many different colors! Pink, purple, red, white...

3. I'm partial to ornamental cabbages, since they're so quirky and unexpected. Dunno if they're exotic, though.

4. and 5. Both, in both instances! Although as far as cut flowers are concerned, my favorites are carnations! Once again, it has to do with the amazing variety of colors they grow in now. Plus, they actually have a scent, unlike most cut roses you buy nowadays.
ysabetwordsmith

Hmm...

ysabetwordsmith

April 28 2009, 02:22:14 UTC 12 years ago

Ornamental cabbages are interesting. I like the purple ones best. They make a big visual splash in fall.
je_reviens

je_reviens

April 28 2009, 00:33:28 UTC 12 years ago

Right now I see daffodils, little purple flowers, pansies and some tulips. There might be more but I don't know flower names mostly.

My favorite flowers are daffodils. They make me so happy when I see them. I love seeing flowers growing in the wild, in the spring. So happy happy to see them.

I don't have a favorite exotic flower. Not sure that I've seen that many.
dnellin

dnellin

April 28 2009, 05:08:27 UTC 12 years ago

(1) The flowers that are blooming in my area now are locust trees, desert dandelions, roses, IRIS in profusion, and a few other wildflowers. Most of the wildflowers finished blooming about a week ago. The paperwhites, hyacynths, and daffodils bloomed about a month ago--as did the flowering crab apple and my peach tree.

(2) I love the wild desert dandelions. This year was the best year for them I have ever seen. The plants covered square miles of the desert and have lasted for about a month. I look across my street at a mass of yellow. It's lovely!

(3) I love orchids, antheriums, and proteas. But orchids are my favorite. There are so many different types available now and they last so long. I always have orchids in my house except in the high summer when it's too hot for them here.

(4) I prefer live plants--they last so much longer.

(5) I like both. Part of my yard is in beds and the rest is naturalized. I use lots of succulents here, also aloes, yuccas, and agaves. They like the desert.
browngirl

browngirl

April 28 2009, 17:21:12 UTC 12 years ago

This is quite the fun meme to read. :)

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