Plantidote of the Day 2010-10-02

Lavender Rose

Family: Rosaceae

Weekend Bonus Plantidote with two images!

An occasional contributor named “Lambert” provides the latest entry in the series, along with a story that makes an excellent point.

This rose grows in a large pot on the steps by my porch in full sun; the friend who gave it to me is great at starting plants in pots and keeping them alive indoors in the winter, where I'm a complete fail because the temperature swings caused by my wood stove make plants very, very unhappy.

Anyhow, except during Japanese beetle season, this rose has been one happy, happy rose, and even though it's October first, there are more buds and more blooms coming.

So the first picture shows the rose in flower against the coming winter's wood. And although I know it breaks form to have a second picture, I'm doing so because the second picture has a moral: My friend wants to be perfect. I tell them they don't need to be perfect; this rose, for example, is not perfect. But does it need to be? Why? What for?

Readers, please send me (twig4now@gmail.com) images and stories for the ongoing Plantidote of the Day series. In exchange, you'll win undying fame in the form of a hat tip! Plants growing in your garden, your house, or neighbor's yard, plants from the forest or farmers' market, plants you preserved, plants you prepared (wine; cider; tea; dried beans), plants you harvested (grains; chanterelles), plants you picked (flowers), plants you dried (herbs), plants you covet or hope to grow someday. Herbal remedies, propagation tips, new varieties, etc.. And if you can, include some solid detail about the plant, too -- a story, the genus and species, or where you got the seeds, or the recipe, or your grandmother gave it to you. Or challenge us with a “Name That Plant” mystery entry ... And please feel free to add corrections and additional information in the comments.

PLANTIDOTE GROUP FORMING: Want to help gather images and take Plantidote of the Day to the next level? Of course you do! Join jerztomato, kerril and me by clicking the Join Groups menu item to sign up or email me at the address above!

Click on the image for the full-size version. Click here to see the entire series.