Comment

Comment by Chris Breman on January 17, 2013 at 2:46am

Thanks for the tree pictures, Dominic and Sentient- they're wonderful!

Comment by Sentient Biped on January 16, 2013 at 7:20pm

It makes me feel better too.

Comment by Dominic Florio on January 16, 2013 at 7:16pm

I have a few old live oaks on my property with philodendrons, bromiliads and orchids growing on or hanging from them.  I love my trees and their twisting branches and the Spanish moss which hangs from them.  Of course they are unaware of history, but I know they are aware of at least the watering they get on a regular basis, which is something that people before me neglected to do.  I'd like to think that they know I care about them, but that just makes me feel better.

Comment by Sentient Biped on January 16, 2013 at 6:58pm

Dominic,

You have found the way to my heart!  I love massive old old trees.  No idea there was such a specimen in Africa.  Beautiful!

Imagine the history that's happened during that tree's life!  

While on old trees, here's one in China.  4000 y/o ginkgo.  I would say anything over a few hundred years is beyond my ability to comprehend.

Comment by Dominic Florio on January 16, 2013 at 6:43pm

2000 yr old tree of life from Africa.

Comment by Idaho Spud on January 16, 2013 at 1:14pm

Neat patterns Joan, but a lover of going barefoot would have to watch his step. :)

Comment by Chris Breman on January 16, 2013 at 1:48am

A beauty, Joan!

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 15, 2013 at 10:30pm

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 13, 2013 at 1:44am

I love hellebores for all the reasons you mention. They self sow and easy to transplant the wee ones. I didn't know they are toxic. I will  wear gloves. We still have snow, but as soon as it is gone, I will cut off last year's leaves, retrieve any babies I want, and enjoy the blossoms until they get covered by leaves about spring equinox. They remain upright, standing proudly, and one has to hunt down in the growth to find any flowers. However, the green is so pretty, I don't mind. 

Comment by Sentient Biped on January 12, 2013 at 11:04pm

New group icon, Helleborus niger.   This pic from wikimedia commons.  I have some in bloom now, freeze and snow doesn't seem to faze them.

"Black hellebore" was used by the ancients in paralysis, gout and other diseases, more particularly in insanity. "Black hellebore" is also toxic, causing tinnitus, vertigo, stupor, thirst, a feeling of suffocation, swelling of the tongue and throat, emesis and catharsis, bradycardia (slowing of the pulse), and finally collapse and death from cardiac arrest. Research in the 1970s, however, showed that the roots of H. niger do not contain the cardiotoxic compounds helleborin, hellebrin, and helleborein that are responsible for the lethal reputation of "black hellebore"  Google images.  H. niger seems long lived.  I have some that are 12 years old, growing in shaded, cool locations.  The one down-side is the flowers are pendulous, so you amost have to get under them to appreciate their simple elegance.

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