Friday, May 24, 2013
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Milans addiction to sedum pelargonium Gardennes Home
Why is it so ubiquitous? Probably because its almost impossible to kill the stuff. It was the only succulent on my balcony which survived the exceptionally cold temperatures we had this year, and despite the fact that I overwatered it pitifully when it was still far too cold to do so, it bounced back. Leaves dropped, others turned brown, and for a while it looked considerably shell-shocked - but back it bounced.
The only thing you can do with it is give it away. And this I think is the clue. for I have never, ever seen it on sale anywhere. But its the pass-along plant par excellence. When it gets too large, just break off the stems, stick them in another pot of earth - and give them to your neighbour, smiling sweetly as if youre doing them the greatest kindness on earth while secretly chuckling to yourself that youve managed to halve your stock in one fell swoop and make it sonmeone elses problem. Of course, she wont be able to kill it off either, so the following year shell pass some along to her neighbour ...
And so it spreads inexorably, haunting the balconies of non-gardeners throughout the city. Theyll scorch it all August, leaving it waterless while theyre at the sea. Theyll leave it to freeze all winter. But next spring, there it will be, proudly lining the balcony.
What type of sedum is it? No idea. I call it Sedum milanensis. And if thats not its name, it should be.
I have a love/hate relationship with the stuff. (As I said above, I have my obligatory container. Two in fact. Guess how I got them ?) For most of the year it just sits there, looking boring, grey and unattractive. And then for a couple of weeks in April, it explodes and its glorious. And not only do I enjoy miy own but Im also fascinated by looking up and seeing all the yellow-lined balconies. Why else do you think this is the second post on the same topic in three years?
So hooray for the sedum. If only because it encourages non-gardeners to have at least one plant on their balconies, to my mind its earned its place on mine.
Milans addiction to sedum pelargonium Gardennes Home
I posted a couple of years ago about Milans addiction to sedum. This is the time of year when, wherever you are in the city, look up and youll see yellow streaks lining the balcony railings. It almost seems to be an unwritten law that you have it growing on your balcony, even if for the rest of the year you dont have so much as a pelargonium growing out there.
I mean, look at this one. Not exactly overflowing with plants and containers. But out of the four containers that are there, three contain sedum.
Why is it so ubiquitous? Probably because its almost impossible to kill the stuff. It was the only succulent on my balcony which survived the exceptionally cold temperatures we had this year, and despite the fact that I overwatered it pitifully when it was still far too cold to do so, it bounced back. Leaves dropped, others turned brown, and for a while it looked considerably shell-shocked - but back it bounced.
The only thing you can do with it is give it away. And this I think is the clue. for I have never, ever seen it on sale anywhere. But its the pass-along plant par excellence. When it gets too large, just break off the stems, stick them in another pot of earth - and give them to your neighbour, smiling sweetly as if youre doing them the greatest kindness on earth while secretly chuckling to yourself that youve managed to halve your stock in one fell swoop and make it sonmeone elses problem. Of course, she wont be able to kill it off either, so the following year shell pass some along to her neighbour ...
And so it spreads inexorably, haunting the balconies of non-gardeners throughout the city. Theyll scorch it all August, leaving it waterless while theyre at the sea. Theyll leave it to freeze all winter. But next spring, there it will be, proudly lining the balcony.
What type of sedum is it? No idea. I call it Sedum milanensis. And if thats not its name, it should be.
I have a love/hate relationship with the stuff. (As I said above, I have my obligatory container. Two in fact. Guess how I got them ?) For most of the year it just sits there, looking boring, grey and unattractive. And then for a couple of weeks in April, it explodes and its glorious. And not only do I enjoy miy own but Im also fascinated by looking up and seeing all the yellow-lined balconies. Why else do you think this is the second post on the same topic in three years?
So hooray for the sedum. If only because it encourages non-gardeners to have at least one plant on their balconies, to my mind its earned its place on mine.
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