Posted on by susurrus

On Being Green

In response to the Weekly Photo Challenge It IS Easy Being Green! I’ve obediently tried out a gallery. The format allows us to compare and contrast the great variety in greenness, as in any colour in nature, but it doesn’t let me explain what the pictures are – and you’ll be hard pressed to make out much detail on a smartphone. So here they are a bit bigger, with descriptions: 

Green bottle tree sconce by Stephanie Dwyer

Part of a bottle tree sconce by Stephanie Dwyer, decorated with green bottles, framed by tree branches and sky. See how one bottle has recently succumbed to the elements?

Luna moth

A green luna moth with long tails and wonderful, comb-like antennae. These are big creatures! After emerging as moths, nature gives them just one week to mate and reproduce. That may not seem long, but they don’t eat in their adult form. This one seemed to have a stoically calm disposition as it waited for the garden party to get started.

Heptacodium miconioides against a dry stone wall

The decorative leaves drew me to this Heptacodium miconioides, which was fortunately labelled as I wouldn’t have had a clue what it was. The leaves are heart shaped, hanging in opposing pairs with their pointed bottoms curled inwards. Very nice.

I often like the sound of Latin words and test them out mentally rather than just sweeping my eyes over them. Heptacodium sounds fine – a little functional perhaps – but miconioides…?  Perhaps it’s my accent or pronunciation, but it sounds like a one word protest song. After all, despite the prompt, we all know it ISN’T that easy being green. Not nowadays.

Giant coneflower leaves (Rudbeckia maxima)

Anyone who can take green leaves for granted just hasn’t met the right patch. I vividly remember seeing these Rudbeckia maxima leaves in Austin, Texas at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Centre. You may think of me as a flower junkie, but these had a fresh, living lushness this picture barely captures. Amongst all the plants I saw that day, including swathes of the famous wildflowers that had drawn us there, this is the sight that amazed me the most.

I suppose beauty is different for all of us – it’s doubtful that anyone else there on the same day would cast their favourite vote along with me if asked. But I’m unrepentant. Nature had built a kneehigh cathedral in a quiet corner out of green leaves and my response was rapture.

37 Replies to “On Being Green”

  2. These are glorious. Your descriptions, your writing! The whole package. That luna moth is amazing. Thank you!

  4. I’m with you! My favorite time of the year for my gardens is in the spring, when there are few blooms, and everything is a fresh, tender green, as yet unchewed and unharmed.

    1. I was amazed that the leaves had got that big without being nibbled. Either the garden is very well fenced or the wildlife have so many options, they somehow missed this!

  6. Oh, I totally agree with you that nothing beats the quiet beauty of green leaves in every shade combining to sooth the spirit. And I love your Green Tasting Menu offering different takes on this week’s theme!

  7. Luna moths are simply exquisite! The Latin on the Seven Sons Flower is a mouthful, isn’t it? Mine often gets winterkill, but still manages to have sweetly-scented, late-season blooms.

        1. Lovely! You’ve reminded me that there is a Seven Sisters rose, named because seven different flower colours can supposedly be seen at the same time, though there’s a helping of poetic licence in that.

  9. The green bottle tree is a good idea, the only problem is that I will have to drink some extra wine to obtain some bottles! ( They have all been recycled).🍷

  10. Beautiful images for this challenge! I’m glad you added the commentary as it’s always nice to know a little bit about the pictures. Love the luna moth!

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