Saturday, July 13, 2013

Red Ginger and Hosta


We visited another camp ground nearby. While Gary went in to check on spaces I waited in the car. Sitting there I spotted a huge clump of red ginger, Alpinia purpurata, growing right beside our car. I got out to take a closer look. I was glad to see it wasn't killed by any heavy frosts in this area. Probably all the autumn leaves protect the clump over the winter.

The leaves are about two feet long and are lovely in shades of green and blue green. I could imagine using the leaves and flowers in a large and dramatic flower arrangement.

The flowers are also called ostrich plumes. The blossoms were easily 6 feet tall, probably reaching up to catch a bit of sunlight.

In the same flower bed I spotted some white edged hosta growing. There are lots of varieties of hosta which are mostly grown for their varying shades of foliage.

This is the flower sprouting from the leaves of the hosta above. It stood about three feet high. The flowers hang down but I lifted this one up to show you. Both of these plants were growing in heavily filtered shade close to a creek. Last night I fell asleep dreaming of shade gardens, hopefully in my future. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

8 comments:

  1. I love the drama of the red ginger, a spectacular splash of colour amongst the quiet greens.

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  2. Beautiful amazing flowers! thank you so much for telling your adventures in such an interesting way...

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  3. Enjoy traveling for now, letting the wanderlust take you. Settling down will happen again and you'll garden and make pots! So enjoy hearing your posts here.

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  4. The red one looks similar to canna. I have never heard of Red ginger. Our hosta collection was perished by slugs...: (

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  5. the flowers are lovely, shade gardens are not so easy I have found but then I'm talking next to the house where it is also dry...

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  6. Our hostas are just blooming, too. Pretty flowers.

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  7. this is plant mecca weather, isn't it with the rain? read about you thinking about upstate south carolina-- I can't help wondering about the cost of living in the mountains of Western NC-- as I want to live there someday too! :) take care-

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  8. The red flowers are striking and beautiful. Love the hostas too, we grow several varieties.

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