Studiology

Lenten Rose is Worthy

Less than a month out from helleborus bloom, the need to venture into the garden grows stronger and stronger. Precursors, snowdrops and winter aconites have popped up, pre-spring harbingers, hip, hip and hooray they say. Lenten rose or Helleborus orientalis is not far behind, the leaves of last year still intact. I remove them as March arrives, leaving the floral head free of encumbrance.

The breeding of helleborus has reached a new high, interspecific hybridization introduces species such as H. niger, H. sternii and the hybrid H. x ballardiae (niger x lividus) with what we know as the Lenten Rose. The resulting plants have strong upright stems, incredible foliage (some even patterned) and flowers that look you in the eye. Previously the floral heads bent down in a non-flattering sulk. 

These new hybrids are the work of German and English breeders. From Joseph Heuger we have the HGC (Helleborus Gold Selections) tagged hybrids. Probably the most popular and well received of all new hybrids. Only one in 100,000 seedlings make the grade, the winners are vegetatively propagated,  which means you're getting a piece of the original plant (versus seed grown).

A contender for best of the HGC helleborus is H. 'Pink Frost'. The flowers begin a dusty pink and age to a deep, red-pink. Reliable, early to flower, the plant is strong, the foliage superior. In the ground, the sum of its requirements would be some shade and summer watering, until the roots establish. Also fabulous in a container, the foliage is handsome enough to honor the pot. 

Another new hybrid worth mentioning is Helleborus 'Penny's Pink'. From RD plants in England, the name is in honor of Penelope Hobhouse. Not only are the flowers gorgeous, but the spring foliage is patterned in both white and pink. 

Since this great perennial blooms for such an extended time, it's exciting to think that March flowers will extend into April and spring will come full throttle after their reliable introduction.  

Corydalis 'Berry Exciting'

Winter has been cold, very gray and tonight we are expecting 6" of snow. A little pick-me-up seems appropriate, so here's an idea for your container garden in 2015. 

It's rare for a plant to completely win me over in a year's time, but this perennials did just that in 2014. Although it's best used in a container and one that only receives partial sun. This winning plant is Corydalis 'Berry Exciting', a perennial with no common name, pronounced kor-ID-a-lis, a relative of bleeding heart and a member of the poppy family. 

Its origins are a test tube, a mutation of Corydalis 'Blackberry Wine', the green leafed parent. Mutations in tissue culture have provided us with many leaf variations, particularly in hosta. The process is basically a piece of the parent plant is grown in a protein solution in a test tube, under lights, and many small plantlets form, connected to the living plant part. Over time the small plants are separated and grown in their own protein solution and then eventually introduced to soil. Occasionally variations in foliage pop-up, like this all yellow leafed form (from a green leafed parent), albeit identical in every other way, spread and height, even flower color, but the variation now offers the grower a new plant.  

The genus corydalis is 400 species strong, the majority natives of China and the Himalayas. Two natives grow in Virginia, although one was recently renamed to Capnoides sempervirens (Corydalis sempervirens) by botanists to align it more with dicentra and adlumia, close relatives. This renamed species is a biennial, the other, Corydalis flavula, with small yellow flowers , is an annual. As with virtually all corydalis, they are short lived, even when they are classified as perennial. 

The reason I fell in love with C. 'Berry Exciting'? The foliage is gorgeous, the trailing habit is outstanding, in fact by itself, it might be disappointing. My favorite planting partners are the pink polka dot plant (hypoestes), pink flowering pentas, a silver leafed heuchera or coral bell and Viola 'Syletta'.

Eventually, this winter will pass, and won't we be crazy when spring arrives!?

Saying Good-Bye to New Orleans

The business of art is exhausting. Especially when Katherine Engen organizes a week long event. The group went junkin (a necessary part of assemblage art), photographing at marvelous cemeteries, street car partying and dancing in our own second line parade. If you're not familiar with a second line parade, you don't know New Orleans. Held for various reasons, funerals, weddings, birthdays, just about anything, and all are invited to join in. You need a police escort, an approved route and a good jazz band. Since we dressed in costume for our parade, which is a bit unusual, we were greeted with great enthusiasm. And you ain't seen nothin till you've seen New Orleans enthusiasm! So here's another round of photographs, probably the last, until you see my finished art work (2 pieces), which has been a work in progress and coming soon. 

Katherine Engen and her husband on the street car.

Myself and Sharon Ross.

 

Michael DeMeng, our parade leader and artist.

Fellow artists.

Pinheads from American Horror Story.

Cemeteries, Metarie and St. Roche.

On the street.

Krewe Du Vieux

The first parade through the French Quarter in New Orleans, the one that begins the count down to Mardi Gras is the Krewe Du Vieux Carre. Described as an adult themed parade, sometimes labeled as X rated, it's definitely an experience. This was my fourth, a little more crowded and quite a bit rowdier than in the past. I take my big, heavy camera and pan as the crowds go by, no flash, and manual focus.  The challenge might be capturing a good photograph, which is true, but add a little drama as you try and maintain your space up front. Ninety percent of the people are drinking (heavily) so the constant jostling is expected.

It appears that there's no excess when it comes to costumes. False eyelashes can't be long enough, colored wigs are almost necessary, of which I'm sure most are from FiFi Mahoney's Salon and Wig Shop in the French Quarter. I have already bought one for next year, it's very blue. Not that I will be in the parade, but dressing up is fun! Might add a few lights.

So here's a string of photographs, no commentary needed. 

 

On the Street, Bourbon Street

Home after 10 days in New Orleans, feels like it's been a month. Stayed in the French Quarter, off of Bourbon Street with the Michael DeMeng workshop attendees. Everyday was a blast. I even accomplished a few things that I haven't in the 3 previous trips. Drank a Sazerac at The Roosevelt Hotel, the home of the original drink. Don't need to do that again, definitely not my thing.

Although the setting was beautiful. 

On Bourbon Street there's always lots of crazy stuff going on.  Many of the homeless hang out there, hoping for drink, maybe even food. I noticed a new trend, almost all had a dog. Hard to imagine there's anything good about that. This is Bo, short for Cletus Bochephus. Just a youngster, I wish him well.

Ladybug was an amazing pit bull. She seemed to be well cared for and loved attention.

 

The street performers are incredible. As the Superbowl game was displayed on TV's and a jazz band played in the background, this guy would stand still in an imaginary game, football in hand. Of course the inebriated visitors had fun with him.  He was an incredible sport.

Our fine hostess, Katherine Engen organized a second line parade, a personal street car which was catered, trips to the cemeteries, a racy burlesque show and even a sword swallower named  Ri Dickulous, who enjoyed a few minutes of fame on American Horror Story. I also passed Jessica Lang on Royal street and had to walk around the filming of NCIS New Orleans. 

My first night there was a stop at Preservation Hall, actually an hour and a half wait in line. It was all very hush about who would be playing that night only to end up being the original Preservation Hall Jazz Band, just back from a short stay after traveling with the Foo Fighters. I was in heaven!

The music is fabulous, on the street, in the bars and restaurants. Everywhere you go, you can hear the music.

The trip there was to participate in a week long class. By day we worked on assemblage, by night we ate and enjoyed various forms of entertainment. Our last day was the Krewe Du Vieux parade, of which I have many, many photographs. Much of the group dressed up for the event. As one should always do.