Leaf: Illumination

~

Illumined leaves glow like Tiffany sculptures in the morning light.  How different they look when lit in this way, with a strong June sun shining through them.

~

Colocasia ‘Mojito,’ center, has unusual purple patterns on the leaves and burgundy stems. C. ‘Tea Cups,’ behind, shows its elegant veins as its leaves tip upwards towards the sky. C. ‘Pink China’ also has reddish stems and sports a pink spot on its leaf to mark where the stem begins.  The red leaf at lower right is a Caladium.  Pitcher plants grow in the foreground and to the left.

~

Sculptural tropical leaves, like these Colocasia, grow quickly to fill a space and make a statement.  Always interesting, their very size and subtle colors feel like living artworks at any time of day.  Catching the light at just the right angle, shining through them, creates even more excitement in this bit of our garden.

~

Here, C. ‘Pink China’ is also backlit, showing its elegant veins and slightly wavy margins .  These are very hardy in Zone 7 and spread wonderfully.

~

Beautiful leaves can stand alone; no flowers needed. 

In this new series, “Leaf,” I will share some of our favorite foliage plants.  Summer is prime time for big, bold, dramatic leaves.  I hope you enjoy seeing our favorites.  

~

~

“The leaves that remain are only a very small part of the tea.

The tea that goes into me is a much bigger part of the tea.

It is the richest part.   We are the same;

our essence has gone into our children, our friends,

and the entire universe.

We have to find ourselves in those directions

and not in the spent tea leaves.”

.

Thich Nhat Hanh

~

Alocasia ‘Sarian’ returns in the green pot, after its winter in the basement. Caladium tubers idly poked into the potting soil last fall, return also. “What is that bright red?” my partner called from his resting place. He saw the garden from a different angle, and was intrigued by such bright color. Caladiums should always make us take notice.

~

“Sometimes I wish I could photosynthesize

so that just by being, just by shimmering at the meadow’s edge

or floating lazily on a pond,

I could be doing the work of the world

while standing silent in the sun.”

.

Robin Wall Kimmerer

~

~

Woodland Gnome 2017

 

About woodlandgnome

Lifelong teacher and gardener.

View all posts by woodlandgnome →