Thingamabobs and Whatchamacallits

                             Most people know Aspidistra merely as an unobtrusive evergreen foliage plant.   During World War II, the British chose potted aspidistras to take into bomb shelters to lend a homey touch during the long waits for the “all clear”.   In Victorian England, aspidistra became known as the “Cast Iron” plant of bank and hotel lobbies because it could survive neglect, cold drafts, summer heat, or being watered with brandy snifter remains and mulched with cigar stubs!   Evidence exists in Victorian family records of aspidistras being passed down from generation to generation – some over a period of a century!   In China and Japan, aspidistra has long been popular as a foliage plant, with the leaves becoming indispensable to Ikebana and other flower arranging disciplines. The monocot Aspidistra is part of the lily family, Liliaceae, often placed in the sub-family Ruscaceae...

              The following account of how the “Peggy Martin” rose came into existence is taken from various sources on the internet, but I have taken the information I believe to be accurate to include in this post.   I was fortunate (or not!) to have acquired rooted cutting but can’t remember when!!!   Several years ago, the “rose-buzz” was all about a found rose, miracle survivor of the 2005 Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, which survived for three weeks despite being submerged by flood waters which the levees failed to contain.   So much property, and so many plants were lost during that time, also, even more tragic, many human lives were lost because they were unable to evacuate.   Mrs. Peggy Martin belonged to a garden club in New Orleans and had many experts from over the world come to her house prior to Hurricane Katrina, to try to identify her “found” rose, an aggressive thornless rambler, with whic...