White River Gardens

Jan 1, 2002 - © Howard Deutch

White River Gardens

Better than thinking of winter, remember a more gentle and warmer time, summer. A time when we were able to go outdoors without first bundling up against the frigid blasts from our neighbor, Canada. (Forgive me oh Canada for taking such liberties of a kind and delightful neighbor) When the grass was green ......... and visible. When flowers bloomed and birds sang with joy.

Now, in the season of our travail, we nurse along indoor plants and begin to germinate the hope of summer to come. We marvel at the contrast between the tiny seedlings growing with artificial light and heat and the bleak landscape outdoors. Will the time ever come when they can be transplanted out there?

The smallest seeds I ever started were dust-like Begonia. The largest was a coconut I helped get a foothold on a Caribbean beach. The former were handled most gently, the latter was pounded into the sand. Other seeds I work with fall between those two categories.

I have a Schefflera-like houseplant plant that is now a bit over three feet tall. It has nine, sometimes eight, fuzzy surfaced, seven inch, pointed leaves on each stem. I gathered the original seed for this plant from the ground at a Hawaiian Botanic Garden four years ago, dropped from an unknown source. I have no idea as to what it is other than handsome. Anyone have an idea?

Last summer we visited the White River Gardens in Indianapolis. The Conservatory happened to have a butterfly exhibit at that time. As once before, I dashed around chasing them. The best, as usual, got away.

The Conservatory had a list of plants to attract butterflies.

The copyright of the article White River Gardens in International Gardens is owned by Howard Deutch. Permission to republish White River Gardens in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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