Some days I plan what I’m going to write. Today, no way.

I’m soaking wet, sitting on the porch of some of South Carolina’s most desired real estate. Just off the Battery in Charleston. Lots of rain but my man Bo and I worked 7 hours.

Got my Isagreens energy drink, Lady Gaga on the laptop, and a blog to you.

The Nicotiana Story

Here’s a story about a plant called Nicotiana.

About 15 years ago, Jennifer Denslow Glass and I collected some seeds of a killer Nicotiana in Southern California. Actually Jen had the vision to see how useful the plant would be. Nicotiana mutabilis. Later, it put us at the center of a blame-game as someone later accused us of stealing it from Brazil. Never been there. Never stole anything from there.

This flowering tobacco has tiny flowers that open white, then fade to pink. Zillions of them. But tiny, so it didnt really catch on. Last year, I planted it beside a big flowered Nicotiana. I collected seeds and planted the babies. Those babies are mules (hybrids – like a horse and donkey produces a mule. follow?)

A beautiful mule with giant flowers, thousands of them, that mutate from white to pink. See picture. Love those sort of challenges to the lines of sexuality. Nicotiana and Lady Gaga!

Looking Good

From the porch, these look great:

Otatea or Mexican Bamboo. Looks like slowly swaying, tipsy, hairy basket ball players, arching and swaying in the rain.

Crinum unknown. We now call this one MoPon (as in the country way to say Moore Pond) No flowers yet, but beautiful arching foliage.

Arisaema ringins and fargesii. Both look great. Most of this genus do not thrive in zone 8. These two are giant, leaves like a foot across.

Tradescantia Sweet Kate. Acid yellow leaves and blue flowers (closed in the rain) Not a great perennial – tends to live just a few years.