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| Cannas in "downtown" Arusha, Tanzania 1998 |
It's been fourteen years. Our time in Africa was short--three weeks--and the details of the trip fade a bit each year since that January in 1998. But every summer toward the end of August, a bit of that continent comes to me, right here in my own front yard (and side yard and back yard, as well).
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| Tropicana Canna in Oregon 2012 |
Tanzania is forever away from Oregon. The climate is hot, exotic, and wet half the year. The plants are nothing like those we are familiar with in the Pacific Northwest. I was totally captivated by their lushness, the intensity of the colors, the varieties and shapes and sizes.We were giddy with excitement when back home we found cannas available at our local garden store. Elegant, gaudy, exotic like they just stepped off the African Continent, these cannas would grow in our own garden! And so they have. They've multiplied and been shared so that nearly everyone on our street has a bit of Arusha. In the late afternoon, you can see them ignite with the blaze of the sun. For nearly a month Things I get to do today are powered by the fire of this African dream.
Cannas are magnificent! My dad had a stand of red cannas he was so proud of. Do you have to dig them up in the fall and over winter them in a dark place?
ReplyDeleteWe were SO careful the first two years! Dug and stored them all. But after that we just let them survive as they could or would. Many don't make it, but our winters tend to be easy here. Most do just fine as long as they have plenty of water in the summer.
DeleteWow- I think :I am in love. I need to grow some of these to weave, Thanks for bringing them to my attention!
ReplyDeleteAnd you also wanted some clary sage that has the flour-de-lys type petals. Goodness, gracious. What a garden you will have soon.
DeleteI love Cannas! My mother-in-law used to have them in her yard. They grow them a lot down here, but I do not have any. So pretty.
ReplyDeleteI guess they are a pretty common flower here in the US. I just didn't know to look for them until I laid eyes on them in Africa. My favorite ones are yellow with red streaks.
DeleteAh-HA! One of these decided to grace us with its appearance when it got hot down here. It's been lovely and exotic looking all summer. I was WONDERING what it was (in a lazy sort of won't-go-look-it-up-once-I-get-inside kind of way)! ~Maia
ReplyDeleteNow that you know what it is, you'll probably see them in everyone's yards and all over the place. They really are amazing.
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