Beyond Flowers

Yesterday, a daffodil finally bloomed in my garden–the very first flower of the season. Because of the cold snaps we have had, the garden is weeks behind schedule.  There are buds aplenty, but with only one lone flower, there isn’t a great deal of interest just yet.

So we went to see what was happening at the US Botanic Garden, where the Conservatory was brimming with tropical plants in bloom, and the outdoor gardens featured an assortment of early-spring flowers. As lovely as they all were, I found myself drawn to other parts of the plants–the peeling, ribbed, spiked, thorny, and veined bits.

They reminded me that flowers aren’t the only things that add excitement to a garden: bark, branches, foliage, and many other parts can be just as captivating. Especially when there are no flowers to be had…. And, admittedly, even when there are.

 
Iris Rhizomes                                         Leaf of the Quinine Tree

Branch of the Madagascan Ocotillo Tree

Bark of the Quiver Tree

Tags: bark, branch, Iris rhizomes, ocotillo tree, Quiver tree, spikes, spiky, thorns, thorny, United States Botanic Garden