All you windowsill gardeners, container, raised bed, and in-ground gardeners too, by now you have probably named most of your plants.
Rosemary, Thyme, Sage and their friend Parsley, Tomato, Pepper, Zucchini. Black-eyed Susan, Daisy and Cosmos all are showing off their grown up leaves.
These nick-names for plants are great but when you are trying to find out more about their specific cultures it is good to understand their Latin names as well.
It really isn't hard to do as there is a universal method for naming plants. The Nomenclature, naming of plants, established by The International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN), contains the rules and recommendations for official botanical naming of plants.
The formula is: scientific name = botanical name = Latin binomial = Genus species.
The genus, species and varietal names must be italicized or underlined.
There are other designations on plant tags as well but those aren't too difficult to discern.
The information on a plant tag usually gives a basic introduction to the language of Latin. It is fun to learn to pronounce words such as macrophyllum (large leaf) rubra (red) acer (maple). Enjoy your mini Latin lessons on your next visit to your nursery of choice.
The study of plant names is indeed fascinating however it is spring and there are many more urgent matters to attend in the garden.
I hate to mention it but weeds are a big consideration right now. The sooner you get rid of them the better. I don't know where they get their nerve but they seem to have no regard for the delicate little ones I have been nurturing for weeks.
No snow on Mount Spokane and Mother's Day used to be the signal for setting out plants in our real world. The unstable May weather in our area has taught me to wait even a week longer. I know the nurseries want us to buy their beauties as early as possible but it is disheartening to have to buy them again because of that sneaky Jack Frost.
One of my new passions is inviting pollinators to my garden. That one gorgeous warm day several weeks ago I watched a butterfly work its way out of its winter sleeping bag and I was totally captivated. Truly, a miracle was unfolding before my eyes. I may never have that opportunity again but it planted a desire in me to make a home for not only that butterfly but other pollinators as well.
Some of my pollinator friends favorite native plants and mine, too in the spring are Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii),Lupine (Lupinus spp.),Wild geranium (Geranium spp.) and Serviceberry (Amelanchie spp.). Other not so native plants that seem to grab pollinator's attention include Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis),Catmint (Nepeta.spp.) and Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale). Yes, Dandelions. But they are SO pretty!
While I'll wait for warmer days' I'll finish my welcome signs for bees and butterflies and hummingbirds too.
Questions to consider:
It is spring, why are my evergreen trees brown?
Is there a tree spray schedule for apples?
Where can I find meanings of Botanical names?
Margaret Swenson is a Master Gardner. Email questions and comments to her at [email protected].,or call the Master Gardeners WSU Spokane County Extension number at 509-277-2182. A team of Master Gardeners is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., through October.
Photo by Laren Sunde
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