I was warned not to plant it out
Too unusual they say
I say, why not?
Just because it is variegated it doesn't deserve a free root run?
Much like all the rest?
But it is rare, they say
How many variegated Aloe polyphyllas do you see?
Not many I say
And it's not really that variegated
A few faint stripes don't make it rare
But to the eyes of a few it's rare
Yet to my eyes it's not rare
It's just like the rest from a plant fair
And I'm sure more will turn up one day, and it won't be that rare
So here it is planted
Much like all the others
A gamble they say
A well deserved spot I say
So high hopes I put on it
That it will thrive and sail through winters
Much like all the others be it
But if it doesn't and is no longer here next year
At least I can say
I may not have heeded the warning
But at least I can rest in the thought
That at one point I did have one here
Mark :)
I enjoyed doing this post, playing with words as I conveyed my thoughts. And it's possibly the quickest blog I've ever done (apart from the Wordless Wednesdays ones). Truthfully I think the striping of this aloe is not distinct enough for it to merit any extra special reverence compared with the others we have. But that's just me. I'm more concerned on how it gets on in the garden, hoping that it performs and thrives just as well as the others.
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
I love Aloe, wish I could have some. I do see the faint stripes. I know sometimes it's hard to take chances but I don't blame you for trying. Let us know how it fares next year.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
Hi Cher, you might fancy trying a few, kept in pots and displayed outdoors during the summer, indoors during the winter. Will keep you guys updated how this aloe gets on :)
DeleteI loved this post - both the thought process and the words - and I am also immensely jealous that you get to grow aloes planted out in the open; I only have some Aloe veras on the window sill...
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it College Gardener :) This aloe is also worth trying on window sills but yes they do better planted out with a free root run. There's actually only a few aloes that is sort of fine to be planted outdoors here in the UK, depending on the location. Although none are actually truly hardy especially for colder areas with high winter rainfall too.
DeleteThat's a good attitude to have with plants, be they rare or not, sometimes we just like to have them, if only for a little while. I like the way you wrote this post. Sometimes its not the length of the post, but what you have to say, written in a wonderful way.
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen! The post was a bit spur of the moment, and it didn't take long for me to write. And you're right, sometimes it's just nice to own a plant, and hopefully this one will do well too :)
DeleteHooray! Good choice, after all what fun is it to live in fear? Do the Aloe polyphylla ever pup? I can think of seeing/ hearing about it but if they do maybe this will will reward you with striped pups!
ReplyDeleteThat's true Loree, as they say, life lived in fear is life half lived :) I'm actually not sure if they do pup but I've seen several specimens that are 'multi-headed' (for a lack of certain term). Such a thing is rarity in itself and but a few collectors have managed to get hold of one, usually an oddity from batches of seedlings.
DeleteYes Mark it is not variegated for me too! But it is very beautiful viewed from the top. And i love this once-in-a while style of yours, i smiled while reading!
ReplyDeleteHi Andrea, yes it is only faintly variegated. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the post :)
DeleteNice post, I say. And they say too! Nice (non-variegated) aloe too. D
ReplyDeleteDare I say, thanks anyway! Lol! :)
DeleteHow many faintly-striped polyphyllas (I didn't even know what that was ...)have poems written in their honour. You are really spoiling them!
ReplyDeleteNot many I suppose b-a-g :) I really like these plants alot!
DeleteI really like it, although I wouldn't have realized it was variegated without you pointing it out. I don't grow rare plants. It would devastate me if they were to die. But I like your attitude in the last two lines - that you could rest just knowing you had one at one time. Better to have loved and lost than not to have loved at all.
ReplyDeleteTrue Holley, and thank you :) And I think only a few will notice it is variegated indeed without me pointing it out first...
DeleteYour variegated aloe is beautiful, and I hope it prospers for you! I am impressed that your entire garden seems to defy the odds. Are you really in the UK and not in a tropical paradise?
ReplyDeleteThanks Debs, still very much in the UK :) We could do with milder weather here though!
DeleteWhat a lovely whorl arrangement of its leaves. Great pictures too - it's just nice looking at them.
ReplyDeleteThanks Esther! The whorl arrangement of the leaves is what I like most about them :)
DeleteOh my goodness how awesome! I am sure it will do great! Loved your poetic post!
ReplyDeleteThanks Candy! :)
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