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The Impatient Gardener

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That’s Hackenackaloa to you!

May 4, 2009

I am not one of those people who insists on using Latin names for plants, but I understand there is value to knowing them (since there are a lot of plants with similar common names). But this weekend, as I was in the nursery butchering the pronunciation of “Hakonechloa macra Aureola,” I was thinking it would be nice to just know what it’s supposed to sound like sometimes.

Well of course Google had an answer for that. Here’s a link to Fine Gardening magazine’s pronunciation guide, with RECORDED plant names. Hallelujah!

Check it out!

fine gardening
by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
4 Comments

About Erin @ The Impatient Gardener

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Comments

  1. Genevieve says: May 5, 2009 at 3:13 pm

    LOL. I love that feature on FG. I also have a really cool book on gardener’s latin that is great for teaching pronunciation.

    You want to get really nitpicky? In horticulture school, we were taught to call them botanical names instead of latin names because they are actually a combination of latin and greek, with some people and place names thrown in for good measure.

    Yeah, I’ll admit it, I’m a geek. I love this stuff. Botanical names are like poetry to me, and I have trouble remembering the common names.

    Reply
  2. Erin Schanen says: May 5, 2009 at 3:19 pm

    Latin AND greek, huh? Nothing like confusing the issue.

    I think I’d use botanical names more often if I didn’t feel like such a clod trying to pronounce them (feels similar to trying to order dinner in France). I’m going to try to make an effort to go listen to the pronunciations when I have a question and try to use them more often.

    Reply
  3. Debbie says: May 13, 2009 at 10:35 pm

    Erin,

    I love checking out the pronunciation of latin names on Fine Gardening. Sometimes I am so far off of the actual pronunciation that I just have to laugh. Although I must admit I’ve gotten a bit better since my son started taking latin classes in high school – he gives me general pronunciation tips like ‘ch’ sounds like ‘k’.

    Reply
  4. Erin Schanen says: May 14, 2009 at 11:50 am

    You’re lucky to have a son to help you out, Debbie! I was always told it’s better to TRY to say a work, but trust me, I’ve seen the look on people’s faces when I attempt to say these things and it’s not good.

    Reply

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The Impatient Gardener

Do you love gardening? Me too! I'm Erin and I garden in Southeastern Wisconsin, zone 5. The Impatient Gardener is all about real-life gardening: the good parts, the bad bits and even the funny stuff. It's part information, part inspiration and a little bit commiseration. Thanks for visiting.

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Erin Schanen 🌿 The Impatient Gardener
Well you’ve seen simple, this is clearly not tha Well you’ve seen simple, this is clearly not that. Let’s just say I threw a lot at this window box. 

Metal ring (inspired for years by Deborah Silver) was made by a local metalworker. 
Greens: fir, cedar, juniper and magnolia 
Branches: budded willow, cardinal dogwood and fantail willow
Garnish: pinecones, faux berries, faux amaranth and faux fuzzy ball things

My takeaway from this container is that I need more windows and a much bigger window box. 😀
This is what happens when it’s nice enough out t This is what happens when it’s nice enough out that I can actually feel my fingers. One minute you’re hanging garland like you do every year and the next minute you’re pilfering dried flowers from your hydrangeas and sticking them everywhere. 

This all started because the bay that I bought in the cartload sale at the nursery in August is still very much alive and looking good, so I transplanted it to the pot outside the garage (last picture). But it needed a little something to fill out the pot and I glanced around for what I might have and the next thing you know, I’m harvesting hydrangeas like crazy. 

If I had given the garland even a couple minutes of thought before I started throwing things in there I would have gone for an asymmetric look, but when you’re working outside in winter in Wisconsin, done is done.
If it were only this easy.😀 If it were only this easy.😀
Are you on Team Simple or Team Elaborate? For as Are you on Team Simple or Team Elaborate?

For as much as I love creating somewhat elaborate winter containers, I’d still never be without the simple ones. This is why the front of my house looks like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde were decorating. I simply can’t restrain myself to a theme or design concept. 

Anyway, this trough planter is in a spot that’s not easy to get electric to, so I don’t bother with lights. Cardinal twig dogwood, fir and magnolia are all it takes to give this the simple look I need after going nuts with other containers.
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