Sunday, March 25, 2012

Blooming Memories

Sometimes an otherwise ordinary plant is valued for a special reason not even related to the plant itself.  For me, it is my Pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira) which evokes memories of another place and time.  It isn't among my favorites in the landscape -- until it blooms, as it is doing now.
 


As an evergreen plant, it does the job of helping shade the south side of the house without adding much interest.  In many ways it just blends in most of the time.



Part of the original landscape installation, it had seen better days when we moved back in nearly four years ago.  I considered removing, but decided to cut it back and see if it improved.  The following spring it bloomed and I understood just why it's also known as Japanese mockorange.


The blossoms have a distinctive citrus scent that fills the air, especially in the evenings.  I've read that the sense of smell carries the strongest connection to memory.  The lovely citrus scent reminds me of our first home near the Valencia orange groves of southern California and takes me back to my early gardening days.  Everything grew so well there making gardening easy.  The lemon tree in the back yard was planted in the ground and I never needed to bring anything in due to frost or freeze warnings.  We could sit on our patio in January and watch snow fall on the mountains towering above our neighborhood on the flat desert floor.  Yes, pleasant memories indeed.

The Red Admiral Butterflies share my enjoyment of the blooms

 


As do the bees


These bees also remind me of the orange groves in bloom.  Beekeepers brought their beehives into the groves for orange blossom honey.  We could hear the hum of the bees in the nearby groves for weeks.  Many of the bees would stray over into our yard making it risky to be outside until the beehives were removed.

 
I probably would have selected the native Texas Mountain Laurel for this spot. There are some similarities.  The Pittosporum does have shiny evergreen leaves and is very drought tolerant when established just like the Texas Mountain Laurel.  And the blooms on both are especially nice and fragrant.  The deer used to nibble the leaves, but now that it and the rosemary below are larger they seem to leave it alone.

The decision to keep this plant has little to do with those attributes.  The main reason I'll keep this Pittosporum are those lovely scented flowers that bring back special memories.

13 comments:

  1. I agree, I'm not a huge of this plant until it blooms. Our neighbor has it as a hedge along his property. Normally, I don't give it a second look. Recently the Red Admirals have been using it as a feeding station. Love the smell as well. Funny how a certain plant can provoke a memory.

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  2. I love pittosporums, but most of mine have died. I only have one left. Yours is very nice. I love the blossoms. Those butterflies look like they're really enjoying them, too!

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  3. Funny how when we see butterflies and bees liking a flowering shrub it can change our perspective...my neighbor's photinia (which I hate) is flowering and I'm seeing the butterflies all over it and thinking, well maybe it's not so bad!

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  4. It is amazing how scents can bring on memories. Your memories of that orange grove sound so very nice.

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  5. The pittosporums were blooming profusely in the Taniguchi garden this morning at Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin. It also reminded me of my childhood in Corpus Christi where they were commonly planted. Those Red Admiral butterflies and bees are happy!

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    1. I need to make a visit to Austin to see some of these gardens.

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  6. Very nice post! I think we all get a little sentimental from time to time and that is reason enough to enjoy a plant! Great photos! I especially liked the Red Admiral Butterflies.

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    1. Thanks Lucy, the butterflies seem to have moved on. I hope the next wave of blooms brings them back.

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  7. I love this plant. We have the same thing here that happens. There are several plants that tend to blend in with the garden and add a nice green screen to everything. But certain times of the year, the shoot out lots of color and bloom....the Mexican Honeysuckle, for example.....and the bees and butterflies cover the bushes. By the way, excellent shots of you bees and butterflies. I am always mesmorized by these insects on the flowers. There's something very beautiful about it.

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    1. Thanks Chris, the bees were especially frenetic so it was a little work to try to capture them. The butterflies were hypnotized and lethargic making them easier.

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  8. Hi there, I was referred to your blog by Pam at Digging and I have really enjoyed reading it. I am a North Central San Antonio gardener and I also have a love of silver plants as I can tell you do too! I also have this Pittosporum trained as a hedge that was existing when we bought our home. Honestly...it kind of annoyed me...until this year when it bloomed. I am giving it a chance now, instead of ripping it out like I was contemplating.

    I recently started a blog and I am really enjoying the process....it has been a much needed outlet for me. I would love to know where abouts in SA you are with that gorgeous creek in your backyard! amazing!

    Happy Tuesday!

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    1. Hi Heather, thanks for stopping by. Thanks to Pam for the referral too. Congratulations on starting your blog and joining the growing group of San Antonio bloggers. I've linked you to my blogroll.

      I also live in North Central so probably not far from you.

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