Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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Tuesday, August 13. 2013

Identify this plant

Growing happily on Cape Cod




Posted by Bird Dog at 05:04 | Comments (12) | Trackbacks (0)

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Hardy hibiscus.
#1 Longtime reader on 2013-08-13 05:14 (Reply)
mallow?
#2 retriever on 2013-08-13 07:03 (Reply)
It's a hibiscus. My wife has several. They come in other colors, too.

There's another kind of hibiscus that is a tall bush with much smaller flowers. We have two of those.

My neighbors bees (7 hives) and bumble bees like hibiscus, especially the tall bushy ones. The especially like cone flowers, as do butterflies and humming birds.

All of these flower much of the summer.
#3 bob sykes on 2013-08-13 07:49 (Reply)
everyone has beat me to the punch
Down here in Florida, we call it the swamp hibiscus. It's leaves resemble that of the marijuana plant Years ago, I worked at a native plant nursery and sold a pair to a couple. They phoned after arriving home and said that a cop had pulled them over when he spotted the plants in the back of their car. Luckily the cop recognized that the maryjane plant doesn't have huge beautiful red flowers and let them go with a laugh.
#4 Edweirdo (Link) on 2013-08-13 08:48 (Reply)
Cute little red flower.
#5 Gringo on 2013-08-13 11:30 (Reply)
Definitely the hibiscus that can winter over. I had several of these when I lived in the Appalachians.

Beautiful. Easy to grow. Wonderful in a large garden. Many colors.
#6 MissT on 2013-08-13 11:51 (Reply)
Most got it right.

It is indeed Hibiscus moscheutos.

Up here, it dies back in the winter but grows vigorously from the roots and blooms all summer.
#7 Bird Dog on 2013-08-13 14:00 (Reply)
Hey BD How does one send a link to you for consideration? I've had the e-mail address I used to use bounced as undeliverable - Don't need to know, just wanted to send you this link:
http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2013/08/in-defense-of-dylans-voice

May be deserving of a link...

-Cheers, MWP
#7.1 Pajak (Link) on 2013-08-13 21:27 (Reply)
This way works. Sometimes.

Thanks.
#7.1.1 Bird Dog on 2013-08-14 06:46 (Reply)
I know this isn't related to the plants, but given your experience emptying your folk's home...I discovered a bin of old garden tools left by my father-in-law. Many are coated in crude and rust, which I have had some degree of luck removing by soaking in vinegar. I'm drying them in sand and sun, then have heard I should slick them with oil before storing them. However, some would make an interesting presentation in a frame with commentary on the back dustcover as to their use, etc.. Any suggestions? The huge cowbell (8" x 6" x 4" thick) needs separate attention, but there's a scythe, multiple hand-forged 6 to 8 inch nails, something that resembles a gouge...probably from 1870ish.

By the way, I have a creamer, sugar holder and "candy plate" from the Lenox set you've been exploring. If I can find more info, I will forward. My parents always used them for parties; they are in photos from the WWII days.
#8 jma on 2013-08-13 15:33 (Reply)
A bit of trivia: hibiscus, althea (Rose of Sharon) and okra are all related, belonging to the mallow family of plants. Their flowers are very similar to each other.
#9 tnxplant on 2013-08-13 20:07 (Reply)
Also cotton!
#9.1 Longtime reader on 2013-08-14 07:06 (Reply)

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