Do you have certain plants that for whatever reason are special to you? Maybe it’s their beauty or uniqueness or the nostalgia they evoke.
I do. And one for me is the Oakleaf Hydrangea. Are you familiar with it?
I first saw it quite a few years ago in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. But I called it by the wrong name for years. I just made up a name and started calling it Big Paperwhite. (Similar to Adam and Eve naming the various animals in the Garden of Eden, I imagine.)
It wasn’t until about a year ago that I finally had sense enough to use my iNaturalist app to identify the plant.
Lo and behold, iNaturalist corrected me and informed my that my attractive plant is the Oakleaf Hydrangea.
I was glad to have the right name but a little disappointed that I had to start calling him by the new, well correct, name.
And yes, the leaves do look like a bit like oak leaves, I must admit.
But don’t you think the individual little flowers look a tiny bit like the Paperwhite Narcissus?
Oakleaf even comes in different colors …
So now you (AND I!) I know.
But just between you and me, I still occasionally call him “Big Paperwhite,” for old-time’s sake.
And that’s My Saturday Evening Post.
NealEnJoy 