This spring, my horticulturist, Janet, re-designed my front yard to feature dozens of native plants, meaning plants that have grown in their home area for thousands of years. One of these plants is the jaw-droppingly beautiful Scarlet Rose Mallow.
The Rose Mallow is often mistaken for hibiscus but is native to North America unlike hibiscus which is native to Asia. Like hibiscus, the Rose Mallow is a host plant for several butterflies which only lay their eggs on their host plant, and their caterpillars will only eat their host plants. Bottom line, the Rose Mallow is a Queen of Pollinators which are critical to the SURVIVAL OF THE PLANET. So there’s that wisdom.
But the Rose Mallow germinates even more profound wisdom. It may have grown in my home area for thousands of years, but its gorgeous blooms last ONLY ONE DAY. Yes, don’t blink. They really do collapse and disappear overnight.
The wisdom here is so obvious it borders on trite, but sometimes you need something bold and beautiful to get your attention and remind you that the present moment is all that matters. Take a look at the buds that haven’t yet bloomed — not eye-catching at all and they seem to meekly blend in with their surroundings. In fact, they seem a bit complacent, not unlike, well, me.
Then one day these buds dare to make a change and . . . BAM! . . . they demand complete attention. “Look! I’m my whole beautiful self! And it doesn’t matter if I am beautiful for just for one day!”
But it will be for more than one day. The Scarlet Rose Mallow is a perennial and frost-resistant. Plant it just once and it will come back year after year. Day after day. Blossom after blossom.
“And then the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom,” wrote Anais Nin. This is Scarlet Rose Mallow wisdom: “Look!” it bellows. “Look again! That’s you! And you are so very, very beautiful!”
Oh behalf of my Scarlet Rose Mallow (sounds like the name of a character in a Southern Gothic novel), I would like to give a shout-out to my horticulturist, Janet. Here is her website:
https://bloom-wild.com
She is so skilled with native plants, many of which she grows herself. And she NEVER wears garden gloves. Never. But her t-shirts are fabulous. When she was here last Saturday, she was wearing one that said, “I Wet My Plants.” One time she was wearing one with the most gorgeous, head-turning bouquet of flowers on the front. In the center of the bouquet in beautiful calligraphy was this: “Someone you love has had an abortion.” Janet is so unassuming, but continues to make bold statements in and outside of gardens.
My Scarlet Rose Mallow would also like to give a shout-out to beloveds like Beth, Charlotte, Carol and Adrienne who, in their own way, contributed resources (both monetary and spiritual) toward this garden.
In the past year, the spirit of my front garden was profoundly disrupted by the thoughtless and perhaps even vindictive and jealous actions of an adjacent neighbor. Just when you think peace has returned, this neighbor’s front yard was recently contaminated by Southern Blight — a highly-contagious fungus that invades over-crowded, neglected yards like hers. Some of the fungus invaded my front yard, so Janet and I were forced to dump 500 pounds of soil and 10 plants in an effort to stave off an invasion of this terrible fungus in my yard. So far, so good. Fingers and plant stems crossed.
Loved your wisdom about the Scarlet Rose Mallow. Also loved your appreciation of your friend Janet. I am so deeply grateful for the lovely garden you created out front. May it be safe as well as beautiful.
Charlotte — thank you again for your monetary as well as spiritual contributions to my front garden!
Thank you for the beautiful entry. It is beautiful not only with the pictures, but as usual for you, in the words you wrote. Both are quite interesting. I’ve heard of the Rose Mallow, but never seen it. They are stunning flowers. As a matter of fact, I saw one bloom last Thursday when I was getting my mail. It certainly caught my attention & I was going to call you to ask about it. Tropical Storm Debby kept me from doing that. Thank you for answering my curiosity & adding beauty to the Court!
You are so very welcome, Laura . . . and thank YOU for noticing Scarlet! She loves attention!
A beautiful tribute to this beautiful scarlet rose mallow. As well, a beautiful tribute to the wisdom she embodies.
A neighbor here has a lovely crimsoneyed rose mallow, which I have enjoyed each summer. Will think of you and your garden when I see it.
Thank you, dear Carol. And another thank you for your contributions to what makes Scarlet beautiful.🙏❤️