What’s in the Garden? – X

It’s time to tackle X in the alphabetical gardening series I’ve been doing.   This letter was a real challenge and I had to be quite creative and even use the dictionary.  Gardening is very x-citing and requires lots of x-tra energy.

I have some plants that are xiphohyllous.  What is that you ask … why, plants with sword shaped leaves.   That includes yuccas,  iris, and hyacinth that I have in the garden.  It also includes gladioli and crocomesia, both of which are tender perennials in my area and they are some of the plants I’ve eliminated from the garden due to the x-tra work they involve.

Then there are the xerophytic plants, ones that require very little water.   I’ve had a few cacti over the years but also have my succulents which are very drought tolerant.  Most succulents store water in their leaves and stems.

I probably have plants that are xanthous which is between green & orange on colour spectrum, more of a yellowish colour.  Yellow blooms are my favourite in the garden as they are so bright and cheery.  So I’m stretching it a bit here and showing some of the xanthous coloured plants.

There is also the genus xeranthemum of which asters belong.  One is immortelle (everlasting).  I came across this name in a book I was reading when someone bought a bouquet of immortelle to present to someone that had just had a bereavement.  These are annual plants that are perfect for cutting or drying.

X-mas is a time to decorate the garden with wreaths, signs, flags and winter greenery.

X was an easy letter to find while out with the camera.  From airplane vapour trails, to x in building structures, an restaurant sign and and x made of old garden tool handles.

Nature never fails to amaze me.

I’m continuing to add to my personal alphabet with x.

X – xenodochial (friendly to strangers)