velamen ;)

It is a cool word. I know there is a "real" plant-related definition of ephemeral that indicates a very short life cycle. However, I often think of "ephemeral" in the context of blooms--those that I look forward to but that are come and gone really quickly. One flower that I adore that has a rather ephemeral bloom period is the Oriental Poppy. Of course daylilies, morning glories, moonflower vine, etc, all have ephemeral individual blooms by my definition, but there is always another to replace it the next day/night.

Lisa

Great word, Ken. I love most of the spring ephemerals like Trillium, Dicentra, and Bloodroot (Sanguinaria).

Today, I am liking the word Plumbago-just bought a couple on impulse (couldn't resist the blue). The name always makes me think of some old-fashioned disease rather than a beautiful flower which, in turn, makes me laugh!

I enjoy characterizing leaf shapes and I have always liked the word "obovate." It makes me think of my first Botany class way back in the Cretaceous period, and sounds vaguely indecent somehow.
Interesting thread!
Alana

This thread is going to put my mind's wheels in motion, but for right now, I'm fond of the word "harvest".

Probably not what you are looking for, my pal Ken, but I HAVE to say that PESTO is my favorite word. As of last night, at least. Yum!

I like to associate the word serendipity with gardening.

one of my favorite plants.. for no reason but the name is liquidamber ...

i hear it said by lukes father with reverb ... lol ... i cant think of the cnn guys name.. other than jones ...

james earl jones????

ken

one of my favorite plants.. for no reason but the name is liquidamber ...

i hear it said by lukes father with reverb ... lol ... i cant think of the cnn guys name.. other than jones ...

james earl jones????

ken

A couple more gardening words that please me are "foliage" and "soil". We always just said "dirt", but soil sounds much richer and foliage more luxuriant. A plant name I like is "love in a mist".

I like Thigmomorphogenesis. I can never remember it so I had to look it up.

Funny you should mention that. I'm fairly certain the doctor mentioned that as a possible condition at my last visit due to the "constant bombardment I face in my life".

"bloom" :)

"Lush."

Ken, "ephemeral" is a great word, and I've started using it instead of "annual" or "tender perennial" when talking to non-gardeners. Gets the point across nicely when talking to people who just want to know "will that live through the winter here?"

I am smitten with the ephemeral color of the first new leaves in spring. This year I have several plants with leaves in chartreuse/lime, plus "Perfume Lime" nicotiana, because I want that "gold" to stay with me as long as possible.

"Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay."

-Robert Frost

Walkabout

When my wife wants to know what I am going to do in the garden I simply say "walkabout".

Done.

Because one is hardly ever.

My favorite garden word is "fluffing". Its the act of cultivating the mulch up with a little hand cultivator, to keep it looking fresh and aerated.

I have since been told that word has another, very different meaning...;)

Well, technically it is two words, but I particularly enjoy a "seed catalog", particularly when I am nearly snowbound in January.

ZM

God

putter / puttering around

glorious

deadheading

it renews life for my flowering plants

Um, let's see. How about 'alive'?? It pleases me to know that I haven't killed something lol.