Salvation

alvation

can have many meanings. One might be saved from embarrassment or saved from starvation. One could be “saved by the bell” or saved by God. To be in good health is to be saved from sickness. Well, I’ll quit beating around the bush. This weeks picks are all of beautiful flowers in the genus Salvia, and salvia in Latin means to be well. Some species in the genus are reputed to have medicinal qualities. Some have culinary qualities. Almost all in the genus have quite a distinct aroma. All in the genus have that snapdragon look. You know, the bottom part of the bloom hangs down, looking like a monster getting ready to take a huge bite out of . . . a leaf or something.

Many plants make up this large genus, including garden sage and the annual red salvia. There are many perennial species too. The specimens in our landscape have been blooming steadily all summer long, and will continue until frost. These are all perfectly hardy here in zone 6b, but the trick to keeping them over winter is to refrain from trimming them back after the foliage dies back. Wait to do your trimming—and they will need it—until the spring.

I promise, next week we will get back to lilies. I have some lined out that you will think are plastic, but believe me, they are real. If all goes well, there will be some wildlife in the scenery as well. Stay tuned. Don’t forget that you can click on each individual photo to get a much larger image. Enjoy, and see you Sunday.