Grow Your Garden with Scarlett and Rhett

Today we bring you a post fit for the season, i.e choke-full of pretty flowers. Inspired by this particular finding, the Scarlett and Rhett winterberry hollies, blogger iso combed the internet for more plants who were named after our favorite heroes. And sure enough, she found plenty, from cacti to pretty lilies. Most of these names play upon the Scarlet/Scarlett theme, so unless you're really fond of the color red in all of its variations, think twice before deciding upon a GWTW-inspired garden (or go with some of the plants featured in our Scenery & Greenery posts, always a safe bet!). Also, knowing our heroes, does it surprise anyone that some of their botanical namesakes are poisonous or have thorns?

But enough caveats. If you still want the perfect windie garden, or are simply curious as to what these plants look like, here's a selection of the flowers that are named after Scarlett (and there are plenty): 

Echinopsis Hybrid 'Scarlet O'Hara'

Paeonia 'Scarlet O'Hara'

Scarlett O'Hara Morning Glory

Yazoo 'Scarlet O'Hara' Daylily

Sinningia 'Scarlet O'Hara'

Pieris Japonica 'Scarlett O'Hara'

And these are their more masculine counterparts (for, after all, how do you turn a lily into a really manly flower? Why, you name it Rhett, of course): 

Savanna's Rhett Butler Cape Primrose

Hemerocallis 'Rhett Butler' Daylily

Louisiana Iris 'Rhett'

The Scenery and Greenery of Gone with the Wind (3)

"The avenue of cedars leading from the main road to the house--that avenue of cedars without which no Georgia planter's home could be complete--had a cool dark shadiness that gave a brighter tinge, by contrast, to the green of the other trees.  The wistaria tumbling over the verandas showed bright against the whitewashed brick, and it joined with the pink crepe myrtle bushes by the door and the white-blossomed magnolias in the yard to disguise some of the awkward lines of the house.

In spring time and summer, the Bermuda grass and clover on the lawn became emerald, so enticing an emerald that it presented an irresistible temptation to the flocks of turkeys and white geese that were supposed to roam only the regions in the rear of the house.  The elders of the flocks continually led stealthy advances into the front yard, lured on by the green of the grass and the luscious promise of the cape jessamine buds and the zinnia beds."

--Gone with the Wind, Chapter III

Today I'm pleased to offer another collection of lush Georgia foliage for exploration in the Scenery and Greenery of Gone with the Wind.  Below you'll find photos and info for all the plants and flowers mentioned in the quote above--with the exception of cape jessamine and magnolias, which can both be found in the second edition of the series.  Descriptions of plants, when available,  are taken from Southern wild flowers and trees, together with shrubs, vines and various forms of growth found through the mountains, the middle district and the low country of the South (1901).  

Sigh- doesn't Tara seem like the most beautiful place in the world, with all this breathtaking scenery around? No wonder Scarlett loved it so much.

Red Cedar

Family: Pine         Color: Green foliage, reddish brown bark          Blooms: May-April

"[R]ed cedar, or savin, has perhaps the happiest knack of versatility of all the trees and occurs in various forms from a low shrub to a tree, often one hundred feet high. Throughout North America it is more widely distributed than any other coniferous one, accommodating itself readily to every condition of soil."

Wisteria

 

Family: Pea          Color: Pale Purple          Blooms: April-June

"As this, one of the most beautiful of our native vines, is seen climbing over high trees and other forms of growth, it transforms truly the low grounds and swamps into bowers of fragrant loveliness; and on some warm day in April when there is a feverish desire to blossom among the little plants, it overhangs them in masses and supplants all their efforts to be gay, while also attracting to itself many more than its share of humble bee lovers."

  

Crepe Myrtle Tree 

Family: Loosestrife         Color: Pinkish purple          Blooms: July-September

"Besides other common representatives of this family which lack of space forbids entering in these pages, there is seen through the southern cities the crepe myrtle tree, Lagerstroemia indica. Originally it has been imported from eastern Asia. When well grown and hung with its deep pink, crinkly bloom it is very beautiful."

Bermuda Grass

Family: Grass          Color: Grey-Green         Blooms: N/A

Clover

Family: Pea          Color: Green leaves, white flowers         Blooms: September-October

Zinnia 

Family: Daisy          Color: Multiple         Blooms: August-September

The Scenery and Greenery of Gone with the Wind (2)

"Spring had come early that year, with warm quick rains and sudden frothing of pink peach blossoms and dogwood dappling with white stars the dark river swamp and far-off hills."

--Gone with the Wind, Chapter I

"Through the window Scarlett could see the bright riot of the twin lanes of daffodils bordering the graveled driveway and the golden masses of yellow jessamine spreading flowery sprangles modestly to the earth like crinolines.  The mockingbirds and the jays, engaged in their old feud for possession of the magnolia tree beneath her window, were bickering, the jays strident, acrimonious, the mockers sweet voiced and plaintive."

--Gone with the Wind, Chapter V

Well, dear readers, it's time for another edition of the Scenery and Greenery of Gone with the Wind, where we offer you a look at the flora and foliage mentioned in GWTW. As I'm sure you've all guessed, the two quotes above serve as the inspiration for this week's bouquet of Southern blooms.  Well, the inspiration with one small caveat--since we already featured dogwood in our first post, we thus won't re-list it here.

Like last time, our main source for plant info and description is the very long-titled Southern wild flowers and trees, together with shrubs, vines and various forms of growth found through the mountains, the middle district and the low country of the South (1901). Sadly, several plants this week (the peach tree and the daffodil) are sans description, as the book with the endless title doesn't include record of them. But as long as they are good enough for MM and GWTW, they are, of course, good enough for a photo spread here. Enjoy!

Peach Tree 

Family: Rose          Color: Pink          Blooms: March-April, with fruit starting in July

Daffodil

 Family: Amaryllis         Color: White, Yellow         Blooms: February-May           

Jessamine

 Family: Logania         Color: Yellow         Blooms: February-November       

"As interwoven, it seems, with the beauty and sentiment of southern lowlands is the “Jasamer,” as it is called by the natives, as is the velvety edelweiss with the history of snow-clad peaks. Early-laden indeed is the warm air of spring with its delicious perfume while, basking himself on its intensely yellow petals, the sly chameleon drowsily opens his rounded eyes. Through woods and thickets it wends its way vigorously and gleams as brightly as does later the Cherokee rose. It is one of the joys of the season, instilling impressions long remembered by those who know it well."

Southern Magnolia  (Laurel Magnolia)

Family: Magnolia         Color: Cream-White         Blooms: April-June

"Laurel magnolia or sweet bay, is a small member of the genus and perhaps the one most generally known; for while mainly found east of the Alleghanies to Florida and Texas, it is hardy, indeed indigenous, as far northward as eastern Massachusetts. As long ago as 1584 the tree was brought into prominence by some navigators who found it on Roanoke Island, N. C. ... In comparison with other flowers of the genus these are quite small, but there is still a charm about them. They are so waxy, so well modelled and exhale a strong fragrance very like that of Fraser's magnolia."
 

The Scenery and Greenery of Gone with the Wind (1)

"Along the roadside the blackberry brambles were concealing with softest green the savage red gulches cut by the winter's rains, and the bare granite boulders pushing up through the red earth were being draped with sprangles of Cherokee roses and compassed about by wild violets of palest purple hue.  Upon the wooded hills above the river, the dogwood blossoms lay glistening and white, as if snow still lingered among the greenery.  The flowering crab trees were bursting their buds and rioting from delicate white to deepest pink and, beneath the trees where the sunshine dappled the pine straw, the wild honeysuckle made a varicolored carpet of scarlet and orange and rose."

--Gone with the Wind, Chapter V

When I first read Gone with the Wind, one of the very first things that impressed me was Margaret Mitchell's vivid and beautiful descriptions of the scenery surrounding Tara and Clayton County. Now,  I'm admittedly a softie for nice description, but I do think there's just something so striking about how MM chose to depict the land of north Georgia. You can really tell what a deep affinity she had for her native region. And as a narrative feature, it is of course put to brilliant use, showing Scarlett's own deep connection with the land she grew up on and serving as a stark counterpoint to the complete devastation the war would have on the County and elsewhere.

But while I'm a big fan of passages like the one highlighted above, I have to admit that I've never been able to get a complete mental picture of the (literally) flowery scenes MM describes. Perhaps that's the result of me not being a native of the South or just simply due to my underdeveloped knowledge of all things botanical. (My mother, the avid gardener, shakes her head in shame.) Either way, my poor imagination has resulted in yet another feature here at How We Do Run On--Scenery and Greenery of Gone with the Wind, where from time to time we'll offer you a glimpse into the flora and foliage mentioned in passages in GWTW.

This week we start off with (you guessed it) the passage quoted above, which charmingly illustrates the scenery on the road to Twelve Oaks the morning of the fateful barbeque. Below you'll find photos of the plants mentioned in the passage, along with each plant's "vital stats" and a corresponding description. And because, as I'm sure you've guessed by now, our blog's motto basically is "Why use a new book when a dusty old one will do just as well?" the info and description comes from a vintage book with an absurdly long name: Southern wild flowers and trees, together with shrubs, vines and various forms of growth found through the mountains, the middle district and the low country of the South (1901).

One last comment before I leave you with pretty pictures to look at? In researching these plants and their blooming times, I was slightly dismayed for a moment to see that many of them don't start blooming until May in the South. Then I remembered MM has an answer for everything and it's best not to try to outsmart her. She's one step ahead again, for right in the opening pages it's mentioned that "Spring had come early that year." Indeed it had. And, my rambling now complete, enjoy a glimpse into some lovely Southern foliage! 

Blackberry

Family: Rose         Color: White         Blooms: May-June, with fruit in August

"[H]igh bush blackberry, stands uprightly, and is abundantly found along waysides and through clearings. Its broadly oval fruit...and its rather large white flowers growing on bristly pedicels in a spreading raceme, proclaim the species." 

Cherokee Rose

Family: Rose          Color: White          Blooms: May 

"Who of the south does not know the Cherokee rose and regard it with fond admiration as it climbs, retwines and doubles itself over hedges, or up the sides of cabins and transforms them into flowery bowers almost unrivalled in beauty. And yet, although so widely distributed through the southern Atlantic and gulf states, the rose is not known to occur there in a wild state and just how it came to be so abundant in the former country of the Cherokee Indians is a question only partly solved. As truly wrapped in mystery is the history of its occupancy of the soil as that of the people whose name it bears."

Wild Violet

Family: Violet          Color: Purple, Blue          Blooms: April-May

"The violets are very temperate. They like neither much heat nor great cold but seek to grow usually in retired places, well shaded and moist. About them there is a look that makes a violet always a violet… These apetalous little blossoms are most interesting to watch during a season. They seem mostly to be produced when the days become too warm for the showy flowers to bloom…"

Dogwood

Family: Dogwood          Color: Cream-White          Blooms: May-June

"When the time is at hand for the earth to show forth its life and every bough is bathed in warm sunny air, and buds burst and leaves unfold, there is much presented through our woods by the dogwood trees and shrubs. It is, however, only the so-called flowering one which, with its fine, broad involucre, throws out a splendid shower of white at this season." 

Southern Crabapple

Family: Apple          Color: Pink or White          Blooms: March-May 

"When the leaves of this small tree are very young, having, in fact, just timidly unfolded, its exquisite rosy and fragrant blossoms come into full bloom. It is then still so early in the season that the purplish grey colouring of its twigs forms for them a misty background, and only such other wide-awake shrubs as the thorn, the shad-bush and the spice-bush are laden with flowers. But everything is stirring: the march is onward."

Honeysuckle

  
Family: Honeysuckle          Color: Scarlet, Yellow          Blooms: April-June

"[T]rumpet, or coral, honeysuckle, woodbine, shows its gay spirit and energy in its exquisite scarlet, or yellow, flowers which hang gracefully from near the ends of the stalk. Their large tube is narrow and the limb almost regularly lobed. The upper leaves unite about the stem and are very thick and evergreen through its southern range. The plant is charming also when crowned with its round, scarlet berries."