Sunday, June 5, 2016

Spirea ~ the poor man's shrub

  Forde Crescent, King City  
SPIREA - snowdrifts in June
Hundreds of years ago, in England, spirea, along with honeysuckle, was known as the poor man's shrub:
"By stately halls we see thee not
But find thee near the lowly cot."

I call spirea 'snowdrifts in June' because of their massive, rounded, cascading show of white boughs, especially when they are found in a long row upon a laneway or encircling a yard.   Even two or three shrubs or a single bush can make me fondly remember my grandparents' farm and their passive but smiling appreciation of its carefree spirea.


  Centre View Avenue, Laskay
Photos by Barry Wallace
Please comment if you wish.

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