Saturday, April 19, 2008

Nandina Diamonds

Nandina or heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) is an evergreen or semi-evergreen broadleaf shrub. Despite the common name, it is not a bamboo at all. The young leaves in spring are bright green with rosy edge; old leaves turn red and orange or purple  before falling. This morning in the gentlest of showers, I noticed the beading of the raindrops on the new leaves.

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I thought it was interesting that the older leaves--the ones in the fall colors-- did not repel the water; there was no beading on them. They just got wet. Perhaps it helps to prepare them for breaking down once they drop off.

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