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June 21, 2010

What's blooming at Baltimore's Rawlings Conservatory?

Photo credit: Michael Lemmon
Alpinia Zerumbet

The flowers of this tropical ginger are now blooming at Baltimore's Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park.
The flowers of this tropical ginger are now blooming at Baltimore's Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park.

They grow in cascading arches with buds of an opalescent white and pink shade. They look very similar to small seashells, giving it the common name "Shell ginger." When they open, the flowers are a pink color with a striking lip of yellow and red.

This plant is native to India but can be found in Asia, Brazil, and the Southern USA. The leaves are long and blade-like and have been substituted for bamboo leaves to make "Zongi," a Chinese food similar to a tamale. This traditional dish is made of rice and different fillings, wrapped in leaves and then steamed or boiled.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 9:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Baltimore's Rawlings Conservatory

Comments

I needed a pretty picture after the day I'm having.

:( -- Susan

Posted by: NotableM | June 21, 2010 2:35 PM

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About Susan Reimer

Susan Reimer has spent 16 years writing about raising kids - among other topics - in her column for The Baltimore Sun. And every time son Joseph or daughter Jessie passed another milestone - driver's license, college, wedding or a move to a new military duty station - she has planted another garden. Now she will be writing about those gardens - and yours - here on Garden Variety.

Susan isn't an expert gardener, but she wasn't an expert mother, either. Both - the kids and the gardens - seem to be doing well in spite of her.

She lives in Annapolis with her husband, Gary Mihoces, who loves to cut his grass but has noticed that there seems to be less of it every time the kids pass another milestone.

Follow @susanreimer on Twitter