Lupine, So Fine

Lupin or Lupine

family: Fabaceae

genus: Lupinus

ha! 

kin to fava! 

remember?

Fava is in the Fabaceae family too!

I *love* it! 

(And don't know why!!!)

So on Saturday, after a rich and WONDERFUL brunch at splendid Country Cat (me-ow!), me and one of my bestest pals, Elizabeth, took Maya for a walk out at 1,000 acres.  As we walked along its many trails, laughing and talking and exploring, in a moment of pure splendor, up popped this beauty ahead on the path:

I cooed over it and wondered what it was.  A lovely gentleman happened to pass by at that moment and told us that this beaut was lupine.  Deeeevine.

Gotta get me some of that!

I didn't have my camera with me at the time but two days later Maya and I went back to walk among the tall, wet grass and THIS time my camera was in tow. 

Maya in (and likely eating) the tall, wet grass

I did some lookin' online and among the books in my wee library:

• 
  
  most are perennials, though a few are annuals
• 
  
  they are nitrogen fixers
• 
  
  The name 'Lupin' derives from the Latin word 'lupinus' (meaning wolf) -- as, back in the day, many found that the plant has a tendency to ravage the land and the peas that appear from those loverly flowers were said to be fit only for the consumption of wolves.

Hm.  I do love this plant - but I've taken this last point to heart.  When I find a plant to bring into my space I ought to keep a close watch on it, lest it take over.

I think I could handle that: keeping close watch on it. 

It's beautiful!