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| Rosa 'Benjamin Britten' & Hosta 'Halcyon' 18 May 2025 |
In my late 40s and early 50s Buenos Aires its inhabitants were from somewhere else. The indigenous population was not seen in the city. It was a city of immigrants. I had two friends. One Miguelito was the tano (Italian) and Mario el alemán. I was el inglesito (in Spanish nationalities are never capitalized).
My father had been born in Buenos Aires from Manchester parents. Everything about him from his accent, how he dressed and he smoked Player’s Navy Cut Cigarettes.
My mother having been born in the Philippines was a country and situation few of us could understand. In my elementary American School there were these exotic Chinese girls who all seemed to be whizzes at math. I knew of one Japanese, Matsumoto who was a gardener.
Our city was white. I felt very English. It was on 2 June1953 that my mother called me for lunch. She said, “Alex wash your hands and knees. It’s lunchtime.” I immediately answered, “I can’t. I am listening to the coronation of my queen."
It was when we moved to Mexico City in 1953 that I was at odds as to who I was. Mexicans made fun of my Argentine accent.
And so, depending on the day, I feel English, Argentine, Mexican, Texan or Canadian.
Today I saw the lovely English Rose, Rosa ‘Benjamin Britten’ in bloom. I decided that I would then write this blog. Instead of just scanning the rose I paired it with the ultimate English hosta, Hosta ‘Halcyon”. It was hybridized by English plantsman in the 60s when he combined Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ with Hosta tardiflora.
The shape is elegant and its blue colour somehow both combine for what I think is most English.
Halcyon - The Essence of Blueness
