@zuzu - now that you popped the Abelia bubble, what in the double dang heck are we supposed to do? Delete all mention of the plant once known as abelia and never let it darken our doorsteps again?

Did you study taxonomy and all things botany in Northern California? My high school in Smithville, Texas, only gave us a choice between Spanish and Study Hall, so I conjugated verbs for 2 years. Waste of time. Can't speak a lick of Spanish b/c we never learned any nouns or adjectives, etc. But I digress. What I'm getting round to asking you is where I might learn at least a little bit about what you told us about abelia. (Gotta keep the word 'abelia' in this thread so I don't have to start a new one. Sneaky, eh?) Have a feeling it would be nice to be a little conversant in All Things Plant Talk. Seriously. Is there a good reference type book, link, mind meld or whatever that you could suggest for beginners? (Dang it again. Can't conjugate abelia b/c it's not a verb.)

Thanks!

The Abelia bubble hasn't really been popped. You can use it as a common name. In fact, we have a special Abelias Database, which includes all of our Linnaea and Zabelia species, as well as the plants once known as species of the Abelia, Dipelta, and Kolkwitzia genera but now reclassified as Linnaea or Zabelia species. So do let the name darken your doorstep or even step out into the blinding light, but only as a common name.

The Abelias Database

In response to your education question, I must admit that all of my degrees are in comparative literature and comparative religion. I never took a single botany class, but I'm good at research. I don't really know of any good reference book for beginners. Maybe someone else can suggest one.

I just blindly stumble along and follow Zuzu, hoping for little tidbits of clarification to make their way into my brain. If they do, they rarely stick around long enough to sink in, my memory is fleeting, at best. So I continue to stalk/follow Zuzu. Usually I just throw in the towel and ask her, because if I try on my own, I usually mess it up, and end up having to edit my posts.

@Calif_Sue - I'm right there with you!

@lauriebasler - If you like 'double dang it!' let me throw one more at you by way of a former co-worker. She was a proper church going lady (unlike the heathen that I am) and a bad word never passed her lips. But if something went wrong she would always say, 'Oh, foot.'

I really like that one and usually forget to use it. I've never heard it uttered or muttered by anyone else. Not even when discussing abelias. (gotta work that in so I don't get 'oh footed' out of this thread.)

I love those kind of ladies, Joan. I can swear like a sailor, but double dang it just feels right. I can see using Oh foot as a stand in for something else. ackkkk.