Interview with Ms. Painted Lady Runner Bean
Pam: Good Morning Ms. Painted
Lady Runner Bean.
Painted Lady: Hello, Pam.
Please call me Painted Lady.
Pam: Thank you, Painted Lady.
You’re a new variety at the White Bear Lake Seed Library. Could you tell us a
little about yourself?
Painted Lady: As you can see
from my wonderful photo, I’m quite a looker! My flowers are two shades of pink
and I have the most fabulous speckled beans. Certainly rivals Mr. Scarlet
Runner Bean any day!
Pam: Yes, I can see how
lovely your flowers are.
Painted Lady: (Blushes) The
hummingbird moth is very attracted to my blooms!
Pam: Uh, right. So I’m told
your official name is Phaseolus coccineus.
The Phaseolus genus includes all the common beans, isn’t
that right?
Painted Lady: I assure you I
come from much more royal stock than the common bean! Why, have you ever seen a
common bean with flowers like mine?
Pam: No, of course not
Painted Lady. I didn’t mean to imply you were in any way common.
Painted Lady: The common bean
is just for eating, whereas I am valued for my lovely flowers as well as my edible
beans. Why, you can even eat my flowers! Though why anyone would waste such
beauty is beyond me!
Pam: (rolling eyes) I did a
little research on your ancestry and found that Friar Antonio de Arrabida
described your species in Flora of Rio de Janeiro in 1827.
Painted Lady: Why yes. I originated
in Central America, though I am all over the world now. In fact, in Greece one
of my relatives with white blossom and white beans are grown under protective
law in northern Greece. Her beans are very important in Greek cuisine. They eat
them in Gigandes plaki.
Pam: So my gardener friends
would like to know where you prefer to live.
Painted Lady: I enjoy sun, as
much sun as possible as I come from warmer climates, you know. And, of course,
I need a place to run my vigorous vines and to show off my gorgeous flowers.
Pam: So you need full sun and
a trellis, right?
Painted Lady: Certainly!
Also, I prefer that the ground is nice and warm before planting my seeds. And
it goes without saying that I can’t handle any frost!
Pam: Yes, of course.
Painted Lady: If you treat me
right, I’ll bloom for you in about 2 months.
Pam: Wonderful! Thank you
Painted Lady for your time. I would like to add that the White Bear Lake Seed
Library has several packets of your lovely beans for gardeners to grow this
year. I hope that many do and harvest your lovely speckled beans to return to
the seed library.
Painted Lady: Your welcome,
Pam. I enjoyed showing your gardeners what a great plant I am!
Photo credits:
seedsavers.org, Wikipedia.org