Author: Webmaster

I had a chance to walk around the Arboretum grounds this week, even in the heat, I was able to find shady spots and cool plantings such as the crisp, green and white combination of Cornus kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’ leaves and Hydrangea macrophylla cv. Tokyo Delight lacecap flowers (Wolf Eyes Japanese Dogwood and Tokyo Delight Bigleaf Hydrangea) next to the first bay in the parking lot. A large planting of purple Stachys officinalis (Bishop’s Wort, Betony or Wood Betony) completely surrounded the shady base of a tree at the end of another parking bay. As I strolled along, I happened upon a lovely view of the driveway coming up from Hanover Avenue, beautifully framed by shady greenery.

Come for a visit and discover your own special shady places!

Photo credits: Margery Ennist

June is here, the traditional month for weddings and bridal bouquets. Even though all brides don’t choose all white flowers for their bouquets, some of the blossoms to be seen at the Arboretum would certainly make lovely ones. For example, Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’ (Oakleaf Hydrangea) and the appropriately named, feather-like flowers of Astilbe ‘Bridal Veil’ (False Goatsbeard) would make a stunning combination; also the beautiful flowers of Stewartia pseudocamellia would provide an eye-catching focal point in any bouquet. For a totally different look, how about adding a deep red Calycanthus raulstonii ‘Hartlage Wine’ (Raulston’s Allspice or Sweetshrub) to the mix?

Make time for a visit soon, there is so much to see and enjoy!

Many thanks to Heather Emelander for this week’s photographs.

There is much to see and enjoy at the Arboretum, now that June is here: a dainty little bee enjoying the pale pink flowers on a Geranium x cantabrigiense ‘Biokovo’ (Cranesbill Geranium) and the striking dark burgundy foliage of a Lagerstroemia indica cv. Delee (Crape Myrtle), just to name a few. When this Crape Myrtle cultivar blooms, the flowers will be hot pink, quite a contrast to the burgundy leaves – and it’s a rebloomer!

The photos this week are courtesy of Valerie Scarinci.

The red flowers of an Aesculus pavia tree (Red Buckeye), the delicate, white flowers of an Iris tectorum (Japanese Wall Iris) and the soft, fuzzy gray leaves of Stachys Byzantina cv. Big Ears (Lamb’s Ears). Big Ears rarely blooms, but bees appreciate the small, non-showy lavender flowers when it does!

Photos courtesy of Valerie Scarinci.

Vibrant shades of pink can be found all over the gardens at the Arboretum, from a large, beautiful Rhododendron in full bloom (the common and generic names come from Ancient Greek, rhodon = rose and dendron = tree), a lovely pink and cream Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Gay Paree’), a shocking pink Dianthus (Dianthus gratianopolitanus cv. Firewitch) and a Blood Red Geranium (Geranium sanguineum) all doing their very best to put on a show for visitors to enjoy.

Thanks to Valerie Scarinci for this week’s photos.

In spite of the very changeable weather, going from rain to sun to wind, many plants continue to bloom at the Arboretum. A beautiful red and yellow Columbine is flowering in the Alpine Garden in front of a bunch of tiny yellow Daffodils. A large Geum is full of gorgeous orange flowers with delicate red venation in the petals and slender filaments topped by anthers covered in pollen. A lovely dark purple Tulip covered in raindrops is a sight to behold; thank you Judy Snow for this photo and Margery Ennist for the other two.

More and more plants are beginning to bloom now that we’ve entered the lovely month of May. A gorgeous, deep purple Dwarf Bearded Iris, Iris cv. Dark Vader, is flowering in the Progressive Garden next to the first parking bay. Close by, an Epimedium cv. Pink Champagne (Bishop’s Hat) is covering the ground with delicate, pale pink spurred flowers. Not to be outdone, a Cornus florida f. Rubra (Pink Flowering Dogwood) is in full, dramatic bloom at the end of a parking bay close to the Plant Sale tent.

Varieties of all of the above will be sold at the Plant Sale, so plan to shop early to make sure your choices are available!

Thanks again to Judy Snow for these lovely photos.

Steve Kanan’s Sunday Saunter this week brings us a beautiful collection of macro shots of tulips. Isn’t Spring wonderful?

Thanks Steve for the another update of this great series.