We were thrilled this week, to find that one of our native wild gingers, Asarum finzelii has produced a plethora of garden seedlings this year. This species from Northeastern Alabama, was only recently described in 2020 by Alabama botanist Brian Keener, who happens to be a speaker for our 2026 Southeastern Plant Symposium in early
Flowering this week in the garden is Cymbidium (pronounced “Some Biddy Yum”) goeringii ‘Datuanyuan’. The evergreen foliage of this woodland, terrestrial orchid, resembles a clump of monkey grass, until it starts flowering in early March. While we have grown these for decades, this is the first flowering of this special cultivar with rounded petals and
Some Biddy Yum flowers Read More »
Two of the best performing lungworts in our trials are pictured below, Pulmonaria ‘Diana Clare’ from Cotswold Garden Flowers, and Pulmonaria ‘Shrimps on the Barbie’ from the breeders at Terra Nova. Both have incredible vigor, and put on an exceptional show in the late winter garden and into spring, currently at JLBG. Both are planted
Take a Deep Breath for these Lungworts Read More »
In 2023, we listed a new selection of the North American native buffalo grass, Tridens strictus ‘Buffalo Feathers’. It went over as well as a tax hike, selling a pitiful 42 plants over a two year span. Well, after a winter of snow and ice, the plumes are still upright, and looking great. Credit to
A Flop that Doesn’t Flop Read More »
Looking out from our kitchen is a real joy in late winter, thanks to the show put on by Prunus x subhirtella ‘Scott Early’. This amazing specimen was shared back in the 1990s by the staff of Swarthmore’s Scott Arboretum. Although it’s still rare in commerce, this cultivar was introduced by the Scott Arboretum in
One of the finest late winter bulbs we’ve ever grown is the stunning Nothoscordum sellowianum. This incredible South American bulb, hails from the regions around Buenos Aires. When we first tried this back in the late 1980s,. we planted it in shade, which it didn’t appreciate. Before it died, we moved our last bulbs to
False Yellow Crocus Read More »
Here are more wild gingers flowering this week in our garden collection. This fascinating genus is a member of the pipewort family, Aristolochiaceae. All of the images below are clump forming species. Asarum asaroides ‘Dohmu’ is a yellow-flowerd form of a typically purple-flowered Japanese species. Asarum campaniflorum ‘Ginormous’ is our selection of the beautiful Chinese
Wild Ginger Flowers – Part 2 Read More »
Last year, we posted fall pictures of our Sabal bermudana in full green leaf, but we would also like to share a current photo of the same specimen in its winter dress. As you can imagine, being from Bermuda, this palm isn’t enamored with our cold winter temperatures. Consequently, any nights that fall below 20
I was just admiring the genetic instability of Camellia japonica ‘Your’s Truly’ in the garden this week. This 1949 introduction was named as a sport of Camellia japonica ‘Lady Vansittart’. Our plant regularly throws three different flower types. If genetic stability is your thing, this probably isn’t for you, but then, who are we to
Genetic Instability Read More »
Flowering now in the garden is one of the more fascinating woody plants we grow, Daphne pseudomezereum. This odd Daphne, hailing from Japan and Korea, is the only known Northern temperate plant that loses its leaves in summer, but regrows them in fall, for a wintergreen appearance in the garden. I should add that Daphne
