Norway Gold
Many of the winter gold colored spruces don’t color up well in our climate. Once exception is the Norway spruce selection, Picea abies ‘Aurea Magnifica’, which has been absoluty wonderful during our cold weather.
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Cozying up to a Sonoran Bear Grass
Through the years, we have grown 21 of the 35 North American native species of bear grass species. Nolinas currently reside in the Asparagaceae family, with the likes of Agave, Dasylrion, Yucca, and of course, Asparagus. One Nolilna species we didn’t expect to be winter hardy is the Sonoran bear grass, Nolina matapensis. This very
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Coal Miner
Looking lovely in the winter garden is the adult ivy, Hedera helix ‘Coal Miner’. When the winter temperature drops, the leaves take on a purple black cast that contrast with the veins, which remain green.
Been There, Killed That…Would like it Back
Most of the 1,500 plants we’ve introduced in the last 40 years remain in the gardens here at JLBG, but a few special ones we’ve lost due either to neglect, or not siting them in the proper location. Prior to building our crevice garden, we sadly lost several plants that we now know would probably
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Long-bracted False Hemlock
One of our prized confers in the garden is the little-known, Nothotsuga longibracteata. Originally thought to be a hemlock, this Chinese native hails from several of the southern provinces, where they grow on acidic soils at elevations between 1,000′ and 7,000′. Sadly, they are now endangered due to excessive logging. In the wild, they eventually
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Hancock’s Weeping
Since the 1990s, I have been enamored with the weeping red cedar, Juniperus virginiana ‘Hancock’s Weeping’. This native gem was originally discovered by plantsman Bob McCartney of Woodlanders Nursery, in Georgia’s Hancock County. We are thrilled to have this amazing specimen as part of the JLBG collection. Sadly, it’s not a plant that will ever
Here’s Lookin’ at Gyokuryu
We’ve long been a fan of the Japanese cedar cultivar, Cryptomeria japonica ‘Gyokuryu’. This excellent plant was first brought to the US from Japan in 1967, by famed rock gardener, Joel Spingarn, who was also a founding member of the American Conifer Society. For us, this mid-sized confiner tops out at 18′ tall x 10′
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Chris Crinkle’s Sweet Gift Box
About five years ago, we picked up this fascinating crinkled leaf form of Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna in the UK. Both the leaves and form are different from any other forms of sweet box we’ve grown. Since it didn’t have a valid cultivar name, we’ve christened it Sarcococca ‘Chris Crinkle’. It’s looking quite nice here
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Cold-blooded Narcissist
We know it’s time to start thinking of spring when the Atlas Mountain native, Narcissus romieuxii ssp. romieuxii, bursts into flower, here in late January. Nights in the teens F are no match for this amazing bulb.
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Mt. Everest – an easy Garden Climb
Last year, we posted a garden photo of the amazing new Galanthus ‘Mt. Everest’, which came to us as a Galanthus elwesii selection from Holland. We now think it is most likely a hybrid between Galanthus elwesii and Galanthus plicatus, first prompted by the assessment from Patrick McMillan. Below is it in full glory, starting
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