The advancements plant-breeders have made in developing garden-worthy Alstroemeria (princess lily or Peruvian lily) is truly amazing. Modern introductions such as ‘Indian Summer’ bloom from mid-spring through fall, perhaps slowing down a bit if summer is exceptionally hot and dry. The planting of ‘Indian Summer’ in the photograph is in a small island bed (the
Indian Summer in Spring, Summer and Fall Read More »
In the plant world, plants of the genus Saxifraga, are lovingly referred to as sax’s. While we can’t grow any of the lovely alpine species, we have found a few that thrive here. Looking amazing in the garden now is the evergreen groundcover, Saxifraga stolonifera, as they have burst into flower. Who needs to see
We love a good Sax Read More »
Approximately twenty seven thousand different plants (27,000 taxa) make up the plant collection at Juniper Level Botanic Garden, and there was one plant that elicited a huge number of questions at the recently completed Spring Open Nursery and Garden Days. It probably helped that at 40′ tall it towered over the welcome tent (no it
Lilacs don’t grow in the South, or do they? Read More »
I’ll admit that we enjoy busting horticultural myths, and one of our latest busts is that alpine gentians can’t be grown in the hot, humid south. Over the last few years, we’ve grown and planted several forms of the alpine native Gentiana angustifolia and Gentiana acaulis. We’ll, below is a recent photo from the garden,
Where Gentian’s fear to tread Read More »
Flowering now in the garden is Blephilia ciliata, a little-known clumping mint cousin, native from Vermont south to Georgia and west to Texas, where it occurs in open woods and meadows. In form, Blephilia ciliata is a woodland version of bee balm without the pesky spreading tendency. Downy wood mint forms a 1.5′ tall x
Gettin’ down with Downy wood mint Read More »
I can hear the chants from the Tennessee volunteer faithful, as they begin humming the State song of Tennessee. Instead, we are referring to one of their finest ornamental plants from the Cumberland Plateau region (TN, KY, and SC), the Federally Threatened Conradina verticillata ‘Rocky Top’, commonly referred to as Cumberland rosemary. For the last
Good ole’ Rocky Top Read More »
Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica) is most often encountered in woodlands where it performs in an entirely satisfactory manner. The same can be said for its performance in a shaded home garden. Yet, I can’t help but think that, if only it could operate a chainsaw, it would create a full-sun spot for itself. In full
Dreaming of a Chainsaw Read More »
Calanthe is a genus of 235 species of terrestrial orchids. For us, the foliage remains evergreen through the winter, unless the winter temperatures are severe. We are still testing to find how many species are winter hardy here in Zone 7b. We have so enjoyed their amazing show over the last few weeks. Here are
If you don’t grow Magnolia ‘Serendipity’ and live from Zone 7b south, I hope you’ll check this out. This amazing JC Raulston Arboretum introduction is a seedling they named from a cross made by Camellia breeder, Bobby Green of Alabama. The number of fragrant creamy-yellow flowers in late April to early May is truly unimaginable.
Serendipitous Behavior Read More »
We’re so busy photo-documenting our trillium collection from late winter through early spring, that we often don’t take time to share any images from our collection. As we file this years images, here are a few samples. Our staff, as well as outside collaborating researchers spend significant time studying these in both the wild and
