This week, we spotted a variegated sport on a large hedge of Thuja ‘Green Giant’ at JLBG. Sports are a common term used to refer to plant mutations. These mutations, which are often chimeral in nature, occur due to an error during the cell division process. This is similar to what happens when cancers develop
Are you a Good Sport or a Bad Sport? Read More »
Here’s a fun combination from the fall garden, with Ginkgo ‘Mariken’ sporting it’s fall colors. In a supporting role are Cephalotaxus ‘Golden Dragon’, Mahonia tikuensis ‘Datun’, and Hedera colchica ‘Green Spice’. There isn’t a right or wrong way to combine garden textures and forms, but simply paying attention to them makes a garden so much
Textures and Forms of Fall Read More »
Looking absolutely fab in the garden now is the native dogwood selection, Cornus florida ’85 Carat’. You’ve probably never heard of this, because it hasn’t yet been commercially introduced. We acquired this in 2006, from former PDNer Jon Roethling (now Director of Reynolda Gardens), who discovered it on an Interstate 85 off ramp in Gaston
What’s Up Doc? 85 Carats, that’s what Read More »
In 2015, we were potting seedlings from our cross of two hardy century plants, Agave lophantha and Agave x pseudoferox (salmiana var. ferox of Hort.), when we found one with a tiny yellow streak on one leaf. Over the years, it grew larger until it was large enough to core, which we do to promote
Here’s an early November shot from the garden, just prior to our first freeze. By using lots of evergreens, the garden continues to have interest and structure into the less active seasons.
The North American native Thuja plicata ‘4Ever’ is looking particularly stunning in the garden this summer. Of all the forms of Thuja plicata we’ve trialed, this is undoubtedly the brightest. Reportedly maturing at 12′ tall x 3.5′ tall, I’m left to wonder what they used the measure the size. Our 4 year old specimen is
4Ever and Ever, Amen Read More »
We’ve tried a number of Caryopteris x clandonensis cultivars over the years, and most fail to survive more than one of our hot, humid summers. One recent exception that surpassed all of our expectations is the amazing Caryopteris ‘Gold Crest’. Below is a mid-July image from the garden. From the incredibly fragrant foliage to the
Gold Crest…A Crowning Achievement Read More »
Juniperus x pfitzeriana ‘MonSan’ is looking quite exceptional in the garden. Since we live in the community of Juniper, NC, we thought we should have a significant collection of the our namesake genera. This Monrovia Nursery introduction, which is a hybrid between the Asian Juniperus chinensis and the Eurasian Juniperus sabina, is truly stunning. Although
Mon San in More Sun Read More »
We’ve been fascinated with the African genus of bulbs, Ledebouria for many years, and one of our best successes has been the South African Ledebouria ovalifolia, which has thrived outdoors in our garden In 2015, we spotted a single streak of variegation on one leaf. After eight years of work, we have isolated that original
One of favorite native trees is looking stunning in our parking lot. Acer rubrum ‘Schocking Gold’ was discovered by NC plantsman Richard Schock near his home in Boonville, NC. Richard shared his find with us in 1993, and we subsequently named the tree after him. Occasionally, when we’ve seen it offered, it’s listed incorrectly as
