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Hidcote - pt. 1

I'm just now getting around to organizing the photos from my trip to England back in May. As I've said a million times, this was the trip of a lifetime, and I had an incredible time. This was a 3-week trip organized by the HPSO (Hardy Plant Society of Oregon) during which we visited 35 different locations. Most all of these were gardens but there were also a few castles and villages thrown in, as well as the icing on the trip - the Chelsea Flower Show. This tour focused on the southeast region of England, notably the Cotswolds and Cornwall. I've watched so many programs and read so many books about England and the gardens there that I was afraid it would tarnish the image I had built up in my head. I'm pleased to say that it not disappoint. The trek from London to Bath by train was not the best first impression. However, as we gained distance from the city, the rolling green countryside gave me glimpses of things to come. After arriving in Bath and finding my hotel, I m...

Chinese snowball


Speaking of viburnums, here is another popular variety that is truly a traffic stopper. Chinese Snowball (Viburnum macrocephalum) features the big pom-pom type blooms that start out pale green and mature to sparkling snow white. It is a fast grower and will attain great heights in only a few years. This shrub is about twelve years old and towers about 12 feet. I've started pruning it since most of the blooms are appearing near the top but I've yet to find clear instructions on how best to do this. I plan to reduce some of the older limbs this year after the blooms fade.

Apparently this was once hard to locate in nurseries. I've received countless e-mails inquiring where to buy it but those are dwindling now so perhaps they are now easier to find.

Comments

  1. Beautiful. They don't have a long bloom period but they really put on a show for a brief time. Some of my favorite shrubs.
    Marnie

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  3. Great picture! I love the combo! Wenus says hello! :-)

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  4. Seems one of the comments above is a bit of a hijack.

    Beautiful photo Phillip. I like the statue in front of the viburnum.

    Rob

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  5. The positioning of the statue and the flowers make it seem as if there is a thought bubble coming from the statue! I wonder what she is thinking? Maybe "now where have my arms gone?"

    Beautiful plant, I love viburnums!

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  6. I like the way the balls seem to be falling down onto or floating up out of the statue's head. I do love viburnums and this one is, as you say, a show stopper.

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  7. Viburnums surly offer a shrub for every gardener and every garden. These look to formal for my wilderness, but they look lovely in your garden. Twelve feet tall and still growing! Be careful on that ladder when pruning this tall guy! gail

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  8. THis is a gorgeous viburnum. I love the statue in front too. Great composition.

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  9. These are beautiful! My seeds are doing so well. I will forever be grateful for the information you gave me back at : http://momingarden.blogspot.com/2009/03/ordering-who-do-you-trust.html

    Happy Spring Dear Garden Friend.

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  10. I love the snowball bushes. I have one that's still got a while until it blooms. I'm not sure what variety it is, the blooms don't get nearly that big.

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  11. My neighbor has one and it is glorious right now! I am so envious!

    Cameron

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  12. lovely photo! I have never heard of that one. I will have to hunt it down.

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  13. This looks like a relative of the old Snowball bushes that were in every yard when I was a kid. They bloom with such abandon - no holding back.
    Must have been tough, too, because we dreadful children used to pull off the flowers to throw at each other in floral snowball fights.

    Wish I had one now!

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  14. These virburnums are as stunning as hydrangeas - just beautiful!

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  15. I have three of these from Lowe's in Tupelo, MS that I planted last year and they are doing great, getting ready to bloom. I love them!

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  16. Stunning! I want a snowball bush in my yard but haven't yet found them in any of the local nurseries. I love how big this one gets. Thanks for sharing!

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  17. I usually am able to get these for the nursery, coincidentally enough from a grower in Alabama. They go unnoticed until someone sees them blooming around town and comes in looking for that "big green hydrangea".

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