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10 June Favorites

Magnolia 'Kay Parris' With so much going on in the garden in June, it is hard to choose only ten favorites. I challenged myself and have done just that. These are plants that look good around the midway point in June, specifically from June 15-20.  I begin with Magnolia 'Kay Parris'. Believe it or not, having spent the majority of my life in the South, I never grew a magnolia. They are emblematic of the South, where magnificent specimens grace old plantation homes and stately homes in older neighborhoods. I always thought of magnolias as huge trees, not suited to a small garden, but things have changed, and more varieties are now available that are not supposed to grow as large.  We now have two magnolias in our garden, both of which were added recently. When one of the old photinias that line our back property line died, it left a gaping hole. I had been looking at magnolias at the nursery and decided a smaller one might make a good backdrop and create a good privacy s...

Pink Dogwood


The pink dogwood (variety unknown) is the largest tree in the garden. I found a photo of how it looked when we first moved in. It was smaller than I remembered -

2016

So it has grown quite a lot in five years. There are so many beautiful varieties on the market now and we have quite a lot of them at the nursery where I work. The owners recently planted several along the parking lot last year. I was just noticing today how beautiful 'Cherokee Chief' is and wished that I had taken a photo.

Our tree brings us lots of pleasure and it is always a treat when it blooms.



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Look at all that grass in 2016... I'm sure not even you could imaging the garden you've created. I love Dogwoods, their blooms make me think of butterflies.

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  2. How long does the flora show last on Dogwoods? It's magnificent.

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  3. Here in Georgia dogwoods have taken a huge hit. There numbers are not what they were. I have heard this is due to anthracnose, but I’m not sure. Glad to know you don’t seem to be a set up for fungus, even in your moist climate.

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  4. It's a gorgeous thing! And sadly something that won't grow in my climate.

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  5. I desperately tried to plant a dogwood after I have yearned for one for so long. I was entranced by those gorgeous flowers .. I was deep into dogwood flower ENVY .. but alas the one I tried was diseased as were the whole shipment ... I was just too defeated to try again, but I so appreciate seeing other gardeners ! Thank you ;-)

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  6. Powdery mildew magnet here in my Virginia yard, especially when summer hits. But they hang on and just don't grow as fast year to year.

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