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Arbutus Gardens

As we were touring Renee Moog's garden, another visitor told me that I should go to Arbutus Garden Arts, which was just down the road. I had no idea we were close but it was a garden I was familiar with and always wanted to visit. A pleasant surprise! Norm Jacobs is the owner, and he showed us around and answered questions. The garden is also a nursery and he propagates the plants. However, he says that he is in the process of retiring. My friend Linda bought an absolutely stunning weeping snowbell tree. I managed to discipline myself and only left with a groundcover, Erigeron pulchellus 'Meadow Muffin'. The garden is stunning with winding pathways surrounded by packed borders of mostly conifers and Japanese maples. I was enamored by the most beautiful specimen of Sourwood Tree ( Oxydendrum arboreum ). I have one that seems to be stunted, but Mr. Jacobs told me that they need space for their root zone and do not like competition. This could be my problem, as mine is surrou...
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Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - May 2021

Parahebe perfoliata and Cotinus (Smoke Bush) 'Golden Spirit'

 
The May garden is coming along nicely despite the record drought. It always amazes me how things change in just under one month. This is such a busy time in the garden and elsewhere that it seems like I barely have to time to keep track of all the blooms. Do you feel a twinge of guilt when you've failed to notice a lovely blooming plant? I do!

So here are blooms that I have noticed this week -
 
Exbury Azalea 'Klondyke'


Peony 'Shima Nishiki'

 

Enkianthus campanulatus 'Showy Lantern' - one of my favorite shrubs but very slow growing.

The first ever bloom on the Honey Bush (Melianthus major)

Ceanothus 'Black Diamond' (or is it? - the tag read that but I can't find any mention of this cultivar anywhere. A mis-label or just something rare?)

Lilac 'Palibin'

Peony 'Boreus'

Peony 'Paula Fay'

Exbury Azalea 'Mandarin Lights'

Million Bells (Callibrachoa)

Columbine (Aquilegia)


Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll'

Rhododendron 'Jean Marie de Montague'


Rose 'Olivia Rose'


Rhododendron 'Percy Wiseman'

Saxifrage 'London Pride'



Rose 'Darcey Bussell'

Pacific Coast Iris 'Lavender'

Persicaria 'Red Dragon' and Rose 'Darcey Bussell'


Rose 'Playboy'


Visit May Dreams Gardens to see more garden photos from other bloggers.


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. Lea @ Lea's MenagerieMay 16, 2021 at 12:48 AM

    Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  2. danger gardenMay 16, 2021 at 8:54 AM

    You've got some beautiful blooms Phillip, and that ceanothus is magnificent.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Barbara H.May 16, 2021 at 10:01 AM

    I did a google search and several entries popped up. This one says it is varigated. https://plantlust.com/plants/17483/ceanothus-thyrsiflorus-black-diamond/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverMay 16, 2021 at 4:21 PM

      Barbara that is it - thank you! I don't know how I missed that. So it is 'Black Diamond' (it is variegated). I laughed at the size dimensions of 5' - ours is at least 8.

      Delete
  4. YvonneMay 16, 2021 at 11:04 AM

    The blooms in you garden are amazing. I make rounds in my gardens everyday, but there are always the more demure plant blooms that get overlooked at times until I see the seed pods forming. Your Rhododendron 'Percy Wiseman' is gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kris PetersonMay 16, 2021 at 12:57 PM

    So many beautiful plants that I can't grow ;) I can grow Ceanothus, though, and wish I had one like yours!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Barbara H.May 16, 2021 at 6:53 PM

    Hi Phillip, I'm so glad it was the right plant. I wonder if you had a typo when you searched that created a problem finding it. I highlighted the name in your post and right clicked to search with Google and got hits right away. I'm glad I tried - I almost didn't but I guess it was the years working in the library that made me try.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lisa at GreenbowMay 17, 2021 at 3:23 AM

    That Canopus looks like a fake tree with those blue blooms. I haven’t seen such a plant before. Gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  8. betty-NZAugust 17, 2021 at 6:28 PM

    Wow, these are fantastic flowers! Great colors.

    Feel free to share at My Corner of the World

    ReplyDelete

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