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May Trees

Redbud 'Flame Thrower' (Cercis canadensis) As May comes to an end, I thought I would share some trees that look good now.  First, the insanely beautiful 'Flame Thrower' redbud. I always hesitate to praise this tree because of their finicky nature. So far, so good on this one which is near our front door.  Snowbell and 'Wolf's Eyes' Dogwood in the background The Snowbell tree ( Styrax japonica ) has been spectacular for many weeks. I was up on the roof of the garden shed this morning and got an aerial view of it. It looks so much larger from above. The blooms are so heavy that the branches are bending down. A few years ago, I recall standing underneath it and the roar from bees buzzing around it was deafening. Last week, I was saddened to hear no bees at all. Fortunately, there are some a week later but not nearly as many as in the past. On the opposite side is 'Wolf's Eye' Dogwood ( Cornus kousa ) which always delivers. This is a small dogwood c...

April Showers

Rhododendron 'Blue Baron'


Greetings from a wet, wet garden. In between rains, I've managed to get a few photos... (And sorry for the erratic quality of these. I have a new phone and still learning how to use it. Some of these are from the phone and others from my camera).

Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium' ('Dancing Peacock')


Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) 'King Edward VII'


Clematis 'Stolwijk Gold' is beautiful for the first time after languishing in the garden for five years. Turns out, it is all my fault. This is a clematis that should not be cut to the ground in early spring. You live and learn, and I know that I will never understand the rules of pruning clematis. 

Clematis 'Stolwijk Gold' 

Aucuba japonica 'Rozannie' - the aucuba that doesn't really look like the others.  But what a fine shrub this is, especially for shady situations. This was planted in 2019 and didn't grow much for the first few years but now making up for lost time...

Aucuba japonica 'Rozannie'

Cistus 'Mickey'




Daphne tangutica and
Omphaloides verna (Blue-eyed Mary)


Barberry 'Orange Rocket' and Spirea 'Ogon'

Rhododendron 'Taurus'

The Japanese Skimmia, already here when we moved in, has never had as many blooms. That is Pieris 'Little Heath' next to it...

Japanese Skimmia and Pieris 'Little Heath'

Tulips are just beginning

And finally, the camellias. I've always loved them. However, I do find that here in the Pacific Northwest, their blooming time is unfortunate. They bloom like crazy here, far more blooms that I ever saw on plants in the south. The problem is that the weather keeps you from enjoying them. And then there are the soggy, wet blooms...

All that said, they do give a much needed shot of adrenalin after a long, gray winter.

Camellia 'Mathotiana' and Creeping Mahonia (Mahonia repens)

Camellia 'Donation'

Camellia 'Nuccio's Bella Rossa'

And finally, we come to 'Black Magic' which is sadly becoming a disappointment. It is loaded with blooms this year, after being a very shy bloomer previously, but look at this growth habit...



Drooping, nodding flowers and not necessarily caused by rain. They always do this. I do love the thick, dark green leaves. It is becoming a nice screen so I will bite the bullet and try to get over the fact that it looks like it has whiplash. The blooms, when you don't have to bend down and look up to see them, are indeed lovely...




Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Beautiful photos of wonderful plants and shrubs, Phillip! We could use some April showers too but it's looking as though our rainy season has come to its usual hard stop already.

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  2. Oh, Clematis pruning isn't 'user friendly', is it?
    So what prompt you to not cut back Clematis 'Stolwijk Gold' this spring?
    Chavli

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    Replies
    1. Chavli, I don't recall if I read it in a book or if someone told me. Whatever, it was the correct advice!

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  3. Your garden has flourished with the rain! Clematis 'Stolwijk Gold' - wow, the foliage is so gorgeous. I like your Spirea & Barberry combo, so striking. Lovely Camellias.

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  4. Beautiful garden! Gorgeous plants!!

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  5. Your camellias are lovely, Phillip, even Black Magic when viewed looking up into the blossom! You are lucky to have tulips. In our Vancouver neighborhood most people have given up. The rabbits munch them to the ground :( Debbie

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