An unapologetic plant geek shares advice and opinions on gardening, the contrived and the natural landscape, as well as occasional topics from the other side of the gate.

May 5, 2013

Another Day at the Races

     Though it may not feel like it, spring is here, and it is busting out at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Some days I get so wrapped up in my work it takes a conscious effort to notice all the beauty around me.  Fortunately, I get to visit when I am not working, and last week I was there all day while my son's crew team was participating in one of the last regattas of the season.  Between races I was able to truly enjoy the garden without having to worry about trying to get anything accomplished.

     One of my favorite spring shrubs is the Chinese snowball viburnum (Viburnum macrocephalum), and they were peaking last Saturday.
Viburnum macrocephalum

Border Garden

     A talented co-worker of mine has a passion for small succulents and other plants appropriate to rock gardens.  There is one bed at the garden where she has been allowed to pursue that passion. 
Scree Garden

          Watching over this relaitvely new garden is one of NBG's ancient crabapples.
Crabapple

     One of my responsibilities are the annual beds, and when I came on board last September all the cool season plants and bulbs had been ordered or were growing in our greenhouse.  So I had the plants, but that was it, there were no plans as to how they should be used.  However, I work with people who have vision and between us we got these areas planted, and in the process I now have a new appreciation for tulips.  In another month the plants in these beds will be pulled out and a new summer scheme will be planted.
Circle Garden

Circle Garden (2)

Circle Garden (3)

     This combination reminds me that gardeners do not need to have unusual, hard-to-find plants for a design to look good.  This trio is a simple planting of purple leafed barberry (Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea), lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina) and creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea').
Matson Garden

     Much of the garden is maintained in a more natural state, and we make a great effort to promote regional natives. There are several large patches of mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) that thrive without any help from the gardeners.
Podophyllum peltatum

Podophyllum peltatum (2)

     Another native we promote are native azaleas, which are far too underutilized and under-appreciated.  This one is Rhododendron canescens (Piedmont or Florida pinxter azalea).
Rhododendron canescens

Azalea Point

Alabama Azalea (Rhododendron alabamense)
Rhododendron alabamense

    Despite their sweet fragrance and understated beauty, the native azaleas are overwhelmingly outnumbered by their Asian cousins, which were some of the first plants put in the ground when the gardens began back in 1938.

Rhododendron x 'Formosa'
Rhododendron x 'Formosa'

Rhododendron x 'Kirin'
Rhododendron 'Kirin' (2)

Rhododendron x 'Tango'
Rhododendron x 'Tango'

Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense
Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense

Azalea Point (2)

     I know this has been a pic-heavy post, but I have one more to share with you.  The circled rower belongs to me, and he and his teammates did well enough to progress on to the next regatta.  For this, and many other reasons, I am proud of him.
Maury Crew

45 comments:

  1. Wow everything is beyond perfect (neat and tidy) at the garden. You guys run a tight ship!

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    1. Loree, cameras don't always show everything, but in general it is a well tended garden.

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  2. I love picture-heavy posts. You've shared some great beauty with us, thanks for that. Congrats to your son!

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    1. I sometimes worry about posting too many pictures and really try to edit, but sometimes I can't help myself.

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  3. I love the native azaleas, and also think they are very under-appreciated and under-used.

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    1. I have learned a lot about them this spring, as I was asked to teach a class on them. I knew only a little and had to educate myself.

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  4. Thank you for the return visit to the gardens. You warned me about aging myself, so I won't say how long ago it was when I first enjoyed its beauties.

    Creeping Jenny has done a good job here in the mountains filling areas in a rock wall that were eroding away.

    Congratulations to your son! I believe the crew races at the Olympics were held on the river by Eton where 13-year-old Grandson Joe has just won a scholarship.

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    1. Congratulations to your grandson on his scholarship, that's quite an accomplishment.

      I remember going to the botanical gardens when they had a pirate island and pirate ship that you had to take a boat to. That must have been in the late 60's.

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  5. I am again boeled over by your artistry...it made me garp...the beauty only rivaled by eyewitness!! the firat one tose azaleas and nmy favorite those tulips...sigh

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    1. Thank you Sharon for the kind compliments.

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  6. Les, My garden club is planning an outing to NBG this Friday. I knew the spring display would be beautiful and these pictures are a testament to that. I can't wait to experience the beauty in person. Thanks for the breathtaking pictures. Vikki

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    1. Vikki, I will be there Friday working at the plant sale. Introduce yourself if you have the time.

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  7. Thanks for the tour. Busy or not, it must be great to work full time on such a beautiful garden. The snowball viburnum and all the azaleas are breathtaking. I appreciate the azaleas in part because you don't see a lot of them here, they are not happy with the winters and limestone soil.

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    1. Azaleas love our acid soils, mild winters and are nearly weeds here.

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  8. I'm not an annual kind of person, but I have to say those annual beds are beautiful.

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    1. I like annuals, but that could be a sign of commitment issues.

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  9. My "gotta have" plant list just doubled. In fact, my head will pop off if I can't find an Alabama azalea and it will be all your fault. Enjoy your beautiful spring!

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    1. Try We-Du Natives aka Meadowbrook Nursery near Asheville in NC.

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  10. Spectacular is the only word for these gardens, Les !

    The university where I worked in Ontario had rowing as a major sport and I used to love watching the various-sized crews, sculling up and down the canal. Wonderful sport. Congrats to your son.

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    1. We are fortunate that there are is a concentration of rowing organizations on the river near our house. I enjoy watching them too, especially from my kayak.

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  11. What a beautiful spot! Love the rock garden and the tulips underplanted with viola are just devine. Thanks for taking the time and stop, take it all in and share it with the rest of us.

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    1. Sue you are quite welcome. That particular annual bed turned out very nice.

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  12. You've taken some beautiful and delicate shots here. This garden is well organized and CLEAN! It all flows so wonderfully together. Azalaes are incredible!

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    1. Chris, you need to see the garden in person, and bring your bird guide as we have lots of species.

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  13. What a beautiful setting for a race! Congrats on the win for the next stage of the race!

    How fun it must be to walk the gardens and not have to work them. Most people avoid places of employment on their days off but I would be enjoying every minute in the garden...

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    1. Being able to enjoy the gardens while I am not working is one of the benefits of my new job. Actually I enjoy them while I do work.

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  14. Hi Les, How rewarding it must be to have a hand in such a beautiful garden. The Chinese Snowball, rhododendrons and azaleas are especially breathtaking. I also love the tulips underplanted with viola.

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    1. Yes, those tulips with the violas came out very nice. I think the key to enjoying tulips is just to consider them temporary color.

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  15. Tango is dancing this spring. What a show that rhodie puts on! You said something really important, "gardeners do not need to have unusual, hard-to-find plants for a design to look good." I see too often the staple plants not used because people think them too ordinary, when it is in combination that they shine. I like the rowing photos. I see that on the Buffalo River. I wish your son luck in his next leg of the competition.

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    1. I have a soft spot in my gardening heart for many common plants, and they are often sneered at by gardening snobs. Oh well, I am who I am.

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  16. Beautiful and serene botanical gardens! It immediately did remind me of the flowers gardens of the Keukenhof here nearby Amsterdam, especially the photos with the tulips. But these gardens are less serene due to many visitors.

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    1. Thank you for that nice compliment, being compared to Keukenhof.

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  17. I enjoyed all your pics and congrats on the rower. I know it is work and hard work at the BG but you have a great office.

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    1. Yes I do have a good office. It also comes with its own golf cart.

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  18. That little rock garden is one of my favorite places in the gardens. I love the little euphorbia clavarioides in that bed.

    Do you know what kind of Agave that is? they dont have labels.

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    1. The agave was purchased as 'Corneilus', but we think it looks more like 'Opal'. Since we are not sure it remains unlabeled.

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    2. I thought it was a 'Corneilus' too, but it wouldnt really be hardy here or maybe just barely. And that Agave sailed through this winter looking almost perfect. It doesnt really look like 'Opel' to me from what i can find on the net, but Im not really familiar with 'Opel'. 'Corneilus' is a fairly distinct looking Agave however

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  19. Loved all the photos and I'm homesick now! Keep us up to date on your son's progress. Exciting!

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    1. I didn't mean to make you homesick, but I would settle for making you nostalgic.

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  20. What a beautiful garden everywhere you look. But that huge swath of Tango Rhodies is just spectacular; nothing like it up here!

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    1. That huge swath of Tango Rhodies was about the size of a UPS van, and I am partial to the red/orange ones.

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  21. My first time seeing a native azalea (I think). Beautiful!

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    1. I have had to get an education on native azaleas this year. There are at least two varieties that should be native in the northeast, but there is a gang of them native in the southeast and in the southern Appalachians.

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  22. I first encountered Pinxter azaleas while hiking at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary in Maryland a while back. They were wild, and I later learned they were native. I also think I remembered learning they were extremely poisonous? But I wondered why more people didn't grow them, unless they were protected and rare.
    Ray

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    1. People do need to plant more native azaleas, and yes they do have toxins in them, but so do many, many plants.

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